[Reading time: 7 mins. WARNING: it’s photo-heavy…!]
This year? Of course it had to be a retrospective look back at ALL my archives, seeing as I was blogging for most of the 2010s.
All the photos I’ve featured were taken by Keith, as I only wanted to show those that were a collaborative effort between him and me (so no shots from brand campaign photo shoots). To give you some context, I’m the one with the photography degree, so although he had a good grasp of the subject (and how to use a DSLR) when we started, I taught him a few settings and tricks that helped improve his photography no end.
(Hence why there are no shots from my first year, 2011… there was definite room for improvement back then!)
It wasn’t long before he didn’t need any more help from me, and it was only a few months before we started to get some really beautiful results. It takes a while to build up an understanding and good relationship when shooting together – even if you ARE married/in a relationship.
So I have to say a HUGE thank you to Keith for being the master behind the camera, for moving me a little to the left or the right, for making sure my collar isn’t at a weird angle, and for always looking for the best light. Some photos are more about the shot itself (lighting, composition, location, etc.) and some are more about the outfit, but all are a combination of both in varying degrees.
In case you’re thinking “Nooooo Catherine, I’ll never be able to produce shots like that”, remember it’s not that difficult to get photos this beautiful: you can improve your photos when out shooting (it’s not all about the camera), and you can improve your photos when editing (which can make or break an image). Having a lot of time is a big help, and in the earlier years we had far more time to look for great locations and wait for the right light to get the perfect shot. In the past two or three years, however, we’ve always had Riley or Suki to consider and it’s not as easy to shoot with a doggo in tow, hence the fewer featured favourites from about 2018 onwards. These days we have to just ‘shoot and go’ so often…!
We HAVE been swotting up on what we can do in the future to get great shots with fewer resources (i.e. locations/backgrounds) and less time, so hopefully this year you’ll see a change as we feel the shooting has got a bit stuck in a rut lately.
Looking at the shots over the years was really interesting for me as there were so many I haven’t looked at in ages. I have many different hairstyles, hair colours, eyebrows styles, nail lengths and weight fluctuations going on. And yes, some of the outfits are a little dubious, but I just remember that I loved them at the time, and that’s what matters. Having these shots is a fascinating record of my style over the last 8½ years, and I wouldn’t change them for anything.
XOXO
P.S. To see the original posts, click on the image or the Original post >> link in the text under the image.
May 2012: One of the first shots we were “wowed” by. Oh, that light. Original post >>
May 2012: You can’t go wrong with sunshine and an empty, white Cornish beach. Original post>>
July 2012: It was the luck in catching a hoverfly in front of my face that made this shot so special. Original post >>
June 2012: We always love a bit of backlighting, and this was one of the first times we tried it. It evokes summer so beautifully. Original post >>
December 2012: I always loved my smile and the relaxed pose here. Also, the details on the dress ♥. Original post >>
December 2012: Who doesn’t love a bit of mud and wellies…? This was so fun to shoot, and it shows on my face. Original post >>
February 2013: One of my favourite-ever details shots. The multiple colours and textures are delicious and I love the cropping. Original post >>
March 2013: Winter whites down by the sea. It was mind-numbingly cold, but worth it for that light and the rough sea wall. Original post >>
April 2013: The shoot that produced the first official profile pic that I chose for all my platforms. All thanks to a beautifully-timed puff of wind. Original post >>
May 2013: An ode to fashion photographer Richard Avedon in front of London’s Shard. Original post >>
May 2013: Same shoot, it just took a little Photoshop wizardry to make Catherine clones. Love this so much still. Original post >>
May 2013: This may be my favourite EVER portrait of myself. In my life, ever. I absolutely adore it. Original post >>
May 2013: Same shoot, totally different vibe. A fantastically-timed jumping shot. Original post >>
May 2013: The sea and the sunshine made those colours SING. Plus, the wind was a bonus for once. Original post >>
July 2013: You can’t fail to get a good shot at a balloon festival, especially in the height of summer. Original post >>
August 2013: A beautiful portrait with stunning solar flare during the golden hour. Original post >>
September 2013: I love this because it just looks so cool. A classic trench and not-so-classic jewellery with splashes of orangey-red. Original post >>
January 2014: A great example of why I think my strong profile works with these sorts of close-ups. The contrast of the bright orange with the blue is spot-on. Original post >>
February 2014: The incredible vintage tapestry coat I wore to LFW deserved this super close-up shot. Original post >>
April 2014: Blossoms and daffodils always look lovely, and London’s Hampton Court Palace gardens provided an abundance of them. Original post >>
July 2014: Possibly our best shot ever, ever, EVER. The backlighting on the sheer, layered fabric, the rose motif and the necklace, the bokeh… this shot takes my breath away. 100/10. Original post >>
July 2014: A beautifully composed shot. The pose showing off the back detail of the dress was perfection. Original post >>
