Sweetheart Studio

Autumn mini sessions 2020 – book your slot now!

admin — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 10:17:59 +0000

ALL SESSIONS ARE BOOKED NOW FOR THE AUTUMN MINI SESSIONS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN A MAILING LIST FOR MINI SESSIONS PLEASE EMAIL ME JO@SWEETHEARTSTUDIO.CO.UK

With autumn firmly settled in now, it’s the perfect time to get some photos of you all together. I run mini sessions just a few times a year and am holding some autumn mini sessions in Richmond on Saturday 24 October and in Berrylands on Sunday 1 November. They are for families of up to five and I will be observing all social distancing and hand hygiene guidelines to keep you all safe. Obviously, all this will depend on future lockdowns or limitations, but while we’re able to do so, if you’d like a shoot please get in touch as soon as possible as slots get booked up quickly.

When are the mini sessions?

ALL SESSIONS ARE BOOKED NOW FOR THE AUTUMN MINI SESSIONS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN A MAILING LIST FOR MINI SESSIONS PLEASE EMAIL ME JO@SWEETHEARTSTUDIO.CO.UK

They will be held in Richmond on Saturday 24 October at the following times: ~~9am~~, ~~9.45am,~~ ~~10.30am~~ and ~~11.15am~~. And in Berrylands on Sunday 1 November at ~~9am~~, ~~9.45am~~, ~~10.30am~~ and ~~11.15am~~. Each session is 30 minutes long. I will confirm closer to the time exactly where the sessions will take place when I have sussed out where the autumn colours are at their best, but it will be somewhere with parking close by.

How much do the sessions cost?

These autumn mini sessions cost £225. They include:

A 30-minute photography shoot
A What to Expect guide with tips on what to wear and how to prepare for your session
10 images of your choice on USB, beautifully presented in a gift box. Having the digital version of the images means that you can print copies for family and friends etc (there will be at least 20 images to choose from in a secure online gallery that will be live for 7 days)

What if we want to buy other products?

You will be able to buy additional digital images, frames, canvases, albums and gift prints (I will send you a full price list), but there is no obligation to do so.

How do we book?

Please get in touch with me on 07711 087636 or at jo@sweetheartstudio.co.uk to reserve your session asap as the slots go quickly. I will require a £50 slot reservation fee which will be deducted from your mini session fee. When I receive your deposit, I will send over a mini session guide with advice on what to wear and what to expect on the day. Remember that if you’re a previous Sweetheart Studio customer I will include an 8x6in gift print worth £30 as a free returning customer gift.

What if the weather is bad or the lockdown restrictions change?

If the weather is bad, I will reschedule the morning of mini sessions. In the lead up to the day I will keep a close eye on the forecast and will be in touch. If guidelines change, I will try to reschedule asap but if that’s not possible I am happy to refund your deposit.

What are you doing to keep us safe?

Your safety is my top priority (alongside you all enjoying your session and getting beautiful photos that you love at the end of it)! I regularly use antibacterial hand gel throughout the shoot, will keep at a safe distance and have a mask about my person at all times if you would like me to wear it (I always do in the studio but not on an outdoor shoot as I keep at a safe distance). If you, or any of your family have any symptoms before the shoot please get in touch as soon as possible and I will do all I can to accommodate you with an alternative date. Likewise, should I or anyone in my household experience any symptoms, I will postpone the shoots.

Doorstep portraits during lockdown

admin — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 12:43:55 +0000

Throughout May I photographed 45 households across Kingston and Surbiton in a series of socially-distanced doorstep portrait shoots. It was a chance to capture this moment in history of lockdown (hopefully never to be repeated) and togetherness. All proceeds went to Kingston Foodbank and I am delighted to say that in total £1,525.00 was raised thanks to the generous donations of all those who took part.

