It’s been a busy time, but alongside juggling a variety of shoots as well as family life and other commitments, there’s also been the small issue of morning sickness and various other pregnancy related ailments… yep, family Sharpe are expecting baby #2 in July, so exciting times ahead!

Now that I’ve hit the ‘whale-like’ stage of pregnancy, I’ve stopped taking bookings for portraits / weddings for a while, but will be back in action from around November time with a few exciting new changes to boot. I’ll keep my facebook page updated so do pop on over and hit ‘like’.

I’m still offering the ‘better photos for your business‘ course through May, a one to one workshop at my Helston studio to help you learn to get the most from your camera and computer, all for a special rate of £100 – dates are flexible to work around you, so drop me an email at donna.sharpe@live.co.uk.

So, as my belly expands and I start to ease up the workload, I just thought I’d leave you with a little sample of a few recent shoots…

‘out and about’

On location with the Flowers by Clowance family at their nursery near Praze-an-Beeble. Blessed with blue skies and yellow daffodil fields!

Commercial shoot

Charlotte Jane, owner of ‘Caring for Children in their own home‘ has recently launched a new service offering child minding and entertainment at weddings. A brilliant idea! This shoot was set up to show what the service can offer.

‘out and about’

Another family lifestyle shoot on location at a gorgeous Gunwalloe beauty spot. These guys treated me to a pasty lunch before we got underway with the photo taking.
Now that ain’t bad!

A beautiful wedding

After weeks of ‘meh’ weather, the sun put in an appearance for Sandie and Steve’s big day. An intimate ceremony at Rosuick Camel Farm, followed by a few photos in Coverack before they headed off to their reception. Congratulations guys!

In January I launched a new website to inspire couples planning their wedding in Cornwall – Pasties and Petticoats. This quickly grew and with guest posts from fabulous Cornish wedding vendors, real Cornish weddings showcasing the work of super talented photographers and inspiration galore, I’m really proud of how this has developed in 2012, and plan for 2013 to be even bigger and better!

As February came round, portrait work began to roll in again after the Christmas rest, and I had some great family shoots.

In the spring, The Husband and I were delighted to find out that we were having another baby.  The businesses took a back seat while I fought morning sickness, but three months in we sadly lost the baby.  It was a tough time, and whilst I don’t want my 2012 review to be sad and depressing, the spring and summer months were naturally difficult and it would feel wrong not to mention it. It would also be a shame to pass up an opportunity to say more publicly how very grateful we are for the support we had at that time – we are blessed to have the most amazing family and friends, and we thank each and every one of you for getting us through that horrible time.

As the months went on, we picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves off, and worked at moving forwards.  I started to look at renting a studio, and in October signed up for a really lovely space in Helston.  After looking at cavernous, soul-less industrial units, it struck me that the whole big, empty, white walled type affair isn’t really for me. I’m more of a homely, cosy, kick your shoes off and make yourself comfortable kinda girl. My shoots are relaxed, laid back and informal, and I wanted something that reflects that. So my little loft-like space suits me down to the ground.  After A LOT of painting and decorating, and help from my family and friends (with particular mention to my fabulous Uncle for putting in so many hours!), I was ready to open. With my sister roped in as my ‘meeter and greeter / admin / moral support’ I kicked off with an opening day of mini shoots and fit in 11 sessions in a day!  With the new studio space all set up, I am now able to offer two choices for portrait work – either ‘out and about’ for those who want to don their wellies and kick through the leaves, or a ‘home from home’ shoot for those who want to come to the studio and let me do the rest.

In December, I launched a new workshop – ‘better photos for your business’.  My work with Pasties and Petticoats was highlighting to me how important good photos are in showing off your business. There are SO many talented people in Cornwall, designer-makers producing gorgeous things, but don’t have the photos to really promote their work . I offer a product photography service, but I figured most small businesses can’t afford to hire a professional photographer every time they add a new product to their range. And so the idea of a practical workshop was born – a day where you can learn to get the most out of your existing equipment, whether it’s a point and shoot or even a camera phone. Nothing techy or difficult, just practical and helpful advice.

So… that was my 2012. Here’s to a most marvellous 2013!

Oh… and some photo-faves from the past twelve months – I didn’t want to make this too massive, so not all my shoots are included. See if you can spot anyone you know…!

