Oh, Joy ..

Finally, finally I have a website dedicated to my Joy Division photographs .. and it's only taken me all of ten years since I first showed them to the world! JoyDivisionPhotos.com went live this morning and I'm delighted to be - at last - able to start promoting the site. In May I'll be kicking off a major Joy Division exhibition in Macclesfield, as well as several 'travelling' shows to tie in with a stage-play about the band. And all that, of course, is tied in with the - gulp - thirty-fifth anniversary of the death of lead singer Ian Curtis. Poignant still ...

The show at the People's History Museum is going well too, judging by the tweets that are coming out from people who have been to see it. Actually, if you'd planned to go and see it, it's down until Thursday because of other activities going on at the Museum. Bit of warning for ya there! ..

Great to get yet another Manchester Wedding Photography booking for a Wedding next year, but .. ask me how I got it! Go on, ask me! Did the couple Google me? Meet me at a Wedding Fayre? Pick up a flyer at a hotel? I'll tell ya tomorrow .. 

Twit..

Twitter! That's what's on my mind today! I'm just 11 'Follows' short of 1,000 .. and I'm determined to hit four figures before the week is out! Why? I don't know! I should say it's because I want to build a valuable, profitable online presence, but really I'm just a saddo who fancies the geeky, plastic idea of hitting that magical figure! But never mind that! Help a poor boy out, here! Follow me now! You too can be a recipient of my never-ending stream of witty, intelligent chit-chat! There's even a bribe in there. The 1,000th 'Follower' will receive an A4 print of one of my images they like! Lucky you!..

Online presence! Hmmmm! I've just spent another whole day working on the website for Manchester Wedding Photography. I decided to change the font this time! Made it less BOLD! More feminine! More modern! I hope it bloody works..

And now I must go! I need to tweet this blog ..

Still together after all these years ..

I look back at a lot of the people in my photographs and wonder "Where are they now?" and, at the weekend, I got the chance to meet up with a couple of my old 'subjects'! I took a shot of a bust of Cromwell alongside this ventilator flue on my Olympus XA way back in the 80s. I loved the fact that they looked like a couple, an actual pair of sculptures designed to be together. Well, I was back at Buile Hill park in Salford on Sunday and I'm delighted to report that they're still there. Actually, they're behind bars together! The beautiful old Mining Museum, where they're situated, has long been closed and is now a sorry sight, boarded up and surrounded by railings, locks and bars. The shot on the right is as close as I could get to my old friends! It made me feel quite sad but, as I always say at Manchester Wedding Photography, I'm so glad they're still together after all these years ..

It's all go ..

Time to turn my attention to other things! Made in Eccles has got three months to do its own thing now, and I have other projects to think of! Manchester Wedding Photography, for example! Remember I shoot Wedding photography? Oh yes, it's all coming back to me now! I'm preparing for another Wedding Fayre this Sunday - at the lovely Buile Hill Park Hall in Salford - and I'm off for a meeting at lunchtime with a new Bridal lounge in Manchester where, hopefully, there'll be a mutual tie-in and I'll be able to promote my services to the young ladies of the town. Behave!..

There's exciting Joy Division news in the offing, too. I'm off to Macclesfield this afternoon with offers of a new exhibition on the cards. And there's Smiths news, too! Stay tooned! And I've got a landscape photography exhibition on the desktop...

It's all go ..

Get it up ..

Today's the day! It's time to hang up my washing .. er, my photographs! I'll be spending today at The People's History Museum putting up my 'Made in Eccles' exhibition, with this photograph taking a leading role in the show. It's a shot of our laundry, hanging in the back garden, circa 1975. My poor old Mum was horrified when she saw it! "Oh, our Martin.." she flustered "How can you show that! Look at the state of it!" Sorry Mum! Reality's king in my world! Oh, and mentioning Manchester Wedding Photography! SEO's a bit of a ruler, too...


Anyways, better get a move on ...

'Til I die ..

