It was my birthday recently and I had an amazing time with friends including a Cheese and Wine evening at my home in North London: roaring fire, cheese platters and all!
During the day on my actual birthday I was working (retouching in Central London) but I was sure to hit the pub in the evening with friends.

For the evening at my house I utilised my opportunity of having so many awesome people in my life in one space at one time, and attempted to make a memorable piece of fun visual art out of it.

Here's how:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWKbRa_l_V4&context=C3d38128ADOEgsToPDskIkglKGBV4UMBzU0ySFQrC2

The individual portraits will be up on my site here soon.

Enjoy!

In the middle of November last year I had one week which really stood out as being eventful!

Retouching

First of all I had just started a new contract at a well known luxury online retailer who specialises in selling designer clothing online. So yes, that means Gucci, Dolce and Gabbana, Marc Jacobs, Chloe, Stella McCartney... you name it! It's a fantastic place to work and everyone is exceptionally friendly. So friendly in fact that birds practically tweet when you walk in the room! Such a pleasure to be in that environment.

The retouching there is obviously for ecommerce but what is interesting is I've gained some experience colour-matching an image to an actual garment using a light box. So we handle these extremely expensive high-quality products ourselves, taking great care of course, and ensure they look their best and exactly as they should on screen.

Event Photography

I had another job that week - a new opportunity. I did my first two events I'd been hired to photograph for Surtio Events (www.Surtio.com) . Surtio are a company with more than one string to their bow as they work in events, recruitment and consultancy. In terms of events they primarily work within the the interiors industry and so regularly co-ordinate events for the designer furniture showrooms in Clerkenwell London. The events they put together are top class with a bar, delicious canapes, music, lighting and attentive staff all set up and running smoothly within the walls of these beautiful showrooms. I play a part in documenting the occasion as I come along with my camera and capture the atmosphere as clients arrive and proceed to enjoy the evening.

The second event I photographed that week was at a gorgeous showroom, Poltrona Frau which is home to some displays of interesting and classy Italian designer furniture. It was quite a big event and the cherry on top was that for reasons I still don't completely understand Maserati decided to get involved too! Apparently they simply reversed a Maserati straight into the showroom through the doors with only a breath of air between the steel door frame and the flawless paintwork of the car! So at the event was this shiny beautiful specimen of a car, proudly looking straight at the door as you walked in and impossible to miss. Of course yours truly was asked to ensure it was photographed well. I don't know much about them but even I could see it was an exquisite car. I was chuffed I got the opportunity to photograph such a well known and highly regarded product and especially one that was a highlight of the event.

Music!

The other thing I had pencilled in my diary for that week was The Smashing Pumpkins at Brixton Academy! I was so excited because I have been lucky enough see a lot of big bands in my time in London but there are a select few which I have not yet managed to tick off the list of bands to see (before I die or they break up!). Smashing Pumpkins is one of them. The problem is my dear friend who bought us the tickets for the concert got the date mixed up and it ended up being on the same night as the other Surtio event for which I was booked in to do photography. I was booked until pretty much the time Smashing Pumpkins were due to come on stage. Damn! The other thing is I had to do a retouching shift for at least half a day in West London for the luxury online retailer mentioned above! What a day that was!

So of course I worked in West London till the afternoon, ran home to change into smarter clothes, ate a fast meal, grabbed all my equipment I had charged the night before, my backpack and zapped off to the event. I managed the event well and at 9 on the dot I politely left, and bolted to the station. On the tube I put my camera away and changed into my Converse sneakers (one can't go to a gig at Brixton Academy in heels, it's madness!). I made it through security and into the auditorium just as Billy Corgan and his pals were launching into some of my favourite Pumpkin tunes. To top it all off I managed to score a free beer so avoided the queues at the bar altogether! I also of course couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to photograph The Smashing Pumpkins from the pit. Every time I go to see a big band it crosses my mind. It's a part of a bigger dream I have....

The Pumpkins played quite a different set but ended it with some real highs such as "Tonight, Tonight", "Bullet with Butterfly Wings" and even had 2 members from Gene Loves Jezebel come on stage to perform a cover of the latters songs. I think my personal highlight was "Cherub Rock" which I love!

Retouching > Home > Event > Smashing Pumpkins > Home to collapse in a happy heap - What a day!

Retouch designer clothing all week, photograph 2 events including a Maserati, and grab a massive concert of a world famous band.  But the retouching week was great and the 2 events went really well. Surtio are really happy with my work and have now asked me to be their regular photographer. And of course The Smashing Pumpkins put a big smile on my face.

Needless to say I had a few drinks at the end of that week!