Lindsay Ashton Photography l.m.p.a

Albert Halls Wedding Fair

2011-02-14T14:55:00.001Z

We will be attending the fantastic wedding fair held at the Albert Halls in Bolton town centre this Sunday 20th February. The day starts at 11am - 4pm and includes a selection of Boltons best wedding service providers. There will be three catwalk shows throughout the day so come and check out the stunning dresses availble for your big day.

If you are still looking for your wedding photographer we will be available to chat to with a selection of our albums for you to check out. With our bespoke wedding packages we are sure there will be something for all.

Possibly due to the Royal Wedding taking place this year, 2011 is set to be very popular with loved up couples. We still have a few dates available for this year and are taking bookings now for 2012 and 2013. It's dead simple to book your date with us all you need is £150 deposit then there is nothing else to pay until 6 weeks before the wedding - you don't even need to finalise your package choice until then.

A wedding fair is one of the best chances to view the different options and styles available with a selection of providers under one roof. So if you are getting married come down and see whats on offer.

Love is in the air...

2011-01-30T12:04:00.000Z

With Valentines Day approaching fast we thought we'd celebrate the month of February with a special offer to all you loved up romantic couples out there.

Whether you've been together for years, are at the start of a new romance or just got engaged why not consider a having a fantastic portrait of just the two of you.

We are offering a photo-shoot and framed desk portrait to all couples who book in during February for only £45.

Also for those of you who are getting married then we are continuing our special offer wedding photography package if booked before the end of February.

You will have 2 photographers covering your wedding from the arrival of the groom and guests at the ceremony venue until you are to sit down for your wedding breakfast (approx 4 hours). We will take a mixture of posed and group shots along with the natural reportage photos of you and your guests enjoying the day. A preview book and DVD slideshow of all the edited images will be yours to select up to 150 images which will then be digitally designed into a leather bound 10"x8" storybook album. A pre-wedding photo-shoot and 10"x8" print will be included along with a framed 16" print of your favourite wedding day image. All of this is available for only £850, but must be booked before the end of the month.

A full price guide of our bespoke package options can be posted out or emailed to you. We still have a few dates left this year although it is proving to be much more popular time to get married than last year was, bookings are being taken for 2012 and even into 2013 for those very organised couples!

We cover venues across the whole of the North West and into Scotland on request.

Give us a call on 01204 413459 to discuss your wedding or to book your Valentines portrait.

Michelle and Craig Tie the Knot

2011-01-06T14:14:00.001Z

On a snowy 23rd December 2010 Michelle and Craig were married in a lovely civil ceremony at Farington Lodge surrounded by their friends and family.

It was a gorgeous day with the snow making a beautiful backdrop to the photos creating the scenes most of us envisage when we decide to marry at Christmas time. The only difficulty encountered really was that the wedding car was unable to get there due to the icy roads - never mind though as Michelle turned up happy and smiling in a neighbours AA driving school car instead.

The sun stayed with us throughout the day lending crisp blue skies during the afternoon before turning the sky and snow a warm golden tone as it set behind the trees. Here are a few of my favourites from this magical snowy wedding day.

Hope you guys had a great honeymoon and Christmas.

Happy New Year

2011-01-04T09:57:00.000Z

Happy New Year!

Well, it's the start of a brand new year and I think everyone is keeping fingers crossed that 2011 will be better than 2010. With the studio reopening on 5th January after a good break for Christmas we will be starting the year off by celebrating our 2nd Anniversary. All portrait sittings booked during January will receive a 10% discount on any orders placed. The sittings are Free of Charge this month too so there's nothing to lose.

2011 is looking like being a busy year for weddings again, but so far there are more being booked for March, April and October rather than the traditional summer months - maybe due to the unreliable summer weather nowadays! We have a few wedding fairs to attend over the next couple of months, with special offers available to those couples who decide to book on the day and during February there will be a Wedding Open Evening at the studio for you to come down, have a look at our work and chat about your wedding plans - details will be announced shortly.

Teen Model Photo-Shoots

2010-11-09T14:06:00.000Z

Introducing our new Teen Model photo-shoot experiences!!

With prices starting from as little as £50 these sessions make fantastic Xmas and birthday gifts for any girl.

A great photo-shoot which also includes the services of a professional make-up artist to apply your make-up for you before the photos start. Bring along a change of outfit or two for some different styles and become a teen model for a couple of hours. We will use a selection of lighting techniques and poses which will bring out the true model inside.

Gift Vouchers are available to purchase with various packages offered.

Give us a call TODAY and give your daughter the treat of a lifetime!

Christmas Is Coming!!

2010-10-26T13:46:00.000+01:00

With Christmas fast approaching we are introducing our specail offers for November and December portraits. We have a range of offers available with further details to be found on our website.

Our most popular offer last year was for our Print Package so with that in mind we have decided to run it again this year.

For only £99 you can get a 60 minute portrait experience and then choose 6 of your favourite images to be printed in colour or black and white. You will get 2 at 10"x8" and 4 at 7"x5", each will be mounted in a soft white mount.

Portraits make fantastic presents for any loved one, whether family or friend. How about a natural fun image of the grandkids playing, or get everyone together for a fantastic family portrait?

Whether its a picture of the kids, the family, a new baby or even the pets we can capture some fantastic images for you to treasure forever.

Don't leave it too late to book your Christmas portrait, get in touch with us now to secure your appointment. We can offer sittings during the week or at weekend, day or evenings but bear in mind some times are more popular than others and we may need to operate a waiting list for some weekends.

If you don't want a portrait of yourself but know someone who does then why not consider a gift voucher!

You can purchase vouchers for family portraits, baby watch-me-grow packages, pet portraits, make-over or boudoir packages with all being valid for up to 6 months. To make this even better we will also include a complimentary 8"x6" mounted print with every voucher purchased before Christmas. Vouchers start at £35.

Sineads Photo Party

2010-10-26T13:24:00.000+01:00

Sunday 17th October brought Sinead and her friends to the studio for a photo-shoot party to celebrate her birthday.

Whilst mum and dad sat downstairs during the party we got all the girls having a mini photoshoot each discovering which were the natural posers and who was a little shyer (not many!). The party finished with the fun shots and a floor full of plastic balls and feathers but I hope the girls went away having enjoyed themselves.

Vanessa and Andrews Wedding

2010-10-26T13:16:00.000+01:00

Vanessa and Andrew celebrated their wedding on Saturday 16th October with a civil ceremony at the gorgoeus Egerton House Hotel on the outskirts of Bolton.

A fun wedding with all their family and friends surrounding them and the sun coming out for the afternoon allowing for lots of informal pictures of the guests to be caught whilst they enjoyed canapes and drinks on the lawns.

Shannons Party

2010-10-01T14:18:00.001+01:00

A busy day of portraits on Sunday 26th September was finished in style with a photo-shoot party for Shannon.

