Other Services - Did You Know?

As well as our sought-after studio and location photo-shoots I just wanted to let you know, or to remind you, that ever since we opened in 1997 we have been offering a wide range of other services, including bespoke framing, passport and ID photographs, and a scanning and restoration service to breath new life into old photographs.

To find out more about these services, simply visit our website on the appropriate buttons below and when you are ready, call into the studio so we can give you our friendly, helpful expert advice and service. 

Just one other point of interest that may well appeal to you, a friend or family member is our individual Masterclasses to help you understand your camera better, further information can be found via the button below.

Stella

Masterpiece London 2018

To read my Masterpiece London Fair blog click on the 'Read More' button below which directs you to 'Stella' - my Lifestyle Photography website.

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In Conversation With: Martin Turner

This month's In Conversation With... is with Martin Turner, Former Head of Formula One - Sky Sports & Sky Europe, BAFTA winner.  Martin is Sky’s longest serving employee with 33 years at the coal face!

To read the interview about Martin head over to our sister website stellascordellis.com via the 'Read More' button below.

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Stella's Photography Tips: Depth of Field

'Depth of field' is the area in your photograph that is in focus from the nearest point to the furthest.

Sometimes we may choose to have an image that is sharp throughout, showing the foreground with the same focus as the background. Alternatively, we can choose to separate the subject from the background by using a shallow depth-of-field to achieve this. Here are my tips to achieve this:

1. Select the correct lens. I would normally chose a 70-200mm - the longer the focal length the shallower the depth-of-field.

2. Use a wide aperture - f2.8 or f4 works best.

3. Position your subject at least two metres away from the background to separate the two. The further away your subject is from the background, the more out of focus the background will be.

4. Adjust your shutter speed and ISO accordingly to get the best exposure. Remember not to go below 1/60th to avoid camera shake.

5. The closer you are to your subject, the shallower your depth of field will be. If you are two meters from a subject and shooting at f/2.8 with your 70mm lens, you may get 10cm of depth to your focus. With the same lens and aperture at 10 meters, you may get 100cm of depth.

6. If you are looking to create soft backgrounds with a less than optimal lens such at a 16mm prime, get really close to your subject to achieve the desired results of shallow depth-of-field.

7. Always experiment with different lenses to achieve a variety of results using different subjects.

Stella

Meet the Team: Ben

Following on from the last 'Meet the Team' with Stella, this time Jo Hackerspeaks to Ben about his role within SMS Creative Photography.

Q. What did you want to be when you were at school?

Funny thing is that it wasn't that long ago that I was at school! In fact the majority of my friends still are. Therefore since 2010 photography has been my obsession! I can't imagine a future without photography or retouching playing some part in it.

Q. How did you start working for SMS Creative Photography?

About six months after finishing college my Tutor emailed me a job description that Stella had sent him and asked whether it was something I was interested in. That next day I walked into the SMS Creative Photography studio laptop in hand with examples of my work and asked for the job. 

Q. What is your role at SMS Creative Photography?

As a Digital Artist, my responsibilities include retouching and the finishing and printing of any photographs.  It is important that I always get the detail right!  I am also responsible for web design and maintenance, graphic design and liaising with customers.

Q. Please can you describe a typical day for you?

There is rarely a moment when I find myself without at least one image open in Photoshop! I also manage the daily communication of our services to customers through a combination of design and technology on the various platforms that we use. No two days are the same -  we cover everything from the restoration of old photographs, studio photographs of Meissen porcelain, family studio and location photo-shoots as well as headshots. Every image we create in the studio passes through me for finishing.

Q. Who are your favourite photographers?

I'm always returning to Frederic Schlosser's website to see what projects he is working on. I also keep up to date with what Taylor James is doing in the commercial space but at the top of my list is the surreal photographer, Erik Johansson. In my opinion, nothing compares to his ideas and the execution of the imagery he produces.

Q. What one piece of advice would you give to a budding new photographer?

Do something different, look at what everyone else is doing and then run in completely the opposite direction.

Q. What three words would you use to describe SMS Creative Photography?

Passionate. Committed. Dynamic.

Update October 2018: Ben has been a fantastic employee and moved on to pastures new to further his in post-production and design career. We are still in touch and wish him all the very best!

Meet the Team: Stella

Jo Hacker, part of Stella’s expanding team, speaks to Stella about her family, her love of photography and of course her ‘fourth’ child, SMS Creative Photography.

Q. What was your first big break?

I worked as a Saturday girl at Handford photography portrait studio from the age of 15. When it came to leaving school at 16 they offered me an apprenticeship within their commercial department and I was delighted to accept.

Q. Why did you decide to set-up your own business?

I always wanted to own my own photography business. Every time I considered it, I found a hundred reasons not to until my family circumstances changed and I took the opportunity to fulfil my dream.

Q. Can you remember your first customer, and if so what did they buy from you?

Yes, I can!  My first customer called into the studio on the day I opened on Monday 10 February 1997 to ask for a treasured old family photograph to be copied. In those days, it was produced via a 5” x 4” negative on a rostrum camera.
 

Stella 'Then' in 1966 outside her parents house and 'Now' 2017 - same place and not quite the same clothes!

Q. What do you love most about your job?

I love most meeting new people and working on a diverse range of commissions. One day I am knee deep in mud photographing a family run farm, the next I am on the race track capturing beautiful cars.

Q.  What has been your most challenging moment, as a business owner?

The transition from analogue to digital was initially hugely challenging, but in time has become very lucrative. I often find the hardest tasks are worth the time I spend on them in the end!

Q. You describe SMS Creative Photography as your fourth child, how involved are you other three children?

My two sons love the business but they have other work commitments, and don’t play a direct role. My daughter Nicola worked with me whilst she was at school at the weekend and as a second shooter at weddings.  More recently she is supporting me with marketing.

Q. Why did you choose to name your business SMS Creative Photography?

When I was thinking about a name for my business I didn't have the confidence to call it by my name, so I took the easy option to use my initials 'SMS' for Stella Marina Scordellis, I added Creative Photography because back in 1997 this was a new style of photography. In 2012 I introduced 'Stella' a different part of the business taking me in new and exciting directions.

Q. How different is the job of a photographer different today, to when you first trained?

When I first trained there were very few women doing the job. I was one of the first female wedding photographers and as a result I was inundated with wedding bookings. The job of a photographer now is different because of the changes to digital and post production technology. This has made photography so much more accessible, I would never have thought that technology would develop to create such high-quality results so quickly.

Q.  What one piece of advice would you give a budding new photographer?

Trust your intuition.

Q.  What excites you about the future of SMS Creative Photography?

Developing into new areas of photography. I am also interested in limited-edition photographs which can be a great investment.  Watch this space for new developments!