It’s been one of those lovely, full-to-the-brim weeks here—one of those where you collapse on Friday with a cup of tea in one hand and a biscuit in the other, wondering how on earth we squeezed it all in… and also wondering if anyone would notice if you had another Colin the Caterpillar and maybe a glass of wine!
We kicked things off with our Mastering Dogs and Owners Photography workshop. I absolutely love this one—not just for the gorgeous dogs (and their equally gorgeous owners), but for the energy our delegates bring. There’s something really special about photographing dogs and the people who adore them. Add in the full team, a fabulous work placement student, and a well-timed burst of sunshine, and you’ve got the kind of day that makes this job feel like an absolute joy. (Also, the Colin the Caterpillars went down very well. Essential mid-afternoon brain food, if you ask me.)
Elsewhere in the week, I had the absolute joy of running a one-to-one masterclass on environmental portraiture, along with a portfolio review. I really enjoy these sessions—there’s something brilliant about sitting down with someone’s work, talking it through, and helping them figure out where they want to go next. It’s a proper creative conversation. We also headed out on the road to photograph a couple of our artisan clients (always a treat), and—miraculously—the weather behaved itself. Which, let’s be honest, is nothing short of a miracle here in the UK!
We also welcomed a few families into the studio for portraits. One in particular—featuring two-year-old twins—had me laughing from start to finish. You know those sessions where the chaos is part of the magic? That was this. Just brilliant. I cannot wait to share the results with the family (and with you lot, too). You can see more of our regular portrait work over at www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk
And today? Back photographing at Hearing Dogs, soaking up the sunshine and being very professionally mauled by six puppies. One of them was an eight-week-old cockapoo, and I think I fell a little bit in love. They’ve got teeth like needles, though—fair warning if you’re thinking of adopting one soon!
Behind the scenes, we’ve been filming a new video on using smoke/fog machines—well, we filmed most of it last week, but I’ve just finished the post-production section, showing how I brought the final image to life in Photoshop. As you know, I’m a big believer that half the work is done in-camera, and the other half is done with care in post. It’s a partnership, not a shortcut.
And finally, bookings have started coming in for our latest training days, which we’re planning right now. They’re going to be an absolute blast. If you’re thinking of joining us, or have any questions about them—or anything else—we’re just at the other end of the inbox.
Till next time… be kind to yourself.