This is my guide for clients who have booked one of my Christmas Mini Shoots this November in Wilmslow and Kettleshulme. Clothes really make a huge difference to a shoot - I say this so much at all my shoots, I’m like a broken record!

family, minisEllie Cotton6 November 2018mini, christmasComment

Farm Made Tearooms, Bollington

Having discovered this brand new tearooms the previous weekend with the kids, I was delighted to be invited by the owner, Hannah, to photograph her brand new building and outdoor space…

commercialEllie Cotton29 June 2018tearooms, bollington, cafe, commercial, cheshire, local business Comments

Stanneylands Hotel, Wilmslow

This year I've started holding my ROCK YOUR CAMERA photography workshops for parents at the fantastic Stanneylands Hotel in Wilmslow. I was delighted when Stanneylands asked me..

Ellie Cotton6 June 2018

Bollington Veterinary Centre, Commercial Shoot

Many years ago I used to be a veterinary nurse. I still remember a lot of my training and along with it, some random facts. Did you know cats have no collar bone?

Your first prime lens

Before you choose a prime lens, you need to know what sensor is inside your camera. The sensor is what "takes" the photo and you will get a completely different photo...

Ditch the kit lens

You've bought your first fancy camera, and ready to get shooting. Surely you're going to notice a big difference right? Well... maybe not. What's holding you back is probably your kit lens.

Claire Bingham | Headshots & Personal Branding

Yep - I'm jealous of people who know how to do interiors. Claire is an interiors journalist and writer, and needed some photography for her forthcoming series of books. I loved working with her at her home for…

headshots, commercialEllie Cotton1 March 2018

Mother's Day treat ideas

I have to tell you I'm shocked. Shocked at how many of my mummy clients tell me that they feel guilty they don't have "enough" photos, or they don't take "good enough" photos of their children. So …

Ellie Cotton27 February 2018mothers day, gift certificates, gifts

The most special invitation

Not many people invite their business partner along when they are giving birth.. but photographers know what their priorities are! Then Aurelie told me that her last labour had been around 2 hours…

documentary, birthEllie Cotton19 February 2018birth, birth photography, stepping hill hospitalComment

Before you buy that new lens.. read this!

Before you choose a prime lens, you need to know what sensor is inside your camera. The sensor is what "takes" the photo and you will get a completely different photo...

Part II : Good things

So here I was on "day 14" of this birth photography assignment, back at the hospital on a fresh crisp morning. I was determined that I was NOT going to miss this birth now!

birthEllie Cotton31 January 2018birth, birth photography, hospital, induction, surrogacy, pregnancy, cheshire, nottingham, derby Comments

Part I : Waiting for the extraordinary

It was an email on a rainy Monday morning, which as I read, grabbed my attention instantly. I was completely ignorant of how surrogacy works, but I did know this scenario would be so full to bursting with emotions.

birth, documentaryEllie Cotton31 January 2018derby, nottingham, birth photography, surrogacy, surrogate pregnancyComment

A walk with a policeman

You will hear me at length talking about how what your children wear makes a huge difference to a photo. But in true documentary photography dictates that you don't change the scene...

photography, personal, documentaryEllie Cotton5 April 2017bollingtonComment

Natural tones | Family Shoot

I always give my clients some advice about what to wear on their photo shoots but I was delighted that mum was so keen to get a coherent and subtle look. It just shows that clothing really makes a difference...

familyEllie Cotton6 March 2017Wilmslow, the carrs wilmslow, MexicoComment

Light Seekers | France

Whilst in France I caught up on some online photography courses I have signed up for this year. The course which grabbed me, and completely fitted the light around us in France was Light Seekers Breakout by Clickin Moms.

Photographer's child | Wilmslow

As a photography you probably think it's easy for me to get fantastic photos of my kids. Ah. Well. Maybe you haven't heard of photographer's child syndrome..