Liverpool Portrait & Wedding Photography

City Shoots - Makeover and Photo Shoot in Liverpool

2012-02-07T22:25:00.000Z

Our ever popular CityShoots are moving on and growing up! Now anyone can enjoy the makeover and photo shoot experience with one of Liverpool's most sought after top photographers. From the budget conscious to those who want the full experience, from the camera shy to the camera ready, from the Little Black Dress to the Little Black Number, our CityShoot makeover and photo shoot experience is now the affordable luxury for everyone. And gentlemen, if you are looking for a treat for your wife or the girlfriend believe us when we say that money can't buy how special a woman feels after she has enjoyed one of our CityShoots combined with refreshments at The London Carriage Works at Hope Street Hotel. The number one comment from women is "I didn't know my husband/boyfriend/fiance/partner still thought I was beautiful until he gave me this as a present". Call us on 0151 708 5838 to give the woman in your life a truly amazing experience

Actor's Headshots in Liverpool

2012-02-07T17:45:00.000Z

Saturday was dreadful weather, but it didn't stop Emma coming for her headshots. When we went outside, it was so slippy she even experimented with skating in Converse! I'm surprised she stayed upright. Here is a little sneak peak of one of my favourites.

Who's this then? One of our latest headshot portfolios in Liverpool

2012-02-06T18:16:00.000Z

There's a rumour that Daniel Craig has had enough and can't take being Bond anymore! ;-) It's the pressure of competing with Bourne that's done it, apparently.

So we had a rush job of doing headshots for the next possible 007 ... what do you think? Is he in with a chance???

Nicole and Will's Wedding in New Zealand

2012-02-03T13:28:00.002Z

January was a very special month for me - I got the best luck in the world! The chance to photograph Nicole and Will's wedding in New Zealand. Now don't get carried away, don't think this is a usual kind of job that I get! Nicole is the daughter of my cousin, Paul, and so when Paul announced that he was going to be a granddad and that Nicole was getting married to Will, her fiance of 2 years, well, it was an easy decision to make to offer my services.

To say we had an amazing time really doesn't say enough! New Zealand is such a beautiful country (and we only got to visit North Island), but even moreso, Kiwis are the most friendly people you can come across - so relaxed, happy, and friendly, but then, who wouldn't be in that sunshine!

An example of that friendliness was in Mike and Julie who, even though they have 6 adorable children, gave over their home and garden for the wedding ceremony. Mike was the celebrant (I love that term - wish we used it here instead of using the word registrar) and he conducted a lovely ceremony for the two of them in the most spectacular of backdrops near to Te Puke.

Paul and his wife Shirley were clearly proud parents, and grandparents, with Shirley not only being Mother of the Bride but also looking after the adorable 3 month old Addison - sadly due to sleep times we didn't get the photographs of Nicole, Will and Addison so we did a shoot a couple of days later (those pictures to follow shortly). And Sophie (Nicole's sister) and cousin Emily were beautiful as bridesmaids, with Elliot as ringbearer.

It's difficult to showcase a wedding in such a spectacular location with a handful of pictures, but I've tried below. I feel like I've missed out so many beautiful pictures though!

Kirsty and Mandy's Civil Partnership Wedding at Gretna Green

2011-12-28T21:28:00.000Z

Wow, what a wedding to finish the year on! Two very special friends of mine, Kirsty and Mandy, decided to tie the knot at a very special place - over the anvil at Gretna Green. I don't think I've ever laughed so much at a wedding - ever! Their photographs show what a fabulous day it was, with everyone there laughing throughout the day too. The theme was the Gay Pride Rainbow, with ribbons on each of the thistle buttonholes and the tie backs on the chairs each in colours of the rainbow too.

Here is a little sneak peak of Kirsty and Mandy's fabulous day of love and laughter! Lots more the follow!

In The Press

2011-12-23T15:22:00.000Z

What a year it's been! During 2011 we have had articles and photographs in The Daily Express, The Liverpool Echo, and The Liverpool Daily Post numerous times, Zoe has been a regular guest on Radio City CityTalk for What the Papers Say, as well as being interviewed by Roger Phillips for the Phillips Hour on Radio Merseyside back in March.

And now we finish the year on a high, with the following:

Front Cover and the Editor's Choice photograph inside Your Merseyside Weddings

An article on questions about wedding photography in Pure Weddings,

with a real wedding to follow in 2012

An article on Networking in Photo Professional Magazine in their Business Matters section,

with more articles to follow in 2012.

Gift Cards and Christmas Charity Contribution

2011-12-21T13:02:00.001Z

We've been so busy at the Zoe Photography studio on Hope Street in Liverpool, finishing off wedding albums, putting together Christmas presents, and seeing through orders from recent family portrait sessions that I'm late putting up my annual Charity-Not-Cards post. I managed to get it up onto the Facebook page and ran out of time! So here goes ....

It's that time of year again - time to send out the Christmas cards .... but those of you that know me will know I don't do that. Instead I like to make a contribution to a charity. In view of the help our family has had in the past from Macmillan Nurses, I'm putting £50 into their pot. And this is where you can help. If you'd like to help me double that, for every comment below (liking the picture is NOT enough LOL) I will add £1 to the pot, and I'm hoping to reach £100 with your help.

PLUS, anyone who buys one of our Christmas offer Gift Cards (usual price £125, this Christmas they are £25 via our blog - click on the button at the top) will receive a gift from us of a key ring with a picture from their shoot, and I will add £5 to the charity pot from your purchase of the Gift Card. Keep the Gift Card for yourself, or pass it on as a wonderful gift for friends and family.

So come on everyone, help me reach my £100 target...

Alex and Kevin's Wedding - A Family Affair at West Tower, Aughton

2011-12-15T15:35:00.000Z

Some weddings are about a couple, some are about the bride, occassionally it's all about the groom. But Alex and Kev's wedding was definitely a family affair ... which you can probably tell from the selection of photographs below! They got married at one of my favourite venues, The West Tower Country House Hotel in Aughton - the staff are fabulous, the food is just delicious (and I'm not just saying that because the chef is called Zoe!), and the venue itself is in such a lovely setting with beautiful rooms. Then you add into the mix two great families - it was one of those weddings where there was just so much love, and the children were definitely at the centre of it all.

Here is a little sneak peak of their winter wedding.

I think it all got a bit too much for some people!

Gingerbread House Pre-School Photographs

2011-11-29T14:33:00.000Z

On 16th November Zoe Photography went into Gingerbread House in Crosby to photograph the children. Proofs were delivered on Tuesday 22nd November but we have heard that these have not been handed out to parents. We are unclear about why this is, as there are lots of gorgeous photographs of your children - if any parents would like to contact us directly on info@zoephotography.co.uk or 0151 708 5838 we would be happy to arrange for you to view proofs on line.

Vicky, Jon, Ava, Will and Finn Get Married at The Vincent, Southport

2011-11-28T13:10:00.000Z

I love photographing family weddings where the children are as much part of the wedding as the couple, and Vicky and Jon's wedding was certainly like that with both of them having to comfort a child each throughout the ceremony! The ceremony room looked gorgeous (as I'd expect from David Beckham Doyle who dressed the room), the bride was beautiful, as were the bridesmaids, and most particularly Ava who stole the show as flowergirl, and the groom and his little pageboys was very handsome. We even had time to go for a drive (the weather was another gorgeous day this autumn) with Kevin in his Beaufort from Grace Wedding Cars, with a short stop at the carousel at the end of the Pier in Southport. So here is a sneak peak to keep you going - can't wait to show them all of their pictures!

Cheryl and Paul's Wedding at St Michael's Church in Aughton and Formby Hall

2011-11-28T12:51:00.000Z

I love my job - I know I am really lucky to be able to do what I love. But some weddings remind me of the fact that I'm lucky more than any others. Cheryl and Paul's wedding was one of those days - partly because of how lovely they are (and Cheryl looked like a Spanish princess!), partly their friends and family, and partly the venue (huge thanks to Tony and his team at Formby Hall for looking after us so well). And then when you get the weather too - well, that's the cherry on the top of the cake! The weather this autumn has been so good that it's been a really unusual to get time outside and capture gorgeous photographs like we managed for Cheryl and Paul. Here is just a teeny sneak peak of some of the lovely photographs we captured for them.

A Plea to Wedding Vendors

2011-11-23T19:25:00.000Z

A polite plea to wedding vendors - a plea for a teensy bit of understanding.

We photographers have a product we work hard to create - we compose an image, make sure the lighting and surroundings are right, take the picture, download the images, cull those that are not worthy of the final cut, process the proofs, and come up for air a couple of weeks or so after the wedding to show the couple their beautiful pictures. And it's so heartening to hear the ooos and ahhhhs from the couple, and nice too to get lovely remarks from the other vendors who were part of the day.

Now, there are some vendors I know well, I work with regularly, and I happily share photographs with them. They don't need to ask, it's my little thank you for recommendations or for how well I've been looked after by them - sharing my photographs of their work, their contribution to the wedding day is the least I can do. So I'm happy to offer before I'm even asked.

And then there's the vendors I don't know and I hear from with The Request ... "I love your work, your photographs are gorgeous. I'd love some photographs from Mr and Mrs YYY's wedding. My flowers / makeup / cake / cars / venue / table decorations look gorgeous in your pictures and I could do with some good photographs for my blog. I'll give you a credit on my site."

It's very kind of people to offer a credit. Thank you for asking for the pictures too - it's so nice to come across people who ask rather than just take the photographs off the blog or facebook page. But - and this is where I ask for the teensy bit of understanding - The Request is asking for our craft, our product for free. And you know, if you offered to pay, offered us wedding photographers a proper contradeal, a true exchange, well, chances are we'd say "Nooo, don't worry about it, I'll happily send you some pictures". But I'm starting to feel as though there is no value for the work that we wedding photographers do amongst some wedding vendors - oh, don't get me wrong, I don't think it's on purpose, I genuinely believe that some wedding vendors don't think about it or just don't get it, so I know it's not meant as an insult.

So my plea is this - if you are a wedding vendor, and you like the photographs of a wedding photographer who worked on a wedding you worked on, a photographer you don't currently have a working relationship with, please offer to purchase the images, or offer a fair exchange. It will go a long way to creating strong relationships that work. Next time, why not make The Request something that shows you truly value the wedding photographer who has showcased your work so beautifully.

Otherwise please don't be insulted if you find yourself receiving the kind of response that I've started to send to wedding vendors who I barely know who ask for photographs in exchange for credit on their website or blog - "Sure, it's £50 per image for full usage rights which you can pay in cash or as an exchange for your services."

A gift from you... from Zoe Photography

2011-11-19T20:10:00.000Z

As Christmas is getting nearer and nearer, I have been getting more and more phone calls and emails from people who are looking to arrange a photo shoot to give as a Christmas gift.

