News
Fundraising for Art & Craft Kids Activity Group
24th July 2008
Last week I did a mass portrait shoot of at the Art & Craft
activity group with 100% of all money raised going straight back to the club
in order for them raise enough money to replace their singing time play mat
which is looking a little threadbare.
The Art and Craft kids club in North Farnborough is an
amazing little voluntary group teaching kids all about art and craft. Not
only is it close to my heart being art based, but my little one regularly
attends and on a weekly basis I'm presented with the most amazing creations
from my 2.5 year old daughter.
The club is run entirely by volunteers who charging just
£2.50 per session to cover all materials, tea, drinks and biscuits run the
group on a shoestring. The organisers are most ingenious at recycling
household waste in their art projects, not only do they teach kids about
art, they are environmentally friendly too!
Over half the prints have been sold already, with more
expected in the following weeks from parents who couldn't make the last
session. While I still don't know the official total of money raised, it
should be excess of £150, enough for the new play mat they so desperately
need.
Fairy Week at Hart Shopping Centre from 28th July
23rd July 2008
With a very rare free weekend during the summer I have
arranged to hold a photography stand at the Hart Shopping Centre in Fleet
week commencing the 28th of July.
If we can fit it all in Mark Cornwell and I will be running
two backdrops, a small white background for contemporary headshots and a
large forest set for fairy photographs. Fairy dresses will be available to
borrow free of charge for your photographs on the day. We will also have a
range of fairy dresses on sale covering ages 1 to 6 years old.
This is a great opportunity to come along and have a really
fun portrait of your little one. There is no sitting fee to pay and prices
start at just £20.
Mark and I will also be displaying our main wedding and
portrait work, so if your planning on getting married it's a good
opportunity to come and along and see the two wedding photographers at the
same time.
Fully Booked until September
15th July 2008
With a huge amount of weddings and portraits booked between
now and September and a plan to hold another week long photography stand I
am unable to accept anymore bookings until September without risking a
compromise in the quality of service to my existing clients.
I do still have some limited availability in September, with
more availability in October. Last year I also became fully booked in
November and December, so recommend booking your weddings and portrait
sessions as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
Hazel, My Assistants Exhibition at the T3 Gallery in London
10th July 2008
Well it feels like only a few months ago that Hazel first
joined me as an Assistant at the end of the first year of her photography
degree. Since then she has completed her degree and this week held her first
exhibition up in London along with some of her fellow graduates.
With some stunning prints on display it was with just a
touch of pride I noticed how her work stood head and shoulders above her
classmates. Not only was her work technically excellent, but her choice of
subject intriguing too. I'm sure there is a bright future ahead in her
career.
The Fairies are Coming!
20th June 2008
Every little girl loves to dress up and nothing looks quite
so cute as a little one dressed as a fairy, there is just something so
cute about it, little girls enjoying being little girls rather than
racing to grow up too quickly!
This week saw two breakthroughs in my plan to start shooting
fairy photographs. Firstly I was accepted as a retailer for the same
supplier who supply Harrods with play dresses who make the most fantastic
fairy dresses I've ever seen. Unusually they also do dresses for 1 year old
upwards which are quite hard to get hold off as most dresses are only for 4
years old and older.
The second breakthrough was that I was finally able to
source all of the props for the set. I've now got a woodland backdrop, a
huge artificial rock, log and a couple of hundred pounds worth of artificial
plants on order!
Once the set is complete the dresses will go on order and
I'll be offering fairy portraits. Watch this space!
Christmas Ordering Timetable 2008
8th May 2008
Please not that this year all album orders for weddings
photographed on or before October 1st must be completed by November
1st to ensure delivery in time for Christmas, but please read on
for full details.
Note for storybook albums this includes approval of the
final draft. Couples ordering these albums should choose the images to go
into their album by October 1st. Please note the album design must be at the
album suppliers by November 2nd. This is the album suppliers deadline for
production rather than mine, as such it's not flexible.
Please note for print package orders for weddings
photographed after October 1st, I'm confident I can deliver your prints in
time for Christmas if ordered before Dec 7th. These
orders will be prioritised above late ordering weddings from earlier in the
year.
Please note at this time of year I get bombarded at the last
minute for albums and print orders, last year I received orders for
approximately 1500 prints and 8 albums on December 3rd! If this happens
again not everybody will get their orders in time, If you would like your
album for Christmas please don't leave it too late.
