This week I had the privilege to be part of the very first Jasmine Star workshop in the UK, myself and 19 other Photographers took part in a one-day workshop all about ‘Branding’, something that I and I’m sure other photographers all have had problems with when they first start out.

Over the last five years Jasmine Star has established herself as a photographer and as a ‘Brand’ so who could be better to learn from. So when the opportunity arose I jumped at the chance.

The whole event started the evening before on the roof gardens of the Sanctum Soho Hotel where Kat ‘RocknRollBride‘ had arranged a small drinks and nibbles get together, a bunch of photographers and their partners waited in anticipation for the guests to arrive. Then it was time, Kat, Jasmine & JD walked around the corner to whispers of ‘she’s here’, a hush fell over the bar briefly, Jasmine looked slightly nervous but that soon disappeared as she started chatting to us.

Within minutes we where all talking and  chatting in are little groups around the bar again, Jasmine and JD then spent an hour or so talking to each and every one of us, I found Jasmine friendly, easy to talk to and after talking to her for awhile was looking forward to the workshop the next day.

To echo Cristina rossi’s Blog:

“I would highly recommend Jasmine’s workshop to any photographer seriously wanting to take their business to the next level, it surely was worth every penny. Jasmine talked openly about every aspect of her business and answered every single question that was asked of her honestly and concisely”.

The workshop was held at a great venue ‘One Marylebone”, it’s so classy, elegant and the light is simply awesome with huge windows and white walls.

Workshop catering supplied by The Recipe

Rachels Hair  by Severin Hubert of The Hepburn Collection

Caught on camera during the photo shoot Kat (left) From “Rock n Roll Bride” & Elbie Van Eeden (makeup) where busy Tweeting away about the days events, many thanks to Kat for organising the event.

Photographer Dave McNeil trying out his just out of the box Fuji film X100.

JD arriving with a flowers for the outside photo-shoot, Jasmine husband and second shooter.

And yes Jasmine Star is in London look a Red Bus!

All great things have to end, and so it was with the workshop, but that wasn’t end of it we all walked down to a local restaurant where we got to spend a few more hours the Jasmine & JD over a meal. Jasmine moved from table to table so that she could chat to every one of us, still happy to answer any of are questions.

Final Thanks to Kat, Venetia, Delia, Mark &  Gareth for keeping me out bar hopping in Soho until the small hours!!

Here is a list of everybody envolved in the event.

Venue: One Marylebone http://www.onemarylebone.com/ (Alicia)
Flowers: Pollen Nation http://www.pollen-nation.co.uk/
Cakes: Restoration Cake http://www.restorationcake.co.uk/ (mini cakes) and The Art of Cake http://janetmohapibanks.com/ large ‘rose’ cake)
Furniture (chairs/tables/screen/sofas): Great Hire http://www.greathire.co.uk/
Caterers: The Recipe http://www.the-recipe.co.uk/
Hair: Severin Hubert of The Hepburn Collection http://www.hepburncollection.com/
Make Up: Elbie Van Eeden http://elbiehairandmakeup.wordpress.com/
Behind the Scenes Video: Richard Wakefield of FX Films http://www.fxfilms.co.uk/
Organiser/general dogsbody: Kat Williams of Rock n Roll Bride http://www.rocknrollbride.com/
Models: Rachel & Dan

After being fired from “The Apprentice” Glenn found himself back at his day job, but only for a short time as he returned this week to the BBC with the rest of this years other fired apprentices and the four finalist to film “You’ve been hired”.

But I did managed to grab a quick half hour out of Glenn’s busy schedule for a quick photo shoot around Luton. We did get a few raised eyebrows as we rushed about the centre of Luton on a busy Lunchtime, Suited and booted Glenn in a very sharp suit and me in my old jeans and tee shirt. I wish we could have had a bit more time to find some different locations and shoot for longer, but some times you have to take what you can get.

Anyway many thanks to Glenn and here are a few of the best shoots from the shoot.

