That time of year ..

Gloves! That's what you should be buying people for Christmas 'cos, judging by the kick-start I've had to my latest 'On the one hand' season, there are a lot of people losing them! Yep, it's that time of  year again when I start to see single gloves all over the place! I'd imagined I'd be able to resist them this year but no, I'm still not cured, and I have to stop walking and take a picture every time I see one!..

Yesterday was also the time of year again for our annual Freelance 'do', and this year we got a record-breaking five freelance photographers together for a nosh-up and a wee drinky! For the second year in a row we went to the Deli-Lama cafe in Salford, and they did us proud with poussin, iced-berry ice-cream and reggae reggae Christmas carols! Highly recommended..

Back to the StudioFiveFour this afternoon for what must surely be the last Portrait session before the Big Day. Two little girls are being photographed and yes, their Mum does want to give a print as a Christmas present! What a rush job! Still, it is that time of year ..

Go, Cowboys .. but go faster!

 So, American Football. Live and in the flesh! I went to see the Dallas Cowboys play at Wembley on Sunday and I'll tell you what I think about that. I think I don't need to go and see another live game of 'Gridiron' ever again in my life .. ever! My God, those boys can drag it out! I mean, I knew there were lots of breaks in the game - after all, I've followed it since the early days of Channel 4's broadcasts - but I didn't realise until Sunday's live match just why the programme cuts back to the studio so often. It's because bugger all is happening on the pitch! Bugger all! Yep, it's TV coverage for me from now on ..

This week's a Portraits and PR kinda week with lots of prints to get out and another Wedding album to design. I've been redesigning my 'other' website, too - the Studiofivefour site for 'Weddings, portraits, PR and .. other stuff'. I'm moving it over to a different Web company so it's all rather painstaking trying to ensure I get every single last bit of info, image, link, keyword and SEO content across to the new site. I'll tell you this, though! As slow as this process is I'm still moving faster than the American Footballers ...

Posing the question ..

Trumpets! Fanfare! Mucho celebration! My studio's been open for a year! Hurrah! I made it! I'm really pleased!..

With today's anniversary comes the end of the 'Free Portrait Shoot' promotion that I was running, and I'd like to thank everyone that took advantage of it. I'll confess it wasn't a exactly a rip-roaring success - the floodgates didn't exactly open - but it was worth the effort and there are just that many more people around now who know about the studio.

I do feel that it's time for some kind of a reality check, though. When I opened the studio a lot of people told me that portrait photography was dead. The camera-phone is king, and all that! Hmm ...  what to say to that? Well, I think it's got a slight cold, that's all. Portrait photography is feeling a bit yukky but, once its nose has stopped running, it'll be back. Stronger, fitter .. and looking for a great acrylic framed black and white image for the front room! That's what I think! Eventually, and as the economy improves, it'll dawn on people that the camera-phone just doesn't cut it. Actually - re-wind - the camera-phones these days are bloody good, but the lighting and scope for posing that a studio offers are always going to be better than anything you can do on your Samsung. That's when I'll be ready, Nikon in hand, and with the confidence that a year of running a studio has brought me. Will I still be here in another year? Now there's a question! Happy Birthday, StudioFiveFour!...

  

Magic .. !

Sorry, I missed that. Could you do it again? It's not often a magical moment like this comes along, so it's all the more exciting when a photographer does capture it on film. (Yes, film .. I left the frame edges on to prove it!) Another great example is the shot I took whilst being bitten on the head in a snake attack! You can click here to see that shot ..

I was thinking about this because a family came into StudioFiveFour recently and I felt the opposite had happened during their portrait session. Nothing! There was no magical moment, no spark of composition or timing, no amazing coming together of expressions. In fact, the shoot was a bit of a nightmare. The kids were .. well, let's say .. undisciplined, and the parents did nothing but humour their dear little darlings despite tantrums, tears and an escape bid. (Read that through gritted teeth!) Anyway,  then I saw the shots on the computer. One image jumped out right out. Kids smiling, everyone looking at the camera, nobody blinking .. it was great! That's when I realised that this was the magical moment in this shoot! This was the one shot that made the session, and sometimes .. that's enough!

Life's simple pleasures ..

Bubbles! A squirt of washing-up liquid and a hoop to blow it through and a kid can play for hours! Amazing what little it takes to make you feel good. It was a 14 foot roll of white paper that put the smile on my face yesterday, when I nipped over to Leeds to pick up the new backdrop I won in an auction on ebay. It'll run down the side of the studio and it makes me feel so excited to know that I'll now be able to shoot much larger groups than I could before.