Shannon and her friends joined us from Wales for a party to celebrate her 14th birthday. A quick change into their party clothes and the photo-shoot began. I think they were all a little self concious to begin with while they posed for their individual shots but they soon got the hang of things and by the time they changed into some fantastic tutus later on they were all enjoying things and asking for more shots to be done.

Have a look at the montage below!

Alison and Tony's Wedding Day

2010-09-24T13:12:00.000+01:00

Another small and intimate wedding. Alison and Tony were married on 3rd September 2010 in the Ladys Chapel of St Laurences Church in Chorley.

Only a select few family and friends were present for a lovely ceremony. After a few photos at the church they all headed off to the Pines Hotel for a quiet lunch.

A evening reception was held the following day to which all their family and friends were invited.

Rhiannons Party

2010-09-24T13:08:00.000+01:00

The 11th September brought another photo-shoot party to the studio. This time to celebrate Rhiannons 8th birthday. This was the second party here that most of the girls had been to so it was great to see the familiar faces again.

A mini make over and hair curling was available to all the girls if they wanted it before we started the photos - Rhiannon chose the order that all the girls would have their pictures taken in then they took it in turns to stand behind me while pulling silly faces at their friends which created some great smiles from them all.

Rhiannons mum and dad had brought along a lovely chocolate cake so after doing a shot of the candles being blown out we finished the party with the last fun pictures including throwing all the coloured balls around (I'm sure they aim them at me!).

Liz and Darren's Wedding

2010-09-10T12:51:00.000+01:00

Sunday 29th August saw a sunny but breezy day for Darren and Liz who were married at the Inn on the Lake at Ullswater, surrounded by their family and friends. This was a slightly different wedding for me as the groom is my younger brother - have to say it was great to tell him what to do and have him actually do it!!

The day started in Liz's room with pics of the mornings preparations for her and her two bridesmaids. It was a busy room with friends and mums popping in and out throughout.

Darren, his best man and the ushers were all found in the bar at midday so before too many drinks were had we went out to do a few pictures of them all on the terrace at the back of the hotel.

The service was followed by drinks and canapes during the group photos which we managed to finish as the clouds began to roll over the lake.

A lovely meal was had by all, and the wine was drunk - by ME!

A stunning location overlooking with lawns flowing down and overlooking the lake which shone a glorious blue and made a fantastic backdrop for a few pics after the meal.

The evening party was held in the Ramblers bar and side marquee and everyone got up dancing throughout the night.

I had a fantastic time and I hope Darren and Liz enjoyed every moment of their day.

Congratulations to both of you and welcome to the family Liz - there's no escape now!!

Gemma and Sean

2010-09-10T12:48:00.000+01:00

A small and intimate civil ceremony for Gemma and Sean was held at Mere Hall in Bolton on Saturday 28th August. We managed some lovely shots of the couple and their families despite the rain.

Good luck guys and all the best for you and baby!

'Krazy Kidz Summer'

2010-09-04T14:01:00.000+01:00

We've been kept busy the past few weeks with all the 'Krazy Kidz' mini photo-shoots we have been running during the summer holidays. Here are a few of the pics we've done.

We will be running this promotion again during the October half-term for one week only!!!

Book early to avoid dissappointment and remember, portraits always make great xmas pressies.

Michelle and Mario in Barcelona

2010-08-14T12:43:00.000+01:00

Last year I received an email from a bride looking for a photographer for her wedding which was to take place in Barcelona - I jumped at the chance and was happily surprised to discover that Michelle and I used to be next door neighbours during our teenage years (my married name threw her off as we haven't seen each other for years). I think we spent the first wedding meeting chatting more about old times than the wedding itself!

Having never been to Barcelona before Michelle and Mario sorted out all the accomodation and flight details and provided me with a city guide with all the venue locations marked out. It had been decided that myself and my second photographer, Ilona, would travel out the day before the wedding to settle in before the big day - it's a good job they sorted out additional backage allowance for us on the flight cos with all the additional camera equipment taken we wouldn't have had room for clothes! Not that we actually needed most of the things we took but better safe than sorry!

Friday 6th August dawned glorious and sunny with temperatures in the mid 30s. We had most of the day to explore the city since the ceremony wasn't set til 6pm so we wandered around seeing the sights before heading across town to meet Michelle at her hotel. It was great meeting her family again and everyone was laughing and smiling - I know it seems a strange thing to say about a wedding day since all are happy, but this was a truly HAPPY occassion and Michelle didn't stop smiling throughout the day, she was a fantastic bride and was going to enjoy every moment of the day.

Another taxi to the church which was located in the parc de la ciudadela, fortunately we had scouted it out the day before since the taxi driver didn't know where it was! Mario arrived with his best man and ushers followed by the bridesmaids shortly after. At this point everyone was moved inside before Michelles car turned up.

A beautiful service was held in a stunning church, the confetti was thrown as the couple left the building and then we headed across the park to a fantastic fountain where we did a few shots with the bridal party and Michelle and Mario before all getting on a bus to head off to the reception.

Drinks and canapes were served to all and with the early evening sun the temperatures were pleasant and not too hot. Speeches were done before the meal to allow the guys to relax and enjoy the food. The best man and the brides father had everyone in stitches with their speeches and I've not laughed as much for ages- you think you've heard them all before but some still surprise you.

A spanish wedding cake was cut then the first dance followed - nothing slow and smoochy for these two as they let loose with a fun and fast dance together which got everyone else up and joining in. We finished the night off with some shots of the two of them outdoors with the vine covered venue lit up behind them. The party finished at 1am when we all headed back to hotels in taxis.

This was a spectacular wedding and I hope Michelle and Mario had as much fun as everyone else did - they certainly looked like it. An extra day to explore the city on the Saturday and then we were all on the same flight home on Sunday afternoon - where it's done nothing but rain since!!!

Here's a sneak peak at some of the pics from the day. Enjoy!!

Stacey and Justin's Wedding Day

2010-08-12T10:12:00.002+01:00

Stacey and Justin were married on Saturday 31st July at the gorgeous Mitton Hall.

Beginning at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel in the morning I captured the preparations and was surprised to find things running so smoothly and calmly, there seemed to be a very peaceful atmosphere and everyone was soon ready to leave. The wedding car collected the bridesmaids first who I soon followed up to Mitton Hall to meet the second photographer, Charlie, who had been with the Justin and the men as they prepared.

The weather was a little touch and go but seemed to be starting to clear as we all waited for Stacey to arrive. We waited .... still no sign of the wedding car. The wedding car had gotten a puncture on the way and was on the side of the road about 5 minutes away where the driver was hurriedly trying to change the tyre.

It wasn't too much longer though when the car appeared on the driveway and we were all pleasantly surprised to see a still smiling Stacey get out - obviously nothing fases her!

A lovely ceremony where the couple had written their own vows was followed by drinks and canapes outside in the sunshine whilst the photos were taken. They decided not to go for a drive in the wedding car afterwards - didn't want to tempt fate a second time!

