What’s the difference between photo and canvas prints?
Call it what you want. Wall art prints, landscape prints, home decor. There's something quite absorbing about losing yourself in a high quality canvas print, or framed print. The subject matter can be anything you like–abstract art, typographic prints, movie...
Photography walk in the Peak District
As a professional photographer and owner of a very busy branding and website agency, family time is precious to me. I’m lucky to be blessed with 3 amazing kids and time absolutely flies by with them - two are now teenagers! So it was amazing to spend the day with...
Commercial Photography Location photoshoot for Direct Line Marketing
A much needed out of the blue email enquiry landed towards the end of September last year. It had been a difficult year with Covid as a professional photographer with 14 years experience working. I was approached by Direct Line Marketing for a commercial...
Jess and Kieran’s The Last Drop Hotel wedding photos, Bolton
_____ It was an honour and a privilege to photograph the wedding of my Niece, Jess to her fiancé Keiran. I still recall Jess being an 8 year old when I met her Auntie (my wife) in the December of 1997. That’s the one of the fantastic things of photographing...
Hultons Landscapes Photography
_____ The third commercial shoot for Hultons Landscapes saw me travelling around Cheshire and Manchester covering 5 more locations. Those include Moor Hall, Booths Hall, Edge Hill University, Embankment near Manchester Cathedral and Media City as well. In...
Commercial shoot for a conference centre
_____ This was a lovely little photo shoot for Penrith Rugby Union Football Club. As with all semi-professional sports clubs in this fine country of ours, they have to diversify and look for revenue streams where they can find them. So it was for this commercial...
Interior photography for Stonebridge
_____ s It was an especially nice treat to be asked to shoot the interior of Bartle House. The offices, located in the heart of Manchester’s legal and financial district in Manchester city centre. Stonebridge had already bought a considerable amount of work...
Nutters Restaurants 24th Birthday Celebrations
_____ Back in July, I was finishing a meal at my favourite restaurant - you've guessed it - Nutters - with my brother in law, when Andrew asked us to join him at the bar as service had finished. Aside from being beyond full and perhaps slightly tipsy, we...
Sam and Jonny’s Bartle Hall wedding photos, Preston
_____ Sam and Jonny's Bartle Hall wedding photos, Preston A couple of years ago I got a call from Samantha asking if she could purchase a couple of framed Manchester prints for a leaving present for a colleague. Fast forward a year later and Sam calls again, this...
Donna and Dave’s Sparth House Hotel Wedding Photography
_____ Donna and Dave's Sparth House Hotel wedding photography shoot was, in summary, fab. Two amazing people, meeting later in life who clearly deserve each other. The brief was a simple one though: firstly, a little bit of bridal prep; secondly, lots and lots of...
The Bird keeps flying for Andrew Nutter
_____ One year on from the opening night launch at the Bird at Birtle, owner Andrew Nutter asked me if I would like to come to the 1 year celebration party - an event organised by the establishment to say thank you to all their suppliers and friends who had...
Lowry and the local Manchester landscape
_____ I was delighted to be approached by the Paul Mellon Centre in London earlier in the year to locate and shoot 5 locations in Manchester that had been painted or observed by the local artists LS Lowry. The article written by Anne M. Wagner, explores a...
Natalie and Lee’s Wedding Photographer, Manchester Town Hall
_____ Another great Manchester Town Hall wedding shoot My cousin Steve Grogan, a superb wedding photographer in his own right refers me to Natalie and Lee. In short, he already has a booking for the day. Another Manchester Town Hall wedding, following by the...
A helping hand to Focus Clinics
_____ I'm always happy to help out a good cause. So when a business comes knocking asking for a donation of an image for a piece they are working on to promote good health, I'll usually say yes. To begin with, Focus Clinics are a laser eye surgery in London that...
Split second anticipation to capture that wedding memory
_____ So September's Wedding Photograph of the month comes from Emma and Gary’s wedding earlier in the month. Another fantastic day was spent from bridal preparation though to the first dance. But unlike may of my other choices for this post, I’ve opted for...