I am a photographer in Cornwall, offering wedding photography, portrait photography and product photography services across the county of Cornwall. I cover all the main towns including Helston, Truro, St Ives, Penzance, Helford, Falmouth, Newquay.

I’m so pleased to have finally got around to blogging their beautiful Carbis Bay wedding.  A beautiful couple, such a relaxed atmosphere and a day just full of love and happiness. I was made to feel so welcome, I felt more like a guest than ‘the photographer’.

After the ceremony overlooking the beach at Carbis Bay Hotel, drinks were served in the conservatory. After a rainy start to the day, the sky just got more and more blue. By the time the wedding breakfast was over, the sun was shining and the guests ambled their way down the winding steps to the beach for a spot of paddling, some ball games and sandcastle making.  Then it was a short climb back up to the hotel grounds for the wonderful ice cream van before the party got under way.  An awesome hand picked play list of funk got the dance floor packed from the off, and everyone truly got in the spirit of the photo booth.

Congratulations to you both!

Great photos and the power of the internet are a powerful combination, and whilst this can seem like a daunting or difficult task, it’s really not.

Whether you bake cakes or build houses, I can help you to take better photos for your business and help you to use your new-found skills through sites like facebook and twitter. You use your existing equipment and show you how to get the best from it.

I am offering this short one day workshop from January 2013, and as a special introductory offer, bookings for January and February will be just £75 for a one to one workshop at my studio in Helston.

If you’d like more information or would like to book, please get in touch – email donna.sharpe@live.co.uk or use my contact form.

After weeks of hard work, sanding, painting, carpet buying and wallpaper choosing… my new studio is nearly ready to open.

A comfortable, cosy and welcoming space, I’m really excited to now be able to offer ‘home from home’ family/bump/baby shoots. I will still be offering my location (‘out and about’) shoots too.  More info about portrait shoot options is available here.

The offer…

To celebrate the studio opening, I will be holding a special launch day with mini sessions at a most bargainous price, and all just in time for Christmas, which is handy!

So, the info…

Saturday 10th November

20 minute mini sessions with a 10×8 print (usually £18)

Cost – £20

(additional prints, CDs or wall art can be ordered, prices here)

To book

To book a session, please email me at donna.sharpe@live.co.uk – please include your name, address, first and second slot time choices, and the number of adults and children in your session.

The sessions

There are limited slots which must be booked advance. Slots available are listed below and I’ll keep this post up to date with availability.

    MORNING

    9.30 / 10 / 10.30 / 11.30 / 12 / 12.30

    AFTERNOON

   1.30 / 2 / 2.30 / 3.30 / 4 / 4.30 / 5

The small print

Sessions are limited to a maximum of 6 people.
Sessions will be booked on a first come, first served basis.
When a session has been booked, it will be marked as unavailable by being crossed out in the list above.
Your time slot is confirmed by a confirmation email from me.
Your booking is secured by payment of the session fee.
The fee is a non-refundable £20, payable on booking (by bank transfer or paypal).
I will keep a reserve list in case of cancellations.
Any sessions booked but not paid for by Wednesday 7th November will be opened back up for booking (unless otherwise agreed) to the cancellation list in the first instance.
After your shoot, I’ll edit the images and make them available in a temporary, password protected viewing gallery on my website.
I will notify you by email that your images are ready to view.
You can view your images online or in person – you should state your preference before your gallery is made available.
Online galleries will be available for one week from being made available, and in person viewing must be within two weeks of the gallery being made available.

First up… a few pics of gorgeous Baby L, (and his big sister, Mummy and Daddy!).  4 days old and cute as a button.

A proper post will follow, but as always, here’s a little peek…

Their gorgeous girls behaved impeccably, and it seems only right to blog a little sneaky peek from a lovely couple of hours spent with them…

So, here’s a mini shoot with The Big Beautiful Bunting Company, who kindly provided a DIY paper bunting download for Cornwall wedding blog Pasties & Petticoats…

Georgie at work, sewing up the paper bunting

and here’s how the bunting looks…

never work with children or animals?

putting my old polaroid through it’s paces

I wrote a big post about it over on my wedding blog, pasties & petticoats, so I’ll let you pop on over there to read all about it.

Thanks to everyone who came and had a chat and a French Fancy