Hot off the Lens

A new year always feels like a fresh beginning again and for some reason it always makes me think of the lovely newborns and their families we have visiting the studio.What happens in a newborn shoot? Well, beforehand its always good to chat and try and get a feel for the style/type of shots that you would like taking. There are numerous backdrops and colours that we offer as well as whether you would like naked or wrapped babies, with little props or babies in your favouri ......

When I met Anne Marie and Jacques I knew we were looking at a wedding with a difference. Irish, French and English families, a groom who was afraid to admit a little bit of geek and his lovely Irish bride with the most beautiful laugh and smile with a passion for books. It was a day filled with English Sunshine, A beautiful Country Garden for photos with fabulous hosts a wedding of laughte,r smiles, chat, bubby, generations old and friends old and new, we also used the gr ......

I met Soraya at Prestwold Hall, and her presence and music makes any wedding ceremony magical. If you are looking for beautiful music to float down the aisle to then you cannot go wrong it will truly lift you and your guests into another world. Soraya will continue playing during your afternoon giving you timeless music whilst you enjoy the company of your guests after your wedding vows.The harp is a wonderful instrument to watch and listen to, its an instrument from the gods a ......

So, many ask what type of photography we specialise in and what we do, so I thought, today is a good example of what we get up to at Captcha Photography. Wednesday 9th January went something like this...Uploaded the Smart App Gallery for a family who had a shoot at home (we can do this instead of the studio!)...we just bring all our gear...Mandy was busy creating a new wedding album design for a lovely couple who got married in September. They had chosen their images and wanted this ......

Things can only get better...I watched this and it made me smile so much. Its a pleasure to get to know every one of our bride and grooms but we have been so touched by this amazing video that the groom made for his bride on his wedding day.Background...Christine and Stephen have been together for 24 years when they eventually decided time was right to tie the knot, we were introduced by the Yew Lodge Hotel who recommended us as photographers (thank you!) Marcus was the Captcha Photographe ......

Hats off to the East Leake Year 6 Prom committee this year, they really gave the kids a fantastic theme and the hall, garden and activities on the night really hit the mark for the kids. For the first time the committee decided to use the back garden space for the festival feel, banners, gazebo's, disco, doughnuts, wellies and face painting meant there was so much for them to do. I've never seen another village offer this fabulous event like East Leake do...such a great time f ......

Just before my trip away I managed to squeeze in a shoot at the Quorn and Woodhouse vintage war weekend, based at Quorn station. How bloody MARVELLOUS! I was lucky to have the support of Bride Diva and one of Wendy's beautiful dresses that was based on a wedding dress design from 1947. So, myself and the fabulous Ali Colgate wandered down to the site to see what we could find as a backdrop for our shots.It was a WOW from me, a spitfire with the original Rolls Royce Me ......

How many of us have parents with lots of 35mm slides? In the 60's this was certainly the desired media of choice, how many of us would sit and watch whilst the white screen got put up and that projector delighted us all with pictures of our parents and grandparents on holidays, in the garden, beautiful landscapes that possible buildings that are no more. Of course it helped if the person behind the camera knew how to use the camera, but in them days, they had to, there was no pr ......

So, when I advertised for models on facebook for Marcus to get some training in the studio I wasn't expecting 97 replies! Should have seen that coming I guess. It was hard selecting the models for the shoots but we did go with people we knew partly because we wanted to be sure of the right type of shots/lighting and varying ages of children for Marcus to have on his first time in the studio.Here is our little Rock baby, we chose a purple backdrop, mostly due to the fact that not ......

Its not every day that you have the opportunity to get together 4 generations (some have 5!) but if in your lifetime the opportunity is there, then what better to get a magical memory of everyone all together. For future generations and memory boxes as well as pictures for our wall right now.A shot like this may take precious time to co-ordinate with everyone in the family, but when the little ones are in their 20's and maybe they are having their little ones they can show the future a lit ......

