Yesterday was my first kids shoot of the year and I was so ready for it, taking it easy may be ok for lots of people but not me, if I don't get to take photographs atleast 2 or 3 times a week I practically come out in a rash.

So let me tell you all about Dominic, Tom, Jake, Jack and Abbie who were so much fun and very very well behaved.




The main aim of the day was to get a photograph of all five of them for Nannas wall, I think we achieved it, this one only 1 shot out of about 10 which would look fantastic on Nannas wall!



Then it was the 3 brothers turn and a little bit of singing the bradley bear song and much chatter about doggies and we got some lovely shots.




How cute is this little one?




Hamming it up for the camera!



Abbie went last and she was the perfect model.




She's super cute and totally gorgeous with a sunny personality to match.

Guys, you really were all a complete joy to photograph and I think Nanna is going to be over the moon with you all proudly adorning her wall.

If you want to book your kids shoot get your session booked before 31/01/09 and pay only £10, remember you don't have to have the shoot before the end of January you just have to book it, if you want to book one you can call me or click through to my website.

January is Boudoir Month at Mandy Charlton Photography

Book your boudoir shoot before the 31st of January and save by paying only £50 for the photoshoot, thats half price!! Or take the all inclusive option which includes your photoshoot and a Little black book (all tied up with ribbon)containing 24 of your favourite photographs from the shoot in 6x4" for only £250, thats a stonking saving of £100.

All sessions shot before 31/01/09 will have their albums in time for Valentines day if required. Men, want to get your lady something different this year, well this is the gift that just keeps on giving. Ladies want to have photographs of you looking at your most fierce, boudoir is all about you, each image is lovling retouched to make sure you look your absolute best. This is all shot in the comfort of your own home to make you feel at ease. Boo your shoot today by calling me on 0191 2289515 or 07918 121838 or of course you can click through to my little website.

Cool Places to get married in the North of England

Choosing your wedding venue is probably one of the most important choices you'll make as a bride along with of course choosing that all important wedding dress and also your wedding photographer because get all three of those things right and you're a long way closer to having that perfect wedding day you've always dreamed of.

As a wedding photographer in the north of England I am lucky enough to have shot weddings at many wonderful venues in Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham, Northumberland and Cumbria as well as one or two others around the UK.

In making this list I'm choosing places which have treated the bride and groom in a manner which they should be treat as well as being nice to the various vendors and also the guests, I'm also going with places which obviously look gorgeous photographically.

So here's some of my favourites, all of which I've photographed at sometime over the last 12 months.

Although I am numbering these it's only for ease of reading, I can't put them in actual order as it's just too hard!

1. Linden Hall, there's nothing bad at all I can say about Linden Hall, I even know that they're getting new stair carpets this year for the entrance to the little upstairs room, thats the cute one with the fairy lights. Linden Hall is beautiful, memorable, the food is amazing and the staff are wonderfully polite and cheerful.





2. Guisborough Hall Hotel, I've not shot here but I stayed with hubby for a romantic getaway and I know it's going to be a fabulous venue to get married. The food was amazing and the staff really looked after us.
Gisborough Hall Hotel, very posh but lovely for a wedding!!" href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=727399&id=753857163">


3. Headlam Hall, gosh this place has so many amazing places to take photographs, the staff are wonderful, I haven't eaten here but the catering looks fantastic, I plan to take hubby here for a romantic getaway sometime this year.



4. Sunderland, Stadium of Light. If you are a football fan I have to recommend the Stadium of Light, the function room is gorgeous, the food, some of the best I ever ate and actually that 2 foot ledge accross the car park provided wonderful romantic photographs!



5. Newcastle St Nicholas Cathedral, ok so not everyone can get married here, I don't even know what the conditions are but what I do know is that the Canon is a wonderful person, the venue is probably about the most awe inspiring ever and if you can get married here it's going to be a day that you never ever forget.