Husbands booking their wives in for a shoot to make them feel special. Parents booking their young children in as a gift for the grandparents. Grown up children arranging a shoot for their mum to remind her that although they are no longer in the nest they are hers forever. New additions, generations, sisters, couples even a shoot of a woman for her man's eyes only!

This year why not give that gift, frame those moments and spread some joy. A Zoe Photography gift card in a stocking on Christmas morning is something so special and really tells the recipient how much you care.

As our own Christmas gift to you we would like to share with you our Christmas offer.

A gift card has a value of £125, it gives you a Zoe Photography shoot, a viewing session to see all of the photographs taken and a 8x6 mounted photograph of your favourite image from the shoot. But this Christmas as well as this you can also take advantage of our Christmas Gift Card offer, buy as many gift cards as you want for just £25 each! This gives you a shoot and a 6x4 photograph chosen for you from your shoot and sent out to you. (And the gift card still says £125.)

If you want to get something special for your loved ones this Christmas buying a Zoe Photography Gift Card couldn't be simpler. On the right hand side of the screen is two buy it now buttons, just click on the one that you would like to purchase and follow the link, either the standard one or the Christmas Offer, it is up to you. We will then post out to you your Zoe Photography Gift Cards for you to give out on Christmas Morning!

Derek and Janine's Wedding (and Katie's too!) Knowsley Hall

2011-11-11T15:23:00.000Z

I had a special treat on Saturday, I got to go to a wedding with Zoe and Rob, and wow, what a wedding! Knowsley Hall was the perfect setting for Derek and Janine's special day, it just suited the two of them. Janine looked so elegant in her dress and Derek, handsome in Black tie, which was just so right for Knowsley Hall. The day was all the more special as it wasn't just about them as a couple but was about the three of them, Derek, Janine and their beautiful daughter Katie. It was such a privilege to watch them together as a family, I was moved to tears more than once on Saturday because of it I have to say.

My role at the wedding was supposed to be holding the reflector to help catch the light because November days are ordinarily quite dull but actually it turned out nothing like a November day at all and instead found myself with a camera. The weather was perfect and the way the light cascaded through the windows of the hall just added to the warmth that was felt at the wedding.

It was an exquisite day and I felt truly honored to be a part of it. (And two of my photographs have made the blog!)

City Shoot Makeover & Photo Shoot for Birthday Girls in Liverpool

2011-11-04T21:14:00.000Z

Bethany and Daisy enjoyed a bit of pampering and a CityShoot makeover photo shoot today at our studio on Hope Street in Liverpool today. These beautiful cousins were celebrating their birthday - they started with a limo picking them up, and then came to the studio for hair and makeup before we got into taking the photographs. The session was finished off with refreshments at The London Carriage Works at Hope Street Hotel. At the viewing session it was pretty clear that the photographs were a huge success, with lots of ooos and ahhhs, and tears from Gran, mum and Bethany! Thankfully tears of happiness!

Here is a sneak peek at just a teeny selection of the photographs we captured.

Headshots in Liverpool

2011-10-31T16:18:00.001Z

Looking to have your headshots done in Liverpool? Now is a good time so that when the new year comes and you're ready to get your name out there to all the agents you are all set! Zoe Photography is known and respected locally for working sensitively with young people and adults alike for headshots in Liverpool, be it for acting, performing, singing, or for artists and designers to put across their personality alongside their installations.

This is just a small sample of recent headshots for Liverpool actors, performers, artists and designers. Call now to book using our November special of £125 for a one hour shoot plus 10 images on CD (hair and makeup can be arranged at an additional costs, and any digital touch-up work is charged at £50 per hour and it is usually possible to do all 10 images in one hour). Students get £25 off on production of a valid NUS card. Liverpool theatre and drama schools can arrange a group discount for groups of 10 or more children requiring professional headshots. Please contact us for more information.

Call Kathryn on 0151 708 5838 to book your Liverpool Headshot for actors, performers, musicians, artists and designers. Kathryn can also answer questions about discounts for NUS cardholders and for group discounts for Liverpool theatre schools, dance and drama schools.

Caroline and Warren's Wedding At Thornton Manor, Thornton Hough, Wirral

2011-10-17T21:31:00.000+01:00

Some people are just lucky! And that's how Caroline and Warren are - not just because it's obvious how much they love each other, but also because everything ran perfectly on their wedding at Thornton Manor. Which includes the weather! It's hard to believe that the sky was so blue and the day so warm for the middle of October.

Caroline's dress was beautiful with the gorgeous antique lace, and her flowers were such a beautiful colour (Amnesia). And the bridesmaids could have just stepped out of the '50s in their ivory dresses. Caroline and Warren were surrounded by family and friends who clearly love them and know how to have fun! It was a great atmosphere from the start of the day, all the way through.

So here is a little sneak peak of the perfect couple who had a perfect day.

Oh, and don't ask what the guys were doing! It was all part of the best man's speech!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

2011-10-11T12:10:00.000+01:00

I know what you are thinking...it's far to early for that, but here at Zoe Photography it really is starting to feel like that because, look what we've got!

A fabulous Christmas backdrop, complete with a peeking Santa at the window!
And a very very very special offer for this Friday only - your shoot plus 25 Christmas Cards of your family at Christmas for just £75. Just 4 slots available this Friday! Got a little addition in the family you want to introduce to everyone this Christmas? Want to say Happy Christmas from the clan? Or just want to do something special this year?

Then book one of our 4 slots for this very special offer! Call 0151 708 5838 or email kathryn@zoephotography.co.uk

Autumn Newsletter for Zoe Photography

2011-10-01T14:10:00.000+01:00

Our Autumn Newsletter goes out on Monday - be sure to drop us a line if you want to receive your own copy with our Autumn special offers! Contact kathryn@zoephotography.co.uk to be added to our email list.

Frame your moment with Zoe Photography

2011-09-29T18:57:00.000+01:00

At the beginning of this week I found myself thinking 'I love Autumn! It is definitely my favourite of the seasons!' This was of course because I was wearing boots and looking at the beautiful photographs Zoe had taken of the Barlow family and their autumnal shoot at Sefton Park. They were kicking leaves and running around in wellies and it reminded me of collecting conkers as a little girl with my dad! And I love that, I love the way that other peoples moments can conjure up your own memories!

Then today, I found myself thinking 'I love Summer!' (I still can't believe the weather we are having) and I love walking through the city with the sun on my face and before I realised my mind had wandered to summer days gone by and a smile crept across my face once more.

I love that feeling and there is nothing more special than being able to look back on photographs because really a photograph is a moment framed to keep and cherish.

I got in a taxi recently and the taxi driver told me that one of his favourite family photographs is one where him and his 5 brothers were all sitting on the kerb outside their parents house looking very glum and with no direction. Ordinarily something like that doesn't sound picture perfect, but it was when he explained to me that his mum had had enough of them all squabbling and told them to get out and not come back until they got on with each other! Now to him, whenever he looks at it, it reminds him of all the memories of growing up in a house as the youngest of 6 brothers!

TIme goes so fast and it is so important to have a record of your family story to look back on and as such we have decided to have an Autumnal Offer that is ready for taking advantage of!

For the month of October, if you purchase a family shoot for £125 then that becomes credit towards any purchases you make. So in effect you are getting a free shoot and spending your money on something for you to keep and cherish. And if you want to be sure you fill someone's Christmas stocking with a lovely family picture, make sure you book now so your shoot can take place before 20th November 2011.

Get in touch to make the most of the Autumnal Offer, although if the weather stays the way it is we may have to change the name!

Kathryn

The face (well faces) of Zoe Photography Autumn 2011

2011-09-19T12:05:00.000+01:00

We are now well and truly into September, and there is no denying it, the leaves have started to fall and Autumn will soon be upon us, but as sad as we are that summer has faded we are very excited here as we are currently looking for a family to feature in our Autumn 2011 newsletter.

So, could it be you?

We are looking for a family of 4 or 5, with 2 or 3 children aged between 3-7 as well as willing parents who would be happy to be photographed as part of the shoot. As a thank you for your help as well as the complimentary shoot, we would like to give you a print from the shoot to take away with you.

The shoot has to take place on Saturday 24th September, and if you think that this sounds like you and your family, or a family you know that would be willing and are available this Saturday please get in touch at kathryn@zoephotography.co.uk

Chris and Claire's Wedding at West Tower Country House, Aughton

2011-09-09T10:48:00.000+01:00

I have fond associations with West Tower as it's the place I had my 18th birthday meal, my sister had her wedding reception there (oh dear, nearly 30 years ago!) and we had many celebration meals there over the years. So it's always a pleasure to get to photograph weddings there too. Add into the mix two gorgeous people with fabulous families and friends, and you have the recipe for a great day (don't tell them both that it didn't feel like work!).

Chris and Claire tied the knot at their wedding ceremony at West Tower in Aughton on Saturday, and oh my word did it rain! But in Claire's own words, we 'embraced the rain' and as a result got fabulous outdoor photographs as well as beautiful ones in the gorgeous bridal suite.

Here is just a little taste of what's to come for Chris and Claire and their fabulous West Tower wedding.

Amanda and Milly's Liverpool Portrait Session

2011-08-25T14:34:00.000+01:00

We had a great shoot during the golden hour with friends, Amanda and Milly at Falkner Square. This was planned months ago to use that gorgeous light we get at the end of the day, and so we were really pleased that we got the right kind of weather to make it work - particularly after the kind of summer we've had! Here is a little sneak peak:

Where to Find Zoe Photography

2011-08-24T19:42:00.002+01:00

It was pointed out to me today that I'm great at using my Facebook business page and my Twitter account, by I'm not so good at telling people that you can find me there! Hmmm, very true. So this is me putting that right.

Find us on Facebook
Zoe Photography

Promote your Page too

And Follow us on Twitter
Follow @Zoephotography

Andrew and Kathryn's Wedding in Croxteth and at the Isla Gladstone

2011-08-19T21:33:00.000+01:00

The day started with a torrential downpour, and it looked like that was the weather we were destined to have for Andrew and Kathryn's wedding day - but when we came out of the church there was a little peak of blue, and before you knew it, the sky was the most amazing blue, perfect for such a lovely couple. It was a funny day for me, as Kathryn's aunt, over from New Zealand had a little chat with me and we soon discovered that close friends of hers and her husband Joe are actually my cousin Paul and his wife! Small world!

Both Andrew and Kathryn were very trusting, and when I told them the light was perfect for gorgeous photographs they joined me for an extra shoot in the golden light of sunset - as a result we got images that looked like they were taken in the med! And one of the lovely touches of the day - an ice cream man! And that ice cream was so yummy. So here is a little sneak peak of Andrew and Kathryn's perfect day.

