Jude Gidney Photography Saddleworth, Oldham and Ashton under lyne
Maternity, Newborn and Baby Photographer
Little girls in beautiful tutu dresses, dancing with teddies and galloping on rocking horses always bring a smile to their faces, and an opportunity for lovely memories to be captured.
These dresses are loaned to me by Dawn Houston, a creative dress-maker who stitches wonderful powder puffs of girliness for the little ones, and big ones, to wear. She sells them from The Small Business Emporium in Denton.
Here’s a few from a recent tutu photo session:
Pregnancy Casts and Newborn Baby Photography go well together. A lot of mums like to keep a record of their pregnancy but often feel awkward about baring all for photographs. My studio is warm and cosy, with sets that make taking photographs calm and easy. It’s wonderful to welcome a mum-to-be into the studio, encourage them to spend time thinking solely about what’s going on inside them, and help them to look beautiful on the outside. The change in them is amazing, as having that attention can be liberating.
Seeing my big-bellied self through Jude’s lens made me feel like one of those beautiful pregnant women! Jude made both my partner and I feel very relaxed and comfortable throughout the maternity photography session. She has captured a precious time in our lives which we can look back on and cherish forever. Looking forward to another session with our newborn baby very soon!
But it’s understandable that not every mum would like to remember it in this way. OR they may like to have both. The Pregnancy Cast is a cast taken of your bump, using soft textiles and hardening agent, and once hard, is beautifully decorated by art student Nat to your own design or one suggested by her.
And then when your precious baby arrives, your cast is a beautiful vessel to hold him or her in, with the use of soft blankets and padding, and with the expertise of a BANPAS recognised, BIPP registered photographer, your newborn baby photographs are in very safe hands.
Book a package now, even if you’ve only just found out the delightful news, as both are getting very booked up. Don’t be disappointed …. click here
I’ve recently been inspired to do an at home shoot with my little King Charles Cavalier Spaniel. Meet Harvey, he’s an orange dog! The official name for him is ruby and his official title is Herald of Spring of Heronbank – but that’s a little difficult to shout out when recalling him on the footpath. I’m just priming him for a shoot later in the week in the studio, but wanted to teach him a few moves beforehand to make things easier.
I actually managed to get him to learn to sit with his back to the camera, result!! He’ll do anything for a little piece of cheese. The training was taught to me by Lucy, the animal behaviourist. She spent time teaching me, and Harvey some simple commands, using click training, which I am now extending for the shoot. He’s so willing to please me, it’s easy once he gets the hang of what to do – but getting him to understand the command in the first place takes patience.
Contact me here to discuss a booking.
The Suitcase Project is an initiative put together by Jude Gidney and inspired by the band The Suitcase Dwellers that were guests at her studio over the weekend of the April Woodend Studios Open Art Fair.
It involved photographing the majority of visitors to the studio, each being given the opportunity to interact with a vintage suitcase that is a prop in the studio. the interactions became more and more innovative as the weekend went on, each visitor trying to outdo the previous. At the end of the weekend we had a visit from one of the visiting artists that also works as a designer for a suitcase company. You will find her words about the history of the case below.
If you’d like to hear more about events happening at the studio please send me a quick email or text with the title Event Details Please
Words from Helen Wood about the ‘Revelation’ Suitcase – Please click on the arrow under 00.00
Music whilst you browse the photos:
A day out in Uppermill in the summer months is a lovely thing to do with the family – with the park and playing area, stepping stones across the river, tea shops and cafes, a beautiful canal to walk along, and a canal boat trip; there’s so much to do. There’s also a fantastic children’s play area in the park. The Saddleworth museum is at present undergoing much needed alterations but will be up and open again very soon.
Why not include in your day out in Uppermill that long put off family photoshoot of your children at the studio just down the road in Mossley? The studio is also housed on the canal, so both outside and indoor images can be taken. The children, and yourselves, will have a healthy glow, so it’s an ideal time! Prints will make great gifts and you’ll be well ahead for those celebrations later in the year. The studio would make for an ideal afternoon stop, put up your feet and let the photographer take over. Then back to Uppermill for an evening meal and an al fresco drink in one of Uppermill’s many bars and traditional pubs.
