Hello 2011

Our competition was very successful. Congratulations to Beth and Chris and Joanna and Ian.

We have been very quiet since Christmas, not much to report really, it’s that time of year. So we are glad to be at the end of January and looking forward to a very busy 2011. We began the year with 25 weddings booked for 2011 and 3 for 2012, we now have 31 for 2011 and 5 for 2012, so that is looking very good indeed. We decided a while back that we would limit the number of packages we offer, they are very good value for money, but the majority of our coverages should be on an ala carte basis. A good proportion of our customers prefer that anyway. So we are now at the point where we only have three packages left for 2011. If you would like to try to book one of our remaining packages you will need to act fast. Go to our main site and send us an enquiry today, we hope we will still be available.

2011 is a significant year for me. It was 35 years ago that I first became a professional photographer. I had learnt the basics at art school and I knew an f stop from a bus stop, but I had lots more to learn. I went to work for Ray Vincent, he was one of the top portrait photographers in the UK at that time and is still in business. I went to see him recently. This year he reaches retirement age but I doubt that he will hang up his Hasselblad. He still shoots on film, he doesn’t even own a computer, and he is a master of light. Ray’s pictures jump out of the frame at you, crisp, punchy and expertly lit. It’s rare to see such skill these days. It seems incredible to me now that when I came up North to work as the “Photographer in Residence” at the Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal I was practically a “Journeyman” with a mere 13 years experience. Back then I thought I knew it all but I am proving to myself everyday that I still have lots to learn.

While we have been quiet I have gone back to my roots. Walking with a film camera and going into the darkroom to process and print. I love making pictures this way; it is a special skill, a craft that has very little space in the world of commercial photography anymore. The quality I achieve from a carefully made fibre based print is unique. It is the methodology that got me hooked on this profession 35 years ago. I intend to work on some portfolios of my landscape work and I will make an announcement as to how you can see them in the coming months.

Steven Taylor January 2011

A very merry Christmas to all our readers.

Last year we had a little competition to find our favourite wedding picture of 2009. It was such a success that we decided to run it again this year. We have changed the rules a little though.

In 2010 we were privileged to be present at, and photograph the weddings of 34 fabulous couples. We always work as a team. On the day Steven goes with the Bride and Josh goes with the Groom. Steven shoots the portraits and formals and back in the studio, Josh does the processing.

This year we wanted to give all of our couples a chance to win so we have selected images from all 34 weddings. Because we don’t want to compete with each other we have each selected our own favourite pictures from each wedding. So every couple has two chances of winning.

The winner of Steve’s favourites and the winner of Josh’s favourites will each receive a framed wall print of the image of their choice. That’s worth £160 each so we really are feeling the Christmas spirit here.

What we need you to do is to join us on Facebook (if you haven’t already), have a good look through all of the pictures and choose your favourite from Steven’s and your favourite of Josh’s then click “like” for those pictures. We would love to read any comments you would like to make about the images. What is more, and we really are feeling generous at this festive time, we will select, at random, two people who have voted and give them a family portrait, anywhere in mainland UK, and a framed print for free.

The deadline for voting is twelfth night, 6th January at midnight. After that your vote will not be counted, just like X Factor.

Remember, you are not voting for the nicest couple, they will all win that, we would like you to choose, what, in your opinion is the best of Steven’s pictures and the best of Josh’s… and don’t try and set us against each other, we don’t want a father and son dispute at Christmas, that normally occurs naturally.

So, if you haven’t already done so, join our Facebook page here.

Now we are off to London for Christmas.

Christmas gift idea!

If you are stuck for a Christmas present how about a voucher for a studio portrait...and you don't have to go out in the snow to get it.
Go to our portrait site http://www.steventaylorportraits.co.uk/ Click client proofing, type voucher into the password request and the rest is easy.

Christmas Portraits

We know we don't really need to remind you but we can do portraits for Christmas...but you are going to have to hurry. We need to be ready to view your portraits by Monday 13th December to have them in time for Christmas. Have a look at our portrait site. http://www.steventaylorportraits.co.uk Go on hurry up then!

Are you thinking about asking us to photograph your wedding?

It’s that time of year again. We are not busy shooting weddings, only one more to do before the full on season begins again in February but we are extremely busy answering enquires, meeting couples and booking weddings, we’re doing quite a few family portraits for Christmas as well.

Our diary is looking very busy; we have 22 weddings booked for 2011 and 3 for 2012, including the one in Australia. We had one enquiry today for a date we booked on Thursday last week. So, as a good friend of mine used to say, “if you’re not fast, you’re last” (please read that in a Cumbrian accent). What we are saying is if you haven’t sent your enquiry or you are still talking about your budget and whether it is better to have fantastic, lasting memories or chair covers, you will need to start making some decisions because the popular dates (and they’re not all Saturdays) are getting booked.

We love the thanks we get....

So, yesterday, we were busy processing the pictures we did for Beth and Chris last Saturday (we’ll put them on here in a couple of days) when the postman came. He brought a bill from the framers, we’d already paid that so that was all right, and a card and a lovely little parcel of choccies. Both were from Beth and Chris. We knew you were great people when we first met you but you really didn’t have to do that; we would have photographed your wedding for the money alone. Readers of this blog will know how we love things chocolaty and biscuity. Thanks you two we’ll save them until you come to design your album with us. Oh, by the way your piccies are looking fantastic!

So we don't normally do this but.....

Like I said we really don't normally do this, but while I was processing Duncan and Louisa's wedding I found an image that I absolutely love, Steve and I are both thrilled with how this came out. Duncan and Louisa are incredibly photogenic and the good news is we have some more lovely images coming their way! So to Duncan and Louisa congratulations again and we hope you enjoy this very sneaky peaky!

Josh