Mark Betts Photography

Welome to the world "Silas"

2012-01-30T21:41:00.003Z

Here is Silas,,, his Mummy and Daddy brought him into the studio a few days ago for some very special newborn pictures.

We are photographing more and more newborns lately, and the best time is between 3 and 14 days old.

During this time they are still very sleepy and are easily posed.

If you have a newborn or know someone who is expecting call us at the studio on 01604 811942.

Maternity Shoot with Katie,,,,,,

2012-01-12T17:28:00.004Z

Katies "bump" is due in just 3 weeks time so this was the ideal opportunity to capture some images.

Katie came well prepared for her shoot with ribbons and little "notes" for the baby , which we thought was a lovely touch.

Here are just a small selection of the images taken.

Mark Betts Photography Maternity and Bump Shoots, Makeovers, Family Portraits in Earls Barton Northampton Northamptonshire

First Makeover of the New year "Happy Birthday Katie"

2012-01-06T16:33:00.009Z

Here are a few images from our first Makeover Shoot of 2012.

Ben emailed me a few weeks before Xmas enquiring about our Makeover shoots.
After a few emails back and forth it was decided he wanted a very special present for his girlfriend Katie as it was her 21st Birthday.

Very soon Katie will be the proud owner of a gorgeous 12" square "book" of her afternoon at the studio.

We also managed to persuade Ben to be in a few of the shots also.

To book your very own shoot in the studio or on location call Mark Betts Photography on 01604 811942

Makeover Shoots Northampton Earls Barton www.markbettsphotography.co.uk

Makeover Voucher Offer

2011-12-13T22:43:00.004Z

Here is it, our best Makeover Shoot offer yet,,,,,,,

This offer will be taken off line on Wednesday 21st December so act now to avoid missing out on the offer.

How it works,,,,

Our normal price for a Makeover, 1 Hour studio shoot and 12x8 print is normally £125.00.

Download and print this voucher , call us to book your session by 28th February 2012 and the cost is just £35.00.

An ideal Christmas gift for your partner or even for your self,,,,,

Why not download 2 and bring a friend?

Terms and Conditions.

1 voucher per person. You may only use a special offer Makeover Voucher once in a 12 month period. The voucher is not redeemable for cash or cannot be exchanged for other goods or sessions.You must be over 18 years of age or a PARENT must attend your shoot AND viewing session. A viewing/ordering session will take place 1 week after your shoot to enable you to select your 12x8 print. Other products may be purchased at this time. The offer price of £35.00 is payable on booking to secure your session and is not refundable in the event of cancellation or failure to arrive for your shoot or viewing session.

Mark Betts Photography Earls Barton Northampton Makeover Shoots

Welcome to the world...........

2011-11-17T22:45:00.003Z

Great news!!!

A couple of weeks ago we photographed Ria and Asa with their "bump".

I am delighted to announce that little Mya arrived into the world last Sunday, we will be photographing Mya on Tuesday.

This will be to complete Ria and Asa,s "Bump to Baby" album. This will become a lovely family heirloom in years to come and a joy for the parents to look back on.

If you are expecting a baby and would like something truly memorable to look back on in years to come call us now to book your "bump' shoot.

Mark Betts Photography 01604 811942

Maternity and Newborn photography Earls Barton Northampton

Charlie

2011-11-16T13:44:00.004Z

As part of our Cherubs Baby Programme we had Charlie in for his session this morning.
Charlie is just 12 weeks old and is one little poser for the camera.

Book your Baby into the studio for our New Beginnings offer of 3 sessions for just £19.95 Call the studio on 01604 811942

Mark Betts Photography Baby Photos Makeover Shoots Earls Barton Northampton

Makeover Shoot vouchers For Christmas.

2011-11-10T22:42:00.004Z

Gents,,

Are you at a loss at what to buy the special lady in your life for Christmas this year?

How about treating your lady to a fabulous Makeover and Studio shoot at our studios in Earls Barton near northampton.

Your lady will be pampered and treated to a facial makeover before an unforgettable Fashion Shoot in our studio.

As a very special offer you can purchase a voucher for a Makeover, Studio Shoot and a fabulous 12"x8" retouched print for just £35.00. This would normally cost over £100.00

The voucher will be valid for 6 months from the date of issue in order for your lady to plan her shoot well in advance.

To purchase your voucher call the studio on 01604 811942 and quote : special blog makeover offer.

This offer will only be available until 23rd December so call us now.

Visit our Makeover website here www.your-moments.co.uk

Mark Betts Photography, Makeover Shoots, Earls Barton, Northampton

Shannon and Jack Maternity Shoot

2011-11-08T22:16:00.007Z

Yet another fantastic Maternity shoot last week.

This time it was with Shannon and Jack who are expecting their new arrival very soon.

Here is a slide show of their shoot.

Northampton Photographer Mark Betts Photography Maternity Shoots Makeovers Earls Barton

Maternity Shoot

2011-10-29T21:56:00.003Z

This week i had the great pleasure to photograph Ria and her partner Asa with their "Bump'.

I just love doing Maternity Shoots as it opens up so many creative opportunities.

Here is a slide show of a selection of the images taken.

In 2 weeks time we will look forward to photographing Ria and Asa's new arrival.

Maternity and Bump Shoots, Mark Betts Photography Earls Barton Northampton 01604 811942

Promo Videos

2011-05-27T17:00:00.005Z

We are part of the Fresh group of studios who supply a wide variety of Studio Shoot options in the form of Photographic experience.

To book your Family, Pet,Baby , Makeover or Boudoir Shoot call us on 01604 811942

Here are our 2 latest promotional videos.

Kirsty "The Dancer"

2011-04-18T16:59:00.008Z

Today Kirsty visited the studio for a shoot.
She is 15 and a dancer so wanted various shots in different outfits.

We started in the studio but soon ventured outside at the back of the studio for some location work.

Mark Betts Photography Northampton Photographer model shoots Families Makeovers

www.markbettsphotography.co.uk

Little Angels

2011-04-13T20:28:00.003Z

Sweet Innocent Faces, Big eyes and a Cute Smile,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Our Little Angels promotion is in full swing and we have had some gorgeous children in our studio for our Studio book.

