Let’s take a trip down memory lane to look at some of our favourite photos of 2019
Wow, what a year 2019 has been! We’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support. As a local small business, it’s people like you who keep us doing what we love and we’re proud to serve our local community! We wish you an enjoyable festive season and happiness and success for 2020, from all of us at Photographic Synergy.
As a way to round up 2019, we thought we’d reflect on all the fantastic people (and animals!) who have joined us in the studio. We’ve given it some thought and selected our favourite photos of2019 from all our various photoshoots throughout the year…
All Grown Up Photoshoot
Our ‘All Grown Up’ photoshoots are great for the young adult in your life who would like a bit more of a fun and ‘grown up’ photoshoot experience. These sisters were such natural beauties and knew exactly how to work the camera!
Family Photoshoot
We couldn’t resist choosing this beautiful snap of this lovely family creating beautiful memories together as one of our favourite photos of 2019.
Watch Me Grow Photoshoot
Cute baby butt alert! The teddies managed to get it right, but we couldn’t stay mad at this cutie for not facing the camera so this great shot had to be one of our favourite photos of 2019.
Cake Smash Photoshoot
There’s cake everywhere, it’s messy, it’s fun…did we mention the cake? Our cake smash photoshoots are such great fun, and this cheeky chap had us laughing the whole shoot!
Makeover Photoshoot
Our makeover photoshoots include professional hair, makeup (and a glass of bubbles for those of us old enough to indulge!), so it’s a chance to really glam up. We loved shooting these two natural beauties, and this photo was one of our favourite photos of 2019 because we thought it could be a billboard ad campaign…such professionals!
Pet Photoshoot
So many cute pet photographs, so hard to choose just one for our favourite photos of 2019 but you can’t get much more British than the beautiful British Bulldog…or can you? Just when you thought you’d seen it all, this classy hound decided a union jack top hat would really capture his patriotic side, and we couldn’t agree more!
Little Ones Photoshoot
We have such fun photographing all the kids that come into our studio it’s hard to pick just one for our favourite photos of 2019 selection but we all had such a soft spot for this adorable little one, and definitely the winner of the best dressed award with her fantastic flower crown and pretty butterfly dress!
Maternity Photoshoot
We couldn’t get over how adorable this brother-to-be was on this maternity photoshoot. What a cutie-pie, and look at that beautiful bump! Definitely one of our favourite photos of 2019.
Newborn Photoshoot
This precious little bundle was so brand new, and what a beautiful way to introduce them to the world! A great photograph to use for birth announcement cards to send out to loved ones too.
Thanks for joining us on our trip down memory lane, and we hope you’ve enjoyed our favourite photos of 2019.
Never a better time to give Experience Gift Vouchers…
The festive season is almost upon us and we’re jumping on the bandwagon and thinking about all the Christmas presents we still have to buy. Are you struggling to come up with great gift ideas? Luckily, our experience gift vouchers make a fantastic present at any time of year, whether it’s gifts for men, gifts for her, presents for friends, family, a partner, or even pets…we’ve got gifts galore! They’re valid from 9 months from the original purchase date so plenty of time for your loved ones to book their shoot with us at a time convenient to them. Take a look at some of the unique gifts we have on offer…
Newborn Photoshoot Experience
Our newborn photoshoot experience gift vouchers give the recipient a 4-hour long photoshoot with their new little bundle of joy. There’s no rushing and plenty of time for feeding, crying, and even snoozing (we won’t take it personally, don’t worry!) They will also receive £245 credit towards products of their choice so this is a great gift to capture those precious fleeting moments and give someone you love something they can treasure forever.
Family Photoshoot Experience
Want your family to enjoy spending some special time together while we capture some timeless art for you all to treasure? Our family photoshoot experience gift vouches include an hour-long photoshoot, an hour-long cinematic viewing and £195 credit towards our products. We love the idea of giving this experience for a Mother’s Day gift or Father’s Day present.
