Family photo session.

Getting back into the swing of things after long summer holidays and wanted to post these: a few of my personal favourites from a family photo shoot, gorgeous children and parents, not forgetting the dogs and horses that got involved too!!

If you would like a similar session for your family (with or without animals!) then please contact me.

Images of Greece

Two wonderful weeks spent in Kefalonia, Greece with amazing light and a host of photo opportunities. Here are a selection which hopefully give a feel for the wonderful vibrancy of the colours, beauty and of course the heat of the island.

Dodging the showers!

The UK weather makes outdoor photography rather eventful, as most people know lately it has been rain, rain and more rain! But as long as you don't mind getting a bit muddy there are usually breaks in the rain and then the sun suddenly comes out and a bit of blue sky might even appear. The trick is to work quickly before the next downpour sends you back inside!

Here is a montage of a very lovely baby who performed beautifully for his first photo shoot, I love the muted colours of this set of photographs.

What makes a good photo become a great photo?

Every photographer will have a different answer to this and for everyone taking or looking at pictures it is something different.

Is it the composition? The light? The beautiful subject? Yes, these are all necessary for a great shot, but for me, the wow factor comes from something else, a natural photograph, the one the subject didn't realise was being taken.

Once the science of photography is understood many technically perfect pictures can be taken but there is often that something special missing. I spend a lot of time on the net looking at other photographers work and the ones that make me stop and go "wow" are the ones where a very special moment has been captured. One of my favourite photographers whose work I love to look at and take inspiration from is jeansmithphotography.com so many of her photos are just incredible and really appear to capture the essence of the subject (being in the US there is usually great light too!)

After a busy day taking photos yesterday one of my favourite pictures was actually after the session when the light was just getting good and was completely natural and unrelated to the actual photo shoot. Just a girl and a horse.

This has reminded me why that, despite the UK's very unpredictable and often appalling weather, I am perserving with natural, outdoors photography and why I am not working in a white studio. The shots may be harder to achieve but then one comes along that I am just so proud to have taken.

To view more of my photographs or arrange a photo shoot please visit my facebook page: piperspicturesphotography

or my website:

http://www.piperspictures.co.uk

Summer Wedding at the Crazy Bear.