Welcome to my ‘blog', here to give you an insight into some of the highlights of what’s been happening lately, both business and personal, to catch up on news and events as they happen and of course to get some feedback from you on what you think of anything you see here!
For a brief read about me, go to my bio page. I’m not a great one for writing and I hope my images will tell you what you need to know, but as the blog grows, you’ll definitely get to see more of what inspires both me and my clients.
I’d love to know what you think about anything (or everything) you see here –
contact@tracysells-photographer.co.uk
Qué vida!
One of my favourite things - to start a new year with a weekend away. For 2010, a chance to practice my near-forgotten Spanish, soak up the urban loveliness that is Madrid, try out some fine Spanish wines and absolutely over-indulge in the mouth-watering food!
The café, lounge and bar scene in this city is amazing and for 3 fab finds in a day, try this:
Start the day late with churros con chocolate at 'Chocolateria san Ginés'.
Mooch a while, soak up the elegance of this beautiful city and enjoy some tasty tapas - you'll be spoilt for choice!
Wander through the gritty, hip and happening 'Chueca', maybe shop a while, then step out of the cold and warm up with a Tia Maria coffee (pictured) at the gorgeously intimate 'cafe Aquarela'.
Take a short siesta (if only for a break from eating!) - and start again with a late dinner under the opulence of 'La Capilla de la Bolsa'. Beautiful!
The rest is up to you. Enjoy the Madrileño way....but don't plan to be home before dawn!
I left with a promise to return in summer - I can't wait!
Enjoy!
All images copyright Tracy Sells 2010.
Bye '09...
...and here's to a truly happy, healthy 2010.
Enjoy x
More 'do not disturb'
do not disturb: photography & visual communication for inspirational interiors and travel. The new website's now live.... www.dnd-london.co.uk.
As always, love to know what you think.
All images copyright Tracy Sells 2009
Indulge
London in the summer has a whole other side and I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else this month. Been soaking it up, trying new places and catching up. Here's an insight and some ideas for seeing the summer out. Why don’t you...
...take a day off , do something... or nothing. No rules!
...check out Le labo at Liberty – I first discovered this in NYC last year and now it's here, I'm hooked...gorgeous! (love the website too).
...take afternoon tea at Browns Hotel in Mayfair, then head through to the Donovan bar for some live jazz, and pay homage to the amazing photography of Terence Donovan over a perfect Vesper Martini. For something a little more risqué, opt for the 'naughty corner'!
...brunch at the 'Albion' - I challenge you to resist one of their cakes (above)!
...celebrate the return of summer with a lazy afternoon on the rooftop
...and dine late in the basement restaurant - perfect service, and the food and wine simply mouth-watering!
All at 'The Boundary' - I love this place. And if you really can't bear to leave, 'get a room' - it's a hotel too!
...have a mooch down Rivington Street...very cool!
...take in a photography exhibition - or better still, head down Brick Lane to Rankin Live.
...people watch at Café Boheme in Soho. Grab a pavement table, a delicious bottle of french wine, some food and just soak it up! I love this place any time of day! (see 'so soho' post).
...lose yourself in Buddha Bar - an exotic, opulent and dreamy escape from the world outside.
...'dare to be different' - and if you need some convincing you can be, go and see 'Coco before Chanel' for some inspiration.
...and just LOVE London!
More soon!
All images copyright Tracy Sells 2009
It's been a while...
Life’s been so busy the last few months, there’s been no time to blog (sorry)...or travel! Both things now happily addressed though. Read on....
New Brand - coming soon!
While recent shoots, from portraiture to product, and music to magazine have kept me really busy, the main reason for my blog neglect is my new brand in photography and visual communication for the interiors market – designers, developers, boutique hotels etc.
Due to launch very soon – stay tuned for more!
I've moved!
Love my cool new (business) address... ‘Jack’s Place’!
I moved over to Shoreditch last month and love the new area – just across from Spitalfields, surrounded by restaurants, boutiques and roof terraces, and a stones throw from Shoreditch House! Perfect!
Of course the reason for the move was entirely business related but still, can’t help this dreamy idea of long summer evenings by the pool or roof terrace hopping, getting to know them all!
Mmmm, a dreamy idea!
Get a room!
Travel - one of my greatest passions! And if you know me, you’ll know already that as soon as I’m even thinking of going anywhere, it will be via Mr & Mrs Smith! I love this site and since I discovered it, have hung up my trekking boots in favour of the chic, boutique, handpicked escapes you can find there! In fact it was through Mr & Mrs Smith, I first discovered Ca Maria Adele (of earlier blogs ‘I wished for...’ and ‘Christmas - Ca Maria Adele, Venice’).
I was then, as you’d imagine, very happy when earlier this month I had the opportunity of a shoot with Tamara and James, the Mr & Mrs Smith behind the brand, and the chance too to work with some of the team on a shoot for the website.
Take a look at what they do for some true travel inspiration - and if you still need a little more, check out their ‘Travel Blog’ too!
And for '09...
I can’t believe it’s the 31st and already the whole of January gone since we kissed goodbye our ‘leave behinds’ and set them sail from the banks of the Thames at New Year!
