SS Nomadic and a jolly nice man!

 

So Kathryn and I at Candytuft HQ are going to be exhibiting aboard the SS Nomadic this Sunday with Our Events NI.  After the Quirky Weddings show I think this should be a bit more relaxed.  My good friend Gary Boal from Boal Photography will be exhibiting along with us and this will be his first ever show so if you are manage to make it please say hi to him.  He asked me today if we were about sorted for the show and I was about to say yes but then I proceeded in listing what I still needed to do in my reply to his message and almost needed to sit down!  I know we bring it on ourselves to a certain extent in not keeping our display simple, as if there isn't enough to do with sorting out the cake samples and promotional material!

 

We have been meaning for the past several months to start a regular newsletter for Candytuft Cakes and this took me fair bit of trial and error before I got it right.  Little did I know that you cant just make up a mailing list and send out to all recipients at once using Outlook.  So this week saw our first "campaign" and newsletter #1 got sent out.  I will get round to adding a link for signing up onto the Candytuft Cakes website over the next week or two but in the meantime if you want added then just drop us an email to that effect.  So my next plan was to send out a short bulletin about the show aboard the SS Nomadic and for Kathryn to put a post on her facebook page.  With being a photographer I am totally against using other people's work.  As I wanted to include photo of the SS Nomadic I needed to get a photograph.  Anyone who has been down to see the SS Nomadic or Titanic Belfast will know that there are more double yellow lines painted in the area than the rest of Northern Ireland combined it would seem.  After driving about for that seemed like an eternity I eventually spied a small section of pay and display parking by the road side.  I parked up just as the parking attendant arrived to check the other cars for valid tickets.  0-1hrs = £1.50!  what the flip!  I only want to park for 10 mins not buy the space.  Now my experience of these parking attendants is not good.  I even had my motorbike clamped/chained once and had to pay a release fee!  So as I walked past this guy I asked if there was any chance of a 30min rate as all I want is to take a photo.  This guy has restored my faith in his kind.  He very kindly told me to forget about the ticket and just do what I needed.  Happy days as I actually only had £1 in my pocket so I couldn't have even bought a ticket if I wanted to.  I quickly grabbed my gear and jogged over to the SS Nomadic and got my shots.

 

 

Thanks

Simon

New website!

I did it.  I have launched my new website, got a logo designed and business cards printed!  If you get a chance have a look at www.simonhodgephotography.com.

The site is in essence a blog so feel free to leave comments.  I'm not sure how it will work but thought it was worth a try.  I haven't gone for anything too fancy.  I really just wanted something simple.  Something that would give people an idea of what I love to photography and a way to contact me.

thanks

Simon

I think it's about time

I think it's about time I started to take things more seriously. 

I was reminded recently that the first wedding I shot was just 2 years past.  It was a stressful day and looking back at it I do wonder did I really think about what I was doing.  It does bring back wonderful memories though and the bride and groom are still talking to me so I guess I must have done something right!

Those that know me will know I don't do many photography jobs as my wife's 4th baby, Candytuft Cakes is constantly growing and requires a lot of work from both her and myself to keep it going.  I just love my wife's work and to see how she is developing over the years.  It actually gives me plenty of opportunities to get my camera gear out which is brilliant.  We will hopefully have a few interesting projects coming up which will get to test both of our skills so I can't be happier.

As far as my own work goes though I think its time I tried to promote it a bit more as I love each photo job.  Even though they bring a certain amount of stress I love the challenge and the sense of achievement when I get the results I wanted.  I know I have a lot to learn but there is no better way of learning than actually doing.

Almost a year ago I got myself a domain name but never did anything with it so now I am in the process of getting a website made.  I have had a logo designed and am about to get some business cards printed.  I've also just recently joined the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers.  I'm going to give a good go anyway and see what happens over the next year or two.

Watch this space!

Thanks

Simon

Mrs Candytuft: A letter to all cake decorators... what's it worth...

Mrs Candytuft: A letter to all cake decorators... what's it worth...: "I just want to make cakes!" I can often be heard groaning this when I have so much to do and the admin side of business seems ins...

I don't like photographs!

That's about the first thing he said to me.  And he said it again several times during the shoot.  I'm the same though.  When it comes to having to pose for photos I would rather not.  I tried to tell him it would be as painless as possible.  Probably didn't help that once he came off the phone after our initial conversation that he then told all of his family what I wanted to do.  Think his nephew Matt gave him the most slagging, and during the shot his sister stuck her head in the door at least once and laughed.  Mind you when I offered to photograph her too she quickly disappeared!