A brightly coloured bouncy castle was up on the lawns at the back of the hall which provided some fun shots of Stacey and her bridesmaids jumping around and the gorgeous grounds offered some stunning backdrops for the intimate shots of the bride and groom.

A very tasty meal was had by all followed by the fun and laughter of the speeches before the evening guests started to arrive and the party truly began with Stacey and Justins first dance. Messages were recorded for the happy couple by the videographers - Abbey Video.

We ended our coverage with shots of 50 chinese lanterns being set off on the back lawns of Mitton Hall as the couple watched them float up into the air and over the building. This was a fantastic day for all and we wish Stacey and Justin all the best for the future.

Holly's Birthday Party

2010-08-11T14:43:00.001+01:00

Another photo-shoot party this time to celebrate Holly's birthday. The girls all came with a couple of outfits having already sorted out their own make up and hair styling, they were all fantastic models and made full use of all the feathers, hats and props available. We all had a break between outfit changes to eat a gorgeous chocolate birthday cake they brought along before the party dresses were put on for the last part of the party.

Check out a few of the pics below.

Louise and Garys' Wedding

2010-07-21T11:39:00.001+01:00

A nice local wedding for Louise and Gary on Saturday 17th July 2010. Very local infact as the brides house is within sight of my own front door - no worrying about where to park!

The weather, unfortunately was not the best - we all spent the morning watching for the promised clearing of the rain, but alas although it held off for a short time the heavens opened again after the ceremony at Mere Hall in Bolton. The original plan had been to stop at a local park for some pics of the happy couple but when the passing shower didn't pass we decided to head straight over to the Reebok Stadium for the reception - typically as soon as we arrived it stopped raining!!!

The sun came out bright and warm for a few shots with the car at the hotel entrance and allowed us enough time to get some lovely pics of Louise and Gary. The rest of the afternoon was spent dodging the showers whilst waiting to go down for some bridal party shots on the hallowed turf of BWFC.

An informal drinks reception followed by the arrival of the evening guests and the first dance before the buffet and everyone had a great day despite the rain - which cleared off for the late afternoon and evening.

Here are a few pics from the day.

Julie and Ians' Wedding Day

2010-07-21T10:04:00.001+01:00

Saturday July 3rd saw us at Bartle Hall with Julie and Ian for their wedding. They celebrated with their family and friends with a lovely ceremony at the hall followed with drinks and canapes served on the lawns in the gorgeous sunshine.

With bubbles, confetti, music and laughter a fanatstic time was had by all. An informal BBQ started the evening off before Ian led his stunning wife onto the dance floor for their first dance.

Here is a sneaky peek!

Here come the girls!

2010-07-16T16:47:00.000+01:00

Close on the tail of Emily's party we hosted our first grown up party last Saturday evening. Gemma was celebrating her birthday with some of her closest friends so after some fun group shots done in their jeans and t-shirts they then got on their glad rags, or in Gemma's case her wedding dress, for a few more pics.

With the bubbly flowing the party moved along well with the ladies getting well into working the camera by the end of the shoot.

What a fun 2 hours - I hope you all enjoyed it ladies.

Emily's 13th birthday

2010-07-16T16:41:00.000+01:00

The second party of the weekend brought yet another Emily to us with a group of friends and sister Charlotte to enjoy a photo-shoot for her 13th birthday. What a crazy group of girls they were - we had a great time photographing them and they were up for anything - doing the splits, leapfrog, the can-can. With it being such a hot day we got the fans going to get the breeze blowing their hair so they really felt like models for a couple of hours.

Here's a few of the pics.

Emily's 12th Birthday

2010-07-16T16:36:00.000+01:00

Last Friday evening saw Emily and a couple of her friends come to us for a photo-shoot to celebrate her 12th birthday. The girls were great and I hope they all had a good time.

Amy's 12th Birthday

2010-06-29T17:14:00.000+01:00

Well, Sunday was a BIG day - not only did England play against Germany but Amy celebrated her 12th birthday by joining us for a photo-shoot party at the studio. The main difference in these two events was that our results were much more satisfying!!

Amy brought along her firends and sister for the party and after they all had their individual pics done they got changed into hot pink tutus for the group and fun shots - they looked spectaular against the black background!

A gorgeous group of girls and I hope they all enjoyed the party.

'Krazy Kidz'

2010-06-25T13:28:00.000+01:00

During the summer we will be offering a fantastic mini photo-shoot for your child.

A 15-20 minute studio sitting and 7"x5" print for only £10.00!!!

The best 12 images will be edited for you to choose your favourite a week after the sitting. Should you wish to purchase additional images then special packages will be offered. Sittings are only available Tuesday- Fridays during July and August and are a great introduction to our studio.

The £10.00 charge is payable on the day of the sitting with any additional purchases paid in full when you order them.

Give me a call to find out more or to book in for this fantasic special offer.

Joanne and Martin's Wedding

2010-06-25T09:38:00.000+01:00

I've been looking forward to this wedding since it was booked - partly due to a night away from the kids!

Joanne and Martin have been into the studio a couple of times for portraits of their two children - Ryan and Olivia - so I have gotten to know them a little better which meant that this wedding felt more like photographing that of a friend and they both seemed much more relaxed and at ease on the day.

They were married on Monday 14th June at the Gailes Hotel in Irvine, Scotland. A four hour drive up on the Sunday afternoon gave me a night at the hotel to check out the venue and reassure them both that I was there on time. Monday dawned just as bright and sunny as the previous few days with a glorious blue sky.

Pictures began in the spectacular penthouse suite as Joanne got ready for the day - once she managed to remove Martin from the room that is!!! Make up and hair styling done I nipped downstairs to get some pics of Martin and his brother along with the fantastic best man - Ryan.

The ceremony took place on the garden terrace attached to the penthouse suite with only an intimate gathering of thier close family. Whilst the couple enjoyed their champagne and posed for photos in the gardens the room was changed round for their wedding breakfast.

This was a great wedding and a fantastic couple.

Samantha and Neil's Wedding

2010-06-25T09:37:00.000+01:00

The second visit to Mere Hall this week when Samantha and Neil were married on Saturday 12th June. As with all registry offices during the summer season there were several weddings being hosted at Mere Hall this weekend - but they all seemed to be running smoothly and on time.

The weather was glorious - really hot and sunny- we stayed at Mere Hall just long enough to do a confetti shot and for Samantha and Neil to speak to their guests before we got into the cars and headed up to Samanthas parents home for the reception where a large marquee in the garden hosted the informal wedding breakfast consisting of a hog roast - which smelt great!!

A very relaxed and informal wedding as wished for by the happy couple - but planned with all the style and elegance of a traditional wedding.

Check out a few of my favourite pics.

Nicola and Nicholas's Wedding

2010-06-24T14:44:00.001+01:00

It's been a busy few weeks here at the studio with the wedding season well and truly underway.

Thursday 10th June saw Nicola and Nicholas tie the knot at Mere Hall registry office in Bolton witnessed by both sets of parents. A very small and intimate group it was but a great couple and a beautiful day. With no reception planned they headed home after the photos to drinks and cake before jetting off in the early hours of the morning for their honeymoon.