Commercial Break: Come on down to StudioFiveFour for your fun family group photograph!

Oh, and talk about simple pleasures .. I spent this morning watching my Bronze Corydoras spawn! If you don't know what that means, then you don't know what you're missing!..

No flash in the pan ..

Bloody hell, the writing was on the wall there for a while but I have some good news! I'm going to be able to keep StudioFiveFour going for at least the next three months! Hurrah! Yes, things have panned out favourably, and I'll now be able to complete a full year at my 'base'. That's a weight off my mind, I can tell you!
Just got to convince people to come in for a portrait, now!..

Today's little 'shadow' picture comes from the Imperial War Museum North, where I was shooting a dinner last week. There I was - Three Camera O'Neill - caught in the spotlight, and it was only when I looked at the picture again I realised one of the cameras looked - well, a little bit odd! Leave it out, it's only my flash!..

The only way is Willington ..

Done it! For the first time ever I've managed to book myself a stand at the Willington Hall Wedding Fayre in Cheshire! Doesn't take a lot to get me excited, does it? But seriously, I've been trying for absolutely ages to get into this Fayre and, every time I've tried, it's been fully booked. Even so, I've still managed to shoot a lot of Weddings at Willington - including the owners' - and it remains one of my favourite venues. So roll on September 21st, when I can fly the flag for StudioFiveFour and hopefully ensure I get back there many more times in the future!..

A quick word about today's picture. One of the first shots I ever took at Willington - and it's on film, to prove it -  it was one of those gorgeous summer days when everything was just right! When we arrived at the hall I noticed the field at the side had just been mown into these lovely stripes, so I asked the bride and groom to grab their champagne and take a little walk. The Best Man acted as my Communications Officer, chatting to the couple on his mobile. "Left a bit, photographer says stop there, give her a hug!.."
Fab!...

Spot the teenager ..

A study! O'Neill as an 18 year old, with trusty EM and favourite badge! (It's a picture of a bare backside with the legend "I C U R A BUM 2". I think that was thought of as funny in 1978!) Just think, I've been a photographer since I looked like that! Where have the years gone? I was shooting a family portrait at the studio yesterday and one of the teenage lads in the group was - well, let's say his skin has plenty of opportunity to clear up - and it brought to mind this photograph of me as a spotty yoof way back in the day. Hey, it's an age thing! Age was on our minds over the festivities too, as we celebrated the Twins' first Christmas. The little girls that came into our family in February were swamped with gifts, love and - more importantly - shiny wrapping paper as we marked their first Christmas. " I wonder what they'll look like when they grow up.." mused Lesley. "Well.." I said, thinking how quickly the years pass "We'll soon find out..."

The Generation Game ..

Great portrait shoot at Studiofivefour last week and two days later the model became a .. Great-Grandma! Amazing, eh? I asked if she'd mind me showing you some of the photographs and she said "Only the good ones, lol..." The good ones? I was spoilt for choice! Congratulations on the new arrival, Ms Daniels, and I look forward to shooting all four generations very soon!...

Party like it's nearly the end of 2013 at last ..

Yeah, I know! Catchy title, not .. but it kinda gets across today's message which is - say it in hushed tones - that I think I can see a glimmer of hope for the economy. Well, my economy, at least! Last year I pooh-pooed the idea of couples not booking their Wedding for this year because it had a thirteen in it, but I think it's proved true for me and lot of 'Wedding' people I know. However, next year seems to be off the mark already and I've just taken two bookings in as many days when I'd have said we're too near to Christmas to even get any Wedding enquiries! PR seems to be on the up, as well - always a good sign when companies feel confident in promoting their news - and StudioFiveFour is ticking along with a steady flow of bookings and enquiries.

Of course, the fact that we're nearing the end of 2013 also means there's only one more installment of my Twelve for '13 project to come. Today's shot is from it, as you might have guessed, and December 1st will see a bumper upload of the last remaining images. After that .. well, you'll have to wait until January 2015 when I have an exhibition of the work opening at the Peoples' History Museum in Manchester.

So roll on 2014, and I'll have a can of Fosters, thank you very much ..

In the pink ..

What a weekend that was! Started out with a lovely photo-shoot on Friday afternoon when I welcomed little three-week old Matthias into the studio. He reciprocated by peeing all over the floor .. and his dad's shoes, and my trousers!  Fab pix, though, Matthias!

