Liverpool Loves Campaign is Getting Underway

I'm pleased to announce that the Liverpool Echo supplement, Best of Liverpool, are interested in getting behind Liverpool Loves. And so I'll be out and about next week capturing women in a quick photograph and asking them to tell us about what they love about themselves. Very excited!

The Liverpool Loves Campaign

Hate yourself in photographs? I know what that's like. Particularly as I get older because in my head I'm still only 26! When you meet me, you'll see why that's a laugh. Over the years, though, I've learned how to love myself in life, and in front of the camera. In fact, in a couple of weeks I'll be able to share my latest photographs from my own portrait session. But for now, this is all about you.

I'm on a mission. I want to help every woman of Liverpool love her photographs. I want every woman in Liverpool to love herself. No more 'let me lose weight first' - you're beautiful the weight you are. No more 'I wish I had a different nose/mouth/legs/hands' - you're perfect just being you with the quirks that make you ... well, you.

What message do we send to our daughters when we criticise ourselves so readily? What message do we send her when we tell her that it's ok not to love yourself? Isn't it time we changed all that? Isn't it time we celebrated the woman we are?  I don't want my daughter stressing about her weight, her looks, her height, her stomach, her teeth or any other part of what makes her uniquely her. I want my daughter to be proud of who she is, to be proud of who I am, to be proud of being a woman in the 21st century, amongst other proud women of Liverpool.

Women of Liverpool, we are part of such a proud city, and we always say we are a republic in this fabulous city of ours, we always say we are unique. And we're right! There are very few cities in the world where the women go to work dressed their best, with their make-up on, the hair coiffured, everything in place. So now it's time for us to make a difference in the world. We can change how women feel about themselves, how they see themselves in the mirror, how they talk about themselves to their friends. We can make change what perceptions women have about their bodies, what society classes as beautiful. 

We can make that change by making a stand. It's time to celebrate the good in us, the beauty in our unique features, in the shape, size, colour and foibles that make us unique. It's time to say thank you when someone tells us we're beautiful instead of talking about the things we hate about ourselves. It's time to say I love my bum, I love my arms, I love my chins. It's time to be grateful for what we do have, not bemoan what we could be.

Join me in my campaign for loving ourselves - Liverpool Loves. And let's spread the message. It's ok to love yourself today. It's ok to love who you are right now. It's ok to love what you look like - tall, short, skinny, fat, black, white, disabled, able-bodied - we all deserve to love ourselves today, now, and we owe it to future Liver Birds. We owe it to our daughters to be happy with loving who we are today.

With Mother's Day coming up at the end of March I'm starting the campaign to find something about ourselves that we love. Maybe just now you're struggling to love something about yourself, but I challenge you to find one thing and to be grateful for that one thing for the next week. Tell your daughter, your sister, your mum, your nan something that is beautiful about her. Let her know she too is beautiful. And let's make Mother's Day 2014 a day when we all celebrate our unique beauty, a day when we smile at the friend who tells us we have a beautiful smile, a day when our eyes sparkle when our mum tells us we have beautiful eyes, a day when we celebrate being the woman we are now, today.

Liverpool Loves - let's start spreading that love! I'll start. I love my nose. Are you with me? Your turn ....

Delivery and Collections Day!

Lots of orders are going out today - so far 19 framed photographs have been delivered. A gorgeous keepsake album with prints has been collected. And I've just received deliveries so there are more albums, prints, frames and more to be collected shortly!

Exciting New Portrait Photography Studio in Liverpool

Did you notice it was a bit on the quiet side on the blog last year? I'm sorry to have disappointed those of you that were following my regular blog posts. Sadly my sister passed away which knocked me a lot more than I expected it to, and some things had to give. The blog was one of them.

Now, if there's one thing that my sisters death at only 54 has taught me, it's to live life to the fullest, and as I move forward with Zoe Photography in 2014, my 10 season photographing weddings, portraits and pets in Liverpool, I'm doing just that. We're starting with something very exciting - a new studio in Liverpool City Centre, the likes of which just doesn't exist in Liverpool at all for boudoir photography and family and baby portraits - plus we will be adding in pet portraits to our portfolio of photography in Liverpool.