These sessions were so popular that I plan to run festive versions in November/December complete with Christmas wreaths, festive jumpers and fairy lights. A percentage of the fee will go to charity. If you would like to be notified when I announce these sessions, please email me on jo@sweetheartstudio.co.uk

In the meantime, a huge thank you once again to all those who took part and donated.

New year, new start – headshot photo sessions 2019 – ONE SLOT LEFT!

admin — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 14:10:02 +0000

Is one of your resolutions for 2019 to finally get round to updating your headshot? Or maybe you have resolved to apply for a new job and need to update your profile pic. If so, I can help.

I will be running half-hour headshot sessions on Sunday 27 January at ~~10am; 11am~~; ~~12 noon; 2pm and 3pm~~. If you can’t make that day, the special price of £75* will apply until 1 March so please get in touch to arrange another date. (Dates in red are now booked).

This is the perfect opportunity for you to get some up-to-date headshots to use for your LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter profiles.

You might hate having your photo taken. I understand that because I do too. But with 9 years’ experience of taking headshot photos, I can quickly put you at ease so that you relax in front of the camera and we get some great shots. Throughout the session we will review the photos so that we can adjust poses accordingly and you can feel confident in the knowledge that you look good in front of the camera.

How much is a headshot session?

*From 1 March 2019, headshot sessions will cost £95 but until then you can still book at the old price of £75. This includes:

A 30-minute photo shoot in my studio in Surbiton (this is plenty of time for a change of top or jacket on/jacket off so that you have some variety in your photos)
A What to Expect guide with tips on what to wear
At least 15 images to choose from in a secure online gallery that will be live for 7 days
Three digital images in colour and black and white in high res format and cropped to a square for Facebook and LinkedIn
Additional digital images can be purchased at a cost of £15 each.

How do I book?

Please email me at jo@sweetheartstudio.co.uk or phone me on 07711 087636. I will then send you a What to Expect guide and an invoice for a shoot deposit to reserve your slot.

Here are some kind words from previous headshot customers:

‘I usually hate having my photograph taken but Jo’s warm and humorous approach set me completely at ease and she took some fantastic headshots. She gave great advice on how to get the professional but approachable look I was after, and took the time to review the shots as we went along to ensure I was happy. I’m absolutely delighted with the results!’

CF, small business owner, Surbiton

‘I contacted Jo for a professional headshot session as I needed some photos for an award nomination and my LinkedIn profile at short notice. Jo was extremely professional and put me at ease immediately during the session. She was also very patient with multliple outfit changes and made sure my hair/clothing was well arranged in all shots, sharing feedback on how to get the best photo throughout. After the session, Jo turned the photos around quickly including some subtle edits. I am delighted with the headshots I received and thought Jo’s package was excellent value for money compared to other options I looked into. I would highly recommend Jo.’

CT, Business Development Director, Kingston upon Thames

Family shoot in Richmond upon Thames

admin — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 13:44:00 +0000

I am shockingly behind with posting photos from all the lovely shoots I’ve done – and I’ve just realised that I didn’t share any photos from this lovely late summer family shoot which took place in the Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park. The family were bought a gift voucher when their lovely baby boy was born, but they chose to save it until he was a bit older so that they could have the shoot in the park. It was a lovely relaxed shoot and there was lots of fun, giggles and cuddles involved… Following the shoot, the family ordered some gift prints, digital images and this stunning storyboard frame to show off their favourite images from the day (scroll right down to the bottom of this post to see it).

