Wednesday 20 February 2013

I would walk 5,000 miles.....

I know that everybody gets hounded by charity around about this time of year. With Comic Relief coming up in March, it seems like everybody is holding their hand out ready to relieve you of your hard earned cash. But the truth is, without your help and support, some of these great charities would simply not be able to do the work that they do. I have always given to charity, not to make myself feel great or look good. Just because I know, that there are people out there that are worse off than me. I used to give dollars to homeless guys on the street in LA when I could barley afford to buy lunch for for myself at the time (yes being in a band was very lucrative!) I think I actually got this mentality from my Nana Doreen, who would literally give everything she owned to anyone who needed it. Money, sweets, toys... you name it, she would hand it out. She had no real attachment to anything tangible, she used to say "they are just things Nicky, you cant take them with you anyway!" This lady would save her own breakfast when we went on holiday in Spain, to give to the local stray cats at the pool! Completely selfless. I wish I was more like her even now, but its tough. It's tough to be like that, I like 'things'!

My difficulty is always picking who to support. There are so many good causes out there, that it is pretty overwhelming to pick just one. As much as I would love to give to all of them, I am still waiting for my numbers to come up on the Euro Millions. Until then, there are bills to pay and hungry mouths to feed... so just like you guys, I have to choose. Most charities are for a great, worthwhile cause, and I guess at the end of the day, your own choice is based upon which charity you can really resonate with. Both my grandma's, Nana Doreen and Nanny Jean have suffered and died of Cancer, so it's a cause that I enjoy giving to.

What always excites me about charity, is when people fund raise by really challenging themselves. Setting themselves a difficult goal and working hard to complete it. So when I found out that a group of Barclay's employees were walking the famous Sandstone Trail in Cheshire to raise money for the Anthony Nolan Trust (a blood cancer charity), I wanted to help them tell their story, and hopefully raise some money. They will be navigating their way along a 35 mile stretch over 2 days in March, with no prior training, and with some of them carrying a little too much Christmas weight......

Barclays employees raising money for the Anthony Nolan Trust by STUDIO 1208


So watch their story, and if you can help, then please, please, please join me and others in donating below.



You can donate simply, with just a few clicks, securely through JustGiving. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - we raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Click HERE to donate and support Phil, Keith, Steve and Holly in their 35 mile quest to raise money for a cure.


Together we CAN do more.


Nick x

Tuesday 19 February 2013

Featured...

We are so excited to tell everyone that we have a picture in this month's Wedding Ideas Magazine! The adorable Sara and Jon can be spotted in a story featuring gorgeous wedding cakes, and theirs was definitely stunning! I love how their picture jumps right off the page because they are the only people!

Here is a look at the layout, and a picture of their cake!

STUDIO 1208 feature in Wedding Ideas Magazine March 2013
STUDIO 1208 feature in Wedding Ideas Magazine March 2013
STUDIO 1208 feature in Wedding Ideas Magazine March 2013

A huge thanks to Alice at Wedding Ideas Magazine, and stay tuned for Sara and Jon's full wedding feature later this year!

xx
Maria

Monday 18 February 2013

Baby One More Time...

We spent an afternoon with Aggie, Tony and Lucas while we were in California. I photographed Aggie during her first pregnancy with Lucas, and was so excited to do it again with baby Thomas! Last time, we did a beachy, soft, dreamy shoot, which I will share sometime soon! This time, Aggie wanted to add a little more edge, so we opted for a cool location and a more styled look. She is such a babe, and so full of fire, it gives me hope that I could be foxy if I were to have another baby! Obviously, Aggie is the satr of this show, but Lucas gave a great (hilarious) performance and even Tony softened up and gave us some real smiles!

Adorable family maternity shoot by STUDIO 1208
Adorable family maternity shoot by STUDIO 1208
Adorable family maternity shoot by STUDIO 1208
Adorable family maternity shoot by STUDIO 1208
Adorable family maternity shoot by STUDIO 1208
Adorable family maternity shoot by STUDIO 1208
Adorable family maternity shoot by STUDIO 1208
Adorable family maternity shoot by STUDIO 1208
Adorable family maternity shoot by STUDIO 1208
Adorable family maternity shoot by STUDIO 1208
Adorable family maternity shoot by STUDIO 1208
Adorable family maternity shoot by STUDIO 1208Adorable family maternity shoot by STUDIO 1208
Adorable family maternity shoot by STUDIO 1208
Adorable family maternity shoot by STUDIO 1208
Adorable family maternity shoot by STUDIO 1208
Adorable family maternity shoot by STUDIO 1208
Adorable family maternity shoot by STUDIO 1208
Adorable family maternity shoot by STUDIO 1208

Congrats to them on a healthy, happy little boy!  Thomas, I can't wait to meet you!!!

xx
Maria




Wednesday 13 February 2013

Oh Baby, Baby...

I photographed the über adorable Smith family on our last trip to California. Jason and Kim were having their first baby together, and couldn't be more excited.  They decided not to find out if it was a boy or a girl, so it felt even more exciting - was it going to be Reina or Colton that they would meet in a short time and change their lives forever?  Make sure you look at the whole post to find out!!

Adorable maternity photo shoot by STUDIO 1208
Adorable maternity photo shoot by STUDIO 1208
Adorable maternity photo shoot by STUDIO 1208
Adorable maternity photo shoot by STUDIO 1208
Adorable maternity photo shoot by STUDIO 1208
Adorable maternity photo shoot by STUDIO 1208
Adorable maternity photo shoot by STUDIO 1208
Adorable maternity photo shoot by STUDIO 1208
Adorable maternity photo shoot by STUDIO 1208




               
And the winner is......


Adorable custom made metal hanger with child's name by STUDIO 1208


 
Congratulations guys!!! He is gorgeous! And if anyone is in love with that custom-made metal hanger, let me know! Kim made it! What an adorable keepsake, right?!

xx
Maria

Sunday 10 February 2013

Sea Of Love...Part 3

On our last day in Hawaii, we decided to shoot with Aimee and Sean again, but this time, we wanted to get them in the water...
Gorgeous bride and groom in the ocean by STUDIO 1208
Gorgeous bride and groom in the ocean by STUDIO 1208
Gorgeous bride and groom in the ocean by STUDIO 1208
Gorgeous bride and groom in the ocean by STUDIO 1208
Gorgeous bride and groom in the ocean by STUDIO 1208

I am so glad we did! Thanks to these guys for being up for anything! And if you didn't see the other posts from the wedding, check out
Part 1 here and Part 2 here

xx
Maria

Saturday 9 February 2013

Sea Of Love...Part 2

So yesterday, you saw Aimee and Sean's gorgeous wedding ceremony and only a glimpse of the handmade details they had for our eyes (and cameras) to feast on. I was thinking a lot about how incredible it is that so many people worked so hard to make this wedding happen. So much time, and so much energy, love and crafting supplies! It isn't hard to believe though, when you meet Aimee and Sean and see how kind and wonderful they are. They have a genuine love for life, for their families, friends and each other. They are so special, and you just want to be a part of their lives!

I could literally gush about them for another entire hour, so I will stop here and just show you in pictures why they are so awesome.

Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208
Aimee and Sean's gorgeous handmade Hawaiian wedding by STUDIO 1208

Yes, there was major nakedness happening, and it was EPIC!!!

They spent their first night on a boat anchored at sea...can you think of anything more romantic?!
Tomorrow, I will share the third and final post on this magical wedding. Another little shoot we did with Aimee and Sean on our last day in Hawaii. And if you haven't seen their wedding film trailer and their full film, you can watch them here and here

xx
Maria