After looking at all the BBC Images of Glenn Ward, who is one of this years apprentice candidates I thought it was about time I releases some of my images of him. Glenn approached me several months ago about doing some pictures of him that he could send to the BBC for a program that was going to be on in spring 2011. It didn’t take long before Glenn told me that he was going to enter “The Apprentice”. I asked him what sort of images he wanted, he said “moody”. Lets hope we haven’t gone to far, we will have to wait to see how the BBC have portrayed him. The New season of “The Apprentice” starts on May the 10th don’t miss it

It’s the second week in April and I’m in Frankfurt, Germany covering “Musikmesse” Europe’s largest trade show for musical instruments, lighting, recording and sound reinforcement equipment. Frankfurt Messe makes The NEC in Birmingham look very small, I must have walked about 10 miles in 2 days going from hall to hall. One of the worst halls is the Drum hall, can you imagine the noise, with hundreds of drummers all playing out of time and a different pattern.

Here are just a few shots from the couple of days is was there.

Guitar Heaven

She beats Tony Blackburn any day.

One of those mad drummers

Just a stack of Orange crates.

Early in March I picked up a tweet from Kevin Mullins a great photographer I first meet a couple of  years ago on a photography course. The tweet said “Anybody interested in street photography in London?” , looks like fun I thought, never done I before, I’m up for it.

Unfortunately, a couple of days before the event Kevin had to pull out, this seemed to trigger a huge drop out of people, but as long as a couple of us turned up I was still up for it. In the end there was just the three of us, Kim and Jeanette from CocoonPhotography and me, which by a strange coincidence I had also meet on another photography course with Crash Taylor.

One the day I got to the meeting point at Nelson’s Column a bit early so I started taken pictures and started walking about this was my first mistake! 12 o’clock arrived and I walked back to Nelson’s Column, there I meet up with Kim & Jeanette, we decided to spend ½ an hour taking pictures around Trafalgar Square, this was my second mistake! I had trigger some sort of police alarm, I was taking picture of people in a public place over a period of time, with a BIG Camera, not that I stood out from the crowd of 200-300 people also taken pictures of people with big cameras. It was like a Canon & Nikon advert everybody seemed to have a DSLR, I think the difference was that I was behaving strangely, lying on the ground, standing on things, leaning up against things.

Policeman: What are you doing?

Me: Taken pictures.

Policeman: Why?

Me: I’m a photographer.

Policeman: You have been here a long time and some people noticed you at taken lots of picture.

Me: Yes, I’m a photographer.

Policeman: ooh, ok then.

The rest of the day went without incident, we all had a great day out and I can’t wait to do it again.

Here are a few images from the day.

I really enjoyed spending the day with Kim & Jeanette, check out CocoonBlog for their picture.

I had last weekend off, no weddings, but I did keep my camera hand and eye in by covering a 3 year old’s birthday party. The weather was sunny and I managed to get some shots outside before we went inside to the party. Inside was an old barn, a few tungsten lamps and three small windows, it was very dark inside the barn and I had to get out the 50mm f1.4 and 85mm f1.8 and turn the cameras up to 1600-3200 iso.

On reflection I think photographing a 3 year old’s birthday party was not an easy option for a weekend, not to say that photographing weddings is easy but they are a bit more predictable than a bunch of 3 year old’s running about and playing on a bouncy castle.

After a long wet and cold bank holiday I manage to get out on Tuesday for a photo shoot in London on the south bank, it was a bit cold but it didn’t rain.

Here are a few of shots, more to follow, hope you like them. Many thanks to the models for braving the cold weather.

The International Fair for Musical Instruments, Sheet Music, Music Production and Music Business Connections

The Musikmesse is the world’s leading trade fair for the world of music. Here, you will find a complete range of products with everything required for making music, not to mention innumerable workshops, concerts, demonstrations and discussion events.

Well worth a trip to the NEC for the Focus on imaging 2010, lots of nice lens and cameras to spend your money on.

Plus a couple of stands with something for the more discerning photographer.

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Try out the Bowens Stand. Canon 5D mkII EF85mm f1.8 1/250

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But no flash for me. Canon 5D mkII EF85mm f1.8 1/250

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The HP seminars. Canon 5D mkII EF85mm f1.8 1/160

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I have just come back from a business trip china, 34C 80% humidity. The driving in Shanghai is unbelievable the only rules as far as I can see are that there are no rules. Crossing the road on foot is a lottery, the green man that traffic light is no indication of safety.[singlepic id=184 w=320 h=240 float=]

The food on the other hand is great.