In March we made some big improvements to the studio, which has resulted in our clients having a much improved and more comfortable experience when they visit us. The improvements meant that we had to close for nearly 3 months to get everything into place and not being able to do any business during that time was challenge for us, but its been worth it. A lot of you – especially our returning clients have commented to me how fantastic everything now looks.

In October, we learnt we had won one of the biggest portrait photography competitions in the UK – namely the Fujifilm/MPA Portrait Awards. Out of the ten finalists places available, we were the only studio in the UK to get three of those places. But it was our client of the winning photograph who was most pleased. For winning the competition, they were given a cheque for £1,000.00! We are running the competition again in 2012, so if you would like the chance of winning a cool grand, contact us on 01279 843050 now.

Shown above is a small selection of shots from some recent shoots. From the top is a publicity portrait of Onelia who is a very talented photographer, next is Denise with her family, who braved the wind and cold for a location portrait shoot, next is Lesley and her family trying not to crush dad and finally the very well co-ordinated Liam, Eddie, Tom and Eleanor.

So finally, a big thank you to you, our clients for choosing us to capture the spirit of someone you love and to our suppliers for going beyond the call of duty. Also a big thank you to Jane who joined me in September, who is going out and spreading the good word about our studio.

Time to go, as there is a bottle of beer with my name written on it!

Have a great Christmas and a happy and healthy new year.

David
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All Photographs: Copyright © David Calvert 2011. Copying strictly forbidden by law.

Apologies for the lack of updates just recently. We’ve had to give priority to to the numerous amount of shoots and viewings we’ve recently done.

We’ve had some clients asking us when they should place their orders with us to ensure delivery of their prints before Christmas. Because of the bespoke nature of our products, please place your order by the following dates:

For all framed and mounted prints, your order needs to be placed by 5th December. For loose prints and images supplied in a digital format, please ensure that you place your order by midday, 12th December. Depending on our workload, we may be able to extend this by a few days, but this cannot be guaranteed.

For clients who would like to purchase prints from their last sitting, please contact us on 01279 843050 and we can upload your images to an online gallery for a strictly limited period without charge. You can purchase prints securely online or phone us with your order.

Finally, I’ll leave you with a photo of a lovely family I recently photographed.

All photographs: Copyright: © David Calvert 2010. Copying strictly forbidden by law.

Things are getting very busy here and we’ve had lots of great people in to photograph.

Shown above are a couple of images from a shoot I did last Friday. Phoebe and her little sister Lexi came in for a portrait shoot with their mummy and daddy. They both looked beautiful in their lovely dresses.

Would you like to see more of our work? Visit our website here.
All photographs: Copyright © David Calvert 2010. Copying is strictly forbidden by law.

Had a nice shoot on Saturday. Sally, her sister and their children came in for a family portrait shoot. It was a nice relaxed atmosphere and we got some great shots.

All photographs: Copyright © David Calvert 2011. Copying strictly forbidden by law.

Here’s my latest visitor to the studio.  Little Finlay (3) told me he loves the colour red. If he wants the colour red in his portrait – he can have it! We had a lovely shoot and he had me and his mum laughing all the way through it!

Just a little update on my availability. Things are now starting to get busy. If you would like to take advantage of my latest offer – namely a portrait shoot for £25.00 (normal price £50.00) and a complimentary print worth £49.00, I have a few weekday slots left, but very limited availability for shoots on Saturday mornings. This offer applies to shoots that take place by 12th November, so call me now on 01279 843050 for offer details and to reserve your space.

Photographs: Copyright: © David Calvert 2011. Copying forbidden by law.

Sorry! Offer now closed.

If you are wondering what to give family and friends for Christmas, we have the perfect gift idea for you!

With Christmas coming, there has never been a better time to have your portrait taken. Family portraits make a perfect and totally unique Christmas gift for everyone. For a strictly limited period, all studio family portrait sessions for up to 6 people are at a very special price of only £25.00 (normal price £50.00).  Plus, you will also receive a print worth £49.00 absolutely free!