Natasha and Tom, Hotel Gotham and Manchester Town Hall Wedding Photos
_____ I love social media. The way it connects you to people you may never reach is amazing so it was fabulous to get the commission of photographing Tom and Natasha’s wedding in Manchester Town Hall - I love this venue - and then Hotel Gotham in the city...
Claire and Adam’s Wedding at the Plas Hafod Hotel, North Wales
_____ Because I don’t photograph more than 10 weddings I don’t tend to market myself as much as I perhaps should do. So it’s always lovely to get a referral, which is exactly where half of my weddings this year came from. Although this one was especially nice as it...
Inspiring Awards Ceremony 2017
_____ I spent a super afternoon spent in the grand surroundings of the Midland hotel in Manchester photographing the award ceremony for Inspiring Awards. An incredible event, it is held every year and this year was also their 25th anniversary. The awards do...
Handrail Creations Photoshoot
_____ All about the Handrail Creations Photoshoot I especially love doing commercial photography with local businesses. And although I’m very happy to travel all over, there's something nice about keeping the local economy ticking over. As such it was great to work...
Melissa and Peter’s Wedding Photography, Lowry Hotel Manchester
_____ A wonderful couple and a wonderful day. This was a first for me photographing a wedding in the Lowry. A quite stunning hotel and as an added benefit a good size room for the bridal prep. As usual I met with the couple, Peter and Melissa a couple of...
On site product shoot for Ramtech Electronics
_____ I find myself doing photoshoots in some bizarre places. From a tiny boardroom or B&B bedroom, tothe 17th floor of a construction site, to a crypt under a church. Yes. I said a crypt. Over a period of 3 months I’ve done 3 separate shoots from London...
Emma and Gary’s wedding photographs Manchester
_____ Picture this, a couple who had been together for 20 years. He had raised her kids as his own. Totally in love. Brilliant mancunians… and finally getting married. And I was lucky enough to shoot their wedding in Gorton, then later at Denton Golf Club. ...
Haighton Manor Opening
_____ I was delighted to be asked to shoot the soft launch of the refurbished Haighton Manor on Sunday 4th September for Brunning and Price as it joined their family of pub restaurants. Strictly by invitation only, Haighton Manor opened its doors at 12.00...
Logistical problems surrounding photoshoots
_____ At least being a commercial photographer isn't boring. Far from it in fact. Indeed, I'm going to try and write this post in a non-moaning manner. In short, I always try to avoid negative posts - so this won’t be one. However, I think it’s important to...
DMM Product and Factory Photography
_____ Two photoshoots for DMM Professional - the arm of DMM International that designs and manufactures working at height safety gear, rather than climbing equipment - but both used in the same catalogue. I had worked on the DMM account from a design point...
August’s Wedding photograph of the month
_____ Later than planned here’s my choice for August’s wedding photo of the month. Taken at Whitehead Gardens in Bury, next door to Bury’s Registry office it just summed up the wedding and the lovely bride and groom. More about the Wedding Photo of the Month I...
Jade and Mark’s Wedding Photography, Prestwich
_____ Here is my selection of my favourite wedding photographs from Jade and Mark’s wedding from early July. A referral from last year, it was as ever, a privilege to be invited into a couple’s home to get to know them and shoot their special day. In Jade...
July’s Wedding photograph of the month
_____ I love Friday weddings. I don't know why but there’s definitely something different about them. On the Friday 1st July, I had the pleasure of shooting Jade and Mark’s wedding. What made me choose this wedding photo for July’s wedding photograph of the...
Landscape photography for a landscape company
_____ It’s always fantastic to pick up new commercial photography clients. When Hultons Landscapes got in touch a week or so back, I was excited. The brief was to shoot a number of ongoing projects across the northwest for use online and in awards entries....
Natalie and Greg’s wedding, Smithills Hall, Bolton
_____ After meeting Natalie and Greg during our pre-wedding consultations, it is so obvious to me that they they are clearly made for each other. Which meant having the privilege to shoot their wedding day even more special. I’ve never photographed a wedding...