July 2014: Same shoot – different spot – at the Temple of Apollo at Stourhead Gardens in Wiltshire. I’m sitting yards away from where Matthew MacFadyen’s Mr Darcy (unsuccessfully) proposed to Keira Knightley’s Elizabeth Bennet. Original post >>
February 2015: More seascape photos, a nautical theme, more beautiful light you can’t go wrong with. Original post >>
March 2015: I’m really just showing off a spectacular manicure here. Original post >>
April 2015: My first UK Blog Awards outfit – a 1970s vintage beauty. Shot right by London’s Marble Arch. Original post >>
September 2015: I love this for the warm evening light, the unusual composition and the pattern mixing. A really bold, graphic image. Original post >>
September 2015: So many details worth showing off (this is one of my favourite vintage dresses), and the streak of sun was pure luck. Original post >>
October 2015: And so begin the Santorini photos. Hard to choose just a few, this one always stuck in my mind as a favourite. Original post >>
October 2015: Watching the sun set over the sea in Santorini. The light can’t be beaten. Original post >>
October 2015: I’m not one for bikini shots normally, but when in Rome (Santorini)… Again, it’s all down to that beautiful Greek light, an empty pool and the perfect composition. Original post >>
October 2015: A perfectly captured ’emerging from the pool’ shot. That shallow depth of field, the sky, the water droplets. Love it all. Original post >>
October 2015: Proof that it’s impossible to take a bad photo in Santorini. So dreamy and gorgeous. Original post >>
February 2016: From Greek summer sun to British winter sun – the light isn’t any less stunning, however. A great example of how deep, rich colours actually benefit from low, direct sun. Original post >>
April 2016: Dorset’s Jurassic Coast makes for a beautiful stone beach backdrop. Original post >>
May 2016: Another UK Blog Awards outfit, and the most fairy princess-like. All that tulle and all those sparkles are heavenly. Original post >>
June 2016: Sometimes the background needs to be plain and let the outfit do the talking. I love the cold light, the bold shape and the strength of the black (yes, really!) here. Original post >>
June 2016: My Grace Kelly moment in a wedding guest outfit. We lucked out with the deep, dark green and black background as a contrast for my white and watermelon red florals. Original post >>
July 2016: Yes, we’re obsessed with solar flare and backlighting, but this amazing shot proves why. Original post >>
July 2016: Another shot which became my profile picture for a couple of years. I love the ruffles and 50s-style florals against the grandeur of the Georgian houses. Original post >>
August 2016: I think this is my only sitting-under-a-tree shot, yet the pink against the green makes it a favourite image. Original post >>
August 2016: A spectacular shot in front of Broadway Tower in the Cotswolds. Original post >>
September 2016: Perfect timing and beautiful late summer sun. Original post >>
September 2016: We sadly don’t have access to the warehouse area where we shot this (and the image below) any more – a shame as it had the best lighting with its white floors and partly covered area. So good for accessories close ups like this one. Original post >>
October 2016: I love the shape my cape makes here. A simple shot, beautifully composed. Original post >>
January 2017: An example of how backlighting can produce the most flattering light for your face. The hat makes a great “frame” to the top half of the image. Original post >>
March 2017: Focussing perfection. Not easy when shooting this close with such a small depth of field. The metal brooch contrasted with the texture of my sweater is stunning. Original post >>
April 2017: I actually love how white the light made my skin look here. I think it added to the ‘springtime freshness of the shot’. Original post >>
April 2017: Keith and I only did two photo shoots together, and they were both in the same month. Done on a self-timer, I’m amazed how well they came out. Original post >>
April 2017: I just loved everything about this whole shoot (yet another UK Blog Awards). Also done with a self-timer and tripod – and in the middle of Chelsea. Original post >>
June 2017: My favourite shoot with Riley. No makeup, messy hair, no special outfit – just a happy girl and her happy, gorgeous doggo. Original post >>
July 2017: The beauty of Cornwall’s coastline thrown into one image. Original post >>
September 2017: Yet more gorgeous solar flare creating the most flattering light. I love the colours, the gentle breeze in my hair and the plain grey background. Original post >>
September 2017: More of stunning Cornwall, notably Poldark country (this exact view even appeared in the final series). Original post >>
December 2017: Possibly my greatest “twirling” photo. All that red is so fabulous. Original post >>
April 2018: My final UK Blog Awards dress, another 70s vintage beauty. I’ll never forget the beautiful blossom and the intense heat of that April evening. Do I need to mention the light…?! Original post >>
July 2018: My favourite ring/manicure shot. The sparkles and the blue on blue contrasted with wicker and greige nails look so pretty. Original post >>
November 2018: More gifts in the form of perfect light through a hotel room window early one morning. The floor-to-ceiling windows were begging me to throw some shapes in front of them. Original post >>
November 2018: Another Riley favourite. Our beautiful boy was so good at posing and looking serene. Original post >>
April 2019: A floral jumpsuit framed by gorgeous blossoms. Keith took an age to compose this and get me in the right position. Original post >>
July 2019: And finally – beautiful embroidery detail, sharp focussing and delicious bokeh. The reds and oranges look so bold against the white and green – it looks like a painting. Original post >>
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