Being Friendly ..

I was taking Pr photographs of youngsters in a school last week and the head teacher said something very nice about me. She said "What a nice change .. a friendly photographer!" and went on to tell me that whenever the local press snappers turned up at the school they were always grumpy!..

Well, a smile costs nothing as they say though, quite frankly, why wouldn't I smile when I get paid to do what I love doing all day long? Especially photographing happy young children! I remember, before I had my studio, putting an ad in our local Post Office that said something like 'Give me a ring and I'll shoot your kids!'. I don't think people quite 'got' that little slogan but I'm pleased to say that, despite the ad, I will be shooting kids once the summer holidays are over. A local playgroup has approached me and invited me in for two photo-sessions in the early autumn. Can't wait ..

Another exciting development this week is my Summer Wedding offer. I'm taking 5% off any Wedding booking received before August 31st. Now how's that for being a friendly photographer?..

Born again..

The resurrection! The re-birth! No, not Easter, but the fact that Jessops has been brought back to life by that Dragon's Den dude off the telly! Today sees him open 30 or so of the camera shops back on the high street in a relaunch not many saw coming. His strategy? Sell the goods in the shops at the same price people can buy 'em from the internet! Radical, eh? However, if you're a blog regular, you'll know that I myself witnessed at first hand the ridiculous approach that got Jessops in all that trouble in the first place. I went to buy a Fuji X10 from their Warrington store and was told, after I'd had a good look at it and decided I wanted one, to go home and order it from the 'net as it would be £50 cheaper! Not only that, I could come back to the store and collect it! Work that one out! So, here's hoping Dragon's Den can work its Easter magic on the brand, and Jessops turns out to be an all-round good egg after all!

Technical note : Today's picture, a charming portrait of one of the new twins in our family (No, I don't know which one!) was shot on the aforementioned X10, set to f2 and super-macro. Now go out and get a life, why don't you!..

That's just a straight plug..

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you're gettin' all loved up and squidgy! Oh, that reminds me, I shoot Weddings! Yeah, thought I'd better mention it, as all this exhibition mullarkey seems to have hogged my blog! It's actually four weeks until I shoot my next one, but I've just taken another fantastic booking for Peckforton Castle this Christmas, so things is rollin' along nicely...

Oh, I shoot Child Portraits, too! Might as well get a plug in for that whilst I'm at it! This Sunday I'm off back to Willington Hall because a couple whose Wedding I photographed there two Christmases ago have a new arrival, and she's about to make her debut in front of my lens! Have a look at my new 'Dimples' web page ..

Oh, and PR .. don't forget my PR photography! I'm quite good at that, too! Shoots this year have already included a brochure for a Management Consultany firm, and a feature on the state of the UK's high streets.

And flowers! Well, you know I shoot flowers, 'cos that's the theme of my next appearance at the Eccles Art Gallery, innit? Oh, I've mentioned that, have I?...