To take advantage of this great offer, your shoot needs to take place by 12th November 2011. Spaces are strictly limited and are allocated on a first-come basis. Remember, this is our busiest time of year and spaces (especially on Saturdays) get booked up weeks in advance, so you need to book now to avoid disappointment.

To book your shoot, contact us now on 01279 843050.

All photographs: © David Calvert 2012. Copying strictly forbidden by law.

I am one VERY happy photographer!

On Sunday, I attended the Master Photography Awards in Newcastle, which is the photographic industry’s premier annual award ceremony for professional photographers.

During the evening, I was thrilled to learn that I had won the prestigious title of Fujifilm / MPA Portrait Photographer of the Year.  The ‘Fuji’s', as its known, is a competition open to all  professional photographers in the UK and attracts a very high volume of entries. What is great about this competition is that the clients of the winning images can also benefit too – in this case the winning client gets a big fat cheque for £1,000.00! So it was with enormous pleasure that I was able to contact one of my clients to tell them that they had won the top prize! Needless to say they were over the moon. A huge congratulations to the beautiful Daisy (pictured above) from Bishops Stortford and her family who won the big prize.

Furthermore, the competition is also aimed to help the charity PACE, who help children affected by cerebral palsy. For every photograph submitted, £1.00 is donated to the charity. This year a cheque for £3,000.00 was presented to radio legend Dave Lee Travis, who is a patron of the charity. Pictured above shows (from L-R) Jon Cohen from Fujifilm, myself and the Patron of PACE / radio DJ, Dave Lee Travis.

So…

How would you like the chance of winning £1,000.00?  Its just been confirmed that the Fujifilm / MPA Portrait Awards is back for 2012 and we are now taking bookings. Remember, not only did we win it this year, but we were the only studio in the UK to get 3 images into the finals. We want to try and do even better next year! £1,0000.00 is up for grabs for the outright winner, plus £50.00 shopping vouchers for clients who get into the finals.

To book your shoot and for the chance to win £1,000.00, call us now on 01279 843050!

Photograph: © Copyright, David Calvert 2011. Copying strictly forbidden by law.
Presentation photograph courtesy of Take That Event Photography.

I’ve been meaning to post up this photograph for a little while now, but this is the lovely Daisy(3). She came in with her family for some portraits and this was my favourite from the session. Its just a beautifully calm and natural photograph of her.

Would you like to see more of our work? Visit our website here.
All photographs: © Copyright David Calvert 2011. Copying strictly forbidden by law.

Busy week and here are a few of the lovely children I’ve had in the studio – and all girls too!

Firstly we have Sophie(1) who loved crawling all over the place! The next two shots are of sisters Alex(1) and Louisa(4) who both had beautiful sparkly blue eyes, and finally Lucy(4) and Anna (2). Lucy sung me a lovely song and remembered all the words!

Would you like to see more of our work? Visit our website here.
All photographs & text: Copyright © David Calvert 2011. Copying strictly forbidden by law.

Had some fantastic news today. I’ve just learnt that I’ve got two photographs into the finals of the highly prestigious Fuji / MPA Portrait Awards!

Congratulations to my subjects Toyin from London & Lottie from Bishops Stortford who worked really hard to give me some great shots. For getting into the finals, they each win a £50.00 M&S voucher.

The above shots will join 8 other finalists in the portrait category. From those a winner will be chosen who will walk off with a cool £1,000.00! Fingers crossed its one of my shots!

There is still time to enter this competition. My posting shown below gives details on a great portrait offer we are doing. Each family who takes up this offer will be entered into the Fuji / MPA Portrait Awards. For bookings and offer details, contact me on 01279 843050 now. Spaces are limited and this offer closes at the end of July.

All photographs / Text: Copyright: © David Calvert 2011. Copying is strictly forbidden by law.