If you would like your child featured in our book and would like some wall "art" for your home then this is for you.

For a shoot fee of just £20 you will have up to an hour in the studio with us creating something very different for your home plus, the chance for your Little Angel" to be featured in our book.

Call the studio to book your child in 01604 811942

Northampton Baby Photographer , Makeovers, Photoshoots, Families,

Wedding Blog

2011-04-07T19:25:00.002Z

A few weeks ago i received an e mail from Emma who writes a wedding blog.

She had come across my work on the internet and asked if she could feature one of my weddings on her blog.
The wedding in question was Katie and Eoin's wedding which we photographed last year.
It was a great wedding and I am honoured and thrilled that Emma wanted to publish it.
As there were so many fantastic images from the wedding I sent her the whole wedding so she could select her favourites.

Read the blog here http://aphroditesweddingblog.com/2011/04/07/real-wedding-katie-eoin%E2%80%99s-idyllic-country-wedding-photographed-by-mark-betts/

Thank you so much to Emma at Aphroditesweddingblog.com and a huge thank you to Katie and Eoin for allowing me to record their special day.

Mark Betts Photography, Northampton Wedding Photographer.

Babies,,,,,,,,,,,

2011-03-18T15:19:00.003Z

Its a busy time at Mark Betts Photography with lots of cute babies to photograph.

Here is a selection from this week,,,,,,

Also we have announced our latest promotion, "Little Angels and Fairies", keep coming back for further details or check out our facebook page for up to date information at www.facebook.com/markbettsphotography.

Mark Betts Photography Northampton Baby and Family Photographer in Earls Barton.

Are you our Next Top Model???

2011-03-12T13:32:00.006Z

Could you be Mark Betts Photographys Next Top Model ??

We are still looking for entrants, you must be aged between 8 and 30 years old.

We are offering a free mini studio shoot with a chance of winning our Next Top Model trophy plus a £50 NEXT voucher.

To enter call the studio in Earls Barton on 01604 811942 for your entry form.

Hurry entries will close at the end of March.

Here are a few of our recent entries.

We have moved !!!!!!

2010-09-08T20:04:00.002Z

Apologies for the lack of blog posts lately but ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

After many months of searching and planning we have finally located a brand new studio and we completed the building works last week.

We still have a few finishng touches to make but we are now up and running.

We will be having various special opening offers so keep an eye on the blog and our facebook page,,,,,,,,,,,,,

The new studio address is,,,,,,,,,, 25 The Square Earls Barton Northampton NN6 0NA 01604 811942

As the address suggests we are right in the centre of Earls Barton on the square between the butchers and Jeyes the chemists.

We will be posting pictures of the new "pad" soon.

"If you go down to the woods today"

2010-07-30T14:03:00.002Z

Here is a short video of a shoot earlier today of a little girl in her ballet outfit.

Mark Betts Photography Northampton Wedding and Portrait Photographer

Model Shoot Testing Elinchrom Quadras

2010-07-28T17:59:00.011Z

I am a great fan of using flash outdoors whether it be speedlites or more powerful studio style location lighting.

So when Brian from The Flash Centre in Birmingham kindly offered to loan me an Elinchrom Quadra kit, I jumped at the chance.

Also a few days before I took delivery of a shiny new Canon 5dMK11 so this shoot was really going to be a learning curve as I wanted to try out the 5dmk11 video as well to shoot along side the stills. There is a short video/slide show at the end with just a couple of clips we shot.

I already own the Elinchron Ranger AS Speed kit which is amazing for using on location and with its 1100 ws of power I can use light modifiers including wafer soft boxes for studio quality lighting outdoors.

The Quadra kit is very similiar but is 400 ws and much smaller and more portable.

The kit comes with 2 heads.

For the majority of these shots we used just the one head which enabled us to use the full 400ws of power through one head if needed.

On some of the shots we used both heads which splits the power roughly to 67% on one head and 33% on the second. This is ideal for using one head as a main light and the second as a fill or hair or kicker light.

This first shot was the only shot we took using a light modifier, which was an elinchrom 44cm square honeycomb reflector i got from e bay the morning of the shoot.

One Quadra bare head to the left of the camera.

Shot below one quadra bare head to the right of the camera with shutter speed increased to reduce the ambient light.

The shots below in the coloured dress again just one head to the right of the camera.

For this shot I used the Orbis Ringflash and then both quadra heads one either side and to the rear of the model to give a kick to the hair.

Shot below both heads, the more powerful one to the right as the main light and the second to the left and out of shot of the camera used as a kicker.

The rest of the shots were taken using just one head.

On the way home we stopped at a local windfarm and took a few shots, we had to be quick due to some signs saying we shouldnt really be there, really? What signs?

These flash heads are very light and portable and would be ideal at say a wedding for that "WOW" shot after the speeches.

Using the head without any modifiers eg, soft boxes etc they are a great kit, although in my opinion if you want to use larger studio modifiers and still over power the sun on a summers day the Ranger AS speed is the way to go. But there is the trade off as the Ranger Speed kit is a lot heavier to carry around than the very light and portable Quadras.

If you would like more information on the Quadra here call Brian at The Flash Centre on 0121 327 9220 or visit the Flash Centre website here

Here is a slide show of the some of the shots we took on the day with just a little bit of video from the 5dmk11

Shannon and Sharni Prom Fashion Shoot

2010-07-05T21:40:00.008Z

Its Prom season and on Sunday morning I had the pleasure of photographing sisters Shannon and Sharni in their prom dresses and what a pair of stunners they were.

The girls had great fun being models for a few hours around a local beauty spot.

The weather was very warm but extremely windy which worked to our advantage in some shots and in others we sheltered in the calm of the trees.

Here is a very small selection from over 150 finished images the girls had to choose from.

If you would like a Location Fashion Prom Dress shoot before you pack away your dress call us as soon as possible.

We only have a limited number of available slots.

Also if you have been lucky enough to have purchased your Prom dress from Camellia Bridal in Northampton you are entitled to a FREE Location shoot with us.

