Smart Photography Blog

Boudoir Launched!

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 15:10:00 GMT

http://smartphotography.businesscatalyst.com/boudoir.html

Well, it's been nearly a year in the making, but our new Boudoir photography service is launched, and just in time for a special Valentine's Day present!

Brand new sets, specially bought props, and lighting themes which could transform you from 30's Hollywood 'femme fetale' to classic burlesque, and right up to date with black and white or colour portraits oozing sensuous style. We guarantee that this new service will delight all of you looking for a beautiful and sensual portrait collection to wow your loved one, or just to celebrate yourself!

All you need to do is provide the lingerie, and your selection of jewellery - Anna's on hand, if needed, to advise on the best things to bring. After that, leave the rest to us.

Your 2 hour experience includes hair styling, and makeup, and your stylist will be on hand throughout the session to provide enhancements whilst we create a set of portraits that will leave you breathless. You'll have exclusive use of the studio and changing room during your session. Then give us a week or so to finish your portraits, and return to spend a delightful hour in our cosy viewing lounge where we promise you won't believe your eyes!

With our 'soft' launch back at the beginning of December in Vogue magazine, we are 'releasing' the service Oxfordshire wide, with our special Groupon deal http://www.groupon.co.uk/deals/oxford running on Saturday 14th January.

On the mend

Tue, 17 May 2011 10:58:00 GMT

Well, sort of!

Following our flood, we're having a clear out and a change around. We've built a new room, and we're revamping our reception, waiting, and makeover areas...

Reception before, (notice the lack of door on the left)

Alternative view with the new store room door...

The new store, (at the back of the studio), and the view inside the studio during,

and after

It's coinciding with the insurance repairs, so it's a bit of a struggle, but we're getting there.

AND, we're soon launching a new service....have a sneaky peak at our set emerging...

Downton Bampton

Tue, 17 May 2011 10:26:00 GMT

Some of you may know that Downton Abbey is partly filmed in our home town of Bampton. Well, mid-April, and they were back again, filming for the new series.

Here's a couple of views of the 'set' - around the Church, with some of the houses converted to be pubs,

and our local library,' the hospital.....'.

Convincing the security guys he was not a 'pap' Robin even managed to 'sneak' a picture of Dame Maggie Smith, having her final preparations...

RESULTS!

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 15:51:00 GMT

So with baited breath we waited, having just watched a slideshow of the final entries in the annual click and fresh photographer of the year awards.

We had been delighted to hear that we were shortlisted, and the excitement grew as we found from the original 300 entries, our 6 entries had all reached the final 24. (12 for families/babies), and 12 for makeovers.

The crescendo of anticiaption reached a peak as the master of ceremonies announced that the winning images were....... not ours!

It's difficult to describe the emotion of delight and disapointment at the same time. Realistically reaching the final judging, with such a number of entries is a huge achievement, and we look forward to next year's competition, and this time not being pipped at the post.

If your coming along to the studio over the next few months we've several competitions that we're gunning for this year, so don't be surprised if we ask you if we can enter your images!

The images are below, in fact there was one more, that i hadn't realised had been shortlisted... so for completeness, here is is:

It's Raining!!

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 15:29:00 GMT

Unfortunately, it was inside the studio! We returned from our conference on Wednesday morning to a wet reception...... and studio....!

The cause - a faulty thermostat on the hot water tank, which had caused severe condensation on the ceiling, which was then falling, causing streaky patches on the carpet, and a sort of sub tropical rainforest effect, similar perhaps to a sauna....

Anyway, once the heater was switched off the place dried out relatively quickly, we only lost a couple of days, and luckily there was minimal damage to our equipment.

Here's a quick view of the damage, the worst was in the studio where we lost one of our laminate floor sets, and the studio floor itself took a bit of a beating!

The insurers are on the case, so we should be fully repaired soon, in the meantime we carry on, unaffected...

We're so EXCITED

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:22:00 GMT

Next Monday we're off to our marketing partners' (the Click and Fresh Groups) conference and annual awards day. SIX of Robin's portraits have been shortlisted for the 'Photographer of the Year' award, in both the families (inc babies) and makeover categories. The winning portrait in each category also nets £500 for the lucky client.

We're already lining up the entires for next year's awards, so if you fancy an update to your portraits, or to treat yourself, your spouse or partner to a fabulous makeover experience (a great Mother's Day present!), now has GOT TO BE the time with Robin's amazing birthday offer...

Here are the shortlisted ones: (we'll let you know how we get on!)

