I am increasingly asked to capture ‘behind the scenes’ images of businesses and teams ‘at work’. So none of the formal set ups. It’s just a case of shadowing, watching and shooting. Companies are now using these images to capture their audience, via websites and marketing. More and more, businesses want to show the ‘real’ face of the brand, they want to be transparent and invite their customers into their world. Here’s a series of images from a recent shoot I did for Romans Estate Agent.  The images were specifically photographed and cropped to this size so that they could easily be incorporated into Roman’s website design.

Fashion in Motion is a series of live catwalk events presented in style at the magnificent V&A Museum in London. I am commissioned to work there regularly with the hair team from L’Oreal Professionnel and I always get excited about what will be presented.

Featuring some of the greatest designers of our time, these are fantastic events.

For this show, it was the turn of London-based designer Peter Jensen to showcase his designs to a wider audience.  Known for his upbeat, colourful designs, he mixes wearability with the unconventional and like a truly talented designer, he manages to pull it off every time!

Each of Jensen’s collections are based around a particular female muse, from historic figures, to film characters, to members of his family and over 20 of them have inspired his work to date.

The hair was a big part of the showcase, some crazy hair pieces draped onto of real hair. So excuse some of the ‘back of model’ shots.  My brief was not only to capture the backstage build up and the clothes, but also the hair.

What an event to be at!  I was offered a taste and it really was an enormous privilege. The launch of Moët et Chandon’s 100 year vintage, 1911 Grand Vintage.  Industry experts attended the tasting in the impressive surroundings of Harrod’s Wine Tasting Room, Knightsbridge.

Moët & Chandon have released 11, limited-edition coffrets of six bottles of the Grand Vintage Collection 1911, on display in one of Harrods’ Christmas windows.

Available exclusively from Harrods with a retail price of £65,000, the 100-year-old Champagne comes from one of its most memorable vintages.

Introducing Moët et Chandon 1911 Grand Vintage.

It was great to be invited along to photograph the 2011 Vichy Advisor of the Year Awards, held at the Park Plaza Hotel in London.

A lovely event and some very happy winners!

I love taking photographs but what I love even more is seeing my work in use.  Working as I do for marketing and PR teams, my images are used to support internal presentations but they sometimes come out of the boardroom and into the general arena so that I can get to see them too.  I can thank the internet for that as lots of clients use the images on their websites.  But there’s something about printed material that packs a stronger punch, especially if it’s beautifully designed.

One of my clients, Fletcher Priest, an International architectural firm, recently put together a presentation book of their recent and current projects. So nice to see my photographs working so well for them.  They also feature on their website too.

Esmond Murray Architects are a team of highly talented architects based in Bath. Their projects cover many building types with one overall objective – to produce design solutions that are attractive, practical, sustainable, sensitive to their environment and that above all respond to the individual needs of each client.

I worked with Esmond and his team recently, photographing a United Reformed church project in the West Country and just last week I was heading west along the M4 to shoot a couple of extension projects they have recently completed.  Totally different feels – one hyper-modern, with bold lighting and floor-to-ceiling glass.  The other, a much more rural charm – wood beams and rich textures.

It’s always a pleasure to head back to the West Country and spend time in beautiful properties surrounded by stunning countryside.

As part of my look back on a busy October, here’s a few more highlights to share with you.

Belvedere, the world’s first super premium vodka, announced its partnership with (RED)and the launch of a Special Edition Bottle to raise proceeds for the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria™. The initiative, which launched in February in the States, was launched this month at The Hospital Club in London’s Covent Garden.  50% of profits from the global sale of BELVEDERE (PRODUCT)RED ™ Special Edition Bottle will contribute to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Africa.  An inspiring and valuable collaboration.

And so I found myself at another press launch this month.  This time it was the launch of Youthtopia Lift for beauty brand Origins.  As always, a great and well attended event.

 My last two commissions in October couldn’t be more different to each other if they tried!  First up as a trip to House of Fraser, Westfield to get some shots of the La Prairie concession.