Andrew and Jenny's Wedding at Knowsley Hall

2011-07-19T22:34:00.002+01:00

Saturday was one of those days that ends so much better than the start of the day promises. It was squally, stair-rod-rain and black skies. But miraculously just as the ceremony started at Knowsley Hall the clouds parted and the sun came out, giving Andrew and Jenny the fabulous day they deserved! Theirs is the perfect love story, having started to date just as they left school, and it was clear that the two of them have a deep love for each other. The day started and finished with laughter, and as a result of their willingness to play, we got some amazing photographs! Thank you both for making it fun for us! Oh, and that chocolate brownie with white chocolate mousse - it was truly to die for, but then the food at Knowsley Hall is always delicious.

Model Portfolio Update Days in Liverpool

2011-07-11T13:35:00.001+01:00

Isn't it great to get free images from photographers to help you update your book? Trouble is, way too many of those photographers don't work in the fashion industry, and many are new to photography itself so the images you get are hit and miss - if you get them at all.

This summer I am putting on 5 special portfolio update days - and hair and makeup artists from So Coco Rouge will be on-hand for you to book in with them first to make sure your images are the best they can be. These special rates won't be repeated in 2011, so make sure you book your slot on one of our special model portfolio update days.

Here's what's on offer:

Quick shoot for 15-20 minutes with one look and 3 images on disk (1 each of headshot, full body and half body) for £65 - hair and makeup is optional though advised for £35 per model. This option is usually sufficient for most established models who simply need to update their book with a handful of images.
Mini shoot for 30 minutes with one look and 6 images on disk (2 each of headshot, full body and half body) for £90 - hair and makeup is optional though advised for £35 per model.
Midi shoot for 45 minutes with 2-3 looks and 12 images on disk (4 each of headshot, full body and half body) for £140 - hair and makeup is optional though advised for £35 per model. This option is advised for those models who have changed their look recently and need to update their portfolio.
Location shoot over 2 hours with 4-5 looks and 30 varied images on disk, for £225 - hair and makeup is highly recommended for £35 per model. This option is ideal for the newer model who needs to increase the number of images in their book.
Location couple shoot (with individual images for each model as well) over 3 hours with 4 looks and 40 varied images on disk for both models, for £350 between the two models - hair and makeup is highly recommended for £35 per model. This option is perfect for models who need a combination of couple and individual images.

If you are signed by Pulse Model Agency (http://www.pulseagency.co.uk) I have organised a special rate with them as I am signed with them as a creative. Please get in touch for the Pulse rates. Other model agencies who would like to work with me on model portfolio updates can get in touch to arrange special rates for your models (minimum of 10 models to benefit from special rates).

And just so you can be sure you will receive quality images from an experienced photographer who works in the fashion industry, here is a short slideshow of images I have taken for recent fashion work.

Getting the Wedding Photographs you Want from you Wedding Photographer

2011-07-10T10:52:00.001+01:00

After the wedding it's too late to say "Oh no, you didn't get a photograph of me and my cousin 3 times removed and she's so important to me - we grew up together!" Sure, there are photographs that you expect your photographer to take for you without you giving them instructions (you and your parents and siblings, your groom and his parents and siblings, both of you with any grandparents you have at the wedding). But we wedding photographers are not mind readers, so we are not going to know what pictures are important to you. So here are a few tips to help you make sure you get the most out of your wedding photographer.

Trust your photographer - Assuming you have booked an experienced professional photographer to take your wedding photographs (rather than a new or semi-pro photographer, or an enthusiastic amateur or relative with a camera) then you can be assured that they know what they are doing because they have been photographing weddings for years. So you can trust them to know how to direct you in photographs, and you can trust them to capture the story of your day. Despite what is said on some wedding blogs, you really don't need to know how to pose if you have hired an experienced professional wedding photographer. Trust a professional wedding photographer to do an expert job for you.
Be ready when your photographer asks you to be - you need to be ready for photographs before your ceremony, so you need to be in your dress with your hair and makeup finished at the time that your photographer requests. The thing that is most likely to make you late is your makeup, as many makeup artists suggest doing you last - but this is the one thing that delays the whole proceedings. Be sure to have your hair and makeup done first, then you will be ready on time for your photographs.
Allow time for your wedding photographs - Your wedding day will go so fast you just won't know where the time goes! It's the most common thing that brides and grooms say to me when I photograph their wedding in and around Liverpool. Whatever time you think now that you need to allow for photographs, as well as seeing all of your guests, add time to that! The main time to focus on is that your venue need to turn the reception room around for the evening do after your reception meal - they need this to be ready by 7.30, and so they prefer you to sit down for your reception meal no later than 4.30. In reality, it's possible to do the meal, the speeches and the room turn around with the sit down meal at 5pm, but this is the latest. Knowing this helps you plan the rest of the day.
Group Photographs take time! - Every group that you add to the list that your wedding photographer needs to take for you takes about 5-7 minutes to set up - longer if people you want in the group have vanished to the bar or to check into their bedroom. Look for ways you can combine groups together, such as both sets of parents with the two of you, both sets of grandparents, all aunts, uncles and cousins together in one photograph. When I photograph weddings in and around Liverpool I suggest to couples that they limit themselves to 6 groups photographs, which takes about 20-30 mintues, allowing more time for photographs of the two of you, and for you to spend time with your guests.
Know what photographs are important to you - And let your photographer know. This might be people that you want to be photographed, or it could be parts of the day, such as your vows, a pictures of your rings, or the details in your reception room. Don't assume anything - if a picture is important to you, then let your wedding photographer know this.
Speak to your vicar, priest or venue about photographs during the ceremony - On the day of your wedding, if your vicar, priest or venue tells the photographer that they cannot take photographs during the ceremony, they must respect this. It is your responsibility to arrange for the photographs to be taken during the ceremony beforehand, putting all the arrangements in place.
Arrange for someone to help gather people together - Your wedding photographer doesn't know who the relevant people are for group photographs, so arrange for a couple of the ushers to find the people who need to be in each group photograph and make sure they are ready when they're needed.
Work out your timeline with your photographer - Wedding photographers are the one of the only wedding vendors who is with you for most or all of the day, so talk to your wedding photographer about the timings of the day.
The first dance - A quiet plea for your wedding photographer - chances are by 8pm your wedding photographer will have worked a long day by 8pm, so although it doesn't seem much to you to put your first dance back an hour, that hour is a long time to your wedding photographer. and remember, the night won't really begin until you take the dance floor, so get out there, dance, and let the festivities begin!

Leor and Hal's Jewish Wedding at Liverpool's Princes Road Synagogue and Hilton Hotel

2011-06-24T12:14:00.000+01:00

Sunday was a treat for Rob and me as we have never photographed a Jewish wedding before. It was truly an amazing experience for us both as wedding photographers in Liverpool! As a result it has taken me a little longer than usual to blog the photographs because I have been so indecisive about which ones to put up - I love them all!

Leor looked radiant and very elegant in her beautiful dress, Hal looked smart in his suit, and the Princes Road Synagogue in Liverpool is such a gorgeous place to get married in. Apparently it is the only Grade 1 listed Synagogue outside of London - as I have nothing to compare it with I can't say it's the most beautiful, but I can say it is a spectacular building inside.

Although I had done a lot of research for Hal and Leor's day to prepare myself for photographing their Jewish wedding, I was still taken aback by the energy, ceremony, traditions and atmosphere throughout the day and into the night. I do hope these photographs do the wedding justice, and you can see the joy and the love for their amazing day.

Vicky and Dave's Port Sunlight Wedding and Reception at Leverhulme Hotel and Spa

2011-06-21T17:44:00.002+01:00

Vicky and Dave got married in one of my all time favourite villages at the weekend - Port Sunlight! I've always loved the village since I was a child, so it was an absolute pleasure to get the opportunity to photograph their ceremony in Christ Church in the village (and a huge thanks to Norman for looking after us there), and on to the Leverhulme Hotel and Spa (and another shout out this time for Charles who looked after us, and let me join the couple in the gorgeous Phantom for us to go on a short drive for photographs around the village).

Vicky and Dave certainly went to town on their theme with touches of red throughout everything, including all the guests! And there were two surprises outside the church - the first one was Biscuit, their cute dog, who came to say hello, and the second was a chimney sweep to wish them luck. I'm sure this lovely couple will have all the luck in the world, and deservedly so, too. So here we go, a little sneak peak of the happy couple!

Melissa and Geraint's Wedding at Hope Street Hotel and the London Carriageworks, Liverpool

2011-06-12T16:09:00.000+01:00

Melissa and Geraint carefully themed their whole wedding around an English Afternoon Tea Party theme - and you know what? It worked! The whole day was well put together by both of them, and everything, from the couple looking amazing to the little details was perfect! We were well looked after by everyone, including Laura and Howard and the team at Hope Street Hotel, and were sorry to leave at the end of the day. I think I may have gone a little over the top with this sneak peak - there are loads of photographs, but it shows what a fabulous day Melissa and Geraint and their family and friends had.

Alex and Paul's Wedding At Croxteth Hall, Liverpool and Atlantic Tower Hotel, Liverpool

2011-06-12T15:55:00.000+01:00

Alex and Paul had a lovely wedding at Croxteth Hall - the weather was perfect, Croxteth Hall was a gorgeous backdrop, they were surrounded by lots of love from their families and friends, and the bride looked absolutely stunning! The reception took place at the Atlantic Tower Hotel, and with the weather being so kind to us we were able to go onto the roof terrace with the fantastic views of the Liver Building. I learned something at this wedding too - I have always known, all my life, that there are 2 Liver Birds in Liverpool - but a few of the guests pointed out the 3rd Liver Bird to me which I've never seen before, on top of the building that is just behind St Nick's Church.

Here is a little sneak peak of Alex and Paul's day.

Alex and Paul's Wedding

2011-06-09T22:24:00.000+01:00

I should have blogged Alex and Paul's wedding by now, but I'm having a problem with my blog template and I just can't get it to work - if I still can't get it to work tomorrow I'll have to upload the images individually instead! The pictures are looking sooo gorgeous! Can't wait to share them.

In the Press: Liverpool Echo Trash or Cherish the Dress?

2011-06-08T16:16:00.000+01:00

We're in the Liverpool Echo again with So Coco Rouge doing hair and makeup, and Bespoken Dreams' Helen modelling her dress, along with the gorgeous Kim, about the craze to Trash or Cherish your Wedding Dress - here at Zoe Photography we call this Gown Again, giving you the chance to put your dress on again for a more relaxed shoot, with hair and makeup, a 2 hour photo session and images on disk to take home with you, all for just £450. It's a fabulous way to get to wear your dress again, and even though we use unusual locations, we do our best to keep your dress as pristine as possible - unless, of course, you are wanting to do the full on trash!

Get in touch to book your Trash or Cherish Gown Again session on 0151 708 5838 or 07792 650 742.

In the meantime, here is the article in today's Liverpool Echo with Kim, and Helen of Bespoken Dreams:

Mother and Daughter Portrait

2011-06-06T10:43:00.001+01:00

I love seeing the bond between mothers and their daughters - this pair described themselves as best friends, and their love was very clear as they snuggled up together.