CLICK HERE to buy your discount voucher today. Use code 'ROBIN50' at checkout to get your discount.

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:36:00 GMT

Well, very nearly.

I'm turning 50 on the 20th April (no really, that's all i am), and to celebrate, I persuaded Anna to let me offer a half price voucher coupon, but she's capped me at 50 of them!

It's a great opportunity to update the family/kids' portraits over the easter break, or celebrate the year of the Royal Wedding with your own set of memories, you could even use it as a last minute mother's day present.

So until the 20th April, we're offering a 50% discount on ALL our web vouchers and offers. Just use the code 'ROBIN50' at the checkout. If you are in time, the coupon will work, if not , then it won't!

CLICK HERE for all our current vouchers!

World Cup Heroes!

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:31:00 GMT

World Cup Fever comes to Smart Photography with our special LIMITED EDITION magazine cover/football hero shoots

BOOK NOW for our limited edition football shoots taking place on Thursday and Friday 3rd and 4th June, and again on Saturday 12th June - the day of England's first World Cup match.

Just £30 secures your place, and a £5 donation to HELEN AND DOUGLAS HOUSE, and you and/or your child will get this FABULOUS magazine cover style A4 print, and a special World Cup goody bag,

WE'VE GOT STRICTLY LIMITED SPACES for this promotion, so do not delay, call us TODAY!

Kodak National Portrait Awards

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 09:50:00 GMT

Your chance to win £1000 and help support the work of THE PACE CENTRE

Join with us and enter the 2010 Kodak Portrait Awards.

We'll give you a fantastic fun filled photo session of your choice. Bring the whole family, or just the kids. The dog's welcome too. Robin will produce some wonderful portraits for you, then from you viewing session between us we'll pick the best one to enter the Kodak portrait awards.

YOU COULD WIN £1000, or a digital camera, IF WE WIN! Family a bit shy? Then why not have a makeover session for yourself, or just bring the dog and we'll still produce beautiful images that you will love.

The session is absolutely free ,and there's no obligation to buy. All we ask for is a £25 security deposit which reserves your session and viewing time, and will be refunded to you after the viewing session, once you've signed the entry form - alternatively we'll deduct it from the cost of any portraits that you do decide to buy.

Not only do you get a great time, and a chance to win £1000, but you'll also be helping raise money for the fantastic work of THE PACE CENTRE (we pay the entry fee into the competition). At PACE children with physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy find their own voice, walk their own steps and discover that they can fully enjoy everyday life and become active members of society. Cerebral palsy is a physical condition affecting movement as a result of damage to the brain. READY TO BOOK ?

Click on the contact link or call FREE on 0800 298 2649 For full terms and conditions please see the competition entry form.

SMART GETS FRESH!

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:33:00 GMT

New for 2010 - Fashion and Beauty Makeovers

We're so excited to announce that for 2010 we are now able to offer full Fashion and Beauty makeovers. We've joined the FRESH group, being appointed as the studio covering Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire'

From January, we can give you a full hair and make up makeover, and stylish photography.

Why not pick a theme - go back to the glory days of Hollywood Glamour, or the swinging sixties, just supply the clothes, and we'll do the rest!

We've got some brilliant images to illustrate, and these will be live on our website over the next couple of weeks, so keep checking back - or sign up to our newsletter HERE to get full details as soon as they're released!

Matthew Clulee Grand Opening and charity launch

Mon, 31 May 2010 15:01:00 GMT

The Matthew Clulee Face of 2010 in aid of Oxford Centre for Enablement

We were delighted to attend the opening of the brand new concept salon of Matthew Clulee's in St Michael's Street, Oxford.

Coinciding with the launch of the search for the Matthew Clulee Face of 2010, in conjunction with the Elliott Brown Model agency.

The charity raffle on the night raised funds for The Oxford Centre of Enablement, and we were pleased to meet with the founder of Passionate Pink, Deb Little, who is one of their keenest supporters following her rehabilitation there after her stroke in March.

Deb is pictured with Leanne Grose, who has turned her life around quite remarkably, following the loss of her left leg to a cancerous tumour.

http://www.matthewclulee.net

New Website

Mon, 31 May 2010 14:50:00 GMT

Photography in Oxfordshire gets FUN!

We are delighted to launch our NEW website, with more content, and offers than ever before.

Coming soon : our brand new SHOWREEL, showcasing our images, and this is a sneak preview of one of our new innovative products that will be available before Christmas.

Keep coming back to see new products and services, and keep up to date with what we have been doing!