Five Hundred, Twenty Five Thousand, Six Hundred Minutes
A look back at 2015 in pictures.
I started out this photography business from scratch just under three years ago, and I couldn't be happier that I did.
2015 has been another of growth, not only in the volume of work but also in the number of happy clients who keep coming back to me.
I also feel like I've grown myself this year creatively and personally. It's the year I proposed to my fiancée, bought a house and started to put down some roots in north London, which was a big thing for me, having grown up south of the river.
This year has seen all manner of things in front of my camera lens, which has made for an entertaining, challenging and varied time. I've shot loads of events, ranging from the Olivier Awards in April to the Stonewall Awards in November right through to various company Christmas parties in December. I've photographed more interiors this year, which I've really enjoyed. I've also shot several weddings which have all been amazing fun, each in their own way, some with small civil ceremonies, some big Jewish weddings with energy through the roof, and others in churches and photography studios!
I also attended the first ever Nine Dots Gathering which was an, 'ahem', gathering of wedding photographers from across the UK. We learnt from the world's best wedding photographers and played a lot of ping pong. I made some great friends and can't wait to do it again next year!
2016 will bring my own wedding, which fills me with excitement, especially as my now good friend Jon Mold will be shooting it along with my other new buddy Dan Bold.
It's going to be another great year I hope. In the mean time, I've pulled together a few (well, about 100) of my favourite shots from the past five hundred, twenty five thousand, six hundred minutes.
Have a great festive break everyone and a very happy new year!
A Royal Visit, Good Relations and London's Coolest New Boutique Hotel
As we move into February, and snow falls in London for the first time this year, it struck me as a good opportunity to show you what I've been up to this January.
I'm really happy to say I've started to work with another top London PR agency, Good Relations PR, for whom I've done two shoots and a third is on the way. I found myself at London Bridge station early in the month on behalf of their client, South Eastern Railway, and in the offices of a big magazine business on behalf of another client, B&Q.
I also photographed a member of the royal family for the first time, when I found myself at a food and wine event for Australia Day hosted by Tourism Australia. HRH Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, popped along for an hour to meet some of Australia's best chefs and sample some delicious food cooked by Lynton Tapp, runner up in Masterchef Australia 2013. She also chatted to John Torode, Masterchef judge, and Darcey Bussell, a judge of a different kind from Strictly Come Dancing.
Thomas Sabo, the premium high street jewellery retailer, invited me along for the second time to photograph a couple of events in London and Manchester where they unveil their latest product lines to their own employees as well as other retailers. The London event took place in the ballroom at the Bulgari Hotel in Knightsbridge, an absolutely stunning venue which photographs so well.
I also did some more work for Diffusion, this time for their client BookATable.com in the very cool club, bar and restaurant DSTRKT in Piccadilly Circus. Keep your eyes peeled for those photos in the media around Valentines day this month. Following that I also took some interior photos in London's extravagant new hotel, The Exhibitionist, which have now been published on the Mail Online. To finish off the month I started working with one of London's finest event catering companies, Jackson Gilmour by photographing an event for them at the spectacular Wallace Collection.
An exciting start to 2015...
A Quick Look Back At 2014, Before Looking Forward To 2015
Having started this whole photography business thing at the end of 2012, I'm pretty happy with where I've got to in the past two years. I'm delighted that it continues to grow and I'm extremely grateful to all the people who have helped me over the past 24 months, particularly those who continue to help as happy repeat clients!
In 2014 I was busier than ever, photographing all sorts of things, including but not limited to corporate headshots, birthday parties, charity dinners, business conferences, many portrait sessions, hotel interiors, shop interiors, building sites, weddings, PR stunts, concerts, family events, a catwalk show and various products.
I took photos of a few famous people, notably Barry Humphries (of Dame Edna fame), George Osborne, Sir Jonathan Ive (of Apple), Paul Smith, Marc Newson and Amartya Sen. Hopefully 2015 will bring a few more celebrities in front of my lens.
I've also been very fortunate to go on some amazing trips this year, including South Africa, New York and Colombia. I don't suppose 2015 will live up to that from a holiday perspective!
Hopefully 2015 will be a great year, busy with exciting work and other fun stuff. I'm looking forward to it with great anticipation.
2013 - What A Year!
Phew, the year is nearly over and I'm pooped! But what a year it's been.
For those of you who have been part of it, thank you. Be you clients, friends, family or just online followers, I'm grateful because it's been a brilliant twelve months.
I've been taking photos since back in school days thirteen years ago, but it wasn't until a year ago that I decided to try photography as a career. And I love it. I'm chuffed that I'm able to do something I love as my job.
I can safely say that this year I've taken more photos than the rest of my life combined. For work I've photographed an amazing array of things, including but not limited to: weddings, reindeer, jewellery, chocolates, work conferences, charity galas, loads of brilliant people, a very public funeral, farmers, food, personal trainers, launch parties, store openings, hospitals and various PR events.
And for fun I've photographed a few things too. I was lucky enough this year to go to Gran Canaria, Las Vegas, Barcelona and Morocco, and my camera rarely left my side.
It's all been a brilliant learning experience and one that I hope will continue into 2014 and long beyond.
Wishing you all a lovely festive break and an awesome 2014!!
Andy
p.s. here's a few (okay, quite a few) of my favourite photos from the last year.
