{family portraits} speediest portrait session takes place in Cheshire on a Saturday morning in November!

Helen, of Verity Plum and chair of the committee at Little Foxes Statham was instrumental in helping me organise a day full of portrait sessions for the children and their families. Perfect timing for Christmas presents for the family we thought!

Helen had booked the first session for herself and Louis and Lottie but having spent most of the time making coffee and trying to find out how the heating worked, there was only about 10 minutes left to actually take the photos.

So, the challenge was on - Helen, looking glam as ever but even more so with her veerrrrry blonde hair, Lottie needed to assemble all three (large) teddy bears and Louis, less than enamoured with the whole idea and more interested in making weird and wonderful faces (he has quite a talent there Helen!). I clicked furiously for a few minutes before the first family turned up and to be honest wasn't entirely sure I'd captured anything worthwhile.

I started editing the pictures last night and actually, I'm pleasantly surprised - what has been captured is a really fun couple of shots of all three - personalities shining through, which is after all everything that we aim for as portrait photographers.

Glad you like them Helen and for anyone else reading who wants a quick (although maybe longer than 10 minutes!) portrait session then you can contact me on 07928 150119 or drop me a line on bridget@maitlandphotography.co.uk . Although based in Warrington, I'm happy to travel throughout Cheshire and the North West.

It's always the quiet ones!

This afternoon I met with Vicky and Robert who are getting married in December. They want to have a photographic guest book at their wedding so this was to grab some shots for that.

Having met them a few weeks ago I thought they might be quite nervous but they were complete naturals who indulged my passion for brickwork and staircases as we worked our way round Lymm village. Robert at times ended up suggesting poses and locations - Robert, if you ever want to be a photographer's assistant, you have my number!

The highlight of the afternoon was them being invited onto one of the houseboats for a few shots. The owner apologised for the TV aerial which was getting in the way but apparently there was some kind of football match on this afternoon, Liverpool, Everton or somebody (you can guage my interest in football from this sentence by the way!)

We have another photoshoot scheduled for January which will be very exciting indeed but I'll leave the details until then...!

Thanks Vicky and Robert for a fun couple of hours and thanks also to Lindsay, a colleague of my husband's who came out to help with reflectors & brolly carrying. Best of all, she brought me chocolates - Lindsay, you can come again any time :)

These are a few quick edits for tonight - I'll post more in a few days.