Fujifilm instax mini!

When out in London back in early June I bagged myself a Fujifilm instant camera from Urban Outfitters - Oxford Street and I'm in absolute looooove with it! 

I really wish the films weren't so expensive as I used 20 pieces in 3 days and resisting myself to 3 days was so so hard anyway as once I get snapping I can't stop!!

Drop me a line if you have any idea of any places to get the 'mini films from for good prices, I'd be so very grateful! Mail me @ samanthajofinn@hotmail.com

Anyway! Using the camera is really easy and simple, it has a few settings to choose for which weather 'condition' you're in and a indoor setting. Simply choose your setting and click the shutter button, it's that easy! I would recommend not using the camera for up-close shots that any closer than arms width as you're gonna end up with a softer not-so-focused image! (I did this and what could've been an amazing image, turned out to be a minor disappointment because of the image not being sharp! Daaayum!)

Just look at how beautiful that is! Definitely recommend!
Go grab one in many colours at Urban Outfitters! :)

Cheek to Cheek Tour - Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga @ Royal Albert Hall 09/06/15

I was really looking forward to seeing the controversial pair, Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett in concert in London! But unfortunately it was cancelled very very last minute. :(
Despite this, I had a very fun four days in London chasing the Lady herself around her hotel - The Langham with lots of friends, new and old. And to be fair, we were so so close. Close enough for a selfie! (lol)

I did however get some pictures, but they're only pap pics from my phone of Gaga outside her hotel...not exactly the HQ I wanted, but still it's something. :)

On the day of the second date show in London, we got to Knightsbridge and went to the Royal Albert Hall..had dinner inside the venue, a drink or two. When it came to queuing up to go inside, and it was just after "doors opening" time when I had a gut feeling that something was going to go wrong or happen...and a few minutes after this, the guy on the speaker announced that the show that night would no longer take place due to illness. Now I have never seen so many people cry in one place at any one time! It was safe to say that it was gutting, old ladies and young girls distraught, it did pull my heartstrings but I stayed in a stable state of mind, because yano....someone has to! Me and my friend were absolutely gutted though because we were excited to see the once-in-a-lifetime event. Of course Tony is in his late 80's now, it's usually not likely someone of this guys age to still be performing. But he's well and kicking! Great guy though, adorable!

Shame about the show, but had a fantastic few days and still thoroughly enjoyed myself...

You can find my pap-pics here @ www.facebook.com/SamanthaFinnPhotography along with many other Lady Gaga photos from artRAVE Manchester and artRAVE Sheffield in 2014.

Marmaris Photographs September 2014

Here is a selection of images I have taken this month, in Marmaris. 7th - 15th September 2014.

UPDATE: University

Well, I don't think this post is going to be a happy one at all!

About 3 months ago I got my acceptance letter to go to Grimsby University. I know it isn't a fantastic place but, it was convenient for me. And When I got that letter I was over the moon to know I'd be going on to study further in what I would class as my future career.

So I've been prepared for that ever since!

THEN, along comes another letter in the post about....over a month ago saying that the course has been deferred to next year because unfortunately not enough students applied for the course. HOW GUTTING IS THAT? I am actually really gutted. I got my place, I got accepted, got my finance sorted out. And then that letter really set me back. Genuinely upset about it because I knew that this was the right time for me to go off.

A fresh start,  almost?

Of course I signed the part where it said that I can be considered onto next years application straight away, but there's still no guarantee that the course would even go on. And to be fair, I don't think it will. It wasn't the ONLY course that was cancelled at this University this year, and everyone is really miffed off to be honest.

Best part is, is that I got offered onto another course to do with Filming? What even?

Yes, it is a digital photographic type of course, BUT...how can that really relate to commercial photography? If I wanted to do filming I'd have applied for it. Thanks though?

Like, yes they're so similar in some ways, but they're also in every way different.

Arrr, the whole thing infuriates me! But I don't think I'm going to wait til next year anymore. I'm doing rather well just the way I am with my page and my followers.

Thanks for all the endless support I've been given over the past 2 years of being 'public'.

Means so much. :)

Well christ it's been one heck of year!

