Stuart Homer Photography Ltd.01772 862206 / 07970 307298 |
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Well folks, here we are in the last few hours of
2011 - and what a year it's been. Huge congratulations go out to this year's Brides and Grooms as they celebrate their first New Year as Man and Wife:- Ian & Jo, Dave & Anne, Peter & Anna, Alan & Lesley-Ann, Mark & Sheriden and Darren & Lisa. Have a fantastic year Guys. Apart from the weddings, this year has been a brilliant one for some really special jobs, from Castle to Cavern and thoroughbred to pedigree to classic Ferrari. It's been a year where I've been privileged to support a number of causes and to work with a whole load of amazing people. Amazing is a slightly over-used word, but one of the major highlights of 2011 for me was being able to work at close quarters with many of the staff within HMP Lancaster Castle and to see their sheer professionalism. It's also been great year for working with charities, which I always love to do. I've had the honour to support three balls and a ballroom event in aid of the British Heart Foundation as well as an equine show in support of the Lancashire Air Ambulance and as always the Penny Farm Open Day. It was also great to be able to support the Chipping Steam Festival again this year. I seem to have gate-crashed my way onto the local TV news at least three times during the course of my duties this year and have managed to photograph a few of those slightly closer to famous (and probably richer) than I. It's also been a great year for portraits, working with many families through the year as well as corporate clients too (and lots of my favourite Doggy clients too). It's been especially fun working with the staff and some of the regular musicians of the world famous Cavern Club, after spending part of the year's Beatles Week working with my very good friends The Rockits. It hasn't all been a solo effort though. I wouldn't have been able to undertake this work without the support and help of my best friend and wife Debs, son Nathan and also the others who've helped make it all possible including Lou & Mike, Chris and Sariah. Thanks Guys. For me, I find myself some 25,000 or so images on from this time last year and with some incredible memories. For you - I simply wish you a very, very Happy New Year. I hope 2012 is an incredibly successful one for you, if not in wealth then at least in happiness and health. Have a great year...
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The post just below this one warned of the impending chaos that is Christmas - and before we knew it, here it was. I've just updated the diary page for the first time since mid November, and put no less that 12 separate jobs into the diary, all of which have been undertaken between then and today 27th December. So, time for a bit of a catch up... We hope you had a fantastic Christmas time and that the big guy brought everything that was on your list. We've been enjoying a bit of a sit down with feet up, although we are still open for business. I'm conscious we undertook quite a few portrait sessions in the weeks leading up to Christmas, so if you would like help choosing products please give us a shout. Similarly, if you've got any projects in mind for the New Year which we might be able to help with then please give us a call... In the meantime, sit down, put your feet up, watch some more repeats, and relax...
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The bad news is it's nearly Christmas already... The good news is that we might have the perfect suggestion for all those relatives' Christmas gifts. Saturday and Sunday 12th -13th November sees us hosting our annual pre-Christmas family portrait shoot. We've got our full studio setup and it's yours for a 90 minute slot which is ample time for lots of different poses and outfits. It costs just £40 for the session and products to order start with prints from just £4.00. Products are available to order in time for Christmas from our full product catalogue. Bookings are limited, so as they say: don't delay! get in touch today and make sure you don't miss out. |
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The media
has a lot to say about the current economic climate and it's not difficult to
see how everyone is tightening their belts not to mention purses. Many
professional photographers, just like other professions are seeing the effects
at first hand with reductions in bookings and clients becoming more conscious of
their budgets. There is a perfectly understandable trend of 'making do', with one of the most prominent areas being that of wedding photography. On top of the venue, the dress, the suits, cars, flowers, rings, DJ, band and then the honeymoon - it's hardly surprising that the photographer can be seen as an all too expensive luxury. When almost everybody at the ceremony has a camera or video on the go, does that give even more of a reason to make do without? Modern cameras are good and can take really good pictures, but it's the photographer who can create and capture a fantastic moment, who will work with you and your guests to create lifelong lasting images of your most special day. The photographer is working for you - not the other way round, so it's up to you to define what you'd like and what you're able to pay for it. It doesn't have to cost the earth - ultimately it's not about profit, it's about creating your everlasting memories. The Irish Professional Photographers' Association represents their members in the same way as the Society of Wedding & Portrait Photographers (SWPP) and the Society of International School & Event Photographers (SISEP), both of which I'm a member. Why not give them two minutes of your time...