I love photographing people.  Using shadows and light is something I really love.  I have recently decided that from now on if I see someone interesting I am just going to offer to photograph them.  A few weeks ago I discovered that my dad's cousin was home visiting from New Zealand where he moved to while I was a teenager to be a farmer.  Andrew, or Hank as he's known, though I have never heard why, has what I would class as an interesting face.  I saw a photo of him from a recent holiday and instantly I knew I had to photograph him.  Hank has just turned 50 and between farming and sailing he has a "worn" look to him.  Mind you being a "Hodge" brings with it its own features, though I think I have managed to avoid most of them.

For the shoot itself it was pretty simple really.  I arrived at the house and was instantly offered a cup of tea and some cake.  Anyone that knows me will know I never turn down a cuppa and as for cake, that's a no brainer.  We had a bit if a chat and then got down to business.

I used a simple black back drop, my D300 and an SB-910 in a softbox triggered by CLS.  I shot at about 1/4000 to kill any ambient.

For someone who hates having photos taken Hank was no problems at all.  He was patient and did exactly as I asked.  I kept it as quick as possible, once I was happy with the shots I just packed up and left.

 

 

 

Thanks,

 Simon

Kids

I just had a message from a relative who commented on the cuteness of my kids.  Love it when people say that.  It made me think about all the things they do that make me smile.  Usually when I get home from work Kathryn will hold Arwen up to the window as I get out of my car and her wee face lights up as she sees me.  Once I open the door I am greeted with Finlay and Lucie shouting out "hello daddy!" and then they come running and throw themselves against my legs.  There is nothing better.  It sure makes up for all those times that they drive you mad :)

Finlay, Arwen & Lucie.

I thank my God for them and the blessing they are to me and Kathryn.

"Children are a blessing and a gift from the Lord."

Psalm 127 v 3

Simon

Fashion for freedom

A few weeks ago my sister-in-law Becki Hodge asked me if I could help her out.  What could I say, particularly once I heard I would need my camera!  Becki is a very caring person who has a great passion for helping people.  During the past year or so she has been involved with the charity Freedom Project Ireland.  On their website they state:

"Our vision is to see men, women, and children freed from human trafficking in Ireland and the UK, living life with hope and abundance."

They are trying to raise awareness to try and put an end to this horrible reality through organising a number of different events from abseils to truck pulling.  This particular event was a fashion show arranged by Becki, where she arranged for local businesses to donate for an auction (including Candytuft Cakes) and supply clothes for the catwalk.  Its so hard to know if events like this will be a success or not.  Speaking to my brother beforehand I think they were expecting just over 100 people, oh how wrong they were.  I think at final count there were around 300 people (about 99% women) packed into the room.  The DJ played, the models strutted their stuff and the woman cheered!

Obviously I was delighted to be able to help out any way I could so when Becki asked me to come along and shoot the show I couldn't say no.  I love photography jobs but I do take each one very seriously.  I try to plan as much as I can and for this job it was no different.  I think about what shots I want to get but also try and look for inspiration from other photographers.

Anyone that knows me will know that I like to work on my own as sometimes when you have help you end up spending as much time trying to explain to your help what they need to do as it would take you to do it yourself.   However I decided for this job it would be best to bring in some help.  Over the past year I have got to know Gary Boal of Boal Photography.  Instantly Gary and I hit it off.  The great thing about Gary is that I know when we work together that I don't need to worry about him.  Once we plan what we are doing on a job we just get on with it.  This fashion show was no different.  We got there early, set up and then just got the job done.

Shooting the show itself was hard work.  I never realised how fast models walk done the catwalk.  I was constantly having to change setting on my camera so as not to either over or under expose the models with the speedlights.  I did have a brilliant night though and got the shots I wanted.  I was so delighted for Becki and her team for the wonderful success they made of the night.  Becki was fantastic and an absolute natural on stage hosting the show.  Roll on the next event!

Our host, the wonderful Becki!

A full house.

 

 

Some of the fantastic entertainment!

Auction time.  Going, going, gone!

The donations for the auction.

Food, glorious food!

FPI Director Gayle Bunting and Becki Hodge

The auction winner Mary Button with her cake from Kathryn of Candytuft Cakes

 

Gary Boal, don't worry he's not as strange as he looks!

The Team!

Simon