I haven't posted for 8 months! That's crazy. But so much stuff has happened in that time.

I've been to a fair few places and photographed a variety of things. This year for me, it's been mostly about not so much photographing people. But more landscapes and street scenes.

The next few posts will be about the different places I've been and the things I've produced in this time.

University

So, as I was saying in my previous post..I am in hope to go to University in September to continue my Education in my passionate field.
I took my gap year or so to help me explore and define myself in regards to my personal photography, and although I don't have a set idea on what I love most (which I think is great) I find I'm ready to take my next step.
I haven't found the exact passion in my photography because frankly, I'm still discovering the world and there's so much more out there that I haven't explored yet. Although these past 6 months I have took a turn into bringing myself up through the likes of Facebook, I have been drawn to a lot of Child/Baby Photography, but this isn't where I am going to stop and I don't think I'd settle down and do that one subject for a living in the future, but I love doing those type shoots, nevertheless!
I've loved going on holiday and going to concerts to capture images from different types of activity this year. It's endless what you can do with a camera, and I don't think everyone will ever touch the sides.
I'm so excited what the industry can become in the future, it has so much potential. :)

I'm excited to see whether I get the place at Uni, it will be a great next 3 years in my life, enjoying learning more and more about the subject. I just want to get better and better at it and not stop.

I sound so, so geeky right now! Ah well. :)

I know it's been a while I'm sorry!

I've had so much on my plate and so many different websites to update I forget what exact accounts I have haha! :)

I've recently updated the following;

www.facebook.com/SamanthaFinnPhotography
www.thelifeinmypassion.tumblr.com
www.samanthafinnphotography.moonfruit.com
www.samanthafinnphotography-clothing.spreadshirt.co.uk

A lot, I know! and I forgot all about this place! :(

UPDATES:

Absolutely fuming about the 'new camera' situation. I never ended up getting it and the person still hasn't refunded my money and is being really ignorant about it and ignoring me! So had to contact all sorts of forces like local police and Citizens Advice, Trading Standards and Action Fraud!
So I'm so bogged down and stressed with that. :(

I went to see Jessie J November the 6th so I'll write about that in a new post!

And I have 4 photoshoots for the next few day so I'm gonna be BUSY AS FFF-- ;)

Pretty Excited for the near future. :)

On Wednesday I've got a photoshoot of a band involving one of my good pals, Dean Garrod who recently sang solo at Grimsby Pride 2013 (You were amazing by the way)! Which is set up from as part of a Music course at a local college located not that far from me. :)

Happy birthday to Dean today as well, hope you had an amazing day mate! :)


I'm certainly hoping that we'll get some great shots from Wednesday, I'm feeling pretty positive so definitely looking forward to seeing the outcome images! :) Will definitely be finding time to put some up on here. There's so much to write about and show you, I'll still be adding photos from a year back on here in close weeks to come. I really wish I started this blog sooner, I love writing and ranting about things way too much for my own good!

Also, I'm getting quite a few shoots booked in for end of this month and currently got 3 to sort out for the end of November! Two of which are going to be Christmas photoshoots with little kiddies! So should be adorable! ;D


Exciiiiited much! :D

Updates soooon! Still haven't got my new camera yet, so review is on the waiting list! No worries. :)

Chat soon. Sam

I know I literally just wrote about this in my previous post like ten minutes ago....but

This is like a whole new step up!

I'm feeling really confident with all this photography stuff I'm doing. Recently I've really really kitted myself out, and I'm stoked to use everything. :D

Laura bought me a portable backdrop set with black white and green drops, which are amazing by the way :D we used them for when I did a photoshoot of her...SO HAPPY.

I bought a new flower petal head hood for the lens for outdoor shots with the dazzling sun this winter and autumn months!

I've been using my light diffusers a lot more for effects n shhiiiizle!

And now, a whole new camera body altogether, which is debating me after some time of getting used to the new one and trying it out n stuff... selling my Canon Rebel 1000D?! Unsure AS OF YET, but I know I'll definitely be selling one of the lens' because whats the point in having two of the same, ey. :) especially a careful person like me...I doubt I'll be needing it as back up. (do.not.jinx.yourself.sam.EEK)

I really feel like I'm moving forward with this. :)

Got a band photoshoot coming up on the 16th of this month, so I'm really hoping I get the new camera and test it all out before then, it's like just under 2 weeks away, so I don't see why not. :) AAAH. :)

Can't believe what just happened!