Yesterday Mandy and I made our annual pilgrimage to the Photography show at the NEC, to see what was hot and exciting this year. And I can report...there was nothing with the WOW factor! Yes of course you can get another camera with another gizmo or megabyte but will it really make a difference to the final picture? There were plenty of new mirrorless cameras which are great for travel photography but I decided not so great for hanging one of our pro-lenses off as the ......

On Thursday 15th March from 5pm to 7pm we will be attending the East Leake Academy Careers evening. This superb event has a host of different types of businesses all willing to share advice and information on different career paths. So, if you are struggling to make career decisions and want to speak with different businesses around the East Midlands pop along and get some expert advice.The academy have worked hard to ensure that there is a good split of businesses from Government Se ......

Who puts the F in Flexible? Yes, Kingston Vale Gymnastics certainly do, as I found out last Saturday. We had a really busy day photographing so many of the youngsters who spend most Saturdays training at East Leake Leisure Centre. I've certainly learnt the difference between a tuck, ring and star jump, as well as pointy toes and fingers in different poses. But I think even I was awe struck by the strength and flexibility they all have no matter what age group. ......

In our time as wedding photographers we must have seen somewhere in the region of 500 wedding cakes, and, I don't tire, everyone is lovely and personal to each wedding and each couple. I love how much the guests all coo over the cake and I love the personal touches that each couple adds to their own cake. Where do wedding cakes come from? So, you can read up information everywhere and some say the Romans, but that was really just a bread that they ate not a cake. The ......

Congratulations if you are one of the lucky couples who got engaged at Christmas or New Year. If you are now thinking how daunting the world of weddings could be don't despair. The first wedding fayre of the year is happening at the Best Western Premier Yew Lodge Hotel in Kegworth.The Yew Lodge is a lovely venue, fantastic rooms with lots of opportunities for great photographs inside or outside. The team have lots of experience and really do go the extra mile to make your ......

In the 14 years that we have had the privilege of capturing wedding memories times have changed. We always make sure we get together before the wedding to ensure we know your wish list and style of wedding photography, timings and key members of your bridal party. However, what we have been doing now for a couple of years (but is not widely known) is the Pre-Wedding Shoot. This was originally referred to as an engagement shoot and years ago was for the rich and famous (sor ......

Wow, how beautiful and bright is East Leake now all the lights are on in the village? What a simply amazing afternoon and evening at our lights switch on. There was certainly so much going on with the new live nativity, duck grabbing, spelling and maths fun, food stalls and drinks stalls, the band, craft fayre, photography, choirs and stallholder activities this village certainly had a busy afternoon. So lovely to welcome Santa and his 105 err sorry 110 year old Elf.& ......

Christmas is coming to East Leake on Saturday 25th November for our yearly Christmas Lights switch on where Santa and his Elf light up our lovely village.Activities at the studio start at 2pm until 6pm where our winter wonderland backdrop (photo attached) awaits you and your families. Shoots are on a Walk in basis and the session is free, its warm and dry and you can wait, view and choose your images and take them away with you (bring a USB Stick) or we can email them to you.Digital Images ......

We advertise these dates, but its amazing how many people still don't know they exist. They are 8th and 22nd November and 13th December (for anything pre Xmas)!Here at Captcha we want to get to know you and be a regular part of your yearly family calendar. So, we offer a photography shoot at Captcha Photography...for free! Yes, there is no catch, we offer on dates published throughout the year free 15 minute shoots. That's 15 minutes of photography time, as it may ta ......

We have teamed up this year with the lovely team at Pinfold Vets to offer the pets around our local community of East Leake the opportunity for their own FREE (yes, you heard it right Free!) photo shoot. We have 15 minute slots bookable on Saturday 11th and Tuesday 14th November. The images can be viewed on the day and uploaded to a private website. You can then choose your images for purchase either on the day or in the comfort of your own home.We are pleased to ......