A typical portrait session doesn’t always look like this

Reflecting on thirteen years worth of portrait sessions with numerous inspirational women who want to look natural and glowing in their photographs, I’ve learnt how much bravery it really takes to contact a professional photographer in Ryde, facing fears about your body, your wardrobe and even how you feel about yourself.

I’m hoping this post changes the way you think about booking a portrait photographer and peels away your fears, for ever. Most importantly, help you more easily prepare for a photo shoot creating photographs that everyone loves.

There is no perfect portrait session (no matter how much you prepare).

Yet when many of us start to think about updating our headshots, making a personalised card with a family photograph or capturing a special moment in your relationship, like a maternity shoot, we start with an expectation that we need to be perfect.

But perfection doesn’t exist.

Life is full of stress points – our jobs, school, kids, pets and even our loved ones. But what if my portrait sessions don’t require you to be perfect? What if all of us can photograph beautifully, with charm and expression, no matter how imperfect we feel? With portrait sessions in my Ryde home-studio, it turns out that’s not just a nice idea. It’s the truth.

Take Etti’s session in Ryde (and although I don’t normally I use my bathroom as a studio) these photographs show Etti in a confident, flattering and creative outlook. Despite her self-confessed doubts about the session ahead of time, I just know Etti loves her photographs.

Amazing photographer, I can not wait to work with her again.

I too adore these photographs, especially when I sense a new muse in Etti (see her profile here). Our inspiration? To capture her confident outlook – Etti’s always supporting other creatives, her suggestions and guidance help artists realise their ambitions.

Etti makes me want to hug myself in delight. Her suggestions to use old books, speckled eggs and beautiful blossoms create new narratives to our collaboration. Making the portrait session spontaneous and exciting, Etti is the kinda gal that pushes people to be the best that they can.

My favourite photographs were actually taken in my bathroom. Surprising? I knew that the light was beautiful. Proving my point. You don’t have to be perfect to create beautiful photographs. What it really takes to create honest portraits is trust – trust in my clever posing and use of flattering lighting to create fine art imagery that shines with confidence, health, and character.

My aim is simple – to ensure a truly wonderful experience.  I customise each photo session, from the beginning of the shoot right until your items are delivered. My goal is to personally look after you every step of the way. That way I know you’ll get a service that is second to none.

For more advice on natural portrait sessions or to book a natural portrait by an Isle of Wight photographer, get in touch and I’ll be happy to help.

Amanda Herbert | Isle of Wight
Email: info@amandaherbert.com

Sometimes life sends you a thrill, just when you don’t expect it. Tamyka got in touch again asking to update her portraits (I think we last met three years ago). “I’ve just got back from Thailand, and oh yes, I have blue hair.” How could I resist?

All my sessions start with what my clients want, always. My best sessions are when I take natural photographs that help people look happy, successful businesswomen whilst presenting themselves as having a confident, approachable outlook. I want the sessions to be the best possible fun you can have.

Even if you are nervous about hiring a professional photographer in Ryde, or you feel like, “well, I’m not a model”, my portrait sessions can help you. Because from time to time we all want flattering photographs that remind us of who we once were (and who we can still be).

Because even the most confident people may need some gentle support and confident coaching to ‘shine’ in front of the camera. That’s why my Style Book and Session Guides help, they’re the first step to feeling confident and prepared for your photoshoot.

So, let’s take a look at Tamyka’s photographs. Does it look like she traveled all day from London for her portrait session in Ryde? Or that engineering works redirected her train making the session fall an hour later. Or that I took the very last photo failed because the tide came in unexpectedly and a wave washed over our bags?

Scrabbling to pick up our bags and save my camera equipment, I barely had time to grab this last photograph before we giggled tiptoeing through the razor clams distinctive markings.

It’s never too late to book your portrait session, it starts with you.

Amanda Herbert | Isle of Wight
Email: info@amandaherbert.com

Firestone Copse, Isle of Wight

Sneaking in a creative portrait session with model Key was a delight, even though this was a fun session for both of us, I like to maintain my professional reputation as an Isle of Wight portrait photographer.

Right at the last minute, mum decided to join us and I’m so gald she did. Not only did we have someone to keep us company as we nattered about photography (we’re both photographers on the Island) but I had the comfort of knowing Key was well looked after.

Model portrait photography with ‘Amanda Herbert Photography’ is relaxed and informal, just how I like it. I’d arrived early so I could scoot around the Copse looking for where the light was falling so we could work quickly and efficiently.

Firestone Copse is beautiful, but it’s also full of shadowy corners and uneven flooring, so I wanted to make sure our locations where close by and easy to access.

My sessions are all about exploring portaits with expression, not an easy task when you meet someone for the first time. Key is wonderfully relaxed and astute, my makeup brief was ‘I’ll let you decide’ and wow was I delighted with her creativity. Her choice went with the ‘Game of Thrones’ vibe perfectly and I honestly think her makeup skills added the finishing touches to these portraits.

Incorporating the art of expression and emotion with my photography, I shy away from cliches that seem too perfect or ‘madeup’, even when using off-camera flash I strive for the natural look. Creating those ‘fleeting moments’ when Key seems about to settle in her pose ensurings static pictures are avoided and I’m inviting you into the journey with us.

