I invite you to follow me in a intimate journey in 2013 where I will open the gates of my personal world to you. I will show you not only my day to day work but my personal projects and how I operate hoping to inspire you to be curious and explore your inner world too. As you probably know photography for me is primarily a tool to celebrate life. But how this came about? When I started photography almost 20 years ago my camera was a tool of discovery and became almost instantly the extension of my eyes. It gave me the possibility to research my long time curiosity: “Who or what are we as human beings?” What is hidden within this body? Will I ever been able to touch this delicate soul? How could I capture it?

Since inception, my search has always been to reach the core of who we are.

I became my first subject to explore… my eternal companion

Through trials and errors I accidentally discovered multiple exposures and decided to give it a try. It was love at first sight.

The multi layered image seems to me to be more realistic in a way as it uncovers the multiple layers of our inner world.

Multiple exposures is so easy and fun to experiment with a digital camera. Most new models have this setting in their menu. But you might have to look for it as it is not always obvious. I invite you to try it out. It’s great fun and you are most likely to be blown away with your results. It takes some practice if you have a particular idea in mind but if I were to start I would only go with the instinct. A fun way to experiment at home for example is to take your pet’s portrait & then put yours on top, a blast!

Feel free to post your results on my facebook page to explore your vision. Have fun.

One often is overwhelmed with joy and surprise when a newborn appears in a room. They have secret ways to attract our attention and we love them for it. As parents we wish we could spend every seconds with them to follow their journey of discovery. Every day something changes: a new sound, a new wink, a new cuddle… Each day brings its challenges and wish for them to develop as best they can. They also remind us that we have come a long way and that the simplest gesture is what we most need: love and care.

Here we have Hugo a very fun little puppet that had no problem with the camera. He seemed to enjoy very much our 2 hours together. He is gorgeous as their parents are.

I was very happy to be reunited with Isabelle and Stuart to celebrate their first child Hugo the sweetie pie. It’s always a great pleasure to see the blossom of ones union. I feel particularly touched as I photographed their beautiful wedding in the summer of 2009.

For family & friends, the full session is available clicking this link: Hugo’s private gallery

Every moment encapsulates a precious treasure that we wish to hold and remember for ever. In our busy lives, lets not forget to take the time to appreciate and be in the moment. Thankfully, photography has the special gift to capture all these great treasures. So if you feel it has been too long since you have taken a pause and you wish to take some time to remember or want to gift someone that chance, get in touch, contact me, and will create joyful memories that will transcend time. Much Love x

Let yourself being taken by the depth…

At the moment I’m working on a very interesting project very close to my heart. I am capturing and participating in the emergence of a new community in Ibiza: Can Be. A space to get closer to yourself and let yourself be who you really are. All done in simple ways through yoga, music, healing & the arts.

Look no further if you’re in need of expanding yourself & explore life to the full. You Can Be…

Last year I discovered a new island Ibiza. To my surprise I thoroughly enjoyed it. I knew Ibiza only by its raves’ fame & chill out music culture. I had no idea of its magnificent green landscape & its vast array of artistic & multicultural backgrounds. I was charmed.

Many gems are to be found with a little exploration… Here is one I discovered through a dear friend. Her name is Morin Jee, a sound healer & musician. She plays the Sitar & sing divinely. Furthermore she also works with elder, sick people and children in need. She is the Founder of Samasound Association of Healing Music in Ibiza. Check her newsletter to get to know her and follow her involvement with the community. More importantly listen to her songs and dive within… to be touched by enchantment.

In the early morning we set path to the sea for some photos…

For those who are planning an alternative wedding or spiritual blessing, Morin Jee is the best kept secret. She offers a beautiful and simple ceremony, connecting with nature, silence & music in order to receive a blessing from Life. The ceremony has a duration of approximately 45 min and gives space for speech, exchange of rings, walk to the alter, meditation, singing, music etc. The ceremony is facilitated by Morin Jee and she offers to include one or more of her musical partners.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ‘contacts & booking’

I always find Spring such a boost for the spirit & what a better way to celebrate springtime than with a new baby.

After having such a great time photographing her first bump Clare asked me again to take pictures of her second one. It was so lovely to be again part of her little nest with Trixie who is so much fun. Here you can have a peek at our 1st session when Trixie was still in the belly: http://www.catmonphotography.co.uk/blog/pregnancy/underwater-pregnancy-session-london-lido/

This session was very different from the 1st one as with the addition of a small child the dynamics change. It’s more lively, fast paced & funny

Here are a few images that encapsulate the love, the fun & the caring energy of this beautiful family. Well done to Roy, the dad, who was feeling pretty poorly but still managed to be there and share the moment with us.

