Taylor's Haircut. 'I Can See My Ears!'

If you're like me, we've all had that one haircut that stands out above the rest. That rebellion cut, or a dabble with a perm, fringes in, fringes out, bobs, streaks, or the holding onto a magazine picture 'make me look like this' cut.  Mine was at college.  My hair had got a bit too long for my liking.  I decided to have one side really short and keep the other long.  It was the late 80's so it was quite a bit after all the New Romantic stuff had hit the high streets.  I was always a bit behind time, but here I was with my homage to Phil Oakey heading into the 90's.  I'm not quite sure what I was thinking, but my Mum still says she really liked that cut (she was going through a bit of a goth phase at the time, so I don't think she's the most reliable source).

And so to Taylor's cut.  When she came back from holiday, Taylor came to tell us she was having her haircut. This was a pretty big thing for Taylor as she's always had long hair, and was going to have a pixie cut. She wanted to give her hair to the Little Princess Trust who make wigs for children who've lost their own hair through cancer treatment.

I asked Taylor why she wanted to change her hairstyle...

'I went in the pool everyday on holiday, and when I got out, my hair was such a mess. It took ages to brush it out.  I didn't want to spend that much time having to brush it, I just wanted to be out there playing with my brother.  I just wanted to cut it all off!  I had thought about it before.  I've always liked pixie cuts, and I've been seeing them more often lately.  I'm starting high school in a few weeks, and I wanted to look different, I wanted a new style.  I've had long hair for so long, practically all my life'.

'Everything is changing in my life right now.  We're moving to a new house, I'm going to high school.  It felt like the right time to cut my hair'.

'When I went to get it cut, it made it easier to have people to talk to, with my brother, my Mum and you being there taking photos.  The hairdresser was lovely too!  I felt like I couldn't really back out as I was going to give my hair to charity, and I'd told people I was going to do it'.

'When I had long hair, I had a habit of getting a piece of my hair, and winding it round my finger to look at all the colours'.

After the cut, Taylor wanted to go and show our friend Hannah in her beautiful radiant shop.  From one pixie cut to another.

I'll leave the last words to Taylor...

'I can't really believe I've gone and done it!  I feel more confident.  I think I felt quite self conscious when I had long hair, that I was spending too much time on it, or sometimes not enough.  I feel less self conscious now.  I'm so glad I did it, and with the hair I've given, I hope somebody else feels less self conscious too.'

'A Day In The Life' Competition

We've been offering 'A Day In The Life' shoots for a while now, and we love them. It's a photo story about you and your family, just the way you are. Documenting real life in your home environment, there's such a truth and honesty to it. Those beautiful everyday moments you don't even have to step out of the door to find.

The more and more we do these storytelling sessions, we notice that the photos we like, and more importantly the ones you like, are the ones that make you feel. You can feel the warmth of that morning hug again, smell the breakfast croissants and taste your first cup of tea from the steaming mug. You can hear the music from the impromptu dance session, and the sound of the pages turning of the book you were reading. You can smell the wild flowers you just picked from your garden, and taste the bilberries you collected that made your tongues go purple. You can feel the fresh rain, and hear the exuberant puddle jumpers on your way to the market. The excited chatter from the brave adventurers building dens behind the sofa, and the splashes from the tired explorers covered in bubbles in the bath before bedtime.

The beauty's there, it's with us already.

Did we say how much we love these shoots?! So, we're launching a competition today for us to document your family life in our 'A Day In The Life' shoot. We'd spend a weekend day with you, telling your story in our images. After the shoot, you'll receive a framed 16"x12" fine art image. All you need to do is leave us a message on this blog, or on our Facebook page post about the competition. Tell us what are your favourite family times at home, and if you have a picture, please do post that too! For this competition, any entrants are to be within a 50 mile radius of Hebden Bridge.

We'd love to do more of these shoots, and we hope you like them too.  We're looking forward to hearing about your favourite family times, and good luck! The closing date is Friday 25th September, and the winner will be announced on Saturday 26th September.

Rachael and Shaun - and a little slice of North Yorkshire

We've been living in Hebden Bridge for seven years now. We know the area pretty well, but love it when we find, or someone introduces us to a walk, a new path, a view not yet seen.

And so it was when we met Rachael & Shaun for their pre-wedding shoot. Tomorrow they're getting married just down the road from where I grew up in North Yorkshire. Rachael went to the same school as me (albeit it a decade and a bit later!).  We met them early one Sunday morning by the duck pond.  The place that signified half way on my school bus journey, and time for a bit more of a snooze.  And then we took a short trip out onto the moor.  A road I'd never been along before. The familiar sight of Rylstone Cross, and Pendle Hill in the distance, but there were new points of interest to see.  The soundtrack to the morning was provided by curlews, an oystercatcher or two, and many sheep.

Such a peaceful way to spend a Sunday morning.  We're looking forward to being a part of your day you two!