Cake Smash Photoshoot Experience
Let’s just admit it – we’ve all wanted to faceplant into a delicious, sweet and frosting-loaded cake. The beauty of being a baby is that you can totally get away with it and our cake smash photoshoot experience gift vouchers offer just that and includes an hour-long photoshoot, an hour-long cinematic viewing and £195 credit towards our products.
Pet Photoshoot Experience
Our pets deserve presents too right?! Or maybe you know someone who would love to have photographs of their pet that they can cherish for a lifetime. Whether their beloved pet is a cat, dog, bunny rabbit or even a reptile family member, our pet photoshoot experience gift vouchers will capture the special bond they and their pets share. With £195 credit towards our products, as well as the photoshoot experience itself, this is the gift that keeps on giving!
Watch Me Grow Photoshoot Experience
Our watch me grow photoshoot experience gift vouchers offers something a little extra special if you’re looking for a luxury gift, and includes not 1, but 3 separate hour-long photoshoot sessions! We aim to capture 3 milestones, usually including a shoot at bump or 0-6 months, 6-12 months and then 12-18 months. The experience gift vouchers also includes a portrait from each session and a leatherette celebration folder to keep your portrait series in, all worth £345. This is an amazing way to capture picture perfect memories along every step of the way and would make a truly extra-special present for someone you love.
Makeover Photoshoot Experience
If you’d like to give someone you love someone a special treat to show them how wonderful they really are, how about our makeover photoshoot experience gift vouchers? Our experience gift vouchers include an hour-long makeover including makeup and dry hair styling from a professional hair and makeup artist, plus an hour-long photo session and three outfit changes, an hour-long cinematic style viewing and £195 credit towards our products. What a great way to make someone feel pampered and special, and give them beautiful photos they can treasure. Perfect for a Valentine’s Day gift or anniversary present.
All Grown Up Photoshoot Experience
What to get for the teenager, or tweenager who has it all? Forget Instagram, Snapchat and Whats App, our ‘all grown up’ photoshoot experience gift vouchers is aimed at 6-18-year-olds who want the full photo shoot experience. If you’re looking for gifts for grandchildren or children’s gifts then this should have you covered! We let them control the music and help set the scene for the ultimate, professional, pose n’snap experience.
Maternity Photoshoot Experience
For the mums-to-be in your life, our maternity photoshoot experience gift vouchers is a great present and something they may not have considered getting for themselves. The included hour-long photoshoot will be a celebration of their beautiful bump and those special 9 months that can fly by so quickly.
Little Ones Photoshoot Experience
It’s so hard to know what to get for those that seemingly have it all, but for those with little ones, we think our little ones photoshoot experience gift vouchers offers beautifully captured moments that the grown-ups can proudly display in their home, while we’ll make sure the kids have great fun in our studio, with music, props and games to keep them entertained and enabling us to photograph some unique moments. We think this experience could be a great option if you’re looking for gifts for dad or presents for mum. An hour-long photo session, an hour-long cinematic style viewing and £195 credit towards our products is included in the experience gift vouchers..
With all those wonderful present ideas, surely there’s something for everyone you know, whether it’s Christmas gifts, anniversary gifts, wedding presents, birthday gifts, or any other occasion, we’ve got you covered!
We tend to get asked a number of recurring questions from new customers, so we thought we’d share the answers with you here, that way you know what to expect from a photoshoot at Photographic Synergy. See our Frequently Asked Questions listed below…
1. How long will the photoshoot last?
Our photoshoots typically last for one hour. This is usually plenty of time to get a good variety of shots, but not too long that the kids, or animals, will get bored and restless. There are a couple of exceptions to the rule. For example, our Newborn Photoshoot is 4 hours so we don’t rush you or baby; and our Makeover Photoshoot is 2 hours because it involves 1 hour make-up and dry hair dressing, then a 1 hour photoshoot.