And some more underwater images at the London Fields Lido  to mirror Clare’s love of outdoor swimming.

Big congratulations to Clare & Roy & a huge welcome to little Jack xxx

Ludovica e Dario might just be the new Romeo and Juliet with a happy end. Not only did they meet in Shakespearean Verona but, as our classic characters, their love story had to overcome a few obstacles to blossom. As you might know Italy is deeply divided between North and South, both politically and culturally, with nasty feelings sometimes running between Northerners and Southerners. Ludovica is a ballet dancer from Naples, in the deep South of Italy, while Dario is a violinist from a town near industrial Turin, in the North. They met 7 years ago while both working on a production at the world famous Arena Amphitheater in charming Verona and fell in love at once.  Not a year passed by that their baby son Giorgio was on its way to enlarge their little family, already including their two beautiful dogs. Five years on Giorgio is waiting to see his little sister Stella, peacefully waiting in the belly at the time I took these photos. Well, what else can I say? Love conquers it all!

Pushing, kissing, ignoring, needing, loving, hiding, hitting and laughing are all natural ingredients of toddlers growing up together. Don’t we all remember those little funny episodes we shared as brothers and sisters and that years down the line inspired a few jokes at family reunions? When captured on camera these moments become great household memories and add up to the make-up of the family.

As parents we know kids grow tooooooooo fast and that’s why every single detail is precious.

The gorgeous family in the pictures is Kendra & Toby and their adorable children: Farley & Lula. With children the motto is “Let the imagination run wild & follow me on the journey! “.

It is always magical when a strong, long lasting relationship is born with my clients. I met Kendra & Toby when I photographed their wedding and since then I had the privilege to photograph every new step of this amazing family. ♥

Something I would recommend when you want to organise a lifestyle session.

With toddler & babies, one of the prime factors in organising a successful session is time management. Naps & feeding time are something to work around if we want to create a positive space to have fun. No one is happy when hungry or tired. So don’t forget to discuss this with the photographer when booking your session. Have fun.

Pregnancy is an amazing experience & one you will cherish for ever. Those first nine months represent one of the most intense and exciting times in your life. The bump is the first visible sign of the incredible journey that motherhood is and the first appearance of your little one. Once your baby is born, life takes on a completely new rhythm and the memory of that initial stage soon fades away.

I love to photograph people because everyone is so different and unique. Although a pregnancy is something many women experience I believe that a  bump session is only meaningful if it focuses on the traits that make it special. My work is always very personal and not two sessions are the same. I want to capture my subjects in the most wholesome way and bring to life their personality. Here we have Clare who has a passion for swimming. She will go for a swim every morning before work & although she was 8th months pregnant when we took these shots she still swam every day at the London Fields Lido. We took our chance & plunged in this fantastic heated Olympic pool. Although it was quite busy we managed to get beautiful shots without disturbing the flow of dedicated swimmers. Clare’s bump now turned into a beautiful baby girl.

With this work I have been fortunate enough to combine 2 big passions of mine: photography & music. I was entrusted with creating images for the production of a CD of classical music in support of Hope & Homes for Children, a charity that helps orphaned, abandoned or vulnerable children to re-establish a sense of family in their life . The CD will be raising money for children in Eastern Europe.

There are some brilliant musicians involved, including Chinese violin virtuoso Xia Xia Zhang. Xia Xia Zhang is recognised in China as the most gifted violin player of her generation. She has played as concert soloist with all the major Chinese orchestras, regularly performing to thousands in the most prestigious venues. Media and music critics in China have continually recognised her as the foremost violin virtuoso to emerge in recent years. Her recent televised performances at the Chinese New Year concerts were described by the press as “unforgettable!”. This new classical music charity CD is set to be released in April. The CD’s will be available to buy from Amazon. It will be advertised in major UK music magazines as well as expected features on many classical music radio stations worldwide.

My role in this important project was to photograph the main artist Xia Xia for the CD cover, press-release and promotion of the album. Both our 2 sessions took place at the Royal Academy of Music in London. In our second session I had the privilege to meet her talented teacher, professor Hu Kun, during their rehearsal. Xia Xia was a real pleasure to photograph and her music is simply divine.

We are very proud to welcome in our house the little Dylan who was born on the 1st of November. Here is a few photos to unveil his playful character. He’s already full of a gentle and tonic personality.