How times have changed in so many ways…
Today, 10th February, marks 26 years since I opened the doors to my shiny new portrait studio on Station Road East, Oxted– SMS Creative Photography – on 10th February 1997.
A lot has happened and changed since then! Notably, the introduction of digital photography which completely changed the way I worked from 2001onwards! And since August 2019 the studio is no longer on the high street, having made the decision to work remotely nearby. SMS Creative Photography is now called Stella – Premium Photography, Beautifully Presented.
Before 2001 it was a roll of film loaded in my 35mm Nikon with just 36 exposures. It would take a week or so to get the film back from processing. Black and white printing was very popular back then, especially when photographing babies & children. I used to offer a four part photo-shoot called ‘Baby Steps’ where I photographed babies at 3, 6 and 9 months and on their first birthday. This was very successful and most of these babies are fully-fledged adults now.
The one constant throughout my 26 years in Oxted is my amazing customers who without I would no longer be in business doing what I love – thank you very much!
This brings me to a collaborative project I am taking part in – organised by the female part of the Association of Photographers – the F22 group. The project is called COMMUNITY and CONNECTION – for each member taking part to interpret the brief as we wish.
For me it was obvious to call back a handful of babies from the early days to photograph them holding their baby photos I took to show the passing of time. To me, this symbolises Community and Connection and how important printed photographs are.
It’s a curated online exhibition to celebrate International Women’s Day on March the 8th 2023. With the possibility of physical exhibitions, artists’ talks discussing their approach to the brief and future collaborations are in store.
I’d like to share with you the photographs I took. It was so lovely to reconnect with the families and to hear what they are up to. They all said they enjoyed taking part in the project and were proud to hold up how they once looked and to be photographed by me.
Please feel free to get in touch if you have a project in mind – 0777 181 0105, be great to hear from you.
Thanks Stella
#aopF22community
