London and Sweden Wedding Photographer - Tamara Kuzminski Photography » Personal

iPhoneography 2011

Tamara Kuzminski — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:15:18 +0000

I love my iPhone. And I love photography. So really there’s no better combination for keeping me amused than that little camera on my phone.

Making it authentic

Tamara Kuzminski — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:00:24 +0000

I met up with an old friend a couple of weekends ago. I’ve actually known him for a few years, but it was only over those two days that I got to know what it is that he does in a real way (or as real as I can). And as much as it sounds so clichéd, he has changed the way I think about my photography and the way I want to live my life. He witnesses things on a daily basis that most of us never have to. Or would want to. Perhaps we might get a glimpse on the news but we don’t really think about it, and we almost definitely don’t feel it. My friend is a war photographer and his images tell a compelling story.

I did a mental walk-through of my portfolio when I got home, and realised that I have far too few images in it that really show authenticity, that perhaps come a little way towards the emotion that were in my friends’ images. They’re not perfect, nor award worthy images, but they are perhaps some of my most honest. Ones that capture people as they really are, where their emotion and personalities shine through the images. And it’s from these that I’m going to move forwards; to hopefully make images that will make you smile, laugh or cry.

It’s the time of year to reflect, start over and make promises, so I pledge to all my current and future clients that I shall strive to create photographs that really make you feel.

My parents

Tamara Kuzminski — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 06:20:57 +0000

I was supposed to be photographing another couple. But an hour before the shoot, they contacted me to say that he had been called in to work at the last minute because of an emergency. So, with a head full of ideas and a twitchy shutter finger, I sat on the sofa at my parents’ house, cup of tea in hand, when they suggested that I photograph them instead. Seeing as I wasn’t particularly doing anything else.

I’ve never really photographed my family. Not properly anyway. It’s a completely different ball game photographing people that I have known my whole life and who have known me and aren’t afraid to tell me exactly what they think. To be honest, I always found the idea intimidating and just avoided it.

My parents have been married for 40 years and now I look at these photos, I can’t believe that we haven’t done this before. They look so happy, and it’s so nice to see them as a couple, instead of just as parents or grandparents. I think we’ll definitely be doing this again sometime.

Back to nature

Tamara Kuzminski — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 20:04:02 +0000

Sometimes it can be too easy to get wrapped up in day-to-day events that make me forget why I love photography. My journey with a camera started when I fell in love with the countryside, the splendour of the landscape, and the overwhelming sense of peacefulness you get from just sitting, watching, breathing and being.

Ten years ago, a friend moved to Scotland to study, and on my first visit up there, they took me through Glencoe. I was immediately hooked. To stand completely surrounded by the mountains, having the clouds embrace around you and the wind caress your face, so that you feel an integral part of that landscape.

So I’m taking myself back. Not to Glencoe, but back to that memory, that feeling of awe and peace. I’m picking up my camera and heading back to nature.

The Trossachs

Tamara Kuzminski — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 08:15:56 +0000

I’m back in Scotland, sitting on a coach as we wind our way through the countryside of The Trossachs. It’s cold out, a bit foggy and quite icy. But that’s my favourite kind of Scotland. As we travelled back to our hotel, I took out my phone and recorded the beauty as it galloped past the window.

10 things you (maybe) didn’t know about me

Tamara Kuzminski — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:04:04 +0000

This last week has been an eye opener for me in so many ways. Not only have I discovered that if I stay up until about 2am every night that I turn into a bit of a zombie! But I feel as if I finally understand what it is I am trying to achieve with my business and how I can get there. Or at least I can see the start of the pathway. I’m going to be shaking up my business over the coming weeks and months, because I want to offer you all the best experience possible. I want you to be so excited about having me photograph you before I even pick up my camera. And I want you to be even happier by the time I have finished.

