sandra ford | photography

2009-11-09T11:23:00.011Z

Leaving the studio early on Thursday morning for a wedding in Harrogate was vitally important to me, not so that I could stop for a bit of shopping or pop into Betty's for a cuppa, but simply to get through the traffic in Wetherby on market day!

Beki & Steven's wedding at the Sun Pavilion in the heart of Harrogate was a very dignified, yet fun ocassion, with guests arriving from as far afield as Birmingham, Manchester and Ireland to witness the marriage and join in the celebrations on a glorious autumn day in Yorkshire.

Nepotism? possibly. A stunner ? Absolutely

2009-08-19T10:25:00.004Z

If Carlsberg made women....
Yes ok, I am her mum, it is my daughter, Kristina you are gorgeous and thank you for modeling for me hun!

Havercroft Children's Centre

2009-08-16T21:29:00.004Z

Getting "stuck into it" Lady Mayor of Wakefield, Councillor Heather Hudson assisted in a little mask making at Havercroft Children's Centre with one of the children who was there to enjoy the fun and games in celebration of the centre's one year anniversary. - Image (c) Sandra Ford / Wakefield Express

Carol & Richard - Sheffield Town Hall

2009-08-16T21:20:00.004Z

2009-08-16T20:04:00.003Z

With the wedding season in full swing, it's quite difficult to get back into the blogging habit.

Since last posting I have shot portraits, both family (and their pets) and baby portraits, model portfolios , weddings and at the Havercroft Children's Centre we spent a lovely Sunday with the children, their parents, volunteers and other exhibitors and centre staff enjoying a creative and fun time. The pictures are not available online but are on display at the children's centre due to education authority guidelines.

Yesterday saw me in Sheffield with Carol and Richard for their wedding at Sheffield Town Hall; this glorious and grand building was the scene of the ceremony itself, then with a swift walk by the bridal party past the dancing fountains in the peace gardens it was on to the Garrison Hotel for the wedding breakfast. The Garrison is at the site of the old Hillsborough Barracks and has been tastefully re-invented as a hotel from the basic building of the original barracks; it has to be seen to be really appreciated, and as anyone will tell you I am a great coffee lover...would highly recommend their lattes!

Kings Croft Wedding 18 July 09

2009-07-19T08:31:00.003Z

Thank heavens the rain stayed away for Leanne & Paul's wedding at Kings Croft, Pontefract yesterday. A very colourful and happy wedding took place in the morning with the festivities stretching through into the night. Friends and family pulled out all the stops and looked stunning on this special day.

The bride wore red! Wow what a stunner! Go Leanne!

Photographs began at 10 a.m. with a few preparation shots amidst all the hustle and bustle of the hotel room, and continue right through to the speeches. Both Leanne and Paul, were very much game for a laugh and really went for it in terms of putting in the effort for their photographs which resulted in some fantastic bathroom and car shots.

We struggled a bit to find a way to get into the cornfield, but eventually found a way in. I got so carried away at one point that I went straight over on my backside and rolled down the hill camera held high and out of harms way. Once I and everyone else including Terry the videographer had stopped laughing we got some more excellent shots in the field, we didn't need poppies on Saturday we had the most beautiful bride in red!

Mac oh Mac why didn't I get you earlier!

2009-07-03T21:32:00.001Z

I just had to say that I wish I had got a mac years ago and I wouldn't have bought so many slow pcs! It is simply unbelievable!

More power to your elbow Mr Jobs.

Models required by agency

2009-06-30T10:49:00.006Z

ABreeze Models, the agency section of Ford Studios will be going live shortly, not long to go now, thank you to all applicants, you will be informed if you have been successful by the end of the week. I just have one place left to include a free portfolio shoot and images. Then it is back to business as usual and model portfolio shoots are chargeable. Naturally ABreze agency models and applicants will still get a reduced rate shoot as previously promised.

The reason I launched the agency was basically as a photographer I was getting fed up with;

A} Agencies that were simply a feed for studios and did not promote the agency girls. Instead they make a living out of selling model shoots to girls who have genuine aspirations to be models.

B} From a photographer's perspective; dealing with so called models who only pop themselves on a web directory in order to show their mates that they are "a model" not turning up for shoots and generally making life difficult, imagine allocating studio time, engaging a make up artist and stitting there twiddling your thumbs haveing spent ages in preparation, waiting," just in case" they actually turn up.

