Cecilia Costello Photography Blog

Ewan & Freddie | Children and family portrait photography | West Yorkshire

Cecilia Costello — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 18:44:30 +0000

I was really looking forward to meeting twins Ewan and Freddie at their home in Brighouse, West Yorkshire. I’ve known their mum, Kirstene, for a few years now and I was delighted when she booked me for a children and family portrait session. Ewan and Freddie are the third set of twin boys that I’ve photographed in the last few months and I knew it was going to be fun.

They were such fantastic children to photograph and straight away they made me feel very welcome in their lovely home. We played in their garden, looked for creepy crawlies and read some fantastic books (the boys also showed me how they could read too). A special time on the portrait photography session, was when they came running up to me waving pieces of green paper. I quickly discovered that both boys had written their names for the first time at nursery – and they were incredibly proud.

I had such a great morning with the family, capturing the events as they unfolded. Here are some favourite photographs from their family portrait session. I hope you like them as much as I do!

Children's and Family portrait photography | West Yorkshire

Very proud of their artwork…

Children's and Family portrait photography | West Yorkshire

I just love this – one piece of artwork transformed – I had to be quick to catch this one!

In their lovely garden – this time writing on their easel.

Children's and Family portrait photography | West Yorkshire

Children's and Family portrait photography | West Yorkshire

And finally, this makes me chuckle as Freddie pretends to be a lion.

Children's and Family portrait photography | West Yorkshire

If you’d like to discuss a children’s and family portrait photography session in West Yorkshire or North Yorkshire then please drop me an email at memories@ceciliacostello.co.uk. I look forward to hearing from you.

Little Daniel & Angela | Baby photography | West Yorkshire

Cecilia Costello — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 17:38:16 +0000

A great photographer friend of mine Angela Stubbs, recently invited me into her home to capture the special bond between herself and her adorable baby Daniel. I’d previously taken some lovely photographs of Angela in the latter stages of pregnancy, so it was a real privilege to spend a couple of hours photographing her with Daniel.

Throughout the session Daniel was simply a joy and we had such a lovely time. I know that Angela will treasure these photographs forever and as Daniel is already sitting up and eating solids it’s even more important to capture these precious moments.

Here are are few favourites from the shoot, I hope you like them. Cx

Angela & Daniel | Baby photography | West Yorkshire

Simply adorable | Baby photography | West Yorkshire

Angela & Daniel | Baby Photography | West Yorkshire

If you’d like me to capture the special bond between you and your newborn baby or older child, then please get in touch at memories@ceciliacostello.co.uk and I’d be delighted to have a chat with you about your requirements. Thanks. C x

Beautiful Ella | Toddler photography | West Yorkshire

Cecilia Costello — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 22:19:21 +0000

I first met Ella’s Grandma at my Son’s local tennis club. We sat through many lessons together (even in the depth of winter!) chatting over various things and developed a great friendship. One day, she brought in some lovely photos of her new baby grand daughter Ella that they’d had taken in Newcastle where she lives. After a few months I was asked if I would take some photos of Ella at her Grandma’s house when she was a little bit older.

I was delighted to book in the session and have the use of a fabulously restored silver cross pram to use in the shoot too! Ella was a joy to photograph literally smiling and giggling all the time and working with such an amazing pram was a real privilege – thank you Anne Marie for letting me use the pram. Here are some of my favourite images from the session – I hope they make you smile. Cx

Laughter | Children's Photography | Bingley, West Yorkshire

Ella | Children's Photography | West Yorkshire

A little game of peek-a-boo with Ella’s favourite blanket..

Hide & Seek | Children's Photography | Bingley

We played inside too, looking at Grandma through the window produced some lovely giggles…

Cheeky giggles | Children's Photography | West Yorkshire

As a professional children’s photographer, I absolutely love watching how children interact with their surroundings. It’s important to me to always have my camera at the ready as you never know what will happen next. We’d popped upstairs to see the nursery and Ella was placed in her cot for a few minutes to play with her teddies. All of a sudden, she pulled herself up with the cot bars and stood up. This was ‘A First” for Ella and as you can see her euphoric smile and shiny eyes says it all “Mummy look at me – I’ve done it!”.

This photo meant so much to her Mum and Grandma and every time I look at it, I know that I’ve captured just one of many “Firsts” that Ella will experience in the next few months.

A first | Children's Photography | West Yorkshire

If you’d like me to capture these precious “Firsts” so that you can remember them forever, then please email me at memories@ceciliacostello.co.uk or call me on 07947 16085 and I’ll be delighted to discuss your portrait shoot in detail with you. Thanks. Cecilia x

Family portrait session with twins | Wetherby | Leeds

Cecilia Costello — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:21:09 +0000

I first photographed these two handsome little twin boys at a Rhythm Time class in Wetherby, which is a fabulous music class for babies and toddlers. Shortly afterwards, I was contacted by their lovely Mum, to discuss a family portrait session to be held at their home. As a Professional Children’s Photographer, I love spending time with little ones and their parents – we have such a relaxed and fun time. In this session we played outside in the garden (with lots of water) and then moved inside to explore their favourite toys (and playing on Mummy & Daddy’s bed!).

Here are some favourite images from the morning…. I hope you like them too. Cx

Family portrait session | Wetherby

It’s amazing how a colander can make a great game of Peek-a-boo – I love the glint in the little boys eyes….

Peekaboo | Family portrait session | Wetherby

This little boys laugh was infectious….

Cheeky giggles | Family portrait session | Wetherby

And finally, a beautiful timeless classic of the twins playing together.

