The Wilson’s - March 2013
I was recently asked to do some family pictures for some of my wider family who have had a number of additions over the last few years! Capturing family portraits whilst children are young is a fun and rewarding experience - and provide some great evidence to show them on their 18th birthday!
The whole shoot took just over an hour and was enjoyed by all. I am not studio based - I bring the set to you. We can do portrait sessions indoor or outdoor (weather depending!) and they cost £50 per hour. You will receive all high-res images on a CD and a private online gallery.
CLARE & DAN: Pre-wedding shoot - sneak peak…. 26th January 2013
Had a fantastic morning (albeit a little chilly!) working with Clare & Dan on their pre-wedding shoot. Typically, as the photographer I got a soaking in the slush after last night’s snow - but trainers can dry! These are just a couple of photos - the bride & groom (to be) get first look at the rest!
Pre-wedding shoots are a great way to get some really intimate pictures. They come as part of my gold package - or if you just want one seperately, it is £50 and usually takes around an hour!
25th August 2012 - The Liner Hotel, Liverpool.
Events and weddings supervisor: Jen Bruce @TheLinerLiverpool (Tweet: @LinerJenBruce )
Joanne & Simon contacted me to capture their wedding earlier this year and I was only too happy to help out. I’ve known The Liner Hotel for a number of years, but this was my first time shooting inside the impressive Britannic Suite, complete with it’s nautical funnels, ships rails and porthole windows - a real reflection of Liverpool’s strong maritime history!
I met Simon just after lunchtime, having been welcomed by the superb events coordinator at The Liner - Jen. Unlike many grooms, Simon was relatively calm and in control…just how it should be! The ceremony was a intimate one, with friends and family celebrating with Joanne, Simon and their son, Jack.
I worked in the background throughout the day, although we did head to the magnificent St George’s Hall (just opposite The Liner) to take advatage of it’s impressive backdrop for some group photos.
The party continued well into the evening in the Britannic Suite and capped a wonderful day for them both. Here are a small selection of images from the day…
Interested in hiring the Liner as a #wedding venue? Contact Jen Bruce on (0151) 709 7050 or visit their events & conference website by clicking here.
18th August 2012 - Crosby Hall Educational Trust, Crosby, Merseyside.
Charlotte & Fred were introduced to my work through a friend and former University tutor, Paul Rooney at Liverpool Hope. Having met Charlotte prior to the wedding and talked through her plans for the ceremony and post-celebrations - I was really looking forward to their big day.
Thankfully, there were no delays coming back from my own holiday - the day after which was the wedding!
Crosby Educational Trust is a barn setting on a working farm just north of Liverpool. It has beautiful grounds and a real rural feel that enabled us to get some fantastic backdrops to the pictures (see images below!).
I met Charlotte earlier in the day to capture the bridal preparations up in Birkdale, before heading down to Crosby where I met Fred and his groomsmen.
The day was perfect, the sun made a long appearence and everybody thoroughly enjoyed the relaxed ambience offered by the venue. I’ll let the video and pictures tell the rest of the story….
St John’s Church, Knotty Ash, Liverpool & reception at Liverpool Hope University - Saturday 28th July 2012
Hair & Make-up: @meeshwillow (Twitter)
DJ: @floorphillaz (Facebook)
I first met Andrew & Victoria earlier this year when they came over to Hoylake for an engagement shoot at Red Rocks (Andrew had proposed to Vicky last year on holiday with friends in the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas!). Having established a relationship, I was really looking forward to capturing their wedding day.
The bride & her groom had met at school and gone through University together, so it was fitting that the reception was held at Liverpool Hope University - a special place for both.
I arrived early to capture the bridal preparations, with Michelle Wilson doing Vicky’s make-up - before heading off to the church to meet a relaxed Andrew and his groomsmen. Fortunately, the vicar was very accommodating (great for a photographer!) and gave myself and the videographer a prime spot at the rear of the altar.
Following the wedding, the party moved on to Liverpool Hope University for the reception - indeed they were actually the FIRST bride & groom to be hosted within the new hotel & reception suite at Hope Park.
I will let the images below tell the rest of the story…
Andrew & Vicky - Their Wedding Story (28th July 2012) from Joe on Vimeo.
Like these images and keen on hiring me for your wedding? Drop me an email here or tweet me @photographyjbic
St George’s Hall, Liverpool - 20th July 2012.
I have known Chris since day one. He reminded me recently that our friendship came about when his Mum met my Mum on the maternity ward at Clatterbridge back in 1980! 32-years later, here I was shooting his wedding. Amazing.
Followers of my blog may recall a family portrait shoot that I did with Chris, his new wife Victoria, their daughter Emma-Jayne and dog - Fred, back in May. Both were delighted with the end result, so the pressure was on to meet their expectations!
I arrived early and met Chris in the pub opposite St George’s Hall along with his Dad and groomsmen. There was time for a few photos with the men, before Victoria arrived with her Father. Chris actually scrubbed up quite well (!!) and Victoria looked wonderful. As for Emma-Jayne, she stole the show in her white dress when she walked down the aisle afterwards!