I learnt this morning that a pal and his missus have decided to go their seperate ways after 20-odd years together, and yesterday I spoke to not one, but two photographers who've decided to ease off the snapping and go into teaching! Jeez, I even know a guy that's just gone and bought himself a speedboat! Anyway, it's causing me to get worried. I think I've forgotten to have a mid-life crisis! I don't want to sound smug but I'm happy with everything about my life! Especially the bit about being a photographer! I love the fact that I'm still making a living from taking photographs, and I cannot imagine any other way of life! I mean, ok, I worry about the dropping levels of work - now that everyone thinks they can do my job with their mobile phones - but I'm sure that, somehow, I'll still be taking photographs as an old codger! Manchester Wedding Photography 'til I die ..

Actually, this blog does sound smug. I don't think I'll publish this one. Oh, sod it, go on ..

With this ring ..

Check this out! One of the joys of Manchester Wedding Photography is that you get to see a couple's individuality - their quirks, their tastes, their lifestyle - and so there was no doubting the groom who chose this as his Wedding ring last month! Talk about a Rock God! How fantastic!..

The wheels are in motion now for the publicity for 'Made in Eccles' - my upcoming, as those Yanks say, exhibition at The People's History Museum in Manchester.
A very flattering piece went up online yesterday. All I can do is point you to it ..

Oh, and the groom with the crazy ring? Leaving the celebrations after the first dance, as I did, I can't confirm the rumour that the groom, by the end of the evening, was out of his skull!
Ba Dum! Tish!!.....

Paris ..

Beauty, peace, light, smiles ... you gotta think positively when the news is like it is at the moment. Man, what a horrible start to the New Year. I don't need to add anything but my thoughts to the horror and disgust that has already been expressed about Paris, but I was reading that yesterday was the first day in God knows how long that there were no deaths reported in Syria. A heavy snowstorm apparently kept everyone inside! Thank God for snow, eh? ..

Two weeks 'til my exhibition opens, and I'm now featured in the mail-out doing the rounds from The People's History Museum. A couple of local 'papers have taken up the story too so, being as publicity-shy as I am, I'm having to bite the bullet and chat to journalists about the show! ..

It's fair to say there's a lull now for Manchester Wedding Photography, so I'm spending my time tarting up the website and advertising such things as 'I shoot Vintage' and 'I shoot Film' .. and anything else I can think of that might inspire newly engaged couples to book me! ..

Hey, beauty, peace, light, smiles! Yeah, I shoot them! ..

Have a sit down ..

I almost didn't write a blog today. Hell no, I'm far too busy! Well, it's that time of year, isn't it? I've got sofas to buy, cruise holidays to book, detox diets to start .. who's got time to blog? Actually, TV ads aside, I have had a busy start to the year, albeit stuck in front of my trusty Mac as I work through Wedding selections and people's print orders. I spent yesterday mentally back in October, as I sorted out the images for a Wedding I shot then at the Didsbury House Hotel. Today I'm working on a selection of shots that have been ordered from a lady who came into the studio for some 'Dating Agency' photographs. The agency like them so much, in fact, that they've asked if I'd consider travelling to London to shoot more of their clients! Tasty! I've also chucked a bit more work at the websites - both Manchester Wedding Photography and StudioFiveFour - in my never-ending quest to get them up, up, up those rankings. In fact, I googled myself yesterday and was delighted to say I came out on the front page exactly one listing above one of my old mates! We may be the best of pals but I'm afraid there's no love lost in the murky jungle of work! Ha ..

No love lost? Isn't that a Joy Division song? Funny you should ask, 'cos I've got good news about my shots of the band. They'll be going 'on tour' in the Spring as part of a theatrical production about the group. Theatrical production? A play, Martin .. a play. Jeez, keep it simple! I'll tell you more after my meeting with the company. Man, I need a sit down ...

Frosty reception ..

Great, isn't it? Tree down, decorations gone and time for the obligatory 'Let's go to the park and photograph the frost' walk! Normality has returned!
Oh, January, such joy!..

