Andi and Aimee - Coming Soon!

The fabulous Andi and Aimee married last month in Stamford - I met them earlier this year at Sheffield Botanical Gardens for their engagement shoot.
An engagement shoot is something I do with every bride and groom, to make sure they like my style of photography.
Andi and Aimee rocked it in their shoot - and keep your eyes peeled for their wedding photos, coming soon!

The Joys Of A Shootsac!

Being a girl and a photographer is a bit of a struggle sometimes. Depending on the kind of shoot it is, you usually need loads of kit. I have a HUGE Lowepro rucksac that feels like I am smuggling gold bullion everytime I carry it...
Add to this a tripod, video light, and other gubbins and you've got arm and shoulder pain by the end of the day.
But I have a savior! American photographer Jessica Claire has designed a camera bag called a Shootsac. It's a lifesaver!
It comes all wrapped in a pretty box...

And it even has a little thankyou sticker...


The Shootsac is a really strong neoprene, which makes it easy to carry lenses without a huge padded bag...

The Big Rescue Of Patsey!

I was sorting through my computer and came across these which I meant to blog in the summer and never got around to!
Blogstalkers, there's a story here. This is Patsey - she's a little lost dog (she's found her owner now don't worry!)
She got trapped down a drain and my bro-in-law and husband had to fight through a thicket of brambles to lift her out.
She's been stuck in there roughly two days but here she is, cleaned up after her rescue as happy as larry. She's shown with her rescuers Mike and Liane!

Moo Designs Fashion Shoot!

Fashion photography has always been my inspiration. I scour magazines for posing ideas and my trademark in my weddings is the 'fashion' edge I give to the day. My photography is stylish and edgy and I work hard to keep my posing fresh.
When I was given the chance to shoot some fashion pics for a new fashion designer called Moo - I jumped at the chance.
The shots were for the company's opening ad campaign and it was a bit of a last minute thing. All I had on me was a camera and a video light - I hope you like what I came up with.
NB - Moo has opened a shop in Lucorum, Barnsley. Check it out they have some fab bags!

Miss G In The Boudoir!

When you post photographs of boudoir clients, people are ALWAYS dubious as to whether the client is real or a model. It's difficult to post boudoir clients, because quite often the photos are done as a suprise for a hubby to be - or as a confidence boosting present for yourself.
Quite often, boudoir shots are for your eyes only and not something you share with the world. At Dolly, we don't expect it of our clients - we ALWAYS ask before we post, and we don't have any problem with it if you say no.
But it's always thrilling to be able to share your work and Miss G a recent Barnsley client of ours was brave enough to share.
Thanks so much!

Meeting Lucie Jones!

So, do any of you any wonder what us photographers do when we aren't photographing, editing or album designing?
Here's what I do! I am an internet journalist for a new website and here I am interviewing Lucie Jones from the X-Factor in Barnsley.
Don't I look fetching in my fabulous red fleece??

Meeting Stavros Flatley!

So - as some of you guys may know - I have been a journalist for 11 years and I work on this internet TV project thingamajig called We Are Barnsley (it's a right laugh!)
Here I am at the Barnsley Christmas lights switch on meeting Stavros Flatley - they were so lovely!
Fame at last!

Leopard Print Nicole!

It's always fun to work with a makeup artist because you never know what they are going to come up with!
On a recent shoot with Dolly Rocks Make Up, the makeup artist supremo Keeley took inspiration from her clients leopard print top.
The result was a Madonna-esque 80s vibe so I went for a little bit of a retro vibe on the processing.

For those eagle-eyed blog viewers these shots were done in Barnsley town centre.

Danielle - Clockwork Orange!

As it gets towards winter, my wedding season always dies down a little. Although I always miss weddings for a few months, the down time gives me chance to work on different projects, try new techniques.
This portfolio shoot is an example of the kind of multi-tasking jobs we take on at Dolly - it's for a makeup artist and a model!
Hope you like!

Chloe - Retro!

Usually my style of processing pictures is bright and edgy. I love eye-popping pictures with colours that make your eyes cross.
But every once in a while I like to play with something different - and it's always more fun to practice those new colours on your rellies.
Here's my cousin Chloe. I wanted to give her a bit of a retro edge, like an old faded photograph that's yellowing slightly.
Hope you love it!!
I love the back light on this picture.

Rebecca - Rock Star!

Model Rebecca was funked up like a rock chick for this photoshoot we did recently in Barnsley town centre. It was a promotional shoot for the funky team at Dolly Rocks Make Up.
We had a full day of makeovers, shooting, wigs, costume design. It was crazy but fun. Here, the fantabulous makeup artist Keeley used a lace imprint to create a rock chick makeover, that was trimmed in diamantes.

For all you photography buffs out there, these were all shot in natural night, no reflectors or flashes used. I was lucky that day.

Me and Peter Andre!

So I am not sure if many of you know but I am a journalist, and have been for ten years. I am currently working on an internet TV thingamabob and I had to go and interview Peter Andre which was HILARIOUS!
Many thanks to John from We Shoot Gigs for getting the snaps of me doing my interview - don't I look serious? We were told not to ask about Jordan...Scarborough warning and such like. And yes, numerous people have already told me off for having not done my hair and makeup!!
Here is my super-glam camerawoman Helen, muscling in passed the BBC to get a great shot. We were in a mosh pit of press and had to fight for our space but we got our interview! Yey!