2. Why do I pay a refundable deposit?
Your photoshoot at Photographic Synergy is FREE. We charge a fully refundable £50 deposit to book any regular photoshoot with us. This books your photoshoot in our diary, and gives us some commitment that you’ll attend the shoot allowing us to safeguard our time and effort. It is purely so we can plan ahead and have the right people ready for the appointment and give you the best experience. If you keep your original shoot date, we increase this to a credit of £75 should you wish to invest in our work. if not, we will process the refund of your £50 back to you at the time of the viewing.
There are exceptions to the rule. For example, our Cake Smash and Makeover Photoshoot’s bring with them a £50 charge which covers the cost of the cake and decoration, or the cost of the make-up artist we provide for you. Our Watch Me Grow Photoshoots require a £150 deposit because this involves 3 photoshoots each with a £50 deposit. Our Newborn Photoshoots require a £100 deposit because they are scheduled for 4 hours of our photographers time, so we get the perfect images for you..
3. Can I reschedule my photoshoot?
That’s fine! We simply ask that you give us 72 hours’ notice of any cancellation. We then refund your deposit or book you a new photoshoot. As long as you attend your photoshoot your deposit will be fully refunded to you at your viewing.
If you leave us less than 72 hours’ notice, we will be unable to refill your slot in our diary. In this case if you cancel and do not re-book you lose your deposit, which we hope you agree is only fair and decent. However, if you re-book we ask you for another deposit, but then refund you both at your viewing.
When a client books a photoshoot in our diary the studio dedicates the people and resources required to make sure the clients experience is perfect. Our diary is often booked weeks in advance. This represents a huge commitment in time, staff, resources and studio space. Sadly, if someone fails to attend or cancels with very little notice it is impossible for us to to re-fill that time slot in our diary.
Any appointments that do not take place are times someone else would have loved to attend and have their photoshoot so please be mindful of them and help us offer them an excellent service.
4. Will my photographs be photoshopped?
We don’t alter every image we take using photo editing software, but we do make alterations to photos such as the contrast or visual effects, or to remove spots and blemishes. Our style is more natural rather than heavily photoshopped imagery, but it does depend on the type of photoshoot.
We also occasionally use photo editing software to merge two photographs together, for instance in a family shot where everyone except one person is looking at the camera, we can use tools to digitally replace them using a different shot of that person where they are looking at the camera. You won’t even notice! But this advanced editing does take more time and attention, so we charge for this service.
5. How far in advance should I book my Photoshoot?
We get booked up quickly, particularly in the busy summer months or around special dates in the calendar such as Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day, so our advice is to always book as far in advance as possible. You can always give us a call to discuss any dates you were thinking of, however near or far in the future, and we occasionally have last minute cancellations so we may be able to fit you in sooner than you think. It is better to book a date in the diary now, rather than miss out later. We’ll always be flexible and try to accommodate any changes in dates and times so long as we have 72-hours’ notice.
6. Can I bring my Pets?
Yes of course! We love our furry clients… or sometimes even scaly clients.
7. What happens if I don’t like the photos?
We strive to give you the best experience possible and we’re confident you will love the photographs, however, in the unlikely event that you don’t like the photos we can re-shoot free of charge. You are also under no obligation to buy any photographs or products from us
8. How long after the photoshoot can I view the images? How long until I get my order?
Typically, our turnaround time to view images after a photoshoot is 5-7 days. Once your images are ready, we’ll invite you to a personalised cinematic style viewing session, where you can take your time looking through your photographs. You’re free to choose whatever photographs and products suit you, your home and your style – there’s no hard sell. We hope our artwork simply blows you away, so you’re left with no choice other than to invest. Once you place an order and pay then delivery is usually 4-6 weeks but is often sooner. It all depends on the number of orders ahead of you in the queue.
