A huge success... and lots of thank you's...

Well it happened!! It well and truly happened. On Wednesday 4th February 2010 I had my very first exhibition. From day one on 2nd February 2009 and my first picture of the day I didn't realise what a journey the whole process would take me on. Firstly it was a little personal challenge to dig out my creative side and secondly never in my wildest dreams did I think this would have been the result.

It's been one of the best things I could have done for myself in terms of personal development. I've plunged into a whole other world of photography and I'm really, really enjoying it. I can't wait to dot the t's and cross the i's on my next one which I'm hoping to start in May once this exhibition has finished.

CC Imaging who dealt with all of the printing were so patient as we sat working out how we were going to get the right size and maintain quality for each individual image. They had to print right up to the wire because my last picture was taken the day before the whole thing had to be finished and they never batted an eyelid. Then they told me they wouldn't charge for ANY of the 365 individual images that they printed (and more as we tested many variations along the way) because they wanted to give something to the charity! How nice is that! So John, Mark, Taj and Chris... Thanks guys, you're awesome.

The Flash Centre's Graham & Russ who didn't really need to get too involved in the project have been an incredible source of support and advice throughout the year. They've never failed to help me whenever I've needed it with camera advice above and beyond any corporate 'chain.'

Pictures+ took on the task of cutting each individual mount and frame and glass by hand all at a lower than normal price purely for the charity. New contacts for me to work with forever and if you ever need anything framing... these are your guys. Every mount and frame was perfect, they even came and hung them all. Yup, that's 365 of the little buggers all hanging neatly on the wall. So to Lucy, Pat, Pete & John THANK YOU. You did an incredible job.

Salvo's, the restaurant that has allowed me to put 365 holes in their walls and are holding the exhibition for 3 months. John & Gip and their PR girl Rachel were so accommodating and they too provided their space and time for free. I think your bar is perfect for the exhibition and I hope lots of people come to see the pictures, maybe buy one or two and treat themselves to some of your delicious food.

And of course Mabeth & Sally who have started the charity Naomi's Fund. They took a huge punt on my idea. They paid for the initial cost of mounting and framing and to break even we had to sell half. I'm really pleased to say we did that on Wednesday, opening night, so every single image that is being sold now is all going into the charity and I'm so pleased. Mabeth's been wonderful and the charity deserves to get the help it needs to get registered and start helping those kids out there who need it. Good luck and thank you for your belief in me. x

So the night, how did it all go? It was brilliant. Over 150 people turned up and over 160 images were sold that night. It was slightly manic and poor Mabeth was more than a little flustered with the desperate cries of 'I want that one'!! But people went home with smiles on their faces clutching a little piece of my year. I loved watching people and seeing which ones they liked or disliked and it was incredibly interesting seeing just what people bought for their walls. It's been an experience I will never forget and I hope to move onto another project and keep pushing my boundaries.

I'm proud of myself. It's not often I say that, but I am. I'm proud of myself. And like I say I couldn't have done it without all of those involved above. However, without my husband who is a constant source of my inspiration NONE of this would have happened. I did this because he believed in me more than I believed in me and that's priceless. Thanks husband x

There are still images left to buy so if you fancy some good food and a peruse pop into Salvo's.

Onwards...

H x

What a difference a 'person' makes...

I'm right in the thick of the exhibition arrangements right now and it's all very exciting. The people that are involved with the 365 project have been and are being incredible. I'm such a 'people' person and getting the right people on board to make this whole project work really hasn't been difficult but the sheer process has if anything highlighted the importance of getting to know everyone involved right from the printer to Salvo's PR consultant (a wonderful girl called Rachel McAlley.)

Getting this thing off the ground as a novice was quite daunting at first. Approaching possible venues to host it, getting people interested in coming, keeping Naomi's Fund (the charity) in the loop, getting the right print and frame at the right cost etc, etc... the list is long and endless.

So far, everything couldn't be going better. The reason for this... people. It's as simple as that. Mabeth from the charity is wonderful, we get together regularly and bounce ideas of each other. Tom (my husband) has been amazing, giving us his much sort after time for all sorts of our processes. Salvo's Restaurant in Leeds (our exhibition host) and acclaimed F Word Best Italian restaurant winners have been brilliant. Friendships and meetings have been struck up with John, Gip & Rachel from Salvo's and their help and enthusiasm has been refreshing.

Today Mabeth & I ventured out to look at who we could use to frame all 365 of these little gems and were struck by the warmth and genuine friendliness of a company in Leeds called Picture Plus. We went to a few other places before Picture Plus and weren't particularly enamored with the response and in fact if I'm truthful, their lack of people skills. The friendly, family business of Picture Plus was second to none and worth it's weight in gold. Lucy & her dad Pat welcomed us and helped immensley with our decisions and I'm really looking forward to working with them throughout the project.

So with happy heart, the project moves forward a few steps and it's exciting to see it starting to take shape. It also highlights the reason why I like genuine people, they interest me. Automated messages, spam phone calls, personality-less people...no thanks.

Onwards and upwards goes 365 with thanks to all those involved so far :)

H x

It's not about the money...

