Funny who you spot joggin down a carriageway!

Eddie, originally uploaded by Shutterbug©.

yeah it was the man himself, Eddie Izzard!

went to see his show "sexie" in the kings hall a few years back and nearly fell off the chair laughin, the man's a genuis! and at the weekend was heading out to take photos of the windmill down in Millisle. Had the local radio station on playing in the car when he said "i just got a text, man says he's just passed Eddie Izzard running down the ards/dundonald carriageway... what's that all about then!"

Quick change in direction, lens changed and off I went with daughter in tow, driving down toward the carriageway. Had to, Love the man, HUGE fan!! so there he was, doing his marathon along the roadside, pulled in and got ready for him to pass us.

Top, top bloke, Eddie stopped, posed for photos, including one with my daughter, told us about the marathons for sport's relief, goal is to reach as close to 30 miles a day from london, scotland, belfast, back to scotland and back to london, all the way carrying flags to represent the country's.

As for NI's flag, Eddie didn't want to cause any conflict so he designed one for us himself. It's the green of the NI football team, with a "dove" in the corner to represent our new claimed "peace".

Very smart and intelligent man Eddie is, but couldn't believe just how down to earth he is too. Loved every second of the 5/10 mins he had stopped to chat. I wish him all the very best in raising as much money as he possibly can for Sport's relief but more so in that he completes his marathon's and achieves an emense personal goal!

Robert Render

Robbie colourpop 1, originally uploaded by Shutterbug©.

Robbie works with me but he's also a pro wrestler AND more importantly he's an Actor! He was in the lead role of the recently Award winning "Death in D Minor" which was awarded "Best Local Film" at this year's Yellow Fever Film Festival in Belfast.

Wish Robbie every success for his future acting career and hope he remembers us all when he makes the big time!

heading in the right direction!

o~o~o~o.sprinkles.o~o~o~o, originally uploaded by Shutterbug©.

So a good friend of mine and myself are going to do weddings together which shall be great as that mean's i'll not have to worry about trying to get all the shots myself. Our wedding packages shall include a casual "get together" so that WE can get to know YOU! what are YOUR interests and build up a friendship so YOU are more relaxed with us, we want to hear what YOU want from your images, It's your big day afterall, we're only there to document it, not dictate it! We shall also have included in the price, a pre-wedding shoot.. get you used to us fluttering about you with the camera's so you can be more relaxed and not fizzed by what we are doing in the background. It's your big day and we're honoured to be part of that.

Contact for more information and availability.

And while we've been discussing things, it's also made me more determined to have my own studio up and running i hope by spring next year.

Sitting down to think things thru, what could I offer more than just the normal studio portraits, well... there's a "pamper" package. Full hair and makeup provided by the experts, and then onsite or on location shoots.... all can be arranged .. just give me a call!

Maternity shoots.... Ladies.. don't think you're, heaven's above, fat and frumpy, You're body is a special vessel for which your new little bundle of joy is growing and waiting to meet you so why not celebrate your changing shape with the "maternity" package. photoshoots can include husband/partner, just yourself or even your other children. all fully natural, tastefully done and be a lovely momento keepsake of your pregnancy! (morning sickness and other issues, don't let it put you off... might be just what you need to lift your spirits!)

baby portraits... three photoshoots in one package.... from newborn, 6 months and then 1 year (other shoots can be arranged at an additional cost)...

Also then is the "portfolio portfolio".... if you are a model, actor/actress, then come and see me about your porfolio. one hour photoshoots with either studio and/or natural lighting can be arranged. Prices shall reflect on the hour photoshoot, along side full A4 prints fitted into a fully complete portfolio, ready to dazzle your potiental clients!


keep an eye out on the website for more details or get in touch with me

Juliegibson100@aol.com and we shall create a package that shall suit your needs!

Thinking about the future

creation block, originally uploaded by Shutterbug©.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=logo&nctrct=1239321180849#/pages/wwwbraehillphotographycouk/75354166372?ref=nf

Well, the cogs have been turning and plans and idea's have been rushing through my head.

There is a small shop available locally and i've been down to have a peek. the possibility of turning it into my own wee studio/gallery is very possible but it would depend on finance and a lot of time to set it up. I'm hoping that by this time next year i'll be a proud owner of my very own studio and be able to provide a proper photographic service. There's ALOT of work, marketing, planning, working out a budget etc plus trying to see where i'll be able to drum alot of business to keep it worthwhile for the cost of the outgoings but it's a dream that won't shift, the idea's keep coming and I don't want to be 40 and regret not taking a chance to see if I can make a real go of it.

So after doing some "marketing" research, I found out that one of the ways of creating more business for yourself is by using the social network websites like facebook and bebo. I've made a "page" on facebook for advertising my photography on there so it will be interesting to see what, if any, feedback i shall receive.

I'm also looking at the local businesses, see how they market themselves, how they advertise themselves locally and what offers etc they have. With the village now ever expanding, new families moving into the area and other opportunities I'm hoping that by the end of next year I could be up and running. I pray and dream... fingers and toes crossed for me!

Learning a new technique

family, originally uploaded by Shutterbug©.

So I recently purchased a set of studio lights. a small portable kit and finally got them up and tried out, the family were posing for me. liked how most of them turned out and the children and my partner were great posing for me.

Will definitely have to get more practice in and learn a heap of stuff, a couple of hours on the strobist group on flickr, and reading their blog will help i'm hoping, but you can let me know what you think and also constructive comments are more than welcome.

Available to buy now!!!

The Book!!, originally uploaded by Shutterbug©.

What a great honor to see my own work, along with others in this amazing book by the Rev Stanley Barnes. A coffee table styled pictorial history of the 1859 Revival In Ulster.
As on the previous entry about the book, a fellow blogger asked about the book... here is my reply

The book is titled "a pictorial history 1859 Revival and related awakenings in Ulster". To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Great Awakening, Rev Barnes has created this pictorial history of the 1859 revival and related awakenings in Ulster which has been published now for Christmas time. It's a visual presentation through photographs of the personalities, localities and churches involved in the event of those days.

So if you do decide to buy this book, I hope you enjoy it. It's been a wonderful experience to work on. Also please let me know if you buy or look at a copy. I would be greatly interested in hearing your thoughts on it. Both the contents and the photographs.

It may never happen again so i'm very proud of my work on this.

Time to move on

Doors to close in The Georgian House., originally uploaded by Shutterbug©.

So last week, the doors finally closed on the Georgian House in Comber.

Went to see Ian and got my photos back but was delighted to hear that I'd sold another one (of scrabo tower) so just waiting for the payment for it and have to find somewhere else now to sell my photos.

Ian will be having a new shop down in the antiques courtyard in Greyabbey so shall pop down to see what he's got and Ivor is now over in Paris. Hope whoever takes over the GH will be approachable for displaying and selling more of my stuff... that's if they keep it as a restuarant etc.

Time will tell eh!