Sarah Ann Wright Blog

So, to start off my first full blog post of 2012 (and full blog post on my shiny new blog anyway), I thought I would post a recap on my 2011. It seems a nice way to start a new year, by reflecting on the old one  :)

In 2011, I took more pictures in one year that I have at any year to date. I’d love to say I know exactly how many pictures I took, but having had a fit of rage at my computer memory space being almost full to the brim, I deleted almost 6,000 RAW files and claimed over 160 GB of my storage space back. Over 70% of that were images taken in 2011, so you can at least get a rough idea that I took a LOT of images in 2011.

Three of my main resolutions at the end of 2010 were to:

1. Learn more photography techniques in general, and shoot with a wider range of models, locations, stylings and props.

2. Learn artificual lighting.

3. Shoot people who want their picture taken, and to stop harassing my long suffering friends Lisa and Kate into posing for me (wonderful models as they were).

Happily, I can report I managed to achieve all three goals.

I went on several workshops in 2011: one with Rosie Hardy, who was absolutely lovely, and through shooting mad images on a beach she taught me to not be so self conscious when shooting images in public, as well as the wonders you can do with simple props and surroundings. Here I also met Niz, who has since because an absolute gem of a friend – I’ve never met anyone who was more lovely, hardworking, or determined. I came away with not only awesome images from Rosie’s workshop, but also bags of inspiration, and it was she who encouraged me to sign up to Model Mayhem (more on that later).

My favourite images from the day, shot in Southampton:

I also attended two workshops hosted by Miss Aniela (one was co-hosted with Brooke Shaden, who was amazing to meet). I wanted to be able to shoot with models, props and locations not usually accessible to me, as well as learn from two fantastic artists, and both workshops exceeded my highest expectations of what I hoped to achieve from them. The first image below was shot almost on impulse as I was waiting for my turn to shoot. The second was in my head the moment I saw the piano, and after creeping Natalie out somewhat with my terrible sketch of what I wanted to achieve, I finally produced “The Puppeteer & The Pianist”. It looks decidedly less freaky than my sketch apparently was! (I haven’t posted it here for fear of inducing nightmares.)

I also attended a Fashion Experience hosted by Natalie and Matthew, but I have as yet to edit those images, I have left them out of this post. The final workshops I attended were on studio lighting and using a flash. I’ve had two 580EX’s lying dormant since I got them, and last year I really pushed myself into using them. As well as using them on camera I’ve also started to work with them off camera. It’s great fun experimenting (until the umbrella stand blows over in the wind, hits you on the head, then crumples. Thanks wind).

The outside two images were taken whilst I was learning Bowens studio lighting. Thanks to those courses I was able to hold a studio shoot of my own in December. The centre image was taken using two 580EX flashes:

In July I organised an group shoot of my own, in some amazing lavender fields in Hitchin. Here I met Sharon Cooper for the first time, who first introduced me to the fields through her images on Flickr.  Sharon is such a kind and funny lady, and I hope to see more of in 2012. She was also kind enough to let me come shoot a wedding with her in August, and I learnt a lot just from watching her shoot. From that I am now much more confident at shooting weddings, and now have 3 booked so far for 2012, whoo!

For the lavender shoot I arranged the models, props and borrowed costumes from my favourite vintage store, and just let the ladies all have at it. This was not a paid workshop in any way, just me organising for a great group of photogs to meet up, shoot, and have a laugh. And for Niz to introduce us to George the skull  :)  I managed to borrow a genuine Victorian dress for the shoot, but unfortunately it was so genuine the stupid old thing ripped every time Twiglet moved, so I ended up having to fork out £50 to cover repairs.

At this shoot I created what has become my favourite image of 2011, “Frozen Ink” as well as “Summoner of Storms”. I also still have a ton of pictures to edit from this shoot, with a more vintage theme to them.

Below is a group shot of all photog and model attendees (bar Tyla, who took the picture) all looking great with the exception of myself, who as Sevgi can testify, was doing my usual thing of talking when I wasn’t supposed to. Hence the stupid face:

2011 was the first year I got to shoot with genuine models. People who really do want their picture taken, amazing! Rosie encouraged me to create a Model Mayhem page, and through it I met Little Twiglet (horse image), Anna (plaits image, and plenty more still to come), and Cynthia (graffiti image). I also met Rodney, who manages VIP Entertainment, and thanks to him I got to shoot singer Hayley Cassidy (with my flash! Outside and off my camera, hurrah!) and Georgina (my first shoot in a studio, managing the lights!), and hopefully more shoots with him to come this year.

