A Studio Session with the Calderwood Family

So another session with the Calderwood family in our studio in Sturminster Newton Dorset. This is the third time I have had the pleasure of shooting baby Logan! The first was inside her mum's tum on her Pregnancy session, the second was her newborn shoot and now we celebrate Logan's third month anniversary. Logan was very clever and brought along a few other members of her family to be photographed too, more the merrier! Mum and Dad were very clever too because they decided to invest in our 'Welcome Package' which starts with late pregnancy and goes right through to babies first birthday, what a fantastic record to have of your first year!

Family Photographer Dorset - Courtenay Photographic

An RJCT Session with the Hoey Family

Lovely to see this family again. I originally photographed Dawn and Mikes wedding at Milton Abbey Dorset back in 2006. We did their eshoot at Sturminster Mill in Sturminster Newton Dorset and last year I photographed their first child Neve also at Sturminster Mill. So with all that history, it was only right that we should go back to Sturminster Mill to capture the arrival of their second child Ella (same name as my daughter).

Running Jumping Climbing Trees - Family Photography in Dorset

A more traditional RJCT Studio session with the Milne Family

I have photographed various members of this family over the last couple of years or so, but have never had them all together for a session. So it was really nice when I was contacted to do just that. They decided that for this special occasion of them all being together (which doesn't happen very often), that they would like a more traditional kind of studio shoot; Happy to oblige!

Family Photographer Dorset - Courtenay Photographic

Natasha & Charles eshoot Epping Forest

Met up with Natasha and Charles today in a secret location in Epping forest for their eshoot. It had rained hard all morning, but the sun came out at just the right time to get their shoot done. Natasha and Charles are getting married at Queens College in Cambridge in July, in fact the 4th of July which just happens to be my wedding anniversary!

Wedding Photography Dorset - Courtenay Photographic

An RJCT Portrait session in the studio with the Rickett Family

A nice little studio session with this family, who had been recommended to me buy the parents of Katie and Alex (who's many posts and blogs appear on here as I have been photographing them for over 7 years now). The girls were a little shy to begin with, but soon forgot all about where they were and what they were doing and we just had fun. Oh and we got some lovely pictures for mum to hang on the wall too!

Family Photography Dorset - Courtenay Photographic

An RJCT Portrait session with Sarah and Andrew

Sarah and Andrew are getting married next year, and I am delighted of course that I am covering their wedding. Now, they are both very nervous in front of the camera and although they know they are going to have an eshoot next year before the wedding, they thought it would be a good idea to start practicing early. So a lovely sunny day and a more urban style setting, and off we went to conquer those nerves. Afterward they both admitted to have thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and found it easy after all - well, I knew they would ;-)

Contemporary Photography Dorset - Courtenay Photographic

An RJCT Studio session with Newborn Baby Flynn

Its always lovely when one of our wedding couples come back to see us. Laura and Daniel were married in 2007 and have just had baby Flynn, and of course I was delighted when they called and asked me to capture his first days. Here are a few of my favourites:

Family Photographer Dorset - Courtenay Photographic

In Mother & Baby :)

I recently did a shoot for LittleStuff, providing some images for some of their reviews. A shopping features editor spotted some of the shots on the LittleStuff Blog, and requested to use them for an upcoming feature on wet weather gear in Mother & Baby magazine. The shoot was based around the red wellies, and this was one of my favourite images - having seen the magazine I was please to see that Mother & Baby have used it as a full page lead image for the feature :)


Family Photographer Dorset - Courtenay Photographic

A Three Generation RJCT Portrait session at Stourhead

Last year I covered Sarah and Adams wedding at Wardour Castle, and then later in the summer they came back for one of my favourite ever trash the dress sessions. This time round I had the huge pleasure of capturing three generations of Adams family. It's a special year for all of them; not only does Adam turn 30, but his grandparents celebrate 65 years of married life together. How fantastic is that?!

Here are just a few of my favourites from the shoot in some lovely and very welcome sunshine at Stourhead.

Family Photographer Dorset - Courtenay Photographic

An RJCT Studio session with Katie and Alex

Another session in the studio with Katie and Alex. Katie and Alex have been coming to see me from before they can remember, as it all started with their mums first pregnancy session. I have photographed them regularly over the last 7 or so years. Its really lovely when a client keeps coming back to see me and what a wonderful record of their childhood.

Family Photographer Dorset - Courtenay Photographic

I'm in the press again :)

I got a phone call a few weeks ago from Professional Photographer magazine - I am used to requests for contributions regarding my pregnancy and wedding work, but this one was a surprise to me. The editor asked if they could use me in their regular 'Day In The Life' feature. Looking back at past issues, I saw this slot is usually filled with photographers covering exciting projects in exotic locations - family lifestyle photography in the Dorset countryside seemed a little tame by comparison! However, they were quite sure that was what they wanted, so I of course agreed - I had a full day shooting children for RunningJumpingClimbingTrees coming up which we decided would be perfect.


Family Photographer Dorset - Courtenay Photographic

The result is out in this months edition - and I was surprised to see a full 4 page spread!


If you are interested in a lifestyle portrait shoot for yourself or your family, then do go and have a look at www.runningjumpingclimbingtrees.co.uk, my portrait site. It explains all about the relaxed, fun style of my lifestyle photography, you can of course see a lot of work in the galleries - and then just drop me a mail to let me know you're interested!

Now that the weather is finally getting warmer, the outdoors location portrait sessions will start up again soon. We have some exciting events planned this year, and will be starting off with a great Spring offer on all RJCT shoots. Do let me know if you're interested in hearing about it, doesn't matter if I've never met you before - I'm always happy to get nice mail ;)

Olan Mills Offer

Following the closure of the national Olan Mills chain I thought it would be a good idea to extend our existing Venture Voucher offer to include anyone left stranded with Olan Mills Vouchers.

In case you weren't aware, we are always happy to accept Venture vouchers at the same face value - allowing you to use them for a bespoke professional portrait session designed around you and your family, instead of having to stick with the singular style of a usual Venture session.

As I have mentioned, we are now happy to extend this offer to all those who have been let down by the collapse of Olan Mills and left holding worthless vouchers. Bring those vouchers to us and we will honour their face value (and promise to still be around to provide excellent customer service!) and give you a far greater experience than you would have originally received.

Call us now to book your session on 01258 473671.

We look forward to meeting you.


Family Photography Dorset - Courtenay Photographic