The economy sucks right now doesn't it? my gas and electric payments are seriously stupid, I'm thinking that Hannah Hauxwell had a good idea living in hermitude without power supplies. The thing is that there's no point moaning about it but it's how we as people and businesses respond in these trying times.
I have some good news on behalf of Mandy Charlton Photography, with immediate effect I have slashed the price of portrait sessions from £50 to £30, this offer will not last forever but for the time being I think it's the right thing to do and it's obviously an astoundingly brilliant thing if you're currently thinking about having a family portrait session or getting some great professional photographs of the children.
You'll still get your web gallery for 30 days and you'll qualify for a 20% discount off all orders in the first 7 days so it really is a superb deal. As I said this offer will not last forever so don't hang around and book your spot, I've already booked some sessions since the announcement this morning so if you leave it too long you could be disappointed.
On a personal note I'm sorry I haven't had time to update the blog this week, it's a really busy wedding season and my business continues to grow and flourish.
One note to clients, from Next saturday (9th August) at approximately 3pm (I have a portrait session at 2pm) I will be on my holidays and won't return until the evening of the 15th. I will still be able to take calls but it may take me a while longer to respond to emails. I have Lisa and Peters wedding tommorrow, Rachael and Jonathans on the 8th of August and then I'll be home the day before Stephen and Denises wedding. Please be aware that if you want to fix up client consultations I may not be able to fit you in straight away.
So let me tell you about our holidays - Iain decided he doesn't want to come but hey that's 12 year olds for you so he's going to stay at his grandmas for a week. Paul's dad will be here cat sitting for us and we'll be having an adventure. Next saturday after my portrait session we'll be travelling down to Derbyshire so that we can go to Matlock Bath on Sunday and take the kids to Gullivers Kingdom.
On Monday we go further south to stay in Hinckley for our Drayton Manor Theme Park Break, 1 night in a luxury hotel plus tickets to the theme park on the Monday.
On the Tuesday we're going to stay in romantic Slough (lol) so that we can have 3 fun packed days in London and then on Friday we'll make our way back home, that one is going to be a long drive.
I can't wait!!
Have a wonderful weekend and I'll be blogging on Monday with photographs from Lisa and Peters wonderful wedding and beleive me you don't want to miss this one, it's going to be awesome.
Credit Crunch Portrait sessions
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Yesterday was a pretty grey day weatherwise but it didn't stop me from having an amazing Pre-wedding photoshoot with Kath and Alan down on the quayside.
This is Kath, gorgeous bride to be.
and this is Alan the dashing groom to be.
for me grey skies don't matter, they just add to the retro Love mood I was trying to achieve.
I love the warmth in this one.
and Kaths showing off a fabulous engagement ring here.
Kath and Alan I really can't wait to shoot your intimate wedding at Linden Hall in September, it's going to be a wonderful event. I'm so delighted that you love these photographs and can't wait to provide you with memorable wedding photographs you'll cherish forever.
This is Kath, gorgeous bride to be.
and this is Alan the dashing groom to be.
for me grey skies don't matter, they just add to the retro Love mood I was trying to achieve.
I love the warmth in this one.
and Kaths showing off a fabulous engagement ring here.
Kath and Alan I really can't wait to shoot your intimate wedding at Linden Hall in September, it's going to be a wonderful event. I'm so delighted that you love these photographs and can't wait to provide you with memorable wedding photographs you'll cherish forever.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Wow it's busy around here at the moment!!
I spent the day at Kerry and Matts wedding on Saturday and I must say a big thanks to my second shooter and wonderful assistant for the day Rhys who was as usual completely fabulous!!
I'm sharing favourites and as there were so many it's been difficult to choose so in no particular order....
The beautiful bride, doesn't she look radiant?
the incredibly happy couple.
This wonderful couple are really so very much in love and you can feel it in every shot of them together.
This little boy hated having his photograph taken but in the end he was happy to pose.
This little flowergirl really won my heart.
I love this dreamy one.
and this one too!
Kerry and Matt, I had an amazing day with you and I hope you enjoy your well earned honeymoon. see you when you get home
Friday, July 25, 2008
It's been such a busy week that I've not had the chance to update my blog so here's just a short rundown of all thats been going on at Charlton Towers this week.
Sunday - we all went to Lightwater Valley for a family day out, I of course was still shattered from Saturdays wedding so I wasn't really up for all the terrifying rides but I did enjoy the day and Iain and Paul had loads of fun going on all the scariest roller coasters.
Monday - I decided that I couldn't stand my old laptop anymore, it was so slow when trying to process raw files and doing photoshoppery magic at the same time so off we went to PC world where they had a special on whereby you sign up for mobile broadband and you get £400 off the cost of the laptop so I got myself a super machine which eats RAW files for breakfast and should really help me cut down on my post processing time, it's taken me most of the week to get all my files moved but i think I'm just about there and I'm very happy.
Tuesday and Wednesday were spent nursing a sick and poorly Looby who had some kind of 24 hour bug which saw her with an awful high temperature and being sick, not much fun at all but I suppose atleast I work from home!!
Yesterday Paul took a well earned half day and we went for lunch at one of our favourite pubs The Badger in Ponteland, we went to the garden centre afterwards and bought a couple of new plants for the garden. We then booked our holidays, we're off to London in just under 3 weeks for a few days while Pauls dad comes to cat-sit!! Really looking forward to showing the girls around London as they've never been before and I remember my first magical trip to london when I was 8.
Tommorrow I'm off to Kerry and Matt's wedding so cross your fingers for just a little bit of sunshine!
Happy weekend everyone
Sunday - we all went to Lightwater Valley for a family day out, I of course was still shattered from Saturdays wedding so I wasn't really up for all the terrifying rides but I did enjoy the day and Iain and Paul had loads of fun going on all the scariest roller coasters.
