Amanda Marsalis Video

I had to make this post because I just came across a video of one of my favourite photographers, Amanda Marsalis.

Her work first came to my attention just over a year ago, when I was beginning to design my website.  I was actually searching around other photographers' websites, looking at what I thought worked well and what didn't, and hers was one that stood out as being very well designed, simple, attractive and most importantly about the work.

I think Amanda has a beautiful aesthetic to her work.  It is very distinctive and yet feels so natural.  I think this is one of those times when you come across a style that has to be natural, it can't be taught really.  Its the way you look at things and its an aesthetic I would really aspire to.

Anyway, take a look and see what I mean...

SLASH The Dress!

This is the final part of our summer-long Bridal Fashion and 'Trash The Dress' series.

Having shot the dress with our model, Abi, in Manchester in the morning, we then headed along to one of the old mill's on the outskirts of the city (sorry, the location has to remain secret!) to really finish this dress off!

Deb, our Make-Up Artist, had got hold of the dresses at the beginning of summer, and was by this point sick of having the two of them cluttering up her house...so out came the scissors and attack it she did...

I should also point out that the original styling and combination of garments to create this unique look was also envisaged by Deborah Lawson, along with some help from the our very stylish model, Abi.

Thanks to Matt (you know who you are) for his fabulous help in finding and navigating our location for the day.

If there are any magazines out there looking for a contemporary take on the new new 'Trash The Dress' phenomenon with a fashion slant, then you know where to come....

© Christopher Perkins 2008

Make-Up and Wardrobe: Deborah Lawson

Model: Abi Lutwyche

Assistant: Matt 'Darkscore'

Manchester Bride

If you've been following this blog you should be used to these Bridal updates by now.  This is the penultimate one in the series, in which we took our latest model to Manchester to look for some interesting street locations to use as a build up for final 'Trash The Dress' extravaganza.

The dress you saw previously in the Crewe Hall shots and Alderley Edge gymnastics images is back.  This time though, Deb has been hard at work creating a new look, adding the black floral patterning and cummerbund/belt along with a few other adjustments.  The piece that she has created is a dress that is uniquely beautiful and I'm sure many many brides would like to have themselves.

We managed to find some brilliant locations on the day and get some great colour into the pictures.  I couldn't believe it when we drove past Granada Studios, I had completely forgotten about the old frontage they have there, and hence I had to spin the car around a grab a few shots, despite the fact it is actually bucketing down with rain and Abi is actually hiding under that small canopy!

Photography © Christopher Perkins

Make-Up and Styling: Deborah Lawson

Model: Abi Lutwyche

Assistant and Location Scout: Matt 'Darkscore'

A Very National Portrait!

I thought it would be interesting to show the photograph I decided to enter for the National Portrait Gallery's annual photographic portrait prize.

Since it didn't get through to the final selection, you unfortunately won't get to see it gracing their hallowed walls, so you'll have to enjoy it here instead!

The photograph is of Tim Hunt, a good friend and also a Sound Recordist for a lot of the political television news broadcasts for the UK.  Hence why I decided to photograph him on Abbingdon Green, in front of the Houses of Parliament.

The above image is my favourite, because I think with such a portrait it is necessary for the viewer to have a connection with the subject through their eyes.  However, I have included the other few possible options below, so let me know if you disagree...

All images © Christopher Perkins 2008

The Lord has arrived!!!

To all you slightly wacky film lovers...

I just found that the short film I worked on last year with Rockutainment is now up on their website for viewing, along with some hilarious out takes.  So please go and check it out.

Link to the 'Lord Of Pain' Movie

Trash The Dress Liverpool

You've seen the video (if you haven't, look below/here) now check out the finished images...

'Trash The Dress' has become a craze amongst wedding photographers and their clients in recent years.  It is getting more and more of a buzz about it, as brides want some mementoes of the most special time of their lives that are individual, dramatic and fun.

If you've been following this blog, you will have seen these dresses before. At the earlier stages we were just playing around with them, testing ideas out and doing more of a bridal fashion theme. Now though, its time to TRASH them, and trash them properly. Hence the darling was going straight in the bin on our return.

So it was, that we found ourselves in a cold and torrential storm on a beach just north of Liverpool, UK, making a good old mess. This was August, it was supposed to be summer, but we all know you can't rely on the British weather, though it certainly worked for us.

Photography © Christopher Perkins 2008

Hair, Make-Up and Styling: Deborah Lawson

Model: Kitty Chu