Saturday saw me at the fantastic Wedding of Nichola and Lee. Nichola has Cerebral Palsy and brilliant taste! The theme was Fifties Rock'n Roll, with Nix in a genuine vintage bridal dress and the bridesmaids in stunning floral summer frocks and .. pink Converse Allstars! We got great weather, too! Many congratulations, guys!

I then spent Saturday evening in our local social club watching my mate play in a punk tribute band! Big up to Glam 69, who can make even the most stoical grannie get up and boogie to the Sex Pistols! You rock, guys!

Sunday? Well, Sunday was my birthday, so it was time for pizza and beer with mates in Manchester. One of 'em managed to knock off this shot of me whilst I was trying to photograph a hoarding around the Central Library! Cheers, Mike! Speaking of Big Words, I've got a great pr shoot coming up this week involving 200 staff from a Manchester firm spelling out a logo on the company car park!  So, all in all, everything's in the pink and here's to the first day of my 54th year!

54? Hey, now there's a good name for a studio...

#culchethstudio
www.studiofivefour.com

Flex the pecs...

Well, I'm as shocked as you are! I mean, I knew my camera bag was getting heavier and heavier but .. Holy Moley! .. I just happened to glance at myself in the mirror the other day and this is what I saw! Sure builds you up, lugging all that gear around!

Actually, I am a bugger for insisting that I take everything on a job with me, and my rucksack is getting heavier all the time, but you just never know when you might need that 500mm mirror lens, that 10mm fisheye or that full set of gels for the speedlights (Three SB900s, since you ask) I think I even have about 20 spare AA batteries in one of the pouches but hey, I ain't never gonna run outta anything when I'm on a job! My kit even consists now of two video-lights, which I love because you can just switch 'em on and leave 'em anywhere in a shot without having to guess what part of the image they're going to light, so I'm now up to a rucksack, a bag for those lights and a carrier for all the stands and brollies. Oh, and a tripod! It's no wonder the pecs are perking up!..

(Ok, it's not really me! Did I get you going? So realistic, isn't it! Naaaa, believe it or not, these are the muscles of my cousin Paul George, who I'm very proud to say is a power-lifting/body-sculpting/bisto-wearing world-champeen! Thanks for the borrow, Paul! Sorry about the bisto joke! Don't hurt me, Paul, don't.... aaaaagh!)

Standards!

I swear the country's going to the dogs! The hotel we stayed at in London the other day was .. what's the word I'm looking for? Awful! Yes, it was awful. The smallest room on the planet, with a freezing wind howling through windows that didn't shut, and a mattress that looked like it had been a prop in 'It's a Knockout' in 1977! When we checked out my girlfriend asked to see the manager to make a complaint. 'Oh.." said the receptionist "Just put it on Trip Advisor!"

Huh? Let everyone know your hotel stinks? Oh, ok, we will! So, folks, on the instruction of the receptionist, I can officially say that the Eden Plaza Hotel in Kensington is the pits! Now, where was I going with this? Ah, yes! Standards! A bride sent me an e-mail the other day. She wanted me to quote for photography "at the ceramony and at the after do" .. and this hot on the heels of a Linked-In message from someone who described her job as being a "Wedding Coordinater." I mean, hey, nobody's perfect, but I'm afraid I must put a winner's medal for 'Crap Standards' straight round the neck of a GWAC in Somerset. (GWAC? Girl/Guy with a camera, as opposed to photographer!) She starts off by saying she hopes you "like what I have advertise", lets you know that "personlised memory boxes come's with the wedding" and offers, amongst many things, photographs as "Cnvuas Frames" ...  I couldn't resist emailing her to ask what a cnvuas frame was and, gawd bless 'er, she replied saying she wasn't quite sure how to describe it, but she had a page on her website that would explain! 

Is it just me? Am I being too pedantic, or is the younger generation really as ignorant as it seems? Ah, fcuk it, hoo caers?..

I want jam on it..

I'm in a little hiatus between Weddings right now, with none in the diary until the end of October. It's time to get marketing! I did a great Wedding Fayre at Crewe Hall on Sunday, and there's another one coming up at the Fir Grove Hotel in Grappenhall in early November. One of the things I'm starting to push at them (again!) is Gift Vouchers as Wedding Presents. I mean, come on, how many toasters do people need? I offer vouchers so that people can either help Wedding Couples to pay for their Wedding Photography, or indeed get them an upgrade to a package above their own budget. It's an idea that took off really well at last week's Wedding, with the bride and groom having to cough off just £95 to pay off their photography! Now that's a reason for a toast, if ever I heard one...

