Andaleeb Lilley Photography

May events: Family expo in Luzern and Danishdesignkids at the studio

I am excited to be joining several companies and Joy Foster of Living in Luzern at the first Family Expo in Luzern on Tuesday 8th May (10.00-13.00) at Kinderland.  More info here: 

http://livinginluzern.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/familyexpo.pdf

You can register your family (5 CHF per family) here: 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9G5JS8N

All families who come along on the day will be entered into a raffle being offered by each company involved - I will be giving away a pack of ten gift cards worth 35 CHF for the raffle and 20% off all shoots booked on the day. 

The second event in May is a coffee morning on Monday 14th May at my studio in Baar from 09.30-12.00.

I will be joined by Charlotte Bruun-Christensen from www.danishdesignkids.com who will be showing her spring collection.  Charlotte selects fashionable and high quality clothing from individual Danish manufacturers and a lot of her range is eco certified.  Her range is sold only via home parties so this is your chance to browse through the collection at the studio.  Clothing sizes are for children aged 2-8 (size 92-128) and range from 5-50 CHF. Charlotte is Danish and mum to two children. 

Studio address here and details on where to park here: http://www.andaleeblilley.ch/contact.html

Come along and see Charlotte's collection, my new range of photography products and enjoy a cup of coffee and other refreshments.  Children very welcome (kids corner available).

Balloons and paint toddler studio shoot

A few weeks ago, I photographed this family at the studio - we had spoken in advance about doing something a little different at the end of the shoot and I suggested using finger paint... there were ones with smiles but we all liked this one!  If you would like to do something similar with your child, just let me know when booking and bring some old clothes along too as your child is not the only one likely to get messy... 

 

 

Sneak Peek for Gretchen and her family

A few weeks ago I had a studio shoot with photographer Gretchen Cusick and her family who were celebrating the arrival of their third baby girl.  Here is a little sneak preview for them - the older girls had some fun with balloons too ...

Favourite images of 2011 - part 1

It's hard to believe its 2012 already and I have been reflecting on what a year 2011 was for me and my business. 

I photographed many more corporate and charitable events as well as corporate portraits too - this included shooting at the Theater Casino in Zug several times, the Park Hotel in Zug, the Hallenstadion, the Mövenpick and Widder Hotels in Zurich as well as the prestigious Zunfthaus zur Meisen.  

I was asked to photograph different things which stretched me as a photographer too-I photographed at Zurich Fashion Days on the red carpet and catwalk which was a lot of fun. I also photographed a group of 65 employees standing on a ladder on a balcony at KKL (they were below in the forecourt...)  

I also now lead a photography group of women from the International Women's Club of Zug and it has helped me to learn more about photography by teaching them. I set up onsite studios at three events in Zug this year and photographed couples at gala events and families with Santa.  I also teamed up with photographer Ron Sumners and we continue to work on projects together and are sharing a bigger studio space as of January too.

I have continued to photograph even more families this year particularly from September onwards and the studio has become particularly popular with younger families especially when the fog descended as it tends to for a part of the year in Zug...

2012 will be a year for streamlining my systems, getting support but on the other hand continuing to hone my style and develop as an artist.  

So this just leaves me to say a huge thank you to my clients, suppliers, friends and family who have supported me throughout 2011 - see you in 2012!!  Here is part 1 of my review - these are from several outdoor family shoots which I have decided to concentrate on this post and showcase - part 2 will be families in the studio - enjoy!  

My first shoot of the year in the first few days of January was to capture this family with Grandad visiting from the US.  Shoot location:  Zug by the lake (and it was cold...) 

 

This shoot started at the couple's home in Wädenswil and then we continued outdoors - also on a very cold day in January!  

This very lively 18 month old was visiting her grandmother in Zug - I used some of my very rusty Russian on this shoot as she lives in Moscow ... 

 

This shoot with Tala took place in a small park in Zurich with several clothing changes - I have become quite good at spotting large shady trees to use as dressing rooms...

This little boy was a joy to photograph and his parents has just bought a basket which was the perfect fit for him... 

 

We had to seize the day for this family as the two older children are away studying in the US and were only back for a short time in the summer.  Location: Villette in Cham 

My first twins shoot of the year (and several were to follow) - there were lollipops and matching dresses... location: Villette in Cham  

 

Another family shoot at the ever-popular Villette in Cham - the challenge for me as a photographer is to choose different locations there to make the images look different for each family.  This time we had bubbles in the fields... 

 

My first twins pregnancy shoot in Zug... 

 

.

... and here are the twin baby girls!  At their home in Central Switzerland. 

 

When I came to photograph this baby at home in Wädenswil, I also delivered a canvas from the family's pregnancy shoot earlier in January. 

 

On location at the family's home in Zurich with a three week old baby ... 

On location in Unterägeri by the lake - this little girl was adorable and loved her teddies... 

"Look Teddy - there's the world" 

 

 

 

 

 

December round-up

It's been a busy month and I have run out of time but I intend to do a review of some of my favourite images of the year soon.  The last three months have been spent on photographing families for images meant for Christmas presents (and card images).  I also photographed at two Christmas events for clubs I belong to in Zug. The first was for the International Mum and Kids Club where we once again set up a studio at their Christmas party and photographed families and children with Father Christmas. Some images below of a 2 year old who was a little scared of Santa but cheered up when he remembered he was getting a fire engine for Christmas... (keep scrolling for more images...) 

I also photographed at the Zug International Women's Club Dinner Dance which took place at the Park Hotel in Zug.  Once again, we set up a studio in one of the rooms at the hotel and I photographed over 50 couples on the night.  Here is an image of the Jensens who looked very festive that evening!  

