I've always found it useful to take a moment and reflect on the successes of the past year as we pass into a new one. Happy News Years to you all. I hope 2011 is good to you.

For me 2010 was a great year and a massive improvement on 2009 in the quantity and quality of work I was involved with as well as a much welcomed financial boost as I ventured into advertising work. I'm starting to reach the very limited financial glass ceiling of assisting work as was anticipated, however my current plan is to continue with assisting for 2-3 more years as I begin the transition from assistant to photographer. 2011 however is going to be concentrating solely on assisting and increasing my income with shooting weddings. Having had a terrible track record at missing out as a 2nd option or even once having to pull out of a trip due to illness (I missed 4 days in Barcelona with Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Raikonnen last year. Gutting!) it's been a much welcomed change of events to be heading to Amsterdam in early Jan and possibly Qatar in early February. One of the reasons I got into assisting was to travel and do things I would never get to do otherwise. This year is looking like the year to turn things around in that respect and start flying places!

I was lucky enough to get up to some really cool things last year. From going to Tony Blairs house to shoot his christmas card... and meeting his machine gun wielding police officer guards (as well as his Royal Tonyness of course), telling Westminster armed police I was there to shoot David Cameron and then having to quickly explain I meant in a photographic sense, putting Monty Python legend Terry Jones in a headlock before heading off for a beer with him (pictures below), hanging out with the Lostprophets on a boat in Cornwall for the day, to being one of the very first members of the public in the world to know about the Jaguar concept car the C-X75 due to working on the press release images.

The highlight for me in 2010 above all this however was definately travelling up to Mam Tor in the Peak District in October. It was a beautiful October day that started with a majestic sunrise through eerily thick fog that slowly ascended to reveal stunning landscapes every way you looked. I spent the day running up and down the hills carrying kit and I had a great time.. Even if the money isnt great, I can't and wouldn't dare complain. I love my job.

2010's photoshoots in descending order:

• Laura Bailey (Famous model)
• Andrew Lincoln (Actor)
• Army Magazine Photoshoot at Sandhurst of female triathlete
• Trailfinders staff & CEO
• Joe Casely-Hayford (Fashion designer)
• Katherine Kelly (Actress)
• David Cameron (Politician)
• George Osbourne (Politician)
• Lord Brittain (Politician)
• Lord Lawson (Politician)
• Theresa May (Politician)
• Lord Lamont (Politician)
• Lord Howe (Politician)
• Baroness Shephard (Politician)
• Eric Pickles (Conservative Party Chairman)
• Ed Vaisey (Politician)
• Michael Howard (Politician)
• Lord Baker (Politician)
• Baroness Nevile Jones (Politician)
• Malcolm Rifikind (Politician)
• Ian Duncan Smith (Politician)
• Lord Heseltine (Politician)
• David Davis (Politician)
• Sir John Major (Politician)
• Ken Clarke (Politician)
• Helen McCrory (Actress)
• Damien Lewis (Actor)
• Jonathon Pryce (Actor)
• Watches of Switzerland magazine article
• Dame Shirley Bassey (Singer)
• Fearne Cotton (Presenter)
• Robert Lloyd (Opera bass singer)
• Mothercare Pushchair
• Lilia Kopylova (Dancer)
• Richard Dunwood (Jockey)
• Irish Female Model & Jewellery for Modas Touch (Made the back page of Vanity Fair for 4 months running)
• Net Play TV Presenters
• FHM Fitness Article
• Bryn Terfel (Opera Singer)
• Nissan 370z & GTR Advertising (These went up on hundreds of billboards all over London and have been in as good as every major mens magazine for over 6 months now)

• Terry Jones (Actor & Monty Python legend)

• Carlo Rizzi (Conductor)
• David Gray (Singer)
• Emma Griffiths (Fashion designer)
• Mens Fitness Magazine Cover
• No Balls Clothing Press
• Alex Talbot Rice (Painter)
• Lostprophets (Band)
• Katherine Jenkins (Singer)
• Mens Health Article
• Stereophonics (Band)
• Feeder (Band)
• Barclays Press
• Colourful Coffins Press
• L'Oreal Female scientist award winners event
• The White Company catalogue
• GQ Magazine fashion article
• Glamour Magazine article
• Closer Magazine Russell Brand & Katy Perry lookalikes article
• Phillips Razor magazine promotion
• Howard Marks (Former drug smuggler)
• Rhys Ifans (Actor)
• Simon Pegg (Actor) - PAUL Movie poster
• Nick Frost (Actor)
• Mens Fitness Article
• Range Rover Evoque Press
• FHM Fitness Article
• Greenpeace Advert
• Lacoste shoes super slow motion viral video
• Mens Fitness Cover
• Schon Magazine Fashion Article
• Robert Plant (Singer)
• Marina & The Diamonds (Singer)
• Range Rover Evoque Car Magazine
• Nationwide Press
• Bloww Hairdressers Advertising
• Mens Fitness Cover
• Jaguar C-X75 Press
• Mark Foster (Swimmer)
• Jaguar XFR
• Running & Cycling Shop Press
• Russell Howard (Comedien)
• Braun 3 Razor Magazine Promotion
• Glass Magazine Fashion Article
• Mens Fitness Article
• Channel 4 Disability Portraits
• Mel B (Singer)
• Mens Running Peak District Article
• Santa Claus Album Cover
• Range Rover Evoque Press
• Easy Living Pilates Article
• James Martin (Chef)
• Britains Next Top Model Exhibition Portraits
• Andrew Strauss (Cricketer)
• Nuffield Gym Press
• Grazia Magazine Article
• Mens Health Magazine Article
• Lacoste Interview Videos
• Mens Health Magazine Article
• Sir David Frost (Presenter)
• Katy Perry (Singer)
• Worlds First Production Range Rover
• Tiffanys Jewellery Event
• Louis Smith (Gymnast)
• Horses pretending to be cats... for an oil company
• Gordon Ramsey (Chef)
• Toby Flood (Rugby Player)
• Mens Health Magazine Article
• Olympic Fencers Personal Slow Motion Video
• FHM Magazine Article
• Sharp Press
• Next Catalogue
  

 

My 2011 Targets / Ambitions:

• Achieve a work related target / job every day
• 150 assistant shoot days
• 6 trips to foreign countries
• 10 Weddings
• Work with 25 new photographers

In the Pipeline already

• Amsterdam 2 day job - January
• Qatar 4 day job - February
• Photography Magazine Interview - Due out March
• Hitchike to Morrocco - April