Father's Day Gift Ideas and Inspiration

With Father’s Day on the way, we have various gift ideas to show your Dad, or any special father figure in your life how much you care on Sunday 20th June!

If he is motor mad you may want to wow him with a little something from our sister brand’s online shop via this link Stella Automotive Photography Shop – choose from postcards, prints and limited editions of some of the world’s most sought after cars and bikes – or select a gift voucher for him to make his own choice.

Choose a piece of art to wow him with!

Perhaps he would enjoy a photography masterclass to help him understand how to get the best out of his camera? This photography masterclass link tells you more.

A masterclass on how to use his camera always goes down a treat!

Or, if he prefers to be in front of the camera how about a family photo-shoot in the garden or location of his choice? This photo-shoot link tells you more.

A photo-shoot at home or another special location.

Whatever you decide to choose for Father’s Day we make sure it will be an extra special gift or experience to make him feel loved and appreciated just as he should be.

Contact us via email here or phone on 01883 722282 or 0777 181 0105 to make an enquiry or purchase.

Thank you we look forward to hearing from you!

Stella

Below is a summary of past blogs to explore, further blogs can be found on our blog page here.

Oxted Gasholder - Courtyard Gardens April 2021

The second bedroom in the showhome.

Welcome to blog number 19 about my April site visit to Courtyard Gardens here in Oxted – built on the former gasholder site.

This blog forms part of a series of ongoing updates visually documenting the process from the demolition of the gasholder in January 2019, right through to the completion of 111 high-end one, two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses by St William part of the Berkeley Group.

Due to the lockdown restrictions, I haven’t been on site since December. I was delighted to be welcomed back on April 14th to take a variety of photographs of the progress to share with you. I must say It does look incredible – I am always amazed by the number of processes, skills and crafts involved to create buildings such as these. It doesn’t seem that long ago that a solitary gasholder sat on the site for over 50 years!

The photographs below are each captioned on top – if viewing on your smartphone they may only be visible in landscape format.

Read on to find out more…

The car park under Block C.

The plant room where all the heating and water is housed very neatly for all three blocks.

The same plant room showing the boilers and pumps for water and heating to service all the flats in all three blocks.

Looking out of Block C onto Block A.

Looking out from a terrace in Block C onto Johnsdale.

Looking out onto the back of the shops on Station Road East from the plant room.

The layout for indivudual flats to be constructed.

Looking out of Block C on to Block A and the entrance to Blocks A and B under the arch.

A penthouse apartment in Block C.

Timber pattressing in position within a kitchen wall for units to be fixed to.

Whilst I was on site I was told there were 150 people working in different areas. It’s interesting to see the various stages each Block is at. Block A will be completed first, followed by Block B then Block C.

Car park beneath Block A .

Construction of an apartment space.

Apartment under construction.

Penthouse in Block B with a beautiful slate finish and fabulous view from the terrace.

Looking out from the terrace of a Penthouse in Block B to Block C.

Apartment inside Block A.

Kitchen progress in Block A .

The master bedroom in the show home in Block A.

En-suite shower room in show home.

The second bedroom in the show home.

The second bedroom in the show home.

The assistant site manager who shows me around the site on each visit is called Ness Kingham – I asked her for a current update on each of the three Blocks, below is her response:

Block A is at decoration with apartments gradually being handed over to customer service for final snagging. Block B façade is near completion, and internals are progressing with 2nd fix at lower levels. Block C mansard roof has commenced and windows are installed on half of the block. Internally, the lower levels are at first fix whilst the rest of the building is made watertight. Externally, the lower half of the podium landscaped gardens is underway.

The living room in the show home with doors to the terrace on the left.

The comfortable breakfast area in the kitchen in the show home.

The kitchen in the show home is well laid out with plenty of storage.

Tastefully furnished with attention to detail.

Desk space in the living room in the show home.

The living area in the show home looks out onto the entrance of Courtyard Gardens.

The entrance to Courtyard Gardens from the show home looking out onto Block C.

The view from the living room window in the show home looking out onto the entrance to courtyard Gardens. Block C in the center with Block B to the right.

The spacious terrace to the show home.

The spacious terrace to the show home.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing and learning about the progress of the development as much as I have.

All of the images taken are held within my personal archive for posterity.

