Plan the Perfect Wedding Workshop - Sunday 31st January 2010

You want the perfect wedding, right?

You want your day to go smoothly, don't you?

But chances are, this is the first time you have planned a wedding?

So wouldn't it be great to learn from industry specialists about how to make sure you have the best day possible?

Our free Plan Your Perfect Wedding workshop is just for you and your chief bridesmaid! It's on Sunday 31st January from 2pm - 5pm on the Knowsley Hall Park in Knowsley Village, near Liverpool, and you get your personal Swag Bag to take away with goodies and information to help you plan your perfect wedding day! There will also be some extra special gifts for 2 brides to take away, including a copy of Sarah Haywood's book, The Wedding Bible, worth £30!

As you would expect, places are strictly limited on this free workshop, so you will need to get in touch for your VIP invitation - we will be choosing 12 special brides at the Liverpool Confetti Wedding Show on 23rd and 24th January to receive their very own VIP Invitation - but you can be one of 6 lucky people to pre-register and get your VIP Invitation. All you need to do is register at zoeworkshops@me.com by Friday 22nd January 2010! But don't wait - these 6 pre-registered places will be snapped up fast!

The Plan Your Perfect Wedding workshop will give you industry secrets to help your day run smoothly - wouldn't you like to know how to keep your cool, what the best timeline is for a relaxed day, how to get best value for your money, how to create an on-the-day co-ordinator using one of your close friends, what jobs the groomsmen and bridesmaids need to be responsible for so that you can completely relax and enjoy your day?

Register now for your VIP Invitation to The Plan Your Perfect Wedding workshop on Sunday 31st January, free of charge - but what's the catch? There is no catch! We know how important it is to brides to be able to relax on your wedding day, and over the years we have gained expert knowledge about what helps your wedding day go without a hitch. And now we want to share that expert knowledge with you so that you can have the perfect wedding day.

Remember, you MUST have your VIP Invitation to be able to join us on the Plan Your Perfect Wedding workshop, so register today by emailing us at zoeworkshops@me.com

Liverpool Confetti Wedding Show January 2010: Zoe Photography Prize

We are excited to announce that the Confetti Wedding Show in Liverpool on 23rd and 24th January 2010 have asked Zoe Photography to provide a prize as part of their 'Win Your Wedding' competition for visitors. We will be gifting the winner a Pamper and Pout Girls Day Out for the bride and bridesmaids before the wedding so that you can enjoy a bit of pampering and a photo shoot as part of an exciting day in the lead up to your wedding!

Be sure to come along to come along to the Liverpool Capital Building, Old Hall Street for the show to be able to enter their fabulous competition!

Photography Course in Liverpool

Just announced! For those of you that received a camera for Christmas, you may be interested in our photography course for amateur photographers announced on the Dovecote Training blog

The photography course is based near Liverpool on Sunday 7th February and costs just £50 if you book by 15th January (usual price £75). Visit the Dovecote Training blog for more information.

Giving Back a Little at Christmas: EXTENDED TO 31ST DEC.

I don't do Christmas cards - it's just not my thing. Thank you to those people who take time to write them and who send them to me letting me know that I am still in your thoughts, I appreciate that, and my apologies for not sending one back to you. But I do hope you will forgive me as I do my annual Christmas gift of Cash for Comments!

This year's charity is Rights and Humanities, and they will benefit from every comment made on my blog between now, 8th December, and Christmas Day. So come on, let's hear it! If you leave a comment then I will put £1 into the pot - I'd love to reach £50 this year, and even better, I have a target of £120 - are you going to help me get there?

So tell me what it's been like being photographed by me (I'd love to know!), or what it's been like to attend one of my photography workshops, or your thoughts on my monthly column in Photo Pro Magazine. Or just say hi if we haven't yet met!

Oh, and as a special treat - if you mention 'Photography Workshop in Liverpool, March 2010' in your comment, and tell me why you should have a special treat then I am giving one place away on one of the 4 workshops in The March Series of photography workshops to the person who is the most persuasive!

I look forward to hearing from you and thank you for helping me reach my target through your comments!

