Showing posts with label photographers thames valley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photographers thames valley. Show all posts

'The' Weekend for Events...

The weekend just gone was apparently 'the' weekend that everything happened in terms of events and weddings, there were agencies crying out for more Champagne flutes and teams cursing the intern who mis ordered the caviar appetisers & were now attempting to rescue the situation with a emergency trip to Waitrose.  

I did indeed attend (kind of, stay with me here) two weddings.  I was second photographer for Emma Coleman of Blink Photography for a beautiful wedding at Pembroke Lodge, a regular venue for Emma I had never ventured there before and was very much taken with the outside terrace and the willing staff who kept offering me alcohol based refreshments!  If you keep an eye on her blog there will be a posting soon I am sure, look out for the shot of the white chocolate cake, yes that is the cake I resisted sticking my finger in to lick off the icing!

The evening saw me head over to Ayslesbuty for probably the plushest wedding I have ever laid eyes on...a stunning display of stretch tents, bespoke cushions, bar and bunny shaped lighting.  Some sneeky peeks below for you which were taken on behalf of Ten By Fifteen structures.  If your into tents or moonlight might just be your thing.

The other event I attended, this week actually but hey ho, was the launch of the new Toyota Lexus Hybrid Auris...phew thats a title.  It was held in Cambridge and managed by TMB and was filled with pretty pink lights, free luxury beverages and check it out - an old school games room!  Loved by many this room featured Pac Man, Table football and Space Invaders...images to follow soon.

On an entirely separate note if you wish to see a posting I did on Networking in Berkshire re Twitter then click on me.  I by no means posses some magic key to the door of Twitter knowledge however I have found a local clan of professionals who meet in a rather nice bar and talk tech; offering advise, guidance and also a networking opportunity.  I am going just for the board games and Jelly beans!   




A little Rouge....

The Tuesday chin wag is early for a change, OK its actually a week overdue but hey today is a Monday so let me live the dream.   I bring you today a chat to Rouge Media, a lovely agency just down the road from me in Berks.  I had the pleasure of meeting Andy who heads up this creative hub....lets get nosey!


Andy, why the name Rouge?
We wanted a name that we could grow into.. Something that sounded like a big agency but was still very approachable.  The name came out of the idea that we add colour to marketing materials - 'adding a touch of rouge.'
Your not web monkeys as far as I am aware...so what animal is Rouge if it had to be one and why?
I've always felt that we operate well as a team of specialists looking out for each other, so maybe meerkats. I know a wolf pack would sound better but we are just a bit more friendly than that!
Can you tell us something about your latest project that you think illustrates why Rouge are so fabulous darling?
Just now we are doing some work for Mclaren, but i can say no more than that as its top secret!
Our latest launch is for East Youth Dance.  This is a community dance website for the East of England.  It's a relatively small site right now but will grow as the dance network starts to populate it with evens, news, groups and activities.  I guess that what i like about it best, the website will eventually take on a life of its own,
Now I bought you cake when i came to see you...other than sugary treats what other things make you stand up and take notice or would be a good thank you?
We love cake, but pork pies or scotch eggs would be outstanding.
Pick one....Telephone, Good old letter, Email, Twitter or a Post it note.
Email.  I can still remember sending my first email in 95.  It was like a form of magic!  Amazing its now so essential everyday.
What's it really like working in an office full of young creatives - juicy gossip, fashion disasters and mad brainstorming meetings?
Sadly its not like that anymore.  We are all quite nerdy serious about what we do.  I cant even say we work hard, play harder.  Its about being professional and delivering the goods.  That not to say we don't have fun doing it but the playboy days of champagne lunches have long gone.  Its better now.  It certainly means that the industry gets taken more seriously, I'm no longer afraid of those awkward introductions...and what do you do?
I notice your doing free website checks at the moment, can you tell us a little more about it?
Websites are often launched then forgotten, they can rapidly go out of date and fall apart.  As a freebie we will spend a couple of hours with our site on our consultation couch, find if there are any issues then help suggest remedies.  Unashamedly this is a route to new business for us but the things we recommend can be things you can do yourself, we are big fans of people taking control of their own websites.
What other things does Rouge do that we may not know about?
We have great experience of logos, branding and advertising.
An lastly, a quick fire round.....
  • Favourite word - Spoon
  • Favourite book - Magician by Raymond Feist
  • Scariest thing about running your own business - The tax man
  • CD you currently have playing in your car - Falcon by The Courteeners
  • The last thing that made you laugh - My kids drawing all over their own faces
  • Last time you dug, delved and had a good poke around what did you find? - A good friend that i lost touch with nearly 15 years ago.  He wasn't down he back of the sofa or anything, turns out he was only in Richmond.
Thank you to Andy at Rouge!  Check his digits below.


Fashion and Footwear....Designer spotting

Thursday night I was invited to the TVU Ealing graduate fashion show, an event supported by Toni & Guy, The London College of Music and the Creatie Campus Initiative.  Going along was a chance for me to not only see some old faces from my study days but also to see some of the designers that will hopefully be taking part in the 'Be Part of it...' workshop in July.  There were some amazing designs so keep those fingers crossed!




RWHS and an alternative view of Reading....

This weekend saw Royal Windsor Tattoo on Friday night and then a second shooter on a wonderful wedding Saturday.  Sunday my official day off was fruitfully enjoyed in bed until midday with a crash and burn of happiness when I looked at the amount of cleaning & washing that needed doing!  

On a non domestic note things are moving (ok slowly but there moving ok!) on the portfolio front and I have started really looking at images that sum up my photography, one image for the possibilities a good events PR image can offer...surely not...yes, be sure.  I have tomorrow afternoon dedicated to writing copy and have the lovely Resonate helping with marketing therefore am thankfully being forced to get back on the marketing plan bandwagon.  Why is marketing so mind boggling, its like a vast sea with ever changing currents and each slippery rock you hold onto just promises more possibility of drowning!?

Anyway enough babble, the community project I have coming up in July is keeping me focussed on at least one thing (official PR to follow) and the fact that tomorrow evening the D5 mark 2 is being purchased, yes that 'buy' button is being pressed.  Get ready for an excitement overload as I start posting those annoying look at the difference photographs!

Another idea is brewing and I would love your help actually.....if you are a small business undergoing a rebrand or a start up company what is the one area photography wise you would like covered? Websites, portraits, twitter, your blog, a newsletter? Tell all....I have something exclusively for you guys but just want to put that cherry on the top!





Oh...above...some alternative views of Reading for your PR perusal