9. Is there parking at the studio?
We have an abundance of FREE parking on-site at our studio at Willows Activity Farm. It’s one of the country’s premier children’s farm attractions and we share their huge car park. Simply follow directions to Willows Activity Farm on Coursers Road (AL4 0PF) and you’ll find Photographic Synergy based next to Willows Farm Day Nursery with a car park directly outside our front door.
10. Can I bring a change of Clothes?
Yes, we usually advise one or two changes of clothes so that not too much time is taken up with getting changed. We have a changing room that opens straight up into the studio for your convenience. And note our studio is air conditioned so we’ll always get it at the right temperature for you, whether you wear shorts and football tops, karate kits, ballet costumes, smart casual or go fully dressed up.
11. I have a disability; can I still have a photoshoot?
Yes of course! Regardless of what your disability is, we can work with you to make sure you have a positive photoshoot experience and get the shots you want. Our studio has plenty of disabled parking available and is accessible to wheelchair users. Feel free to give us a call and discuss your requirements.
12. Do I have to buy prints, frames, canvases, etc?
We would love you to invest in our artwork and take home a classic album or a beautiful framed print to hang proudly in your home, but we totally understand if, at the time, you can’t make the investment. We’ll never pressure you to make any purchases. If you’re looking for digital images, we provide them in colour and black and white, as well as in high and low resolution format via Dropbox or USB drive. We have various packages which mean the more you purchase the cheaper they become.
Got a question we haven’t answered in here in our Frequently Asked Questions? Drop us a line! Call our friendly team on 01727 809 140, or email us via info@photographicsynergy.com and we’ll give you the answer!
Learn all about Photographic Synergy… We take our craft seriously, and we’re incredibly proud of our state-of-the-art photography studio and tailor-made photoshoot experiences at Willows Activity Farm in the beautiful Hertfordshire countryside.
Where is Photographic Synergy?
Located just off the M25 and A414, with easy access to the M1 and an abundance of FREE parking on site, our boutique high tech studio offers over 500 square feet of shooting space, giving you and your family space to let loose and move around freely, especially the little ones and our furry clients who love to have a good run around.
You can expect a warm welcome
Whether you’re coming from North London, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire or further afield, we’ll welcome you with drinks and chat about the type of photographs you’d like us to capture. Whether you’re with us for a family photoshoot, pet portrait session, makeover photoshoot or a fun and messy cake smash shoot, no two photoshoots are the same as we work with our clients to create something bespoke and personal to you.
Take a look inside our Photography Studio
To find out all about Photographic Synergy see the wealth of backdrops, lighting options, swings, chairs and props galore, to make just about anything possible, and to make you feel comfortable and relaxed, we’ll make you the DJ and let you play and control the music during your photoshoot – whether you want something tranquil and peaceful, or something to get you moving and smiling.
Take advantage of our changing room which allows you and your family to bring one or two changes of clothes to get a selection of shots in both formal and casual clothes. Why not enjoy a glass of bubbly and let our professional make-up artist make you look even more wonderful and ready for a makeover photoshoot? Find out all about Photographic Synergy on our website or be inspired by our Pinterest.
Make a day of it and go to Willows Activity Farm
If you’re bringing the kids along, our unique location is a great way to make a real day of it, and to keep the kids entertained.After your photoshoot, why not pop next door to one of the country’s premier children’s farm attractions, Willows Activity Farm, where you can meet all the animals and burn off any energy the little ones may have left!
Personalised cinematic-style photo viewings
After your photoshoot we’ll perfect your images and invite you to a personalised cinematic-style viewing session in one of our two luxurious viewing rooms, where you can take your time to look through your photographs, with absolutely no pressure or obligation to buy any prints or products.
If we haven’t quite convinced you how special the Photographic Synergy experience is, take a look at our synergy experience video to get a sneak peek of what you can expect. Now you know all about Photographic Synergy simply choose the photoshoot that best suits you and book at your convenience for whatever day and time works for you.
