Giving me the elbow ..

What a character this little spud was, and what a delight for me that his parents selected this shot to be printed up! I see so many good pictures remain unchosen after photo-shoots at the studio and it gives me a real buzz to see something 'unusual' get picked for a change..

This was another image from my 'Photo for a fiver' day, the second of which I held on Saturday and for which I'm already receiving great feed-back. It's such a good bargain on the run-up to 'you-know'what', and it's great to have the studio so busy on a Saturday. Actually, the last appointment of the day wasn't a portrait shoot, it was a meeting with a couple who wanted to see me about their Wedding next year. Well, it's another tick in the diary and I'll be off to the Lymm Hotel before you can say 'Do you take this man?'...

One more 'Autumn' tradition to go before I know it's really the run-up to Christmas. I'm off to photograph the National Motorcycle show at Birmingham's NEC on Saturday. Not a bad pr gig for someone who doesn't know his Kawasaki from his elbow ..

Photo for a .. phew!

Saturday was fantastic! The numbers: twenty-two portrait sittings in four hours flat - for people aged six months to 65 - and £110 on its way to charity! That was my 'Photo for a Fiver' effort for Children in Need at the studio! What fun it was and, oddly, how liberating it was to simply photograph every person in front of a white backdrop with the same lighting! And do you know what? I enjoyed it so much I'm going to do it again on selected Saturdays up 'til Christmas. I've already got six bookings for next week!..

The only other thing to add to today's blog is to say that, on such a depressingly awful weekend, it was a privilege to be surrounded by so many smiles!.. 

Tea, anyone?...

This amused me, coming as it does on the eve of my charity photo shoot at the studio. I'm offering a 'Photo for a Fiver' in aid of the BBC Children in Need appeal. Every time slot is now booked, though I'm hoping to squeeze in any 'turn up on the day' types as and when I can. Doubt there'll be much time for a cuppa but, then again, I didn't get one yesterday .. and I was photographing a tea-room!

Enjoy the weekend! Catch you on Monday!...

A little gem ..

It was quick change day at the studio yesterday, with a jewellery shoot and a First Birthday Cake Smash taking place within two hours of each other..

Little Jacob was a little gem, although - as is often the case - he didn't quite grasp the fact that Mum, Dad and a loony with a camera all actually wanted him to thump the beheckies out of the lovely cake we'd just placed in front of him! Photographing the rings was no easier, and it's true to say I had more of a sweat on shooting those than I did Jacob! Both sessions went well though. In fact, you could say I 'smashed it' ..

All good practice for Saturday, when I take on my 'Photo for a Fiver' challenge, offering .. well, photos for a fiver ..  in aid of the BBC Children in Need appeal. There are only three appointment times left now, with there being every possibility of being swamped by people who just turn up on the day. Whatever happens, it's going to be a gem of a day ..