So this week dear reader it's been half term, my first wedding of the season and a whole heap of portraits and mini sessions have kept this North East Photographer a very busy lady indeed.  So today I'm sharing some Wedding Photography in Tynemouth, some kids photo shoots in Jesmond Dene and Tynemouth and some personal photos from our trip to Whitehouse Farm, look away now if you are an arachnophobe (I didn't take that photo, I had legged it to the cafe because I'm so phobic!

I met this charming chap and his adorable dog Charlie on Tynemouth Beach for a mini session on Sunday, news reached me this week from several sources that my mini sessions are now being copied by less capable photographers who are using the same locations, undercutting me and don't even like children as well as being, well erm, not very good actually.  So stick with me, mini sessions were my original concept and it's very flattering to be imitated but do stick with me, for the original and best mini sessions you will find in the north east of England.

I caught up with Louise and Matthew who's wedding I am photographing at Horton Grange on Good Friday, I can't wait for this one, I loved every minute of their couples session.

Scary photo this one and not taken by me as I am a total arachnophobe

Luckily there were lots of cute baby animals to make me feel better.

I started my 2013 wedding season covering a small wedding where I shot the portraits at Tynemouth Priory, it was positively springlike and a great start to the year

whilst I was on the beach at Tynemouth Longsands on Sunday I bumped into a man walking his ferrets so of course I had to ask him if I could take a photo!

how cute are these little flowergirls

so in summary it's been a wonderful half term and dear reader if you would like to enquire about a marvellous mini session, a wonderful wedding or a perfect portrait please do fill in the contact form on my website or you can email me 

and the portraits and mini shoots keep on coming

Dear reader, I have been so busy that I forgot to blog last week or maybe I just didn't have time, one of the two.  So I turned 39 which in itself is a little uncheery, the thought that I'll be 40 in less than a year now quite frankly terrifies the life out of me.

So here's what I've been up to, some portraits and some personal from my birthday weekend away in Seahouses.

I have so many exciting things going on right now,  I'm shooting my first wedding of the year on Saturday and I'm going right through to December this year, 20 lovely weddings all waiting to be beautifully shot, I will take on another 5 this year so if you would like to have me shoot your wedding please do get in touch via my website.

I'm still shooting Mini shoots as well as my "At home with" lifestyle photo shoots and if you want to see even more examples of my work which are posted a couple of times a day please visit my Facebook business page

I'm also talking to a lot of people about how to market their businesses on Facebook through 1-2-1 training workshops and I'll also be putting out 1 video every week to help you get the best bang from your buck as a page on Facebook.  After all, I've been using social media since the very start of my business, I started blogging in 2005, Facebook in 2006 and Twitter in 2008 and I do no other advertising.  I can sit down with you for an intensive 2-3 hour session which could just change your business life and i have the facts and figures to back it up from my own results (did you know that I went from 400 likes on Facebook in September to over 1500 and not by any black hat schemes or like ladders, every single like on my FB business page is a quality like) so if you would like to sit down with me in real life or via a Facetime chat my how to be a Secret Superhero training workshops are currently at an introductory offer of £150 (special rates are available to the ladies of the Inspire Network) and for such a small investment you could see big changes in your business, every single one of the people I've sat down with over the last few months has been able to use what we've discussed to add value to their business, to bring in new business and to make their Facebook page more active, engaging and interesting which all leads to better Edgerank.

and so for last weeks video, you can watch it here -

If you get something out of it I would love to hear your feedback and if you are interested in doing an intensive morning or afternoon of Superhero training please get in touch via my website, Facebook or you can email me at mandy@mandycharltonphotography.com 

and until next time my lovelies, live well, love lots and laugh hard!

and now for something complete

A glorious birthday weekend away in Seahouses

So, on Friday dear reader, something scary occurred, yes I reached the old aged status of 39, this is bad but whats worse is that this time next year i'll be 40, how the blooming heck did that occur, surely i'm not nearly old enough?

Quirky wedding venues in the North East of England

Being a photographer in Newcastle and the North East of England for the last 6 years has afforded me the luxury of visiting many wonderful venues, and the best thing for me is because I mainly shoot weddings which are quirky or different I've managed to build up a lovely list of quirky venues which I would personally recommend.

There may be venues I've missed out and I'd love to hear your personal recommendations but here with the links (because I'm lovely dear reader) are my top recommendations of quirky venues to get married at or have your reception at if you are currently planning your wedding.

St Marys Lighthouse - 

http://www.friendsofstmarysisland.co.uk/weddings.html

now you can't really get anywhere more quirky than getting married in a Lighthouse!!

The Winter Gardens in Hexham, literally no one knows about this place - 

http://www.qehs.net/index.php/community/community-facilities-a-lettings/the-winter-gardens

Guyzance Hall is amazing, you get the whole place to use as your own for the entire weekend and family and friends can stay in cottages based around the hall, the views are amazing, the staff are wonderful and it's completely unique

http://www.guyzancehall.co.uk/

Woodhill Hall is near Otterburn, I've actually not been but my colleagues tell me it's beautiful, unique and the staff are lovely, it's also in the middle of the most beautiful countryside

http://woodhillhall.co.uk/index.php

Bamburgh Castle, 

Cheaper than Alnwick Castle, owned privately and I believe they have amazing service, it's certainly the most beautiful location of I think all of the castles.

http://www.bamburghcastle.com/

Of course if you are getting married and you want to go with a grand castle or maybe you are a Harry Potter fan you might want to consider

Alnwick Castle or Durham Castle, both have been featured in the movies and you can point them out to the guests.