We had some wonderful shots on St George’s plateau afterwards, before the party headed off to Nova in Heswall for a celebratory meal.
I’ll let the photos and storybook film tell the story in full…
On her return from London’s Lyric Theatre in the Search For A Twitter Star Westend Competition (July 2012).
Some of my regular blog followers will know that my fiance, Annie has recently performed on the Westend at the Lyric Theatre. Having been encouraged by this and the feedback from many who have logged onto her YouTube account (over 10,000 to date!), Annie is shortly releasing a album of Westend & Broadway covers.
There is also one track which she has rewritten. Originally performed by Robbie Williams, Annie has taken ‘I Will Talk and Hollywood Will Listen’ and made it her own - ‘I Will Sing and The Westend Will Listen’. Click here to listen. Follow Annie on Twitter @starinthemakin
Here are some of the results from her portrait shoot which we had great fun doing! If you are an artist, actor or actress and need a profile shoot for your portfolio, drop me a line here. Something like this would start at just £50.00!
Location: Red Rocks, Hoylake, Wirral (June 2012)
Photography: Joe Bickerton (c)
Andrew & Vicky asked me to be their wedding photographer and as part of the agreed package I offered a photoshoot so that they could get used to the camera, become comfortable with my style (which is VERY relaxed!) and have a nice gallery of pictures away from the formality of their wedding day.
As they are Liverpool based and I’m in the Wirral, we agreed to visit Red Rocks, just of the northwest tip of the Wirral. Andrew & Vicky both loved the location as it reminded them very much of the rugged west coast of Ireland - one of their favourite places.
I myself love shooting on the beach here, as not only are there fantastic scenic views across to the North Wales coast - but also it is a real suntrap…and yes, the sunset was perfect this evening!
We started off by walking along the beach toward West Kirby - and talking about the wedding plans. I occasionally dropped back and captured the couple walking hand-in-hand, before we reached Red Rocks and tried some more posed pictures. The sunlight allowed me to capture some dramatic light and the shots were also helped by the various platforms afforded by the rocks.
Overall, we spent about 90mins walking, chatting, taking pictures (the important bit!). I was really pleased with the pictures - I think they captured their harmony and love perfectly!
They will now receive over 100 high resolution images from the evening on DVD and via a secure online gallery.
Their wedding is later in July 2012.
Andrew & Vicky Pre Wedding Shoot from Joe on Vimeo.
Blundells Hill Golf Club, Rainhill, Merseyside - 8th June 2012
Photography: Joe Bickerton (Email me)
Hair & Beauty: Nicola Joyce-Mua (Website - click here)
Flowers: Amore Flowers, Widnes, Cheshire (Website - click here)
I was first approached to capture Mike & Donna’s wedding back in October last year - and over the last 8-months I’ve got to know their lovely family including their children, Josh & Natalie.
Donna asked me to capture the bridal preparations at her house before the wedding ceremony and despite getting a flat tyre on route (yes…it happens to us all at the worst moments!), arrived to get some beautiful shots. Donna’s make-up artist was Nicola Joyce-Mua (website here) and Nicola and her team worked away whilst I started my reportage photography.
Despite being in June, we are in the UK and the weather was not the kindest, however Blundell’s Hill Golf Club have a superb, well-lit function suite perfect for weddings. The windows look out over the rolling meadows of Lancashire and the natural light was brilliant.
The ceremony was intimate and Donna & Mike’s friends & family were so welcoming and happy to be photographed. Our formal shots were taken both in the restaurant and also in-front of the bay windows of the reception suite - offering contrasting light and ambience.
I stayed on into the evening to capture additional guests, their first dance and the celebrations which followed.
Donna & Mike have now received their proofs via a secure online gallery and a link to their digital wedding storybook which can be viewed below.
Joe Bickerton, June 2012.
Donna & Mike from Joe on Vimeo.
Filed under wedding rainhill wirral merseyside photography reportage creative
Hoylake Beach, Wirral - June 2012
Chris & Vicky welcomed Emma-Jayne into the world 9-months ago and with their forthcoming wedding on the horizon, asked if I would capture them together (and dog, Fred!).
Despite the heavy rain over the Jubilee weekend, the skies cleared on Bank Holiday Monday and we were treated to a few hours of glorious weather to play about on the beach. I’m a bit biased as Hoylake is my home town, but the scenery is glorious and allows for some terrific shots.
We started off on the grass by the lifeboat station and then headed down onto the sand. It was little Emma-Jayne’s first time on the sand, but she didn’t care one bit - getting her toes stuck in as soon as Mum put her down.
I was really happy with the end results. My style is to let my subjects act as normal as possible, whilst I work away with minimal disruption in the background - and the shots I captured show how relaxed we all were.
Interested in a family shoot like this? Email me by clicking here.
More images can be found on my Facebook gallery by clicking here.