Just managed to bag myself a Canon 600D for £190.....are we forrrr f**kin' real! :O
Been looking for DAYS for a bargain and I just happen to come to a site and think.."oh yeah I'll look on here just incase not that it'll be any different to eBay like," and omggg. YES, there it was.

So I'm pretty buzzing right now, so chuffed :D

And also, that means I'll have two of the same lens(my other camera has the same 18mm-55mm lens so ofc I don't need two) so will end up selling that, so really I've got it for LOADS cheaper than I would have initially done. Soo glad I searched around. On eBay they're ranging from £289.99 to £600! :) jfgbkjbgk. I'll have to make a review when I have a play with it! ^_^

An image from yesterday that I took. :)

Hi guys!

Haven't updated or posted in a couple of days, but here's an insight as to what I've been up to!

Yesterday I managed to go into the University in my area, with a friend and get into the studio to do some shots! Now it's been a good year and half since I've last been in the studio, which was in college so I was so excited!

Anyway! We had a lot of fun and I got some absolutely lovely shots of Jess, I'm really impressed, so will be taking advantage of her offers in future! The images will be perfect for commercial use I must say! :)

Here's a cheeky one! (Excuse the pun haha)

Also! I had my first driving lesson since I had my little blip collision on the road 3 weeks ago, safe to say I was pooiiiing it ALL day! The new car threw me a bit, but by the end of the lesson I was back to normal again. My heart was pounding at MANY stages, but I guess that was bound to happen.
My instructor explained how I was nothing like this even on my very first lesson I did ever! On my very first lesson ever I was so confident and rearing to go! And this lesson I...I wasn't a nervous wreck as such, but I was alot more aware and paranoid about things without the "f**k it let's do it" approach as I've had for all my other lesson! But I'm pleased with how it went...could have been horrific, but I got there in the end! Roll on next lesson! :D

Hopefully other things will be going forward now I've had my month of mishaps. :)

Start of StopTober! ;) bring it.

Competition and businesses on Facebook

There seems to be a lot of competition within the photography industry on Facebook lately, and I don't really like it. But in a way I do?

It took me long enough to finally pick up the courage to make my photography page because there is SO much criticism out there and so many horrible people, and then one day I thought why not.

Anyway, my point is...ever since this day I've noticed a S**T load of other Photography pages of other teens I know and stuff, and yeah fair enough...whatever, that's fine. But the stress and competition it's put on me and the rest of is, is so intense! Like what the hell? Where did this even all come from?

It's like, calm down guys...it's basically a place to blog your work and get feedback and an audience! Not piss on each others fire. And be absolute c*nts to each other?

In a way I'm liking and enjoying the pressure, gives me more of a reason to boost myself and set new objectives and directions, so cheers. :)

Update

Hi there again guys! :)
I said I'd update you on my new petalhead hood for my camera, so here I am....uuupadating you!

I haven't actually been out to try it properly yet, but I have fixed it to the camera and gone around the house (I know that doesn't make a difference whatsoever because that's controlled lighting) BUT here's the pros and cons:

Pros:
- The fit is strong onto the filter screw.
- Hard and sturdy plastic, so you get what you pay for, not the cheap plastic stuff.
- Doesn't look cheap and nasty, looks professional.
- Does it's purpose for a great price.

Cons:
- Although it fits strongly onto the filter screw, you have to think about it instead of being able to put it on quiclky, which for some people may be annoying depending on preference.
- You can't pack it away onto the camera as it doesn't have the screw setting on the otherside (turning it the other way so it basically hugs the lens) which makes it nice for putting in camera bags, but with people like me, it doesn't matter much at all.
- Moves around with the lens on "AUTO mode". Though, when you're on Manual setting it doesn't do this.


At the minute it has a '10% off' offer, so take a look and get your hands on this fab cheap lens hood and add it to your kit!http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130641425195?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649