Harper Photography - LONDON MARATHON

At the end of October I found out I had been selected to run the London Virgin Marathon 2014. On the day I found out I experienced a mixed bag of emotions, pure excitement of a new challenge, motivation to raise money for a charity, anxiety of a grueling 6 months ahead of me and petrified about what I've just signed up for! 

Most of the reactions I've had from telling people so far are; "You're mad!!", luckily I'm already a runner (but by no means marathon standard!) and by having the marathon as a goal to now finally push myself to run further, faster and better.

I'm running for the Ellis Harriet Clark Foundation, in memory of Ellis, who I was lucky enough to have known. Unfortunately Ellis lost her battle when we were just 16, therefore all the money raised will be split between two charities that supported her through her ordeal, the Teenage Cancer Trust and SCAT (skeletal cancer action trust).

Not only will Ellis be keeping me motivated through my training and the marathon itself, but also all the other family and family friends who I've lost to this cruel disease, in particular my best friend Charlotte, whose mum was taken from us when we were just 11. Charlotte is the strongest person I know and carries this beautiful presence on the inside and out where ever she goes (just like her mother). To know that she will be waiting for me at the finish line on the big day gives me that extra big push I need to do this for her, her mother, for Ellis and everyone else who is/has been affected by cancer. Any donations would be gratefully received to help support and enable The Teenage Cancer Trust and SCAT to continue with their amazing work.

So here's GOODBYE SOCIAL LIFE!

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/StephanieBeagley

See you on the other side,

Stephanie x

Sunday Funday St.Albans Photography

When I first discovered my passion for photography I was 16. I would round up all my friends take them to fields, alley ways, cover them head to toe in paint, you name it I did it!

After turning my passion into a career/business there became a lot of expectation, and don't get me wrong I absolutely love what I do and watching a clients face when they first see their pictures for the first time is still priceless and always will be, however I feel sometimes I need to take myself out of the studio or clients home and go do something out of my comfort zone and fun!

That's why I created Sunday Funday. Most (because sometimes I just want to sleep!) Sundays I find a willing victim to let me photograph them. 

A couple of weeks ago an old school friend, Clay, and I went down to a woods in Wheathampstead to photograph him and his baby... HIS BIKE!  We spent hours shooting in different locations and even ended up filming. As the sunset Clay decided to jump off his bike and mount a suspended tree, at which point my camera decided enough was enough and died on me (how unprofessional!)

Below are some snaps from the day!