A year ago today, we collected the keys to what could only be described as a 'lockup storage unit', which in a previous life had been old stable buildings. Two huge white wooden doors, not too dissimilar to old style garage doors, kept the physical outside elements at bay. The space comprised an uneven plywood floor with an unitentional hole down to the concrete below, kitchenette with oldstyle over-sink electric water heater, office space with cut out through the plasterboard for a window, a tongue and groove ceiling with fluorescent tube lights and a toilet that neither you nor I would use. Are you getting the picture?

Sounds horrid right? Well, we're creative and we could see the potential, even if others couldn't. We had a vision and over the last 12 months, Michael has worked tirelessly to make that vision a reality.

As I type this blog entry, I'm sat at my glass desk with my shoes off and feet outstretched on the Brazilian Cherry wood flooring with the underfloor heating gently radiating beneath.

imageXperience™ studio space. Captured using iPhone 4 by Michael Ebanks.The ecofriendly low voltage lighting and atmospheric flood lighting is switched off, as the spring afternoons draw near.

Just some of the elements I loved about this space when I first saw it were the brick walls and light industrial feel. I so wanted to keep all the brick walls, however, their condition didn't allow.

imageXperience™ sumptuous acrylic image presentations atop our ostrich covered walled ledge against our exposed brick wall. Captured using iPhone 4 by Michael Ebanks.

Today, when you enter our boutique studio, you'll instantly notice the exposed brick wall on your left above a white ledge wall and on closer inspection, your hand will naturally reach out to feel the textured covering to the white wall; ostrich skin! Yes, it's a faux ostrich skin covering our wall that leads into the white steel upright, then on to more exposed brickwork.

If the automatic light is on in the washroom, your eye is naturally drawn to it and curiosity kicks in - what's behind the oak/glass double doors? Due to the size of the studio, Michael and I spent days, if not weeks, deliberating over how to layout the studio to ensure I have space for a beautiful washroom and changing area. We knew we had solved the problem when I suggested having a hexagon shaped room with double doors. The washroom is so beautiful, we didn't want to hide it; a back to wall wc with touchless flush, slimline designer wash hand basin with touchless tap and again the white ostrich covered walls, this time leading down to a black porcelain heated floor. Overlength curtains provide you with the privacy you require, which are held in place when open with beautiful rhinestone tiebacks.

imageXperience™ luxury washroom with ostrich covered walls, touchless tap, soap dispenser and wc flush, with porcelain heated floor below. Captured using iPhone 4 by Michael Ebanks.

I love my new studio, solely renovated with Michael's skillful hand. Whilst there are some finishing touches to be added, like installing an under-counter sink for our kitchenette, we are up and running having completed a number of portrait sessions, including beautiful 8 week old Charlize today; plus leading up to today, we've completed headshot portfolios, a birthday party and last week an intimately You™ boudoir session in our new boutique studio. Our diary is now booking up for the next couple of months, for which we are thankful and are working very hard to keep on top of all our bookings, kicking off next week with a singer portfolio session. 

A huge space it is not, however, a comfortable city lofty feel it does exude. 

This year, imageXperience will be introducing the areas we are focusing on via our forthcoming online magazine, including babies, headshots, professional portfolios, high schoolers and intimately You™ - powerfully understated boudoir.

Welcome to imageXperience, be connected...

Dnx

With bubbly on hand and great company, we had a ball!

As we progressed through the session, it was really warming for Elizabeth to ask me to call her 'Beth' - we had broken that barrier!

Without further ado, I'll quickly post a few images from this session - how beautiful is she...

Three sides of Beth, photographed by Denise Ebanks at imageXperience following her professional photographic MAC makeoverEnjoy and please feel free to comment and share!

Happy birthday Beth!!

Dnx

Children Wanted! WIN £40 ZARA gift card with imageXperience and support your PTA. We are refreshing our professional portfolio and are looking for the new face of imageXperience, portrait photography. Does your child have a face for professional photography? Did you know... Denise Ebanks of imageXperience won SE Region Under 5s Photographer of the Year in 2009?

How to enter...

Firstly, you need a Session: Simply donate a total of £10 for one child or £20 for two or more siblings to your PTA* and you're in! We'll contact you to book your 45 min professional portrait photography session.

*Normal session fee of £45 is waived, instead you simply make your PTA donation via imageXperience, who will forward your donation and for which you will receive a receipt. Thus the total payable is £10 or £20 for a location or studio session to be photographed by August 2011 - studio session availability subject to completion of renovation works.

Then, you can purchase if you want to... Our most popular products, preferentially priced - saving up to nearly 50%:

16" Luxury Canvas Gallery Wrap

Only £105, usually £205

24" Luxury Acrylic Wall Art Presentation

Only £275, usually £495

24" Multi Aperture Square Wall Art Presentation

featuring 7 images or 9 images
Only £60, usually £75

10" Gift Frame Art Presentation

Only £210, usually £300

Pocket Book - featuring 10 fine art giclée images

Only £75, usually £125

Contact us to register and schedule a session.

To explore a personal project, I borrowed a friend's eight year old daughter, her wedding dress, said friend applied the makeup - rock chick style, I stepped in as hairstylist delivering beautiful bouncy ringlets with my slim GHDs and Michael provided his trusted studio assistance. The results? See for yourself and let me know what you think.

It's the very same dress my friend wore at her wedding 11 years ago - I bet she didn't expect to see her daughter in it just yet.

Thank you Mel x 

Dnx

The interest is coming in and "we" like the results.

Yesterday we quickly delivered new professional headshot images to three fabulous clients and they love their new polished images.

