Ok, so let’s get one thing straight…

My music taste is extremely varied. I love my punk & metal. I love mellow singer-songwriters. I used to be a house DJ and I listen to some pop music too. I’ve seen Michael Jackson, Madonna, Kylie & Prince live but my musical tastes do not reach as far as Peter Andre! Sorry Pete.

I do think he’s a genuinely nice guy though and he’s obviously a major celebrity, at least in the UK. So when I got the chance to photograph his Birmingham gig this week, I was happy to do so. I only got 2 songs to do my thing but managed to get a few good shots…

This is Pete’s brother, Michael Andre who acted as warm-up DJ and did a good job too.

And then the screams were deafening as Pete appeared… The audience was predictably 98% female!

In amongst the post was a card from the parents of a recent bride. Things like this make our job all the better

Second City Soul are a fantastic covers band playing classic and contemporary soul, funk and R&B.

They contacted me a while ago about doing some new promo photos and last week our schedules finally aligned to allow us to get together for the shoot

Here are a few images from our time together…

It seems the bands I’ve been shooting recently all fall into the heavier end of the musical spectrum.

This gig was no different.

The mighty Lamb Of God were ably supported by fellow Americans Job For A Cowboy, August Burns Red and Between The Buried & Me. I was shooting the gig for Rock Sound magazine. Here’s a few of my fave images…

He/she may look like an alien life form at the moment but here’s the latest addition to the Gerrard family.

We won’t get to meet the baby til the end of August but, after today’s scan, I can assure you that, all being well, there will be plenty more photos of this little person on the blog in the future…

Only 8cm long but everything seems to be in the right place

We’ve had lots of great feedback after posting Lauren & Ashley’s wedding.

But people have been waiting for the Fun Booth pictures and here they are. I apologise in advance for the last one!

Parental love…

Remember Joy & Richard’s white wedding?

One of our fave couples ever and they didn’t let us down with the Fun Booth either.

Enjoy!

Ok, let’s get it out of the way…. Shelley & Daniel are fab!

One of our fave wedding venues. Check.
Bring the dog to the wedding. Check.
Family & friends up for a laugh and making us feel totally welcome. Check.
Totally cool, easy-going, friendly couple. Check!
Bride’s dad singing The Backstreet Boys… see below…

They got married at a church in Hammerwich and we were told “NO PHOTOGRAPHS DURING THE SERVICE” by the vicar. Grrrrrr!!

We like to break the rules (with the help of long lenses)

Great cake. Check.

An entourage of groomsmen. Check.

Ian Stuart dress. Check.

Shelley’s dad gave a great speech..

…and scored pretty well!

The evening reception was great fun. The band were rockin’ and both the bride and groom got on the mic..

But the crowning glory came when, at 11pm, the bride’s Dad insisted the DJ play “Backstreet’s Back” by the Backstreet Boys, to which he knew every word and even a few choice dance moves!

“Everybody…. yeah yeah”

We even convinced them to brave freezing temperatures so that we could get this one…

As you can tell, this was the kind of wedding we love being involved with. Just great fun

We’ll be posting their Fun Booth photos here soon too so watch this space….

Thanks to the lovely Anna for helping me out on the day again and thanks and big congrats to Shelley & Daniel for having us along to such a great day.

This is the second time I’ve done promotional pictures for local metal band Revenant Dead.

Since the last shoot my style has developed and so have my post-processing abilities. I now use better cameras, better lenses and extra lighting on occasion. I knew I wanted to get much better photos this time around and I think we managed it. The band sent me some images from movies such as Inglourious Basterds for inspiration and I tried to give some of the final images that dramatic movie look.

Here are a few of the final images…

Revenant Dead’s new album, Two Evils, is released on 2nd March.

A year ago today we met a little boy and we named him Isaac.

Elliott had a little brother and we had another gorgeous son. He’s such a happy little kid and we’re so happy to have him as part of our little family.

Happy Birthday Isaac. We love ya

“It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to…”

Isaac liked his new present so much he wanted to eat it!

Elliott enjoyed Isaac’s birthday just as much, if not more! He opened Isaac’s presents, blew out the candle on his cake and learned the lyrics to “Happy Birthday” but, most importantly, wore the coolest t-shirt!