I was searching for a message I'd received recently on Facebook, and suddenly came across a section of my page I'd never seen before. In it were 48 unread messages! Forty-eight!! Bloody hell! It seems it's a section where messages go if you're not a 'Friend' with a person but they message you anyway, so they varied in importance from utterly irrelevant or highly amusing to 'Oh, bugger, I wish I'd seen this'! Irrelevant messages included one which started 'Dear O'Neill' and one which told me about an Uncle who'd died and left me $17.2m .. Nice! Highly amusing ones included two involving the famous photographer Terry O'Neill. 'Is he your Dad?' asked one and 'Can you put us in touch with him?' asked another. A couple of people asked if I remembered them (No!) and there was one which simply said 'Such a loser' but then there were messages saying things like 'The prints were really fantastic' and 'Promotional material received; Photography and quality brilliant!' .... Aaagh! Who? When? What? Oh, bugger! Note to self: Monitor your pages more effectively!..


Oh, the original message I wanted to find? A Wedding enquiry for 2016. The fourth I've had in a week! Looks like Manchester Wedding Photography will be shooting more than frost come this time next year ..

Happy New Year!

And so we take our first tentative steps into the new year!
Happy 2015, everybody!..

First task today - looking forward to the New Year - was to look back at 2014 and design a montage of some of my fave Wedding shots! I spent this morning trawling the files and putting together a 'greatest hits' of the year collection for Manchester Wedding Photography. It's a bit too big to put on here so I added a link to it here! Enjoy!..

And now I must away to set the table, as we're hosting one last 'fling' of the season.
Incoming! Parents at one o'clock... 

Splashdown ..

So, the funny story ..

I was shooting a Christmas Wedding at Peckforton Castle, literally on this Monday a year ago. The weather was abysmal. It rained non-stop all day, and I didn't get a single photograph of anybody outside .. much to my frustration. However, just before the Wedding Breakfast, the rain stopped and I practically pleaded with the Bride and Groom to come outside for a quick photograph. They reluctantly agreed, as long as the Bride could hold her dress up and away from the soaking paths, so it was lights, cameras and a hasty walk down to the gate-house at Peckforton to enable me to get the whole of the Castle in the shot. I parked the couple under the huge tree there, plonked down my tripod, set up my light and .. a Rook dropped a big blob of poo straight onto the Groom's head! (It was easy to see .. the guy had no hair!) I automatically pressed the shutter, even though I hadn't set the exposure or white balance, and was just about to shoot again when the Bride screamed in dismay and set off back to the Castle at 100mph. The big, black splish had bounced straight off the Groom's head.. and all over her dress! The shoot was over!
No shots of the couple outside the castle.
So close!!..

Next there were tears, and then I got a ticking off from the Bride's dad, but I was more concerned that I hadn't got a shot of the couple with their venue in the picture! Still, everything calmed down and, by the time the pair came to Manchester Wedding Photography to pick up their Wedding album some months later it was all a great, big, funny part of the day. It goes to show that these things are always worth shooting 'cos, when it's all done and dusted, a dress is for a day, but a memory is a memory for ever!..

"I'd love to Blog that one day.." I said to them. "You should.." they said.
I just have..

Happy Anniversary, guys!...

Time passes ..

The Shortest Day of The Year! I love it! It's such a pyschological moment for me 'cos, in my head, that's winter done! Bizarre I know, but it really cheers me up to think that, from today, our half of the planet begins its spin back towards the sunshine and Spring is on its way! Well, kinda!..

Anyway, as per, I shall be playing Jethro Tull's 'Solstice Bells' and digging out my sunblock and swimming trunks..

Great shoot at StudioFiveFour yesterday with a one year old puppy. I should say a very happy one year old puppy, 'cos I had to feed him so many treats to get him to sit still that he left the studio about three pounds heavier! And, believe it or not, I still have a shoot booked in this coming week for a family who want to give a portrait of themselves as a present to their parents! Talk about last minute!..

A year ago I shot the last Wedding of the year for Manchester Wedding Photography, and I have a rather amusing story from the day. Twelve months on, and with the blessing of the bride, I think I'm now safe to tell the tale.
No time now, tell ya tomorrow.. 