Call the studio on 01604 416005.

Mark Betts Photography Northampton www.markbettsphotography.co.uk

Wedding and Portrait Photography Northampton

Katie and Eoin - Wedding - 12th June

2010-06-21T18:22:00.007Z

Kate and Eoin were married on 12th June at St Mary The Virgin in Clifton Reynes, Bucks.

With over 100 guests the church was filled to capacity and after the service everyone attended the wedding breakfast at Katies parents home in a lovely marquee in the garden.

Here is a flavour of the day.

Mark Betts Photography Wedding Photographer Northamptonshire

Chasing Johd !!!!

2010-06-07T16:28:00.005Z

Why the reason for the title?

Well if you have ever tried photographing a toddler on location thats what you end up doing 90% of the time.

The secret to childrens portraits on location is to treat it as just a day out, let them do their own thing but at the same time guiding them into the best light etc to achieve the results you want.

We had a great time with Johd and his Mum and Dad on Saturday. The weather was glorious and he loved walking in the woods and seeing the ducks at the pond. Although he did give us a few scary moments near the water.

Here are a few pictures from the session.

Mark Betts Photography Northampton Wedding and Portrait Photographer Childrens photography in Northampton

Location Child Photography - Tutorial Day

2010-06-04T14:15:00.010Z

Yesterday I had a fellow photographer Kim Shaw visit as she wanted some pointers on Location lighting and also Lightroom work.

I arranged 2 little models Mia and Scarlett and also Donna their mother to pose for us.

We shot all morning at a local wood and pond and the girls were absolute stars.

Here are a few shots from the session.

Most of the shots were taken in the shade of the trees, giving a very soft directional light.

The shot below shows how the image above was lit. Purely by holding a reflector (held by Mum in this case) over Mia stopping the uneven dappled lighting.

The above shot was taken into the sun using a reflector to bounce light onto the subjects.

The final shot of Mum on her own, this time we used a flashgun shot through a white brolly to balance with the daylight behind.

If you would like a location session like this please call the studio 01604 416005

Mark Betts Photography Northampton Wedding and Portrait Photographer

Emma - Makeover Shoot - Northampton

2010-06-02T09:30:00.006Z

Emma came into the studio a few weeks ago for a Makeover Session.

It was her birthday and the session was a present from her boyfriend.

Emma had great fun, changing into different outfits and we managed to capture some very different styles.

Here are a few from the session here.

If you would like to book a Makeover session call the studio on 01604 416005.
We can also supply vouchers if the session is a gift for someone.

Mark Betts Photography Northampton Makeover Studio and Location Sessions.

www.your-moments.co.uk

Scarlett Location Session

2010-05-28T15:19:00.004Z

I have photographed Scarlett since she was a newborn baby and now she is growing up it was time for some updated pictures.

This time they were taken on location and the weather was perfect.

Here are a few shots from the session.

Mark Betts Photography Child Photographer Northampton

www.markbettsphotography.co.uk

Keeley "Back to Mono" session

2010-05-26T14:34:00.003Z

A preview of Keeley,s "Back to Mono" session yesterday.

Bookings are now being taken for these sessions at an introductory price of just £25.00.

Mark Betts Northampton Photographer

"Back to Mono"

2010-05-26T10:51:00.005Z

Always looking for something different to offer clients, Jurgita came into the studio last week for "Back to Mono" session.

As the name suggests they are all Black and White sessions using very simple lighting, in most cases just one light to sculpt the face and body.

Clothing is kept to either Black or White ensuring attention is on the subject and not the clothing.

If you would like a "Back to Mono" session they start from just £25.00 which includes an hours studio time. We can also supply a makeup artist if required at extra charge.

Call the studio as soon as possible to book your session as we are only offering a limited number of these sessions at the special price for a limited time.

Call Mark Betts Photography on 01604 416005

Photographers Shoot Day - Northampton

2010-04-20T19:49:00.008Z

Yesterday myself and 3 other photographers got together for a Shoot I arranged with friend and Model Jess.

Every few months I like to arrange an informal shoot and invite other photographers, this is a great way of trying new techniques and "polishing up" our skills.

The main subject we covered was using Studio style lighting outdoors. This technique can give a studio like lighting quality to outdoor shots ranging from subtle to "Wow" effects.

The first 5 shots below were taken in the woods near the studio using just daylight. The images were finished off in photoshop.

Little Red Riding Hood

These next shots were taken deeper in the woods using a mixture of daylight and Flash. We used the Elinchrom Ranger pack which is an extremely powerful battery powered studio flash that can be taken outdoors and way fitted with an umbrella to create a soft lightsource. The flash was set to be a little more powerful than the daylight to make the images "pop". A smalller flash was used to the left of the image to create more depth.

This next shot was taken at an old barn we came across, using just a Canon Speedlite fitted to an umbrella the light was just enough to give a lovely snap to the image but leaving the effects of the sunlight.

Under cover in the barn 2 Canon speedlites were used to create this dramatic black and white image. The main light is to the right of Jess and a second speedlite was used to the left and behind Jess to very slightly light her hair and provide some seperation.

The Ranger pack was used on this shot with a small reflector flooding the scene and creating depth and snap to the image.

Once again the Ranger pack came into its own. At this point it was very sunny so the flash was turned up to full power , and fitted with a honeycomb grid to direct the light and overpower the sun.

For these last shots we fitted a large wafer softbox to the flash head giving a studio lit quality to the light, combined with a blue gel from another flash directed at the background it finished off the image a treat.

Mark Betts Photography Northampton Location Model Shoots

Nicola and Stephen All Saints Harpole Northampton

2010-04-14T12:40:00.009Z

Beautiful Spring Sunshine combined with a lovely country church made for a great wedding last Saturday.

Nicola and Stephen were married at All Saints Church in Harpole and were joined by over 90 family and friends.

Nicola arrived looking radiant in her Horse drawn carriage provided by Claytons, and Stephen and his best man and attendants looked very smaart in their suits.

The reception was held in Bugbrooke in Northamptonshire and was a perfect day for a horsedrawn carriage ride to the reception.

Here is a small selection of the images from the day.