It's not that long since I was watching the first Harry Potter with my Harry Potter obsessed daughter and I realised it was in the room above (The Bishops Suite) which I think is used as the Hogwarts common room, please forgive me if I'm wrong about which room they use it as, she's the huge fan, I'm just the mum!

Chillingham Castle

You want quirky, this place has quirky by the bagful, named as the most haunted castle in the country it even has it's own torchure chamber, the funny thing is that I think when they have weddings it's closed to the public, the gardens are amazing and if you want a ghost or two at your wedding then this is the place

http://www.chillingham-castle.com/

Cuddystone Hall,

Now this one nobody even knows about, it's about as remote as you can get, no one will be able to use their phones, it's in the middle of the Cheviots near Wooler, it's not grand like some of the big halls and castles and to be honest no one really knows about it which is one reason you should probably check it out

http://college-valley.co.uk/events.htm

If you're planning your wedding at any of these venues or maybe even somewhere else and you'd like to talk with me about photographing your wedding day please click through to wedding photographer Newcastle/my facebook page or just drop me an email, I offer photography from just 1 hour right through to the whole day and if you do email me I'll send you over my latest pricing brochure.

Winter mini photo shoots in the north east of England

Yes I can report it's still January, how can that even be possible I'm asking myself dear reader, surely it should be June by now?!

I'm longing for sunshine and toes that aren't permanently like tiny blocks of ice but while life throws lemons, I'm taking advantage and have been out every weekend without fail photographing the lovely families and little people of the north with my winter mini sessions.

It's a simple concept, it's £20 for a 30 minute photo shoot on location at either Tynemouth Longsands, Jesmond Dene or Saltwell Park and within that you get your favourite image as a 7x5 print, a web gallery for 30 days and 15% off all orders for the first week your gallery is live.  All you do is decide on the best location for you and book onto the next available session.

Current availability is -

February 9th - Saltwell Park
February 10th - Jesmond Dene
February 17th - Tynemouth Longsands
March 2nd - Saltwell Park
March 3rd - Jesmond Dene
March 9th - Tynemouth Longsands

Sessions are available from 11am - 3pm in half hour slots and early booking is advisable as they tend to fill quickly, in Oct/Nov/Dec I was shooting an average of 15 mini shoots every weekend so I'm really trying for a slightly more relaxed pace, haha!

I was greeted with this lovely rainbow when I arrived at Tynemouth Longsands on Sunday so I knew it would be a good day!

how cute is this little adventurer with her Cath Kidston backpack

my favourite waterfall in Jesmond Dene looking just a little fierce when I was there last week, its usually only got one cascade during the summer months.

one of my favourite photos of late,"I don't want my photograph taken with my brothers"

You can see up to date photographs posted every single day on my Facebook Business Page


I've also launched my new concept of lifestyle photo shoots called "At Home With"  If you have a beautiful home and a beautiful family then why not showcase that with a lifestyle photo shoot, these will normally be priced at £95 but for an introductory period you can have one for only £80 which will include a framed 7x5 photograph in a gorgeous frame.  I also have a whole new selection of beautiful framed products and canvases which would look fabulous showcased on the gorgeous walls in the places you live.  The best thing about the lifestyle photo shoots is their relaxed pace, they're not so time limited, I simply give guidelines that they will take a couple of hours and I'll come to your house and record life as it happens, natural, beautiful images of your favourite people in the whole world.  To take advantage of the special offer please contact me by email or through Newcastle Photographer.

look at that gorgeous smiley face, this is so cute, it wasn't until I got home that I realised I'd caught this, a serendipitous moment indeed when you consider that the little one was only 2 weeks old.

So I hope dear reader that this selection of lovely moments has lightened your mood and warmed your slightly icy toes and don't forget I also shoot weddings too so if you're searching for a wedding photographer please do drop me an email through my website  and you'll make this Newcastle Wedding Photographer a very happy lady indeed!

Got the January Blues, some photos to cheer you up

January, it's cold, it's dark, some would say it's downright depressing but for me it's been a joy, moving into my new building in the city centre got me off to such a great start and I've been out every weekend photographing kids and families all around the north east, all of these images were shot over the last month including some snowy mini sessions in Jesmond Dene last weekend.  I have an ethos that when life throws snowballs you make a big snowman and so if you're feeling low then come with me on a jaunt through some cute photographs which are sure to make even the coldest hearts get just a little bit melty.

January has also been about meeting brides and grooms planning their 2013/2014 weddings.  I'm reaching the point where I'm nearly full for this year, I only take on a maximum of 25 weddings a year because of the size of my portraiture business so if you're still looking for a wedding photographer for this years lovely wedding please do get in touch quickly because once those slots are filled I won't be able to take on anymore and I'd hate to miss out on your beautiful wedding, yes you, I know you're reading this thinking about it so email me or contact me through one of my websites, if you're on an iPad this one will work best and if you're on a laptop or computer with flash you can contact me through my spangly one here and for all the latest and greatest goings on why not check out my Facebook Business Page 

Until next time, go make some snowmen!