We’d like to introduce you to Project Harar, an incredible charity based in Ethiopia providing life changing treatment for adults and children with cleft lip, palate and complex facial disfigurements. We’ve been supporting Project Harar by volunteering our photography and fundraising for over 7 years.
It’s about time we shared their amazing work with you – hopefully you’ll be inspired to join us on our eco-mission to raise even more funds for their fantastic cause.
Do you use Tassimo coffee capsules and shop at Sainsburys? If so, it’s as easy as saving up your used capsules, popping them in a bag and taking them with you to your weekly shop at Sainsburys, London Colney. In partnership with Sainsburys, we have designated drop off points located at the end of the tills – provided by Terracycle, your capsules will be recycled, negating the journey to landfill and in turn, we receive funds for doing so which are donated to Project Harar.
We’re working on rolling this initiative out nationwide and rather fittingly, did you know Ethiopia is the birth place of coffee? A 9th-century Ethiopian goat-herder named Kaldi allegedly observed his goats behaving erratically after eating the red berries from a nearby Coffee arabica tree.
Matt Fisher celebrating raising £4000 with Sainsbury’s, London Colney
In just 5 years we have raised over £4,000 and in our 6th year we are currently up to £7,000 and counting. You can also donate via all of your Amazon purchases on Amazon Smile or direct on their website.
With thanks to our partnership with Vital Baby we’ve also delivered soft teats to little babies who have been struggling to suckle in their first few months of their new life.
See more of Project Harar’s vital work in our two videos below:
In April & May, we’ll be donating £25 of every order made to Project Harar, so join us on our mission to save the planet from these harmful plastics and in turn donate to a truly wonderful cause.
We had the pleasure of welcoming Baby T into our studio for a newborn photoshoot along with mum and dad. A naturally beautiful family coming together, entrusting us to create their memories in a particularly hazy, sleepless time just 13 days after her arrival into the world.
We spoke with mum, Yinka to reflect on her experience of the baby photoshoot and asked what advice she has for expectant mums considering capturing their moments:
“This was our first major outing as a family and Matt clearly had a lot of experience with newborns – he was patient, very friendly and a great host. The studio was lovely and warm for our baby and we had lots of breaks with tea and biscuits. The shoot wasn’t at all how I had imagined it would be – I had failed to realise how much work goes into feeding in between shots, nappy changes and accidents but it was all worth it in the end! My favourite moments were watching her funny facial expressions, especially the spontaneous smiles. I also loved it when she pee’d all over my husband… definitely a mummy’s girl!
I think her dad enjoyed the shoot more than I did! I would let expectant mums know that it’s definitely worth doing – my little one has changed so much since, it’s nice to have the pictures to look back to those early days. I’d definitely do it again and my friend recommended Photographic Synergy’s Watch Me Grow package to us.”
I’m sure you’ll agree the images captured at our newborn photoshoot are beyond stunning… memories to be incredibly proud of.
If you’re an expectant mum.. watch this space – next month’s blog post will feature a handy guide to finding the best newborn photoshoot for you. It’s not just maternity photography to consider these days. We’ll cover all the elements to consider in a newborn shoot including when to get newborn photos done and what to wear to a newborn photo shoot, so you can sit back stress-free and just make the important decisions.
What is our Little Ones photography? When kiddies are no longer newborn (<14 days) but also not old enough to be borrowing your car then we call them ‘little ones‘. This time in your little ones life and development, is very special. Their development move from one stage to the next with lightning speed. One day they are slugging about on the floor, the next the 1st smile happens. Pushing themselves up to sitting up unaided – albeit, a bit like a self righting toy. Starting to read and write on their own. So much happens at this stage.
We take the utmost care to capture this stage of their wee lives with a delicate eye.
Capturing all those little micro expressions that are so often missed. The slightly raised one eyebrow. The confused smile as they are looking at those funny things on the ends of their hands. Our Little Ones Photography sessions are held at our studio on the Willows Activity Farm site, the sessions are 1 hour long. This might seem like a long time for your little one. We take our time and do not rush the session. Doing this allows us to capture the best variety of portrait of your little cherub.
