Another later in the morning blog from me today, I went to bed with a migraine and I've woken up with a really dull throbbing migraine which is just ridiculously annoying, I think I have decorators neck, if that isn't a condition I am naming it now, I think it comes from having your arms in the air with the brush for too long!  I did finish decorating the downstairs loo and actually it looks better than it has for years, i'm quite chuffed with it all, just Abigails room to go and that's pretty much ready to paint but I'm having a couple of days off to allow the swelling to go down in my neck and spine.

I am going to go for a visitors permit today so that I can openly welcome visitors into my house, maybe they'll come armed with a paint brush ;)

The hall and stairs are still desperate for redecoration but I just can't see how we can do all 3 floors before Christmas so I'll just ask visitors to shut their eyes when they're going up and down the stairs, maybe I could blindfold them?  Might be a little dangerous on the stairs!

Can I talk about work for a bit today?  So, it's not all that long until Christmas and do still have some availability in my diary for weekends and weekdays so here's the full rundown

I have availability on the following days - 

Thursday 6th December, Friday 12th December, Saturday 13th December at Tynemouth Longsands, Sunday 14th of December at Saltwell Park in the morning and Jesmond Dene in the afternoon.

Wednesday 16th December, Thursday 18th December, Saturday 20th December in Jesmond Dene and Sunday 21st of December

All orders placed by Midnight on 15/12 will be dispatched to reach you in time for Christmas, Orders placed before 22/12 will be with you in time for Christmas as long as you can pick them up from me in Heaton.  Time is running out to book your sessions though so do it today via email, my website or my facebook page

Half hour sessions are £25 at Saltwell Park, Tynemouth Longsands and Jesmond Dene, All other locations, in the home and larger family portraits are from £40 and these prices are due to rise in January 2015 so book your sessions today and you get them at this years prices.  With each photo shoot you get a web gallery for 30 days, 15% off for the first 7 days your gallery is live and a complimentary print (7x5 for half hours, 12x8 for hours).

Here's some photos from recent sessions that I love - 

So hopefully I have shown you enough to whet your appetite, quick go and book a session or maybe you could buy one for a friend or family member for Christmas, for a limited time only you can get an extra 20% value on all gift certificates, well what are you waiting for email me now!

Portraits, weddings and a great excuse to have a family get together this summer in the North East of England

It's been a busy couple of weeks dear reader hence no blog post, actually now I come to think about it apart from eat, sleep, photograph, edit there's not really been a lot of time for anything else, not that I'm complaining, I think we all know by now just how much I love my job and so it's great to be able to bring you my latest favourite photos from weddings and photo shoots around the beautiful North East of England.

I have a question for you?  Are you planning a big (or small) family get together this summer in the lovely sunshine we're having?  Well why not celebrate that and capture some once in a lifetime memories with a photo shoot either at home or at a location of your choice.  Starting at only £40 for a 1 hour shoot or £85 for a 2 hour shoot with complimentary mounted and framed 7x5 print there's really never been a better time to book me!

and on the subject of bookings, because I am very lovely and good to you all dear readers here's an update to the Summer/Autumn mini sessions with all of the latest availability.  To book your session just email me or you can check out all of the latest news and photographs on my Facebook business page

Saturday July 20th - Jesmond Dene 2.30pm, 4, 4.30pm

Sunday 4th August - Saltwell Park 1pm, 1.30pm, 2pm, 2.30pm,  4pm

Saturday 17th August - Tynemouth Longsands 1pm, 2.30pm

Saturday 31st August - Jesmond Dene 1pm, 1.30pm, 2pm,3pm, 3.30pm, 4pm, 4.30pm

Saturday 21st of September - Tynemouth Longsands - noon, 12.30, 1, 1.30, 2.30, 3

Sunday 22nd September - Jesmond Dene - 1, 1.30, 2, 2.30 and 3

Saturday 28th of September - Saltwell Park - 10.30 11, 11.30, noon, 12.30, 1, 1.30, 2, 2.30, 3

Newcastle Photographer, 2012 review and 2013 news from Mandy Charlton

I know that every Tom, Dick and Harry is doing a 2012 year in review post just now but it's always nice to look back at the great things you've done and 2012 was quite simply my favourite year in nearly 6 years of business as a newcastle photographer.

Because my areas of speciality are weddings and kids and family portraits on location there really is quite a mix and I've popped a few personal photos in there for good measure, it's a funny thing when you get this collection all in one place, to see what you accomplished in a year is a wonderful thing indeed.

What I have discovered this year is that I love being on location shooting family portraits in the North East and it's possibly a good time to reveal some news about 2013, you see I've never been entirely happy in a studio, I always felt that it was almost too easy and that there were no backgrounds, I like life as a background, I think it makes for much better photos and the kids enjoy being outdoors so much, it's perfect for my style of photography and so yesterday I handed in my notice at the studio and I'm going to be moving to a brand new NE1 business address, I've found the most gorgeous meeting room perfect for my needs, a great base to meet all of you lovely clients looking for a wedding photographer in the North East of England and for some of you it will be just around the corner from your venues because it's city centre based.  It really is an exciting development and I'm so happy with the choices I've taken.

And so come with me for a meander through the highlights of 2012 and do leave a comment with your favourite image

This one right here is my favourite wedding image from 2012, shot in August at Durham Castle there's just something special about it don't you think?

This might possibly be my favourite portrait image of the year but to be honest it sort of changes every week because I shoot so many mini sessions and portrait sessions, up to 20 a week at peak times.