Trash the Dress or Cherish the Dress After Your Wedding?

2011-06-06T09:22:00.000+01:00

The wedding is over, the dress is ready to go to the cleaners before being boxed up for 20 years or more - what a shame never to wear it again! You've probably heard all the hype about trashing the dress, but you know, you can wear your wedding gown again without having to destroy it. Helen from Bespoken Dreams, whose wedding I shot nearly 3 years ago, and her cousin Kim, who got married in Vegas 3 years ago and now has a 6 month old baby, joined together for a fun Gown Again session around the docks area of Liverpool. And just look at the amazing photographs we created together.

Read the story of the shoot in The Liverpool Echo on Wednesday 8th June 2011, or visit the Zoe Photography Facebook page to enjoy a slideshow of the shoot.

My Favourite Wedding Venues in Merseyside and West Lancashire

2011-05-31T16:23:00.000+01:00

With photographing so many weddings I guess it's inevitable that I have got to a point over the years where I have my favourite wedding venues in Merseyside and West Lancashire. In fact I could probably say that for the whole North West my favourite wedding venues all fall within Merseyside and West Lancashire.

Over the coming weeks I will pick out my top venues and do a mini feature on them with wedding photographs from weddings I have photographed there, so that you can hear from a Merseyside and West Lancashire wedding photographer's perspective what it is like to have your wedding at these venues.

One thing I have noticed as a common theme through all of my favourite wedding venues in Merseyside and West Lancashire is that as well as being lovely venues, it's the quality of service, the way the staff are that really puts them on the list. It doesn't matter how gorgeous a venue is, if the staff don't treat you well, or the food isn't up to scratch, then it generally spoils the whole experience.

Watch this space for The West Tower Country House Hotel, Knowsley Hall and Hope Street Hotel to name just a few for starters. If you got married at any of these places and want to share your own experience of your fabulous wedding at your wedding venue, please get in touch, we'd love to hear from you.

And wedding venues, if you would like your venue to be featured, and I've worked at your venue and had a great experience there, then please get in touch as I'd love to feature you.

Iain and Louise Marry at Knowsley Hall - A Truly Beautiful Couple at a Truly Beautiful Venue!

2011-05-26T21:13:00.000+01:00

I really enjoyed photographing Iain and Louise's wedding - from the first moment I met them I thought they were fabulous and loving people to be around, and that came out even more on their wedding day. Everything was styled with an understated elegance, and the couple fitted right in at Knowsley Hall where they had their ceremony and reception. Here is a little sneak peak of their photographs - can't wait to show them the rest!

David and Gill's Liverpool Wedding and Reception at Knowsley Hall

2011-05-17T17:00:00.000+01:00

Well, after the spring we've had, I guess it was inevitable there would be a wedding day with rain, and I really felt for David and Gill that the heavens decided to open on their day. But it didn't seem to put a dampner on the day. It was a beautiful ceremony at their church on Rose Lane, Liverpool, followed by the reception at Knowsley Hall. We managed to get outside for a short time, before the rain came on again, but with Gill's amazing long veil, even the light breeze was a bit of a problem! Here is just a little sneak peak, with lots more photographs to come for David and Gill to enjoy.

Zoe Photography on Facebook

2011-05-01T15:48:00.000+01:00

If you would like to keep up to date with Zoe Photography on Facebook then please go to my business page and click on 'Like'.

Not only will you find all of the updates on Zoe Photography and the pictures that I take, but you'll also get to see things that interest and inspire me from around the world.

Leon and Lisa Marry at Knowsley Hall

2011-05-01T14:10:00.000+01:00

It was blowing a breeze but the sky was perfectly blue for Leon and Lisa's wedding at Knowsley Hall. And their colour scheme worked beautifully with the colours of the Hall too. It's a shame the wind was so strong because it stopped us getting lots of pictures outdoors, but nonetheless with the grandeur of the Hall we were able to capture some truly beautiful images of a lovely wedding day. Here is Lisa and Leon's Knowsley Hall Wedding sneak peak.

Liverpool Echo Bride of the Year Competition 2011

2011-04-27T10:31:00.000+01:00

I am very excited to be part of the 2011 Bride of the Year competition being launched today by the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo. If you are a beautiful bride who can't afford the wedding of your dreams, this may be just the way to have the most amazing day possible! The prize is worth over £11,000 with a venue, photography, film, hair and makeup, a Coast dress, invitations and more!

For more information and to enter visit the Echo's page

And if you want a little taste of what the day could be like, take a look at this slideshow we made of the launch photoshoot.

50 At 50

2011-04-25T17:23:00.000+01:00

I'll be 50 in January - can't believe it, as I still only feel about 26 ... well, maybe 30! And as a celebration I am doing 50 things. You can keep up with my progress on a blog just about My 50 at 50 by clicking here.

I'd love your support as I go, so please leave me some blog love on My 50 at 50!

Kirsten and Stephen Get Married with a Knowsley Hall Reception

2011-04-25T16:51:00.001+01:00

I seem to be starting this year off with quite a few Knowsley Hall weddings - later in the year I am all over the place, but right now I'm enjoying working at one of my favourite places.

It was really obvious at Kirsten and Stephen's wedding that they are a well loved couple - from the Priest who conducted the service through to cheers from friends at the speeches. Actually, I don't think I've ever heard such a funny Priest doing a service. He was fabulous, and certainly set the tone for a day of laughter. Here is a sneak peak of their day - really looking forward to showing Kirsten and Stephen their full set of images.

You're Beautiful!

2011-04-09T10:16:00.000+01:00

Words are so powerful. I know that, you know that. but this little movie really hit home to me today the importance of words

And it got me thinking about the words I use. When people ask me what I do I tell them I'm a photographer - but I know in truth I am a magician. Why? Because somewhere inside you there is beauty - and I know I can show you that beauty, however hard you have worked on hiding it. Are you going to let me work magic with you? Give me a call on 0151 708 5838.

Weddings at the Thistle Atlantic Tower Hotel, Liverpool

2011-04-05T15:35:00.001+01:00

I've photographed a few weddings at the Atlantic Tower in Liverpool and I still seem to discover new treasures! I really love this hotel for it's terrace area, with views down The Strand and across to the Liver Building and St Nick's Church. But I found more treats when I was recently doing some photographs for their marketing materials to showcase the venue for weddings - the views from the spacious bedrooms are fantastic, and there's a great sculpture of seagulls in the central atrium. Here are just a teeny selection of photographs from the shoot - The Atlantic Tower Hotel in Liverpool will be showing off the rest of the gorgeous images with Laura and Mark in coming weeks. If you are still looking to book your wedding venue, it's well worth going to see The Atlantic Tower - you'll be in for a little treat!

City Shoot Makeover & Photo Shoot in Liverpool

2011-04-05T14:04:00.000+01:00

Wouldn't you just love the kind of husband who thinks about what you might like to have for your birthday, instead coming up with the usual kind of last minute buys so many men go for? Well, Chrissie's husband is one of those kind of men - really loves his wife and enjoys bringing a smile to her face, so he booked her a City Shoot with a mini makeover and morning coffee at Hope Street Hotel. Sian from So Coco Rouge pampered Chrissie for the first hour or so with hair and makeup, and then we went into a shoot with Chrissie in 3 different outfits, and had great fun! At the end of the shoot I took a few quick photographs of mother and daughter. Here's a little sneak peak of what we created together.

Paul and Sarah's Vintage Themed Wedding at Hope Street Hotel, Liverpool

2011-04-03T21:03:00.000+01:00

Sarah and Paul are definitely a match made in heaven - the love they show for each other is just so pure and beautiful. And they deserved the fabulous wedding day that they had at Hope Street Hotel in Liverpool this year. Sarah put a lot of effort into her pearls and lace theme with gorgeous details throughout the ceremony room and the reception room. She had also chosen the most beautiful cupcakes for the wedding cake. I don't usually show so many images from one wedding, but this one deserves it! Enjoy the sneak peak.

Special Easter Offers for Five Family Portrait Photography Sessions in Liverpool

2011-04-03T19:59:00.000+01:00

It's not often that we do special offers at Zoe Photography - why do special offers when you're already fairly priced? But as it's a Royal Wedding this Easter we have decided to do 5 special offers for 5 special families - these offers are valued at between £50 and £150, so alongside our ethical approach to doing business we also promise you that you will receive something special to compliment your family portrait session.

What's up for offer?

A complimentary makeover for mum (value £50)
An upgrade from afternoon tea to champagne and canopes for after your shoot (value £50)
5 complimentary prints ready to frame (value £100)
10 complimentary prints ready to frame (value £150)
A beautiful slideshow of your images on DVD (£75)

When you book your session you get to choose from the remaining special offers above to add to your family portrait session - and remember, you are already getting a 1 hour fun shoot, a disk of images from your shoot to take away from the session, print ready, and morning coffee or afternoon tea for up to 4 people.

These offers are only available for shoots booked before Good Friday that take place between 17th April and 3rd May 2011, so don't delay as many Easter holiday dates are already booked, call now on 0151 708 5838 / 07792 650 742.

Mother's Day in Liverpool: A Family Portrait

2011-04-03T16:12:00.000+01:00

When I was booked a few weeks back for a three generations portrait shoot today it never crossed my mind it was Mother's Day - I just about managed to get the fact that my own daughter was away for that weekend, so wouldn't be annoyed at me working a Sunday! So of course when the date finally arrived I suddenly realised this was a Mother's Day present for Nan! And what a lovely family. We photographed the three generations of women in the family, Margaret, her two daughters, and their daughters. Here is just a little sneak peak.

60s Themed Shoot with a Hint of Mad Men

2011-03-27T17:49:00.001+01:00

I'm a kid of the 60s and so for a while now I've been wanting to do a 60s themed shoot with a little influence of Don and Betty Draper from Mad Men. I wouldn't call this a Mad Men Themed Shoot, but it has certainly been an influence on the overall look of the images. So I was really pleased when Carl and Jess were up for me shooting them in this style. Here is just a little sneak peak of what we captured on a cold cold day in March!

What the Papers Say on City Talk

2011-03-21T08:53:00.002Z

I got a phone call last week - you know the kind, the ones where afterwards you think maybe you should have taken a breath and thought for a second before saying yes! I was invited onto City Talk in Liverpool, based in the Radio City Tower to do "What the Papers Say" at the ungodly hour of 7.20am!

But it was worth it - aside from the amazing view on this gorgeous day, stretching from Wales to The Lakes, and the Mersey was bizarrely still as a pond, Mick was also great fun to interact with as we talked through the news items from today's papers. And I must have done ok because he invited me back to do it again ... thankfully it will be at 8.20am next time though!

A Face For The Radio!