If you would like a new professional polished headshot for your website, facebook, printed literature, powerpoint, keynote, z-card, business card, wall of fame, calling card, dating profile, portfolio - or whatever you want to look good for, the next current session is:

Wednesday 13 April 2011 - by appointment only

Appointment IS necessary, therefore, please contact us using the form on the website and we can schedule you in for a 20-minute* Headshot Pitstop!

Prices start at only £35 for the session including one image or £50 for five images, plus immediate turnaround.

*approximately

Michael's unique angle whilst we photographed Peter & Donna's wedding - Peter's Facebook profile pic and favour image from the wedding hands down!

It's finally aired, the documentary that took Michael, myself and our children to Jamaica to explore the possibilities of a life out there.

If you missed the documentary and are here in the UK, request a disk for your own viewing. If you're outside the UK, join our official facebook page where clips will be available.

One of the many questions we've had whilst the programme aired at this unholy hour was whether we are still here in the UK. The answer to that is yes, we're still here in the UK and are offering both UK and destination weddings, including Jamaica - in fact, we're off to Spain in May to photograph another beautiful wedding.

We have received a number of comments about 'the hotel guy' and his portrayal of us and wanted to be clear that he was totally supportive of us off camera, both before, during and after the wedding. Admittedly, I too was very concerned that I was being portrayed to be overbearing and upsetting to the bride, which is the total opposite of who I am. I can only think that TV is required to provide interesting viewing and this documentary required some drama and suspense, which it certainly achieved through editing.

View images from Donna & Peter's Jamaican destination wedding right here on our imageXperience blog. Whilst you're here, why not take a look at our other photo sessions from our going back to Jamaica experience: 

• Carmen & Wendell's Jamaican gazebo wedding
• Shannon & Zack's Jamaican beach wedding
• Amber & Anthony's Jamaican beach wedding
• Laura & Jeff's Jamaican Rose Hall Great House wedding

This morning (16 March 2011), Donna, the beautiful bride, who featured in the TV documentary said, "The only thing I remember... was you coming to my side when my hair was going terribly wrong. I don't think I had any of my bridal party with me and you were the only voice of reason during that time. I remember being upset about my hair and you gave the hair dresser some feedback which in turn helped everything out...

Denise - you and Michael did such an amazing job on our phtotos we cannot thank you enough. You made our day so much more special and I felt we had an instant bond. You also gave us some of our most special photos as a couple ever - doubly so with the shoot before the wedding!!"

Since the documentary was filmed, I have been back to Jamaica twice to photograph an intimately You™ at the Rose Hall Great House, plus the weddings of Amber & Anthony at Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa hotel and Laura & Jeff at The Great House in Rose Hall.

I'm delighted with the interest in intimately You™ - us ladies are going to have so much fun capturing these.

Again, if you missed the documentary and are here in the UK, you can request a disk for your own viewing. If you're outside the UK, join our official facebook page where clips will be available.

When will I be going back to Jamaica again? More to come...

Dnx

PS - The Groom, Peter, loved the unique angle Michael captured from behind the aqueduct and is currently using it as his profile pic on Facebook, PLUS the wedding manager asked for a copy of this image promoting the aqueduct - oh and we've got walkie talkies on order lol :) x

Now that the backlog is clearing, I wanted to share some images from an outdoor portrait session in Coombe Wood Gardens featuring two delightful boys.

When Alka saw the beautiful luxury gallery canvas wraps at Melanie and Jason's home extension party, a session was in store for her boys.

We thoroughly enjoyed capturing these images of her two gorgeous children and are a selection...

The boys enjoy an autumn day in Coombe Wood Gardens being photographed by Denise Ebanks of imageXperienceEnjoy!

Dnx

The picturesque view from Iberostar Suites, Rose Hall, Montego Bay - photographed by Denise Ebanks

Signature Details: The engagement ring - photography by Denise Ebanks
Signature Preps: beautiful bride as she prepares for marrying her groom - photographed by Denise EbanksSignature Details: the shoes, the ring, the details - photographed by Denise Ebanks

Signature Details: Laura's grandmother's ring and a penny in her shoe - photographed by Denise Ebanks

Rocking a Sean John tie, a gift of pearls and the flowers to adorn the wedding party - photographed by Denise EbanksThe ladies share a champagne toast - photographed by Denise Ebanks 

Signature Preps: The Dress. The first sight. The emotion - photographed by Denise Ebanks

Signature Preps: Mother and Brother assist Laura in preparing for her wedding ceremony - photographed by Denise Ebanks

Signature Details: Groom ring and cufflink - photography by Denise EbanksGroom talk: Jeff and his best man - photography by Denise Ebanks

The Great House in Rose Hall, Montego Bay, Jamaica - venue for Laura and Jeff's wedding ceremony - photography by Denise Ebanks

I am honoured to have been chosen by Laura and Jeff to capture their wedding and tell their story in artful images.

During my flying visit to Jamaica, I have had the pleasure of meeting and revisiting some truly wonderful people.

As I don't have much time at present to tell you all about it, please enjoy a selection of images from today - I'll be heading back to the bride and groom shortly to capture the cutting of the cake and first dance after their wedding breakfast...

anyone who knows me, knows it's about the shoes! - photographed by Denise Ebanks

adore beautiful diamonds - photographed by Denise Ebanks

designed to stand the test of time - photographed by Denise Ebanks

I loved this image the moment I saw it through the lens - Signature Bridal Prep - photographed by Denise Ebanks

More to follow

Dnx

View the emotive designer images on www.deniseebanksweddings.co.uk/blog - photographed by Denise Ebanks and Michael Ebanks

Indulge in the beautiful images from this wonderful wedding at www.deniseebanksweddings.co.uk/blog