I also took out a group of women from the club to photograph Christmas lights in Zug - see last blog post here. The Art Market at the Kunstambulatorium took place again in early December (held every 2 years and sponsored by Baar local council) and I exhibited three pieces of work along with over 30 artists. 

Families have been booking portrait shoots in and out of the studio - here are some festive images which have graced cards this year... (grandparents always very welcome too!) 

Images have not only been used for cards - I have been busy making sure many families have something special to open on Christmas day - this last week I have delivered albums, framed images, images mounted on glass, aluminium and canvas as well as boxes of mounted images ... it's been great to see people's reactions as they open their gift-wrapped orders. 

... and that leaves just me now to wish you all a wonderful Christmas/Holiday with your families and friends - here's one of my images I used on my own cards for families this year - it's a macro close-up of a christmas tree decoration.  Thanks for reading and for your interest in my blog - I have had a lot of fun writing it - more next week or next year! 

Arty+Sporty Teen Studio Shoot

I've had a very busy time recently photographing families in and out of the studio.  Families have been bringing sledges, toys, bobby cars and red clothes into the studio for Christmas shoots and we have been enjoying the mild autumn weather and leaves outdoors too.  Of course, photography shoots make lovely presents too - see here for more details.

Earlier this autumn I photographed Claire's family for a surprise birthday present for her husband.  I asked them to bring along any props to illustrate their hobbies and interests and they really took it on board!  We started off with some informal shots of them all whilst I asked them to do different things (play-fighting, piggy-backs) and then we got some of the props out to show what they like doing in their spare time.  The list of props included a cello, climbing equipment, ice-skates, Dr. Who items and a sketch book.  We also enacted two scenes the family wanted to do which they had taken in a studio when the first two were toddlers.  Ross will be going to base camp Everest next year and is looking for sponsorship so email me if you may be able to help!

Do you think Rosie has sketched her brothers before?  Maybe several times...? 




 

 

 

Sneak Peek for the Haab Family

As I am meeting with this family tomorrow, I just wanted to give them a sneak peek of a few from their shoot in Unterägeri a few weeks ago.  I found this little girl adorable and she obviously thought the same of her teddy bears ... 

Outdoor autumnal shoots

This is the perfect time if you have been considering an outdoor autumnal photography shoot - its still not too cold ... and the colours are beautiful. Favourite shoot locations for me in autumn are Zug Mountain (Zugerberg), Villette in Cham, Park des Grünen in Thalwil, the lake by the Transport Museum in Lucerne and the China Garden in Zurich. Of course, a garden with a big tree and leaves works really well too.  

Here are a few from an autumn shoot last year - one of which made the cover of the New Stork Times - enjoy! 

 

 

 

 

A letter to my baby girl

I don't always have time to write and it's something I would like to do more of.  As you know, I normally post images from shoots and tell you a little about them but let's not forget the emotional impact images have on all of us every day - especially when they are of our loved ones.  Sometimes it's not even the ones of them smiling and looking at the camera which have the most impact.

I took this image of my little girl in September at an outdoor pool near my late grandmother's house.  We were visiting family in Nidwalden and in fact my dad was also over from the UK visiting us.  My brothers and I had come to this place to swim many times ourselves as children so it was nice to bring my own kids here too.   With my dad visiting, my camera was close to hand and we had taken some images of him and the children together and then it was time for a swim.

Looking back at this image recently, I started to imagine my girl at 18 and how this was one of those memories I would remember - that warm late summery day in a place which meant a lot to us with family and with my two children who would soon no longer be five and three. 

So here's a few lines I wrote in my head (and now here) to my future 18 year-old girl - maybe just before she takes part in a swimming competition... 

I remember the days when you couldn't wait to run and jump in the water - when fear was a word that didn't exist in your world and you felt invincible. I guess you were always meant to be a water baby as you came into the world whilst I sat in a huge bath - a totally unplanned water birth but it was the best thing for both of us. We started with baby swimming when you were six months old and you gurgled and splashed as we sang songs in Swiss German in a tiny pool with other tired parents. Then I would watch you crawl into the lake before you could even walk, so desperate were you to swim.  At age four we signed you up for swimming lessons at the local pool and usually turned up late a little frazzled having picked you up directly from nursery to get you there in time.  Sometimes your little brother would fall asleep on the way there too which would make it a little tricky when we got there... then a few months later, encouraged by your dad, you were jumping off the big diving board into the deep pool with me sat tensely at the side ready to dive in after you.  But I never had to. 

Now at "half a five" (as you call it), I can see the tomboy you are going to be (although I do catch you playing with dolls from time to time).  I know that I can't stop you from being who you want to be- I can only support you to find your way and trust that you will be ok and that your guardian angel does a good job... you tell me you want to be a boy, you want to climb higher, and like that fireman you just saw, you want to jump from high up above onto a trampoline and abseil down a crane ...  and now at 18 ready to dive into your new life, I can still see that five and a half-year old sitting on a surfboard looking out at the lake wondering how far you can get before I come and drag you back in.  In fact, I had just dragged you back in as you sailed through the shallow end with your little brother shouting at you to get back (he's the cautious one). 

I wish I could keep you like this but it's time to for you to grow up and see that great big wide world. Love you baby girl. 

Teenage+Family Studio shoot

I have been wanting to blog this shoot for a while-both of the girls in this family are away at university so it was great when we managed to find a date when they were both in the country.  We started in the studio and then went outdoors for some images with natural light.  We tried out some different processing and cropping on these which were very popular with the family - some examples below!