Hello all and Happy New Year!

A very special person to me moved to Swansea to study her degree at Swansea University in September and I’ve been lucky enough to go and visit on occasion during the last 3 months. Below are a few photos from when I’ve been down including little notes about each one…
All of these shots were taken on my new camera the LX-3…which is awesome!!

This was my first visit to Swansea to beach…and its safe to say I’m hooked!

Swansea Observatory

We camped at Three Cliffs Bay on my birthday weekend and had a great time – and what a view to wake up to aswell! Understandably as soon as it opens again at easter we’ll be back!!

View from Dylan Thomas’ Walk

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Dave is a friend of mine from the world of brass bands as we have played alongside each other for a few months and when he asked me to photograph his wedding I was hardly going to say no!
The day was a lovely day with the ceremony at Kidderminster Registry office and the receptions at the Gainsborough House Hotel. However, before we all enjoyed the meal and the rest of the night there was one more thing for us to all enjoy…a trip on the Severn Valley Railway!
The shots below are a few of the ‘extra edit’ versions for something a bit different from the stations… Dave and Hazel will get the full wedding in the next few days and I hope they’re as happy with it as I am!

It was a pleasure to be there on your day and it was great to be there as a guest too!
Hope you have a great honeymoon!!

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Walsall may not be the most successful football club in the area but the Conference and Banqueting team are second to none!
I have been very fortunate to be the primary event photographer for M6J9 the past 18 months and have coverered a wide set of events for them, from Chris Dean’s Syd Laurence Orchestra, The Four Tops, The Drifters, sporting stars such as Joe Royal and Stan Collymore and amateur boxing nights…one things for certain, you always know its going to be a good night at the Banks’s!
Below are a selection of shots from the last few months…

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After what was a busy July it was nice to have a totally different project to do – photographing a B&B on Lake Road Windermere to produce a new website for the owners…
It all came from my parents staying with Eddie at Crompton House when they went up there earlier in the year. As they got talking the opportunity for the trip came up and as soon as I had a break for a few days I set off for Windermere on the 28th July for 3 days. It was great to get back up to the lakes, one of my favourite places, and spend a few days walking and obviously enjoy a few real ales too!!
The B&B is actually next door to a place me and my father have stayed on numerous occasions but I have to say, we will all ONLY be using Eddie and Sue’s place in future…
The weather wasn’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but when I’m in the lakes I really don’t care!
Below are a few of the shots I took for the website, which is now live and can be seen at http://cromptonhouse.com If you find yourselves heading to the lakes I would definitely give Eddie and Sue a visit – the value for money is fantastic and the rooms are great too – and if you like a bit of light entertainment at breakfast (which Sue does a great job cooking I have to say!!) Eddies tricks and puzzles will definitely keep you occupied!!
I’m hoping to get back up in February so I will be posting an update soon…

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It was 13th September and I was finally back at Weston Park, and again with the ceremony at St Andrews. It was great to be back working with Lotte and the guys from Weston and Bec and Paul were such a great couple it was great to be able to work with them.
During the summer we moved camera systems to the D3 and I must say the quality is astounding – however, as the year moved on and we’ve come into the winter and the dark nights the cameras have certainly come to their own…more on this to follow…
Anyway, here are a few of my favourites from their day…

Thanks for letting me be part of your day guys! Good luck with the stationery!!!

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Although weddings are the backbone of our business and what I love doing, occasionally commercial work and other projects come along…and I definitely enjoy doing something different on occasion!
Working for the SPAR group through A.F.Blakemores is always good and having covered their national conference for the past two years the latest SRS08 magazine definitely looks impressive…I will post a pdf here soon!
However, in the meantime heres a few commercial shots of the warehouses I shot back in June…

Another project I get to update on occasion is band photography for a local band, Mezzotonic.
The drummer of the band is an old friend of mine and it is great to get to photograph them during the year when I can get to their gigs…
Here are a few shots from the MonoBar and the Battle of the Bands at Robin2…

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The 7th June 2008 came and it was off to Stone to Francescos to start the day photographing the girls having their hair done and then it was through to Sandon Hall for the civil ceremony and the night-long party! A small intimate affair with only 47 people, it was great fun – especially with the ‘retro’ theme of music for the night, and I think it is very safe to say a fantastic time was had by all! I know me and the DJ Ade certainly enjoyed it!!

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Louise and Lee got married on Saturday 24th June at Moxhulls Hall Hotel. On what was again a sunny day we had a blast – right up to the fireworks on the night!
There were a few shots of the day that have stuck in my mind, and stuck on my wall too!!
As the second Bellissimo coverage we completed it was great to have a good reaction again. If you want to see the full album it can be found here.

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Having known Ali and Dave for a number of years following photographing Ali’s brother’s wedding to Nic in 2004 it was great to finally share Ali and Dave’s special day with them! A great day was had by all at the stunning Combermere Abbey Glasshouse on 10th May 2008, and it really was a true pleasure to be part of everything with them, especially being close to so many other members of the wedding party. Having started the journey in 2004 with Nic and Phil, to then photograph Lisa and Richards wedding the following year and Faye and Ades in 2007 it was nice to be in the company of friends!
To be a guest at the wedding as well as the photographer meant a great deal, and to truly feel like a friend with everyone there made a great day even more special. Ali’s Dad set the scene when he said “you’re one of the family”…to have built such a close relationship with a group of people says a great deal for the way we are and the way we work…

Here are a few of my my favourite photographs from the wedding. 

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