What's In Store for 2025 and Beyond.

Okatie, South Carolina - September 2024

Welcome to my first blog of 2025.

Let’s head into the new year with enjoyment, enthusiasm and above all creativity for an exciting 2025 and beyond.

The most important mindset to engage in January is a clear vision and focus for what you would like to achieve during the coming months, or even years.

I’d like to share with you my vision to achieve my goals.

Looking back at the past 28 years since I started my business in the wonderful world of photography – SMS Creative Photography, now called Stella – the one thing that has remained a firm constant is the connection to you, my customers. To craft everlasting photographs to reflect on for very many years to come.

Whether you are amongst the first families and businesses I photographed or we have met more recently. The message and intention remains the same – to demonstrate just how valuable time is. Unless these moments are captured and printed they fade rapidly from ones mind and become memories, sometimes forgotten ones.

Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA – September 2024

With the passing of time I have learnt so much along the way, and it’s not just taking photographs.

For example…

• Running and growing a successful business

• Communicating on different levels with a variety of people

• Learning new technology – after all, it was a roll of film in the camera in 1997 when I opened the doors to my shiny new business

• Creating an online presence via a website and social media

• Marketing to the right demographic

• Growing and maintaining your Brand

• Cashflow

• Understanding above all what your customer wants and how to deliver a first class product and service…

With all of this in mind it brings me onto what’s in store for 2025 and how I can share my knowledge and expertise with you so you can benefit.

A helping hand... photographed at Grande Provence Estate, Franschhoek, South Africa – February 2024

• Headshot Portraits for your professional profile. When did you last update yours?

• Family photoshoots a fun-filled experience to reflect on for years to come.

• Classic & Supercar collections to create provenance and a lasting memory.

• Mentorships to teach and support you to start and maintain your business in photography.

To book or enquire about any of the above feel free to call/message me on 0777 181 0105 or email me here.

Charleston USA – captured in September 2024

I’m always open to other projects you may have on the horizon to photograph different events or lifestyle changes in your life.

For example…

• A before, during and after transformation of a home or garden project

• The gathering of memorabilia and photographs to create a bespoke tailor made book to give to someone very special to celebrate a landmark in time

• Curating photographs and artworks to display in your home or office selecting the mounts and frames and design for your wall space

Life is a continuous story of fleeting moments and I feel privileged to be able to photograph yours.

This link tells you a little bit more about my works as a professional photographer.

Thank you

Photography Mentorships - Ready for your first step?

Take a leap of faith.

WHERE DO YOU START

The first step is always the most daunting when you are thinking about venturing in a new direction. Such as developing a business idea, moving home, changing jobs, or wherever your intuition is pulling you.

So often there are words of doubt swirling in your mind…’ what if I fail’ … ‘It’s going to be too hard’… ‘I might regret it’…etc …etc…

It’s all negative self-talk that won’t get you anywhere. It only holds you back, just like in the photograph above – this piece of urban art was positioned on the rooftop of an art gallery in the South of France, and the treetop one below struck a heavy chord with me.

It made me realise it’s very easy to lie back – perhaps very uncomfortably and wait for all your desires and wishes to come to you… it doesn’t work like that, you have to take a leap of faith – otherwise, nothing will ever change. Believe me, I’m speaking from experience…

It’s easy to lie back and wait…

IS THIS FOR YOU?

Are you a photographer who is:

• Wanting to start your own business?

• Struggling to keep up a pipeline of business?

• Looking for a change of direction?

• Looking for creative inspiration?

• Working on a qualification or competition?

  OR

• A student embarking on a photography career?

• Looking for network links?

• Looking for guidance on the most suitable equipment for your style?

Then my service is for you.

MAKING IT HAPPEN

I always wanted to run my own business ever since I started selling eggs from our garden chickens to neighbours as a child. My dream was to open a portrait photography studio.

In my early teens I worked as a Saturday girl at the local portrait and wedding studio and became an apprentice in their commercial department at the age of 17 enrolling on a three-year day release course back in 1977 when cameras had a film inside the body and were processed in darkrooms, not Lightroom.

Fast forward 20 years and three children later I was catapulted into adversity and took a leap of faith to provide for myself and my children by realizing my dream. I was completely outside my comfort zone and knew it was now or never. I didn’t want to be on my deathbed regretting having never accomplished what I wanted to achieve – financial independence being my goal through my passion for photography.

MENTORSHIPS

If any of the above resonates with you and you would like my professional one-to-one attention this mentorship program will help you flourish.

This includes:

• Creating a clear understanding of your goals

• Overcoming your fears

• A plan of action

• Networking

• Technology

• Marketing

• People skills

• Managing money

• Connecting with other industry experts

Pricing starts from just £60 with your choice from the below.

Either face-to-face or via Zoom – One to One focused on your specific needs and direction.

1. Half hour online taster session - £60

2. Three hour class to gain clarity and direction - £375

3. Six hour class to work on your specific needs - £695

4. Eight week intensive mentoring with a 60 minute online session once a week - £125 per week

5. Full Day mentoring at my studio in Oxted Surrey working closely with me - £1200

   For more comprehensive options and further details please refer to my Photography Mentoring page

LOOKING BACK

February 2024 marks 27 years since I opened the doors to my high street studio SMS Creative Photography – now called ‘Stella’. I didn’t have the confidence back then to have my name above the door – so I used my initials Stella Marina Scordellis – the Creative part was to emphasise I wanted to be different from other high street photographers of the time, who were more conservative and traditional in their style. I introduced a more informal and relaxed approach to portrait photography where children were encouraged to be more natural and candid either in the studio or in their homes & gardens.

Please feel free to email me, Stella – or call/message on 0777 181 0105 for a brief chat about your direction and how we can make your photography business a success.

Thanks

Stella