IPPA Wedding Video from IPPA on Vimeo. ©IPPA |
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We've published a book... You can purchase it. Recently, we've been working very closely with our good friends The ROCKiTS who are a fantastic 1950's - 60's tribute band. During International Beatles Week this year the band played no less that 10 gigs in four days in Liverpool and went down a storm. On the strength of their performances and reputation, today (30th September 2011) sees them playing the first three gigs of their residency at the world famous Cavern Club. We wish Chris, John, Rob, Jutt & Mike all our congratulations - after all your hard work you deserve it! Stuart Homer Photography Ltd. spent two days of the Beatles Week in Liverpool with the band, pretty much living, eating, drinking and of course photographing with the band. To celebrate the event we have published a must have 'Rockumentary' book which is now available for sale. The book consists of 42 printed pages and is 21cm square in size. The book is available in softback form at £24.99 or also in a hardback form which is printed on photographic paper at £44.99. It can be purchased directly from the publisher straight to your door using the links below. The book contains 64 unique photographs taken both backstage and onstage with the guys at four of their gigs including the world famous Cavern Club. Most are photographed in the venues' stage lighting to capture the ambience of the events, giving a very up close and very personal feel for the band and their performances.
Softback - £24.99 Hardback - £44.99 If you want to recommend this book to anyone else, it's easy to find from the Bob Books online bookshop http://www.bobbooks.co.uk/bookshop/ - just type 'Rockits' into the search box on the lower left of the page. Finally, if you'd like the guys to personally sign your copy then please go and speak to them at any one of their Cavern gigs, they'd be delighted to see you. So, if you're looking for a band to perform at your ball, function, event or wedding, or just want to know more about the guys, you can find their website at http://www.therockits.co.uk/ or their Facebook page http://facebook.com/therockits.england.
It's our birthday... We're Three At the end of November we celebrate Three successful years since forming Stuart Homer Photography as a limited company. To celebrate we've got a trio of very special offers which are valid for the Three months of September, October and November 2011. There's no need for vouchers or any fuss, just ask us for one of these very special gifts...
To claim any of these orders all you need to do is make your booking or order your products before the end of November 2011. Please remember it's up to you to ask for the gift you'd like. Offers may be combined, but we reserve the right to apply discretion or even refuse in certain circumstances. There is no cash equivalent. Please ask if you have any questions or would like any further information. The Dog's The Star During previous years, we've been delighted to be involved in Goosnargh & Longridge Show and many of our portrait clients on the day have been of the four-legged persuasion. This year we couldn't make it due to a pressing matter (congratulations again Sheriden & Mark). Instead we hosted a dedicated studio portrait session which took place on Saturday 30th July for all our doggy clients old and new. It's took place at our good friend Deborah's Dog Training Centre at Sandbank Estates, Cumeragh Lane, between Whittingham and Longridge. Thank you to all who were able to support it. If you missed out please contact us and we can make sure we let you know about forthcoming sessions, or can carry out a bespoke session dedicated to just you (and your pets!) Copyright - or Copywrong? Who'd have thought how much social networking would have taken off over the last few years. With it there's a whole new challenge for us professional image makers. You'll notice that all of the electronic images we supply have a copyright message across the middle, and are generally reduced in size compared to the amazing quality full resolution images we produce. The reason we do this is two fold and it's all to do with the distribution of photographs. Copyright law in the UK defines that the ownership of an image remains with the original photographer. Even if someone else has commissioned and paid for that photograph to be taken, or even if a third person is in that photograph, the image is still owned by the photographer. You've probably noticed that some of the social networking sites let the user post any image and claim it as their own. Even if there's nothing malicious going on, seeing 'Photos by ...' at the top of the page suggests that person owns the image, so why bother with a professional...? The photographic business is an incredibly difficult one, especially of late. So many people are entering it on the basis they have a half decent camera. Our approach is based around professional investment, maintaining and replacing expensive equipment, paying for insurance for your protection and so on, so we're keen to keep your custom to keep the wheels turning. We're also keen that anyone you speak to should know what we do and understand that we can provide the same service to them too, and build upon our business. So, by providing an image with a copyright message across it, partly we're advertising our professional services - "Hello, we'd like to produce an image like this for you".... We're also saying that amazing images don't just happen - Uncle Tom, Dick or Bob may have spent a couple of hundred on a camera, but there's just a little bit more to being amazing with it. Professional photography doesn't have to be hugely expensive - but it isn't something we give away for nothing either.
