SMS Creative Photography is now Stella

Over the past couple of months, I've been busy working on my rebranding from SMS Creative Photography to Stella – Premium Photography, Beautifully Presented. Reflecting my transition from Oxted High Street to working remotely to suit my lifestyle and yours.

You may remember my 'Stella Lifestyle Photography and Bespoke Books' website primarily focused on the automotive photography part of my work. This will be my main website going forward, with a new focus on:

People – portraits, family events and special occasions
Identity – things we hold dear, that define who we are
Lifestyle – reflecting and celebrating the worth of the choices we made

Technology has made images easy to create and widely share, but quality and craftsmanship have become secondary to many, behind volume driven by social media. The Stella brand is about capturing life’s special moments through photography and ensuring they can be cherished, beyond the fading of memory (and social media!).

Click on the photo above to explore. I would love your feedback here.

A huge thank you to all of you because without you I would not still be trading after 25-plus years.

The part I love most about my work is the relationships I've built with you, capturing your children growing up, your weddings, landmark birthdays your business marketing, teaching you how to use your camera and so much more! It really does fill me with joy.

The SMS Creative Photography website will redirect you to the new Stella website. Past blogs on both sites are still available.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have a photo-shoot or project in mind – be great to hear from you on 0777 181 0105

Thanks Stella

SMS Creative Photography Celebrates Twenty-Five Years

Shop front from February 1997 - 83 Station Road East, Oxted, Surrey. The lettering, by a local master craftsman, was created by hand direct to the perspex.

SMS Creative Photography was born on Monday 10th February 1997 at number 83 Station Road East, Oxted!

That makes it 25 years ago - a quarter of a century! So much has changed and happened since then – notably the evolution of photography and the introduction of digital photography for the masses. We went fully digital in 2005 and have embraced the changes ever since.

In August 2019 after 23 years on the high street, I moved away to work remotely embracing opportunities to photograph nationwide and overseas, as well as keeping a firm foothold in Oxted where I live and run the business from.

Thank you so much for all your support over the years, I could not have come this far without you. It has given me so much joy and pleasure to be able to create a business from something I just love – namely photographing people and the things they love and value. Such as their family, home & garden, business premises, headshots and so, so much more.

In 2012 I was commissioned to photograph a comprehensive classic and supercar collection to create provenance and a lasting memory for the owner to mark a special birthday. This commission led me into the automotive world, including photographing Formula One behind the scenes at the British Grand Prix.

As a result of this, in 2013 I created a new brand within SMS Creative Photography called ‘Stella – Lifestyle and Automotive Photography’. To see images from various automotive events including Formula One take a look at the website - stellascordellis.com

Seven times World Champion Lewis Hamilton at the British Grand Prix 2018 with fans during signing autographs.

It gives me even more pleasure to reconnect with so many of you to update your photographs from the very early days. Our ‘Then & Now’ page, on the SMS Creative Photography website, shows the passing of time – you can find it here.

If this idea appeals to you and you would like to recreate a picture from one that I have taken years ago, then please do get in touch – I’d love to hear from you!

Mother and son when he was six years old.

The same mother and son when he was 18 years old.

I continue to photograph portraits, family photo-shoots and celebrations, business headshots, and much more – feel free to explore the website.

Before you do this, I just want to let you know that I have been working on a personal project for posterity since January 2019, photographing the demolition of the gas holder that once sat in Oxted town for over 50 years.

There is a new housing development, nearing completion, on the site – built by St William part of the Berkeley Group. You can see and read the blogs I have written about the process from start to almost finished here – scroll to the bottom of the page under ‘Featured’ - there are 26 blogs so far in total with a couple more to follow to complete the journey due for completion at the end of March 2022.

The demolition process started in January 2019.

The site was ready for the foundations to start in March 2019

There are 111 apartments in three blocks due for completion March 2022

Thank you for your custom and support. I look forward to seeing you again soon.

If you have a project in mind, or just to say hello, feel free to get in touch:-

either on 0777 181 0105 or 01883 722282 or email info@smscreativephotography.co.uk

I’ll leave you with a gallery of a few images from the early days - can you spot yourself?

With many thanks

Stella

English Country Gardens - Southlands Lodge, Tandridge

My favourite time of year in the UK is the summertime, it’s the longer daylight hours and warmer weather that I love the most!

I also really enjoy visiting gardens to see the wonders of Mother Nature and how clever and creative some people are in their backyards.

This July I had the pleasure of visiting Southlands Lodge, Southlands Lane, Tandridge, Surrey.

