A photographic star of the future?

On Wednesday I visited one of the schools local to where I live, Altrincham Grammar School for Girls to talk to one of the sixth formers.  Jayne is the first pupil from the school to be offered a place on a photography degree course at Stafford College.

As a local resident I try to support my local community where I can, and I'd offered my photographic services to the school in the past.  I received a phone call a couple of months ago asking if I'd be interested in talking to sixth formers about possible careers in the photographic industry, and so on Wednesday arrived at lunchtime to answer any questions Jayne might have.

There are many people out there who pursue photography as a hobby, and would love nothing better than to make a living from it.  Unfortunately, there is a big difference between doing something for yourself, for pleasure, and doing it as a means of paying the bills.  I don't know a single professional photographer who doesn't absolutely love their job, but we all agree that it is seriously hard work!

I spent an hour chatting with Jayne about the business of photography, showed here the wide range of projects and commissions I'd worked on over the past year and asked her about her own photographic interests.  Thankfully, I don't seem to have put her off, as this email landed in my inbox yesterday from the head of sixth form Gillian Winter:

"I met Jayne yesterday afternoon as I walked over from Main School and she stopped me to say how really useful meeting you was and how you have given her an insight into what she can do and how to run a photography business.  She was so enthusiastic that I wanted to share that with you."

Glad to have helped, Mrs Winter!

If you'd be interested in talking about the business of photography, I'd be happy to talk.  I can be contacted at my studio or via my website.

Kate and Gino's big day

Tonight I'm heading up to the Lake District as it's an early start tomorrow for the big wedding of the day.  Yes, Kate and Gino are marrying at Our Lady of the Wayside church in Grasmere, and having their reception at the wonderful Linthwaite House Hotel in Windermere.  

This has been in the diary for over a year, and I can't wait to get cracking.  It has all the makings of a fantastic day: great couple, wonderful backdrop of the English Lakes, very pretty country church (and Father Dave, who sounds like a lovely man on the phone, will do a great job of the service), and a top venue.  I shall also be working with one of my favourite companies, Reel Vision Films, who will be filming the event.  

On a personal note, if those of you who weren't invited to either wedding wanted to stay indoors to watch telly (there may be something on in the morning), that'd be great as it would mean the road from Ambleside to the church would be free of traffic.  Much appreciated!

Altrincham and Sale Chamber of Commerce Business Showcase

Well, well, well.  You don't hear anything for a while and then, just like the bus, three blog posts come along in quick succession!

So, there I was on Wednesday night at the latest business showcase that the Altrincham Chamber was putting on, as I advertised two days ago.  Put on by the Altrincham Chamber of Commerce and hosted by the good people at Altrincham Grammar School for Boys again, it's an evening where local businesses can talk to other businesses and the public who attend.

Of course, it's the people that make these events, and it was great to meet some new faces among the familiar ones.  A few new faces I photographed were Andrew from  Matchpoint Franchise Consultancy,      Helen at Ice Cream Dub and Mr Ali of Aminah Tandoori (who, incidentally, provided the superb curry on offer that evening).

The next Business Showcase is at the Point, Lancashire Cricket Club on 30th June.  Contact the Altrincham Chamber for more details.

Arley Hall wedding fair Sunday 20th March 2011

This one feels a bit like a homecoming gig!

I've had my studio based on the Estate at Arley Hall for almost three years now, just a two minute walk from the hall itself.  So I love the place!  I love driving there and working there every day, love being one of their preferred suppliers, love shooting weddings there - just love it, period!

Come along this Sunday to the wedding fair between 11am and 4pm to say hello, talk weddings and look at some fantastic images.

Altrincham Chamber of Commerce Business Showcase

Just a quick mention for the next Business Showcase that my local Chamber of Commerce is putting on tomorrow.  It's being held at Altrincham Grammar School for Boys between 5 and 8pm.

It's a great opportunity for local businesses to meet, find out about one another and, of course, start to do business.

As usual, I'll be there photographing the event for the Chamber.  The photos will be appearing in the next edition of the Chamber magazine, Altruism, and I will, of course, be blogging about the event here.

If you want more information about the Altrincham Chamber of Commerce contact them at www.altrinchamchamber.co.uk or call them on 0161 941 3250.

Has spring finally arrived?

Well, it certainly feels as if it might have done!

The snowdrops are out at Arley Hall and this feels like the first properly sunny spring day.

It's amazing what a bit of sunshine does for the spirits, but mine have also been lifted by a brilliant couple of weeks, at home and at work.

Rachel and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary (having been together for 25 years!) last week and spent our anniversary morning watching our son's rugby team go through to the next round of the Cheshire Cup.  Not glamorous, I know, but good fun.

And I need to say a big thank you to the lovely couples who have booked me in the last few days to shoot their weddings: Jill and Mark getting married at Peckforton Castle, Matt and Anna getting married at Holy Angels Church and then celebrating their marriage at Stanneylands Hotel, Lucy and Marcus getting married at Mere Golf and Country Club, and Jennifer and Mark getting married at Peckforton Castle. Great people celebrating their weddings at great venues - I love my job!

And, finally, my week got underway with a bit more good news: I have been invited to be one of the preferred photographers for Capesthorne Hall in Cheshire.  It is a wonderful place to celebrate your wedding and I am really looking forward to continuing to work closely with the lovely staff at the Hall and the Pavillion.

And now, back to designing wedding albums.

February already!

Wow!  Where did January go?

I last posted a week ago, saying I was going to be exhibiting at the Tatton Park Wedding Show at the end of the month.  Since then, I've attended another wedding show and answered dozens and dozens of enquiries.  Where is the time going?

So, a big thank you to everyone I have met over the past three weekends, at Peckforton Castle, at Tatton Park and at Cottons Hotel, a bigger thank you to those who have already made appointments to visit the studio to talk further about their wedding photography, and the biggest thank you of all to those couples who have recently booked me as their wedding photographer!

I still have a few spaces left in my diary for 2011, while 2012 is filling up so if you're interested in meeting please contact me via my website or on 01565 777186.