Though it’s gone so fast, it’s been an incredibly full couple of months and the quiet time I was expecting turned out to be one of the busiest ever with celebrations, travel, new opportunities, and new clients (including Universal Music TV, Mr & Mrs Smith, KLS Interiors and Indigo Papa)!
As far as resolutions go for ’09, mine are more on the personal side this year and although I’m not going to blog them here, I have shared them just wide enough to ensure they won’t be lost!
Enjoy ’09 – hoping it brings you all you wish for!
All images copyright Tracy Sells 2009
Happy New Year!
Just a note to wish you all a truly happy start to 2009! I hope you get to see it in in just the way you want to.
Enjoy x
I wished for...
As with last year, my last official shoot of 2008 was back in Venice with Ca Maria Adele - the perfect end to the year! Opulent, sensual, luxurious, indulgent, sexy, intimate... this place has it all and I just love it! The 'Sala noir' and the 'Doge's room':
An altogether different experience to last year though! They say be careful what you wish for, and when I said the week before I went “I’d love to see Venice in the floods”... I didn’t for a moment expect to wake up to the news the next morning that overnight they’d experienced the worst in 20 years!
Luckily though, all was ok by the time I flew out – I actually arrived in freezing fog, though more floods followed, but as always, the Ca Maria Adele was the perfect place to be with every detail carefully thought through.... right down to the wellies they gave me before letting me venture out!
And though very different, Venice is honestly every bit as incredible whatever the weather.
All images copyright Tracy Sells 2008
Hairspray!
I had a great day at Olympic Studios on the 8th with Michael Ball and the cast of Hairspray and just want to say a big thank you to all for making the shoot so enjoyable. I’m dying to see the show now so see you all soon! You’ll need to watch this space for news on where to see the photographs but here are a couple of my favourite detail shots as a taster....
All images copyright Tracy Sells 2008
Exhibition news
The ‘SENSES’ collection, inspired by my love of travel and documentary photography, offers an insight into how photography, like other art forms, can evoke a range of emotions and feelings.
This collection of warm, atmospheric images aspires to ‘draw you in’, to make you want to know more, and the exhibition, taking on a Vintage inspired look, is on now through to the New Year at ‘Most’ Tower Bridge.
I hope you can make it.... and that you enjoy it!
As always, please let me know what you think.
All images on display are available to buy as either limited edition photographic prints or framed art. Please contact me for further information and prices.
All images copyright Tracy Sells 2008
Proud to be Funky!
Funky Venues is an award-winning website dedicated to showcasing the most outstanding and hippest venues and suppliers you can hire (their words), so of course I couldn’t wait to share the news that I’m now an approved supplier.
This site has been a favourite of mine for some time and features some gorgeous venues and fab suppliers for all those special plans you may be making, especially leading up to Christmas.
What's more, in response to the success of the Funky Venues.com brand, Funkyweddingvenues.com launched in August 2008 and is now giving users online access to a feast of funky features from unique wedding venues and suppliers.
Take a look and spread the word! Oh, and if you wondering about the 'FunkyMark', click here.
An Officer and a Gentleman…
News!
Lots going on at the moment (and more to follow) but for now a snapshot of what’s new in the business:
First of all, I’ve moved! You can now find me at ‘Le Bureau’, a beautifully designed and inspiring space within Battersea Studios. Looking forward to seeing you here soon!
I've also been making changes to my main website, including the addition of a new ‘Interiors’ collection. As always, I'd love to know what you think.
And plans are under way now for the end September/early October 'exhibition' - my first! More info on this coming soon!
Resolutions 2008!
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! Hope you all saw in 2008 in just the way you wanted to and enjoyed every minute!
So what about your resolutions? I gave up on my usual idle ones of old (must go to gym; must eat healthier etc etc) a while ago, replacing them with one ‘all encompassing’ promise to myself…’to only say I’m going to do something if I REALLY do intend to do it’! It really works for me and this will be the third year of keeping it going. For 2008, I thought I’d share some of the things here that fall under that heading – one for every month of the year: - Regular ‘blog’ updates (at least monthly)
- Get photographed – this will be a challenge for me but I keep being asked for a photo of myself for the website/blog page!
- Have my work published in a magazine
- Hold an exhibition
- Visit Paris in the spring
- …and New York in the Autumn
- Learn more about wine!
- Hold a ‘Bond’ launch
- Develop an ‘on-line retail gallery’
- Do (at least) one thing every month to improve the business
- Join a Professional Business Network
- …and Network tirelessly!
I hope 2008 will be the best year yet for all of you! Oh, and If you haven’t already saved the blog as one of your favourites, please do, and check back whenever you can to see what’s happening. As always, I’d love to know what you think.
Christmas - Ca Maria Adele, Venice
I can’t believe it’s the 31st and already the whole of January gone since we kissed goodbye our ‘leave behinds’ and set them sail from the banks of the Thames at New Year!
Funky Venues is an award-winning website dedicated to showcasing the most outstanding and hippest venues and suppliers you can hire (their words), so of course I couldn’t wait to share the news that I’m now an approved supplier.
