The Braw and The Brave Meets....Roma Elizabeth Photography

You know when you meet a person for the first time and you instantly know you're going to really like them?! I first met Roma when she hired my dance troupe to perform at a surprise party she'd organised for husband's 30th birthday. She was delightfully warm and welcoming that evening  and so when I plucked up the courage to contact her about being interviewed for the blog, (I always feel weird about asking someone who doesn't really know me), I was thrilled she kindly agreed!  

Roma's photography is the stuff of dreams, capturing breathtakingly beautiful imagery in the most stunning (and at times, remote) locations with the emphasis on the 'adventurous and romantic'.When it comes to weddings and babies, Roma looks to paint the day perfectly, documenting every special moment and paying close attention to detail. With her styled shoots, it's all about producing exquisite, striking, fairytale-like shots. Roma's portfolio is a work of art, finding you spoilt for choice to pick a favourite image. From ethereal beauties draped in lace featured in the likes of Vogue Italia, to the most magical moments such as a Groom catching that first a glimpse of his Bride documented beautifully. Each photograph entices you in and has you intrigued and bowled over by sheer perfection. 

Featured in Vogue Italia

 Roma's journey from studying a fashion degree to modelling, working in the Bridal industry and to where she is now as a freelance photographer is fascinating.  Starting out as a young model in her teens, Roma admits that she never quite felt at home in from of the camera. "I didn't enjoy modelling. I was so self conscious but I did love being on location, working in some amazing spaces". Befriending photographers along the way and becoming more interested in the behind-the-scenes element of fashion photography, her transition to working within the Bridal industry with Opus Couture saw her start to style and photograph shoots for the wedding dress company. "I just really enjoyed it. I think anything you do you should do it for the love of it and not money!" Initially a hobby, soon Roma's distinct photography style attracted some attention and she was approached by a make-up artist to photograph her wedding before she had even set a date. With much encouragement from her colleagues and her husband Scott, Roma began to set up styled shoots to create a portfolio of work, inspired by places she had visited and adored. As daunting as it seemed, Roma pushed herself to put her work out there. Starting out as a freelance artist in a potentially competitive industry was scarily reminiscent of her time spent as a model. "I've always remembered that feeling of being in a room full of people and not knowing anyone. I now always make an effort to go up to people on their own at photography events and take them under my wing". 

Roma is extremely passionate about her work and being a real people person, she thrives on getting to know her clients prior to their wedding day to ensure she can capture the essence of who they are as a couple through her photography. As enjoyable as this work is, Roma's heart lies with her styled shoots where she has complete creative control and can let her imagination run free. "I sometimes have to explain to Brides who have seen my more adventurous shoots that it isn't practical to have them knee-deep in pond water surrounded by fireflies on their wedding day".  Inspired by old fairy-tales (and the occasional nod to Disney too) she aims to conjure up the fantastical. "I like creating things that don't exist. When I see something in my head I just need to make it happen!". Known to be up a mountain in the snow with a model and a sledge full of accessories, it's all about bringing the dream to life with her inquisitive nature at play and her adventurous side at the helm. Getting 'that' shot can be, at times, on the dangerous side and for the more extreme locations, Roma is happy to step in front of the camera momentarily to bring the vision to life. With her good friends Cara and Katie always in tow to assist with make-up, hair and the logistics of photographing in all weathers on all matter of terrain, Roma teams up with a variety of suppliers and new models, considering herself very lucky to be supported by so many. Her photography is so well known and respected now that suppliers and fellow Creatives are ever so keen to have her photograph their pieces.

 She admires the work of renowned photographers Annie Leibovitz and Tim Walker but ultimately has a personal style which she stays true to. It's one thing to create something but it is then another to put it out in to the world for others to judge but as Roma explains it's not always our counterparts' opinions we should fear. "I'm really critical of my work. I'm just so passionate about photography but I've learned not to compare my work to anyone else's. It's about just doing your own thing". 

Road blocks are inevitable when working creatively and although Roma rarely struggles to come up with new ideas, it can be the logistical side of photography that proves the most challenging. "My first wedding shoot I arrived early only to discover the church all chained up. A very sweaty 15 minute car ride ensued once I tracked down the correct postcode for the actual venue!". Learning from experience is par of the course and it's something Roma is happy to embrace. The uncertainty of self-employment can be difficult to manage mentally but her positivity pushes through. "You just have to keep going and believe that it will all be okay!". Working solo can be a lonely existence at times and no one knows this more than a photographer welded to their computer screen in the middle of an editing spree. It has always been important to Roma to surround herself with like-minded people and she has found solace in a close-knit group of female photographer friends who all have each others back when it comes to supporting and promoting their work. "When I had just given birth to my daughter Robyn, one of the girls stepped in last minute to cover a wedding I was booked to do. We all help and encourage each other, sharing hints and tips. We also go on shoot trips together...the last one being in Paris". 