Sarah and Justin’s Bury Wedding Photography
_____ It was a privilege to be asked to photograph the wedding of one of my wife’s best friends a couple of weeks ago. Doubling my responsibilities with being a guest was also fun! But ever the professional, I left the partying until after I had finished the...
Wedding photograph of the month
_____ A new feature as I do more and more wedding photography. I thought I would choose a favourite wedding photograph and tell a little story behind the shot. This could be on any of my wedding photos, be it a traditional group shot of a candid or...
Let the Bird Fly Event Photography
_____ I truly love what I do. Be it capturing a wedding, shooting architecture or photographing an event like this, it provides me with such a diverse range of photographic challenges (and great nights out as well). So you won’t be surprised to learn I was...
Portrait photography for Balfour Beatty Mott MacDonald
_____ As well as being a photographer, I also own Think Design Manchester, a website and design agency, who produce high end graphic design to businesses large and small. One of which I recently completed (read about it here). It was large graphic design job...
Portrait photography with an urban twist
_____ A recent photoshoot for scriptwriter and local poet, Argh Kid (David Scott). Tagged a "thinking man's Shaun Ryder" he combines monkey business, melancholy, grit and wisdom. From hilarious drug escapades 'Tripping with Jackie Chan', to questioning race...
Rowena and Lee’s Wedding Photography, Bolholt Country Park Hotel
_____ Without wanting to sound a little clichéd, it is always a honour to be asked to photograph a wedding. After all, you have to get the shots right. It’s not like you can arrange a reshoot after the event is it? I would even go as far to say, it comes...
Product and set photography for Showerdrape
_____ With any trade I think you are always learning so when the opportunity came up to do a type of studio photography I hadn't done before, I leapt at the chance. This project in question, was to shoot the product photography for Showerdrape Ltd, a...
GE Robinson location photography
_____ Next up: a GE Robinson location photography shoot. In essence, a timber yard that operates out of several branches across the UK. I was referred via a design agency in Northern Ireland who had been commissioned by the parent company Haldane Fisher to design...
Louise and Ryan’s Wedding Photography, Clough Manor, Saddleworth
_____ I class myself as a professional photographer, rather than just a wedding photographer. And because I have more than one photographic discipline, I always try and bring a little something different to the wedding photographs I capture. With this...
Nicola and Richard’s Wedding Photography
_____ I’ve been meaning to share some of the wedding photographs from Richard and Nicolas wedding for a while. Well, what a lovely couple... from start to finish they were nothing but a delight to work with. This wedding was a civil ceremony at the Bolholt...
Interior and team photoshoot for Strictly Waxing
_____ You can probably imagine the thoughts running through my head when I got a call asking if I could come a photograph a waxing studio in my home town of Radcliffe. Well… no, it didn't involved photographing the look of agony etched into their latest...
Getting excited about wood photography
_____ About wood photography I often get work via referrals so when I was approached to undertake a commercial shoot which involved photographing a local timber yard, GE Robinson, for a new website, I thought yeah - that'd be fun... With anything photoshoots like...
Nuts about photography
_____ Getting to shoot one of the best restaurants in the North West was an absolute joy. That’s one of the things I love about photography - meeting new people and making new friends. Nutters Restaurant Photography I met Andrew Nutter, celebrity chef and the...
My favourite landscape photographs of 2015
_____ I mean to do this every year so I'm going to give myself a huge pat of the back and say well done for actually writing this post. So without further ado, here are my top 10 landscape photographs for 2015. Oh, and I promise I'll do a commercial and...
Bram and Elyne’s Manchester Wedding Photography
_____ Being asked to photograph anyone’s wedding is always a humbling experience for me. To have them place that amount of trust in you (especially for a Manchester wedding photography) is a delight. Especially because they trust that you will without any doubt...
Galloways Print location photography
_____ Going into a working business to photograph it’s working day is always a challenge. Particularly when it’s a deadline driven company like Galloways Print is. This photoshoot was part of a larger project that involved the redesign and build of their...
Nutters Restaurant – interior and exterior photography
_____ Over the past year, I have done quite a lot of exterior and interior photography for hotels and restaurants. So you can imagine my excitement when I was asked to shoot one of the best restaurants in the North West? Nutters Restaurant Interior...