What a day!...

Phew! Tatton Park! Bring it on...

I shot what was probably the most amazing Wedding of my year so far yesterday! It was the Big Day for Suzanne and Paresh - a fantastic mixture of Scottish and Indian, sari and kilt, at the amazing Tatton Park, in Cheshire. I was exhausted by the time I'd finished it! With coverage from bridal preparations to first dance it was a long day, and now I'm currently working my way through 1, 366 shots from the whole event. I received two of the best compliments I've ever had, too! The bride's step-dad Mike said I was "brilliant", and when we got into a conversation about advertising and promotion he said he'd describe my USP, my unique selling point, as being a crackpot! Love it! I love it, but how do I get that across when nobody phones my studio anymore? It's all done by email, these days, and we all know how sterile that can be. I bring this up because only this weekend I had an email (Ironically, they didn't phone!) from my 'Freephone number' supplier. They said I might want to cancel my Freephone number, as I'd gone below my minimum usage amount. In other words, as I said, people are e-mailing rather than phoning! The minimum usage amount? Three minutes per month! Jeepers! Thank you for (not) calling! Have a nice day!

PS.. I think he meant crackpot in a nice way !!   ;-)

In the garden...

What to do on a Saturday afternoon without a Wedding? Why, shoot the flowers in my garden of course!
I just stepped out for a cup of tea, and a bright red gladioli caught my eye. Before you knew it I'd shot almost 400 images of flowers and foliage, a mere 89 of which I have made into a new Flickr set for your enjoyment! Reminded me of a chat I had with one of my Wedding couples over the weekend. The groom told me how keen he was on photography and how happy he was that, from the thousands of digital shots he had now taken on his new camera, there were 12 that were "really good" .... 

Rest assured, dear brides, my average is a LOT better than that, and I generally end up offering each of my Wedding couples a choice of at least 650 images from their Big Day! 

Now, go and have a look at my flowers! Peace and love, man!

Yeah, man! My new album..

I'd love to be in a rock band and talk about making albums in that way, but my 'albums' of course, are Wedding albums, and I spent a long, hard day yesterday making my latest! It's a gorgeous 40-sided Jorgensen album, all in black. I love this final 'coming together' of images, shot by me, chosen by the couple and then designed to work together on the page by myself. It's the last bit of the creative process, and brings together some great juxtapositions of pictures. Here's a page of shots of the little flower girls, waiting patiently in the bride's hotel room before their Big Moment! Lovely photographs individually, but just that little more magical when viewed together!

About the weather...

Apologies if you're reading this in some sun-soaked hot place (Patricia!) but yes, today I have to talk About the weather. What a wash-out, and I really feel for any couples who chose this weekend to get married. There's just no telling as to when you might reasonably expect a lovely summer's day anymore, is there? My advice to people thinking of getting married in the summer is to choose a venue with lots of room .. indoors!

I was lucky in a way, as I didn't book any Weddings this weekend so that I could make my annual pilgrimage to the air tattoo at RAF Fairford. Here's a shot of brave pair making the most of it there!

Of course, if you really want cheering up, you could click the weather link above and get down to some groovy music by Magazine! Anyone for emigration?

Let me stress....

A flurry of Wedding enquiries yesterday! Wonder if the heat got people thinking happy thoughts?

I, of course, think happy thoughts all the time. (It's the tablets, ha ha!) No, it's the fact that I'm a Wedding Photographer, so I do get to have my cake and eat it, spending happy days with lovely couples in great locations, and getting paid for it!

At a Wedding a couple of weeks ago, a group of ushers and their friends were standing outside the reception venue smoking (Ugh!) One of the guys offered me a cigarette, and I told him I didn't smoke. His answer amused me! He said he was surprised I didn't smoke, what with all the stress I was under as the Wedding Photographer! Stress? Naaaah! Adrenaline, for sure, because it's so exciting to be thinking on your feet, adapting things as you go, but stress? No way! Now, where's me cake?

This Charming Man...

Ok, never mind the football and the weather, let's get back to the 'serious' subjects of music and photography! It's time to tell you my great news! I've just had this photograph of Morrissey selected to be hung in the VIP lounge at London's 02 arena! It's gone on display as part of a Rock Archive exhibition, and will be on show to all the artists who use the lounge after their gigs! Cool!
It is, of course, Morrissey when he was in The Smiths, and was shot at Manchester's Free Trade Hall in 1984, when I was only *two years old! Wasn't I good?

*Not strictly true!