Amanda Eatwell’s blog

It’s Saturday night and I feel like I am writing a diary, especially as I do not expect many people to read this!

I’ve had two long meetings with clients today and now I have some fine young things in the studio, shooting a model with an endless supply of clothes. This new breed of photographers have half decent cameras, but don’t know a thing about lighting!

So what’s been happening (talks to oneself).

Well for starters, I had a lovely week in France with Man and boy. We stayed at a friend’s house and it was truly relaxing. Obviously we had to gee things up a bit by coming back to London for about 12 hours, then headed to Wales for six days of forest camping on a bush moot!

I’ve had parents visiting, foreign students to contend with: the current one is lovely. He’s a 17 year old French guy and I was dreading his arrival more than anyone; you know, smelly teenager syndrome etc. Well, he’s been charming and very bright and engaging. We have been having fun with theFrench/English banter, but we all know who’s best!

It was my birthday a week or so ago which was relaxing until I had to cook dinner for eight; my idea and everyone was pleased with their coconut prawns, scallops with herb butter, rice and salad. Mmm…this is what happens when you have Eatwell as a surname!

Anyhow, my clients are done, so I must go.

Good night!

Here comes the Bride...

Last Saturday I had the opportunity to photograph my first travellers’ wedding in sunny Coventry.

What I mean by Travellers is a caste of people who descend from Ireland and who have historically lived a nomadic lifestyle and mostly keep themselves to themselves.

I did have some preconceptions regarding behaviour, but on the whole it was another great insight into a particular section of society, which once ingratiated isn’t that different from any other part.

What was really funny was that we were only told the hotel location as we left London and we never did know the Church location; just had to follow a convoy of wedding cars and transit vans to the Church! What were they trying to hide I wonder; either too many uninvited guests or  a reputation that preceded them?

I was not aware of the showiness involved and one person told me that the size of the wedding dress is representive of status. With that in mind my bride must have been close to the top of the heap! I did find it hard not to gawp when I first saw her, followed by her maid of honour and two flower girlks with equally impractical clothes on! It took six men to help the bride into the wedding car, by which time her father had to sit in the front as the dress had taken up his seat next to the bride!

The church ceremony was  a bit of a waste of time as people spoke all the way through and I thought the Groom was going to fall asleep.

Back at the hotel there were a few shenanigans like smoking on the dance-floor and kids running riot. I was a bit surprised by the lack of attention shown in the function room by hotel staff. I think they were unnecessarily nervous as one member of staff told me she was petrified, so I told her not to worry. Wow; nothing like putting the horse before the cart(no pun intended!)

Some of the outfits were stunning; in that I was stunned by what some people wore! Sequins, false eyelashes, young girls with fake tan and killer heels, peroxide grandmothers, hot-pants and loads of luscious locks. It was all there, and it all added to the drama of the day.

Anyway, I was told that this was very tame, so not sure what to expect at the next one!

AJE

And, Heave!

Make room for the ladies!

Last week I attended the funeral of a good friend’s mother. She was fairly old and had suffered through severe arthritis and other problems for the past ten years or so.

The mood waas  lightened somewhat as a small convey got lost on the way to the Crematorium and once inside the grounds it took ages to find the right chapel as the land must have spanned a good few acres. Thankfully the Priest waited until everyone was there.

The Order of Service was really nicely put together and it had about seven photpographs of the deceased; one on the back and the front and a little montage on a separte page. The two outer pictures were professionally shot and showed Ermyn looking really well and dressed for the occasion. The other pictures were a medley of pictures taken at various times, candidly.

I was struck by how lovely it was to see pictures of Ermyn in happier times and in the way everyone would like to remember her.

I often try to help people realise the importance of having some good pictures of your loved ones. This is not a sales pitch, but I really think we should insure that we have some special pictorial memories to help us recall special times we have shared whether it’s a clear snap-shot or a studio portrait.

Evening All. I hope people are enjoying the sunshine while it lasts.

I have been so busy lately that I can’t fit in the blog, but I really want to as I want to let you know what’s been happening. Guess I’ll have to work backwards with the most recent event being the North London Women’s  Networking & Business Expo which was held on 2nd June at The Dugdale Centre in Enfield Town.

There was a great turnout and Councillor Jayne Buckland, the Mayor of Enfield kicked off the event.

Being a seasoned networker around these parts I had my own stand and I was also the Official photographer!

I had a great T-shirt made with my company details on. The only thing that went wrong was that my Epson printer failed to print the lovely poster I had designed: It drove me to the brink, and lo and behold two days later upon reading some forums I took the advise of one guy which was to unplug the printer and give it a good shake. I did that and I now have my poster, but nowhere to hang it!

The Mayor was kind enough to walk around all the stands and when she got to mine, her husband kindly offered to take my picture, so here I am!