Images by Mark Betts Photography Wedding and Portrait Photographer Northampton

Variety of Portraits

2010-04-12T16:59:00.005Z

Last week was a wonderful and varied week for our Portrait sessions.

Apart from our usual batch of Cherubs sessions we also photographed a couple of Little Angels.

Here is a small selection below.

Mark Betts Photography Northampton Baby and Family Portrait Photographer

Northampton Baby Photography - Eithan

2010-04-08T10:31:00.002Z

Little Eithan visited the studio on Tuesday with his Mummy.

Eithans portraits were taken as part of his Cherubs Plan.

He will have 3 sessions over his first year and at the end 3 of the pictures will be presented in a lovely leather folio.

I think he done great for his first close up in front of the camera.

Mark Betts Pgotography Baby Photographer Covering Northampton and Kettering and surrounding areas.

Pets !!! Dog and Cat Photography Northampton

2010-04-08T10:13:00.004Z

On Saturday we had the pleasure of photographing a great Dog and Cat.

Now whilst we photography dozens of Dogs in a year it is very rare we are asked to photograph a Cat.

This is because unlike Dogs, Cats literally have a mind of their own and you cant ask a Cat what to do, unlike a Dog.

However I neednt have been worried, this pair came together and although we didnt manage a shot of them together we got some great images of them alone, and they both behave impeccably !!!

If you would like your Dog or Cat photographing call us, we can also enter your Pet into The Kodak Portrait Awards with a prize or £1000 up for grabs.

Mark Betts Photography Northampton Wedding and Portrait Photographer 01604 416005

www.markbettsphotography.co.uk

Cherub of The Year - £10,000 prize

2010-03-23T18:50:00.001Z

New 'Cherub of the Year' Competition launched – £10,000 cash prize!

Professional photographer, Mark Betts LMPA, has announced his immediate, local exclusive involvement in a brand new national competition to find the UK's bonniest baby.

Cherubs is the longest running and most respected baby photography promotion, set up by the Master Photographers Association in 1993. Tens of thousands of babies have been photographed over the years and Mums receive a complimentary Art Leather Folio with three photographs recording baby's first year.

Now, for the first time ever, a life-changing £10,000 cash prize is on offer to find the baby chosen as 'Cherub of the Year'.

"As the exclusive Cherubs photographer for Northampton and surrounding areas , we are very excited that the Cherub of the Year could be a baby from our area and this new competition is a fantastic additional reason to use a professional (Master) photographer to record the key stages of baby's development

In addition to the main prize, 20 runners-up prizes of £25 Shopping Vouchers will also be awarded on a quarterly basis (80 in total).

For details about how to register on the Cherubs Baby Programme, please call the studio 01604 416005

Kara and Richards Pre Wedding Shoot The Orangery Whittlebury

2010-03-16T17:17:00.005Z

Kara and Richard are getting married in August at St Andrews Church in Billing Northampton, and their reception is at the splendid Orangery at Whittlebury Hall.

We spent an hour or so walking round the venue , discussing their plans for the big day and also taking a few pictures.

Here is a sneak preview of some of the shots taken.

We look forward to photographing their wedding in August.

Falcon Wedding Fair Castle Ashby

2010-03-16T08:39:00.001Z

Not long now until we attend the Wedding Fair at the wonderful Falcon in Castle Ashby in Northamptonshire.

The Falcon is one of my favourite places to photograph weddings and I am honoured to be invited to exhibit,

The fair starts at 11am and finishes at 5pm giving plenty of time to chat with the variety of suppliers from florists to DJ's.

Also we have a special offer of a free 18x12 Print from your wedding for booking on the day.

See you there !!!

Babies, Babies and more Babies ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

2010-02-28T20:54:00.008Z

We have been extremely busy lately with what seems like "Wall to Wall Babies".

Also we are running The Kodak Portrait Awards promotion for children of all ages with a prize of £1000 to be won, plus our Little Angels sessions are in full swing as we are looking for subjects to be included in our book at the end of the year.

Here is a small selection of Babies we have photographed over the past week.

If you would like details of the Kodak Portrait Awards or our Little Angels Promotion call the studio on 01604 416005 or be a fan on our facebook page and send us a message.

Studio Shoot

2010-02-19T13:23:00.008Z

On Monday Jess came to the studio for some new images.

Using different lighting techniques we came up with some great shots.

A few of the shots here also feature our new prop which is a Light Cube.

To book your Makeover Studio session please call the studio in Northampton 01604 416005

Using different coloured gels on the studio lights creates interesting shots

The Light Cube in action

Mark Betts Photography Northampton Your Moments Makeover Studio and Location Shoots

www.markbettsphotography.co.uk www.your-moments.co.uk

Wedding Fair - The Falcon Hotel Castle Ashby

2010-02-02T17:43:00.003Z

Today we got invited to exhibit at the forthcoming Wedding Fair at The Falcon Hotel , Castle Ashby, Northamptonshire.

The Falcon is a lovely Hotel set in the Northamptonshire countryside a stones throw from the historical Castle Ashby House.

We have photographed many weddings there over the years and are always offered a friendly welcome.

From a photographers point of view The Falcon offers everything, beautiful grounds for the photographs and if the weather is a little damp the inside is lovely.

The wedding fair is on Sunday 21st March so please come along and say hello.

Here is a link to The Falcon and to view our wedding website click here Mark Betts Photography

Grey is the new White

2010-01-23T13:17:00.006Z

I recently painted a spare wall of the studio Grey.
This has given me an extra shooting area which is very versatile.

I can either have a Grey background ,or by lighting the wall with different colour Gels I have an infinite choice of colours.
A nice refreshing change from the White dont you think?

Here are a few shots from recent sessions.

Let me know what you think.

Peter

2010-01-21T18:11:00.006Z

Here is 4 month old Peter who came in today for his first Cherubs session with his Mummy Helen.

Zahra and Simon Snow Shoot

2010-01-09T15:07:00.002Z

On Friday I was out with Zahra and Simon creating some fashion type images in the snow.

The shoot had been arranged before Christmas and we had no way of knowing what the weather had in store for us.