The photographs below – apart from the last set which is from a private garden - show you a selection of photographs I took during my visit. The garden was open to the public via the National Garden Scheme (NGS) by ticket only. You too can visit this Sunday 1st August by pre-buying your ticket(s) available online via this link .

You won’t be disappointed – as well as the gardens there are sheep, chickens, Cayuga ducks and guinea fowl roam free through the property. An 'insect hotel' features. There is a working apiary of 10 beehives – I can highly recommend the honey produced – it’s delicious on hot buttered toast!

Colin and John the owners and creators of the gardens also serve tea and coffee and a delicious selection of cakes to enjoy during your visit.

Face the sun and leave your shadow behind…

The photographs below are from a private garden that has the most beautiful selection of hydrangeas. I visited this garden on 27th July after the torrential rain on the Sunday before, which doesn’t seem to have battered them in any way, it just goes to show how hardy they are!

If you have a garden you would like to have photographed please do get in touch!

Thanks

Stella

The Power Of The Printed Photograph

Have you ever looked at a photograph and felt the same emotion you felt at the time it was taken, or does it stir up other emotions and a longing to turn back time?

That’s just it – time constantly moves forward and a photograph freezes time forevermore.

We all have our special moments stored safely in our memories, but as the saying goes memories fade!

This is why it is so important to mark time to reflect on for years to come and to share with future generations.

Printing a photograph is the best way to preserve a memory. There is something very powerful about holding and touching a photograph to evoke emotions by connecting your senses of sight, smell and touch.

I am very fortunate that over the past 40 plus years I have been commissioned to photograph your special and significant moments and events to mark time – from new family members, weddings, christenings, portraits, funerals (yes funerals), homes & gardens, and marketing images for businesses too.

Take a look at the Then and Now page on our website to see the before image of the young men in my featured photograph above and other photographs showing the passing of time and just how valuable the printed image is here.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be a part of your family to capture your memories.

Feel free to get in touch if you have a project or commission in mind – be great to hear from you!

Stella

Cars: Accelerating the Modern World & The London Classic Car Show 2020

Two shows about the humble car and how it has evolved over the past 130 years.

On Thursday I had the pleasure of attending the Victoria & Albert Museum in South Kensington to see an exhibition called ‘Accelerating the Modern World’ to learn more about the evolution of the motor car that first made an appearance at the end of the 19th century and how it has influenced the economy, manufacturing, design, and, most importantly the effect it has had on our planet.

I was also invited to attend the preview launch of The London Classic Car Show on the same day at its new home Olympia London - a short trot away from the V & A and now in its sixth year.

I can highly recommend them both, even if you are not a car lover, at the V & A you’ll learn about the history of the motor car and the fuel that is needed to power it and so much more, it really is an education for all ages. The exhibition is on until Sunday 19 April 2020.

You had better hurry if you are looking to go to The London Classic Car Show as it finishes on Sunday 23 April, featuring some of the finest classic, vintage and supercars to admire or even to buy and a tribute to Bruce McLaren too.

The photographs below show you more to whet your appetite.

Preview day on Thursday 20 February 2020 at Olympia

A tribute to Bruce McLaren ‘A Life Behind the Wheel’ to mark 50 years since his passing. The London Classic Car Show will be celebrating one of motor racing’s undisputed icons.

Accelerating the Modern World:

As you enter the Sainsbury Gallery at the V & A you will be submerged into the history of the automobile. Take a couple of hours to immerse yourself in some fascinating facts, figures and footage along with an exhibition of some of the finest automobiles to date. I loved it and learnt so much about this invention that has transformed the world.

A vast display of imagery accompanies the ‘Accelerating the Modern World Exhibition’, and the fashions that accompanied the ever changing designs through the decades. I found the information about petroleum really interesting and how this shaped the clothing we now wear, including stocking from the 1940s.

Thank you for reading this blog, I hope it has inspired you to explore the world of cars further.

I’ll be back next month with more blogs about my travels overseas called ‘The Diary of a Cruise Ship Speaker’ watch this space for updates.

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.

A Few of My Favourite Images From 2019

Where has 2019 gone, it seems to have flown by, does it feel the same for you?

As this is my last blog of 2019 I always like to take stock of the year gone by and choose a few of my favourite images to share with you that really don’t need any words.

This is always hard for me because I take thousands of images during any one calendar year, but here we go, a selection that have made the final cut from both my brands - SMS Creative Photography and Stella Lifestyle Photography.

Wishing you all a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2020!

I’ll be back in January with more updates.

Thanks for reading…

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.