Category Archives: Portraits

My Favourite images of 2018

January 6, 2019 by admin | Comments Off

So long 2018! The passing of a year is always a good time to reflect on the past 12 months, and for me that means looking back through a LOT of photos. Taking a step back and looking at my work over the course of a whole year, I’m struck by varied it has been – I’ve documented community projects, music events, travel destinations; taken portraits of new-born babies, business leaders, artists and musicians; and I’ve photographed weddings, gigs, poetry readings, conferences and festivals. It’s been a blast!

To save you having to look through a year’s worth of (rather splendid) blog posts, I’ve collected together a selection of my favourite images from 2018 to create a super-duper-blow-your-mind-with-it’s-awesomeness gallery, which you can view below. There’s a mixture of portraits, documentary shots, gig pictures, landscapes and wedding photographs. I hope you enjoy them (please let me know your favourites in the comments section).

Heading into 2019 I’m incredibly excited to see what the next 12 months will bring. Thank you so much to all of the wonderful people and organisations that I’ve worked with in 2018, and to all of my fabulous family and friends for their continuing support. Happy new year everyone, lets make 2019 a belter!

Rachel x

Also posted in Arts Photography, Bands, Documentary photography, Events, Gig Photography, landscape photography, Music Photography, Photography, Places, travel photography, Wedding Photography Tagged 2018, best photos, both sides now, Brighter Sound, collection, Concert, dazzley badger, Event Photography, favourite images, Manchester, Music Photography, retrospective, Scotland, Travel, Wedding, year in review |

Both Sides Now, Fatima Al Qadiri Residency

August 31, 2018 by admin | Comments Off

Last month I headed down to the People’s History Museum to shoot the latest residency in Brighter Sound‘s ambitious ‘Both Sides Now’ programme, which aims to support and sustain gender equality on the music industry.

This residency was headed by artist, musician and composer Fatima Al Qadiri, alongside curator and researcher Amal Khalaf. Working with 8 female musicians, artists and performers, over the course of 5 days in the People’s History Museum, they created a unique and powerful piece of work – a combinations of performance, music, video, spoken word and protest art, all inspired by the ‘Represent! Voices 1200 Years On’ exhibition that was running at the museum.

The final piece was performed in a special one off event at the PHM. I joined the group on the final day of the residency to document their final rehearsals and the evening’s performance, all in the beautiful pump room at the PHM. A selection of my favourite images from the event can be seen below.

Also posted in Arts Photography, Documentary photography, Events, Gig Photography, Music Photography, Places Tagged Amal Khalaf, Arts, both sides now, Brighter Sound, equality, Event, Fatima Al Qadiri, feminism, Gig, Manchester, Music, Peoples History Museum, Performance, Protest, Pump Room, Represent! 100 Years On |

Riku and Valpuri Got Married!

August 29, 2018 by admin | Comments Off

Oooh I love a good wedding! Earlier this month I was pleased as punch to photograph the lovely Richard and Valpuri’s nuptials at St Clement’s Church in Chorlton. I’ve included some of my favourite images below. Friends and family of the happy couple can see the rest of their wedding photos in this private gallery – you’ll just need to ask Rich or Valps for the password.

Also posted in Events, family photography, Wedding Photography Tagged Chorlton, Manchester, Photography, Samba Band, St Clements Church, Wedding |

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.

Also posted in Bands, Documentary photography, Music 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

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

Eska: Are You Here – Cinemagraphs

June 15, 2017 by admin | Comments Off

Alongside my usual documentary-style photography of the ‘Eska: Are You Here‘ Artistic Director residency from Brighter Sound, I also took some footage to create the following cinemagraphs (featuring the hugely talented Tal Janes, Tomas Pocinho, Marcus Joseph and Joy Ellis).

Cinemagraph of a guitar player, guitarist, Tal Janes, at Brighter Sound Eska: Are You Here, Artistic Director Series, Band on The Wall, Manchester, Rachel Bywater Photography Cinemagraph of a saxophone player, saxophonist, Marcus Joseph, at Brighter Sound Eska: Are You Here, Artistic Director Series, Band on The Wall, Manchester, Rachel Bywater Photography cinemagraph key board player, Joy Ellis, Brighter Sound, band on The Wall, Manchester, Rachel Bywater Photography

Also posted in Bands, cinemagraph, Documentary photography, Events, Gig Photography, Music Photography, Photography Tagged Band on the Wall, Brighter Sound, cinemagraph, cinemagraphs, Concert, drummer, drums, Eska, Event Photography, Gig, gig photography, guitar, guitarist, keyboard player, Manchester, Music Photography, saxophone, saxophonist |

My Favourite Images of 2016

January 5, 2017 by admin | Comments Off

I’ve put together a collection of my favourite images from 2016, and what a year it was! I got to photograph Grammy award winners, Premiership footballers and Mercury prize nominees; I shot events in museums, laboratories, tv studios, hidden gardens and amongst giant smoke machines; I travelled half way round the world and saw incredible cultural and natural wonders; and I got to meet and work with some truly inspirational people along the way.

I’ve chosen each of the images in the collection below for different reasons. Some because they captured a unique moment, some because they are successful in terms of technique or composition, and some because they transport me back to a special time and place in my life from the past 12 months.

I hope you enjoy looking through these images as much as I enjoyed taking them.

Thanks so much for all your support in 2016. Wishing you all a happy new year and a fabulous 2017!

Rachel x

Also posted in Bands, Documentary photography, Events, Gig Photography, Music Photography, Photography, Places, Uncategorized, Wedding Photography

Sara Lowes, Smoke Signals

April 13, 2016 by admin | Comments Off

Part of Manchester’s 2016 Future Everything Festival, Smoke Signals is a mixed media art installation by Ed Carter and David Cranmer. The installation, which converts digital data into a audio-visual sculptures using smoke cannons and sub-sonic frequencies, was housed at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation and Future Everything also commissioned three musicians to each create a special one-off performances alongside the artwork. One of the three commissioned artists, Sara Lowes, asked me along to document her performance and the installation also gave us the opportunity for a unique portrait shoot. Here are a selection of my favourite images from our collaboration:

Also posted in Events, Music Photography Tagged David Cranmer, Ed Carter, Future Everything, gig photography, Intentional Anthony Burgess Foundation, Music Photography, Sara Lowes, Smoke Signals |

Favourite Images of 2015

January 6, 2016 by admin | Comments Off

I had a lot of fun in 2015 and took a LOT of pictures. I got to meet and work with a bunch of incredibly lovely people over the past 12 months and I was also lucky enough to photograph some truly beautiful locations and wildlife along the way. It’s been hard to whittle them down, but here’s a small selection of my favourite shots from last year for your viewing pleasure.

A huge thank you to all my clients, colleagues, friends and family for making 2015 such a great year. Here’s looking forward to an amazing 2016!

xxx

vintage event northwest photographer.jpg

Also posted in astrophotography, Bands, Documentary photography, Events, Gig Photography, Music Photography, Photography, Places, Wedding Photography

The Vernon Sisters

July 11, 2015 by admin | Comments Off

A few weeks ago I was asked to photograph The Vernon Sisters – a trio of hugely talented real life sisters who perform classic songs at events across the UK. This event was at Liverpool’s impressive Rum Warehouse, on the dockside, and included a full backing band and a troupe of dancers. Before the show we were able to squeeze in a quick portrait shoot and, despite being short on time, we ended up with some great shots before their curtain call! A selection of my favourite images from both the portrait shoot and their performance are below. The Vernon Sister’s hair and make up was by the wonderful Bethany Jane Davies and her team at The Vintage Beauty Parlour