Especially if the Choir are singing




Ok so thats a brief list, there are many more wonderful venues such as Close House, Jesmond Dene House Hotel, Matfen Hall, Otterburn Hall all as individual as each other, wherever you decide to have your special day have a wonderful wedding!

2008 Favourites Post 1 - Wedding Photography

Ok, so the year is drawing to a close and what a year it's been, I really wanted to share some of my favourite photographs from this year, I've shot 21 weddings this year and 57 portrait sessions so plenty of photographs to pick from, goodness only knows how many images i've actually shot, quite a few I reckon!! LOL

So here's post 1 and it could be the first part of an epic series...

Ok, I'm stuck already, but lets go back to April when I was part of the most unique wedding of my season, the wedding of the very lovely and wonderful Heather and Joel. If you want to see more from their wedding at Newcastle Cathedral just click on that link to go to the original blog post. this unique event was really the start to my wedding season and it's I'm happy to have made 2 wonderful new friends in the form of Heather and Joel who's New Year Bash we'll be attending on Wednesday.




Ok, this photo was taken just as they were leaving the cathedral to walk through Newcastle up to the Northern Stage, I love it because it's unposed, joyful and really captures the spirit of just how happy they were.

Skipping firmly onwards to the end of May and I was lucky enough to be part of Amy and Shakers fab wedding, this wedding was all about fun and I was delighted that they took time out of their wedding day to capture some amazing images down at St Marys Island, those images included this one.





at the end of that same week I shot what was to be one of my most favourite weddings of the year simply because Stuart and Jayne made me feel so very welcome, really like part of the family. They got married at the Stadium of light and their couples shots were on a 2 foot ledge just above a sheer drop down to the river, this one my favourite of several in a series of shots





after those 2 weddings, I think I had around a week before winging my way to the Gosforth Park Marriot Hotel for Louise and Matthews wedding where I shot this image





One of the most joyeous parts of being a wedding photographer is getting to capture the beauty of brides, there really isn't anyone so gorgeous as a bride who is about to walk down the aisle and this image of Rachel from her wedding at the Caledonian Hotel in Jesmond really does prove that.





another joyful part of my job is that I get to photograph all the gorgeous little bridesmaids and page boys, this beautiful little girl was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Kerry and Matt





Phew, i did say this could take some time!!

Onwards now to one of my most beautiful brides of 2008, this lovely lady is as gorgeous on the inside as she is beautiful on the outside, the wedding of Rachel and Jonathon really was a joy to photograph at The Old Assembly rooms with the couples photographs being captured on the Newcastle Quayside.




and that dear reader is where i will leave it for today, join me later in the week for some more images. I really am the luckiest photographer in Newcastle to get to photograph so many wonderful weddings, brides, grooms, bridesmaids, venues, love, happiness.... lol you get the idea!

Henrys Second Milestones Photoshoot - Wharton Park, Durham

Have you ever been to Wharton Park in Durham, it's perched on the hill right next to the train station, I had never been until Henrys mum told me thats where they wanted to do the second of 4 milestones photoshoots.

Wharton Park has the most amazing views of Durham and it's hard to believe that I didn't even know it existed, If you want a family photoshoot, perhaps thinking ahead for Christmas Presents and you live in Durham give me a call on 07918 121838 and I'll be only too happy to revisit this splendid park.

So on with the photographs -



Henry is a busy little boy, he's always on the go and I'm not entirely sure how mum keeps up with him, he certainly has boundless energy reserves.



Henry is also a deep thinking serious little boy, I think he's planning to take over the world secretly



I adore this photograph of a tender moment shared between Henry and his dad.



When he does smile and laugh though the whole world seems to light up.



being the victim of a ticklefest by mum!!



I really love this one, it's a very modern portrait which captures the love and fun this family shares and if you look in the background you'll see Durham Cathedral, see I told you it was an awesome place to shoot.

Henrys mum has seen these photographs now and I'm happy to say that she loves them but then again any photograph with this wonderful little boy in was bound to be magical.

I'll look forward to catching up with you all again in a couple of months and of course meeting the new arrival to the family :-)