2022 was a really busy year, especially for the last 6 months, so that has meant not being able to do as much photography or attend as many Rugby fixtures as I would have liked. I actually haven’t visited the Northampton Saints at all in 2022, as a photographer or a fan! As disappointing as this has been, I have been able to complete some of the photography and photoshop projects which have been on the 'To Do List' and I am very pleased with how they have turned out.
To kick us off, I have for some time now wanted to take headshots of the players at my Rugby Club Stewarts & Lloyds RFC. With the arrival of new kit (and huge help from Malcolm Crooks supplying the kit and opening the club early) this gifted me the perfect opportunity. I was very happy with how the shoot went and the lads were extremely supportive as ever. I was able to get photos of most of the squad over 2 sessions which I was then able to put in to practice some recently acquired photoshop skills to create squad sheets that can be easily updated for each match day.
In November I was asked to do a family photo shoot for my brother and his family. They have not long added a new member to their family with the birth of Noah, and they wanted some pictures of them all together that they could display proudly and cherish forever.
So stepping out of my comfort zone and away from sports, I gladly took on the challenge. This ended up being a lovely autumn day and a wonderful walk around some local woodland. I was very pleased with how the photos turned out and my niece and nephews were great models. My wife, and my greatest supporter, came along and helped out which meant I could concentrate on getting the perfect shot.
Back when the weather was a bit warmer I did a doggo photo shoot at the beach which was a lot of fun. My brothers dog Cooper loved the ocean whilst my sisters dog Ronnie just loved tearing around after Cooper! I did also take some studio photos which I’ll share below too. I want to do more pet photo shoots in the new year so if you’re interested in having some photos taken of your 4 legged friend, drop me a message.
Speaking of the good weather. In August I was invited to shoot for the Northampton Saints Community Team at their annual Rugby Camp at Stowe School. The weather was scorching, the Community Team were extremely welcoming & fun, and to see the kids arrive at the camp on the first day then watch their progress through to the final day was amazing. This was an absolutely incredible week and one that proved to me how much I do love photography, documenting peoples journeys and sharing in their emotions whilst providing them with memories for them to share and look back on. Keeping their story alive and ever lasting. A huge thanks to my brother Connor for inviting me along and to the team organising the event. You should all be incredibly proud of the work you do, not just at Stowe but year round and I hope that I will have the opportunity to return to Stowe again in 2023.
Throughout the year I took photos at multiple S&L RFC fixtures as well as a number of their Mini & Junior matches. I always love taking photos at my home club and everyone there is incredibly supportive of my photography. It is a fantastic club and one that is going strong whilst others have struggled post COVID. It really is a credit to its volunteers who keep the place running and its players and members for supporting the club through difficult times.
Looking forward to 2023 and I am extremely excited for the future of Matt Fleming Photography. I am currently doing a course with The Photography Institute which I should have completed in the first half of the year. My website is currently undergoing a refresh which I am very excited about and you should see the launch of those changes very soon. I already have a few bookings for shoots next year and I have a number of projects that I want to get underway very soon, so there is lots to look forward to.
I am forever grateful for all the support I have had this year and I can’t wait to see what 2023 will bring. If anyone wants to get together for a photo shoot or to start a project, I am open to ideas and ready for a new challenge. Please reach out to me and lets get the conversation started. I wish you all the very best for 2023!