Brothers | Family portrait session | Wetherby

If you’d like to discuss a portrait session, whether it’s to capture a newborn baby, toddlers or children of any age (and their families), please give me a call on 07947 160185 to discuss your requirements and pencil a date in the calendar. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Thanks Cecilia x

Competition winner | Children’s portraits | Ilkley

Cecilia Costello — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:37:04 +0000

Last Autumn, I ran a competition in conjunction with a fabulous local website MoorMums, offering the winner an on-location portrait session and a beautiful large framed print of their favourite image. It was a great prize to win and attracted lots of mums to enter the competition. I was delighted to learn that the winner was a lovely family in Ilkley who had two gorgeous little boys. The parents were really pleased with the prize especially as the newest edition to the family was only four months old. Thomas & his baby brother were great to photograph and I had lots of fun with Thomas in the garden playing pirates. There were also lots of opportunities to photograph his baby brother too! Here are some of the favourite images from the day, I hope you enjoy them.

If you’d like me to photograph your lovely family, then please do not hesitate to contact me at memories@ceciliacostello.co.uk and I’ll be delighted to discuss your requirements. Thank you.

Brotherly love | Children's portraits | Ilkley

Children's portraits | Ilkley

Business Headshots | Portrait Session | Saltaire

Cecilia Costello — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:21:56 +0000

When you’re self employed the only person that really sells your business is “you”. People buy people and your brand is really important. That’s why it’s key to have a photograph that tells prospective client a little bit about yourself. Professional headshots help cement the first impression and give your clients confidence in you and your business. Whether the image is for your website, LinkedIn, facebook or printed material, it’s worth the investment (and it’s great to be indulgent for an hour too!).

I’ve had the pleasure today of photographing a great friend and very talented copywriter, Rebecca Firth of Rebecca Firth Marketing. I spent an hour with Rebecca along the canal side in Saltaire. The weather was beautiful and the light was fabulous – although it was rather chilly! Here are my favourite photos from the portrait session, I hope you like them.

If you’re running a business and you’d like to update your profile photograph or need images for your website or brochure, please do get in touch by emailing me at memories@ceciliacostello.co.uk and I’d be happy to chat about your requirements and then schedule in a convenient time for the portrait session to be held.

Business headshots | Portrait session | Saltaire

Business head shots | Portrait session | Saltaire

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Timeless memories of my precious children

Cecilia Costello — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:47:50 +0000

Now that Christmas is behind us and the children nearly back at school, I wanted to share some photographs that I took of my children towards the end of last year. Those of you who know my work will already be aware that I just love photographing children and families using natural light – no flash, no studio – just me and my lovely camera. Clients often ask me, when I’m showing them my product range, if any of the children in the photographs are my own. They always sound slightly surprised when I explain that all the photographs that I have framed in beautiful sample frames are from actual client commissions. To me this shows my clients a real reflection of my work and not anything that could have been staged using my own children.

Anyway, all that said, I do photograph my own two adorable children (not as often as I’d like) and my aim here was to simply capture them having fun in the bath. A small skylight is the only window in the bathroom and the light was very soft. I used a 50mm, 1.4 lens and shot entirely on manual to get the effect I desired.

One thing that I hadn’t realised is how much they look alike… I know it sounds strange as they are our kids. Every time I look at these four images they make me smile – I absolutely love them.

If you’d like to arrange a portrait session so that I can capture the beauty of your family, then please simply drop me an email at memories@ceciliacostello.co.uk or call me on 07947 160185. I have a special offer on until the end of January 2012 for only £100 which includes a 9″x6″ framed photograph ready to hang on your wall.

I look forward to hearing from you soon!

My two gorgeous children

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year

Cecilia Costello — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 14:16:49 +0000

I’m finally organised now for Christmas. All my clients have received their lovely photographs and my office has been tidied ready to start the New Year with a clear head.

Our tree is standing proudly in the lounge and I’ve even par boiled the pototoes for roasting! Hopefully, the cooking will go to plan tomorrow and I’ll even get a minute to sip a glass of bubbly. I’ve had a fabulous year, learning lots along the way and want to say a huge thank you to each and every client for making 2011 an interesting journey. I’m very much looking forward to 2012 and photographing lots of happy memories for lovely families. All that remains is to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Here is a little photograph of one of my favourite baubles.. I hope you like it. All the best! Cx

Christmas Offer | Portrait Session Gift Vouchers

Cecilia Costello — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 11:36:54 +0000

Over the last few months a number of my clients have asked if they can buy a Portrait Session Gift Voucher for their friends and relatives at Christmas. After having a good chat with them, I’ve designed a lovely gift that can be enjoyed by all. I specialise in capturing the joy in children of all ages in a timeless way – and of course parents and grandparents can be included too!

Here are details of the lovely Christmas Offer available until 31st January 2012. All portrait sessions must be booked in by 31st March 2012 (but held later than this date if necessary). So, if you’re looking for a gift that’s a little bit different, please contact me on 07947 160185 or drop me an email at memories@ceciliacostello.co.uk and I’ll be delighted to help. Thanks.

Christmas fairs

Cecilia Costello — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:05:57 +0000

Christmas Fairs | Cecilia Costello | West Yorkshire

I love purple and things that sparkle, so when I was thinking about my forthcoming Christmas fairs, I decided to combine the two together. This month I’m exhibiting my award winning photography at two fabulous Christmas Fairs. You’ll be able to talk to me about my Portrait Session Christmas offer and view albums and framed examples of my work too!

Please come along and say hello, look out for the twinkly lights and purple baubles at the Christmas Fairs below:

Not Your Usual……. Speciality Fairs on Saturday 19th November, Riddings Hall, Ilkley 10am-4pm.
Bradford Grammar School’s Christmas Fair, Saturday 26th November 10am – 4pm in aid of Barnardo’s Young Carers, Bradford.

Both events will be brimming with ideas for Christmas presents and will make a great day out. I look forward to seeing you there. Cx