We started the shoot in the morning and it was minus 2 degrees !!!!!!

However Zahra and Simon were real troopers and we captured some amazing images around various locations in Northampton during the day.

Here is a slide show of my favourites.

To book your own location session call Mark Betts Photography 01604 416005 for Makeover and Fashion Shoots in Northampton

2009 Personal Favourites

2010-01-06T15:26:00.001Z

2009 has been a great year for my photography with many wonderful and interesting clients.

Through the year I have arranged personal shoots using friends and models, sometimes these were by myself and sometimes arranged for a group of photographers.

Here is a short slide show of some of my favourite personal images from 2009.

Hannah

2009-11-30T18:27:00.000Z

Hannah came into the studio on Saturday for her 2nd Cherubs session.

It was amazing just how much she has grown.

We also photographed her with her Mummy and Daddy and Sister.

Little Angel

2009-11-21T19:34:00.002Z

We had a visit from a delightful little Girl this week.

She came in with her Mummy for some Portraits and I just couldnt resist blogging these.................

We are now looking for Children od all ages for The Kodak Portrait Awards 2010.

The first round of judging take place in March and sessions will start at the studio after christmas.

There is £1000 to be won for the overall Portrait catagory winner plus runners up prizes.

To enter all you need to do is call the studio and book your child in, all we ask is for a £20 returnable booking deposit and that you purchase at least 1 picture from us.

Entry into the Kodak competition is free.

Mark Betts Photography Wedding and Portrait Photographer Northampton

Oscar

2009-11-17T16:18:00.006Z

Its been a while since we "blogged" a Baby Shoot due to workload.

Here is a session taken today of 3 month old Oscar.

Oscar was a Model "Model" so to speak, smiling almost on command we captured some great images of him.

Family Portraits

2009-11-16T10:38:00.004Z

In the 2 months running up to Christmas we are very busy with Family Portrait sessions at the studio.

Family portraits are a very popular gift , here are a few shots from 2 sessions taken recently of 2 lovely families.

Finn, Amelie and Alex

2009-10-23T11:54:00.004Z

3 gorgeous Babies to show you today, first off is Finn, what a great name...........

Next we have Amelie , what a gorgeous smile she has and was a real poser in front of the camera.

Finally Alex came in with his Mummmy and Daddy for a session, he was a serious little chap, more interested in looking at the pretty lights in the studio than looking at the camera but we managed some lovely shots of him and his family nevertheless.

Boudoir Bellies

2009-10-19T17:19:00.004Z

Mili came to the studio on Saturday for her Boudoir Bellies studio session.

Her little one is due on the 20th of November so this was an ideal time to capture her lovely Belly.

Mili brought along various outfits including her fabulous Wedding Sari which we made good use of.

The aim of the sessions is to capture the beauty and sensuality of pregnancy which I think we have done here.

I think Mark her husband will be pleased with the images too.

I look forward to photographing the new arrival a couple of days after he is born towards the end of November.

Harry, Jessie and Ruby Sneak Peaks

2009-10-14T12:43:00.006Z

We hava had lots of gorgeous Babies in recently to photograph for our Cherubs Promotion.

Here are 3 of our latest additions starting with Ruby and her Mummy and Daddy.

Next is Jessie, and what a little poser she is, looking at one of the poses I think she fancies herself as a bit of a boxer hahaha

And finally little Harry who looked so cute in his white baby gro and hat

Zoe and Simon Rushton Hall

2009-10-13T15:13:00.007Z

On Saturday we were at the glorious Rushton Hall in Northamptonshire for Zoe and Simons Wedding.

They had guests travel from all over the world to witness their marriage.

The music was provided by Zoes Uncle who played and sang a beautiful and tear jerking rendition of Breads " I want to make it with you" during the ceremony.

Thank you so much to everyone for making us so welcome at the wedding.

Here are a few Sneak Peak shots.

The complete set can be viewed here http://imagetogo.net/go/?21528

Oliver Sneak Peak

2009-10-07T09:20:00.003Z

6 month old Oliver came to the studio on Monday for his first Cherubs session.

Such a clever little boy and he gave us a wonderful range of expressions.

Here are a few shots from his session with some of the many outfits he brought along with him.

Fun in The Park sessions

2009-10-05T18:08:00.006Z

These sessions are proving popular just lately, they are different to a studio session where the children can somtimes feel a little intimidated.

Basically we treat these sessions just as they are, "Fun in The Park".

We had 2 sessions this morning, the first was with Archie who is just over a year old.

The 2nd Session was with 18 Month old Keaton

To book your "Fun in The Park" session call the studio on 01604 416005

Mark Betts Photography Northampton Baby Photographer

The Wildings

2009-10-02T13:34:00.004Z

We had a lovely time this morning when the Wilding family came to visit.

In between cups of tea and coffee for us and feeds for young Master Wilding we managed to capture some great shots.

Here are a few of my faves.

Mark Betts Photography Northampton Baby Photographer

www.markbettsphotography.co.uk

Nadine and Phil

2009-10-01T14:12:00.003Z

On Saturday we had the pleasure of photographing Nadine and Phils wedding at Helmdon near Brackley.

This was a lovely intimate wedding which also doubled as a christening for their daughter directly after the service.

Here are just a small selection of my favourites the rest of the images can be viewed by clicking the link below.

View the complete wedding here

Mark Betts Photography Wedding and Portrait Photographer Northampton

Leo

2009-10-01T12:41:00.003Z

Things have been a little hectic at the studio lately, hence the lack of blog updates.

Here is Leo who visited the studio this week, hopefully we will be photographing his Mummy and Daddies wedding in 2011.

Holden

2009-09-22T15:12:00.005Z

16 week old Holden visited us yesterday with his Mummy.

Such a chirpy little chap we had great fun in the studio creating images for his Cherubs folio and we cant wait until he is 8 months old and see him again.

Here is a small selection and one with his Mummy Cassandra

Camellia Bridal Shoot

2009-09-18T12:46:00.005Z

On Wednesday we were at The Hunting Lodge in Cottingham photographing a new range of dresses for Camellia Bridal in Northampton.

