Portrait Photography By The Sea in Winter

I did a portrait photo session in Llandudno last weekend with Niall Irlam. He and his mum, Gina, go to The Gathering each year, so it gave us the perfect opportunity to meet up. Every year fans of The Alarm descend on North Wales for an amazing weekend of music, and this was the 26th year in succession the event has been held.

The weather was cold, wet, windy and bitterly cold, so poor Niall had to put up with me directing him, but he was a real trooper not complaining once. The overcast skies actually made for a interesting backdrop to the photos.

Once we moved back inside the venue, I took a photo of Niall with the bowel cancer tie by the merchandise. I wonder if he knows that most members of The Alarm have posed for photos with this very same time...

The portrait photo sessions are available to order on my www.bowelcancerfundraising.co.uk website. There are two packages. A standard one for £25 or the deluxe version for £35. All proceeds raised are donated to Beating Bowel Cancer / Bowel Cancer UK, the UK's leading bowel cancer charity. My Mum passed away in 2016 following a 4 year battle with bowel cancer involving five major operations, and she remained dignified, determined and courageous throughout. Bowel cancer is the 2nd highest cancer killer in the UK, but if caught early it can be successfully treated in 90% of cases. Raising awareness and improving the early detection rates is vital in the fight against this awful illness.

A Wedding in North Wales

Rich & Ceri Starkie-Roberts

I didn't think when I started offering the portrait photography sessions that I would end up doing a wedding! A few months ago Rich & Ceri contacted me, and asked if I would do their wedding photographing in Llandudno. They had arranged their wedding day to coincide with The Gathering, the annual weekend where fans of The Alarm come together from around the globe to see Mike Peters and the band. I didn't want them to give me anything, but they wouldn't allow that, and kindly made a very generous donation to my fundraising for Beating Bowel Cancer / Bowel Cancer UK. It was a gorgeous sunny day, and the whole weekend was superb making it a great start to their married life.

As we enter the final weeks of winter, now is the time to think about maybe booking up a portrait photography session for the spring. There are two options, the standard or deluxe packages. Full details can be found on my www.bowelcancerfundraising.co.uk website.

The support for all my fundraising from everyone has been quite staggering. Over £3700 raised to date since the Lives & Times fundraising book was published, so the next milestone is £4000. My Mum passed away 18 months ago following a 4 year fight with bowel cancer. All my fundraising is now done in her memory.

Perfect Christmas Gift Supporting Beating Bowel Cancer

It's not too late to book a portrait photo session, and be able to give the perfect Christmas gift. Last weekend I photographed Sam in Reading, so someone will be in for a nice surprise on Christmas Day. All proceeds raised from the photos will be donated to Beating Bowel Cancer. It's a charity I have been supporting since my Mum was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2012. Sadly she passed away last August. Every session bought will help make a difference, and be a unique Christmas gift. There are standard and deluxe packages available, so please contact me for more details.

Horace Panter at Work

Horace Panter at Work

I had the amazing experience of photographing Horace Panter for my Lives & Times charity book. Horace combines his career as an artist with his bass playing duties for The Specials. In his studio I got to photograph him at work, and also with his collection of bass guitars. A bit of editing in this photo worked really well, as for me it makes both Horace and his work stand out really well.

The portrait photo sessions that I am offering to raise funds for Beating Bowel Cancer could be a family photo session showing the family at leisure, but also, as in this case, it could be at work or for a hobby perhaps? The choice is your.

The photo sessions can be booked on my website, or contact me for more details. There are standard or deluxe packages available. All proceeds raised will be donated to Beating Bowel Cancer in memory of my Mum who passed away from bowel cancer in August 2016. 16,000 people lose their lives to this awful disease each year, but with early diagnosis it can be successfully treated in over 90% of cases, so much more needs to be done to help raise awareness.

Have Camera Will Travel

Laura Boyd at Kelvingrove Park

For my bowel cancer fundraising I am clocking up some miles. Earlier this year, for my forthcoming charity book, I travelled to Leeds to meet their former player Eddie Gray, and then up to Glasgow to meet Laura Boyd form STV. So I am willing to travel to do portrait photo sessions to raise funds for Beating Bowel Cancer. Laura has been living with leukemia since she was diagnosed in 2009. She epitomizes positivity and living life to the full that I have seen in so many people with cancer. 

We met at Kelvingrove Park in the centre of Glasgow, which was a fantastic location, and somewhere where I could safely park with my dogs. Our midday meeting also allowed me to make a brief visit to Balloch Castle on Loch Lomond in the morning, which was a great location suggested by Laura. She was lovely to talk to and was very relaxed for the photos, which made for a fun and enjoyable experience.

I am offering a standard photo session for £25 or a deluxe photo session for £35. Please contact me for more details or make a booking through my website www.bowelcancerfundraising.co.uk. All funds raised will be donated to the Beating Bowel Cancer.

My Mum passed away in August 2016, four years, and five major operations, after being diagnosed with bowel cancer. Bowel cancer is the 2nd highest cancer killer in the UK. Yet if detected early it is very treatable in 90% of cases.

Rachael Parker-Prickett

Rachael Parker-Prickett

I did a portrait photo session today with Rachael, who was absolutely lovely, and great fun to photograph. She was a friend of Deborah James, who recently passed away from bowel cancer, so she was especially keen to support this fundraising venture. I was greeted by her dog Martha, who I initially thought wanted to have my hand off, but soon became apparent was going to be my new best friend! 😊 In fact we were able to do the photography in the fields behind Rachael's house where she walks Martha, and the rain thankfully stayed off too.

All proceeds raised from these portrait photo sessions are donated to Beating Bowel Cancer. My Mum passed away in 2016 after being diagnosed with this awful disease in 2012. I am offering two types of session - the standard session for £25 and a deluxe session for £35. Please contact me for further details and bookings, or look on my www.bowelcancerfundraising.co.uk website. 

Portrait Photo of Mum & Shimara

Mum & Shimara

I used the uncropped version of this family portrait of Mum with her beloved Shimara in the Lives & Times bowel cancer fundraising book that I published in 2015. It was actually easier to work with Shimara than Mum! The end result was one of my favourite portrait photos, and a photo that I have framed at work. Mum, and sadly Shimara too, passed away in 2016, so the aim of doing these portrait photo sessions is to raise funds for Beating Bowel Cancer, and also to raise awareness about bowel cancer, which is the second highest cancer killer in the UK, claiming 16,000 lives each year.

I am offering standard family photo sessions for £25 and a deluxe version for £35. Every penny raised will be donated to the charity. With Christmas not too far away these would make an ideal present for someone. Please contact me for more information or buy a session from my website.