About
About
Hi There, I’m Nat Orchard
I’m living my dream in a small countryside village in Devon just minutes from the sea. Artist, photographer and handicrafter with a passion for wool and all things handmade. I love paddling in the sea, chocolate, countryside walks and working from home with my 3 kids playing around me. My mission? To inspire others to create amazing story telling images with natural organic props.
Welcome to Crafty Photographers
Do you have a creative visual learning mind? Are you on a constant mission to improve your skills? Create amazing newborn photos, learn new crafts and perfect old ones, explore how to use your stash of handmade props and even make your own amazing DIY creations.
Sweet! Me too! You’re gonna feel right at home here!
Launched into existence in 2017, the Crafty Photographers Blog is loaded with tips, tricks, articles and resources to help you.
I want to introduce to you my passion for creative images through articles, resources and challenges but leave the actual baby posing up to you! Actually I want you to come on a journey with me… I love using natural materials, of course all the woolly props I make but also any natural material you can find; wool, silk, cotton, flowers, twigs, leaves, feathers etc. I love designing new props, exploring new colours, experimenting with new materials and learning new skills. In the coming months I’m going to be exploring all the ways these can be used in your images both in a live shoot and through post processing. You will be learning with me as I explore my passion!
Let’s Be Friends
If all of the above sounds right up your alley, then Craft Photographers is the place for you!
What do you think? Are you excited to start on a new journey to add more creativity to your images and take them to a new level through natural props and nature?
Let me know if there are any topics you want me to explore, any image style or prop you want me to cover? I want to hear your ideas so you can help shape the journey too!
You can sign up to become a
‘Friend of Nat Orchard ‘
right here… receive weekly newsletters and start enjoying the additional insights, sneak peeks and free downloads delivered straight to your inbox every Wednesday!
How I was Inspired
I didn’t always have this business: At the age of 23 I was tired in a stuffy windowless office as an assistant photographer thinking I’d landed my dream job but that dream turned into a ladder-climbing nightmare.
Craving freedom and recognition for my own personal creativity, a few years later I finally took the plunge to run my own business. From fine art photographer to picture framer, to graphic design and lots in between I then started newborn photography.
I loved the visual variety, from arranging a set-up to the actual shoot and then being creative in Photoshop during post processing…. and lots of cuddles with cute babies (obviously!)
I couldn’t help but fall in love with all the amazing props I started collecting and I still missed being truly creative with my hands, “I would love to make my own” I thought thinking back to my textiles degree days.
A few years ago I used to be a Newborn Photographer like you, although probably not as good as all the beautiful images I see all of you taking! I loved creating different setups and exploring all the many different props and other items I could collect, experimenting with colour, planning the whole shoot…. what I wasn’t good at was the final touch, posing the baby which is rather important! That’s why I changed sides to continue my love of textures, colour and natural materials through making props!
I couldn’t help but fall in love with all the amazing props I started collecting and I still missed being truly creative with my hands, “I would love to make my own” I thought thinking back to my textiles degree days.
A few years ago I used to be a Newborn Photographer like you, although probably not as good as all the beautiful images I see all of you taking! I loved creating different setups and exploring all the many different props and other items I could collect, experimenting with colour, planning the whole shoot…. what I wasn’t good at was the final touch, posing the baby which is rather important! That’s why I changed sides to continue my love of textures, colour and natural materials through making props!
“I wasn’t looking to start a prop shop.. I was a photographer!”
Whilst searching for ideas I was trying to find some natural and organic looking props with texture that wasn’t faux fur!! and I couldn’t find much.. That’s where it all started…. Living in the countryside meant lots of lovely local sheep and I was fascinated with all the ancient techniques you can use with wool: felting, spinning, knitting and weaving.
“I am so lucky to have found something that I can be passionate about and pour my creativity into, while still being able to be a stay at home Mum.”
Ya wanna know what lights me up? I love to help photographers plan beautiful set-ups that tell a story and speak to their clients personally, I have an eye for what makes an amazing image and I love researching new ideas and prop combinations.
I’m probably sipping hot chocolate or a chilled glass of rose and dreaming of ways I can help other photographers grow a profitable, passionate and creative business that allows them to create story telling images from the heart that their clients will love.
When I’m not busy working on designing new woolly creations you can catch me drooling over flowers in our local garden centre, watching Peppa pig with my youngest daughter or checking out a new beach where I can paddle in the sea!