So I thought I’d try to get a bit more personal on my blog and instead of only showing you what I do all the time, I’d start telling you a bit about who I am, why I do what I do and what motivates me too. So I’m beginning with a quick get-to-know-me list….

I love lists. I have lists for everything. They help me keep my mind in order when everything else is in chaos.
My dream holiday is to go to Svalbard and I am determined to get there with my camera in the next couple of years. Polar bears, snow and midnight sun excitement!
I am definitely a morning person. In fact, I think I turn into a pumpkin at midnight!
I was recently diagnosed with coeliac disease, which is an auto-immune disorder. This means that I have to follow a gluten-free diet for the rest of my life. I’m actually coping with the changes much better than I expected, but I can’t tell you how much I am missing cakes right now…
I used to play the saxophone in a Big Band at university, and have always wanted to learn jazz piano.
I love making things. When I’m not photographing, I’m usually sewing, making cards, baking, quilting or doing something else crafty.
I can juggle.
I love marmite.
I have 2 crazy but cute tabby cats. Sabrina (named after the Audrey Hepburn film, not the teenage witch!) and Sebastian.
Photography is also my hobby. And my passion. It consumes my everyday life. But to get away from the business, I’ll take out my large format camera (with bellows and a dark cloth over my head) and create photographs in the tranquillity and beauty of the UK landscape.

So there you are. A little soupçon of information about who I am. The woman behind the camera… I look forward to hopefully getting to know you too through my blog (so please do comment – I love hearing from you).

Vintage themed shoot at Bristol harbour

Tamara Kuzminski — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:25:30 +0000

Two weeks ago, a group of photographers all got together at Bristol Harbour, organised by Rosie Parsons from The Photography Parlour. She had arranged models, make-up artists, vintage dresses, vintage tea sets, exquisite cupcakes and flowers, a big yacht to use as our base, and lots of sunshine for the day!

The fabulous suppliers were…
Venue: The Harmony II
Dresses: www.vintagedress.co.uk
China and table styling: Vintage Tea Sets
Catering: McBaile
Cakes: Cake Matters

The gorgeous models were…
Silvi Reussner
Miss Cherry Delight

The talented make-up artists were…
Lilly MUA
Heather Talbot
Cat Parnell (also did hair)
Sara Friar

Here’s a selection of my favourite photos I took on the day.

Finding the Light

Tamara Kuzminski — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:51:16 +0000

Yesterday I had a photoshoot with models Vivienne and Katy. The purpose of the shoot was to push my boundaries and improve my technical knowledge when lighting people both with natural light and using flash creatively. Constant improvement is something that I believe very strongly about, as I never want to stand still and become stale as a photographer. This not only ensures that my clients are happy by keeping my images and products fresh and exciting, but also it’s a lot of fun being able to experiment! Dedicated training days and model shoots give you the chance to do things that you simply wouldn’t have the time to try out for the first time during a wedding when time is limited, and allows you to learn and get inspiration from other professional photographers.

Here are a few of my favourites from the day. I hope you enjoy them…

Crieff Highland Games

Tamara Kuzminski — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:20:07 +0000

I was in Scotland a week or so ago, visiting friends during the weekend of the local highland games. As I’d never seen the event before, we decided to make a day of it. Luckily for us (and everyone else there) the rain just about kept off and the sun even made its appearance for a few hours. A lovely day was had, as well as some great photographs.

So now we know what men wear under their kilts…..!

Not a traditional highland game, but this freestyle motorbike team was amazing to watch nonetheless.

Lucy / 5 day old newborn baby photography

Tamara Kuzminski — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 21:15:32 +0000

I photographed my sister’s baby bump the other month, and she finally gave birth to a baby girl last weekend – little baby Lucy. She is absolutely beautiful (although I may be a little bit biased being a proud auntie!) and my sister and her husband wanted some photographs of her to send as thank you cards to their friends. Here are some of the “outtakes” so as to not spoil the surprise if you’re on the card list!

Oh, did I mention how gorgeous she is….?!