... but it helps!

I've been freelance now since November 07, so my business is nearly two whole years old. I'm loving it, it's truly a wonderful job (although doesn't ever really feel like a job). I get to meet amazing people, see amazing things and work for great companies. However, I no longer get a company car, a paid mobile phone bill, paid holidays, sick pay or time in lieu. It's different I tell you that for sure!

The benefits far outweigh all of those above, because money or 'things' don't motivate me. Earning money is a priority, let's not get confused here, but I do this job because I love photography. I love the challenges it brings and no job is ever the same, the money thing is just a necessary part of it all.

However, not being motivated by money doesn't mean I can ignore it and just watch it roll in. How money is handled from job pricing to accounting has been (and still is) a steep learning curve. I didn't do a business degree, I still get tangled up in Excel spreadsheets and I've only just learned the correct way to show my finances to my accountant to stop me having to pay him a million pounds to sort out my receipt jumble!!! I didn't account for that when I left the cosy world of life as an employee with ITV!!

So for the last week or so after my accountant asked for my income and expenditure for the tax year 08-09 I've plunged into the depths of Excel. I must have threatened to throw my computer and every scrap of tatty receipt and bank statement I own out of the window on more than one occasion and nearly had a nervous breakdown when my cousin showed me how I should be displaying my figures... i.e not at all like I had thought it should be done. So with patience in small doses by my side and the odd visit from Ben to check I haven't gone wrong, I've waded my way into the world of accounting and do you know, I've found it quite therapeutic. Excel was still born of the devil and we aren't quite the friends I think we could be but at the moment we tolerate each other and manage to just about get things done the way they should be. It also means I now have a stable grasp on how things need to be kept and so every month I can set to task to keep on top of it all without fear and also without having a whole year to sort.

People said going freelance would be hard. They were talking about getting work though, they never mentioned the bitty little bits like doing your own accounts. I thought if I had an accountant they did it all for you...wrong! I still have to provide the necessary information to allow the accountant to do his work. But I've done it, I'm a mere one hours work away from completing the battle that I started when he first emailed me those awful words... "Send me your figures".

So you see, not a drop of cash to be seen, it's all numbers written with silly formulas and put in confusing boxes that only numbers people can decipher.

It's not about the money is it... it's about the numbers... oh to be on a payroll (joke)!!!

H :)

Exciting project...

A very brief blog to announce the exciting news that an exhibition of my daily pic project 365 has been confirmed. The dates are yet to be finalised but I will be exhibiting the limited edition framed images in February and selling them, with all of the proceeds going to a relatively new but fantastic charity called Naomi's Fund.

My 365 project has been a great challenge, taking a picture every day regardless of my working shoots has been a brilliant project and I'm loving the fact that most of my images have come from using my iphone, a project certainly inspired by Chase Jarvis. Infact for many months I have specifically used my iphone to shoot the everyday images that I see and I'm loving the outcome.

I'm currently working hard on getting the exhibition details just right so I'll be back with more info, watch this space. But I would love to hear if there are images in that project that you would love to own :) Or indeed if you'd like to be invited to the exhibition.

Happy snapping,

H x

Welcome...

A fresh new website, and a brand new Blog to get my teeth into. It’s like opening a brand new school book and writing on the pristine, smooth, clean white page for the first time and not wanting to tarnish it with any mistakes or bad handwriting!!

Wow, where do I start?! Hello and welcome I guess. I’m planning to write regular blogs on the whereabouts of my work and what I’m learning along the way and hope that you enjoy not only seeing my own progress but that it is interesting and of some help if you too love photography.

Having my website updated has certainly made me see the huge journey I’ve made over such a small time as I take old images out and put new ‘Turton’ images in. I’ve become so much more open to creativity, more open than ever before. I really hadn’t realised just how stifled I was and yet I still feel there’s a whole lot more to come out. Unlocking it isn’t so easy but I’m enjoying the process of seeing my photography grow, move and change direction. Talking of creativity, something that has really helped me open up is my 365 picture project where since the second of February this year I've committed to taking a daily photo. More often than not these have been taken on my iphone, the first 200 are here and I'm up to number 226 here, check them out and let me know what you think. More on that in future posts ;)

Just recently I went to a two day photographic seminar held by the British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP), I came away feeling so inspired and motivated, it was fantastic. I don’t just like my job… I love it and I can’t wait to embark on new projects and new techniques along the way. The people I met there were incredible and so talented, it made me see where I’d like to be in the photography world. If the truth be known, there isn’t ever an end point, but always striving for something better is as near to that end point as I will get and as long as I’m always looking to push forward I have to be improving and learning along the way.

Inspired by the likes of modern photographers Chase Jarvis and Andy Gotts and greats from the past such as Robert Doisneau and Henri Cartier-Bresson I’m like a sponge, soaking it all up. So, what is the aim of the blog? Well, I’d like to be able to see my own progression and I’d love to hear from others about theirs. I’ll be blogging about the likes and dislikes of life in the photography world and things that I discover along the way. Hope you come with me.

Happy snapping.

H.