Hence ABreeze was formed. Models who want to be models "really" and who are available for promotion work and "will turn up". Not a lot to ask is it?

ABreeze can help with business promotion too; small businesses do not have the advertising budget or financial clout of the big multi-nationals, but often have to compete with them in order to eat! Finding a cost effective way to promote your small business without taking on full time marketing and promotions staff can be a nightmare. Either it just doesn't happen or invariably a well meaning relative offers to help promote your business with handing out leaflets or smiling and chatting to potential clients on a particular date at a trade show or fair, and then promptly forgets about it leaving you back at square one. This is where ABreze models can help, by supplying the right kind of personnel to fulfill that need. Well presented and groomed, our gorls (or boys) can represent you in the kind of light you want to be seen in.
To discuss promotion or modeling requirments for your business please call me, I just may be able to help.

Flag Raising Ceremony

2009-06-23T10:49:00.006Z

Had a wonderful morning at Normanton Town Hall yesterday with the town council staff and the Mayor and Mayoress of Normanton. A flag was raised at 10.30 as part of a national flag raising ceremony to celebrate Armed Forces Day. The event was well attended by local dignitaries, members of the armed forces, and reperesentatives from the Royal Legion.

The national flag was raised at the Historic Docklands in Kent at 10.30 this morning.
Had a brief but pleasant chat to Matthew, the newest photographer to work for the Wakefield Express, Matthew came over from the Yorkshire Post when a member of the Wakefield paper's staff retired.

I rushed back to the office to get the pictures on line for everyone to see then back to the studio for a model shoot at 1 p.m.. Unfortunately, the young lady didn't bother to turn up. Cconsidering that she was very eager to be a model, had never done it before (which was the whole reason for using her) and was about to get a hundred and fifty pounds worth of free images just for allowing me to use the images on my website, I really would have expected at the very least to get a text message or e-mail. But there we go, life goes on and I now have another model lined up and raring to go, only this time I know she will turn up.

Model Photo Shoot

2009-06-22T18:12:00.012Z

Charlie is the most recenty addition to our model agency - Abreeze Models. Charlie's first shoot went incredibly well considering that it really was her "first" shoot - ever and I am sure lots of photographers will agree that she has incredible potential.
Charlie is availble for modeling and promotional work locally, all contact or enquiries must be made in the first instance directly through Abreze Models at Ford Studios.

Ford Studios, Sandra Ford Photography & Abreeze Models are trading names of Sandra Ford.

Our books are now open for new models. If you are intested in modeling, please telephone Sandi on 01226 700208 or 07968 031698.

Family photoshoot with images on disc

2009-06-13T20:56:00.002Z

My latest family photoshoot was completed within an hour and a half with the client(s) being able to walk away with the images on disc ready to print their own pictures.
As demand has grown for this type of service, and having listened to my clients I have had to bow to consumer demand. However, it is very enjoyabke to be able to fulfill a brief and complete an assignment wothout having to make a second appointment to view. Happy customers, and affordable pictures means that clients can afford to have pictures taken more often.
I still of course will offer professional creative post processing and re-touching, although this is on a per print basis. I am now able to offer this on client's own pictures as well as those ordered from my images.

The new prices that are only available with digital photo shoots will include canvas, acrylic and metal prints at affordable rates, along with postcard sized reprints from only 25 pence, these will be availble at the studio as of next week.

Former customers who may wish to purchase the high res images on disc from previous shoots please contact me for a price.

Professional Associations - my opinion

2009-06-10T08:50:00.003Z

Although I would be the first to admit that there is no pre-requisite for photographers to be qualified or to have membership of any organisations, it is at least reassuring to a wedding, portrait or other client that the person they are engaging is "as good as their word".
I worked as a photographer for many years without being qualified and, just as many other photographers who are working and unqualified today, my work was of an acceptable standard, my clients loved it and I thought (mistakenly, with hindsight) that professional photographic organisation qualifications through membership and submission were just an "elitist" club.
Not all photographers are equal and although price is probably a main issue for lots of people when deciding on who to book to take their wedding photographs.

