LIFE LATELY

We've been pretty non stop since coming back from New York 3 weeks ago.  Three weddings, two Engagement shoots, a family shoot and a commercial shoot sending us to Birmingham, Leighton Buzzard, London, Whitstable and finally Preston.. phew! Even typing it is tiring!

But it's been a whole heap of fun and it's been lovely getting to know new couples.. seeing old ones and managing to catch up with good friends along the way.  This time of year is always super busy that sometimes it's hard to appreciate it all as it happens.. you find yourself saying.. we'll do that when it quietens down.. or when we stop we'll do that.. well.. I think you just gotta ride this wonderful wave.. :)  Enjoy it all.. appreciate it whilst it's happening.. and remember to hold on tight!

 

AN OPEN LETTER TO OUR COUPLES

We know that you’re hiring us to take photographs on your wedding day.. and we know that because you’re drawn to our work that you’re after relaxed, unfussy, honest and emotional images that show all the fun and all the love..

But.. we’re gonna give you more than that.  We promise that we’ll arrive on your wedding day and it’ll feel like we’ve known you for ages.  We’ll tell you if you have lipstick on your teeth.. we’ll help you with your button hole.. we’ll give you our shoes if you need to get in that field.. Pete will give you his jacket if you need to sit down on that bench (or his shoelaces if you forget yours - true story).

We’ll drive you to the ceremony.. run and get you a jack daniels and coke before your speech.. set up all the hay bales for your guests.. we’ll make having your photo taken easy peasy and normal and kinda fun.. we’ll fall in love with your Nan.. we’ll pull some shapes on the dance floor..

We’ll take your bridal party and make you all stand how you normally stand and look like you normally look.. but, kinda better.. and not awkward and if you’re lucky Pete might even fart in front of you (depending on how comfortable he feels – true story).

We’ll get to know your friends and family.. we’ll watch their mannerisms and their little quirks.  We’ll understand what’s important to you.. and we’ll listen and watch and capture all those moments that will make your heart burst.  Not just because they are moments at your wedding.. but because we understand the moments that are important to you guys.

Basically we’ve got your back… and we want to kinda do what seems impossible and make your wedding day even better.  We know that having a camera in your face on your wedding day is kinda weird.. and we know that you just want to feel normal..

..normal.. but super special..

..so we promise to make you feel both.

WELCOME HOME 2014 (NEW DATES!)

I can't believe it's that time again.. this year is going SO fast.. but we now have some new Welcome Home dates as a few of you have been asking when and where the next ones will be happening.. soooo.. we have two new dates for you!

We had quite a few suggestions about where to hold the workshops so we've tried to go for the easiest and most central for everyone.. (fingers crossed!)..

TUESDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER 2014 - BIRMINGHAM

10am - 7pm

Venue - TBC

Price £400

Includes lunch

THURSDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER 2014 - LONDON

10am - 7pm

Venue - TBC

Price £400

Includes lunch

The Welcome Home workshop will focus on developing your artistic voice, finding your niche market, understanding and developing your brand, valuing the client experience, managing expectations and staying inspired.

Within these topics we will also be covering...

- Artistic Style

- Attracting your ideal client

- Understanding your 'why'

- Marketing

- Shooting

- Post Processing

- Pricing

- Workflow

- Client relationships and experience

There will also be a shoot in the afternoon so feel free to bring your cameras.. :)

To have a sneak at what Welcome Home is like then you can have a little watch of the stop motion video below.. and we also have a new Facebook page with updates and images from each workshop.

But it's not just about what you experience on the day.  Welcome Home has become a strong community of supportive photographers who share advice and experiences... they second shoot for each other and are even shooting each other's weddings.  We're proud to be a part of such a wonderfully supportive and positive bunch of mo fos.. 

So if you decide to come along.. (apart from the awesome day we have in store for you).. Welcome Home also gives you..

• Immediate access to the Facebook group

We now have a total of 140 homies in the group.  They chat every day asking questions and offering each other advice and have been on hand for each other whether that's a pricing issue or needing to borrow kit for a wedding... oh and they also like a good laugh and a good dance.. :)

• An invitation to the amazing Welcome Break next April

This 2 day retreat was born out of the homies wanting to get together.. especially as many of them attended different workshops but felt like they knew each other from the FB group.  So in April it was Welcome Break time!  We headed to a wonderful farm in Warwick and slept in Yurts and teepees.. ate good food, played rounders, danced and did the conga.. and then hated it when we had to leave.  It was better than we ever could have imagined and we can't wait for the next one!

• Exclusive opportunities for one to one mentoring sessions

Soon we will be offering homies one to one mentoring sessions as part of Welcome Home.  After the workshop it's always incredible to watch attendees build, develop and make changes to their businesses and I think a natural progression is to spend some time looking at the effect of these changes.. what's working.. what maybe isn't working so well.. and why.  These sessions will be tailored to you and will be offered exclusively to attendees of Welcome Home.

Both Birmingham and London workshops are limited to 15 places and you can book your spot HERE.

Instalments

A few of you have emailed to ask if you can pay in instalments so we wanted to let peeps know that if you'd like to come and join us then you can secure your place now with a £200 deposit with the remaining amount due by the 1st September 2014.. :)

If you would like to pay in instalments then please email at info@emmacasephotography.com.  Also if you're worried about where you're at with your business and if the workshop is right for you, then... don't.. :)  Just drop us an email (I promise we don't bite) and we can go from there.. :)

We look forward to seeing you there!!!