To read the blog from December please click here and to read previous blogs these can be found towards the bottom of the main blog page under ‘Featured’ blogs – this includes all 18 previous gasholder blogs.

For further information about Courtyard Gardens please follow this link to the Berkeley Group St William website.

More information here on the Robert Leech website too.

Looking forward to going back in May to see the progress to share.

Thank you.

Stella

The Importance of a Recent Headshot

It is always important to convey the correct message – your headshot is the first thing we see about you.

A professional headshot will allow you to present to the world who you are and what you represent.

What do these images say to you?

As the saying goes – You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression!

As we emerge from lockdown now is the right time to invest in a new headshot – here at SMS Creative Photography, we make sure we create the very best headshots of you and your team to publish on websites, LinkedIn, publications and on social media too.

This link to the headshot page on our website tells you more.

The headshots above are of Richard Arris and Helena Bakunowicz from The investment Boutique. We recently received a wonderful testimonial from Richard and would like to share it with you.

‘At The Investment Boutique we have known Stella both professionally and personally for more years than we like to admit. She is always professional and reacts to requests in a very timely manner. They say the camera never lies but in her hands it can be persuaded to bend the truth in a most flattering way. I have no hesitation in recommending SMS Creative Photography for either business or personal situations’.

Richard Arris FCSI - you can read more about Richard and Helena here.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me, Stella, on 0777 181 0105 or email me here to book your headshot or to find out more about this service.

We look forward to welcoming you!

Thank you

Stella

Timeless Photo-shoots Amongst the Bluebells

With Springtime upon us we can look forward to longer daylight hours and the sweet smell of the bluebells in the woodlands – my favourite time of year!

Last year I wasn’t able to invite any of you for a photo-shoot in the woodlands because of the lockdown restrictions – the first time in over 15 years and I really missed it!

This April, with the easing of lockdown I‘m looking forward to venturing out with you and your family to capture some treasured moments with loved ones – especially if reuniting with grandparents and celebrating missed occasions due to the pandemic.

Connecting with Mother Nature on a regular basis is proven to boost your mood, I know it does for me. We are so lucky to have such amazing outdoor spaces to enjoy on our doorstep.

To find out more about an exclusive bluebell photo-shoot this Springtime do get in touch via the link below or call me on 01883 722282 – they are usually at their best at the end of April beginning of May – it varies each year – I’m keeping a close watch!

Below are a few images from years gone by to enjoy. Do you recognise anyone you know or would you like to return for an update?

Find out more about a shoot amongst the bluebells here.

Simply email me here and I’ll get back to you.

I look forward to seeing you again, it’s been a long time!

Stella

Memories Are Made Of This

When was the last time you looked at a photograph and it brought back a powerful memory?

I’d say it was a frequent occurrence, and one we take for granted.

It’s only when life takes unexpected twists and turns that we really appreciate the power of the printed photograph and how it tells the narrative of our lives.

Photography began over 100 years ago using the science of the simple pinhole camera to capture an image onto a chemically coated light-sensitive piece of paper, processed through different chemicals to ‘fix’ it for eternity. How clever is that?!

We all know photography has evolved to where we are now – to the simplicity of the touch of a button on a smartphone, to an instant memory that can be shared anywhere on earth (within reason) in a split second! Now that is clever !!

My point is – without this wonderful means of freezing time, just how would future generations see how we lived – the clothes we wore, our food, our faces, our social history and so, so much more…

Over the past few weeks, having just lost my mother, I have been delving into my own archives to relive my childhood and what a wonderful journey it is proving to be.

As a child I used to love rummaging through old family suitcases of black and white photographs, it intrigued me to see the life my parents lived before I was born and to understand even more about my Greek-Cypriot heritage.

Hopefully it won’t be too long before we are allowed to reconnect with each other to create many more memories to reflect on as we approach springtime and the wonderful woodlands filled with bluebells, a perfect location for photo-shoots!

This link to our restoration and copying page tells you more.

Thanks

Stella

To read other previous blogs these can be found on the ‘Featured’ blogs below by using the arrows on the right to scroll through the past 30 blogs.

Oxted Gasholder - Courtyard Gardens December 2020

Block A this side of the building has completed brickwork.