Happy Mother’s Day

admin — Sun, 30 Mar 2014 18:43:11 +0000

Just wanted to wish all mums a very happy Mother’s Day while there are still a few hours of Mother’s Day left – even though we were all robbed of an hour of lie-in this morning because the clocks went forward

So, happy Mother’s Day mums. Hope you’ve had a lovely day. To mark the occasion, here’s an image from one of my latest studio shoots last Friday. It featured a lovely mum, a beautiful bump and a very gorgeous little girl. What better way to show how great it is to be a mum…

There’s just one slot left if you’d like a lovely spring mini session next Saturday morning in Richmond. The slot is at 10.30am. Please click here for further details www.sweetheartstudio.co.uk/outdoor-mini-sessions/

5 Mother’s Day gift ideas from Sweetheart Studio

admin — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 14:31:27 +0000

Mother’s Day is on Sunday 30 March this year – just under four weeks away. But there’s still time to treat Mum or Granny to something lovely. To give you some present-buying inspiration here are 5 great ideas for gifts from Sweetheart Studio. If you are interested in booking a shoot or mini session please get in touch asap so that I can create a personalised voucher for you to give on Mother’s Day. If you’d like to order an album or personalised Word Art picture, I will need your order by 15 March please.

Idea 1: Book a mini shoot for the family

Why not book a mini portrait session as a Mother’s Day gift for your wife or mum? They’re a great opportunity to get some up-to-date photos of you all together and I can create a beautifully packaged, personalised voucher for the session for you to give on Mother’s Day.

I am running spring mini sessions on the morning of Saturday 5 April in Richmond Park. Each mini session lasts 30 minutes and costs £160 which includes five high res images on DVD.

For further details of the spring mini sessions please click here

If you’d prefer to book a bespoke portrait session of up to two hours on a different date and in the location of your choice please get in touch on the number below. Please call me if you’d like to chat about what type of session would suit you best before booking:

Email: jo@sweetheartstudio.co.uk Call: 07711 087636

BOOK BY 15 MARCH AND GET A FREE 8x6in GIFT PRINT INCLUDED

Idea 2: Treat Mum or Grandma to a gift voucher

Any Mum or Grandma would love to have some beautiful photos taken with her children/grandchildren. But if you can’t decide between a mini session or full 2-hour portrait session and you’re not sure whether you’d all prefer a studio session or on-location shoot then a voucher could be the answer. I’ll design a personalised voucher which is beautifully presented for you to give on Mother’s Day and then you can decide what you’d like once you’ve all had a chance to discuss it together. You can put the voucher towards a full session, a mini session, a Midweek Mini studio session or a family studio portrait session. Vouchers are valid for 12 months from the date of issue. Please click here to order or call me on 07711 087636 to discuss what sort of voucher you would like and I’ll design it and send you a proof.

PLEASE ORDER YOUR VOUCHER BY 15 MARCH TO GET IT IN TIME FOR MOTHER’S DAY

Idea 3: Order a mini boasting book/album from a previous shoot

Why not treat Mum or Grandma to a mini album featuring their favourite photos from a past photo shoot with Sweetheart Studio. I have just taken delivery of these beautiful boasting books that fold out to display five 4in-square photos. Presented in a gift bag, they come in a choice of grey and white polka dots or multi-coloured dots and are perfect for popping in a handbag. You can see more images of them here

They are lovely quality and are great value at £50 each. Please get in touch if you’d like to order one and I will upload the images from your past shoot to a gallery so that you can choose which ones you would like in the album.

Idea 4: Put your favourite photo on the wall

It’s lovely having the digital version of your favourite images from a shoot. But it’s even better to hang them on the wall so that you see them every day. New from Sweetheart Studio for 2014 are these block prints. They are beautifully finished and ready to hang on the wall. They sit flush to the wall and look great hung in groups of three or four small prints as well as one large print. Prices start at £45 for an 8x6in block print so they are fantastic value for money.

You can see more images of them here I have some lovely samples of the block prints so if you would like to come and see them before ordering, give me a call on 07711 087636 and pop into my studio in central Kingston.

Idea 5: Surprise Mum with a personalised Word Art picture

For an alternative to a photo-themed gift, how about a personalised word art picture? I have started producing Word Art prints which are beautifully framed and presented and they have proved very popular so far. Great for mums or grandmas, you can choose from two designs for Mother’s Day.For more examples and to order please click herePlease call on 07711 087636 for information. Orders for personalised word art pictures must be received by 15 March for delivery in time for Mother’s Day.