WELCOMED HOME

We were pretty excited to be doing a Welcome Home Workshop over in Belfast.. a.. because it's Belfast and we knew we would be spending a few days in good company with good food and.. b.. because this is where Pete's Dad is from.. where most of his family still are… and where Pete hasn't been for about 20 odd years.. it was definitely time to come home..

We spent the first few days in the centre of Belfast.. we held the workshop at the amazing Life Church on the Thursday and then had the Friday to explore the city.  We didn't realise when we organised Welcome Home that the Giro, a huge bike race would be going on that weekend.. but walking around with every shop proudly displaying huge pink window stickers and roads lined with people with pink flags.. it actually had such a lovely atmosphere.

We started the day at the famous Titanic Belfast (which is a definite must see) and then headed to the incredible Made in Belfast for the BEST. Dinner. Ever…

Here's some iPhone goodness of our time in Belfast..

Pete's parents had travelled over (they live in England) and on the Saturday came to pick us up to spend some time visiting relatives in Belfast and then we headed over to Donegal to stay with Pete's 96 year old Great Aunt Peig.  We spent the rest of the week walking along beaches.. playing card games.. eating sandwiches and scones and drinking vast amounts of tea.  Me and Pete have been together for about 9 years now but if I'm honest.. I didn't really know his family very well… and I think even Pete would admit.. his memories of his family are mostly from when he was about 11 or 12yrs old so to go back now, as an adult.. it really was such a special trip.

For me, watching Pete.. listening to stories of when he visited Ireland as a child.. meeting Aunties, seeing family photos, visiting the same spots.. it felt a huge privilege.  There are so many comparisons between both our families.. mine coming from Liverpool.. they both have such a strong culture.. both hard working.. living a stone's throw away from each other.. a wonderful sense of humour.. and of pride.. such normal, every day magic.  And one day me and Pete would love to start a little family of our own and this will be their history too.. this is their family.. our family.  It really did feel like home.

A few more iPhone photos…

Ireland.. we'll most definitely be back.

SPACE

The past six months have been pretty life changing.  We've sold our house.. paid off our debts.. moved back to my Mum's temporarily to save.. and then we're going to go travelling in November for five months.  I'm still pinching myself that we're actually going.

But more than that, right now.. I feel so much more at peace.

This time last year I felt like I was drowning.  I didn't know I was drowning, but anxiety, breathing problems, stress.. they were desperately trying to tell me.  I just couldn't switch off.  Ever.  The 'work' wheel we were on just kept spinning.  But it wasn't just the amount of work we were putting on ourselves it was the expectation that I was putting on myself.  I was petrified of letting people down.. I was petrified of slowing down or missing out.. I was petrified of physically not being sat at my computer.. just in case.. but what happens if.. but I might miss something..

These past 6 months have been bliss.  We've had less weddings and although we've still been shooting other stuff and doing Welcome Home we've had TIME OFF.  Real time off.. days where we go out.. weekends where we stay away in nice cottages with friends.. trips to see family.. walks on the beach.. meals out together.. parties.. we've been guests at weddings.. all the NORMAL stuff that normal people do.. and they do it without guilt.. yep.. you read that right.. NO GUILT.. none whatsoever.. because to normal people.. it makes perfect sense.  You work a bit and then you have a bit of time off.  You work hard and then you relax… and then you work a bit more and then you relax some more.  Simples.

And I tell you what.  It's AWESOME.  I feel like I'm getting to know myself all over again.  What do I like to do to relax?  I'm not sure if I really knew.. away from the computer.. away from Facebook and Pinterest and browsing blogs.. away from editing images?.. well, it's been absolutely wonderful finding out exactly what I like to do.. and now.. time off?  BRING. IT. ON.  There HAS to be a balance.. not just for me, not just for Pete.. but for our business too.  Every time we come back from switching off I feel more inspired, more energised, more positive, more creative.. and most importantly.. so much happier.

WORK, REST AND PLAY

A few weeks ago we headed to Camber Sands to spend some quality time with some special peeps. It was much needed and we had the best few days.  Me and Pete are realising more and more how important it is to set aside time to spend with the people we love.. and we loved this weekend.. :)

Some iPhone goodness..

Love you guys.. 

We've also been shooting Agnes and Norman's new S/S collection.. oh my.. you're going to ADORE them!!!

I bought a new dress at the wonderful Yellow Vintage fair in Southampton which my gorgeous friends Zoe and Nathan organise all by themselves.. (super proud friend alert)..

Max's shredded paper drawer diaries continue..

Seeing my bestie.. 

Being a guest lecturer at Staffordshire Uni.. (in like a proper lecture theatre an' everything)

Visiting friends and being reminded of what is important.. (ohhhh Rufus.. gimme those cheeks)

Then we headed off to do some Welcome Home workshops..Oh hello Welcome Home selfie!

We had the cutest couples to shoot..

…and we'll be blogging fully about the workshops very soon.. :)

And then we headed to the Royal Opera House London to shoot a very special collaboration with Rachel Simpson and Freed of London.. 

..and got to shoot inside the factory where they make all the incredible shoes..

….aaaaaaaand breathe!!!