2011-03-13T19:10:00.000Z

It's always scary bearing your soul and telling your story, but to do it on radio is particularly so! But I have to say, thanks to the lovely interview style of Roger Phillips, it was not as bad as it could have been. So if you want to get to know a bit more about me, take a listen to my interview on the Phillips Hour which is available on the Listen Now feature until Saturday 19th March. Make sure you go to 26 minutes in, and be prepared to sit down with a cuppa for half an hour! Huge thanks to Roger Phillips of BBC Radio Merseyside for making it such a pleasurable experience.

Nicola and Ken's Wedding at West Tower Country House in Aughton, Lancashire

2011-03-05T13:58:00.001Z

The year of weddings has kicked off with the perfect wedding day and the perfect team. Ken and Nicola got married at one of my favourite venues, West Tower in Aughton, West Lancashire (and the gorgeous food from head chef, Zoe - of course I'm going to love her with the same name as me!), with Zoe Photography doing the photographs, Marry Me Films creating a film of the day, Sian Louise Auld doing makeup and the fabulous Steve Mitchell providing the evening entertainment, all people I love working with. And to top it off, Nicola, Ken, their families and friends were great - everyone was so happy and friendly, it felt far too much fun to be work!

Here's a little taster of the day

Catching up on Blogging

2011-02-23T10:16:00.000Z

I'm so behind on blogging images of late - when I've not been shooting weddings I've been busy on some fabulous commercial jobs, some of which are a little under wraps at the moment, but in an attempt to kick start again, here are a couple from Blackburne House in Liverpool with the Heirloom Couture dress from Belles Bridal Boutique. This shoot was for Bliss Wedding Shows. Hair and makeup was by Sian Louise Auld. Absolutely gorgeous!

Photography Workshops in Liverpool for 2011

2011-02-22T12:28:00.008Z

Now that we've properly settled into our new home it seems time to make it happen! Please call me, Zoe, on 0151 708 5838 or 07792 650 742 for more information or to book, or email me zoe@zoephotography.co.uk I am offering 1:1 sessions in the following topics, as well as group sessions on the dates provided. Groups will be limited to a maximum of 6 people. The 1:1 sessions cost £500 for one person for 8 hours in Liverpool or £700 plus travel and accommodation for a studio based session.

DISCOUNT: If you book 2 workshops you benefit from 10% discount on course fees, and book 3 or 4 to benefit from 25% discount. There is also a 20% discount on all workshops for members of the EPS.

Getting the Foundations Right as a Professional Photographer - LAST FEW PLACES REMAINING!

Date: Thursday 31st March
Price: £250 per person, or £200 per person for 2 people from the same studio.
Topics Covered: Making sure you understand how to get the most out of your camera, using your camera in different lighting conditions, understanding light, being prepared for all conditions. This workshop includes shooting time.

Marketing, branding and promoting your photography business

This workshop is not available to local photographers.

Date: Friday 1st April

Price: £250 per person, or £200 per person for 2 people from the same studio.

Topics Covered: This workshop starts with looking at what gets a business noticed and what keeps a business being noticed. How to become the most talked about business in your area (for the RIGHT reasons). It looks at the mistakes that photographers make setting up in business, and how these become values of the business long term, impacting on the type and amount of business that comes in. Developing a team to market you. There is also some specific time spent on what the participants are actually doing in their business.

The business of photography

This workshop is not available to local photographers.
Date:Monday 11th April

Price: £350 per person, or £300 per person for 2 people from the same studio.

Topics Covered: Developing a business - designing a business model that fits you and your business, the pricing structure, the business systems and procedures, and the business paperwork. Getting business, and touching on marketing - getting the price right and covering your costs so you can earn a living. This workshop includes what not to do as much as what to do, and you leave with usable documentation on disk for developing your photography business.

Improving your posing skills for groups, couples and individuals
Date: Tuesday 12th April

Price: £250 per person, or £200 per person for 2 people from the same studio.

Topics Covered: The basics of posing - what works and what doesn't. How to create poses that work. Posing groups. Learning poses, and developing a range of poses that works for you with groups, individuals and couples. Using techniques to improve your group posing skills. Telling stories through posing. This workshop includes shooting time. STOP PRESS - I've just heard that my makeup artist and hair stylist are running a makeup artists workshop the same day, and they need photographs for their students -as a result we are going to be working with fully styled models during the shoot, so your images have the chance to look amazing!

The Photographer Tribes

2011-02-08T20:14:00.000Z

As photographers prepare to take themselves off to the annual trade fair in Birmingham I thought I'd resurrect this old article - a lighthearted look at the different kind of people working in this wonderful industry of ours .....

The Photographer Tribes

Over the years I've noticed that there are a number of different photographer tribes! Recognise yourself in any?

The 'Er-Wazzat-Then?' Tribe
I've got a new camera - I've just got the camera out of the box and the shoot starts in 15 minutes, but's it's ok, I'm sure I can get by, I mean, how much more difficult is a Canon 5D Mark II to use than a point and shoot? What's this button? Bugger, I seem to be taking loads of video. Anyone know how to turn this off? Oh look, there's a whole lot of creative settings here, and I can just set the camera to Auto. Phew, everything's going to be ok!

The Brand-Junky Tribe
Apple have brought out a new product, it's called the iNeedit - it's not clear what it is yet, but I'm ready to go out and buy it now, can't wait for it to be released in the UK - I mean, it's from Apple, for goodness sake! It must be good and it HAS to be something I need - look, Steve Job told me I can't live without it, so it's got to be true! Apparently there are two models, the entry level iNeedit, and the pro model, the iNeeditreally - I'm thinking it's the iNeeditreally for me.

Oh, wait, what's that? Ooooh, Nikon are bringing out a new camera ... what do you mean I don't need it? Of course I do, Nikon have brought this camera out for people just like me with all sorts of upgrades from my last camera, I MUST need it! Look, it can shoot a black cat in a coal cellar! Thank goodness I still have the day job to pay for all of this!

The Gotta-Have-It Tribe
I've heard that Some BigName Photographer has one of those new video lights from America and he's using it at weddings. Crikey, I've gotta have it, I mean, if he thinks this is the right tool for the job, it must be the one for me. I haven't the foggiest what I'm doing with it, but who cares, this is going to make my photographs amazing because I've got the same video light as Some BigName Photographer. Goodness me, it's expensive, but hey, it's worth it. What do you mean, he's sponsored by the company to say all these good things about the light? No, I'm sure he loves it and uses it at every wedding. Surely?

The It's-OK-I'll-Put-It-Right-In-Photoshop Tribe
Damn, I messed up on the shoot, but it's ok, I've got Photoshop, I can put it right when I open up the images in Lightroom, and I'll get rid of all those dirt spots in Photoshop - I mean, that's what it's for, isn't it? Now what does this thing do in Lightroom? Crikey, I've got a lot of images from that shoot, but hey, it looks like I've got a good 25 or 30 photographs from all those 2,000 photographs I took. Goodness, look at the time, 1am, and I'm still working on all these images! But it's ok, I'm putting it all right.

The Bravado Tribe
I'm not too sure f-stop what I'm doing, but if I shutter speed talk a lot of technical garbage then ISO everyone will think I TTL know what's going on!

The Who-Cares Tribe
I've got this early 5D, bit scratched, but it does the job for me, now, next assignment, bring it on!

The How-Dare-You Tribe
I can't believe it! I mean, how can you! How dare you pull to pieces my choice of kit! Everyone knows that Canon is better than Nikon is better than Canon is better than Nikon is better than any other brand on the planet. Damn, my auto focus has gone down again - is that some back focusing going on? Shhh, don't tell anyone I bought this pile of junk! Best not tell the other half how much it cost.

There may well be other tribes, but I reckon most of us fit into one or more of these - so as you think of buying new kit, just spend a moment thinking about which Tribe you belong to, and whether you need, no, really really need, that equipment you're planning on buying this year!

Full of the Joys of Life!

2011-02-08T16:06:00.000Z

I love kids playing and having fun - for me it's much better than putting them into a clinical white background with lights and equipment surrounding them, making parents feel nervous about what they might do. So it was great getting the chance to photograph these two gorgeous boys playing in the woods on Beacon Fell. Everytime I look at the pictures I can hear them laughing!

Newly Wed Photo Shoot

2011-02-05T20:58:00.000Z

Can't afford a wedding photographer? Or disappointed with what your official photographer captured for you at your wedding? Maybe there just wasn't enough time on the day to create the kind of beautiful photographs you imagined having? How about giving yourselves a big treat of a Newly Wed Photo Shoot.

For just £300 you can have hair and makeup done before the shoot (er, groom not included!), then get dressed up in your glad rags (from your wedding day, or one of your favourite outfits) and off we go for a 1 hour shoot. Then you go and have coffee and cake at Hope Street Hotel, our treat, before returning to view your photographs, walking away with a disk of around 40 images that are print ready.

All that for just £300 for your very own Newly Wed Photo Shoot. So now you don't need to be disappointed with your wedding photographs, or sad that you didn't have a professional photographer on the wedding day.

Mad Men Themed Wedding

2011-01-26T21:14:00.000Z

Ahhh, I think I've nailed it - this is my new style of blog images and I chose Laura and Michael's wedding to test with because I just loved the way that Laura so cleverly worked to the Mad Men theme she had chosen.

100 Women of Liverpool

2011-01-21T12:07:00.000Z

I am looking for 100 Women of Liverpool - women who are simply fabulous, women who are achieving amazing things with running their own business, women who are making a difference even on a small scale within their community, women who are incredible carers or have lived through trying times with a smile on their face.

Do you know any Women of Liverpool who you admire? I am photographing 100 women - everyone involved will walk away with a copy of their photograph ready to frame as a thank you for helping me to photograph 100 Women of Liverpool in 2011.

Please get in touch if you think you are an amazing woman, or if you know of an amazing woman who I should photograph. There are only two simple criteria - firstly they must live in Liverpool or the surrounding area, and they must have a story to tell, however local, however small, because of the difference they make. Maybe they just smile everyday and bring a smile to your face, or maybe they simply make the drinks at a coffee morning for the elderly, bringing cheer into their lives.

Help me find 100 Women of Liverpool - please get in touch today!

Inspiration for My Wedding, Portrait and Fashion Photography in Liverpool: Jack Vettriano

2011-01-12T22:52:00.000Z

In the second of my series on the work that inspires my wedding, portrait and fashion photography in Liverpool, let's look at the artist Jack Vettriano. I love his work, the way he uses light, the styling of the set where he creates the image, the colours (which are apparently achieved by the way that he paints all his canvases orange before he begins work). Vettriano is a self taught artist, and meets with disdain from some in the art world, however he has had a powerful impact on the public - many people know his work "The Singing Butler" with the couple dancing on the beach, a butler holding an umbrella over their heads as they waltz.

