URBAN BEEYATCHES!

I went out a couple of weeks ago with Cecelia and Becky for a fashion style photoshoot on the streets of Manchester. I found a few decent locations and we headed off out for about an hour with the theme of Urban Bitches! Some results below.

Nicola and Simon

My first wedding of 2010 was the marriage of Nicola and Simon in March. The whole ceremony was held at the Holiday Inn, Bolton Centre. I’d been looking forward to doing this wedding for 3 reasons: 1) I’d not done a wedding in a while and been itching to get back into it; 2) the venue is very special to me as it is where my own wedding reception was held; 3) Simon did a great job of teaching me how to drive and I wanted to return the favour!

The main function room at the Holiday Inn has to be seen to be believed. The hotel was built next to the site of a disused church, and rather than knock down the church, they chose to build onto it and use it as a function room. The weather in the week leading up to the day was a bit dodgy but couldn’t have been better on the day (ok, it could have been a touch warmer but we’ll not mention that). Some highlights below…















Congratulations to the pair of you. I really enjoyed shooting your big day and I hope you love the pictures!

Calender Girls for Christies

Ok, its been a while since I posted on here so time for an update.

In February I was asked to photograph lots of semi naked women in a pub after closing time. Being a married man I naturally declined the offer until I was told the cause. After finding out one of their close friends had been having treatment for cancer, a bunch of ladies decided to help raise money Christies Hospital by doing a calendar girls style shoot. So on March 16th I made my way to the Help Me Thro’ pub in Bury, to do the shoot. What a laugh! The girls were on top form and I must say very brave to be getting undressed in front of me (although I think the fact it was held in a pub gave them something to assist with the poses, including a topless group shot done outside the pub as below).



They are currently trying to raise funds to get the calendars printed up. Details of how you can donate can be found on the site below.

http://calendargirlsforchristies.blogspot.com/

And you can also join their Facebook group using the link below.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Calendar-Girls-for-Christies/350510659411

(sorry, can’t do HTML)

Bryanna

I've been desperate to get out and take some photographs since the snow fell in Manchester this week but have been unable to until today. So before it went dark this afternoon, I grabbed one of my neighbours to come for a walk and have some photos taken. The light wasn't the best and I hadn't brought any flash gear, but got some good shots anyway.













Thanks to Bryanna for being a willing and freezing model for half hour or so. Hope you like the pics.

Dee and Paul

This was my final wedding of the year, and what a way to finish it off. Dee and Paul got married in the Castlefield Rooms in Central Manchester last week. The whole event was held at the venue with the wedding happening at 4pm. By the time it came round to doing the formal shots, the sun had set leaving us to do the portraits around Castlefield in the dark. The couple were absolute stars, with Dee proving the perfectly fearless bride, marching high heeled across the cobbled streets in the freezing cold and dark, not afraid to get her dress on the ground in order to get the shots they wanted. And it paid off, we got some amazing portrait shots which I am really proud of. A few can be seen below. These two had to have been the most chilled out people I’ve ever photographed. They were so relaxed throughout the entire day and were up for almost anything photography wise. Top stuff. The 3 tiered wedding pork pie was a fantastic idea. Congratulations guys!























My special thanks goes out to Audrey who was my assistant for the day. Audrey was invaluable in everything to do with photographing this occasion; coming visiting the venue twice prior to the wedding to help find locations, suss out how to light areas and pose the couple. The portrait shoot wouldnt have gone even half as smoothly without your help Audrey so a big BIG THANKS for everything.

Lisa and Martin

This was where my illusions of being a good weather charm were rained on from a great height (ho ho!). Lisa and Martin tied the knot at the Royal Toby Hotel in Castleton, Rochdale. Fantastic venue this is, the wedding moved from the function room, to the beautiful Italian restaurant downstairs, and back to the function room seamlessly. The couple had the genius idea of having the DJ bring karaoke gear along which really made the night special. Some highlights below.

















Congratulations to the pair of you, you make a fantastic couple. Thanks for letting me capture this day for you and I wish you all the best for the future.

Gemma and Ian

My second wedding in a row at the Bolholt in Bury, this time in a different suite. For some reason I always talk about the weather on this blog (typical Brit), but we again had some great luck. It had lashed it down all week, long causing much worry all round. But come the morning of the big day it was nothing but glorious sunshine, most surprising for October time! I had a great day here with Gemma and Ian and had some fun capturing their special day. Some highlights below.

















Congratulations to you both! Will be taking you up on that night out when your album arrives!

Emma and Simon

Emma and Simon got married at the Bolholt Hotel in Bury last month. Fantastic venue this, perfect set-up for weddings with top class co-ordinators making sure everything is perfect on the day. It was lashing it down for almost the full week leading up to this day and had me worried we weren't going to get good use of the fantastic exterior of the venue. But as luck would have it, it stayed dry for long enough to get some good shots of the happy couple. Highlights below...