ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
KENT ARTIST PROFILE :
ASHLEIGH BRITTEN
WE ARE KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY FOR THIS MONTH ' S ARTIST PROFILE WITH SIDEWAYS MEDIA ’ S VERY OWN ASHLEIGH BRITTEN . NOT ONLY A KENTISH WORDSMITH , CREATIVE CONTENT CREATOR , AND BRAND PHOTOGRAPHER , THIS GIFTED WOMAN HAS ALSO BEEN SPENDING THE LAST FEW YEARS CAPTURING MOMENTS OF PURE MAGIC FOR FAMILIES NEW AND OLD . WE SAT DOWN WITH ASHLEIGH TO DISCUSS HER LOVE OF PHOTOGRAPHY , HOW SHE CAPTURES SUCH INTIMATE FAMILY MOMENTS , AND WHAT IT REALLY TAKES TO BE A NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHER .
You capture such cherished moments of love between families , how do you capture all that emotion in a photograph ?
I think capturing emotion is something that takes practice and becomes easier over time . Photographing people has to feel comfortable for everyone , and people tend to instantly feel more comfortable once you ’ ve ‘ broken the ice ’. I also pay extra attention to children , and always get them involved . After that , everything just follows and it ’ s natural , not false !
What is it like working with newborns ? Is it something you always wanted to do ?
Working with newborns is wonderful , and I can ’ t imagine a job that ’ s more rewarding . It ’ s such a precious time for a family and I feel honoured to be able to capture those memories . Newborn photography takes time , and it ’ s certainly not something that you just learn overnight . Also , nine times out of 10 newborn shoots don ’ t go as planned ; it ’ s about working around the baby and adapting to every situation . Patience for me is the key to getting those perfect newborn shots .
Is working with every new or soon-to-be mother different , or do you have a formula for how to get the best pictures ?
Most certainly , every shoot is different . In terms of props and posing , I tend to stick to what I know and my poses are very natural , so they work for most occasions . I also have a huge collection of materials and props that I take with me , so I can decide on the day what works best for that particular shoot .
Did you always know you wanted to be a photographer ?
I think my interest in photography started at a very young age , so yes I guess I have always known . When I got my first ‘ proper ’ camera , a Canon 450D , I used to spend hours just playing around with different set ups . I studied fine art photography at university , and although now I photograph families and babies I still do love getting arty – I find it like a form of expression .
What has been your best moment as a photographer ?
Oh , that ’ s difficult – but something that sticks in mind is when I once ran a giveaway . The lady who won had a daughter who had tragically suffered a stroke at the age of just seven . Mum asked me to go and photograph her and her older sister . The experience was truly magical , to capture the love between two sisters who ’ d been through so much . It was such a pleasure to go to their home and give something back to them and is something I will remember forever .
Where can we see your work or book a shoot ?
The easiest place to see a snippet of my current portfolio is on Instagram : @ ashleighbrittenphotography and @ abbrandandfoodphotography , where you can DM to book .
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