I would like to thank John of Bridal Carriages in Thrapston and also Donna and Lucy for medelling the dresses and for putting up with the chilly wind.

Here are a few shots from the day.

Summer

2009-09-17T20:13:00.004Z

Here is 2 week old Summer. Her Mummy brought her to the studio today and she was really good.

Her family are no strangers to the studio as we also photographed her older sister a year ago as part of the Cherubs promotion.

Maisie

2009-09-15T14:14:00.003Z

Now this is one gorgeous little baby.

Maisie came Saturday morning with her Mummy and Daddy and she was fast asleep, which was an ideal time to capture some sleepy head shots on her own and with Mum and Dad.

After changing her clothes Maisie was awake and ready for her close up like a real professional model.

We captured so many lovely shots of her I dont know where to start.

Here are just a few from the session.

Grandchildren

2009-09-15T13:44:00.004Z

On Saturday afternoon I had the pleasure of photographing 5 delightful children ranging from 1 year old up to 5 years old.

The children were brought to the studio by their Grandmother who wanted a picture for her wall of all of them.

Here is one of the images taken, I think the children done really well as 3 of them had made a long trip from Derby just for the session.

Oliver Sneak Peak

2009-09-15T13:35:00.003Z

Presenting 1 year old Oliver.

Oliver has just completed his 3rd session as part of our Cherubs promotion for newborn babies.

We have photographed him since he was 4 months old and he has grown into a lovely little boy.

Here is a senak peak of some of the images taken this morning, and as you can see that boy could move !!!!

Matthew 2nd Cherubs session

2009-09-15T13:00:00.004Z

Little Matthew came in yesterday for his 2nd Cherubs session. He also brought alng his big brother and his mummy and daddy for some pictures.

Here are a few of my favourites.

Northampton Baby and Toddler Fair

2009-09-13T20:51:00.003Z

We had an amazing time at the Northampton Baby and Toddler Fair at the County Ground in Northampton this Sunday.

It was lovely to meet so many previous clients and also make some new friends.

We photographed dozens of Babies at the show in our search for the Face Of The Fair , the winner will be announced soon.

We have uploaded all the gorgeous entrants for you to view and purchase copies if required.

To view all the entries click the link here BABY SHOW ENTRANTS

William 2nd Cherubs session

2009-09-11T16:20:00.003Z

Such a busy time this month with our Little Cherubs sessions.

Here is William who came in today, He was such a live wire and we got some great poses from him.

I cant wait to see him again when he is 1 year old.

Annie - 2nd Cherubs Session

2009-09-11T12:04:00.005Z

Here is Annie who came for her 2nd Cherubs session this week, isnt she gorgeous??

Harry

2009-09-08T20:33:00.005Z

10 month old Harry made a trip from Daventry this evening. Although he was a little shy at first he soon warmed to the camera with a little help from Daddy making faces behind the camera.

We also took a few shots with his Mummy Kirsty.

Here are a few of my favourites with a slide show of the whole session.

Isabella 2nd Cherubs Session

2009-09-08T12:56:00.005Z

This is 7 month old Isabella. She is on our Cherubs promotion where we photograph her 3 times during her first year.
This is her second session and how she has grown !!! Quite a clever young lady now sitting up all on her own and smiling away.

She was that good today we managed quite a few changes of outfits and she bought along her favourite Red Bus.

Here are a few of my favourites with a slide show of the complete session.

"AJ"

2009-09-07T11:07:00.003Z

Litte "AJ" done so well on Saturday when she came to the studio with her Mummy and Daddy.
We managed to coax a few smiles from her and I cant wait to see her for her next session when she is 8 months old.

Blue

2009-09-07T10:59:00.004Z

Blue came into the studio on Saturday for some pictures with his Mummy and Daddy, we had a great time and he is so cute.

Here are a few of my favourites followed by a slide show.

Alfie

2009-09-04T17:37:00.003Z

Such a busy time this week with Babies.

Here is another of our Little Cherubs. Alfie came in on tuesday and was such a good boy.

There are so many good ones I thought it best to show the whole set as a slide show instead of picking out just a few.

Matthew Cherubs Session

2009-09-04T07:55:00.005Z

Little Matthew came into the studio with his Mummy yesterday, such a happy baby with lots of smiles.

Here are a few of my favourites and then a slide show of the rest of the session.

Mark Betts Photography Northampton Baby Photographer 01604 416005

Become a fan on our Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/markbettsphotography

Stuart and Georgina Courteenhall

2009-09-01T20:18:00.007Z

This weekend we were photographing Stuart and Georgina,s wedding at the fabulous Courteenhall Church in Northamptonshire and then literally a walk across a field to a wonderful marquee in the grounds of Courteenhall Hall.

A lovely location combined with a stunning couple this was a photographers dream.

I would also like to thank Lucy who was my second shooter on the day and did an admirable job.

Here is a selection of my favourite images in no particular order.

Jack 1st Cherubs session

2009-08-26T12:16:00.004Z

8 week old Jack came with his Mummy this morning for his 1st Cherubs portrait session.

For 8 weeks old he was such a little smiler.

Here are a couple of my favourites followed by a slide show of more images from his session.

Bumps to Babies

2009-08-25T18:05:00.003Z

We are pleased to announce we are finally ready to launch our "Bumps to Babies" portrait sessions.

Our special offer is for 2 sessions, one taken with your "Bump" and the second session is taken of your new bundle of joy up to 1 month after birth.

For details call the studio on 01604 416005.

Here is a slide show a Bumps to Babies shoot.

This incorporated 4 sessions of little Rohan, 1 when he was a "bump" and then 3 sessions during his first year.

Morgan 2nd Cherubs Session

2009-08-20T13:28:00.004Z

Andria brought her little son Morgan in today for his second Cherubs session.

Morgan is always a delight to photograph as he is always full of beans.

Below are a couple of my favourite serious poses and a slide show of the session.

Isla Sneak Peak

2009-08-18T12:23:00.004Z

Here is a shot of Isla who we photographed this morning. It is her 2nd session for her Cherubs folio.