To say Roma likes to be busy would be a bit of an understatement. In a juggling act of being a new mum, a wife and a photographer (and up until recently, also holding down a full-time job), it's a role she is most comfortable undertaking. Keen to add more strings to her bow, she is now considering studying for a Masters degree. "I've always seen my photography as something I'll do alongside something else. I never would have imagined 5 or 6 years ago that this would turn in to a career! Ultimately I just want to keep going-ideally I'd like more time to do style shoots and travel more". Her get up and go attitude is what drives her to continue to work furiously and seek out the next adventure, quite often with baby alongside her. A trip to Thailand, when Robyn was only 5 months old, to photograph her brother's wedding on the beach was tackled with the same vigour as she approaches everything she endeavours to make possible. Embracing opportunities has led her to what she considers the finer things in life.  "My photography has allowed me to meet fun, fantastic people and visit new places". It's evident that whatever Roma decides to do next in her photography work you can be assured it will be executed with passion and a sense of escapism and celebration for all that is naturally beautiful. Best to follow her...she is bound to take you on the most magical of journeys. 

Roma and Robyn in Thailand

Get to know Roma more.....

First ever album you bought?

"The Craft soundtrack"

Who would you like to be stuck in a lift with?

"My husband-he's my best friend! We'd just chat away!"

If you could give your teenage self some advice what would it be?

"Dress better and study more! I had this idea if it was meant to be I'd pass!"

Pet peeve?

"People who kick pigeons! I also don't like negativity and jealously"

Contact Roma

Roma Elizabeth Photography website

Roma Elizabeth Photography Facebook

All images owned by Roma Elizabeth Photography 

Will You #brawitbraveit?

Hey there 2017ers!

The Braw and The Brave NEED YOU...... to get CREATIVE! 

I want the blog and it's social media sites to be a place where EVERYONE can be creative so I introduce to you BRAW-IT BRAVE-IT- an invitation for you to SHARE YOUR CREATIVITY! 

A doodle on an electricity bill envelope; a photo of that really nice building you saw on your way to work; your first attempt at origami; a wee poem your wrote on a birthday card! Anything goes! The beauty of being creative is that you can do no wrong! I'm not looking for masterpieces....just having a go! 

If being creative/arty/'one of those folk that makes stuff' seems alien to you, why not be brave and give it a bash?! Taking time to lose yourself in creating something from scratch can be good for the mind and soul! Sharing this with others can open up a world of possibilities! 

Share your BRAW-IT BRAVE-ITs on our Twitter, Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag 

#brawitbraveit and I'll be sure to share them with others to inspire conversation, appreciation & more creativity! 

Happy creating peeps!

Lis x

Human Jenga? and Other Questions

The Creative Process can be an tumultuous adventure peppered with so many contradictions. Moments of intense anxiety and stress find themselves in juxtaposition with periods of time where everything is plain-sailing and going your way. It can be a drawn-out, lengthy affair at points and then, all of a sudden, you find yourself moving from A-B quicker than you can say 'create'. Having an idea is one thing but what you do next to realise the vision is another. Every creative has their way of doing things and over time this evolves and morphs into something very different as we get to grips with what helps us get the juices flowing and what causes a draught. Looking to others for inspiration is a given and although we may not always seek out their advice and opinions (quite often you actively avoid it!), what they do, say, wear, think, produce can open up a world of creative possibilities or simply provide that tiny jigsaw piece that was missing. 

In my line of work, the creative process is always a journey that I embark on with others. Even when I'm alone, at home barefoot in my spare room attempting to choreograph the opening number to a show on a rainy Tuesday morning, I'm working with others. I have the dancers in mind-How do they move? What will they find challenging? What will excite them? Then there's the audience- What do they want to see? What do they need to see? Will they understand the story better through the choreography? Not forgetting other choreographers-What did they do with this number? What didn't they do that I could? And so, I start to make something that speaks to all of these people that I may have never even met before and might never and I think this is true for many creatives. Inspiration has to come from somewhere, something or someone- a painting, a song, a film, your granny's net curtains....whatever it may be, we all look outwardly at the world around us in the hope of igniting something inside. 

On the way back to my car today I came across this awesome piece of street art on the side of a Strathclyde University building. My initial reaction was 'oh that's cool' and I liked it enough to photograph it. But as I headed up the hill, I started to think of the artist's inspiration and the reasons why it was chosen for that particular wall. Art is meant to get you thinking and that's exactly what it did. Kudos to the artist for nailing that one! Looking at those 6 dudes in their black shorts and gym shoes, I started to wonder who in the scenario instigated this human jenga-like tableau.

The Dude Far Left: Did he do a handstand, begin to fall and the guy now supporting him ran in to catch his feet then decided to place them on his shoulders, thus starting off the entire piece? Et voila! A cool pose and a crisis averted. Or, did he fully intend to create this pose, instructing the other guy where to be exactly in order to acheive his vision. Does it matter how it happened? Is it not enough to say that this was the result? 