And here I am - it looks like I am telling him off but I am saying 'can you do me ONE favour?' I'll leave you guessing as to what that favour was...

Pip and Glenn - Wedding Favourites!

The night dos are one of the hardest parts of weddings to photograph. You have to contend with pitch dark rooms, disco lights, music so loud the bride and groom can't hear you.
Pip and Glenn's wedding was the first 'night do' I had done where I truly captured the spirit of the bride and groom's first dance.
The couple made their wedding super fun by giving their guests kazoos to join in with the music. Here's Glenn putting his all into it...

The best man volunteered his band's services and rocked it out at the night do...

And the lead singer, Otis from the Gadget Show, gave it his all for Pip and Glenn!

Jon and Sarah - Coming Soon!

Shooting any wedding is a high-pressure affair. You want to do your very best for the bride and groom - to make sure they have photographs that will last them a lifetime.
That pressure is about a hundred times worse when the wedding you are shooting is family! There's a whole other heap of emotions into the mix there too.
Jon and Sarah, my cousins, were married in August in the fabulous Pitville Pump Rooms in Cheltenham and asked me to do their wedding photos.
While it was an honour to be asked, it was nonetheless nerve-wracking. Pressure. Times a million :-)
I had a fabulous day - as did all the family, and here's a sneak peek of what's to come.
I hope you too had a fabulous honeymoon and your pictures will be finished soon!

Wedding Favourites - Pip and Glenn!

Pip and Glenn were married earlier this year and I have been so lax in my blogging that I never had chance to post my wedding favourites. So here they are, strutting their stuff at Wentworth Castle Gardens.
There are so many favourites I have for this wedding that I will have to blog in two posts but for now - here they are. I was ably assisted at this wedding by photography supremo Mark Pearson, I just love working in teams!
I love this ceremony shot - Pip's expression reflects her feelings perfectly.

But here she gets really serious and caught up in the moment...

Chosing the wedding car was left to Pip - and she selected this bright pink beetle as a suprise for Glenn! He was a good sport about it though!

Pip and Glenn - The Album

Open publication - Free publishing - More wedding

Pip and Glenn are one of my most favourite couples! I had a real blast shooting their wedding at Wentworth Castle Gardens.
Here is their wedding album and a new example of Dolly's latest range of wedding albums. We have decided to go for sleek and chic with these classy coffee table books that are each hand-designed by a super impresario graphic designer.
Hope you love it as much as I do!

Sexy Sally hits the boudoir!

A really really good friend of mine, the fantabulous photographer Dave Sander asked me to help him out on a fun shoot a coupla weeks ago.
It's a LIVE boudoir shoot, he said. As in in a hotel. With people watching. With models and such like.
EEEEKKK!
Although I was super nervous at the thought of people watching me work (I look like a total eejit when I start throwing around my poses) I jumped at the chance to help out because, well, a. he's a great guy and b. the man seriously knows his stuff. I mean, this guy is like my photography hero!
Here are some snaps I managed to grab of the superglam Sally. This one was right up my street, because look at all those fabulous colours. The moment I clocked that orange sofa I was determined to get a shot of it, wild horses couldn't have kept me away!
I had a really great, fun day and got some stonking shots for my portfolio so thanks for letting us come along guys! We had fun!
PS Embarrassing side note, while I was taking the shot below I actually slipped and fell full weight on my knee. In front of everyone. I insisted I was okay in a strangled kind of voice even though it KILLED!! I ended up coming home with three kneecaps - two on the same leg. It was weeks ago now and I still can't kneel properly. Ouch!

Mark and Mary Get Married!

So, those of you who follow my blog will no doubt remember me talking about my mentors. The people who took me on when I knew nothing! When every image I took blew out, was out of focus and was just generally...technically poor!
Way back when, I took my little photography keenness to a studio in Leeds and begged for help. I am keen, I said, little cap in hand. I work for free, I added!
Mark and Mary - two very successful wedding photographers in Rawdon - took me on as their 'third' shooter.
I basically bimbled around, picking up the tricks of the trade and learning what I could. Everyone who knows me knows I now live photography. Every spare second I have is spent improving my technique. For me it's a passion.
Mark and Mary were the two guys who gave me a little head start in the early days and who have supported me ever since.
This month, they were married at The Chevin Country Park Hotel. I have never seen so many photographers at one wedding! We were all jumping in there.
I bagsied the best spot at the end of the ailse and managed to capture this.
I think their expressions say it all!

Barbarella in the boudoir!

I just love it when a plan comes together! I have been thinking for ages about doing a Barberella inspired shoot - all blonde hair but hardcore with it.
When Kim rocked up with her bouncy girls and leopard print I couldn't believe it! My prayers had been answered.
Added to that the most stunning location - the penthouse suite at the Great Victoria Hotel in Bradford and I was in my element!

Kim's boudoir marathon

Occasionally you meet people whom you just click with straight away. When Kim walked into the hotel room with her mum, her arms laden down with suitcases, I knew this would be one of those times.
With a cheeky smile, she said she couldn't decide what to bring with her for her shoot...and so she fetched about half the contents of her wardrobe!
We got our heads together and with some careful styling, hey presto! Look at what we achieved. She looks AMAZING! And those outfits? Kim, they were perfect! As you can tell, I especially loved this fabulous kimono that she fetched! It was amazing!
On a side note, I have to point out that all the makeup for this shoot was done by my sister Keeley. Watch out for some exciting news regarding that soon!