Shiva Feshareki residency, Brighter Sound

May 18, 2018 by admin | Comments Off

One of the most interesting and also the most challenging events I’ve shot so far this year has to be ‘Sounds Like This’ at Leeds School of Music in March. It was another of Brighter Sounds’ residencies, this time lead by composer and turntablist, Shiva Feshareki. 15 female artists – musicians, vocalists, digital artists and turntablists – worked together for 5 days to produce a one-off performance at the end of the week. I joined them in Leeds for the very last day of the residency and documented some of their rehearsals as well as the final performance. There was minimal stage lighting and many of the performers were only illuminated by the lights on their electronic equipment – so I think it probably wins the prize for the darkest gig I’ve ever shot! But it was an incredible performance. I’ve included a selection of my favourite images from the residency in the gallery below. Enjoy x

Posted in baby photography, Bands, Documentary photography, Events, Gig Photography Tagged Brighter Sound, Composer, Gig, Leeds, Leeds School Of Music, Manchester, Performance, Shiva Fehareki, Sounds Like This |

Manchester Hill Remembered, Part 2

May 17, 2018 by admin | Comments Off

Manchester Hill Remembered was a one-off event, held at Manchester Cathedral on 13th April, 2018. Organised by Brighter Sound, Manchester City Council and Manchester Histories, ‘Manchester Hill Remembered’ saw performances of brand new pieces of work from local musicians and spoken word artists Young Identity, all inspired by the battle of Manchester Hill 100 years ago. They were accompanied by Cinematic Orchestra members, Luke Flowers, Stuart McCallum and John Ellis, composer Katie Chatburn, singer-song writers Liam Frost and Seaming-To, The King’s Division Band, Northern Voices, the Ignition Orchestra, and award winning poet Michael Symmons Roberts alongside spectacular visuals by Digital multimedia artist Rebecca Smith of Urban Projections .

It was an incredible performance. The gallery below contains some of my favourite images from the night.

Posted in Bands, Documentary photography, Events, Gig Photography, Music Photography Tagged Brighter Sound, cinematic orchestra, Event Photography, Gig, gig photography, inna voice, John Ellis, Katie Chatburn, liam frost, luke flowers, Manchester, manchester cathedral, manchester city council, Manchester Hill, Manchester hill remembered, manchester histories, Michael Symmons Roberts, stuart mccallum, Young Identity |

Manchester Hill Remembered, Part 1

May 17, 2018 by admin | Comments Off

A collaboration between Brighter Sound, Manchester City Council and Manchester Histories, ‘Manchester Hill Remembered’ was a special, one-off cultural event to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of a near-forgotten WWI battle, where 79 men from Manchester lost their lives holding a hill against advancing German forces.

A group of emerging musicians and spoken word artists (Young Identity) from Manchester were given just one week to create a selection of new works to commemorate the battle at a very special event held at Manchester’s Cathedral. They were mentored by Cinematic Orchestra members, Luke Flowers, Stuart McCallum and John Ellis, composer Katie Chatburn, and singer-song writers Liam Frost and Seaming-To. The King’s Division Band, Northern Voices, the Ignition Orchestra and award winning poet Michael Symmons Roberts also joined the group towards the end of the week to rehearse specially prepared pieces for the event.

The gallery below contains some of my favourite images from the first week of the project, when the musicians and spoken word artists were holed-up in Chethams School of Music, creating and rehearsing their new works.

Posted in Bands, Documentary photography, Events, Gig Photography Tagged Brighter Sound, cinematic orchestra, Concert, Event Photography, gig photography, inna voice, John Ellis, Katie Chatburn, liam frost, luke flowers, Manchester, manchester cathedral, manchester city council, Manchester Hill, Manchester hill remembered, manchester histories, Michael Symmons Roberts, Music Photography, sturart mcCallum, Young Identity |

Brighter Sound: 3 Cities

May 17, 2018 by admin | Comments Off

In February of this year I spent the day with the 3 winners of the Brighter Sound International commission: 3 Cities. We started off with a little photoshoot around the Northern Quarter to get some press shots and the spent the afternoon documenting them working together to create new music for their upcoming gig in Berlin.

Posted in Bands, Documentary photography, Music Photography, Portraits

George’s Marvellous Christening

May 9, 2018 by admin | Comments Off

Here are a selection of some my favourite photos from George’s christening, which was held earlier this year at All Saints Church in Sale.

There are LOTS more photos in the full gallery – which you can view here if you are a friend of the family (you’ll need to ask Claire or Russ for the password)

Posted in baby photography, Documentary photography, Events, family photography

Protected: The Hungarian Games

February 28, 2018 by admin | Comments Off

Posted in Uncategorized

Protected: KSM Surprise Party

December 14, 2017 by admin | Comments Off

Posted in Events, family photography

From Here To Maternity

December 8, 2017 by admin | Comments Off

Back in September I was delighted to be booked by Rachel for a maternity shoot with a difference. Rachel is a talented dancer and had the simply brilliant idea of combining her love of ballet with her beautiful baby bump, which resulted in some stunning portraits. Afterwards we had time to take a few photos with her husband Tim as well. Fast forward a month or so and baby Edward had arrived! Rachel and Tim invited me back to their home to take some portraits of their gorgeous new arrival. It was such a joy to photograph their beautiful new family, and a real privilege to document such a special time in their lives.

You can see a small selection of my photos from both the maternity shoot an and new born shoot below. If you’d like to find out more about booking a personalised portrait shoot please get in touch

Posted in baby photography, family photography, maternity photography, new born photography, Portraits Tagged baby, baby bump, ballet, family, Manchester, maternity, new born, North West, portrait, pregnancy, stockport |

Both Sides Now, with Beth Orton, Part 2

December 7, 2017 by admin | Comments Off

The second of my two days documenting the Beth Orton residency of the Both Sides Now programme was spent at the Old Granada Studios. The day centred around setting up the stage and running sound checks and rehearsals. In the evening came the launch party. 100’s of VIPs flooded into to the cavernous studio space to join the event, which was hosted by Miranda Sawyer, and included speeches from composer Anna Meredith (also a Both Sides Now ambassador) and Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham. The evening culminated in an incredible one-off live performance from Beth Orton and the participants of the residency. You can see some of my favourite images from the day in the gallery below.

Posted in Bands, Documentary photography, Events, Gig Photography, Music Photography Tagged andy burnham, Anna Meredith, beth orton, both sides now, Brighter Sound, granada old studios |

Both Sides Now, with Beth Orton, Part 1

December 7, 2017 by admin | Comments Off

Both Sides Now is a three-year programme from Brighter Sound. Funded by The Arts Council, it’s aim is to support, inspire and showcase women in music across the North of England. To kick start this ambitious new project, Brighter Sound commissioned Both Sides Now ambassador, Beth Orton, to run a week long residency with emerging female musicians, vocalists, writers and visual artists, culminating in a performance of their original work at the Both Sides Now launch party. I was invited to join Beth, and the 12 talented female artists chosen for the residency, for the last two days of the project. Here are some of my favourite images from the first of these two days, when the group were still finishing of their pieces – and even writing some new ones – at Chethams School of Music, Manchester.