Welcome to blog number 18 about my December site visit to Courtyard Gardens here in Oxted – built on the former gasholder site.

This blog forms part of a series of ongoing updates documenting the process from the demolition of the gasholder in January 2019, right through to the completion in summer 2021 of 111 high-end one, two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses by St William part of the Berkeley Group.

These photographs were taken on Tuesday 15 December, with captions on each image - (smartphone view in landscape format to enable captions).

To give you a better understanding of the site I have included a photograph of the model below of Courtyard Gardens, it clearly shows the layout – I often refer to it before going on-site to get my bearings.

Read on to find out more…

A model of the development at Robert Leech Estate Agents, Station Road East, Oxted, just opposite the site.

Block A on the right with Block B adjoining it back centre and Block C on the left.

I noticed a big change since I last visited the site back in October, as always the scale of the development never ceases to amaze me.

My site visits are accompanied by Ness Kingham, Assitant Site Manager who shows me around and updates me about the changes since my last visit and what is due to happen next. The next paragraph, from Ness, tells you more about the state of play on the day of my visit.

Internal trades are underway on Block A with first fix mechanical and electrical on the higher levels, and second fix dry lining on the lower. Brickwork is near complete, with balustrading underway on the balconies and terraces, and scaffold striking has commenced on the eastern elevation. Brickwork has commenced on Block B and windows are being installed on the upper levels. On Block C, façade is underway on the lower floors and blockwork has gone up in the basements. Externally, a second mortar silo has been installed and the original site cabins have been removed to make way for landscaping to commence in January.

A view from between Blocks B and C with Block A on the left. The original site cabins that once stood right of the mortar silo have been removed to make way for landscaping stating January 2021.

Looking out of the pedestrian entrance to Block B across what will be landscaped gardens to Block C.

Looking towards the entrance and communal lift in Block A.

A lift in Block A.

Inside a living room in one of the apartments in Block A.

Water pipes in a corridor riser.

Doors to one of the apartments in Block A leading to a terrace.

View from a balcony in Block A onto the entrance and soon to be landscaped gardens, looking towards Station Road East.

The car park beneath Block A – the pipe and cables are complete in the ceiling.

Inside the plant room that houses the boilers and water tank which serve all the apartments – Block C

The different grades of plasterboard some are better suited to humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms, whereas others provide higher fire resistance or sound insulation properties.

Inside a master bedroom in one of the apartments in Block A.

Electrical cable and pipework in the ceiling recess of a corridor in Block A.

Side of Block B showing the hoist.

A terrace to a first floor apartment in Block A behind Priory House.

Close up of the brickwork, on the left the red ones and the purple ones on the right. This still needs to be cleaned and the expansion joint sealed

A balcony in Block A.

Balcony in Block A with balustrading underway.

Whilst I was there a lorry brought in a second mortar silo to service Block C.

Looking out of a second floor balcony from Block A showing Block B in the far distance on the right and overlooking what will be the landscaped garden entrance to Block B with Block C on the left.

Same view as the previous image showing a second mortar silo has been installed in front of Block C. Landscaping will commence January 2021, in the area bottom left of the photo where the machine is seen.

A stairwell in Block A with balustrading.

Looking back at Block A from the soon-to-be landscaped gardens and entrance to Block C.

Looking towards the walkway between Block A on the right and Block B seen on the left. The curved concrete structure forms part of the landscaped gardens as shown on the photograph of the model at the start of this blog.

A floor level within Block C.

Brickwork on Block B.

Block C where the former Johnsdale car park was, the site cabins can be seen to the right of the picture, with the crane just visible.

Below pictures of the site photographed in January 2019 and again in December 2020

The site in January 2019 when the start of the dismantling of the gasholder began.

The site in December 2020 showing Block C with Block A showing to the right.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing the progress of the development as much as I have, it’s been lovely to share this with you.

All of the images taken are held within my personal archive for posterity.

To read the blog from October please click here and to read other previous blogs these can be found towards the bottom of the main blog page under ‘Featured’ blogs – this includes all 17 previous gasholder blogs.

For further information about Courtyard Gardens please follow this link to the Berkeley Group St William website.

More information here on the Robert Leech website too.

I’ll be back with more news as soon as I can depending on the current lockdown restricitions.

Thank you.

Stella