Charlotte's Newborn Portrait Session

The beautiful, miracle Charlotte came to visit me this week for her newborn portrait session, and I was able to get some gorgeous photographs of her - ok, so I know that you can't see a lot of her face in two of these images, but I just love how they look!

Beautiful Portrait Photography of Rachel

Rachel recently booked us for a portrait session for Christmas gifts for her family - and we had a great time creating a range of images for her to choose from. The shoot took place at our base on Stanley Grange on the Knowsley Hall Park, and you can see we have quite a varied selection of locations to choose from, both indoors and out!

Here is a tiny selection of some of Rachel's gorgeous photographs from her portrait session.

My Clients Made Me Cry!

I have just received the most beautiful email from wedding clients - and it made me cry. This is such an important job we do as wedding photographers, and we should never under-rate it.

"We were totally blown away you have done a fantastic job it truly is amazing, it brought back lots of very happy memories and you made my wife cry in a nice way, oh ok my eyes welled up too. We are so looking forward to coming back up to see you and the album which we know is going to be amazing as well.

You have done a fantastic job for us and we have found and made a new friend too. Let us know when the album will be ready and we will plan accordingly. We will keep checking your blog reading and seeing your continuing successes.

Once again thank you for everything that you have done for us. They say you get what you pay for, none so more true than in your case.

lots of love

Michael and Jules"

Madison's Cherubs Baby Portrait Session

Madison's mum recently registered for the Cherubs Baby Promotion at Zoe Photography, and we did the first of her 3 portrait sessions at just over 4 months old. It was lovely to photograph Madison, particularly as she reminded me so much of Ellie at the same age. The next shoot will be when Madison is around 9 or 10 months old and the last one when she is walking around, at around 12-14 months. Cherubs Baby Promotion is a fabulous way to celebrate your baby's first year, marking the changes as they grow so fast. Registration costs just £30 for 3 shoots and a folio of 3 images after the final shoot. If you have a young baby, get in touch and register as soon as possible.

Newborn Baby Photographs of Charlotte

At 10 days old baby Charlotte was incredibly alert, and just didn't seem to know that she's not yet supposed to be able to lift her head, roll over and move herself about! It was still a fun shoot though and we got some gorgeous photographs for her Mummy and Daddy. I really love creating beautiful baby photographs - I just wish I'd taken more pictures of my own baby, but there's no chance now with her being in her last year of school! The time passes far to quickly.

Wedding Photography Workshops in Liverpool

I am finding that couples are genuinely concerned about the quality of their wedding photographs after a couple recently in the news have successfully sued their wedding photographer for the poor quality of their images. And it's understandable too.

So in an attempt to put something back into the industry, using my skills and knowledge as a wedding photographer, and helping the newer wedding photographer to develop their skills, I am putting on a series of value for money workshops on Saturdays for just £50 per day, or £150 for 4 days.

For more information visit out Photography Training Website

Book early - this is a one time only offer and our last workshop filled up in days. Phone 0151 546 4411 or email zoe@zoephotography.co.uk for more information.

Poppy's Newborn Baby Portrait Session at Knowsley

Meet Poppy - a beautiful 7 day old angel. Poppy's parents were happy to give me permission to photograph their gorgeous baby so young and to let me photograph her without clothes or a nappy. We had to have a little break - more than once because this is one hungry little girl! But it was worth the patience and Poppy turned into a little star!









I am still looking for some newborns to photograph so if you are due or have just given birth (or if you know someone who has just had a baby) and the baby is under 10 days old, please get in touch on 0151 546 4411 (or 07880 823211) and we'll get you booked in as soon as possible. Everyone who comes along receives a 7x5 print as a thank you, and if you decide you would like to buy more images packages are available from £50 to £250 (our top packages include a CD of images).

Back to Work!

At last, the flu has passed and it's back to work! I went in to the office for an hour today and got my mind around what needs catching up on, so those of you that were due for meetings, we'll be getting those sorted out with you in the next couple of days or so.

Sadly I got back to the office to discover a fault on the telephone line - BT have now sorted it out, so if you have been getting a constant engaged sound and have not been able to leave a message, please get back in touch, the phone line is working again! My apologies for the fact that I was unaware of this problem during my period of sickness.

