News

In the build up to the new wedding photography partnership,there will be a few changes to the content of this site. Model and dance portfolios are moving over to a sister site (details to be announced) leaving this site to concentrate on events and portraits. Weddings are also included temporarily.

This will make everything much clearer and easier for you the customer, to use. If you want wedding photography, you will see wedding photography. If you want to book us for an event, you will find the event photography.

It is a little chaotic when businesses grow and change. I hope this transition isn't too disruptive for you.

Meanwhile enjoy the photographs!

At the beginning of January I said that I was creating a new partnership. Well, this has now moved even closer to reality. Initially we will be specialising in wedding photography and our website will be live in March. I'll let you know when... It's fresh, it's exciting and if you are about to get married (or thinking of it!), it's just what you need. Feel free to contact me in the meantime.

After we have the wedding service up and running, we will be looking at our other exciting ideas, particularly in the area of corporate photography. Stay tuned!

The event season is now beginning to pick up again which is good news for all us event photographers! Already there is a large number of bookings in my diary. If you are organising any form of event, a school prom, a charity ball, an anniversary party, or even celebrations for next Christmas(!!), please do contact us now to discuss with us how we can help to make your event even more special.

Looking forward to working with you and hopefully photographing you in 2012, or at the very least, hearing from you....

First of all, Happy New Year to you all. I hope the coming year will be safe, peaceful and prosperous for you all.

During 2012 many things will be happening. I've entered into a partnership with my good friend and colleague Will Sherratt (known by many as Mr Will) to deliver an exciting, innovative and creative wedding photography service. More details will be appearing on here in due course and we will be launching a new website very soon packed full of all the information you need as bride and groom to get the very best photographs of your special day, as well as with photographs - of course!!

The event photography service is also being improved. We've been listening to people as well as taking their photos. There is a lot to celebrate out there - birthdays, anniversaries, school proms, seasonal events. We will be offering much more in 2012 to help make your occasion a night to remember.

And there will be plenty more to come! It's going to be an exciting year for us and hopefully we can share it with you.

Best wishes for 2012!!!

Last night was an extraordinary celebration with the NYF. Great bunch of people, all game for a laugh with their photos. Thank you all for taking part and I look forward to seeing you all again very soon!

The Christmas event season has been a real success. We had a residency at the Shropshire Golf Centre in Telford, met some great people there who were really into the party spirit. Thanks to all the staff there for their help and support and Merry Christmas to you all.

Last night we went to Stone to help the Young Farmers celebrate Christmas. This party was a real cracker in a marquee with many more guests than expected. It was a celebration in the true spirit of the Young Farmers and if you weren't there you missed out!!

Merry Christmas to everyone. Hope you have a wonderful, peaceful year to come and we look forward to working with you in 2012!!

We're starting our Christmas residency at the Shropshire Golf Centre in Telford on Friday 1st December. Looking forward to a full programme of events and to meeting and photographing the guests. All parties have a Hollywood theme, so plenty of scope for the green screen. Hopefully we'll see some of you there!

Last night we attended the Foundation's fundraiser at the magnificent Liner Hotel in Liverpool. It was a great night for everyone. The theme for the evening was Cinderella and so once again the green screen played a major part in our activities. The Foundation, like so many similar organisations, desperately needs money to fund its research and awareness raising. Roy Castle was a major inspiration and his spirit lives on in the determination of a group of firefighters who this year drove a fire engine round the world and raised £120,000 en route. Events like this don't make that much money, but every little counts and we are so proud to be able to support the Foundation.

Today we re-launched our wedding photography services. We offer a full range of photography to suit your needs and your budget and we offer both traditional styles as well as something that little bit more special. We'll post more about our packages but if you are planning your weddin g now, call us on 07932 194779 or send a message through our contact page. we look forward to helping you celebrate your special day!

It was a pleasure to provide our event services at the Severn Hospice ball at Shrewsbury Town's stadium on Saturday. Everybody had made a real effort with their costumes as you can see on our gallery page. The bands were first class and there was a great sense of enjoyment in the air! We had great fun taking the photographs and using our green screen to place guests in suitably creepy backgrounds. Severn Hospice is a worthy charity to support, being largey dependent on public donations and we are honoured to have been a part of the event. Looking forward to supporting the hospice again in the future.

On November 12th the Tern Hill Hall Hotel in Market Drayton is hosting a seasonal event in aid of the Severn Hospice. We will be at the fair offering a new range of portraits for Christmas. A family portrait is an ideal gift at Christmas and we have some tempting packages available. Come along to the fair and discuss with us which package best suits your requirements and to book your portrait session which will take place at Tern Hill Hall on a date confirmed when you make your booking. If you can't make it between 10.00am and 3.00pm on November 12th, call us on 07932 194779 or use the contact page if you would like more details or to make a booking.