Here are a few pics from the wedding.

Racheal and Ross's Wedding

2010-06-01T13:26:00.001+01:00

My last wedding of the Bank holiday weekend and what a beautiful day it was too. The sun was shining for us and it got hotter throughout the afternoon. Racheal and Ross were married in a civil ceremony at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel in Blackrod. They celebrated with their family, friends and young children on Sunday 30th May.

The small garden area at the front of the hotel allowed us to get the family groups and bridal party shots done while the views of Winter Hill and Rivington Pike from the back of the hotel provided us with gorgeous backdrops for the photos of the bride and groom.

With a late afternoon wedding an informal buffet of sandwiches and drinks was enjoyed before the party moved into the evening room for toasts and the disco.

Here's a sneaky peek at some of the shots.

Teresa and Daniel's Wedding Day

2010-05-29T16:50:00.000+01:00

Teresa and Daniel were married in a civil ceremony at Kilhey Court Hotel on May 28th 2010.

A small and intimate ceremony with close family was followed by drinks on the lawns at the hotel. Kilhey Court is a beautiful setting for a wedding with sloping lawns and gravel pathways leading down into the woodland areas at the bottom.

We enjoyed a hot and sunny afternoon while Isabella and Dylan played together on the lawns while Teresa and Daniel posed for photos.

I hope you both had a great day and that your evening party was full of fun for you all.

Here is a sneak peek at some of the photos.

Wedding Photography Offer

2010-05-15T14:09:00.000+01:00

Check out this fantastic wedding photography package.

A £150 deposit will secure your date so call me now as this is a limited time offer only.

'First Steps' Baby Club

2010-05-14T12:47:00.000+01:00

This month we are launching our new baby club.

'First Steps' is a watch-me-grow scheme open to all parents with babies under 6 months of age. By becoming a member you will receive a complimentary series of 3 photo-shoot sessions during the first 18 months of your babys life.

Sessions are usually undertaken at 4 - 6 month intervals and will help you to record some of those special moments that will become treasured memories as your baby grows. We will capture those first smiles, the first giggles, when they start to sit up or crawl and of course those first steps.

Each sitting can last up to 1 hour and a variety of images will be taken throughout to give you some stunning pictures to choose from a few days later. From each session you will be able to select your favourite inmage which will be printed and presented in a triple winged folio at the end of the series.

Additional prints can be purchased from any or all of the sittings if wished, but, there is absolutely no obligation to do so. We don't believe in high pressure sales and prefer for the images to speak for themselves. Should you decide to place an order however then as a member of the 'First Steps' club you will receive some fantastic discounts and offers only available to you.

To register your details or for more information please conatct us now.

Call: 01204 413459

or Email: lashtonphotography@hotmail.co.uk

Emily's Party

2010-05-12T12:13:00.000+01:00

Last Sunday saw us with another photo-shoot party at the studio. This one was for Emily who was celebrating her birthday with us. A rather shy group of girls to begin with we decided to start off with some group shots before they each had a chance to go it alone. Partway through there was a change of outfit for them all from the casual to the glamorous. The party was finished with some fun shots of the girls posing with the various hats, boas, flowers and fairy wings! When they left 2 hours later there was no sign of the shy, quiet group that had first arrived.

Here is a small selection from the many images taken.

Fashion Shoot

2010-05-05T14:53:00.000+01:00

A few months ago I was asked about the possibility of undertaking a mini fashion shoot for a university student whose degree was in fashion design and technology. I agreed and last Sunday was the date set. All the garments had been designed by Lyndsay-Jayne Allen as part of her degree course and she brought along a friend to model the outfits for her.

First time model, designer and fashion shoot - but we all had a blast and here are a few of my favourite images from the session. Let me know what you think!

Prom Time

2010-05-01T16:06:00.000+01:00

Yes it's that time of year again - PROM TIME!

Over the next couple of months many of the schools and colleges will be hosting their Proms and to celebrate this we are offering FREE studio and location sittings so we can 'Shoot the Dress'.

You can book in alone or with a couple of friends for a free photo-shoot to show off that gorgeous dress before you stick it back in the wardrobe (or onto ebay for next year). Fancy something a little different then why not think about a location sitting in the local areas of Rivington, Smithills, Belmont or Chorley and we can get you sitting in the fields or woodlands or even paddling in streams if you want.

To compliment this FREE sitiing we also have a unframed print offer available.

Choose your favourite 3 images to be printed and mounted for you.

That's 1 10"x8" print and 2 7"x5" prints for ONLY £55!

This Prom Offer will only last during May and June so book soon to take advantage.

Sleeping Angel!

2010-04-28T14:47:00.000+01:00

Darren and Liz brought their gorgeous new baby daughter, Freya, into the studio last week for her first portrait shoot. At only 5 days old, she is officially the youngest baby we have had in the studio. But she didn't let that fact go to her head, instead she remained asleep throughout the whole session.

Here are a couple of my favourite pics from the sitting.

... you're beautiful, it's TRUE!

2010-04-27T10:35:00.000+01:00

Introducing our new Make - Over Portrait shoots!

These make fantastic pressies for your the special girl in your life whether it be your wife or girlfriend, mum or daughter - or even as a treat for yourself.

A session at the studio which will include having your hair and make-up styled by professionals before your portraits are taken. Bring along a couple of outfits - possibly starting with something more casual followed by a glamorous evening or party dress - this allows for different styles to be achieved so we can produce some stunning images of yourself which you will remember forever.

A 90 minute shoot and make-up artist costs £40.00

A 120 minute session with hair stylist and make - up artist is £60.00

Gift Vouchers are available.

All the images will be edited ready for you to view a few days later back at the studio and you will be able to purchase your favourites from them. Your chosen portraits can be presented as fully framed prints, canvas wraps, acrylics and albums to name a few, with prices beginning at just £40.

Rivington Walled Gardens Portrait

2010-04-24T13:12:00.000+01:00

As promised a small selection of the images captured up in the walled gardens at Rivington this week when we had a photo-shoot with Ilona and Matt. A fun sitting with a great easygoing couple on a few days break from uni in Carlisle. Knowing them both to be students on an outdoor leadership degree course I was quite relieved to find that I wasn't the only one out of breath by the time we had walked up the hill - (note to oneself to remember to take a drink with me next time!). A stroll through the gardens and using the surrounding countryside as backdrops we managed to get some lovely shots of the two of them and I hope they love them too!

Location Shoot!

2010-04-22T09:18:00.000+01:00

Well the sun is shining and it's not too windy so today is going to be great for a location shoot up at Rivington Pike and the gardens with a lovely young couple who are always up for a laugh. Keep tuned as I'll post some pics in the next day or so.

Springtime Fairy!