It's hard to pick out one particular image of Vettriano's that has inspired me most as I love so much of it. But one that perhaps explains a style and approach that I love to create in my own work is Days of Wine and Roses where a girl sits at a table, a glass of red in front her, a cigarette in her hand, and her face half hidden by the brim of her hat. I love the questions that Vettriano leaves unanswered in the painting - who is she sitting with (the hint is there in the half drunk glass of wine opposite her and the serviette slung lazily across the arm of the chair), why have they met, what is she thinking, why does she look pre-occupied in her thoughts.

In the spirit of protecting copyright, here is the link to the painting, Days of Wine and Roses by Jack Vettriano, rather than copying it into my own post.

Other paintings that he has created take us straight into another era, but all have a connection through the questions they leave the viewer asking as they observe the unfolding story. Another painting I adore is The Temptress, where we see only the legs, feet and hand of a woman, glasses discarded on the table, a clear attitude in her pose. Vettriano creates a story through objects, the position of the people within the painting and in relation to one another. It is clear that he puts a great deal of thought into the execution of each set before he paints the subject. In my own photography I look for things that need to be included in the image, or expressions that need to be exchanged in order to tell the on-looker the story unfolding within the image.

More to come in the weeks ahead on what inspires my photography - if you haven't heard of the paintings that I use to demonstrate my inspiration I hope you will follow the links and can enjoy the works that mean so much to me.

The Liverpool Wedding Show, Knowsley, January 2011

2011-01-12T21:38:00.000Z

This weekend it's the biggest wedding show in the Liverpool, if not the North West, with The Liverpool Wedding Show - plenty of fabulous exhibitors and thousands of brides visiting makes this a very popular wedding show in Liverpool for both the brides and the exhibitors. We are very excited at Zoe Photography that we will be there exhibiting, and looking forward to meeting brides getting married in 2011 and 2012 ... and I'm sure there will be one or two looking at getting married in 2013 too!

And don't forget to visit our sister stand, City Girl Makeover Photoshoots, next door but one, where Sian Louise Auld Makeup will be showcasing our boudoir photography in Liverpool, makeovers, wedding makeup, and gifts for mums and bridesmaids.

As if that's not enough, we also have a shared stand between City Girl and Zoe Photography - Posy and Lace is vintage, vintage style and vintage inspired gifts with wedding umbrellas and parasols, plus beautiful brooch bouquets, vintage tea sets, jewellery and beautiful pressed glass.

We look forward to seeing you there on Saturday 15th or Sunday 16th January at The Liverpool Wedding Show, Knowsley Safari Park. For more information visit the show site.

If you want to make the most of your visit you may find this useful - Getting the Most Out of Wedding Shows

Telephone and Internet Problems

2011-01-11T21:46:00.000Z

We are currently experiencing a problem with our telephone line at the exchange and BT are struggling to fix it. Please call on 07792 650 742 if you get an engaged tone on the landline, and please accept my apologies if I am not responding on my emails as fast as normal. Without internet I am doing things on the iPhone and at home, so it's proving a little slow. Sorry. I haven't had an update from BT since 3pm but as they'd promised a repair by the end of the day I am now starting to assume that the repair has not been successful so far.

2011 New Year's Resolutions

2011-01-08T23:42:00.000Z

I don't usually do new year resolutions - I am more of a challenge setter at any time of year. But I guess some of those challenges are resolutions. So here is a list for 2011:

Laugh at life - my life that is - as if this is the only life I have. Actually, as I don't believe in an after life, I guess it is the only one I have!
See the good in everyone - after all, no-one gets up each day intending to be horrid to others, so maybe by seeing the good in them I can see beyond anything I don't like in some people.
Tell my mum about the happy memories I have of my childhood - like Tubby the Tuba, walks around the Botanic Gardens, listening to her sing as she cooked, and the button tin.
Find a way of organising things that works better for me.
Create a dawn shoot.
Don't hold back with some of my ideas for fabulous shoots.
Make time for coffee everyday.
Master off-camera flash so I didn't waste my money on buying that bit of plastic called the ST-E2!
Book New York - very excited - and eat Breakfast at Tiffany's.
Get the shower fixed.
Finish painting the hall - yes, ALL the woodwork!
Improve my use of light in my images.

There, 12 challenges or resolutions, one per month of the year. That should be manageable. So let's see how I do then! I've started well - I've made time for a coffee everyday so far this year.

Inspiration for My Wedding, Portrait and Fashion Photography in Liverpool: Fantine

2011-01-03T09:07:00.000Z

My photographs don't just happen by accident. My head is just full of ideas of shots I want to create, and these ideas have all been informed by things I see around me. So I decided to share some of the inspiration with you so that you can understand more about my thought processes, and how I come to create the imagery I do.

The first image I want to share hangs in Liverpool's Walker Art Gallery - one of my favourite places to go, and definitely one of the best art galleries in the UK. It is a painting I am very fond of and only recently I discovered that my father also loves this piece of work too. It's a painting by Margaret Bernardine Hall called Fantine, and in the spirit of respecting copyright, instead of doing a copy and paste I am instead directing you to the Walker Art Gallery site to see the image there - Fantine - the painting is of Fantine from the story of Les Miserable at the point where the mother is giving her child up hoping that it will bring her a better life.

What I particularly love about this painting is the lighting. If I were to produce a photograph lit like this there would likely be criticism for a poorly lit subject, but I believe that Hall specifically chose to light the subject in this manner. The light is clearly coming from behind the mother, falling on the child, so we know that the story is about the child. I also interpret the lighting to telling us about the darkness the mother is in as she is about to hand her daughter over to someone else to bring up on her behalf.

I'm not sure how this particular work will influence an image I take, as I don't want to photograph such raw emotion as I see in this painting. However I do love the inspiration I can take from how light is used to tell the story, and it is this that I look to bring more into my work.

Watch out for the next piece of inspiration from the work of Jack Vetriano.

Boudoir Photography in Liverpool

2011-01-02T12:50:00.001Z

Boudoir photography doesn't have to be about showing it all - I much prefer it when boudoir photography is about sensuality rather than sexuality - and going by the reactions that the man in the girl's life has to the boudoir photographs I take, I think most men prefer sensuality too. I look for ways to bring in an artistic approach into the picture, creating photographs that you'd be proud to have on your wall, something you'd be proud to present to your fiance as a wedding gift.

The best time to have your boudoir portrait session is around 3 to 4 months before your wedding. You can arrange to have the disk of images so that you can make up your own album to give to your fiance, or you can leave it all to us at Zoe Photography. We recommend that you also have your hair and makeup done professionally so that you can enjoy the full pampering experience, and we can arrange this for you.

Prices start from £250 (usual price £300) with hair and makeup and a disk of images for boudoir photography sessions booked in Liverpool before the Royal Wedding on 29th April 2011. Our boudoir photography sessions are slightly longer than our regular Makeover Photo Shoots as we want you to be able to relax from fully clothed to as many or few clothes as you are comfortable wearing for your boudoir portrait session in Liverpool. Albums can be created for you from £100. Call 0151 708 5838 to book your boudoir portrait session now.

Liverpool Wedding Photography Prices in 2011

2010-12-30T11:26:00.000Z

We all know there is a VAT rise in January and there's a lot of fuss about it in the media and how prices are going to rise everywhere you turn. But that's not the case here at Zoe Photography - let's face it, we are only talking 2.5% and with wedding photography not everything has VAT applied to it, so at Zoe Photography prices will remain the same throughout 2011, with the relatively small VAT rise being included in the price. Any 2012 wedding booked by 1st September 2011 will also be at the 2011 price, guaranteed.

So, the only reason to hurry when it comes to booking your wedding photography with Liverpool based Zoe Photography is because dates are booking up fast. We are already at a bumper level of bookings for 2011 and 2012 is starting to book up too, so there's no time to waste if you know that you want that unique blend of storytelling with fashion styled photographs mixed in with classical wedding photography at an affordable price.

Call Zoe Photography now on 0151 708 5838 now to discuss your wedding photography with one of Liverpool's best wedding photographers.

Charley and Robin's Wedding in Heswall and Knowsley Hall

2010-12-21T16:23:00.000Z

It says something for a venue when the sales and marketing manager decides to hold their wedding reception at the place where they work! But that is just what Charley did when she married Robin a couple of weeks ago. The beautiful service was held in Heswall, on a day when we thought the weather was quite magical - before we had all the snow we've got now! And then on to Knowsley Hall, one of the most beautiful places you could choose in the UK for your wedding.

Charley brought a fabulous team together, with Sian Louise Auld doing the makeup, Becci from Shush Hair Company doing hair, the video by Dominic of Impressions of Formby, and the flowers from Earth flowers, with the grandest of reception venues too.

Here is a small selection of the photographs we took on the day - I know Charley can't wait to see all of her wedding photographs, but this snow has put paid to that, so a sneak peak before Christmas will just have to suffice!

One Winter

2010-12-19T16:32:00.000Z

Love these shots from today

Christmas Charity Contrbution

2010-12-16T21:45:00.001Z

Every year I make a contribution to charity instead of buying christmas cards - but you have to help me out here! This year I am aiming to give £50 to NWCRF - the North West Cancer Research Fund - and I'm asking for your help.

All you have to do is make a comment on this post or any other post from 2010 on this blog - for everyone who comments I will put 50p into the pot and if you get me to 25 unique comments - that's unique as in 25 different people - then I will double the pot up to £50. Get me 50 unique comments and I'll give £100 to NWCRF.

So come on, get those comments flowing - tell me what you think of my photography, identify your favourite photograph and tell me why you like it so much.

I look forward to hearing what you think, and I look forward to you helping me get to a great total for the NWCRF - you can follow them on twitter @NWCRF and for that matter, you can follow me too! @zoephotography

Have a happy christmas everyone, and may 2011 be all you wish it to be and more!

Special Offer - Third off City Girl Makeover Photoshoots in Liverpool

2010-12-01T15:31:00.000Z

Visit our City Girl Makeover Photoshoot site to see our very special offer with no hard sell, no pressure sales techniques, all ethical makeover sessions in Liverpool - click here to see the offer.

I hate being photographed ... no, seriously, I hate being photographed!

2010-11-30T14:01:00.003Z

You've said it a million times, you hate being photographed, and then along comes one of those situations in life where you HAVE to be photographed whether you like it or not, and everyone tells you that you'll be fine, you'll look great - but don't they hear you? You HATE being photographed!

And you know, you're not alone. We hear it all the time, beit when we are photographing portrait and makeover sessions in Liverpool, weddings in Southport, newborn babies with their mum and dad in Chester. So many people say the same thing, and yet when you look at photographs other people have had taken they look great, so you kinda think they must surely be lieing - afterall, don't people hear you? You HATE, HATE, HATE being photographed!

The obvious thing to do is to try and hide from the camera, but you can't always do this, and nor should you. By not being photographed you are stopping your family from collecting memories of you - and what about the generations after you who want to remember you as you are. They're not interested in your double chin, your squinty eye, you chubby belly, your turkey wing arms. All they're interested in is having memories of you, the person they love.