My photography is for real people who aspire to have photographs taken that are this beautiful. The kind of people who are a tad shy about reaching out to a photographer because they feel ‘I don’t photograph well’ or ‘Mandy only works with proper models’ or ‘I’ll not be able to do it’ …. and then feel bad they don’t have the confidence to get in touch.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

You can get in touch. It starts with a simple chat to get a feel for who I am. And ends with a plan to meet on your chosen date and location.

Here’s to your successful portrait session!

Amanda Herbert | Isle of Wight
Email: info@amandaherbert.com

“I enjoy unearthing people’s potential”

It’s a glorious, sunny Easter Friday here on the Isle of Wight, balmy days like these put a spring in my step with brilliant sunshine glancing off the Solent.

In today’s portrait session at Studio 2, Ryde I was getting to grips with working with a new lighting set up and feeling like a beginner all over again. Meeting with an aspiring model like Esme fires me up with inspiration and I’d like to share my top tips right now.

Whether you’re still trying to pick up the courage to book your own portrait session or you’re super giddy with inspiration about your own photography, I have three blog posts that might help.

• What happens on a photoshoot in Ryde
• What makes this Isle of Wight photographer different
• Mentoring for photographers
  

Flicking through Instagram I chanced upon Esme’s profile, she’d ‘liked’ one of my photographs and I wondered if she’d like to recreate something similar.

My inspiration? The number of young women who get in touch asking for beautiful photographs and not daring to believe they’ll photograph well.

“Will I be able to capture her graceful looks?” I fretted, “Her styling is perfect, will I create something that makes her heart sing?”

It all started as we walked up the hill from the bus station, Studio 2 is just five minutes away and perfect for anyone using public transport. I made a silent promise, this portrait session will be fun, bright, cheerful and easy (whilst capturing portraits that cause a stir). After just one photograph was posted on-line, a fellow colleague gets in touch asking me how I create such sophisticated lighting (and who is this beautiful new model)!

Whilst I always get wrapped up in posing, lighting and styling the one secret ingredient to all my photoshoots are the models. Take Esme, with her generous spirit, light-hearted joy and maturity that comes from the steady love and guidance of a family. Reading the ‘ooos’ and ‘awwws’ is lovely, but helping people is deeply satisfying. Knowing I’ve made a difference makes helps me understand that my passion for photography is really a secret weapon: translating Esme’s beautiful spirit into photographs that her family will love.

Esme’s transformation during this portrait session is quite astonishing and I hope it provides food for thought for those of you who are curious about booking a portrait session. If you’d like to look naturally beautiful in your photographs like Esme, do take a look at my pricing page …you’ll get so much from the session, I promise.   

“I love seeing my portraits empower women”

I hate being late. And for my last studio session with Miss Deadly Red I was horrendously late. So this time I made sure I was right on time. With a heavy bag and busy mind bursting with ideas, I walked in the sunshine towards my first photoshoot of Easter.

Mark, the owner of Studio 2 is always unfazed by my frantic efforts, a single hour to photograph a professional model can fly if you’re not careful.

As soon as I met Rachelle Summers, mug in hand and a broad smile on her face, I knew my day was off to a good start.

I plopped my bag on the floor watching clothes spill out haphazardly. “So, what are we shooting today?” asks Mark as I fuss with choosing soft boxes and modifiers. To make matters worse, I’m caught between the fear that I’ll not be able to use my beautiful gold dress that I’ve been saving for that special someone and wanting to recreate some fine art portraits that I find so inspirational.

But Rachelle and Mark seemed quietly confident I’d be able to achieve my goals. And for that I’m thankful.

Working in Studio 2 always fills me with conviction. It’s small and cozy, just up from the hovercraft and a five minute drive from town. Each visit reveals more new goodies to play with and a monthly social brings the creative community together.

My mind was elsewhere as I discussed the shoot plan with Rachelle, lost in a self-imposed cycle of self-doubt. Then I picked up the camera, Rachelle gazed confidently towards the lens and l gasped looking straight through the viewfinder. The magic was starting to happen.

With intense joy, the shoot flew by and I’m even more in love with the gold dress (thanks to the superb modelling by Rachelle). I’m really hoping she’ll visit us again sometime.

If there’s one thing we can take away from today’s session – it’s that we’re all doing our best. Made it to work on time, yeah. Finally got that appointment with the dentist, thank goodness. Avoided a fine at the library or that parking ticket, yesss!

Time and time again, when you’re at your lowest it just needs one step in the right direction to restart your day, your shoot plan and even your blog.

A recent post on IG reminded me that ‘we’re not in competition with each other, so help each other to reach the finish line’.  Life is a better, happier and more joyful place if we remember to uplift each other and cross that finish line together. If you’re feeling down and out on your luck, remember to reach out to someone you love and take their hand, it’ll make reaching your goals that little bit easier.

You are much more than your insecurities and you deserve to treat yourself with kindness. Get in touch if this resonates with you, I’d love to work with you.

Join my vision – Luxurious photography for everyone.