2010-04-16T10:39:00.000+01:00

We took little Maddie out for some pictures in the beautiful daffodils in all their bloom. With a gorgeous fairy dress on she really looks like a little flower fairy and was fantastic. The bright sunshine helped to really bring the colour of the daffodils out and Maddie braved the cold wind for long enough to get a few stunning images of her.

The daffodils will only be at their best for another week or so, so if you fancy getting your little angel out into the countryside give us a call now and take advantage of the special offer still available - 2 10"x8" and 4 7"x5" unframed prints and free sitting for only £95!

Bluebells will be coming out in the next couple of weeks too and again will only be at their prettiest for a matter of 2-3 weeks at most.

Tel: 01204 413459

Final Chance!

2010-04-10T15:04:00.000+01:00

An unframed print package for only £95!!!

For a limited time only you can purchase an unframed print package consisting of 2 10"x8" and 4 7"x5" prints for only £95!! But that's not all - if you book during April then we will also waive the sitting fee which gives you a combined saving of £220!!!

You can choose a studio or location shoot and the prints can be 6 different images. This is the only time this fantastic package will be available at this amazing price so give us a call now and book in before you lose out. A great opportunity to get Fathers Day presents sorted out early.

Tel: 01204 413459

April Special Offer

2010-04-01T13:24:00.000+01:00

Family Portrait Session and Framed Print for only £40!

Throughout April 2010 you can book in for a fantastic studio session for your family. A selection of poses will be taken throughout the sitting which will last up to 1 hour.

25 minutes later you will be able to view the images in the studio and from these you can select your favourite which will be presented as an 8" mounted and framed portrait.

This amazing offer is only available at this price during April and there must be 2 generations of family in the portrait. There is NO obligation to purchase anything else.

A great opportunity to get your family together and by booking during April you will be getting a stunning portrait at a spectacular price. The combined studio session and 8" portrait will usually cost you £100!

So call or email me now to make your booking.

Tel: 01204 413459

Email: lindsay.ashton@ntlworld.com

The studio is closed for the Easter Weekend but there are still a few appointments available during the school holidays if needed or at weekends.

Spring is Here!!

2010-03-23T14:59:00.000Z

Spring finally seems to have arrived and not a moment too soon - it feels like it's been a long winter this year.

With the temperatures starting to rise and the days getting brighter it's great to get outdoors and enjoy the springtime. The flowers are now coming into their own with daffodils, snowdrops and crocuses putting in an appearance.

With a carpet of flowers creating a stunning natural backdrop for location portraits why not come along for a sitting whilst the blooms are at their best. Bring your kids down and we can get them playing or sitting amongst the daffodils, or what about the bluebells during May! If you have a little girl who likes dressing up we have a selection of fairy costumes which could look fantastic used outdoors in the flowers.

Our special print package of 2 10"x8" prints and 4 7"x5" prints, is still on offer at £95 and your sitting is free of charge and who knows if any of the shots are suitable for competition entry then there is always a chance of you winning £1000 as well!!!

The flowers will only be at their best for a couple of weeks so we'll have to work fast to take advantage of them. Give me a call at the studio to book in.

Tel: 01204 413459

Princess Party

2010-03-17T13:18:00.000Z

Natalia, Rebecca and Jessica all celebrated their 7th Birthday with a combined Princess Party at the studio last weekend.

With all their friends they had a photo-shoot party including a mini make over for each of them. They were all fantastic little princesses for the afternoon and a fun group to work with. With a great birthday cake provided by the parents we sang 'Happy Birthday' to each of them in turn at the end of the party, by which time the floor was covered in feathers, glitter and coloured plastic balls, hopefully they all had a great time and are looking forward to seeing the images later today.

Kodak Photographer of the Year Competition

2010-03-10T09:46:00.000Z

I have decided to enter this years Kodak Photographer of the Year competition which is one of the biggest professional photographer competitions around.

Over the next few months I will be looking for any willing volunteers to come in for a free photo - shoot to work on my portfolio of images. The competition has several different catergories so each month I will be concentrating on a different subject ie: pets, babies, children, family groups and couples.

This month I am looking for children under the age of 5 to come into the studio or out on location (if the weather is nice). There is no charge to you, unless you decide to purchase anything after the shoot, and you will have the chance of winning £1000 and a camera if yours is the winning portrait - I get a certificate from it if it wins!!!

If you are interreseted in booking in for a free photo-shoot and a chance to win top prize please contact me asap to arrange the sitting.

Tel: 01204 413459

Mothers Day Offer

2010-03-06T12:30:00.000Z

With Mothers Day fast approaching us this month we have a fantastic offer for you to treat your mum (or yourself if they don't do it for you!).

Throughout the whole of March you can book in for a studio or location portrait shoot and receive a stunning 8"x6" desk acrylic or framed print of your favourite image.

This special offer is available for only £40.00!!! (That is a saving of £55)

What mother wouldn't be thrilled with a portrait of their children? If you can't get into the studio before the end of March then why not consider a gift voucher to ensure you don't miss out on this fantastic deal.

Call me now to book in: 01204 413459 and if you book before 14th March you will also receive a DVD slideshow of all the images free of charge (usually £45.00).

March Special Offer

2010-02-25T18:49:00.000Z

A special offer for weddings booked with me before the end of March 2010!

Book one of the set wedding photography packages: Traditional, Reportage or Contemporary before the 31st March 2010 and you'll receive a 10% discount.

Contact me for more information or to check availabilty, there are still a few dates free for this year!

Tel 01204 413459

Jodie's Photo Party

2010-02-23T14:08:00.002Z

We did our first photo-shoot party of 2010 last Friday when Jodie came to celebrate her 15th Birthday with her friends.

With a fantastic group of girls we had a 2 hour photo party where they each had a selection of shots taken individually followed by a quick change of outfits before some fun group shots were done.

Hope you all enjoyed it girls and don't forget to choose your favourite picture for us to print for you.

With lots of parties now being booked for this year we hope the rest are as good. To book a party for yourself either for a birthday, hen-night or just a ladies night call us at the studio on:

01204 413459

Wedding Fair

2010-02-21T13:46:00.001Z

On Tuesday 23rd and Wednesday 24th February I will be attending the wedding fair at The Pines Hotel in Chorley. The event begins at 5:30pm both nights and finishes at 9pm. Various companies will be in attendance so you can view all your wedding needs under one roof. At 7pm on both nights there will be a catwalk show showcasing some gorgeous dresses etc.

Wedding fairs are a great opporunity for you to look around at the various options available for todays couples and many companies will have special offers available for any bookings made at the time.

I offer a fully bespoke service as well as set packages for your wedding photography needs to suit all budgets. With enquiries for 2012 and many bookings now being taken for 2011 it is never too early to start planning. Being a relatively new studio there is still chance that this years date may be available.

So come along and see me and check out the special offers available.

Beautiful Twins

2010-02-11T11:57:00.000Z

Well they do say that good things come in twos!

