Wildlife Image of the Month January 2012 – Coastal Grizzy Looking Out to Sea

Well what a busy month January has turned out to be! I don’t know about you but the last few weeks have flown by. January started off with my first exhibition at the Eastbourne wedding fair. I then had to catch up with a batch of images from the Christmas festive shoot at Ashdown Park Hotel. Progressing onto the annual (PITA) compiling of my tax records ready for the accountant. Also finishing up editing a few weddings and lastly a designing a couple of wedding story book albums. Thank God I have now caught up with almost everything I needed too and can return my efforts back to my new office/studio. So before I pick up the paint brush I would like to share with you my image of the month.

This image was taken in Alaska and appears on the January page of my Wildlife calendar 2012. I hope you like it? I’ll have another image for you next month.

Festive Photography – Ashdown Park Hotel

The sparkle of  Christmas lights and the joys of Christmas may be a dwindling memory in your mind as we move well into 2012 but not for me.

The day before Christmas Eve I was commissioned by my favourite wedding venue Ashdown Park Hotel to produce a set of Christmas and Festive stock images for promotional use.  I spent a fun filled day kindly assisted by Warren and Melissa (thanks guys), setting up various displays of mouth watering delights ranging from Starters to Main and Desert courses. We were under timing constraints and had to work extremely quickly as the restaurant was about to open for a Christmas lunch sitting with a large amount of guests ready to descend.

Afterwards we moved onto the reception area and lounges for the rest of the afternoon where we photographed various set ups of mince pies, cream teas, cocktails and the famous Ashdown Park Teddy Bear!

Late afternoon I departed only to return a few hours later to photograph the restaurant, which had been set-up for the evening session.  It looked fantastic with all the table candles lit giving it a really warm, welcoming and Christmas feel.

However, no rest for the wicked, I continued working for another few hours photographing table set ups in the chapel area and a Christmas party night in the Harry Clarke suite. Once I returned home later that night I downed tools for the rest of the Christmas holidays and only began working on the images this week.  A few of which you can see on this page.  I hope you like them and remember it is only 11 months to go before we do it all again!!!  :o))

Wedding Fair – Eastbourne Winter Gardens

Late last night (Sunday) I returned home from a two day wedding fair in Eastbourne held at the Winter Gardens in aid for “Help the Heroes.”   It was a first for me to attend a two day wedding fair and I personally think it was a well organised and successful event.  Both days went extremely quickly and I had the pleasure with speaking to so many couples I lost count.  Before the event I prepared flyers, sample CD’s and business cards to give out to prospective clients to a level which I thought would be an excessive amount. However at the close of the show I only had a few items left, so a rough guesstimate I must have spoken to at least 100+ bride & grooms.  I pride myself on never pressurising anyone showing an interest in my photography and prefer to let them decide in their own time.  I also try to educate couples into the pro and cons of selecting a wedding photographer and the possible pit falls of choosing a poor photographer for their wedding photography.

The feedback I received from many people speaking to me was wonderful;  comments such as…

“Your…….”

“photography looks so natural, everyone looks so relaxed in the photographs…”

“wedding albums and display all look extremely professional….”

“photography is a level above others…”

“black and white images look amazing…”

“Storybook wedding albums really tell the story of the day…”

To hear and receive such complimentary feedback was fantastic.  Normally it is difficult to judge the successful level of a wedding fair as you can receive bookings instantly, 6 weeks later or even months pass before you receive a booking.  After this weekend I am extremely encouraged by speaking to so many people that the wedding industry is still very much booming with many couples looking at 2013 weddings and some for 2014.

Also I  met and made some new friends at the fair by after speaking to other wedding suppliers, it was a very friendly atmosphere at the show.

Finishing on a positive note, I hope the event raised a great amount for the “Help the Heroes” trust and would like to thank the organisers Ann & Phil for all their hard work in putting the show together. I am already looking forward to next year’s event.