The Dude Standing, Facing Left: Was he the Hero as discussed above or was he the initial mastermind behind this set up? Is he afraid of heights or being upside down and so chose to be the base guy? His pose is pretty dull in comparison to the others but if we took him out of the equation, what would happen? 

The Dude Planking, Facing Left: Was it him that kicked it all off? Without the others he'd be doing his thing on the ground which certainly wouldn't be as impressive. But then again, he is arguably what makes this more interesting to look at, so is he the key to it's success? 

The Dude Planking, Facing Right: He's at the top, so maybe this was all his idea being the bravest one in the group. Again, if you took him out of the picture it would still be a spectacle but do you agree, he almost adds a hint of danger and excitement to it all?

The Dude Standing, Facing Right; Was this where it all began? Like his counterpart, standing on the other side,  he may have been the initiating piece of the puzzle from where everyone then took inspiration. We can all agree that without him, the picture would look very different. Just because his role wouldn't be deemed the most exciting one, does it mean we can't consider him as valuable?

The Dude Far Right: Whether he is a confident gymnast or someone being supported in a position he cannot hold himself, this guy is adding to the interest of it all. He's upside down for a start (what's not to like?!) and he's creating an element of symmetry to the picture (with his hand standing counterpart) which we can all appreciate. 

Was this six-man, Cirque Du Soleil set-up the goal or was it created out of sheer mishap? Was it a collaborative project involving the ideas of all six involved or was their one choreographer calling the shots? If it were the latter, is he in the picture or is there a 7th member of the group who was overseeing the entire thing from humble beginnings to it's final flourish? What we can't deny is that without those 6 bodies (aside from the number of brains that may or may not have been involved) this would have remained an idea and not a reality.  Did the artist witness this in real life or did he or she draw inspiration from other stimuli, using university life and Strathclyde's motto,  'The Place of Useful Learning' as a catalyst to creating the final artwork? 

It is likely we'll never know the answers to all these queries but do we need to? Is it not enough, just to be asking questions that may inspire us to create something for ourselves? The creativity that could go into making that six man tower isn't tangible or measurable and that's what makes the creative process a place of awesome contradictions and stifling wonderment. It's what makes the thing you create....literally! A long and winding road at times, it is never one which you travel alone....us creatives aren't solo travellers. Sometime we need to call on some dudes in short shorts and plimsoles to realise our dreams. 

Fingers, Pies and Everything in Between

For those who know me and have taken the time to click the link and have found themselves here wondering, 'What's that Lisa Kennedy up to now?!' (that's what you thought, eh?!), I thank you kindly for being curious enough to dedicate a pocket of your valuable social media scrolling time to moi. For those who don't know me, the people that do would tell you that 'I'm always up to something!'. Not in a devious, scheming sort of way of course, but more and more often, I find that when folks ask me what I'm up to in general day to day conversation, it always results in them remarking on how busy I am and the variety of 'pies I have my fingers in' as it were. Sometimes it can feel more like spinning plates than delighting in baked goods if I'm honest but all my life (all 33.5 years of it) I have felt and followed the urge to create. Dance, music, events....a mess (as my husband would add!) and it's always resulted in something. Big or small, appreciated or unnoticed, life changing or a fleeting pastime, whatever the outcome of this surge of creativity I'm never left feeling that it was a waste of my time. There's something, however small, to be gained from giving in to that instinct to make stuff. 

I think that's the reason why I have always migrated towards others who are also creative and find them the most easy to connect with. I admire those who are bold or brave enough to make something and then put it out in to the world for others to chew on. For a lot of creatives, the process is enough and the final piece of work is a bi-product, a souvenir of all the fun, frustration and fervour. Some bodies of work never see the light of day and are for the creator's sole (and soul!) enjoyment. For others, they send their 'new baby' in to the big bad world fully aware that they risk coming up against the Negative Nancys of the world but do so anyway, basking in the pride of what they have produced with their personal stamp firmly on it. 

I salute those who create and savour every aspect of the journey. They take the rough with the smooth and power through to make things of beauty that they and more often than not, others can enjoy and be inspired by. Inspiration is born out of life's ups and downs and that's where the beauty lies. A rap about the passing of a dear friend; street art celebrating a city's diverse culture; a dance piece about modern society's obsession with 'the perfect body'. Creatives make sense of and in turn, speak to the world around them through that which they create. It's when their world sits up, takes notice and changes in some way, shape or form for the better that they feel that 'spark'! 

It's my initial intention to showcase some of the most forward-thinking, fun-loving, talented creatives that I have the pleasure of knowing. In time I hope that in doing so I'll get to know more of these fine beings and be able to share their stories, wisdom and everything in between with you. 

Information is key. No man is an island. Whit's fur ye won't go by ye.....whatever your mantra, there's something to be gained from joining the army that is, The Braw and The Brave. 

Stay tuned. 

Love and Light, Lisa