Every model I’ve met so far has been so wonderful and accommodating. I now see Little Twiglet regularly for shoots and meetups and she often comes to shoot and hang out with Sevgi, Bella and Niz too. She never bats an eyelid at my weird ideas, and even has plenty of her own. Anna was so passionate about swing dancing that I’ve been encouraged to start a swing dancing class this year. It’s a shame she moved back to Iceland as I’d have loved to shoot her more. I think I’ve learnt a lot of non photographic stuff having met all these new people  

In April Pete and I had what can only be described as an epic holiday, touring California for two weeks. We went to San Francisco, L.A (Disneyland and Universal studios – we saw a Delorean and the Hill Valley clock tower, and it made my day), Las Vegas, Death Valley and Yosemite. We spent my 28th birthday driving from the hot nothingness of Death Valley to the lush greens and snow of Yosemite. Absolutely awesome holiday (apart from a dodgy pizza in Vegas) and as in England we don’t have any landscape even remotely comparable, I confess I totally fell in love with the Valley of Fire  and Death Valley. With those epic names, who wouldn’t? Badwater was one of the weirdest landscapes I have ever seen, and the bottom image of me was taken by Pete, and now hangs on a giant canvas above my desk in our flat:

Towards the end of 2011 I conducted a couple of shoots for independant fashion designers. Gemma at Spotty Dotty contacted me requesting some images for her website, showing off her designs, but in a dark grungy manner. It was absolutely freezing but the models (sourced by Gemma) did an amazing job. I met Siobhan Drew here, an incredible make up artist and hair stylist (as can be seen on the beauty shot of Kirsty, top left). We’ve since planned to meet up for a couple of mad shoots in 2012! Last year I didn’t know any hairstylists or makeup artists, so to be able to meet people who want to fulfil the same crazy ideas that I do is just wonderful.

This was the second time I used my flash off camera outside (580EX camera left, shot through white umbrella) and I’m quite pleased with the results. Fingers crossed for more of the same this year! 2011 was also the year I got addicted to coloured smoke bombs  :)  In this shoot we used red, green, blue, purple and white. The smell never gets any nicer, I can tell you.

My second fashion shoot came about in a really haphazard way. Twiglet contacted me saying she’d arranged to borrow some fantastic clothes from student designer Tonje and asked if I was interested in shooting them. Of course, show anyone a hat with a unicorn horn on, and you’re guaranteed the answer to that straight away. At the same time, Philipp Keusen, a make up and hairstylist from Switzerland sent me a message through Model Mayhem asking if I fancied a TF shoot as he was visiting London and if I knew any models. Of course I put two and two together, and that’s how my Scandinavia series came about – one of my overall favourite shoots of 2011. Philipp was a lovely guy – as well as the hair and makeup for Tonje’s clothes, he also spent some time beforehand expertly weaving my dead old Bonsai tree into Twig’s hair for another shoot. What I loved most about him was that he didn’t even bat an eyelid at my bonsai request, but actively relished it! He was also kind enough to humour me when I stupidly realised I had no idea what the capital of Switzerland was…(I know now, it’s BERN!)

Twiglet and I enjoyed this shoot immensely, and we’re both hoping Philipp will come back to London again soon

I wanted to do a seperate blog post later on with my Scandinavia series, so am just posting these two for now, though you can see more on Facebook. (purple smoke bombs FTW!)

Last year I met up with fellow photographers Bella, Sevgi and Niz for some fun shoots and just to hang out. Although I had met up and shot with Sevgi before, we never managed to see each other regularly until now. Originally Bella organised a shoot for us with gorgeous girls Tia and Amber in Brighton, which has now eventually snowballed into us meeting up and shooting once a month (always somewhere different) bringing our own props and weird bits and bobs to mix and match with.  We’ve shot in Hampstead Heath and Cockfosters (no rude jokes please!) and are hoping to keep meeting up once a month this year. It’s really just a chance to get out, experiment with random props, shoot and have fun. We’re always open to having people along, so if you’re in London, just drop me a message!

This below a variety of images taken at Hampstead and Cockfosters. Note how for someone so lovely, Niz does a fantastic evil impression…. she’s clearly been watching her Disney movies.

Testament to how mad we must look when out shooting:

Overall 2011 was a great year for me, I learnt more, pushed boundaries, got my own website (hand built by Pete) and made awesome new friends. I’m now capable with artificial light and embrace learning more of it, unlike previous years where I actively stayed away from it. Through connections made last year I now have bookings, weddings and collaborations lined up this year, with many more to come. Last year when I set up my Facebook page I didn’t think many people would end up taking notice of it, but I’m now at time of writing only 203 people away from having 1,000 fans. I still find it amazing that there are ten people in the world who like my work – to know it’s almost a thousand is absolutely incredible. Sharing yourself and your work socially is a terrifically strong tool, and I hope to share my knowledge further in 2012 by writing /recording tutorials and giving out actions I’ve created and textures I’ve used.

I also joined up with another stock agency last year, to bring my total to three. Through them I’ve been on 3 book covers and the same odd psychic magazine over and over (I read it once, and it made no sense). Still, all sales are good sales, and fingers crossed for more to come this year

Although I haven’t fully decided what I want to achieve this year, I know I want it to be more of the same from last year – more shoots, more lighting, more friends and more fun. I aim make more connections and help others out when I can, and hopefully a lot of that will be achieved on this blog, which I do resolve to maintain so please watch this space!

I realise this has been an epically long post, so if you have indeed made it all the way to the end the only thing left to say is thank you for taking the time, and I hope to see you again soon  :)