open & enchanting portraits
ria mishaal
Based in Chandler’s Ford, Hampshire
When choosing a photographer, you are selecting someone for their personality and their artistic eye. I’ve been told by my clients that I'm a calming influence. My style is to capture the real moments, to be sensitive and to empathise with my subjects.
I am a Fellow of The Royal Photographic Society, and I assess their qualifications at all three levels. I teach & coach photography to new photographers and creative entrepreneurs.
rps live interview
As part of the Royal Photographic Society's season of online talks, I was interviewed live by Sue Brown FRPS, chair of the RPS Fine Art panel. I talk about my journey as a photographer and how I created my Project Animalia series.
PROJECT ANIMALIA
Based on the work I created for my successful FRPS panel, this work aims to capture the personality of the children and animals, showing them interacting as if they were really in the same space. I create painterly, fantastical images that would look to the children as if they could be real. All images are composites.
the concept
I feel when children discover they share this world with other living creatures, it opens their hearts, it opens up their minds, and creates empathy for others.
With ‘Project Animalia’, I wanted to encourage children’s connection with and respect for the natural world, by showing them interacting with their favourite animals through these digital composites.
My images narrate the importance of animals in our lives, as they fill our dreams, star in our stories and teach us about our place in nature.
But Simultaneously, I wanted to use this project to remind people that wild animals only belong in our imaginations and in the wild. They are not, and never should be, pets.
lions and tigers and bears.......Oh my!
- Dorothy, The Wizard of Oz
HOW IT WORKS
- Children and animals are photographed SEPARATELY and then put together in the image by digital manipulation.
- Children are photographed in my studio with parents present, against backdrops I have hand-painted.
- Animals are photographed at a separate time. They are live and may be photographed in my studio, at zoos, aquariums, wildlife parks, and in the wild on travel trips I have taken. The appropriate property releases will be obtained for all privately owned animals.
THE EXPERIENCE
* Video call consultation to discuss animal choice, styling and concept
* 1 hour session
* Photography of animal and digital retouching to create the art
* Portrait presentation in the studio or on video call
with a minimum of two original Animalia portraits
and 10 fine art portraits, which you can choose to buy
Session including 2 fine art mounted prints and their digital copies
£695
Additional print bundles and wall art start at £395
KIND WORDS
“Ria’s attention to detail in the preparation and execution of the photo shoot was absolutely spot on….I am thrilled to have such stunning pictures of both Emily and mum, it is fantastic to have so many beautifully composed pictures of the most important people in my life. Obtaining a photo of the three generations together has been an aspiration of mine for ages, I am so happy that Ria captured the images so beautifully.” – Sarah
ready to book or have questions?
The portrait studio is currently closed due to the pandemic, but if you would like to join the waiting list for shoots or you would like to discuss bespoke brand photography or photography coaching, please fill out the form below and I'll get back to you.
I am looking forward to it!
