Rounding up the past 12 months, some of you may have seen my thanks on Facebook, to the many beautiful weddings and engagements I have been lucky enough to be a part of this year, however I wanted to extend this to everyone I have worked with this year.

I have many things to be thankful from the past 12 months; this website!, my amazing clients, the training opportunities, equipment & time people have spared and my long suffering fiance.

That’s not to say that 2014 has been filled with roses, there have been sad and stressful times, which people close to me will know. However dwelling on these will not help 2015

So what have I learnt this year…..

• Expect the unexpected
• Never stop thinking out of the box
• Be prepared ( haha like the scouts!)
• Photoshop shortcuts
• Being different is a great thing!
• Working with animals, children & crowds is fun!
• Set clear objectives and expectations
• Don’t take on too much
• Be patient
• Experiment with styles and techniques
• You can’t control where the road takes you…
• Never stop learning

OK so this has wondered off into what reads as a “inspirational New Years speech”.

I think what I wanted to say.. is Thank you! To everyone for the past year (and more)

From the first wedding I photographed as the main photographer in July 2012 – what have you started Chris & Ali!!

To now: more weddings, photoshoots, studio work, events, and my first magazine cover this year – Yes Kanna I have framed it!

        

Bring it on 2015 I am ready for you, and I couldn’t be more excited! 

 

  

I had the privilege this weekend to photograph and document something a little different! The collection of Curious Kanna (www.CuriousKanna.com), a collector of Taxidermy and oddities in Ealing, London.

Before I arrived I was worried, being a animal lover that I would be a little freaked out, but I think I always knew my curiosity would take over!

As soon as I saw her amazing and large collection of animals, oddities and collectibles I was fascinated. The majority of her pieces are extremely old and date back through both World Wars and many come from closing Victorian museum collections or even older! I think the thing that interested me the most is each piece has a story, unlike some misconceptions, these weren’t all trophy animals killed to be mounted on a wall. Some died from natural causes, have been used as educational pieces and works of art. A huge Badger she has, was actually killed when it attacked soldiers fighting in the battle of the Somme and was preserved and brought back home.

 The history that this collection has is astounding.

I understand that Taxidermy and preserved animals isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but whether or not you would like to have a piece at home, there is definitely something everyone can relate to within this collection. From a two headed calf, to a cast of the last preserved Dodo specimen, this collection is a beautiful insight into evolution, nature (its miracles and its freaks) and our artistic creativity, documented and expressed by our Victorian ancestors, as well as many of the skilled artisans who still perform this craft today.

I look forward to the next shoot and thanks again to Kanna for inviting me to explore this fascinating collection.

If you would like to see more or learn more about Curious Kanna please visit the links below:

http://www.curiouskanna.com/

Alternatively visit the album here for more images.

Thanks for reading

Kat