Moan, moan, moan ..

One of the favours from my nephew's Wedding on Saturday .. with my name on it .. and yes, quite a few people came up to me during the day reminding me to put down my cameras and remember that I was a "guest as well" ..

I'm sorry? Put my cameras down during a Wedding? Well, that was never going to happen, and that's why I've got over 1, 000 images to edit today before I hand over a disc of images as my contribution to the gift pile! ..

We all had a fantastic day although, me being me, I had to have a couple of grumbles on the day. The first was when the staff at The Worsley Court Hotel erected a gazebo right in front of a gorgeous area for photographs. Grade 2 listed Tudor-exterior black and white building, with a plastic tent right in the way so that people could puff on fags just where I wanted to put the bride and groom! I hate smoking!! If you follow me on Facebook you'll have seen my rant about that while I waited for the bride to arrive. Second, a very rude registrar who deliberately stood  between me and the newly-weds just as they were about to sign the register. "You can't photograph the register.." crowed one of the mini-Hitlers! "I know.." I hissed "I've been doing this for thirty-six years...!" Grrrr....

Still, that's another one in the bag and - sob, sob - that's my last Wedding for 2014. Take a break, Manchester Wedding Photography! Time to put the Portrait and PR head back on, 'cos it's a busy old week in those departments. I've got three portrait sessions booked, plus two PR jobs and two Christmas parties to photograph. Oh, and a trip to the dentist! See, I knew I could find something else to moan about ...

 

Parents!..

Phwoar! A nice, big meaty snog! This is one of the new pictures I've added to my Manchester Wedding Photography website. "Hey .." said Lesley, giving all that hard work the once-over "Do you remember the mother of a bride who told you off for that?.." I thought for a moment. "Oh, cripes, yes..." I laughed, the memory of it coming back like a dodgy hamburger "She actually contacted me to tell me off, because I'd photographed her daughter  ... kissing!!" Yes folks, I once had an MOB (Mother of the bride!) phone me to say how inappropriate it was that I'd photographed her daughter - a bride - kissing her new husband! I only have to think of that story now and an image of Les Dawson pops into my head. "Have you met my Mother-in-law?.." he growls, top lip curling!..

Anyway, speaking of parents, I was delighted to see that The Peoples' History Museum is now promoting my forthcoming exhibition 'Made in Eccles' and there, in pride of place, is me old Dad Joe O'Neill. I love that shot, and it always amazes me to think he was only 44 when I shot that. Ten years younger than I am now! God, what I'd do to be able to kiss him now .. 

Read my blog ..

Check out this list! These are stats from yesterday's blog, showing the countries where people have logged on to read my ramblings! Isn't that brilliant? Although I'd love to know what causes these sudden bursts of interests in different countries - there were 29 'reads' of the blog in Ukraine, for example. Oh, and 'Hi!' to the one person in the UAE who dropped by!..

Had a great portrait shoot in the studio yesterday. A fourteen year old lad whose mother was convinced would be a nightmare to photograph! Folks, he didn't want to leave! Well, ok, he did .. of course he did .. it was almost tea-time .. but he wasn't as traumatised as his Mum thought he would be! There's another booking like this on Saturday too and, again, it's a case of Mum being unhappy with the school photo her son has had taken. Happy to help, all you Mums out there! Happy to help ..

Just over a week until the next outing for Manchester Wedding Photography but, this time, it's a bit of a 'family affair'. My nephew ties the knot with the lovely Ashley on the 13th and I've offered to shoot their Big Day as a Wedding Present. At least you'll know that, as I'll be busy working, I won't be the one doing the embarrassing 'Uncle' dancing on the disco floor.
Now that would be a blog to read ..

Just like buses ..