This year there will be no ordering deadlines but
ordering guidelines, orders will be processed
in the order they are received, (except print only packages for wedding shot
after the 1st of October which will be given priority).
Wedding Season back in full swing
7th May 2008
Definitely the wedding season again! Coming up in May I have
4 weddings booked including one abroad in Cyprus.
June is relatively quiet for the time of year but July and
August are incredibly busy already, despite difficult economic conditions it
looks as though this year is going to be as busy as last.
Christmas Ordering Deadlines
5th October 2007
Gift
Vouchers
As
per Royal Mail.
Wedding
Product Deadlines
Wedding reportage
Storybook, final approval by Dec 1st.
Graphistudio
and Sim 20000 albums, final approval by November 10th.
All
Prints packages, December 3rd.
Portrait
Product Deadlines
Last portrait
session guaranteed prints for Christmas Dec 9th
Last
print order guaranteed prints for Christmas Dec 9th
Frame
Order Deadlines
Dec 1st.
Limited
Availability Until December
4th October 2007
Due
to a number of clients from the spring and summer delaying their orders until
quite recently and a very busy schedule throughout November I'm expecting to
have limited availability for portraits until December.
For
those wishing to purchase portraits as Christmas presents, gift vouchers are
available immediately and I am expecting to have plenty of free capacity in
the first quarter of the year to service those vouchers.
I
do also have some availability for a few portraits in October and November.
Tornado's
in Farnborough
24th September 2007
Today,
unbelievably, a tornado blew through Farnborough. I was sat in my studio at the
time working on a wedding, I thought it sounded a little windy outside but
didn't think anything of it. Fortunately home and family is safe and one thing
is for sure, I'm just not cut out for press work!
Back From
Holiday
12th August 2007
Arrived
back on Friday then immediately into a wedding Saturday. Please bear with me
while I catch up with e-mails and voicemails, I have a list as long as my arm
to wade through!
Had a fantastic time and even managed to
do a little bit of personal work.
Annual
Holiday
31st July 2007
Everybody
with weddings in August will soon be e-mailed the dates of my annual holiday
in order to ensure they understand why I have dropped out of contact and to
avoid any worrying.
My family and I can't wait now, it's
been a manic summer in which I've been working into the small hours of the
morning most days and a weeks rest and recuperation is much needed. Will
arrive back to complete the second half of the wedding season rested and
fighting fit!
Frames
Installed
31st July 2007
The
frames we ordered have been in the studio now for a couple of months now and
are proving quite popular. We have samples from 5 different ranges on display
and we have recently installed a good range of others as frame 'chevrons' so
clients can see the different colours available in each range.
Increased Marketing Activity
26th July 2007
Over the last
week I have been increasing my marketing activity with a number of leaflet
drops in the immediate local activity in preparation for a number of
appearances in local shopping centres planned for the 4th quarter of 2007 and
first quarter of 2008.
If you have received one of my
leaflets I'd love to hear your feedback.
New Range
of Frames
30th April 2007
We are
heading off to the showrooms of a new frame supplier I saw at a trade fayre in
January on Tuesday to purchase the samples for our new range of frames. I was
really impressed with this particular range at the trade fayre, they do beautifully
contempory acrylic block frames which would suit any modern home along with a
range of very modern wooden and metallic frames with beautifully cut
mounts. You just can't get this sort of quality or presentation in the shops
and I'm very excited about being able to offer these to my clients!
The
Summer Has Landed!
29th April 2007
And
the 2007 wedding season is pretty much in full swing, Its been a fantastic
year for bookings this year, so much so I'm having to be very careful about
what extra work I can take on over the summer, which is a lovely position to
be in.
New Equipment Investment
15th
April 2007
I've invested quite heavily in new equipment
this year with a new Fujifilm S5 Pro to complement my existing S3 Pro and D70
digital cameras. The S5 has proved a dream, it provides all of the dynamic
range needed to capture highlight detail in a brides dress and is much faster
in operation than the previous S3 model, truly a wonderful tool to use.
Also
added to the equipment list is a 3rd flashgun, a softbox and a monopod,
together with the S5 this gives us the option of almost studio quality
lighting while out on location, a fantastic bit of technology. Rain or shine,
this really does lift those wet weather indoor shoots.