The month ended on a massive high for me as I headed out to Angmering Park Estate to photograph seven Michelin chefs enjoying a morning shoot in 9000 acres of West Sussex. I’ve posted a number of the photographs on the blog already but here’s a few more.  I loved this shoot and was delighted with the images I managed to capture in such a short space of time.  Thanks to the generous people of Angmering for a fabulous morning and thanks Dom Perignon for the job – I loved it!

October seems to have come and gone in a flash.  It must be the mild weather but I can’t believe we’ve hit November already.  And don’t even mention the ‘C’ word (banned until the 1st of December in my house or the kids go wild with giddy excitement!).

But back to October.  It was a great month – busy again which always makes me happy. In fact, I’ve had to break this post up into Part 1 & Part 2 as there’s so much to go through but here’s Part 1′s highlights.

I attended a Vidal Sassoon seminar on behalf of the Hair & Beauty Benevolent (HABB) Fund.  HABB is the official industry charity, dedicated to helping hair and beauty professionals in life.  My very good friend Naomi Scroggins is president of this amazing charity and so it was great to support the fundraising work they do.

My work seemed to revolve around top London hotels and bars this month and I found myself hot-footing from one place to the next.  Moet et Chandon have just launched their new Champagne Bar at The Royal Albert Hall and it’s suitably impressive.

I also headed over to the Langham Hotel to do a still life shoot for Beefeater Gin (the images have already appeared on cool new blog site Emerald Street - a great blog so worth checking out!).  Alex Kratena, head bartender at Artesian at The Langham, has created the G&Tea Deluxe cocktail, using botanicals from Beefeater 24 to create a unique tonic which is combined with the gin. The Langham has created a modern glamorous afternoon tea inspired by the cocktail, the Beefeater 24 G&Tea Tiffin.  The tea features gin-inspired sweet and savoury canapes – juniper spiced chutney, Beefeater 24 cured salmon.  It looked far too good to eat (although the team did soon tuck in as soon as shooting was finished!).

Unfortunately I had to go without as I headed straight over to another of London’s finest establishments, Browns Hotel.  The Garnier PR team were launching the new Ultra Lift moisturiser and brand ambassador Davina McCall was at the event, chatting to the press. A really friendly, relaxed event.

The Mayfair Hotel was my next destination for an awards dinner for the team at Origins. Lots of fabulous Origins ladies, all looking fantastic, and smiles all round when it came to the awards presentation.  Intimate and low-key – a lovely event.

Be sure to check out Part 2 for more of my work in October and feel free to leave any comments below.  Always welcome! Thanks.

I recently headed off on a beautiful autumn morning to the Angmering Park Estate, set in 9000 acres of secluded West Sussex.  I was invited to attend a morning shoot with Dom Perignon and seven Michelin chefs.

This commission was like going back in time.  When I first started out as a photographer I was living in Madrid and travelled around Spain photographing the culture, religious festivals and amazing fiestas.  This shoot gave me the same thrill.  It was an amazing morning and considering I only spent a couple of hours with the team, I got some fantastic images.  Although I’ve edited them for the blog, I want to show them full size as I think they’ve got more impact this way.

For the chefs the shoot was only the first part of the fun.  With the partridges and pheasants, their next task was to create a game dish which is to be paired with Dom Perignon Rose.

A thrilling morning spent with some amazing characters.

Working exclusively with the super premium, London distilled gin, Beefeater 24, The Langham Hotel in London has created a bespoke afternoon tea menu including G & Tea. Alex Kratena, head bartender at Artesian at The Langham, has created the G&Tea Deluxe cocktail, using botanicals from Beefeater 24 to create a unique tonic which is combined with the gin. The award winning team at the hotel has created a modern glamorous afternoon tea inspired by the cocktail, the Beefeater 24 G&Tea Tiffin, featuring gin-inspired sweet and savoury canapes (juniper spiced chutney, Beefeater 24 cured salmon).

After the shoot, the team sat down to sample to menu.  I was dashing off to another job so only managed a quick taste but it was delicious!