Corporate portrait photography for Greyland
_____ A morning’s photography for Greyland, a Manchester based cleaning product company. I was approached via my website to see if I would come to their head office and take 8-10 head shots for their new website. When I turned up with all my equipment they...
Looking for a Manchester wedding photographer?
_____ I’ve lost count the number of times I have been asked if I do wedding photography. To be honest I don't really blame anyone who asks me because it isn't my only specialism. But I think that actually helps me when I’m taking wedding photographs. So ok,...
Amaze 20th Birthday Event Photography
_____ I was delighted to be commissioned (via a third party Marketing Agency - Bluestar Marketing) to shoot an important event for Amaze. Amaze is a 20-year-old digital agency that works with some of the world's leading brands. The event was the Amaze 20th birthday...
Natalie and Darren’s Wedding Photography, Dukinfield
_____ I was in Burton, near Pembroke in South Wales, when I got the call from Natalie. It transpired that their wedding photographer had ceased trading, and not told them, with only two weeks to go before their wedding! Fortunately I had a window and was...
NG Bailey team and event photography
_____ I love the variety being a photographer and designer brings to my daily life. Gone are the days when I was chained to my desk, sometimes spending 12 hours or more staring at a Mac. Sure, I still have days like that. The main difference is now I get to...
Exhibitions, PR, Media and my TV debut
_____ It’s been a few weeks since my last post. This is mainly down to not having enough time to blog. Anyway, enough of the excuses... I thought I write today’s blog about my Industrious Manchester exhibition that is still one at the great Bay Horse Pub on...
Hotel and B&B photography for Amazon
_____ One thing that hotels and bed and breakfast establishments need to do is sell rooms. A lot of hotels and b&bs use the likes of laterooms.com or Groupon for example. Regardless of which platform they do use, one of the best ways to do this is for...
Did you know you can book hotels through Amazon? (And I photographed them)
_____ Getting asked to produce a range of architectural and interior photographs by a huge organisation like Amazon has been one of the highlights of my year. Especially because travelling to each location has taken me to some of my favourite places in the...
My favourite Manchester wedding photography of 2013-14
_____ As we start the second half of 2015 I thought it would be a good time to reflect over the past 18 months of wedding photos that I’ve taken and try and select my favourite Manchester wedding photographs. Well, in all honesty, I planned to do this in...
Industrious Manchester
_____ A bit of a preamble to the main event, but I thought it was worth sharing with you all. From 31st July, I'll be exhibiting a selection of my Manchester landscapes in the Bay Horse Pub on Thomas Street, in the Northern Quarter. How did this come about...
Tina and Derek’s Wedding Photography, Bury
_____ The story behind Tina and Derek's wedding is a lovely one indeed. Childhood sweethearts reunited so they finally got the wedding they always dreamed of. About Tina and Derek's Wedding It was a pleasure to photograph their wedding, and really, I can't say much...
Paula and James’ Wedding Photography, Red Hall Hotel
_____ I was lucky enough to be the wedding photographer for Paula and James. They are such a lovely couple and down-to-earth people who put so much love and effort into their big day. Although Paula will openly admit she became a bit of a bridezilla...
What camera do I use for my landscape photos?
_____ I often get asked what camera do I use when shooting landscape photos. The usual response when I tell the person who asks is normally something like, “wow, I must get myself a better camera so I can take photographs as good as you”. Well, that’s really...
Always turn around…
_____ It’s been a really quiet few weeks photographically with Christmas and the weather being so bad. I thought I’d reflect back at over the last two or three months which were anything but quiet. Firstly, my landscape photos published once again. Landscape photos...
Social media, sharing and image ownership
_____ As a landscape photographer without a vast advertising budget, I have to really rely on the various forms of social media in order to reach as many as you lovely people as possible. In fact, you can see on my homepage I’m pretty much...
Can a landscape photo trip ever be classed as a failure?
_____ The last two times travelling to the Peak District to photograph some landscapes, I've not exactly come back with what I hoped to capture. Upon reflection, were these two shoots a failure? In essence, it really depends on your perspective when it comes to a...