Website
Problems
7th February 2007
It's come to
my attention over that not all e-mails sent through the online form have been
received by me. I sincerely apologise to anybody whom I have not responded to.
I'm
now in the process of transferring the site over to a new more reliable
website host which should take place over the next couple of weeks. In the
meantime please use the temporary e-mail address setup on the contact page.
Wedding
Fayre - Hampshire Centrecourt
4th February 2007
To
all those I met at the Hampshire Centrecourt on Sunday, both exhibitors and
couples it was lovely meeting you all and I hope to see you again in the
future. Special mentions to Pashmina, House of treats and the lovely chocolate
fountain people who had a few kg's of chocolate to unload at the end, yum!
Also special thanks to my new clients, I look forward to shooting your
wedding.
Wedding
Fayre Jan - Princess Hall
3rd January 2006
Catch
me at the wedding fayre at the Princess Hall on 21st January 2007.
End of Wedding Season
2nd December 2006
With the last wedding of the year
complete, its time to catch up on the paperwork, recharge my batteries and
look into all those little extras I've been considering but not had time to implement.
NEW Reportage Story Book albums
11th Sep 2006
At last, after over a year
searching I have finally found a supplier for the Reportage Story Book Albums
that will allow me to offer a quality bound book alternative to the
traditional album at a reasonable price.
The books themselves have a hand
stitched Italian Leather cover and are printed onto 170gsm Silk paper, not the
card in some other albums. The book measures 12"x12" and has proved
an instant hit, so far every client who has seen my first sample has booked!
Accredited by the Society of
Wedding and Portrait Photographers
5th Sep 2006
I'm delighted to announce that
after having a body of work assessed by the Society of Wedding and Portrait
Photographers I have been formally granted a licentiate and been accredited by
the society.
The marking criteria is strict and
passing represents a certain photographic recognition that my work is up to
industry standards.
Hazel Davies Joins the Team
12th Aug 2006
I'm very pleased to announce that Hazel Davies, a second year
photography student from Portsmouth University has joined the team as an
Assistant Photographer and shot her first wedding with me today. With her
passion for photography Hazel is a great addition to the business and I look
forward to working together with her in capturing your special day.
Photographs Illustrating article in 'Baby Hampshire' Magazine
6th May 2006
I had confirmation this month that some of my images will be
used to illustrate an article in 'Baby Hampshire' magazine. Baby Hampshire is
a full colour glossy aimed at expectant and new mums in Hampshire. Its one of
the best laid out and well printed magazines on the market and I'm thrilled
that my images have been chosen to go with its contemporary feel.
My First Baby Adverts are Out!
20th March 2006
My first adverts aimed specifically at mothers with young
families have finally started being delivered, an exciting time for me and my
studio.
I've deliberately kept the studio quite low key over the last few
months in order to spend time with my baby but now she is settling in its time
for a more active marketing campaign, so watch this space for special
promotions and the latest news.
2006 Wedding Season now open!
13th March 2006
Well my paternity leave is now over and the 2006 wedding
season has finally begun. After shooting in the controlled environment of my
studio all winter that first wedding was a rude re-awakening of the pace and
pressure of wedding photography.
Over the quiet period I've been busy fine tuning some lighting
elements in the studio and getting plenty of practice on my new baby daughter.
New Choice of Backgrounds
12 January 2006
4 new backgrounds were added to the studio this week, 'Heaven'
Blue, 'Wine' (deep red), Grey and Black.
If you want a particular colour listed. Just let me know.
Website Overhaul
4th January 2006
The old website whilst successful, was proving to look a little
dated after several years with the same design. Please bear with me and the new
look www.brianparkes.com website until I am able to crush any last remaining
gremlins in the design.
Paternity Leave
3rd January 2006
Please note that in January 2006 I will be
taking a much needed month long paternity leave in order to support my wife
and get to know our first baby.
Enquiries are still welcome for portrait and
studio sessions, but delivery dates for shoots in January will be extended
into February.
New Portrait Studio Complete
15th December 2005
After months of treating, varnishing and staining, the new studio is
finally complete.
The 20' x 14.5' private studio is equipped for portrait, baby and product
photography and offers a warm comfortable environment for all clients.
The creation of my own studio space was essential upon my wife becoming
pregnant earlier this year and creates a distinct work area to keep work away
from inquisitive little fingers!