Let us entertain you kids
Come to the studio, put your feet up and re-fuel with a much-needed coffee and let our experienced photographers do all the hard work entertaining your little one, whilst capturing all that motion, emotion, energy and vibrancy for you to focus on when the sleep deprivation finally settles!
Book your own little ones photoshoot
Call our studio on 01727 809 140 or book online via this link. We look forward to seeing you and your little one’s in our studio.
Some 13 years ago we embarked on creating Photographic Synergy.
This was at a time when I had just finished my short career in the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy and when my sister had not long given birth to my niece Lauren. Over those past thirteen years or so, life as we all know it has passed by. Photographic Synergy has grown in its own stature and reach. Ups and downs trials and tribulations have been present in all our days and years.
The other day I received a phone call from Lauren asking for bit of advice about her options for GCSE.
This in itself was a potent shock; highlighting the time that has passed from Lauren being a poster baby for Photographic Synergy. Now making an important decision that would shape her adult life. This in turn took me back to my options and how that served me and the path of life that I went down. This had a further knock on affect when my parents were able to comment on my education and upbringing and indeed their own. Added to this on that same weekend I saw my grandma who turned 91 and my elderly aunt who is somewhat immobile in a home.
So why do I talk of all this. Well time and tide wait for no man.
We can’t manage time, only ourselves and what we do in our short time. We are all but a collection of memories and a legacy. Treasure the moments, capture your life so that you all can relive the legacy and the memories in years to come. As we all really know, those years come all too quickly.
At Photographic Synergy so often we hear from parents who have teenage children. They swiftly dismiss the idea of teenage portraits of them or indeed as a household.
As they often proudly and staunchly exclaim they’ve done that and children aren’t interested. Honestly, some of the most poignant family photos we have taken are when the children aren’t children; they’re adults in their own right. Off to university, a year out or finally flying the nest. These are all great opportunities to get that up to date family portrait and indeed get that All Grown Up portrait of your older children. If not now when? At a wedding in 2019? Funeral in 2021, that dream of a family holiday sometime in the future. If you have teenage children, when was the last decent group shot you have of you all? Furthermore, is it up on the wall or out in a frame or is it ‘somewhere’ on ‘someone’s’ phone?
This is you – if you’ve not had photos of your family in the past 5 years then I genuinely welcome you to our studio for a fun. Relaxed photo shoot with a genuine £250 gift card to use on products as you choose.
There’s no catch – if you don’t like the photos or can’t see the value in them you don’t spend anything, instead, utilise the £250 gift card and leave spending nothing. This is the acid test for the value you place on your family photos and the quality of what we capture of you.
Participants who are game will acquire the correct technical and artistic skills to take the perfect photograph…all whilst learning about and connecting with these amazing rare cats. It is a unique experience not to be missed.
THE DATES FOR THIS YEAR’S BIG CAT PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERIENCE ARE NOW FINALISED.
Sunday April 30th Sunday June 25th Sunday July 30th Sunday September 17th Sunday October 29th
All refreshed and ready for the New Year! So what have we got planned…
Well it’s going to be a more sociable year for Photographic Synergy as we increase our focus on social media platforms; we love talking to people but it’s probably easier at times to get our updates when the days over and you’ve got some downtime!
We’re covering the work we do through Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest as well as sharing the work that inspires us, so choose your favourite and we’ll hope to connect from time to time.
As with every New Year we have a long list of personal developments that we’re undertaking but the long and short of it is, we are trying to be the best version of ourselves as a photography company that you can trust and rely on to create and display memories.
WE LOVE FEEDBACK
If you have any feedback or ideas that would help us on that journey then please let us know – it would be much appreciated. The first 10 people to feedback will get a little something from us to say thank you