Great landscape photography can be on your doorstep, too
_____ As a Manchester Landscape Photographer I often get asked why I don't shoot more landscapes or cityscapes of Manchester. I love getting out of the city to shoot Yorkshire, Lake & Peak District Landscape photographs, in short. But when it comes to great...
The Great British Coast
_____ As a landscape photographer I think I'm pretty lucky to live in Manchester. A great city, full of top people, loads of superb architecture, both old and new, and gritty urban scenes to shoot. But it's also a great location to have as a base. I'm an...
The Dark Peak – my photo trip up to Mam Tor in the Peak District
_____ At the beginning of May I took a trip back to the Peak District to hopefully tick off one of my 'must photograph in 2014' views. After bending Mat Robinson's ear about how to get there, and the consequential obliging I thought I share my shots and a...
RAW vs Jpeg for beginners
_____ My good friend Mat Robinson, a Visit Peak District Destination Photoprapher and genius in all things mathematical has agreed to pull together a short piece on the benefits of RAW over Jpegs for photographers just starting out. Over to you Mat... It may...
Fitting in photography around family life
_____ As many photographers would point out, it's incredibly hard to fit in getting out doing what you love if you have a young family. Particularly our desire to get out to photograph a landscape during sunrise or sunset! I'm quite fortunate in the fact I...
A spring in the step…
So spring is in the air and the Bluebells are starting to carpet our woodlands with a bluey-purple haze... I got out a couple of weeks ago for an hour to the local nature trail, the woods surround the old railway line from Radcliffe to Prestwich. Less well kept...
The minefield AKA SEO
_____ I'm pretty new to this, and as such would always accept any advice or help from anyone who knows more about it than me. But during my website overhaul (which has finally started to sell some prints as a result) I did some research on the best top tips on how...
Has Photoshop killed the art behind a good photograph?
_____ Living in the 'digital' age is fantastic isn't it? Instant visual gratification, information at our fingertips constantly available and updated everywhere to name just two examples. Of course, all this constant refresh of information has meant visual...
Latest work – A photographic visit to Lancashire’s coast
_____ Last Saturday saw a trip to Lancashire to Glasson Dock and to see Plover Scar Lighthouse. No fantastic light, but a definite revisit is on the cards - perhaps in the early morning. Still got some nice photographs though and also had a play with...
Anita and Andy’s Wedding Photography
_____ This, in summary, was one of the quirkiest weddings I've had the pleasure to photograph. Manc themed together with Vimto cakes were one of the memories I brought away from it. I loved being part of the day. Moreover, I couldn’t ask for a nicer couple than...
The Story of the Creative – part two
_____ It’s been a busy few weeks for me recently, which is why I’ve been so quiet, but I’m happy to say that despite having missed the opening night in July of the Story of the Creative Exhibition in New York, I was able to fly out last Thursday as the...
Each day brings an opportunity to learn photography…
_____ I learnt something new this week, proving that everyday really does provide you with opportunities to improve yourself. What did I learn you might ask? Well it all started with my attempts at a sunset and a long exposure of a seascape to try and get a...
The Story of the Creative
_____ Now I'm not going to lie. I'm a creative person at heart. I always have been. My qualifications in art based subjects totals seven across various media. I'm also a photographic enthusiast who secretly coverts a desire to be much more than an...
Camera Bags: Shoulder, rucksack or swing?
_____ This is my first ever blog post, so please bear with me... Anyway... where to start. Ahh yes, the eternal search for the perfect camera bag... I mean, let's be honest. I got back into photography a few years back and my the number of bags I've owned since...
Designing Manchester
_____ As I've said before, my day job is a graphic designer. And I love combining the three things I love, typography, design and photography. Doing my own stuff helps me do this. Anyway, I work in the area of Manchester known as Ancoats, near the more...
Nicki and Paul’s Wedding Photography, Last Drop Village
_____ Doing the photographs for this wedding was quite a personal journey. Paul is my best friend and has been for over 20 years. Nicki is my wife's best friend as well. In fact, the met at our home on evening a few years ago, so imagine our delight...