Please give us the chance to provide you with some of the fantastic full resolution images we can produce, they'll look so much more amazing on your wall than just on a gallery page. British Heart Foundation - Mending Broken Hearts As always, we are very proud to support the work of the British Heart Foundation. Last night we had a fantastic night doing just that, as the Northwest kicked off three days of support to the BHF Mending Broken Hearts Appeal with a family dance night in the magnificent Empress Ballroom in Blackpool's Winter Gardens. The event featured Jive lessons from the brilliant Phil & Wendy of Stepz In Time and a chance to relive the glory days of D.I.S.C.O in the hands of the amazing Lionel Vinyl. We were there catching all the moves and selling portraits and prints, with proceeds from the sale donated directly back to BHF. You can see photographs from the event from the Gallery page, and Contact Me to order.
Stuart Homer Photography Ltd. - As Seen On TV Yes it's true, albeit a mere cameo appearance lasting about a second! Last weekend we were at Chipping Steam Festival where we had our trade stand, proudly displaying the latest and greatest from our product range. We also had our on site studio as well as catching some live action with the Poulton Dog Agility Group in the big arena. We were also able to support the Committee with a few of the show presentations. Slightly bizarrely we were also able to photograph the big event of Monday's show, the raffle ticket draw to the lucky winner of a vintage Rolls Royce. BBC local news were also there to catch the moment, let's face it - not everyday does anyone win a car for £1, let alone a Royce. Our next show event is the Ruffs Dog show, Ashton Park in Preston on Saturday 11th June from 11am onwards - We'd love to see you there!
(See all the photographs on the Gallery / Diary page) What a busy weekend - but a fantastic one, the sort of weekend which sees us rack up over a thousand pictures with about four hours sleep between them! Saturday afternoon and night saw us photographing 40th Birthday Celebrations and portraits of our very good friend Simon Goodfellow in Doncaster, followed by a middle of the night drive back home - no late night partying in for us! Sunday morning we were up early (if not bright) to photograph the Blacksticks Blue 10k Road Race. As well as some great photographs of the race itself, it was quite surreal photographing guest of honour and international rugby legend, Mr Bill Beaumont CBE. All the pictures can be viewed from the Gallery / Diary page.
We're proud to announce that with immediate effect our new May 2011 price list comes into effect, although already placed orders will of course be fulfilled at the previously quoted prices. It's not all bad news, in that some prices have been reduced reflecting supplier costs which have gone down over the last few months. Some prices have risen, partly because it's only now we've introduced an increase reflecting the 20% VAT rise. Most exciting though, we've introduced a new range of very impressive Aluminium Plate wall art, with your images printed directly onto a metal plate which is then mounted 'floating' in space in front of your wall. Also, we've got an entirely new supplier of our Photobooks - we were sad to decide that our previous supplier didn't meet the standards of product or customer care we expected. Our new supplier has a wider product range with 26 page books starting at less than £25.00 inclusive. Our new product price list can be viewed Here
Going Camping... That's not anything to do with Simon's birthday party this weekend, but it is your invite to come and visit us whilst we're out and about in the great outdoors. We're going to be hosting our trade stand at Chipping Steam Fair this year from Saturday 28th to Monday 30th May and we'd love to see you there. We'll be showing some of our latest as well as traditional products including some fantastic alternatives to boring old framed prints and also our range of handmade Wedding Albums. As previously, we'll have our on-site studio and printing setup, so you can also have your very own mini portrait session and take away the results in just a few minutes. Alternatively just mention that you've seen this item and join us for a coffee. We've got our own custom made marquee for this year, so hopefully we'll stand out from the crowd. We're really looking forward to it and looking forward to seeing you there... Apologies that we're now well into the year, and there's been very little in the way of news appearing here... Mainly that's because I've been out and about 'doing stuff' and supplying the products of that 'stuff', so haven't spent too much time sitting here typing. The year so far has been brilliant, and has given me the opportunity to work with some amazing people - giving me chance to do what I do best whilst they're doing what they do best. Huge congratulations are due to this year's Brides and Grooms - Jo & Ian, Anne & Dave and Anna & Peter. Three very different weddings, but all fantastic. I also feel incredibly privileged to be working with some of Her Majesty's finest and most dedicated staff. I've been photographing some of them (they know who they are) under difficult circumstances, yet their commitment, professionalism, warmth and humour have been second to none. Here's to the rest of the year... We're going to be out and about a little during this year - the first event is Chipping Steam Fair on the end of May Bank Holiday weekend. Pop in and have a coffee with us, have a look at our latest work and products and have a portrait taken whilst you're at it! Thanks for all you're ongoing support. ps. You can keep track of what we're up to via our Facebook page - just look for Stuart Homer Photography Ltd.
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©2012 Stuart Homer Photography Ltd.
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