…and I thought 2018 was busy!
2019 proved to be a wonderful year both in the volume and the type of work I undertook. From live music to visits to breweries, VIP parties, boxing rings to heaps of corporate stills and video work and being published in the national press - it has been a year of time-juggling, creativity-bending fun.
So here are my favourite images from 2019. I hope you enjoy them!
Flying through the air is Tring Rugby’s Gary Andrews on his way to a successful try against Chingford in January last year. Tring went on to beat Chingford a resounding 23-3.
Former Celebrity Big Brother star Ashley James provided the music for the launch party of Champney’s Beauty House in St Albans. She was joined by TV stars Binky Felstead, Sam Faiers, TOWIE's Chloe Ross and Ella Rae Wise.
I’ve been photographing the Berkofest music festival since it started in 2012. It’s always a great day out with fabulous music, food and lots of activities for little people.
A commission from an international PR agency took me to Hemel Snow Centre to photograph Darren ‘Swifty’ Swift. Darren who lost both his legs while serving in Northern Ireland is a keen snowboarder and the piece was to promote his new custom-made 3D printed bindings on his snowboard. An amazing man, an excellent snowboarder and the story received national coverage with this image being printed in the Daily Telegraph.
News website Buzzfeed asked me to spend a morning on the campaign trail with former Tory MP David Gauke. Gauke had been sacked from the party and was standing as an Independent candidate for the South West Herts Constituency in December’s General Election - a campaign he ended up losing.
Without doubt my favourite image of the year. Not least due to its sheer impact but also it’s a classic right place, right time shot. This was a concert for the charity Electric Umbrella which aims to challenge perceptions of learning disabilities. The show took place at the wonderful Watford Palace Theatre.
Ellie Dix is mad about board games. I’ve never met anyone so impassioned about the benefits of playing together as a family and if that’s not enough she tweaks the rules of existing games and creates her own. She contacted me to produce some portraits for her book, The Board Game Family: Reclaim Your Children from the Screen.
Run the Wild is a running adventure company based in Tring. Simon James contacted me to take some images for their website to promote a night event to teach runners the techniques of trail running in the dark. The six mile run took place on an extremely wet and cold February evening as you can see from the photo. Nonetheless it produced some dramatic images.
A commission from The Gazette took me up to the Mad Squirrel brewery in Potten End. The story focused on the brewery’s expansion. I had the pleasure of capturing the team at work as well as sampling a few of the beers.
Oakman Inns have been a regular client since I set up the business six years ago. They invited me to photograph the interiors and the opening of their new pub The Polecat Inn in Prestwood. In true Oakman style it was a mixture of sensitive refurbishment with a lovely contemporary extension.
I’ve always wanted to photograph a boxing match and the opportunity came via Ollie at the De Lick Academy in Aylesbury. I truly lucked out as they asked me to shoot a 12-hour boxing extravaganza for all ages in the Stoke Mandeville Stadium. I learnt two things: women’s boxing is as ferocious as men’s and the camaraderie between boxers is extraordinary. This picture features Danny Miller throwing a punch at Richard Tucker.
Some new imagery for Tring Yoga’s refreshed website and Facebook page.
I’ve been working regularly with Lennons Solicitors for the whole of last year. They wanted straightforward headshots along with more relaxed, lifestyle images of some of their staff. Featured here in the kitchen is Gavin, head of family law, photographed at the Beech House in Beaconsfield (another Oakman Inns pub).
This photo is from a corporate away-day bike ride. Riders from an IT company in the city went on a 20-mile route around Ashridge and up Ivinghoe Beacon. The team were guided by riders from local bike company Lovelo.
For the past few years I’ve enjoyed photographing corporate football (above) and golf days (below) for IT company Exclusive Networks. Not only do they always book amazing weather but they’re great fun and they go to great lengths to make it a memorable day.
Much of my corporate headshot work is against a white background but my client wanted something a bit different for this portrait. All was working well until we had a power cut so this was done with a single off-camera flash. Less is more!
Broadcaster, writer and former MP Ed Balls enjoying some banter after taking part in Room to Read’s charity fundraising 10k run in Hyde Park.
We packed in a busy half-day shoot working with (well behaved!) children to provide some refreshed imagery for the Little Bike Co which is based in Berkhamsted.
A commercial shoot for housing association Thrive Homes in Waddesdon.
The wonderful team at Tring Brewery commissioned me for a day to photograph the brewing process and the crew in action. Already a huge fan of Tring beer I left feeling in awe of their expertise and dedication to their craft! This photo features Tom loading up his van before heading out into London.
I’m fortunate to spend a fair amount of time shooting and filming at the David Evans Court Theatre in Tring and the production of Our House was truly exceptional. Showing some first class gymnastics here is Harry Rollinson.
Holly approached me for a mix of photos to help launch her new business. Her holistic approach combines her skills as an executive coach, personal trainer and nutrition adviser.
I’ve been shooting for West Herts College for a number of years. This shot took me into their print room in the Watford campus.
A shoot for the University of Northampton. Kirk, a student at the university won a prestigious radio award for his documentary on human right abuses of Ghanian dementia patients.
Dani Womando is a business adviser, guru, mentor and comic creation of actor Paul Ryan. This is one in a whole series of shoots we did (along with some video work) to highlight his magnificence!
The reunion gig by local band Mohair was long-awaited and did not disappoint. The sold-out show in The Borderline in London took place in June just two months before the legendary venue closed its doors. Mohair have performed since in Watford and there’s talk of further gigs…
I regularly work with the University of Northampton and this image was from last year’s Degree Show. The fashion students certainly put on a great display with many recurring themes about recycling and the environment.
I photographed rock band Mandy Melon before they headed up to Edinburgh to be Al Murray’s house band during his run at the Edinburgh Fringe. The band, all of whom are local, then went on to play a blistering set at Berkofest. We took this moody, very rock n’ roll shot on a rainy day along the canal near Northchurch.
Last year I undertook a series of Walking Workshops, helping people to get the best out of their camera and take better photos. The snow had fallen quite heavily ahead of a recce towards Ivinghoe Beacon and I was taken by the way the hills had protected the village from the drifting snow.