Book your session here or ring 07759 599134
I’ve recently had the pleasure of welcoming @Mr_Saddleworth aka Jason Roberts to my studio for an updated Model Portfolio Shoot.
The brief for the shoot was for ‘corporate looking’ images, although I aimed to give the images a juxtaposition between old and new – using the surrounds of the Mill as an usual setting for a business profile. I also attempted to capture personality of Jason in a range of simple headshot images as shots he had showed to me previously were mainly from modelling shoots with Next, Vodaphone and fashion magazines so more directed images. I enlisted the help of Helen Keegan Walker, hairdresser and make-up artist, who expertly prepared Jason for the shoot.
Having only been back in the Mill for a few months, it was a good opportunity to make use of locations in the studio and around the Mill, although we were hampered by inclement weather, so the plans for a couple of outdoor locations were scuppered. So the shoot involved both natural light and studio lighting, easily switched between the two with an ideal set up in the Studio.
A lot of photography studios are solely studio-head lit and have no access to window light, which is where I am the lucky one and have learnt through years of experience. So the location is fantastic for creative photography, and great model and actor portfolio updates.
To find out more or book a session for yourself please contact me.
I recently welcomed two little remarkable dogs to the studio for a pet photography session. Both thought to be Maltese dogs, Milton and Fizz have both endured a very difficult start to life. They were both rescued from being eaten. Both were born in South Korea where dogs are bred for the dinner table.
Fizz was found wandering around in a little shop, and when a loving lady asked to buy her, the shop owner had to be restrained from slitting her throat, ready for the pot.
Milton was rescued by the same generous lady, from a nearby rescue home in Asan, in South Korea where he was on death row as no one was interested in adopting him. Milton was born completely blind as a result of inbreeding, but has a remarkable way of adapting to his surroundings, and I feel this ability has helped him in his rescue.
When their owner changed jobs and needed to move to accommodation where pets weren’t welcome, she managed to get a charity that flies pets around the world to help out and to send them to her mother, Dawn who lives just outside Oldham.
Dawn has been looking after them in her home for a year now and there’s obviously a very strong bond between them.
In the studio they were both very happy to investigate, and it was amazing to watch Milton navigate, very slowly at first, the furniture and lighting, but within about 20 mins he was running around bump-free as was Fizz. Getting them to sit and pose was another issue altogether! Thanks to Dawn for her patience.
Milton is celebrating his 2nd Birthday in February and Fizz her 6th in April.
I also wish to congratulate Dawn and Mark on their engagement. I’m wondering if the dogs may play apart in their upcoming Wedding ceremony in June.
Announcing the first Makers’ Photography Workshop at the Reclamation Rooms in Uppermill on the 12th January 2016, 10 am until 12.30.
The course will aim to cover looking at your individual style and how to translate that into
images for your website and online marketing and selling. The photography will include lighting, composition, best use of your camera, postproduction of your images and presenting them for online use.
You may be a fantastic maker but do you want to learn how your images can tell the story of your products and sell them?
Come and join a small group of Makers, discuss your ideas and learn form an experienced professional photographer the secrets to those wow photographs. There will be preparation required before the session, and review sessions online afterwards, so you’re not left on your own and can bounce questions as you learn.
Morning session, with mentoring follow up – £35 each (payable on booking)
Places are limited to keep the learning experience personal.
Gift vouchers are available from either myself or from the Reclamation Rooms – an ideal Christmas present and a great start to the new year. Enquire or book now
A photograph of your children, a whole family, a couple, or just yourself are a record of time and make a very personal gift. Vouchers are redeemable for the amount spent on them. Please contact me for a price list, packages to suit you available.
Welcome in to the world Nate! 12 days young, so still a newborn, and very tiny, and happy to be with us, cuddled and warm. I am inspired by traditional fairy stories and children’s books, so a Peter Rabbit shoot was a must. I love the soft colours of the blue and cream with the bright orange of the carrot.
Interested in booking your own newborn session? Have ideas yourself of a themed session you’d love to try? …… contact me
