27/10/2010

good challenges

Exactly two years ago today I started my first day of rehearsals with a theatre company called Deafinitely Theatre. It was my biggest ever acting job and it was with a Deaf led theatre company who I had always admired. I'm not gonna lie, when I went to the audition I was bricking it. I could have a basic conversation in BSL but I stood there amongst both Deaf and hearing auditionees who were fluently signing away through the improvisations and felt completely out of my depth.. I don't know how I did it but somehow I got the job. I remember sat on the steps to our rehearsal rooms on that first morning thinking how hard it was going to be and, once again, how out of my depth I felt and I began to smile. It was a good challenge.
The job was amazing beyond anything I could have imagined. We performed at the Soho Theatre in London, we went on a National tour... but my biggest achievement by far was my signing skills. I literally soaked up everything.. watched everyone.. practised everyday and most importantly.. wasn't afraid to make a mistake... and slowly I found myself with two languages and a bunch of new and amazing friends.
At the same time I got a camera for Christmas and I started taking pictures. I loved it and would take my camera everywhere, taking pictures of friends and their kids, taking pictures of my feet, my reflection and lots of my cat! Then some friends of ours asked if I would take some pictures of their wedding.... we had a meeting and before I knew it we were driving up to Yorkshire to take a couple's wedding photos. I'm not gonna lie, I was bricking it. I knew the basics but shot everything on Auto and watched as the day sped past me without any warning and I felt, once again, out of my depth... but I enjoyed it. It was a good challenge. By then I was hooked... I spent hours on the internet soaking up everything... asking questions... practised everyday.. and most importantly... wasn't afraid to make a mistake.. and slowly I found myself with more wedding bookings and a bunch of new and amazing friends.
Looking back now, I know that I thrive when faced with good challenges. I need to put myself in situations where I feel out of my depth and I've proven to myself what I can achieve if I invest time and energy into it and when I'm not afraid to make mistakes along the way. So, I say to anyone... go set yourself some good challenges, feel out of your depth, make some mistakes... you never know what will happen and how many amazing friends you'll make :)

25/10/2010

emily & andy

Emily and Andy are a hot couple and they live in Brighton so technically I shouldn't like them at all due to pure jealousy but I can't help it... they're lovely people too... and so are all their friends and family... so when me and the lovely Joanna Brown (my fabulous 2nd shooter and gorgeous friend) turned up at the house to catch Emily getting ready... we felt part of the family straight away! Not only that but we then had a gorgeous FurCoatNoKnickers dress to photograph which always makes us very, very happy!
Once everyone was ready we headed up to Hangleton Manor for the cosiest wedding ceremony followed by drinks and then a gorgeous meal surrounded by rustic flowers, old hovis jugs and Andy's fab photography as table names. Speeches were made by members of their family (including Emily's gorgeous Mum) and Andy's Best Man and everyone laughed and cried whilst the sun set (it's getting dark pretty early now!!!)... but before we lost the light we managed to get Andy and Emily outside for about 10 minutes in between some pretty consistent drizzle throughout the day and then the day was finished off with lots of dancing and another infamous Photo Booth!
Andy and Emily... your day was so beautiful and you, your friends and your family are such warm and welcoming people... we had such a great day and we think you're all ace.
Big thank you to Joanna Brown too for being wonderful, as always.