The Photographers ..

The times, they are a'changing ..

I had an email yesterday telling me that a domain name I owned has lapsed. The name? Martin O'Neill Wedding Photography. Imagine that! I no longer need a web presence that involves Wedding photography. It's now ten months since I last shot a Wedding and, keep this to yourself .. I don't miss it. It's the end of an era and I've moved on ..

Having said that, I'm knee deep in dust as I clear out the barn to put in a permanent studio. My lights and reflectors have sat in a box since we moved here last September and it's time to get them out. It's ten months since I last shot a portrait and, keep this to yourself .. I miss it. It's the start of a new era and I'm moving on ..

Ps: Dit fromage! Many thanks to the photography studio in Cognac whose sign I photographed last week.

Flyin' ..

It's four months to the day since we moved to France. Time flies! Yet, funnily enough, it seems a long time since I shot my last Wedding .. on the August Bank Holiday. I was reminded of it this morning when I received a lovely e-mail from Emma, the bride. "Thank you so much .." she said "for making our day so special. You made everyone laugh and feel so at ease, you’re an amazing photographer, your work speaks for itself, we have a beautiful album and set of photos we will treasure forever. You're a star xxxx". Thanks so much, guys..

As you can tell, this Wedding was turned around really quickly. The couple were keen to chose their images and I've already designed and delivered their Wedding album. Job done! Contrast that with another couple who have just got in touch to ask about choosing the shots from their Wedding .. two years ago!!
Yep, time flies alright ..

I live in France now ..

Almost four weeks into 'the rest of my life' and things are going really well! Wardrobes are built and filled, bikes have been bought - and ridden! - and I've been invited to have an exhibition in the local community hall. Just as importantly, the gîte has been occupied for all the time I've been here, and we've just taken our first Christmas booking, which we're really rather delighted about. I've changed the name of my website, too. You can now find me at photographyinfrance.fr .. which is a damned fine name, if you ask me!

My UK Wedding career still has a presence though, as I'm in the middle of designing three albums from Weddings I shot earlier this year. However, I am in the rather curious position of wondering whether I'll ever go back to any of those venues I worked at for all those years. Something tells me I won't. I live in France now ..

Rubbish!

And so, with January in mind, I begin the process of throwing things away! This morning alone I've  filled two bin-bags with the rubbish that's accumulated in my desk draws. It's no wonder I couldn't find my bank statements when I needed them! Next I'll attack my shirts. I mean, who needs 25 stripey shirts? Are they still even in fashion? Were they ever? Oxfam here we come...

Another thing I'm getting rid of this month is my price list. I'm offering 10% off everything I shoot as long as it's booked in January. Weddings, PR and portraits! All with ten percent off for this month only.

Ps: Hope you like today's photograph. Shot outside Manchester's Museum of Science and Industry on Monday! What do you mean, it's rubbish?

Up and at 'em ..

Gosh, I've managed a whole Bank Holiday weekend without a blog! I'd like to say that's because I've been so busy with Weddings and work and so on, but the truth of it is that I've more or less had the whole three days off! Unheard of! Ok, I did do a family shoot on Sunday afternoon - today's piccy is an image from it - so there's been a little work done since Friday but, other than that, I've done sweet Fanny Adams for a change! Little bit of Ikea, little bit of Garden centre, even a spot of sunbathing in the garden! It's been great, but now I want to be busy again. I'm looking on this last week of August as a sort of calm before the storm and really expect the studio to kick in Big Time once everyone's back at work and school. The season is a'changin' - the garden centre's selling Christmas cards and Ikea's garden furniture is in the Sale section! Like the little doggy in this picture, I'm gonna be up and at 'em come September!.. 

#culchethstudio
www.studiofivefour.com

Reasons to be cheerful ...

There ya go! 34 years done! Bring on the rest!...

Pretty sure I've blogged this picture before but what the heck!...
This is the letter - dated 11th October 1978 - that changed my life!
It was the letter that said I'd got the job as Junior Photographer with Messenger Group Newspapers. Starting salary £45 a week! And Junior? You betcha! I'd only just turned 18, but within a week of this letter I was photographing the captain of Manchester United, the Lord Mayor of Manchester and Princess Anne! I was a Press Photographer! My ambition was fulfilled and it felt fantastic! 34 years on and it still feels fantastic. Only the other day I was at a networking event and I can't tell you the pride it gave me to tell people that I was a photographer! Ok, I kinda get sympathetic looks these days but hey, it's too late to change now!...

But, man, the changes I've seen in those years! Newspapers have come and gone, many photographers have come and gone, camera shops have come and gone, cameras have come and gone, film's definitely gone .. but I'm still here, making a living by taking photographs!

I don't work as a photographer, I am a photographer! I live photography, breathe it, think about it all the time. I am so lucky to be 'living' my dream! Reasons to be cheerful, one, two, three...