Christmas discount vouchers are currently available at any of the events we are attending during November and December. These offer 20% off our normal rates if bookings are made before January 30th 2012. The vouchers are not redeemable for cash. Travel expenses for journeys greater than a 25 mile radius of Market Drayton are chargeable at 50p per mile over the 25 mile limit. For more information about our portrait packages contact us by email to discuss the exact portrait that you want.

Here at Alan R Taylor Photography, we produce images for model portfolios that are distinctive, stylish and unique. We understand just how important a set of images can be to new, aspiring models as well as those established in their craeer and seeking a fresh portfolio. We also appreciate how expensive it can be when you are starting out in your career and we offer comprehensive packages to suit your budget. We alway listen to what you want to achieve in your portfolio, and then we deliver. Call us to discuss your portfolio, and get ahead in your career.

We all take for granted those 'bits of kit', those 'things' that make our life so much easier. The mobile phone, the car, the TV, the toaster. Rarely do we stop and think about how much easier our life has become through using any of the millions of devices available to us. Even more rarely do we think too much about how they have opened up our world, not just physically, but through communication and the ability to share ideas and show the world what we as individuals are capable of.

I got my first Mac several years ago and was instantly amazed at how much easier it was to use than Windows. More importantly I saw how the iMac opened up all new possibilities to me as a creative person. Later, with integration that is the hallmark of Apple, I was able to link with my MacBook and my iPhone and business became much more rounded.

It was with great sadness I heard of the death of Steve Jobs. He was an inspiration not only to my generation, but I am sure will be to many to come. His apparent casual approach to development and to business I found refreshing at a time when suited corporate was the norm. He was a perfect exampe of how following your dream and your passion will make you successful when teamed up with hard work and determination. His vision was infectious.

About six years ago he gave a speech to the graduates of Stanford University in America. Please take the time to watch it by following the link below and remember, "Stay hungry. Stay Foolish".

Steve Jobs

Last Friday we attended a Ladies Night at the White Horse Tavern in Telford to help raise funds for the special care baby unit in Shrewsbury. Ladies Nights are something special and as a man attending one I've got to say its great fun. The ladies were out for a good time and they certainly had one with their entertainers! Combine tis with the cause behind the event and you have an impressive level of generosity! As an event it was fast moving in between strippers and drag queens. The ladies wanted their photos and were keen to have them straight away but always with a sense of fun. Well done to all for a successful night and looking forward to working with you again!

It's always a pleasure to teach photography to others. At various times in my career I have met and worked with some fantastic people. Most of these have had little opportunity to take up photography, perhaps due to financial considerations, or perhaps due to cultural background. Or perhaps any other reason! Some of these people have been labelled as difficult, hard to reach, disruptive, excluded, etc.

In variably I've found there to be a whole range of talented and creative people out there. Some of the photographs by the people I have worked with display a keen eye, a technical competence and a sense of humour as well as an empathy for their subject. As a photographer this inspires me. You never stop learning.

Tonight I am starting a short course for women in the Burslem area of Stoke-on-Trent. This will really compliment my already running course with students at the Grove School in Market Drayton. Different skill sets and different expectations, but all with a desire to learn something more about photography.

Last night's Ball proved to be as glittering as promised. Set in the Devere White Venue at Bolton Wanderer's Reebok Stadium about 200 guests were entertained by X Factor and Britain's Got Talent finalists and Natasha Hamilton formerly of Atomic Kitten whilst supporting the Wipe Your Tears Charity. We provided the event photography service and we are delighted to have helped support this children's charity. Photographs of guests enjoying a paparazzi style red carpet welcome and the chance to get up close to Jamie Archer can be seen on our gallery page. We are very committed to supporting charities through event photography. If you are organising an event do not hesitate to call us on 07932 194779 to discuss how we can help you.

The Teardrop Ball
De Vere Whites, Bolton
Thursday 22nd September 2011

We are very pleased to be working with our friends at So Beautiful Events to raise money for the Wipe Your Tears children's charity. The event will be a glittering occasion with X Factor's Jamie Archer, Atomic Kitten Natasha Hamilton and BGT's Les Gibson providing the entertainment.

It's always a pleasure to work alongside charities and to raise money for them through event photography. This is a busy time of year for charity balls and celebrations, especially now Christmas is making its appearance in the shops! Last Saturday we had a great time working with the wonderful team from the Winsford Neuromuscular Centre at their 'Alice in Wonderland' Ball held at the beautiful Nunsmere Hall Hotel in Cheshire. This coming Saturday we'll be at Carden Park in Chester with the Bliss Baby Charity. Look forward to photographing you there!

I'll be photographing the participants at the 2011 Show of Strength in Stoke-on-Trent on September 10th. Plenty of awards being given out, so looking forward to working with all who take part. Fenton Manor, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2RR.