Studio Build Update

The main construction part of the building project is virtually complete, inside is now fully plastered and the decorating has begun, after waiting for the plaster to completely dry out. The toilet and shed area walls and ceilings are finished, the main studio has had the first watered down coat to seal the plaster before decorating begins in there. The outside of the building has been completely rendered and is also now ready for decorating, along with the wall to the right of my property which has been tided up by rendering the surface and placing capping stones on top with a nice trellis to finish. My brother (aka the builder), is away for possibly up to a month, which will give me time to catch up on the decorating, before he starts the external connections to the house (cables, soil pipe etc) and the soak-away going in for the rainwater.

Studio area completely plastered

Second finishing coat of render and the garden a bit tidier!

(wall to the right has capping stones and trellis in place awaiting render)

Cutting in the paintwork ready for the first watered down coat

First watered down coat to seal the plaster work.

Baby Bump 7

Charlotte came back last week for the final Baby Bump shoot before the baby arrives. The Baby is due on the 8th August, but because things appeared to be moving fast, we got the shoot in earlier than originally planned to avoid any concerns that we had, that we may miss it with the baby arriving early. For the final session we were joined by Mark to ensure we got some of Dad to be in there as well, below is a video of the shoot.

Studio Build Update

Despite having a week away since the last update, progress has once again been brilliant. Last Saturday saw a big shopping trip to get all the materials for the plastering out of the entire studio build. The ceiling boards were also put up last weekend whilst I was here to assist, but the majority of the remainder of the work, my Brother has done himself. As the photos below show, all the plasterboard is now up, the shed and toilet areas now have the dividing wall in place and the associated doors with both rooms plastered out as well. We then plastered the ceilings yesterday, well he did the plastering, I was just the labourer and also plastered around the windows and door areas. By Tuesday this week he anticipates all plastering to be complete!

Ceiling plasterboard in place.

Partition wall in place with doorways formed.

All plasterboarding complete.

Shed and toilet area plastered and the main ceilings also plastered.

Poole High Prom 2011

Tash had her School Prom on Tuesday, after months of preparation leading up to the event, not to mention the trauma of having the knee surgery, Tash and her friends had a great time. We did a pre Prom shoot on the Monday and then some pictures with her friends on the night itself. She looked wonderful, but I would say that as her Dad.

Studio Build Update

It has been a couple of weeks since the last update, there was a lot of work going on that could not really be seen, such as the intricate work within the roof area and the cable runs. This two week period has seen the roof completed, including the flat roof area to the rear, windows and doors are in which makes the building secure, 1st fix electrics conducted, the roof fully insulated (totalling 6 inches thick) and the floor area screeded with concrete. There will be no work for the next week as I am away on holiday, which gives the concrete floor some time to harden.

Tiles on the front roof area complete

Windows and Doors in

Roof complete including ridge tiles

Insulation ready to go up

The start of the insulation between the rafters

1st layer complete

2nd layer up and the 1st fix electrics can be seen

Floor screed down and drying

Baby Bump 6

Charlotte came round tonight for the next set of Bump pictures and to say she has got round is an understatement, it's grown quite a lot in the last 4 weeks! We are even considering bringing the final Bump shoot forward by a week to make sure we capture the final set of images before Baby arrives.

Studio Build Update

Progress continues at pace, with the later photos depicting the start of the roof coverings going on. The weather has been mostly on our side, the lifting of the steel ridge beam for the roof went well, with a hired hand driven fork lift making it very easy to manoeuvre into place. The roof is now water proof with the felt in place, the rear elevation flat roof will be covered next weekend. The tiles are now lifted onto the roof structure and the first fix of electrics is under way.

Gable ends ready to receive the steel roof beam

Lifting the steel beam into place made easy by this machine.

Roof rafters in place.

Although taken with a wide angle lens it gives a perspective of the studio space

Lots of unseen work complete ready for the roof materials to start going on

Claire and Dan pre Wedding Meeting

Despite some atrocious weather, Dan and Claire came down for their pre Wedding discussion last weekend. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the details of their day as well as talk about the style of images I offer and the images they would like. We did manage to get outside, as the studio is still under construction, under a covered walkway and whilst the surroundings were not great we got some lovely shots done. I am really looking forward to their Wedding in August.

Studio Build Update

The studio is flying up, I am so impressed with my Brother's construction abilities, the speed at which it is going up, the manner in which it is being built and his ever critical eye for detail. I am not saying that because he is my Brother, but because he is an amazing professional workman (GSM Construction is the company name). As can be seen, we have come a long way in the 3 weeks of the project so far and whilst he has worked long days, you cannot but be surprised at where we have got too. In the later photos you can begin to see the inside take shape, as well as the window and door areas take form and give me a real perspective of the space I will have in my studio, it's brilliant! The front and back walls are at a height ready to take the Roof Rafters, the side walls will be built up next week to form the Gable ends before we lift the Steel Ridge beam into place. Next weekend will see the start of the construction of the roof, when things will slow down due to the complex nature of the work.

Looking through what will be the Patio doors and window

Looking out from the toilet area towards what will be the main shooting wall.

Baby Bump 5

Charlotte was back last week for the next in the series of Bump shoots. She has confessed it's getting in the way now, obviously in a nice way!