Her Mummy brought along a few outfits for her to wear and this is one of my favourites.

I have gone for a very soft antique look for this image.

Mark Betts Photography Northampton Baby Photographer.

Matthew

2009-08-17T16:04:00.002Z

On Saturday Matthew came with his Mummy and Daddy for a studio session, it was a little warm but we managed some great shots of all of them.

Also I would like to thank their friend and a long term client of mine Suzanne for recomending they come along.

Here is a short slide show.

Mark Betts Photography Northampton Baby Photographer www.markbettsphotography.co.uk

Emily Sneak Peak

2009-08-15T22:10:00.004Z

Here is a shot I took this afternoon of little Emily.

She brought her teddy in for the session and although we captured lot of smiley faces (honest we did mum and dad ! ) I just love this one.

I added a bit of softening and desaturated the colours as the shot reminded me of a porcelain doll.

Rock Chick style Shoot

2009-08-14T13:53:00.004Z

Last night we had a Rock Chick style shoot in Kettering.

Using a couple of locations I selected earlier we hoped for dry weather for the shoot.

We were lucky, the conditions were perfect.

Here is a short slide show of some of the images taken,

If you would like a shoot like this call the studio at Mark Betts Photography on 01604 416005.

Harriet

2009-08-11T14:08:00.004Z

Here is a brief Sneak Peak of Harriet.

Harriet is 15 months old and came in today for her final session for her Cherubs folio.

We also took some shots of Harriet with her Mummy and Daddy but we are keeping them as a surprise.

Jody and Hayley - Brampton Grange - Northampton

2009-08-10T12:10:00.005Z

We had the great pleasure of photographing Jody and Hayleys wedding this weekend.

The weather was gorgeous and everything went as planned.

Hayley and Jody were the perfect couple to photograph and with a location like Brampton Grange the day was perfect.

There were well over 100 guests at the wedding and Hayley looked stunning in her dress from The Bridal Shop in York Rd.

Jody is a police officer and Hayley is a teacher and the wedding cake reflected this as you will see. Hockleys from Northampton made a great job of the cake as usual.

I would also like to thank Lucy, who although was a guest at the wedding and a budding photographer herself assisted me with some of the shots.

There are so many favourites it was very hard to choose, so here is a short slide show giving a brief outline of the day.

Thanks you two you were great, call me when you finish honeymooning in Dubai and The Maldives.

Mark Betts Photography Wedding Photographer Northampton

Image of The Week

2009-08-06T17:34:00.003Z

I have been a bit busy of late and the image of the week post has slipped.

Here is 1 year old Rohan.

I chose this image because it shows his lovely eyes and he is a stunning child to photograph.

All images copyright of Mark Betts Photography Northampton

www.markbettsphotography.co.uk

Facebook

2009-08-05T11:28:00.001Z

We now have a dedicated Facebook page for Mark Betts Photography.

You can keep up with all the news on whats happening and various special offers and promotions we will be running.

To kick off the page add yourself as a fan and each month we will have a draw for a Complimentary Studio session.

Here is the link http://www.facebook.com/mark.betts?ref=profile#/pages/Mark-Betts-Photography/23428370336?ref=nf

What an entrance !!!!!!

2009-08-04T19:36:00.003Z

Ok. I just had to post this here, its been doing the rounds so maybe you have seen it but for those that havent here it is .................

Devon Cherubs Session

2009-08-04T15:42:00.006Z

Today Devon came to the studio with her Mummy, Martine.

Devon is 6 months old, we did a very short session last week but she was very tired and not at her best, so we scheduled a re-shoot for today.

We got on much better, and I would like to thank Donna for assisting during the shoot. I am sure all the crawling around on the floor and pulling funny faces made Devon feel right at home.

Here is a short sneak Peak of the session.

To book your Babies Cherubs session call the studio on Northampton 01604 416005

Laura and Steves Wedding 1st August

2009-08-03T17:03:00.003Z

We had a great time on Saturday at Laura and Steves wedding.

We even managed to dodge the showers and created some lovely images together, we even done a shoot on the hay bales !!!!

The couple were married at St Columbus Church in Collingtree and their reception was held in a splendid and waterproof !!! marquee in the grounds of Lauras Grans farm.

Here is a sneak peak of the day.

Andrea and Martins Wedding Friday 31st July

2009-08-02T21:01:00.004Z

We had a fabulous time at Andrea and Martins wedding at The Haycock Hotel in Wansford on Friday.

Gorgeous location by the river.

Thank you to Andrea and Martin for their hospitality and the lovely meal.

Here is a short slide show from the day.

Come and Meet us

2009-07-29T11:06:00.004Z

We will be involved in 2 Baby and Toddlers Fairs this year in Northampton.

The first is on Sunday 13th September at The County Ground in Northampton. This is very exciting for us as we are sponsoring the fair with a Baby Competition !!!
Please come along and see our exciting range of Baby Albums and products we now offer, oh and bring your little one along as well for a photograph.

Here is a link to more info on the Fair http://www.northamptonbabyfair.co.uk/

We are also exhibiting at the Baby and Toddler Fair at the Saints Rugby Ground on 22nd November.

Here is the link http://www.baby-fair.co.uk/northampton/

Also at both these Fairs we will be holding our own competition for you to win a fabulous Family Portrait Session and gorgeous canvas portrait.

Sarah and Colin Pre Wedding Shoot

2009-07-29T10:59:00.003Z

We had a great time last night with Sarah and Colin, producing images at their Pre Wedding shoot.

Time literally flew by as we walked around taking a few shots here and there and discussing their wedding plans.

Sarah and Colin are getting married in November at The Marriott Hotel in Northampton and it promises to be a great day for a great couple.

Here is a short slide show of some of the images taken.

Images by Mark Betts Photography Wedding and Portrait Photography Northampton 01604 416005

Rohan Cherubs Session

2009-07-28T13:47:00.002Z

This is 1 year old Rohan. He came to the studio today with his 2 brothers and his Mummy.
It is always fun to photograph Rohan and 2 brothers as they are always full of beans.

Here is a short slideshow of my favourites.

