Tag Archives: Manchester

Photography, Safety and Coronavirus

June 24, 2020 by admin | Comments Off

Covid-19 Update:

The Coronavirus pandemic has meant that we’ve all had to adapt the way we live and work. Whilst it’s been hard not being able work on any wedding, gig or event photography over the past few months, I’ve been lucky to have the opportunity to work on a range of solo projects (including this short film: 2,000 Rainbows).

However, after months of quarantine, the country is slowly coming out of lockdown, which means that I’m able to take bookings for shoots once again. I’m so excited to be able to get back to the work that I love, but I’m acutely aware that it has to be done safely and responsibly.

I’ve adapted my work methods to ensure that the safety and well-being of my clients is at the forefront of everything I do:

I’ll be working alone and during all shoots I will maintain strict social distancing, staying more that 2m away from other people. But don’t worry, the quality of my work wont be affected – using top-of-the-range zoom lenses, I’m able to capture beautiful, intimate photographs from a distance.
For the foreseeable future, I will be wearing a facemask for all shoots. Additional PPE will be worn whenever necessary.
Wherever possible, shoots will take place outdoors. Indoor shoots will be limited to places where it is possible to maintain social distancing and work safely.
During all shoots, contact with shared surfaces (door handles, etc.) will be kept to an absolute minimum. I will be carrying 70% alcohol disinfectant gel with me at all times and will be maintaining a strict handwashing protocol to minimise the risk of contamination.
All my equipment will be thoroughly cleaned between shoots.
Every shoot and every client is different. So, alongside the changes I’ve implemented above, I will happily tailor the way I work to meet your/your company’s specific needs and ways of working to keep you safe, and stress-free during your shoot.
All of the changes I’ve implemented are in line with the current government guidelines, but I’ll be regularly reviewing and updating my work practices as time goes on to make sure I’m always adhering to the latest advice.

Please get in touch if you’d like to chat about any of the above in more detail, or if you want to book a safe, socially-distanced photoshoot.

Thanks for reading. Stay kind and keep safe x

a painting of a rainbow with the word NHS written below, placed in a sunny window

Posted in Photography Also tagged booking, coronavirus, covid-19, guidelines, lockdown, pandemic, ppe, safety, well-being |

2,000 Rainbows

June 10, 2020 by admin | Comments Off

I wanted to share one of my lockdown projects with you. This took me about 3 weeks to make, features over 1,700 photographs and involved walking about 60km around the streets of Chorlton. Hopefully it highlights how important community and creativity are in times of trouble and what we can achieve when we come together to support one another.

If you enjoyed this video, and if you are able, please consider donating to one of these organisations (or another of your choosing), supporting some of the people most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic:

Mama Health & Poverty Partnership www.mhapp.org.uk (supporting BME women in Manchester)
Refugee Action www.refugee-action.org.uk (support for refugees and asylum seekers in Greater Manchester)
Refuge www.refuge.org.uk (supporting those affected by domestic violence)
The Trussell Trust www.trusselltrust.org (food banks)
Mind www.mind.org.uk (mental health support)

Big love to the people of Chorlton and to all the wonderful individuals, organisations and local businesses that have kept us going through the past few months

Many thanks to @electromotive for allowing me to use their music for this project.

Keep safe and stay kind xx

(If the video is not visible below, please try reloading this post here)

Posted in Documentary photography, Places Also tagged Chorlton, covid-19, film, hope, lock down, pandemic, rainbow, windows |

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

Posted in Arts Photography, Bands, Documentary photography, Events, Gig Photography, landscape photography, Music Photography, Photography, Places, Portraits, travel photography, Wedding Photography Also tagged 2018, best photos, both sides now, Brighter Sound, collection, Concert, dazzley badger, Event Photography, favourite images, 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.

Posted in Arts Photography, Documentary photography, Events, Gig Photography, Music Photography, Places, Portraits Also tagged Amal Khalaf, Arts, both sides now, Brighter Sound, equality, Event, Fatima Al Qadiri, feminism, Gig, 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.

Posted in Events, family photography, Portraits, Wedding Photography Also tagged Chorlton, Photography, Samba Band, St Clements Church, Wedding |

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 Also tagged Brighter Sound, Composer, Gig, Leeds, Leeds School Of Music, 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 Also tagged Brighter Sound, cinematic orchestra, Event Photography, Gig, gig photography, inna voice, John Ellis, Katie Chatburn, liam frost, luke flowers, 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 Also tagged Brighter Sound, cinematic orchestra, Concert, Event Photography, gig photography, inna voice, John Ellis, Katie Chatburn, liam frost, luke flowers, manchester cathedral, manchester city council, Manchester Hill, Manchester hill remembered, manchester histories, Michael Symmons Roberts, Music Photography, sturart mcCallum, Young Identity |

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 Also tagged baby, baby bump, ballet, family, maternity, new born, North West, portrait, pregnancy, stockport |

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.