Alfy and James were brought down to the studio for their 1st portrait sitting last week. At only 2 weeks old we weren't expecting smiles but a chance to start capturing all the little details of the first few weeks. Tiny as they were a little manouvering of positions helped to prevent them kicking and smacking each other in the faces during the session. We even managed to persuade mum to come on a couple of pics with them where the babies kept tight hold of her fingers to stop her getting away no doubt! Not that she needed to worry, to look at her you wouldn't have guessed she'd just had twins!!!

We'll see them again in a few months time when they return for the 2nd shoot in their Baby's 1st Year package and it will be great to see the changes as they grow. Here are a few pics from the shoot.

Baby Portraits

2010-02-10T12:35:00.000Z

I love doing baby portraits! Capturing all those little details and cherished moments from the first smiles to the first steps as toddlers. The majority of the sittings I undertake at the studio are involving these precious bundles and as a result I offer a varirty of watch-me-grow packages to help parents record their memories of this exciting time.

I am now introducing a special sitting and mini baby book which make an ideal gift for new parents or as christening presents. You will receive a studio based portrait session during which a variety of shots will be taken of your baby (and you if wished). About a week later you will be able to view the images back at the studio and select your favourite 10 to be printed and presented in a baby blue or pink mini book. The prints are approximately 6"x4" and are mounted behind overlays in an album with a bonded leather cover. The album is supplied with a matching box.

This special Baby's 1st Portrait sitting and mini book is available for £95.00

Gift Vouchers are available if you are purchasing this as a present for someone.

Location and Studio Portraits

2010-02-05T12:35:00.000Z

A special offer for all studio or location portrait sittings booked before April 30th 2010.

Book in for a fun portrait session either in the studio or at a favourite outdoor location as the weather begins to improve. We will aim to capture those special moments between you and your loved ones with a selection of images which help to create the memories that will last a lifetime.

A location photo - shoot can result in some stunning images which are totally unique to your sitting. With beautiful locations available in the local area why not make the most of them and wrap up warmly for some early springtime fun. Before long the first of the spring flowers will begin to emerge which can produce gorgeous backgronds to the pictures. Shooting on location gives a much more relaxed feel to your pictures and are a great option for younger children with plenty of energy as we get them running, splashing in puddles, skimming stones etc. Or how about a nice romantic stroll with your partner through the chinese gardens at Rivington or the moorland near the Blue Lagoon at Belmont.

Location sittings are a fantastic option for all and if everyone is dressed for the weather then they can still be undertaken in the snow and rain - and lets face it it's usually wet if we arrange to do something isn't it!

If the weather was really unsuitable though there is always the option of retreating back to the studio for a photo-shoot instead.

When booking your location portrait we will have a discussion about possible locations and the type of images you would like capturing on the day. It is advisable to allow up to 2 hours for a location sitting or 1 hour for a studio session.

A week after the sitting you will be able to view the edited images via the computer back at the studio and from these you will select your favourites. Until the end of April 2010 there is a special offer available as detailed on the above image where you can choose 2 10"x8" prints and 4 7"x5" prints for only £95 - these can all be seperate images if wished. Obviously there are other options available from framed portraits and canvas wraps through to albums and acrylic designs. Please note that there is no separate charge for the photo-shoot itself if in the local area.

Baby 1st Year!

2010-01-25T11:06:00.001Z

The first year of a baby's life is one of the most important, they will grow so quickly that it is easy to miss some of those little changes.

I offer a watch-me-grow package for all new parents, helping you to capture some of those special times in your babys' first year - from those first smiles through to the first steps. Over the course of the first year I offer three separate sittings at the studio at 4 - 6 month interavls. At each sitting a selection of photos will be taken for you to view the following week. You will select one image from each session to be printed and mounted at a 7"x5" size. Additional images can be purchased if wished from any or all of the sittings, but there is no obligation to do so.

These watch-me-grow packages make ideal gifts for new parents. Gift vouchers can be provided. A Baby's First Year package costs £75. Additional options are avaialble on request to include the stages of pregnancy or the first 5 birthdays!

Contact me at the studio on: 01204 413459 to purchase.

You can see a sample of work on my website: www.lindsayashton.co.uk

Weddings

2010-01-14T14:29:00.001Z

Your wedding day will be one of the most special days of your life, it is the beginning of a new chapter. With all time and planning that goes into the day you want to be certain that your photographs capture it all, after all they are the only lasting keepsake of your special day.

I offer a contemporary style of wedding photography combining a mixture of natural reportage shots along with the posed group shots and bridal portraits. A couple of weeks before the wedding I like to meet with the couple to finalise your details and work through the proposed groups and special shots you wish to be taken. This meeting helps to ensure that things run smoothly on the day itself and allows you both to relax and enjoy your wedding to the full. I aim to make sure that the photography side of the day is not too intrusive and lets you have the time to chat and celebrate with your guests - after all that's what your day is all about!

A lot of my weddings have a second photographer in attendance which allows for a stunning selection of images to be taken and all those special moments to be captured. The amount of coverage on the day is up to you. You can decide whether you would like me to attend the brides house in the morning to record the fun and excitement of the preparations, or to stay for the speeches or even to stay through and photograph your first dance as man and wife in the evening.

Fully inclusive packages are available along with a bespoke option so you can choose the services and products suitable for your requirements. You can see a selection of images by viewing my website or by contacting me for a sample slideshow and price guide. Should you decide to book your wedding then a deposit of £150 will be asked for and the prices will be fixed at that time.

If you book your wedding before the end of January 2010 then there will also be an additional discount of 15% to celebrate the studios' First Anniversary.

Reopening

2010-01-07T12:16:00.000Z

The studio will re-open on Tuesday 12th January at 10am. Hopefully the kids will be back at school and I will be off the crutches by then.

Been sat inside for the past few days unable to do much and starting to get a bit of cabin fever. It is typical that the first time we get some proper snow here and the chance of some stunning landscapes calling to be done I can't get around on the crutches. Can't even get out to have a decent snowball fight, but hope everyone else is enjoying it while they have the chance even if it is causing disruption.

Studio Closed

2010-01-05T09:24:00.000Z

Well, it was supposed to be the first day back after the New Year but the weather has obviously had different ideas. The snow is falling thick and fast here at the moment and with the school closing for the day (much to the kids delight) and no chance of getting off the street the studio is staying closed today. I'll keep you updated on any additional closed days as they arrive.

But for the time being get out there with the kids and have some fun while it lasts - I would but I managed to break my toe last week and am on crutches for a few more days.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T11:25:00.000Z

Well it's the start of a brand new year and I have high hopes for it being a great one! With wedding diary for 2011 getting busier all the time including trip to Barcelona for one things are looking up after a slow start last year.

Finished 2009 with a wedding on Christmas Eve for a couple having a secret wedding. Families were being told the following day - what a great Christmas pressie! The civil ceremony was held at Manchester Registry Office followed by champagne at The Old School House Hotel on Great John Street which is a beautiful and intimate location for a wedding. Donna and Robert celebrated with a couple of close friends as witnesses going on for a meal later in the afternoon. Hope you guys had a great Christmas together and wishing you all the best for the New Year and your honeymoon in Thailand! See you when you get back.