Image of The Week 17th July

2009-07-17T17:22:00.005Z

This weeks chosen image is from the 2nd Bridal session with Donna.

After doing a few shots on a tomb at the side of the church Donna had a break while I checked out an interesting looking shed in the corner of the graveyard.
Not finding much of interest there as I turned round I saw the two crosses and thought it would make an interesting shot with Donna between them.

Positioning my camera angle so the sun was just creeping round the church and crosses I thought it would make cracking shot.

Metering for the sky this put Donna and the crosses in Sillouhette so using a flash on a stand set to F11 to match the sky setting the exposure was perfect.

There is also a bit of flare creeping in due to the low angle and me using a 16mm lens which adds to the atmosphere.

Mark Betts Photography from Northampton is available for Location and Studio shoots.

If you would like a Post Wedding shoot like this call the studio on 01604 416005

Joshua - Cherubs Baby Session

2009-07-17T08:05:00.002Z

Presenting young Joshua, his first close up for the camera today.
After a few shots he was getting a little grouchy so after a little cuddle and a quick feed from his Mummy all was well.

To book your babies first photo session call Mark Betts Photography on Northampton 01604 416005

Donna Post Wedding Shoot Part 11

2009-07-16T14:16:00.007Z

A couple of weeks ago I photographed Donna in her wedding dress for a Post Wedding Shoot, I photographed Donnas wedding a couple of years ago and we decided it was time for Donna to wear her dress again for some shots.

Unfortunately the first shoot was cut short due to thunderstorms !!!!!!!!!!!! So last night we tried again, and the weather could not have been better. Glorious sunshine and large fluffy clouds, perfect,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

This time we went for more edgier images using a church yard , a field and an old barn as the setting.

The light was perfect getting better the later it got, so good we forgot the time and were shooting almost until it was dark!!!!!!!!!!

Here are some of the shots below, there are a lot!!!!!!!!

If you would like a Post Wedding shoot call Mark Betts Photography on 01604 416005

Megan

2009-07-14T12:16:00.003Z

Megan came in today for her first Cherubs session. I have photographed her sister as part of the cherubs promotion nearly 2 years ago and it was lovely to see her again.

Here is Megans sllideshow.

To book your babies first session for the cherubs folio call Mark Betts Photography on northampton 01604 416005

Image of The Week 11th July

2009-07-11T14:22:00.004Z

Here this weeks Image of The Week.

This image of Cara was taken from a series created on a shoot for Camellia Bridal in Northampton.

I just love mixing daylight with flash where possible and in this image I did just that.

For the photographers reading the blog here are the boring bits !!

Using a 1.5m Wafer Softbox attatched to my Elinchrom Ranger and positioned it high and to the left of camera.

A meter reading was taken of the sky to bring out details in the cloud and the flash output adjusted to match the sky exposure. The final reading were f16 at 125th sec using a 16-35mm 2.8 L canon lens set at 21mm.
Finally a bit of jiggery pokery in Photoshop to add a touch of glow.

If you would like a Professional Shoot like this and fancy being a model for the day complete with Make Up Artist call Mark Betts Photography on 01604 416005

Donna - Post Wedding Shoot 2 years later !!!

2009-07-10T16:23:00.007Z

I photographed Donna and Grahams wedding 2 years ago.

Since then I have photographed their 2 little girls Mia and Scarlett a number of times , plus other members of the family.

When I last saw Donna I suggested it would be fun for her to put her dress back on and to do a shoot.

This is the result - although the shoot only lasted an hour as the weather was against us and most of the time was spent sheltering under a tree from the torrential rain !!!!!

But Donna was a natural and didnt even mind accidentally standing in a cow pat or two !!!!!!!!

We are planning to finish the shoot soon as there is a lot more we want to do.

Amy Cherubs Session

2009-07-10T15:29:00.002Z

Presenting little Amy who came today with her Mummy and Daddy for her first session.

Camellia Bridal Prom Dress Shoot Part 2

2009-07-10T09:22:00.007Z

In April we had a Shoot with Camellia Bridal in Northampton, to produce some shots for their website to promote Prom Dresses.

However the weather was awful and only managed a few shots.

Yesterday we were back with Lyn the owner and Cara our model for the day.

The weather was a lot kinder and we had great fun producing the shots.

Here are a small selection.

Pretty In Pink

Lyn adjusting Cara,s dress, a stunning silver number

This is my favourite

Thanks to everyone, you can view Camellia Bridals website here

Image of The Week

2009-07-03T13:51:00.005Z

I am going to start a series of posts called "Image of The Week".

I will select 1 image from a shoot taken the week before which for various reasons is my favourite.
To start the series here is an image of Sarah.
This was taken at Lee and Sarahs wedding in Barnsdale Hotel on the banks of Rutland Water last friday.
What normally happens at weddings is after the speeches there is a lull in the proceedings until the evening guests start to arrive.
Not a great deal happens at this time apart from people generally milling around and chatting.
What I always try to do is take advantage of this time and take the couple for a little "them time" and also to create something a little different.
On this occasion I popped the couple into my car and took them down to the banks of Rutland Water.
I took a number of romantic and also fashion style poses of Lee and Sarah, together and alone.

In this image Sarah was standing on a rock and I wanted to create a statuesque look (is that a word???). Using a mixture of the late evening light and some help from my off camera flash technique, I think I pulled it off.

Mia

2009-07-02T20:35:00.001Z

Last session today was Mia.

It was a pleasure to see mia and believe it or not I photographed her sister when she was a baby, her sister is now 14 !!!

Now I am feeling old.

Anyway heres a sneak Peak.

Poppy

2009-07-02T14:36:00.004Z

The second session today was Poppy, also 10 weeks old, Poppy came in with her Mummy and Grandma.

Half way through the session Poppy decided on a power nap, I think its due to the warm weather and also the heat from the lights.

So, we opened the door to the studio, turned off the lights and just used the daylight coming through the door to create some wonderful natural light pictures.

For the photographers that follow the blog from time to time ( and I know there are a few :) ) I changed to my fast f1.8 lens which created a fantastic lack of depth of field, just keeping Poppies eyes in focus,,,,,,, lovely .