About the Photographer - Frances Belsham 

"A chance Christmas present 19 years ago has led me to forge a new career following my love of photography. What started out as a hobby has now turned into a full time business."

I loved photography so much that, having given up my previous work, I began a new career taking children’s portraits and selling my landscape and fine art prints and cards.

Once my circumstances changed I thought I could combine two things that I really enjoy: working with children and taking photographs. I feel my work experience helps me in my approach to taking children’s photographs. Children quickly sense when a person is relaxed with them, which can make a huge difference to the end product.

I took a business course, which provided me with the basic skills to go it alone. From there it all seemed to fall into place. I specialise in children’s portraits but this frequently includes family portraits.

My approach to producing informal and lifestyle portraits is to visit people in their own homes or a setting of their choice. This adds to the informal and relaxed feel of the photo session and results in relaxed and informal photographs.

The other areas of my work that I enjoy is Landscape Photography and Fine Art Photography. My photographs are a mix of landscapes, still life and lifestyle.

I am working on a long-term project of compiling photographs of the islands around Britain and Ireland. Last year I visited Sark in the Channel Islands, and this year I photographed a number of the islands in the Isles of Scilly. Beautiful and tranquil places for a relaxed holiday and with wonderful photo opportunities. I enjoy travelling and the oppertunities this gives for taking photographs.

I have had a number of exhibitions. The most recent being a Portrait Exhibition at the Wivenhoe Gallery. The exhibition was based on Wivenhoe people.To date that was probably my favourite exhibition. I have previously exhibited at the Wivenhoe Gallery, on one occasion with three other photographers. This I found inspirational  and enjoyable. Other venues where I have exhibited include Life Gallery in Colchester, Caberet Voltaire and locally at the Bakehouse, Wivenhoe Book Shop and the Rose and Crown public house.

I have been fortunate in a variety of commissions that have come my way, which have included photographing the work of a local artist and the most unusual, photographing vehicles for a company at Stansted Airport.

The final area of my work, which is also an ongoing project, is the collection of cards that I have put together. Some of these have come from landscape prints, which are now on sale in various shops and galleries including the Wivenhoe Gallery in Wivenhoe

I have had photographs published in the Essex County Standard and on the Wivenhoe web site.in 2004 one of my photographs of Wivenhoe waterfront was chosen by the Essex County Council to appear in its 2005 calendar.

I cannot think of a job that I would rather do and feel immense satisfaction in producing photographs that give so much pleasure.