Spring photo shoot in Richmond Park

admin — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 17:27:23 +0000

Although it’s still freezing, the sunshine we’ve had today makes it seem that perhaps spring isn’t that far off after all. So it seemed like the perfect opportunity to share some photos from a lovely family shoot that took place last April in Richmond Park. The freezing weather we’d had prior to it meant that the daffodils were still in bloom along with all the beautiful azaleas so there was lots of lovely colour in the shoot and we spent a happy couple of hours making our way around the Isabella Plantation. The boys busied themselves jumping off logs, building dens and climbing trees so I hope that they enjoyed the shoot as much as I did. Here are just a few of my favourite photos from the session.

If you would like to book a family photo session this spring, I have some mini sessions planned for Saturday 5 April. You can see details of them here. If you’re interested please do get in touch as slots go quickly…

Family photo session in Richmond

admin — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 14:32:01 +0000

This lovely photo shoot took place at the end of October last year in Richmond Park. We had already had to postpone the shoot twice due to bad weather, but it was third time lucky and we managed to find a slot of two hours where it was dry and sunny before the wind and rain picked up again. After a quick stroll from the family’s home into the park, we found the most beautiful spot surrounded by trees with yellow and gold leaves. And to make it even more perfect, there was a stag who just stood calmly to one side throughout most of the shoot, watching us while munching on grass. If you would like a family shoot in Richmond Park or one of the other lovely parks in the area, please get in touch on 07711 087636. I have some weekends free in March and April at the moment…

Family studio session in Kingston upon Thames

admin — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 13:11:17 +0000

I usually spend January planning for the year ahead and researching lovely new products to offer. I’m very excited to have found some beautiful new boasting books and albums at a photography trade show last week and can’t wait to get some samples into the studio to show off. January is also a good time to catch up on blog posts – I have lots of lovely photo shoots from last year that I didn’t get round to blogging. So with that in mind, here’s a family photo shoot that took place in my studio in central Kingston. The lovely family I photographed said that they had really enjoyed the shoot, which I hope shines through in the photos. I loved it too, despite nearly having a mishap with some flying chocolate coins. However, that provoked lots of giggles so was worth it…

If you would like some up-to-date family photos in the studio, please get in touch. I have a beautiful sofa, a choice of backdrops and some lovely props (plus I’m close to lots of coffee shops, restaurants and shops if you feel like combining lunch or a shopping trip with your shoot). I run studio shoots all year round weekdays and some weekends. And I will be running some special sessions for Mother’s Day (which is on 30 March this year). So if you think that’s something you would be interested in, please do get in touch. In the meantime, here are some of my favourite photos from the session.

Studio mini sessions in Kingston upon Thames

admin — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 14:12:24 +0000

To celebrate the opening of my new studio in central Kingston upon Thames, I ran a series of mini sessions at the end of November/beginning of December and photographed newborns, babies, toddlers, families, teenagers and a few furry canine friends too. The sessions were all lots of fun and I was delighted with some lovely feedback from the families involved. As she left the studio, one mum said ‘We hadn’t realised that we’d enjoy the session so much, thank you.’ Another family emailed when they had received their photos to say: ‘My husband hates having his photo taken and was sceptical about us all having a family portrait shoot. But you’ve changed his mind and we are thrilled with the photos thanks.’

So if you’re stuck for a last-minute gift idea and think that a voucher for a baby, family, pet or headshot portrait shoot – in the studio, outdoors or in your own home – might be just the answer, then please get in touch. I can design you a personalised voucher and can email it over to you (or drop it in if you live close to Kingston upon Thames). For more information please get in touch on 07711 087636 or jo@sweetheartstudio.co.uk

In the meantime, I wanted to share just a taster of the studio sessions with you… Happy Christmas!