And finally for today, bookings are now being taken for portrait sessions in time for Christmas gifts - but the available slots are booking up fast (3 bookings taken in the hour I was in the office today!). So don't delay, ring and book your portrait session now to avoid disappointment.

Newborn Baby Around Knowsley

I'm looking for a newborn baby to photograph - somewhere around 6 days old would be fabulous! So if you are expecting and your baby is due in the next few weeks, or if you have just had a baby and it's under 2 weeks old, please get in touch straight away!

What do you get? Well, to start with, the shoot at our studio on the Knowsley Hall Park will be complimentary, you won't have to part with a penny. And secondly you will receive a complimentary framed picture from the shoot - your choice of image. You are welcome to purchase additional images from the shoot, but this won't be forced on you.

So come on, what have you got to lose? If you or someone you know is expecting in October or has just had a baby, give us a call on 0151 546 4411. We look forward to hearing from you!

Cherubs Baby Portraits - Exciting New Development

At Zoe Photography we are really excited to announce our new family addition!


No, not a new baby in our lives - but with our own baby now looking at universities we realise how fast the years go by and we want to help you record your baby's wonderful life through Baby Portrait Art. As part of this we have become the Cherubs Baby Portraits Photographer for Knowsley, Kirkby, St Helens, and Ormskirk. For a registration fee of just £30 your baby is photographed 3 times in his or her first 18 months of life, and your choice of one image from each shoot to be presented in a complimentary Art Leather Folio - all this for just £30.

Visit the Cherubs section of our portrait website for more information.

The Flu Hits!

Sorry for any delays and for cancellation of meetings - Zoe has flu and won't be in the office again until w/c 4th October. Our apologies for the impact this has on your images.

Call for Models

OK, you don't actually have to be a model, but if you fancy being photographed next Wednesday, 9th September, then come along and join us in Liverpool!

I am running a workshop on my style of doing Urban Shoots using natural light for members of the BIPP, and have been bowled over by how popular the event has been. As result I don't have enough models!

I am looking for everyday people or models who would be happy to be photographed to help the participants put into practice the things that they learn on the workshop.

So if you'd like to be photographed, would love a bit of fun, then drop me an email at zoe@zoephotography.co.uk and I can send you more information.

I am particularly interested in any guys or couples who would like to join in the fun as I already have a few girls - we will be shooting from 1.30pm until 4.30pm, so if you need to take time off work, you'd only need to take the afternoon.

Co-ordinating Your Wedding for the Perfect Day - a Workshop for Brides

Over the summer we have been told by many of this year's brides that we should share our knowledge and experience for how to organise the perfect wedding day. Using knowledge gained from event management over more than 20 years, this one day workshop will help you become your own wedding planner, as well as show you what you need to do to have your day co-ordinated on the day.

This one day workshop includes:

• Choosing a theme that will work
• Identifying quality suppliers within budget
• Working with your vendors to keep them on your side
• Creating a timeline for the day that works
• Adopting a greener approach to your wedding day
• Tips of the trade from industry experts to help your day run smoothly
• Saving money on your wedding budget (this section alone will earn you your workshop fee back if you implement the advice - guaranteed!)
  
• Advice on makeup and hair from experts in the industry

The workshop is set in the beautiful grounds of the Knowsley Hall Park, easily accessible by car, rail and plane. Lunch is included, prepared by the Knowsley Hall Chef, and you get to take away a little goody bag of treats, along with a complementary copy of The Wedding Bible by Sarah Haywood (rrp £30). All of this for just £120.

For more information call Zoe on 07880 823211 or 0151 546 4411, or email info@dovecotetraining.co.uk

Christmas Portrait Sessions

It's September and the weather has turned ... well, it's the same weather, just a bit cooler! So it gets us into thinking ahead to Christmas. With portraits for Christmas, you need to get in early as the cut off for orders is Wednesday 9th December for guaranteed Christmas delivery.

Dates in October for portrait sessions are already getting booked, so to avoid disappointment, call this week to book your portrait sessions - 0151 546 4411. So if you are wanting to give the grandparents a beautiful family portrait in the Zoe Photography style, make sure you book now!