The studio is closed over Christmas and New Year and will reopen on 5th January 2010. It will be the first anniversary of opening and as a celebration I am offering a fantastic 15% discount on all wedding bookings and portrait sittings made throughout January 2010!!!

Rebeccas Photo-Shoot Party

2009-11-28T11:58:00.000Z

Rebecca had her 13th birthday party with us at the studio. They were already in a party mood when they arrived in style in a limo provided by Jet Set Limousines.

Everyone had some photos done in their casual clothes before changing into party dresses and heels for the fun group shots - I can't believe how high the heels are on some shoes today! The girls all looked fantastic and were really into the posing by the time the feather boas and hats came out.

We finished the party with a few shots of them in the limo before they headed off for an evening of bowling and pizza.

21st Birthday Photo-Shoot Party

2009-11-23T13:07:00.001Z

Michael and her friends came along to our first adult photo-shoot party as part of her 21st birthday celebrations.
Bringing along a couple of bottles of bubbly and a box of chocolates the party began with each of the girls having a stunning make-over provided by our make-up artist, Lisa. We can offer a hair stylist as well if wished, but this time the girls opted to style their own.
As with all our parties we took some individual shots of everyone after their make-up had been applied and then when they were all finished we started the group shots.
All the girls had brought a selection of outfits with them which allowed for a variety of different poses to be undertaken throughout the session, with their final pictures being done in their sailor style dresses and hats which looked fantastic with their scarlet red shoes!

I hope everyone enjoyed the party and that the rest of Michaels birthday weekend to Leeds went well.

If you would like to book an adult photo-shoot party then please give us a call on 01204 413459. A party for up to 8 ladies will cost £100 with make-up provided at £10 per person and hair styling at £10 person. If having hair and make-up applied please allow up to three and a half hours to ensure a throughly relaxing experience.

Bonny Baby Competition

2009-11-10T10:55:00.001Z

In October we launced our Bonny Baby competition. This is open to all babies from newborn to 8 months and will run until June 30th 2010. All entries will receive a free sitting lasting about 30 minutes and will select their favourite image to be entered into the competition. They will also receive a 6"x4" print of the image.

In July 2010 the winner will be chosen by an independant judge and they will receive a 16"x12" print of the winning image presented in a 20"x16" frame.

So if you think your baby is 'the most beautiful thing you've ever seen' then why not enter them and show them off. Appointments can be made by ringing the studio on 01204 413459 and are available Tuesdays - Fridays anytime between 10pm and 3pm.

Vicky and Lydia

2009-11-06T14:14:00.006Z

Vicky and Lydia had a photo-shoot party with us for their 7th birthday. What a fantastic group of girls they were - think we may have some budding models of the future.

They all wanted to be first to have their photos taken and wherever possible tried to be on the back of each others pictures - the great thing with digital is being able to edit them off afterwards!

When the costumes came out the noise level increased and the feathers from the boas went everwhere - looked like we had been plucking a parrot by the end of the party!

Hopefully everyone went home having had a great time and they have a fantastic selection of photos to choose from. You can see a few above.

Photo-Shoot Parties

2009-10-31T14:42:00.002Z

Our photo-shoot parties for children are proving a great success. Aimed at girls from the age of 6 years we host a 2 hour party for up to 12 children. After greeting your guests at the studio we head upstairs for a fun filled party.

We start the session off with a mini photo shoot for each child where they get to 'strut their stuff' and pose like the celebrity models they see on the telly, then we get everyone together for some group shots of them all. Before long the feather boas, cowgirl hats, fancy dress costumes etc are pulled out and the fun continues with shots of the girls jumping, spinning, dancing - we've even had them playing leapfrog or doing cartwheels!

Drinks and sweets are provided throughout the party with kareoke available for those who can sing better than I can! Since opening the studio in January we have held many parties for girls between 6 and 16 years and each one has proved to be completely different. Everyone seems to enjoy themselves and most of our bookings come from recommendations from previous [parties (so we must do something right).

With the success of these parties we are opening them out to provide a fantastic evening for the ladies. Why not book a party for your own birthday, hen night or just as a treat for the mums - we can arrange for a make-up artist and/or hair stylist to attend the party to make sure you all look and feel your best before the photos are taken. We'll provide some drinks and chocolates (bring your own wine!) and have a great evening. Come along in your casual clothes for an informal style or get dressed up in your evening dresses to add a little glamour to the night - or if you want a set of more sexy pics doing bring your lingerie along with your heels and we can do a boudoir style of portraiture. The choice is yours!

If you are interrested in a childrens or adult party please contact us for more information. Popular dates go fast so book early!

Caroline and Tim Saturday 19th September 2009

2009-10-18T14:11:00.002+01:00

Caroline and Tim held their wedding at their local church, St Teresa's in Up Holland. A large lawn at the front provided an ideal location for the photographs to be taken after the service.
I hope they both enjoyed their day and love their photographs.

Christmas!

2009-10-16T13:15:00.004+01:00

Thats it, summer is over, the days are getting colder and darker and we are all beginning to think about the approach of Christmas and with that come the inevitable problems of what to buy everyone. I don't know about you but I am always struggling to think of something different and special to get people, especially for parents and grandparents. Well here's the answer - why not have a fantastic portrait session for you and your family!

Book in for one of our complimentary portrait sittings either at the studio or on location in the local area (great for sunny autumn days). Your sitting will last for up to an hour and we will take a variety of shots for you whether it be family, baby, children or pets or a combination. The following week you will be invited back to the studio to view your images via a slideshow, before selecting your favourites for printing.

We offer a wide selection of products from fully framed portraits and storyboards, canvas wraps, albums and stunning acrylic designs. Why not choose your favourite image to be printed onto our christmas cards for you to send out to all your family and friends (available in packs of 20) or we can design a calender for you with your images.

As a xmas offer, available until the end of Decemeber 2009, we are offering a print only package which consists of 2 10"x8" prints and 4 7"x5" prints for the special price of £99.00. That's 6 separate images of your choice in colour, black and white, sepia or colour tinted as wished all for only £99.00 and remember the sitting is FREE too!

Gift vouchers are also available for any amount you wish and can make excellent gifts for someone who has it all!

Rachels' Party

2009-09-30T10:41:00.002+01:00

Rachel and her friends were celebrating her 12th birthday with a photo-shoot party at the studio. They all brought a change of outfit with them which allowed for a variety of shots to be taken of each of them and when they changed into their party clothes we brought out all the feathers boas and plastic balls for some fun shots. They were a great group of friends and I hope they all love the photos and had a great time.

Victorias Party 20th September 09

2009-09-24T11:43:00.003+01:00

Victoria has had photos with us a few times in the past and when her elder sister attended a party her earlier in the year she decided that she was going to have her birthday here too. The shy, quiet group of children soon turned into normal, noisy 6 year olds as Vicky led them upstairs and started modelling for the photos. We got a few rounds of musical bumps and statues in while the music played then the plastic balls came out. Mum and dad came on for a few pictures with the kids and it wasn't long before dad became used as target practise and was bombarded with plastic balls from all directions (not convinced mum didn't orchestrate that!). After two hours of fun parents began to arrive to collect their not so shy and quiet children and hopefully everyone had a good time. Happy Birthday Victoria!

