CARNIVAL TIME!!!

Last weekend I was invited to photograph the Derby Carnival.  Specifically, I was there for the 'Mandela Centre', a youth and community centre, working primarily in the Afro-Caribbean community.

Oh, what a great few hours I had there.  It may not be one of the biggest carnivals but there was such a great buzz and positive energy flowing. The kids were loving dancing around, dressing up and having fun.

The weather was a bit 'touch-and-go' but in the end the sun shone when it was needed.

It struck me that these guys are leading by example, as a real demonstration of how young peoples' energy should be channelled, in order to avoid some of the crime problems we are currently facing in this country.  If they have a positive focus and peers to look up to, then they will embrace it.

Woodland Bride

"If you go down to the woods today..."

...you might just see a beautiful girl jumping around in a big white wedding dress!!!

Part 4 of mine and Deborah's exploration into the world of the adventurous bride found us in Alderley Edge woods in Cheshire.

This is somewhere I have been visiting (and photographing) for many years, as its a great place to walk and relax, but I've never approached it quite like this...

Photography © Christopher Perkins

Model: Amanda Dabrowski

Make-Up and Styling: Deborah Lawson

Crewe Hall Bridal Shoot

Its time for some more pictures...these posts are getting quite regular now!

In a continuation of our Wedding Dress theme, we descended on the very accommodating Crewe Hall.  This beautiful old hall provided an incredible backdrop for our images.

There is so much history here, from the moment you approach the hall along the long long tree lined driveway, you know you have arrived somewhere special.  The Hall even has it's own small chapel, which we were able to use for some of the shots, and there are gothic looking candles to be found dotted all over the place.

Photography © Christopher Perkins

Model: Amanda Dabrowski

Make-Up and Styling: Deborah Lawson

Behind the scenes - Christopher at work:

Urban Bride

Taking forward the Bridal Fashion theme, we wanted to push the idea away from the fairytale and into something a little more dark and sinister, whilst still retaining the high fashion look and feel...

I give you 'Urban Bride'!

Photography: © Christopher Perkins 2008

Model: Marina Fallahi

Make-Up and Styling: Deborah Lawson

Location: Macclesfield

Bridal Fashion @ Rookery Hall

Its time to get all romantic... Its wedding season!

The team has decided to get out to some beautiful locations this summer and create some new bridal fashion work.

For the first shoot, we visited Rookery Hall, near Nantwich, Cheshire.

My sincere thanks to Stephen Fearnley and his team for allowing us to use this beautiful venue for the backdrop to our photos.

Photography: © Christopher Perkins

Model: Marina Fallahi

Make-Up and Styling: Deborah Lawson