Teaching and stuff..

morning!
Iv got approx 12 free minutes today before setting off for a couple of half days working with adults with mental illnesses.  Il be helping them learn how to use professional digital photographic equipment (cameras, lights , photoshop etc) to express themselves in ways they have been unable to before.

I don't usually blog this kind of work but I'm trying to show the breadth of work we do and the recent weddings posts, along with the Knickers shoot, are all part and parcel of our firms commercial life.  As far as I'm aware, I'm the only chap in the wider area that keeps a socially important part of the business working at affordable rates for charities and youth groups whilst also shooting beautiful weddings and high end commercial and editorial shoots. 

I teach at a couple of high schools in the area, working with young people who wouldn't normally want to attend out of school classes, and the work below is from 2 jobs for INSPIRED YOUTH - a wonderful company working with young and adult people who are experiencing difficulties in their lives for one reason or another (homelessness, addiction, bullying, etc).

 Below are posters devised with a group of adults who have beaten addition and are spending their time devising new materials (leaflets, posters, info-packs etc) for younger people in the grip of or at risk from addiction.  Their stories are harrowing but all the participants got support and now pay back that support helping others - we just helped them express what they wanted to say.

The second set of images are from a series we devised working with young carers as part of the Young Carers Revolution movement.  There are thought to be more than 175,000 young people in the UK who care for parents or siblings. The average young carer is just 12 years old.  These young people have to live their lives like any other teenager but also carry out massive amounts of caring at home, usually for a parent or sibling.  The amount of support they get is limited and not always appropriate as their home lives are so exhausting / emotionally  intense that their work, school and social lives suffer massively.  The project gained massive support and put their points and a film in-front of local and regional decision makers.

For both of these groups we had one or two teaching sessions, followed by a session devising the display materials they needed, planning the shoot - who models, who shoots, where, when etc, whats the post-production treatment and so on. Then a session or two shooting the images, with them, not me behind the camera (and usually in front of it as well).  Obviously a few have to be anonymous.

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Posted on 01/09/10 by Jim - 0 Comments

Knickers

I've had the pleasure of knowing Julia Smith almost since we moved to York.  She was always into the arts and education scenes and could always be found easily at parties due to the height of her hair.

The first time I met her she was wearing wings.  She has made my wife's wedding dress and the dresses of many clients but most of all I love her Mistress Collection.  Its basically cool knickers that come off easily.  I mean really. What better present for a fella to buy for his lady friend.

Each year we shoot her knickers and each time we've both upped our game for the shoot.  This year we bagged a gorg model Sophia Smith, Julia brought 2 ranges, one Bridal wear, one Mistress wear and we shot afternoon to evening.


Visit Julias site here :www.mistresscollection.co.uk

Shoot was at the gorgeous www.grayscourtyork.com a highly recommended wedding venue.

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Posted on 07/08/10 by Jim - 0 Comments

Natty and Howard

We are blessed with the duty of photographing weddings for lovely couples from around the country but when Natty and Howard asked if Id pop round to see them about their wedding I was delighted they were only a 4 minute walk away from home.  After the meeting I was just in my door when Natty sent me a very nice message asking me to take the pictures at their wedding and from everything Id heard about their plans I knew it would be very special indeed.  I hope you like the show below, please be patient while it appears and loads, its worth it. feel free to leave comments or click the envelope button to send a link to friends..