'Trash the Dress' August 2009

2009-09-18T14:08:00.004+01:00

For the past couple of years 'Trash the Dress' has been all the rage in the USA and it is now getting a foothold over here. Trying to get brides to sign up for a session without first seeing any images has been a bit of a struggle. Finally however, I managed to coax a friend into volunteering as a model in her wedding dress for me, her daughter wanted to come along so we decided to put her in a bridesmaids dress along with my own daughter and whilst we were all going we might as well bring my sister along in her bridesmaid dress.

So one sunny Friday morning at the beginning of August found the five of us parking up in the countryside. We pulled up on the car park at the same time as a group of 20 ramblers going out in all their walking boots etc and here we were climbing out of the car with a bride and three bridesmaids! They thought we were mad.

Hitching Charlies' dress up we squeezed our way through the gateway and into the hills - country gates aren't made for big wedding dresses! Ilona had on her stunning walking boots under her bridesmaids dress whilst the girls, forgetting to bring their trainers, had to contend with walking along rough pathways with wedding sandals on!

Starting at the small footbridge across the stream we began with some pics of them with the hills and sheep in the background. Everyone was a little nervous to start with but after the first few pictures were over they soon began to relax and really get into the swing of things.

We walked along the stream following it up into the hills and getting pictures of the girls paddling in the edge of the water and sitting on fallen trees etc. Charlie was great! We decided that there would be a fantasic view from the top of an outcrop of rocks so kicking off her shoes (sorry, flip flops) she scrambled, in her wedding dress, up this steep hill that even I was struggling to get up in normal clothes. The effort was worth it though and we got some great shots of her overlooking the whole of the area. Whilst up there balancing precariously on the edge of the cliff a man out walking stopped to ask if he could take a picture of Charlie as his wife didn't believe him when he told her there was a bride up here.

Amazingly I didn't slide down the hill on my behind when we made our way back down to where Ilona, Kiera and Jess were all waiting for us. Again a little scramble down a couple of rocks found us back on the banks of the stream and it is here that we got some of the best pics of the day. Up until now the dresses were all relatively clean and dry, but that was soon to change! This is the part of the shoot where, with no persuassion at all, Charlie got into the stream in her dress and sat down. It wasn't long before Kiera and Jess were asking if they could have a go too!

Half an hour or so later it was time to leave and whilst the girls climbed out and dryed their feet Charlie made her way back across the stream. That was when we heard the splash!

I think everyone had a great time that day and I got some fantastic pictures for my portfolio. I can't thank the girls enough for volunteering to be my guinea pigs for the day and hope the pictures bring back the fun they all had. Kiera and Jess are already asking when they can do it again!

If you think you'd like to have a go at a 'Trash the Dress' session please get in touch, if I have done your wedding the session is free!

PS They are great for prom dresses too!

Jo and Ian 5th September 2009

2009-09-18T12:02:00.005+01:00

I met Jo and Ian at a friends wedding in Lapland a few years ago where Jo was bridesmaid and wearing a lovely dress complimented with a great big pair of ski boots! That was definately a wedding out of the ordinary for me, however when they booked their own wedding they decided to stay closer to home.

Doing any wedding is nervewracking as you want to be sure the bride and groom love the results, but I think when it a friends wedding the nerves are doubled and you pray that everything is perfect for them, especially the weather! The forecast was for showers with it clearing later in the afternoon so keeping fingers crossed that it would stop raining at some point, I set off to meet Jo and the bridesmaids at Hair Revival. Despite the rain everyone was in a happy and excited mood whilst they had their hair and make up applied before heading back to the house to get ready.

I met up with Ian, his best men and the ushers at St Pauls church where we managed to dodge the raindrops to get some pictures outside. Jo and Ians' little girl, Lily, arrived and obviously became the centre of attention for all the arriving guests - she was having a great time trying to pull the hats from her nans head!

A beautiful wedding car, from St Leonards, dropped the bridesmaids off before doing the return journey to bring Jo and her dad to church. Luck must have been on our side as by the time Jo arrived the rain had stopped. She looked stunning as she stepped out of the car and made her way into church - not a ski boot in sight!

After the service finished and the confetti was thrown we made the short journey up the road to Dunscar Golf Club where the reception was to be held. The weather was improving all the time and by the time we were organising the groups the sun was finally beginning to put in an appearance. With the hills in the background and the sun shining we got some gorgeous pictures of Jo, Ian and little Lily.

I stayed to cover the speeches which they had decided to do before the meal started so as to allow Ian and his best man to enjoy the food without the nerves. After many laughs and a few tears the speeches ended with a toast to the bride and groom made by the best man, at which point I left to let them enjoy the rest of their wedding day.

Hope you guys had a fantastic day and enjoyed every minute of it!

Lois and Stephens' Wedding 22nd August 2009

2009-09-18T11:29:00.004+01:00

The day started a little grey but by the time we arrived at the brides house the sun was starting to shine through. Lois and her bridesmaids were all arriving back from the hairdressers and the champagne was opened for a little drink whilst they got ready. I have to say, everyone seemed remarkably calm for a wedding day, unless they waited for us to leave to meet Stephen and his men at the church!

Getting married at Bury Parish Church on a sunny Saturday afternoon attracts a crowd of onlookers and by the time Lois arrived we had quite an audience - to the extent that someone asked me 'Is it someone famous getting married?'

The service was lovely and after the signing of the register Lois and Stephen were finally married. A few photos at the church while the bride and groom had chance to say hello and chat to their guests outside we headed off to the reception at the Bolholt Hotel.

The Bolholt is a popular venue and the grounds can be ideal for photographs and with the sun shining family and friends of the couple were able to have a drink relaxing in the gardens.

I really enjoyed this wedding and Lois and Stephen were a fantastic couple to work with. I hope they both had a great day and love the pictures as much as I do.

Stephanies Party

2009-09-17T14:32:00.001+01:00

A group of teenage girls gathering outside the studio announced the arrival of Stephanie and her friends for one of our photo-shoot parties. Everyones always a little nervous when they arrive not knowing exactly what to expect (including me!) and no one wants to be the first to stand up in front of everyone, but after Stephanie opted to go first everyone was soon beginning to relax and we even had a couple singing on the kareoke in the background whilst the shots were being taken. We always start with some individaul poses of each person before moving onto the group shots and as everyone begins to unwind the fun shots begin - don't know what it is with feather boas but as soon as they come out they turn even the most shy member of the group into an instant model. Anyway two hours and over 600 pictures later we were saying goodbye to everyone. I hope they all enjoyed the party as much as we did and can't wait for them all to see the pictures. Here are a few of my favourites.