The other obvious thing to do is to just ask your friends to take the photographs at the wedding - after all, you won't have to pose then, will you? Or get your friends to take a picture of you and the family because it will be over quickly and relatively painlessly. And then afterwards you look at the photographs, and see, you were so right to hate having your photograph taken, look at how dreadful you look in these pictures your friend has taken!

But this is where you made the mistake - an established and experienced professional photographer knows how to work with you to get the best of you. Your friend may well know how to use a camera, but that doesn't turn them into a professional photographer. There is so much more to using a camera and taking pictures of people than the camera itself. It's about understanding how to pose people to look good, it's about psychology and connection to bring the best out in someone, it's about helping someone dress properly for looking great in photographs.

So this Christmas, treat yourself. Give yourself a boost, get over your hatred of having your photograph taken, book a makeover photoshoot party with your friends or a City Girl Makeover Photoshoot, and discover how amazing you look in photographs.

By the way, Petra in the photograph above was very camera shy - she doesn't look it does she?

Newsletter Download Available

2010-11-29T09:54:00.002Z

Our new newsletter is now available to download - click here for our November issue.

Our Ethical Pledge

2010-11-23T13:51:00.000Z

That's it! We're taking the pledge - after hearing and reading about pressure sales techniques designed to encourage very high sales we've decided to create The Photographer's Ethical Pledge. If you're a photographer who works ethically, then get in touch and join the campaign to bring ethical business practices into our industry - if you're someone who purchases photography, get in touch and let us know what you think. We'd love to hear from you.

Here’s the pledge:

We pledge never to use pressure sales techniques - when we quote you a price that is all you need to spend. We will tell you what else you can buy from us if you want to buy more, but you will not be pressure sold anything.
We will not encourage you in with competition wins, introductory offers or conning approaches geared to make you spend more. At Zoë Photography we offer one product one price – for example, a makeover, photoshoot and a disk of around 40 images for just £300.
Any discounts offered, any promotions we do are all genuine offers, genuine promotions. We do not expect you to buy more, we simply ask you to tell others about your experience of working with a photographer who has signed the ethical pledge.
We will not ply you with alcohol to help you lower your guard.
We supply usable images on disk with printing rights for you to enjoy - we do not overcharge for providing digital images and the only copyright marks are on web images for use on social networking sites.
We want you to have a thoroughly enjoyable experience with Zoë Photography and City Girl Makeover Photoshoots, which means we will work hard to make sure that we deliver good customer service.
If we get it wrong, please tell us, because let's face it, we are human, and we may get things wrong at times. We will apologise to you without making excuses and we will work with you to put our mistakes right.
We do not have a credit card machine and do not use credit agreements, because we only expect you to spend what you can afford to spend.
We will openly help you and guide you - for example, if you are interested in becoming a model then we will provide you with realistic advice. We will not tell you that you could make it as a model if it's unlikely.
We aim to renew, reuse and recycle wherever we can, and will work to reduce our carbon footprint.
We respect copyright and intellectual property of other businesses and artists.
We follow distance selling regulations.

If you want to take The Photographer's Ethical Pledge then email zoe@zoephotography.co.uk

Wayne and Andy's Portrait Session

2010-11-14T22:35:00.000Z

Wayne had a birthday celebration recently, and as well as photographs with everyone at the party, I had the pleasure to photograph at home with Andy and adorable Penny the dog. Here is a small selection of their photographs, and I can't wait to share the rest with Wayne! Oh, and I adore that wallpaper! Next, here I come!

Do You Have a Story to Tell? Competition Entries Invited

2010-10-31T20:26:00.000Z

At City Girl Makeover Photo Shoots we have a competition running to win a makeover and photo shoot, and all you have to do is tell us your story. Maybe you have been unwell, maybe you have been working hard, or maybe you know someone who has been through a lot, perhaps they do so much for others they never have time for themselves ... if that's the case then we need to hear from you, either for yourself or for someone you know and love who deserves a treat!

For more information visit our City Girl site here

Closing date 12/11/10

Calling All Liverpool Wedding Suppliers and Wedding Businesses

2010-10-31T12:45:00.001Z

Are you a wedding supplier in Liverpool? Do you run a wedding related business in or close to Liverpool? Then you might be interested in my little opening cum tweetup cum wedding network in November. It's by invitation only, and we already have a lot of businesses on the list (you may even already be there). But we want to make sure we don't miss anyone. So if you are a wedding supplier or wedding related business in or near to Liverpool then get in touch and come along and enjoy the party, network with other wedding businesses and come and have some fun.

Please note, this is not an excuse to get drunk at my expense, so if that's all you're after, sorry, I'm not the right networking event for you as there won't be any alcohol! This is about networking with fellow wedding suppliers, not a drink-fest!

Please contact Zoe on 07792 650742 or email zoe@zoephotography.co.uk for more information.

Makeover Photography in Liverpool - City Girl

2010-10-29T21:11:00.000+01:00

Zoe Photography and Sian Louise Auld Makeup are teaming up to create City Girl Makeover Photo Shoots in Liverpool - and we need testers. Visit our sister site here for more details. We guarantee no pushing you into making purchases, but if you want to you can as long as you promise to take us up on our discount as a thank you!

Top 100 Wedding Tweet Suppliers - And Zoe Photography Are On It!

2010-10-29T20:01:00.001+01:00

In the Wedding Industry there is something called the Top 100 List which is the Top 100 UK wedding suppliers, professionals and individuals who tweet on Twitter, the social networking site. And this week Zoe Photography appeared on the list for the first time in position number 93, the week's only new entry! The list is pulled together by Easy Wedding Search, a UK wedding directory service by website for brides and grooms planning their wedding.

Christian, who puts the list together after considerable research, says that the list is about "wedding suppliers (who) are ranked by influence, not just follower numbers. A whole host of other criteria are used to get an idea of the popularity and 'quality' of these social media super stars." A big thank you goes out to Christian for all his hard work in putting the list together recognising wedding suppliers.

Here at Zoe Photography we feel very privileged to be part of such an exclusive list.

A Day in The Lakes with Nix and Caz

2010-10-25T22:59:00.000+01:00

I rarely take days off - no, don't feel sorry for me, it's my choice! But today I took a well earned rest and travelled up to Ambleside to meet Nix (NX Photos based near Eastbourne) and Caz (not a photographer so no point mentioning what she does!). We walked, scrambled and climbed our way up Wansfell, and slipped, slid and scrambled back down again! It was an amazing day, with the most perfect weather possible and beautiful autumnal colours. Just a couple of pictures from the iPhone show exactly how beautiful it was.

These photographs were taken on the iPhone using the Hipstamatic App

Gavin and Laura Wedding Celebrations at 60 Hope Street, Liverpool

2010-10-23T22:43:00.000+01:00

I wasn't supposed to be photographing a wedding today, but yesterday that all changed. And Gavin and Laura invited me to photograph their celebrations at 60 Hope Street. I was only there for about 2 hours, but it was amongst the best fun I've had at a wedding. All of their family on both sides welcomed me and teased me (ok, ok, I admit, I teased them too! Now Sheila, you know what I'm going to say!)

We managed to get a few minutes outside 60 Hope Street in Liverpool where the two were celebrating their day, starting outside The Quarter, and then on the steps of 60 Hope Street before capturing some family shots, which were full of laughter. And never before have I been given a round of applause when it was time for me to leave! (Actually, thinking about it now, maybe the round of applause was because I was going ... hmmmm ;-) )

So here is a little selection of their photographs, a beautiful couple in a fabulous setting on a great day in October in Liverpool!

The Price of Wedding Photography in Liverpool or anywhere in the UK!

2010-10-23T19:40:00.000+01:00

I'm so glad to see someone tackle this touchy subject of how much a wedding photographer costs. It never ceases to amaze me the couples who will hire a chocolate fountain, buy an expensive cake that will be eaten up and gone, spend money on balloons that burst, have more flowers than you'd find in most florist shops and then complain that the photography is way too expensive because it's over £500 for a photographer to stay all day, supply images on disk, and put 100 photographs in a top quality album.

So coming acorss Rock 'n Roll Bride's blog and the article she commissioned from the fabulous Julia Boggio about the price of wedding photography I thought it was worth sharing with you here

Thanks to Rock 'n Roll Bride for making this happen, and to Julia for writing the piece.

City Girl Makeover Photo Shoots and Model Portfolios in Liverpool

2010-10-21T23:33:00.000+01:00

To celebrate moving into our wonderful boutique studio in The Hahnemann in The Georgian Quarter on Hope Street in Liverpool we are going crazy with Makeover Photo Shoots and modeling portfolios. We are offering our makeovers in clear to understand options, with affordable prices and no hard sell - in fact we can guarantee no hard sell so much that we've made sure there are no options to up-sell on! What you see is what you get. Now, if you want to buy more you can, we will work with you, but we are not going to sell it to you, so you're going to need to work hard on us to make us sell it to you!

What have we done! Well, we've set up City Girl Makeover Photo Shoots in Liverpool - at Zoe Photography we already have extensive experience of test shoots and makeovers working with our fabulous makeup artist, Sian Louise Auld who is going to be sharing our wonderful new boutique studio on Hope Street in Liverpool with us. With City Girl everything is upfront and affordable - no hard sell, no hidden costs, all-in fees.

Everyone who books in with us before the end of October will get a very special 20% discount (hurry, there's not many days left!) - and the discount will also apply for our City Girl Gift Bag and for purchases made at our City Girls Limited Edition Parties. We have a very special set of 4 City Girls LE Party up for grabs in November and December which you can combine with a night out or just enjoy as something different from the usual Christmas party with the office. Enjoy a few nibbles, a makeup lesson with Sian Louise, and a photograph of the City Girl Host, and solve some of your Christmas present buying at the same time.

If you want to know more please visit our new City Girl Makeover Photo Shoot site here.

Fancy being a City Girl? Want to be part of the City Girl Revolution? Come and join us as a City Girl VIP, a City Girl Party Girl, or simply enjoy your makeover as a special treat!

Oh, and we're still building the new site, so please be kind to us! But we're just so excited that we just had to let you know what's going on with City Girl!

Ethical Wedding Supplier Pledge

2010-10-19T20:38:00.000+01:00

Zoe Photography is proud to have signed up to the Ethical Wedding Supplier Pledge. If you are a wedding supplier, you might want to take a look here and sign up yourself if you are happy to be part of a growing trend.

And if you're a bride, here is what the pledge is all about ...

This is taken from the English Wedding site which is worth a look.

It is our aim to work in the way described in the pledge - if you ever have reason to believe we are not sticking to our pledge, please let us know so that we can put things right.

Chester Confetti Wedding Show and Zoe Photography on Wedding Photography

2010-10-17T20:42:00.000+01:00

This weekend was the 2010 Chester Confetti Wedding Show, and I gave a presentation about how to look your best in photographs. I talked about such things as posing, looking gorgeous in your photographs, and trusting your photographer when it comes to your wedding photography. Dianne caught a quick picture on the iPhone (I know, two photographers and we didn't have a camera amongst us!) when I was in the middle of one of the talks at the Confetti Wedding Show.