Want a sneak peek? Here is the lovely new studio:

But things aren't quite how we want them on the inside, so we're having work carried out with walls being built to create a fabulous makeup and changing room alongside our fabulous portrait studio, whilst on the floor below we will have a relaxing presentation room, reception and office.

I promise to keep you up to date on progress over coming weeks as the works get underway. And in the meantime, I'll post a few photographs from work over the last year.

Nikki and Kerrigan's Knowsley Hall Wedding Photographs

I always love a wedding at Knowsley Hall - I am treated so well by the staff there and I know the rooms so well that I know how to capture the most beautiful photographs I can for a couple. So it was an absolute pleasure to photograph Nikki and Kerrigan's wedding at the Hall. Everything was beautifully put together and complimented the hall perfectly, with flowers by David Beckham Doyle who I always love to work with.

You'll see a little octopus popping up in the sneak peek here - Octo was definitely part of the day in many ways. And we did a little 'where's Octo?' series of pictures, which was fun to do. And then there were the triplets who were perfect, considering that the day could have been overwhelming for them. Thankfully too, Nikki and Kerrigan were up for going out and capturing gorgeous pictures during the golden hour light, my favourite time of day.

Newborn Photographs: Welcoming Zach to Orrell in Lancashire

Having photographed Zachary last week, this week I had the pleasure to say hello to Zach - how beautiful is this little man. He wasn't one for being photographed without clothes (who can blame him in such a miserable and cold week?) but that didn't stop us capturing gorgeous pictures of him ... and just look at the cute mouth!

Newborn Baby Photographs: Welcoming Zachary to Liverpool

Many of you who follow my blog know Kathryn who worked with me, so you'll be excited to know that she has had her baby - she has a gorgeous, healthy little boy called Zachary. 

I love that Andrew said he doesn't know why they left it so long to become parents as being mum and dad is just so special. Awwww. Here is a little sneak peek, but no more than this as Kathryn and Andrew are excited to see all the photographs of their gorgeous baby boy next week.

CityShoot Makeover Photo Shoot Special in Liverpool

Make sure you get in touch to book your CityShoot Special or Mini Special

These offers don't happen often!

Liverpool Fine Art Wedding Photography: Gallery of Photographs

I have created a new page - a gallery of wedding photographs showcasing some of my fine art work. Here is a taster of what you'll find there - or you can go and take a look.

Zoe Photography Fine Art Wedding Photographs

Everyone wants the disk of photographs from their wedding so that they can organise their own prints for their wall, so why would you want to buy artwork for your walls from your wedding photographer. Here are the before and after examples of photographs I took at recent weddings in and around Liverpool. Can you see how much more beautiful a photograph is when it is finished beautifully as a piece of artwork for your walls?

CityShoot Makeover Photo Shoot Specials in Liverpool

Want to feel special? Want to look great? You deserve to look and feel great, and to hear your friends saying "wow!" when they see you photographs on the wall! Book your Liverpool Makeover and Photo Shoot Special in March or April - feel great, look amazing and hear your friends tell you how fab you are!

Book now! Call 07792 650 742 or email zoe@zoephotography.co.uk

Until the end of April you can book one of two CityShoot Specials at a very special price. The CityShoot Collection is just £650 for all bookings taken by 30th March (usual price £1,300 or £1,625 when items purchased separately).

* Makeover and photo shoot in your own home or at a Liverpool or Merseyside location

* Disk of photographs and beautiful Keepsake Album

* 5 Prints (9x6) ready to frame

* Wall Art (20x16)

Or book the CityShoot Mini with makeover, photo shoot in Liverpool or Merseyside location, disk of photographs and beautiful keepsake album for just £400 (usual price £625, making a saving of £225)

This is a one off! As you know, I do not do offers at Zoe Photography. So book now - all shoots booked with this special price must be taken by 20th July 2013.

Payments can be taken by Paypal and credit card as well as by bank transfer.

Shoots can take place in your own home, at one of a number of hotels in Merseyside, or on location.

Becky and Dave's Wedding Photographs from The Vincent, Southport

I think Becky may just win the prize for amazing shoes this year! Take a look at these gorgeous shoes, aren't they special?

Becky and Dave's wedding at The Vincent in Southport was a lovely day, even if it was trying to snow! Dave looked very dapper in the Marseille tails, and Becky's shoes added a touch of quirkiness that made their day unique. Add to that Dave doing cheerleading with pom poms during the speeches, yes this was a wedding with a difference. I showed them their photographs this week and they love them - now it's on with the album to make sure they can enjoy the magic of their pictures in the flesh.

