Free Maternity ‘Bump’ Photography in Scotland for Chloe’s Count the Kicks

Martin Ward Photography are currently offering complimentary maternity ‘Bump’ photoshoots to expectant mums in aid of Chloes Count the Kicks charity calendar competition. This great organisation works to raise awareness of the need for expectant mums to monitor their babies movements in a bid to reduce neonatal deaths and still births. 

We will come to your home with studio equipment or you can visit our studio or we can visit the great outdoors for some unusual and precious images for you to treasure forever – all you need to do is email us at studio@martinwardphotography.co.uk visit  our facebook page or use the contact form on the website – book in for your session and bring with you ideas and any props required to create your calendar image.


Look forward to hearing from lots of lovely ladies needing a maternity photographer throughout Scotland.

Portrait Photography Tip #3: On Location

Photographing on location is a completely different ball game to the studio, as we have to work within the confines of the environment and elements.

Going on location gives you total freedom of expression in your portrait photography.  You may wish to be photographed participating in a hobby, sport or activity.  Lifestyle photography, could simply be meeting up somewhere you like to walk or in the local park.  Kids playing in the park make great photographs for you to remember that time in their childhood.

How to look fabulous

The key to looking fabulous on location is to work with your environment and not against it.  It’s best to dress appropriate for your location.  If you’re out for a country walk, wear jeans and walking boots etc.  Kids playing in the park should wear their play clothes.

Your portraits can be casual and relaxed giving off a sense of calm.  Alternatively, you may want your portraits packed with drama and high impact.  We can do that too.

Many factors will affect the portraits we create for you.  And depending on what you want, many factors will be contradictory so we will not attempt to explain them here.  

Portrait Photography Tip #2: Studio Black Background

A black or dark background is great for creating pictures that are more classical in style or with portray deeper feelings.  It’s not as well suited to fun family photographs partly as the lighting needs careful consideration.  However, dark backgrounds are ideal for formal family portraits.

The black background is well suited to photography that is more artistic especially where a human body is more exposed.  This could be pregnancy, newborn babies or of course nudes photography.  These are all ideal subjects for displaying as monochrome photographs.

I find black backgrounds are perfect for newborn babies photographed for black and white.  Monochrome removes almost any trace of deep red birthmarks that simply melt into the baby’s natural skin tones.

How to look fabulous

Assuming you’ve read portrait photography tip #1, you’ve already guessed that dark clothes are better suited to a black or dark background.  Limiting the contrast between your clothing and the background draws the viewer’s attention to you.

For example, if you wore a brilliant white shirt (or blouse) against a dark background the shirt would dominate the picture – almost certainly overwhelming you.

However, if your clothes or hair is virtually black they could blend into the background.  Sometimes this is desirable. But when it isn’t it must be fixed with additional lighting.

Portrait Photography Tip #1: Studio white background

The white floor and background is probably the most popular studio set up today.  This is often referred to as the white infinity background.

It’s light and airy, and without distracting patterns in the background.  This is perfect for both contemporary family portraits and a glamorous makeover that looks like it’s fresh out of any popular magazine.

How to look fabulous

It may surprise you but you should wear light colour clothing.  Light colours will compliment the light background creating a bright photograph with high impact.

Don’t wear very dark clothing.  Dark clothing creates too much contrast with the bright background.  The viewers’ eyes will follow lines created by areas of bright and dark meeting instead of being drawn to you, which is where we really want their attention.

Mother's Day Special Offer

With Mother's Day fast approaching we are running a special promotion with all sessions are for the weekend of 19th/20th March.


It's the perfect gift that will last year after year.

With every session you will receive a framed 8x10 print.

And you can choose from a range of 5 frame colours.

If you would like any further information please just get in touch.

Now A Member of the SWPP

Martin Ward Photography are proud to announce that we are members of the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers.

Aims of the Societies

·    Encourage high professional standards and ethics in photography

·    Promote development and discussion about all aspects of the business of 

     photography

·    Promote the interests of photographers

·    Provide education and training within the profession

·    Establish photographers' rights and set precedents in areas such as copyright

·    Cultivate friendship and understanding among photographers

      ·    Be a reliable resource centre for photographers

This is exciting for both us and our customers alike.

Why Are Professional Photographers So Expensive?

This article has been extremely well received by the photography community and is now referred to by countless photography websites, forums and blogs around the world.

In this digital age where everyone has digital cameras, scanners and home "photo printers", when people upload their photos to local supermarket website and pick them up a few hours later, we hear this all the time - How in the world do Professional Photographers charge £x for a 8x10 when they cost just £4 from the supermarkets?

Here's why

Simply put, you are not just paying for the actual photograph, you are paying for time and expertise. Firstly, lets look at the time involved. (If you don't read this entire article please at least read this first part)

The Average One Hour Portrait Session

• Travel to the session
• Set up, preparation, talking to the Client etc
• Shoot the photos
• Travel from the session
• Load images into computer
• Back up files onto an external hard drive
• 4-8 hours of Adobe®Photoshop® time, including cropping, contrast, colour, sharpening and backing up edited photos. In some cases, proof photos are also ordered
• 2-3 hours to talk to the Client, answer questions, receive order and payment, order their prints, receive and verify the prints, ship the prints to the Client
• In some cases, meet the Client to review photos and place orders. 

You can see how a one-hour session can easily turn into a eight-hour working day or more from start to finish. So when you see a professional photographer charging a session fee of £125 (which I don't lol) the Client is not paying them £125 per hour.

The Eight-Hour Wedding

A wedding photographer typically meets with the Bride and Groom several times before and after the Wedding. It's not uncommon to end up with 1500-2000 images, much more than a portrait session. Many photographers end up spending 40-60 hours working on one eight-hour Wedding if you look at the time that is truly involved.

(Don't forget the Wedding photographer runs the day to a certain extent. A comfortable, confident Wedding photographer can make the day go more smoothly.)

The Expertise and Cost of Doing Business

Shooting professional photography is a skill acquired through years of experience. Taking professional portraits involves much more than having a nice camera. Most photographers take years from buying their first camera to making money through photography. In addition to learning how to use the camera, there is a mountain of other equipment and software programmes used to edit and print photos, manage websites etc. And don't forget backdrops, props, rent, utilities, insurance etc!!

In addition to the financial investment, photographers actually have to have people skills to make subjects comfortable in front of the camera. Posing people to look their best is a skill by itself. You could argue that it is more important than actually using the camera. A poorly exposed photo can be saved, however a poorly posed photo cannot.

The Chain Store

Chain stores do have their place. For a very cheap price you can run in, shoot some photos, and be done with it. But you get what you pay for. 

Consider the time and effort that a professional photographer puts into photographs, compared to a chain store. Store sessions last a few minutes, while a professional photographer takes time to get to know people, makes the comfortable, makes them laugh. If a baby is crying at a chain store they often don't have the time (or the patience) to wait because everyone is in a hurry. 

The truth is many chain stores lose money.

Consider this, in America, Wal-Mart closed 500 of their portrait studios in 2007 because of the financial drain. 

The Real Deal

Professional photographers are just that - Professionals. No different from a mechanic, doctor, dentist or electrician. But a professional photographer often becomes a friend. Someone who documents a family for generations with professional, personal photographs of cherished memories. Maybe we need to help Clients look at it this way:  A pair of scissors cost £1 at the supermarket. Still, most people will gladly pay more to hire a professional hair dresser to cut their hair. The added attention and quality a professional photographer gives is worth every penny.