Gift Ideas
Portrait gifts for the family
Once you have had your portrait session for £55 for a 1 hour shoot (£100 for a 2 hour shoot) you can choose from a range of products as gifts for your family.

• Desktop Framed Image: £150
• Small Album of 10 Images: £200
• Wall Print: from £300
• Large Album of 50 images £800

PortraitArt by Zoe Portrait Session
For the discerning buyer who wants to know exactly what you are spending up front, with no hidden extras, you can purchase a PortraitArt by Zoe portrait session as a gift for a member of your family. The price includes a special 3 hour portrait session, and credit for products from our bespoke range of frames and albums. Choose from:

• The Millais Collection: £2000
• The Rosetti Collection: £1200
• The Hunt Collection: £600

For more information go to the website - www.zoephotography.co.uk - and click on Portraits, then go to the pricing page where you will find all you need to know.

Gift Vouchers
Don't want to spend quite so much on your family or friends but would still like to purchase them a portrait session as a Christmas present? Then buy them a gift voucher for a portrait session at £55, or add to the shoot fee with a credit towards products after the portrait session from just £100.

Gown Again
The wedding is over, the excitement has passed - why not buy your gorgeous wife a Gown Again portrait session where she can put her dress on again and enjoy the thrills of a fashion style shoot, with a little bit of pampering with her hair and makeup being professionally done for her. Gown Again Gift Vouchers start at £150, including a print from the session, or you can add credit for product for your beautiful new wife from £200.

Pamper and Pout
Guys, here's a gift for the girls to spoil the wonderful woman in your life. Buy her a Pamper and Pout session for just £150, including hair and makeup and a print from the shoot, and she can enjoy being treated like a model for a couple of hours. We have Pamper and Pout based in locations in England and Scotland, so get in touch wherever you live in the UK.

Training Courses for Amateur Photographers
Is someone in your family getting a digital camera for Christmas? Why not make sure they can use it and understand how to get the best out of it by also giving them a 1 to 1 training session for just £150. Alternatively you can buy them a place on our 'Getting to know your digital camera and using it to the full!' course that runs on Sundays over a 4 week period for just £200 for 4 full day sessions. These courses are limited to 6 people maximum and often run with just 4 people attending.

Training Courses for Professional Photographers
Is someone in your family a professional photographer, or working towards a new career in photography? Buy them a gift voucher that they can use to purchase themselves a place on one of our professional photographer courses to suit their needs - vouchers can be purchased from £50 upwards.

Christmas Cards
After your portrait session use one of your photographs to create a truly personalised Christmas card to send out to all of your friends and family. The message inside the card can be personalised to say exactly what you want too! The cost for this is just £125 for 50 personalised cards with envelopes plus £55 for your portrait session. And if you want to use one of your images from a portrait session earlier this year, then just let us know which image you'd like to use and you can purchase the cards at £125 for 50 without the additional shoot fee. For orders of 150 cards or more the price reduces to £100 per 50 cards.

All Christmas Card orders must be placed by Friday 20th November at the latest, for delivery by Wednesday 2nd December at the latest. This means that your portrait session needs to be completed by Saturday 14th November to allow time for you to select your Christmas Card image after the shoot.

So, I know it's only just September, but make sure you book early to avoid disappointment. And why wait for Christmas, treat the family now and have something to look forward to between the end of summer and the start of Christmas.

Nikki and Graham Out and About in Glasgow

I love photographing wonderful people - and it's even better when it's friends ... although I have to say it's a bit scary when one of those friends is also a photographer! Nikki and Graham chose to celebrate their 10th anniversary in style with a photo shoot around Glasgow, and we had a lot of fun, starting out in the West End before moving on to the centre of Glasgow and the 29 Bar. This is just a little sneak of some of the wonderful photographs we created together.

Hayley and David's Wedding in Shropshire

I had such a lovely day with Hayley and David and their family and friends at their Shropshire wedding in July (yes, I know, I'm behind on blogging wedding images!!!). The day was perfect in so many ways, even if the heavens did open! I can honestly say I think I managed to capture some of my favourite images of the year to date, particularly the photograph of Hayley as she is just about to go into the church, such a beautiful moment. Thank you both for sharing your wonderful day with us.