Here's a sneak peek of their day, with the cake that Becky's Nan made, and the rabbit's foot from her other Nan's wedding, a gift on her elopement to Gretna Green all those years ago (how romantic is that?)

Ryan and Lee's Wedding at The Vincent, Southport

I have to come clean. I think I've fallen in love. And with two guys at once! Ryan and Lee are just so easy to relax with and feel at home with that it makes it quite natural to fall in love with them both. I don't think I have ever seen a couple so much in love, or so loved by all their family and friends. And they both know how to laugh (with and at each other ... and come to think of it, at me a few times too!)

Lee and Ryan got married on Lee's birthday at The Vincent Hotel (the lengths some people go to in order to remember their wedding anniversary!) and as it was a gorgeous day we were able to go down to Southport Pier. Here is a sneak peek of their day - I think you can tell they had a whole lot of fun, can't you? It was a true pleasure to be wedding photographer for Ryan and Lee on such a lovely day in Southport.

EBook for Photographers in Business: 100 Lessons

Back in early December 2012 I attended an online workshop that went through the night each night as it was delivered from LA. It was tough working until 2am on something creative - as the subject was book writing. For about 15 years I have wanted to write a book - I already write articles for magazines but had never taken the leap to write a book.

On 15th December I published my first ebook - 100 Lessons I Wish I'd Learned Sooner as a Photographer in Business.

This is only a short ebook on Kindle that costs less than a cup of coffee - £1.92. The observant amongst you will notice the little blue flag on the top right corner - on the day of publication the book shot to the #1 spot in the Amazon bestseller list for photography.

Here's where you can buy the ebook

BUY NOW ON AMAZON

Then in February I received notification that my ebook has been nominated for the Small Business Book Awards in the Start Up category - which is exciting in itself. And then the excitement continues as this awards is all based on votes. Within days I shot to the #1 spot in the Start Up category, thanks to the support of a lot of people who love the book and value the work I am doing. A huge thank you to everyone who is helping my book do so well.

Voting on the book is open until Tuesday 26th March 2013, so if you have a second or two and are inclined to help, I really appreciate every vote - voting can be done every 24 hours.

Following on from the success with 100 Lessons I Wish I'd Learned Sooner as a Photographer in Business, my second ebook will be launching at the beginning of April. This is a follow on from 100 Lessons, and is inventively called 100 MORE Lessons I Wish I'd Learned Sooner as a Photographer in Business.

And the really exciting news for those of you not on Kindle - both ebooks will be published together in a physical book that you can read the old fashioned way. I have a Kindle, but I just love books too - I love the feel of the paper, the smell of an old book, and I love turning down a corner, writing in the margin and keeping books I've loved in my bookcase. So if you are like me and like the old fashioned book (we need a term like the purists of music use for records - vinyl!) then you will shortly be able to buy it on Amazon or direct from me.

But for now, vote for my book on the Small Business Book Awards and help my book to keep doing well!

Kelly and Tony's Wedding Photographs at The Racquet Club, Liverpool

Some people come into your life and you are just touched by them immediately. Kelly and Tony are those kind of people. I imagine everyone who is in their lives for however long or brief a time know that they have had a very special kind of relationship with them as they are fairly unique, lovely, kind-hearted and generous spirited people. Plus, they have the most gorgeous kids that I'd be happy to adopt (mind you, I'd spoil them ... and not in a good way!)

Kelly and Tony got married on one of the windiest days I've photographed in - but it didn't affect their happiness and being married to one another, surrounded by family and friends who clearly love them dearly. It's actually hard to say anything about their wedding at The Racquet Club in Liverpool without sounding like I'm gushing over them! And so I'll let the photographs do all the talking.

A rare photograph of me in that last shot! Now moving swiftly on ....

Joel who works with me was also booked to film sections of the day for Kelly and Tony, and here is the results of his work.

Kelly & Anthony's Wedding Day from Joel Penn on Vimeo.

And finally, I love the magic of a wedding album arriving and being unveiled - and Kelly let me film her looking at her album for the first time when their album arrived just 2 months after their wedding.