A Liverpool Lifestyle Portrait Shoot

2010-10-11T21:39:00.000+01:00

Dianne and I had great fun on Saturday with Amanda - she wanted a lifestyle portrait shoot, using Liverpool's iconic backdrop. We brought Sian-Louise Auld in to do makeup and hair, and off we went around Liverpool, starting at the Metropolitan Cathedral steps, along to Hope Street, then down to St George's Hall and finishing off at one of my favourite locations (you've seen it before in my wedding photographs!), The Liver Building, as you can see in this gorgeous shot. Amanda, you were a star! We all had fun working with you and hope you love these photographs!

Our New Home - The Hahnemann, 42 Hope Street, Liverpool

2010-10-11T14:34:00.000+01:00

Well, I said watch this space and now we're ready to announce it to the world! We move into The Hahnemann (opposite Host), 42 Hope Street, Liverpool on 1st November this year. Next door to us on the 2nd floor of The Hahnemann is the beautiful Belles Bridal Boutique, and in the building next door is the Hope Street Hotel. Hope Street is such a vibrant area (the grown-up Lark Lane!) in The Georgian Quarter of Liverpool, dangerously close to The Quarter where I think many a coffee will be supped! Dianne and I can't wait to move in and are really excited to be joined by Sian-Louise Auld who is a fabulous make-up artist that works with us on many shoots, as well as offering wedding make-up in her own right.

Sadly the move isn't permanent as the building has planning permission to be turned into a boutique hotel, but we hope to be there for at least a year if not longer.

So the contact details from 1st November:

The Hahnemann

Suite 21

42 Hope Street

Liverpool

L1 9BZ

07792 650 742

zoe@zoephotography.co.uk

www.zoephotography.co.uk

We look forward to hearing from you.

Confetti Wedding Show, Chester Racecourse

2010-10-11T14:24:00.000+01:00

This weekend is the Confetti Wedding Show at the Chester Racecourse and we are offering an incredible prize as part of the Win Your Wedding Competition - the winner will get their wedding photographed for free, that's right, for free! Any albums can be purchased after the wedding, but all photographs will be presented on a preview disk and on a disk of hi-resolution images. This is usually valued at £1,300, but the winner of the competition will get this for free (subject to date availability).

So if you would love to have your wedding photographed by Zoe or Dianne from Zoe Photography then be sure to get yourself along to Confetti on 16th or 17th October at the Chester Racecourse and enter the Win Your Wedding competition! This is an incredible prize, so make sure you enter.

Moving Out and Moving On

2010-10-05T09:15:00.000+01:00

Zoe Photography is moving out of Stanley Grange on Knowsley Hall park - the change is tinged with sadness as we've loved being part of the Knowsley Hall park community, but it's no reflection on the state of the business. 2010 has been a good year in the house of Zoe Photography, and 2011 is promising to be a bumper year with bookings up considerably on all previous years! But the truth is our unit is just too big for us (gorgeous as it is) and costs too much for this kind of business, and we don't want to have to increase our prices to cover something that isn't a 'must have' for us to operate as a wedding photography business.

We move out on 30th/31st October (anyone want to help who owns a van - we'll pay petrol, provide beer and give you a free photo shoot!)

Watch this space for further announcements of what's going to happen next!

Knowsley Hall Wedding Showcase

2010-10-04T14:14:00.000+01:00

Yesterday was the wedding showcase at Knowsley Hall. There was an amazing range of suppliers for the perfect wedding, from Myriad Travel for the honeymoon, to Chill Out Spa for the best in relaxation and treatments for beautiful skin leading up to the wedding, and Impressions Video of Formby for a video of your wedding day. More photographs are to be uploaded in the next day, but for now, here are some iPhone pictures from the showcase, with Dragonfly Couture Stationery in the Oak Room, The Bridal Gallery Group in the Walnut Drawing Room and ourselves in the State Dining Room.

Watch out for the catwalk show photographs later.

Wedding Ideas Magazine Real Wedding

2010-10-04T13:03:00.000+01:00

We are all very excited in the Zoe Photography house today - the postman has been and he delivered the November issue of Wedding Ideas magazine. Why is that exciting? Because Helen and John's wedding is featured, and Zoe, supported by Nikki McLeod from Fife in Scotland, photographed the wedding last year! But the excitement doesn't stop there because there are quite a few weddings featured in this fabulous magazine - we have 6 pages of coverage! Zoe Photography has never been in any of the magazines before with a real wedding, so this is a very exciting development.

The magazine hits the shelves on Wednesday 6th October - be sure to get your copy! It's full of fabulous ideas for your wedding.

Autumn is Here

2010-09-30T17:17:00.001+01:00

I love autumnal mornings, crisp and bright with the most beautiful light. I took this image using my iPhone and the Hipstamatic App this morning just outside Stanley Grange at Knowsley Hall Park. If only every morning was like this.

First Look Session at Your Winter Wedding

2010-09-30T16:11:00.001+01:00

A couple of years ago I helped to photograph the wonderful wedding of Annika and Adam in Sweden and I was really taken with the First Look Photo Session that they had. This wasn't about anything more than the need to make the most of the natural light for beautiful photographs.

It struck me over last winter that in the UK we have winter weddings, with the ceremony at 2pm or later, and the only way we can create couple portraits is using the flash or video light.

But what if you were to have a First Look Photo Session? The positives of doing this, aside from having the chance to create beautiful photographs during the available light of the daytime, you also get to wear your dress for longer, and you get a private moment together before you get swamped by all the guests, a private moment to enjoy the beauty of each other all dressed up, and a private moment to prepare for the solemnity of the wedding ceremony together.

Why do people not do First Look Photo Sessions? Mainly it seems to be that brides don't want to see the groom because it's tradition not to. But do you know where the tradition started from? In the past when marriages were arranged the groom wouldn't get to see his bride until after the vows, and many times he would discover he had been married off to the uglier sister, or worse still, the bride was who she was supposed to be but she was a very unattractive version of what the groom had seen in the painting he had been sent!

So if you think that tradition stops you from having a First Look Photo Session on your wedding day, think again! It's actually a lovely way of making sure your winter wedding still gives you the chance to have beautiful photographs and you can enjoy that private moment of wonder at seeing each other before the ceremony.

One final thing - if you're worried that the groom will turn up, well, a First Look Photo Session makes it pretty clear he's going to be there!

Brides of 2011: Mood and Inspiration Boards for Weddings

2010-09-30T15:45:00.000+01:00

I need help! I want to work with a bride photographing the story of her developing the theme of her wedding - now obviously it would be best if I am already photographing your wedding, so please get in touch if you'd like to be involved in this exciting project! But even if another photographer is photographing your wedding day, please get in touch if you would like to have a record of how you develop the them of your 2011 wedding.

I'm looking for what inspires you, what you buy, and how you pull it all together.

This is a personal project, nothing commercial related to it. I would then like to feature the themes and how they are pulled together on our sister blog, The Bride's Survival Guide

You will receive a free montage of photographs that illustrate your theme and how it all links in together as a thank you for being involved.

Please contact me by email if you would love to be involved. I look forward to hearing from you soon! And if you're already married but have friends who are planning their own wedding please let them know. If you're already married and have kept lots of things that illustrate your wedding day theme, please get in touch as well!

Jenny and Duane's Crosby Wedding and Racquet Club Reception in Liverpool

2010-09-27T22:11:00.000+01:00

Some weddings are just so full of love it's quite overwhelming - and so I cried at Saturday's wedding, there, I'm not ashamed to say it! The great feeling of love started at Jenny's parents house, where it was clear to see the close bond between them all, and it carried on throughout the day.

This was a truly family affair - Jenny is one of those mum's that I wish I'd been able to be for my daughter, so calm and collected, and very assured as a mother. She is surrounded by love and is passing that on to her 3 beautiful boys.

But this wasn't just a wedding about love - it was also about the shoes!

These two pairs of shoes really are to die for!

There was love, laughter and tears all through the day - tears of joy and love of course.

And being a family wedding, this one was definitely about the children too.

If you look closely you can see that this little girl is playing on her dad's iPhone - they start early these days!

And a beautiful couple - bringing together 2 families from separate parts of the world.

Finally, it didn't take much to persuade Duane, his brothers and his dad to have a quick game of snooker when everyone was taking their seats for the meal.

Knowsley Hall Designer Bridal Showcase

2010-09-27T17:31:00.000+01:00

We are pleased to be exhibiting at the Knowsley Hall Designer Bridal Showcase at the weekend - 3rd October. It would be great to see you there - we are in the State Dining Room (a gorgeous room for your wedding breakfast). You can pre-book on the Knowsley Hall website for just £5, which is going to Lady Derby's charity, Alderhey Children's Hospital. The showcase includes a range of wedding vendors, a catwalk show and guided tours around the Hall - what a treat!

Jo and Paul's Knowsley Hall Wedding

2010-09-22T21:03:00.000+01:00

Jo looked like she was one of the calmest bride's I've come across when I saw her before her wedding at Knowsley Hall on Saturday - she claims to have been nervous, but she hid it extremely well! Her dress was stunning, and fitted perfectly with the beautiful surroundings of Knowsley Hall. It was definitely a day of laughter, particularly when the registrar referred to the groom as the 'wife' by accident! Oops. But it got everyone involved in the ceremony through the humour if nothing else. Sadly though the weather put an end to the rounders and games that Jo had hoped to be part of her day, but it didn't dampen the day one bit.

Claire and Phil Marry at All Saints in Rainford and on to the Haydock Thistle

2010-09-22T20:51:00.001+01:00

Claire and Phil's wedding was at a church I've photographed at before, one that is really peaceful to work in, which is just as well, because just as the ceremony came to an end, the heavens opened and we had to stay in the church until the skies cleared enough to get on to the reception.

I love the look of love on a mother's face just before her daughter gets married, it's priceless!

And it rained!

Ed and Louisa's Thornton Manor Wedding

2010-09-22T20:41:00.000+01:00

Ed and Louisa had such a fun day at their wedding at Thornton Manor, and Dianne and I really enjoyed ourselves, helped by how welcoming the guests all were to us both.

Another shot that Dianne took when I set things up - I'm taking from one angle and she gets the better photograph from another angle!

Every bride should have a Bridesgay instead of a bridesmaid! And every bride should have David! He is just the most wonderful person and I'd happily adopt him, even though he is a grown man! And every wedding should have a photobooth too! This photograph of Louisa and David was taken when we were all playing around with the photobooth and it was a lot of fun.

I love first dance photographs, but after Ed and Louisa's first dance I captured this fabulous shot of Louisa enjoying her evening and I just love it! Possibly my favourite photograph of the day, and it was the last photograph I took.