I would urge anyone looking to hire a photographer for their wedding day to look at quality over quantity. Compare the quality of pictures and the content of the pictures, not the cover style and pages in albums and how many prints will fit in it; you can buy prints at Boots or Asda and albums from ebay; even professional quality albums are available online for sale, but it is the skill of the professional photographer that will capture your wedding day.

I have put a link below this post to the MPA, The Master Photographers Association, they only accept full time photographers who are insured and have passed their qualification panel.

That is my rant for the morning! Check out my facebook page : search for :
Sandra Ford Photography

Master Photographers Association - professional wedding, portrait and commercial photographers

2009-06-10T08:48:00.001Z

Master Photographers Association - professional wedding, portrait and commercial photographers

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2009-05-28T17:53:00.000Z

2009-05-28T17:51:00.001Z

2009-05-28T17:51:00.000Z

2009-05-28T17:48:00.000Z

2009-05-28T17:44:00.000Z

Having had a request to see some flower pictures I thought this would be a good place to start.

Jemma

2009-05-27T20:06:00.000Z

What can I say - a fantastic shoot, Jemma you are stunning!

Jemma - pictures available soon

2009-05-26T16:19:00.001Z

Looking forward to tomorrow, Jemma is coming for a boudoir shoot.
We might just go classical Hollywood - can't wait.

Rainy Saturday

2009-05-20T14:34:00.000Z

I must admit I was quite concerned on Saturday that Tracy & Steven were not going to have the best weather for their wedding. I know that I can get around it and still get some great pictures, but what bride and groom doesn't want sunshine for their special day?
Thankfully the weather didn't become an issue, yes there was rain, but it fell at appropriate moments and nothing could have put a damper on the day for the stunning bride and groom.

The day began at Tracy's parents house on Mill Lane, where there was much hustle and bustle; with all the six bridesmaids getting ready there as well as Tracy herself. Everyone was in good spirits at Ryhill church, including me, what a pleasure for me to cover a wedding just yards down the road from the studio. With all the guests in place, a very dapper looking Steven, accompanied by his best man waited in anticipation for Tracy to arrive with her Dad ; the two vintage Rolls Royce cars approached the church and the men made a hasty retreat from the lych gate and took their places at the front of the church. After the beautiful church ceremony and a few group photographs outside, it was a quick detour by the newly wed Mr & Mrs Smith to Newmillerdam for some more romantic photographs with the vintage rolls royce before heading back up the hill to Hotel St Pierre for the wedding breakfast.

Latest boudoir shoot at Rogerthorpe Manor Hotel

2009-05-13T12:46:00.005Z

I've now finished editing the first batch of images from the boudoir shoot at Rogerthorpe Manor on Monday. Petra looked absolutely stunning and her choice of clothing left enough to the imagination to be sultry and sexy without being anywhere near the lads mag league.

I am pleased to announce that I will be releasing a a new range of high quality albums and wall portraits in the near future for discerning clients.

As I only do one Boudoir shoot per day, it is adviseable to contact me early to arrange a convenient appointment.

A big thank you to Trevor & Faye Yerbury for their inspiration and guidance.

Pictures of me...?

2009-04-05T18:40:00.004Z

Friends and family often comment that It's ok for me... I'm not the one having a camera pointed at me and being followed round by a stalker. Our youngest daughter even went so far as to say that she thought the camera was a growth on my forehead - thanks Kristina!

Well just to prove a point, and to see if I would crack the lens I took a few shots of myself while setting up lights and waiting for a client to arrive. The results are here ... this is me, I put on quite a bit of weight after stopping smoking, but one year on I feel confident that I have kicked the habit and not everyone is, or wants to be a size 10; the main thing is to be happy.

Tracy's Boudoir Shoot

2009-03-30T21:24:00.004Z

We had a fantastic and fun boudoir shoot today, Tracy arrived at 10.30 for the shoot and being fond of dogs was happy to meet my doberman, Candy. Being used to the space and equipment, Candy is quite safe in the studio and Tracy was happy for her to remain while she had her shoot.
Candy wanted to get in on the act and posed with Tracy for a couple of shots, she did try to put squeeky toys onto the rim of Tracy's hat which was hilarious.

Networking at last

2009-03-27T21:48:00.001Z

After many threats I am now a member of the facebook community. Look forward to meeting friends and clients who I now consider as friends!