Monday - I decided that I couldn't stand my old laptop anymore, it was so slow when trying to process raw files and doing photoshoppery magic at the same time so off we went to PC world where they had a special on whereby you sign up for mobile broadband and you get £400 off the cost of the laptop so I got myself a super machine which eats RAW files for breakfast and should really help me cut down on my post processing time, it's taken me most of the week to get all my files moved but i think I'm just about there and I'm very happy.
Tuesday and Wednesday were spent nursing a sick and poorly Looby who had some kind of 24 hour bug which saw her with an awful high temperature and being sick, not much fun at all but I suppose atleast I work from home!!
Yesterday Paul took a well earned half day and we went for lunch at one of our favourite pubs The Badger in Ponteland, we went to the garden centre afterwards and bought a couple of new plants for the garden. We then booked our holidays, we're off to London in just under 3 weeks for a few days while Pauls dad comes to cat-sit!! Really looking forward to showing the girls around London as they've never been before and I remember my first magical trip to london when I was 8.
Tommorrow I'm off to Kerry and Matt's wedding so cross your fingers for just a little bit of sunshine!
Happy weekend everyone
Monday, July 21, 2008
It was another rainy day on Saturday for Sarah and Darrens wedding, they married at St Mary the Virgin RC church in Howdon followed by a lavish reception at the Old Assembly Rooms in Newcastle.
I'm busy editing the images as I type but wanted to share just a couple of my favourites so far.
Sarah looked beautiful.
and what an amazing dress she wore.
This one is one of my current favourites though of course they change all the time when I'm editing!!
The happy couple.
Stay tuned this week as I share more of those favourites. Sarah and Darren thank you so much for letting me share in your special day, your gallery will be ready for you by the end of the week.
I'm busy editing the images as I type but wanted to share just a couple of my favourites so far.
Sarah looked beautiful.
and what an amazing dress she wore.
This one is one of my current favourites though of course they change all the time when I'm editing!!
The happy couple.
Stay tuned this week as I share more of those favourites. Sarah and Darren thank you so much for letting me share in your special day, your gallery will be ready for you by the end of the week.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Monday and Yesterday was sportsdays at school so off I went sans camera to capture a little of the action.
Abigail absolutely loves sports day.
she really loves the football!
as you can see in this action shot!
and imagine my delight when she won first place in the year 1 girls race!!
Yesterday was stonkingly hot and humid for Loobys sports day
I loved watching her jumping!
and having a well earned drink at the end of the day!
Today, there was a strike by members of UNISON so it meant school being closed, it's a little odd because they go back on Friday for one day and then it's summer holidays!!
anyway I decided that we wouldn't waste a good day so we went to see the Yashitomo Nara exhibition at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art and Wow, I loved it, the kids loved it, it's fab!!
Goodness only knows what we'll get up to tommorrow....
Abigail absolutely loves sports day.
she really loves the football!
as you can see in this action shot!
and imagine my delight when she won first place in the year 1 girls race!!
Yesterday was stonkingly hot and humid for Loobys sports day
I loved watching her jumping!
and having a well earned drink at the end of the day!
Today, there was a strike by members of UNISON so it meant school being closed, it's a little odd because they go back on Friday for one day and then it's summer holidays!!
anyway I decided that we wouldn't waste a good day so we went to see the Yashitomo Nara exhibition at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art and Wow, I loved it, the kids loved it, it's fab!!
Goodness only knows what we'll get up to tommorrow....
Monday, July 14, 2008
Sorry that my posts have been a little thin on the ground over the last few days, it's the end of term so loads to catch up on before the summer holidays, plus it's wedding season so I am meeting with all my couples to discuss plans and running orders for their big days. This weekend will be the start of the busy season with atleast 1 wedding a week and sometimes 2 or 3!!
In preparation I am working out for 20 minutes a day on the Wii Fit, now you'll note I only just got it so it may take a while before I notice a new and improved me but it's a better way to start the day than 5 cups of coffee, the funny thing is that I hate partaking in sport so I'm kind of surprised at how much fun this is proving to be and you should see my swivel my hips with the super hula hoop!! or maybe you shouldn't, LOL!!
Can't beleive the children break up on Friday, can't beleive Iain is going to High School in September. I am delighted though that all three of them got amazing school reports on Friday. It's sports day today for Abigail and tommorrow for Looby so I've promised that between meetings I'll try and get there as will Paul who is in the thick of a huge paving job!
Did I mention that my hubby now has his own website, you can find him at Meandering Gardens.com
Mind you it could be .co.uk either, my brain is like a seive at the moment!!
I'm off to 2 meetings this morning so I'll vamoose, I promise to try and post more this week and then on Saturday we have Sarah and Darrens wedding to look forward to!
In preparation I am working out for 20 minutes a day on the Wii Fit, now you'll note I only just got it so it may take a while before I notice a new and improved me but it's a better way to start the day than 5 cups of coffee, the funny thing is that I hate partaking in sport so I'm kind of surprised at how much fun this is proving to be and you should see my swivel my hips with the super hula hoop!! or maybe you shouldn't, LOL!!
Can't beleive the children break up on Friday, can't beleive Iain is going to High School in September. I am delighted though that all three of them got amazing school reports on Friday. It's sports day today for Abigail and tommorrow for Looby so I've promised that between meetings I'll try and get there as will Paul who is in the thick of a huge paving job!
Did I mention that my hubby now has his own website, you can find him at Meandering Gardens.com
Mind you it could be .co.uk either, my brain is like a seive at the moment!!
I'm off to 2 meetings this morning so I'll vamoose, I promise to try and post more this week and then on Saturday we have Sarah and Darrens wedding to look forward to!