I felt honored to have one of my images chosen to showcase this issue of the magazine but I was even more blown away when they asked to run a several page feature covering the whole wedding, again featuring my images from the wedding. It’s not every day something like this come along for me, so excuse me if I feel a bit chuffed and excited!!

In case you can’t get a copy of the magazine (I might just buy the whole stock!!) here’s a copy of the cover and article that featured inside. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

So what are my plans for the next year? I’ve got my eye on a few projects, one in particular that I’d like to use as a spring board to add a new photographic style to my work. Of course I’ll not say anything more as firstly, it’ll take a while to perfect and secondly, because walls have ears and the world needn’t know till the time is ready.  So if you want to know what it is then keep checking back here or head over to Facebook.

Anyway, a big thank you to all who take the time to read my blog and look at my images. I look forward to posting some further great images over the next 12 months.

Like last year, as a thank-you gift for your loyalty, here are a few quick quips: (try saying that quickly with a mouth full!!)

1) A dog is truly a man’s best friend. If you don’t believe it, just try this experiment. Put your dog and your wife in the boot of the car for an hour. When you open the boot, who is really happy to see you?

2) A woman came home, screeching her car into the driveway, and ran into the house. She slammed the door and shouted at the top of her lungs, “Honey, pack your bags. I won the lottery!” The husband said, “What should I pack, beach stuff or mountain stuff?” ”Doesn’t matter,” she said. “Just get out.

3) And finally…I wish to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather, not panicking like his passengers.

So the time has come for their pre-wedding shoot, and since they’re getting married in April at Patshull Hall, it made sense to meet there for their shoot. Due to circumstance we literally only had 5 mins for the photo session but never the less a great time was had.

April will soon be here. Take care both till then!!

See you both in April down in Kent. We’ll have a great time!!

We had a great time just walking around the lodge, taking a few photos then walking and chatting about their wedding plans, so much so that the time flew by.

Here’s a slideshow of a few of my favourite images:

Danielle and Marco, I look forward to photographing your wedding next month, which I know will be a great time too.

Using it will mean I can provide a better customer service, as it’ll keep all of my information in one place, and mean I can finally do away with paper diaries, spreadsheets and pieces of paper floating around on the desk!

Imagine Bride A rang and said “I’d like to book you” There are 2 options available. 1) Secure the date over the phone by paying the Retainer Fee with a card, then I can send the Booking Form to be returned or 2) I can send a Booking Form to be returned with the Retainer Fee cheque.

In the above senarios  I would hold the date (for a reasonable amount of time e.g. 7 days) while waiting for the details to be returned. Under those circumastance I’d consider myself now booked for the date, so if Bride B enquired about the same day then I’d not be available as I’ve got a firm provisonal booking, but would still let Bride B know that should things change and Bride A changes her mind, I’d be able to let her know within a week or so, at the latest.

Imagine the situation: Bride A is interested in booking me for July 4th, but doesn’t book me at the first meeting as she’s seeing other photographers. In the meantime Bride B phones and asks if I’m free for July 4th and would like to book a meeting.

Just thought I’d share what I and other professional photographers do in this situation and why. My general policy is that I never hold dates while someone decides whether I’m the photographer for them. The only way to secure a date is with a Retainer Fee , currently of £250. Simply put: The first past the post with their fee books me!

So in the situation above I’d tell Bride B that I am free.  Which means that if she decides to book me on the spot, I’d then no longer be available for Bride A.

It may sound simple/harsh depending on your point of view. But here’s why professional photographers follow this same general policy.

If I’d promised to hold July 4th for Bride A and decided to give her 7 days to get back to me also telling her that I’d let her know if anyone else is interested in July 4th, what if I can’t get in touch with Bride A when Bride B enquires? Bride B will decide to go elsewhere because I can’t confirm my availability. Then, what if Bride A finally decides not to book. In the end I’ve lost both bookings!! Or if I did get in touch with Bride A it could come across as pressure selling, forcing her to decide there and then, when she may have other things on her mind! I don’t like that happening to me so I’d never put someone else in that situation.

You may think: “But what are the chances of 2 people asking about the same date? Believe me, it happens many, many times, especially for the months from May to Sept!!

You may have noticed that I said above that this is my general policy, ie. are there any circumstances when I would hold a date? Yes! Check back in a few days to find out under what circumstances.

Wed 3rd March 2010 – Walsall Football Club, Walsall – 6:00pm -9:00pm

Fri 5th – Sun 7th October 2010 – National Wedding Show, NEC Birmingham, Stand D15 – Fri & Sat 10:00am – 6:00pm / Sun 10:00am -5:00pm

Wed 10th March 2010 – The Moat House, Acton Trussell – 6:00 – 9:00pm

Wed 17th March 2010 -  The Paragon Hotel, Digbeth – 6:00 – 9:00pm

Wed 24th March 2010 – The Premier Suite, Cannock – 6:00 – 9:00pm

Wed 31st March 2010 – Ramada Jarvis, Sutton Coldfield- 6:00 – 9:00pm

Wed 14th April 2010 – Holiday Inn, Birmingham Airport – 6:00 – 9:00pm

Wed 12th May 2010 – Highbury Hall, Moseley – 6:00pm-9:00pm

Web 26th May 2010 – St. John’s Hotel, Solihull

Feel free to drop by to say hello, as most are free to attend. Also you’ll get to see some of my latest albums that I’ll be displaying.