Exhibitions, eh? They're just like buses! You wait ages for one, and then two come along at the same time! I think it's true to say I don't often get days like this, with final arrangements being made for not one, but two exhibitions of my work within the next few weeks. It's really exciting! Firstly, the press releases and posters are going out for my part in a show at the Ono Arte Contemporanea gallery in Bologna, Italy, and then on Friday I'm having a meeting to finalise arrangements for my 'Made in Eccles' show at the Peoples' History Museum in Manchester. On top of all that, this week I've had to start delivery of the first batch of images to the 'Martin O'Neill Collection' (I love that name!!) at the Mary Evans Picture Library in London and I've been asked if more of my images of Chris Sievey/Frank Sidebottom can be used in the forthcoming film about his life!  I mean, forget Christmas! I'm getting all my presents now!..

Bugger! I forgot to mention Manchester Wedding Photography ! My SEO guy says I need to drop it into the 'conversation' at least once a day. I know, I can tell you about the time I shot a Wedding in London when all the guests travelled from the church to the reception in a big red London bus. Trouble was, the reception was by Tower Bride .. a week before Christmas! The bus went so slowly through the traffic that I could keep getting off the back and walking down the street to photograph it in the jams!..

These buses? From a trip I did by Greyhound Bus across the States.
Ding, ding! Fares, please! .. 

Back to life, back to reality ...

Ten days in Egypt! Just what the doctor ordered! Although I did start to come down with a cold the second I got off the 'plane at Ringway! That's the price you pay for an international jet-set lifestyle, I suppose! Anyway, did you miss me?
Thought not ..

Didn't take any photography gear with me other than the Fuji X10 and, once again, I was one of only about three people in the whole resort that actually took a camera on holiday. Everywhere else it was 'phones, tablets, and ipads... the compact camera industry must be freaking out! Still, my lovely machine performed admirably as always, and here's one of the more amusing shots from my trip.
Ps: So why is it called the Red Sea?  ..

Nice to be back at work though, and my new Manchester Wedding Photography site seems to have been doing its job! I've come home to two Wedding bookings, two portrait sessions and three Christmas parties to shoot! Ah, yes, December already! We didn't hear a single mention of Christmas whilst we were away.
I'd better get my festive head on, and quickly.
Just need to take a Lemsip first ..

Back in black ..

Last night I did something else I've never done before! I took a call about a booking for a second Wedding .. from a bride whose first Wedding I shot! But, more than that, it was a call from an old pal who I used to be in a punk band with and so, being a rock chick, she got married in a black Wedding dress! Tish was the bass player/singer in a little combo we had in the early nineties. I was the drummer or, should I say, I owned a drum kit! Listening back at old tapes it's patently obvious I couldn't drum. Apparently you need a sense of rhythm!..

Anyway, there ya go, she's booked me again and I'm delighted to have been chosen to capture her (next) Big Day. And it's obviously a music thing, 'cos another bride who married in black was Vicky, who you can see here in my shot with her new hubby, my old mate Mick Middles, erstwhile music writer and red wine quaffer of this parish. I like this picture so much I'm adding it to the new web-site of Manchester Wedding Photography. Sneaky SEO mention of the name, there!
Rock on ...     

Go, Cowboys ..

Look what I've got on the diary this weekend! Michael Jackson's Wedding and the Dallas Cowboys! How exciting! ..

Yes, believe it or not, I'm shooting Michael Jackson's Wedding this afternoon and going to see the Cowboys at Wembley on Sunday! Ok, I guess you've kinda figured it's not that Michael Jackson who's getting wed today, but it's going to be just as much fun and I can't wait to get cracking! It'll be at Warrington's Park Royal Hotel. Four o'clock 'kick-off', as it were, so not much scope for outdoor photography .. and it's started to rain again as I type this!

Then, can't wait to hit the road for tomorrow's game of American Football. I've been a fan of the sport since the early days of Channel 4's broadcasts but I've never, ever seen a live game. Ok, I have, but it was the Manchester Allstars at Salford Rugby Ground. Not quite the same thing ..

So, a big Hoo Raa for America's team and let's hear it for  Manchester Wedding Photography .. Gimme an M, gimme an A, gimme an N ..

Hmmm, that could take a while ..