Billy beat my Godfather!

Meeting and photographing Billy Connolly was beyond bliss. His brand of funny has made me laugh out loud for as long as I can remember. Little did the great man know that I had a score to settle. Back in the heady days of Celtic folk in the backstreets of Glasgow Billy picked a fight with my Godfather, the songwriter, singer and novelist Dominic Behan. No doubt drink was taken and by all accounts Billy stumbled off the victor. The fight was broken up by the legendary Dubliners lead singer Ronnie Drew. Billy assures me that he returned the next day to apologise and that the three men remained great friends from then on. Many thanks to Martin at Reader's Digest for helping with the reconciliation.

Sky High

A few posters from my recent shoot for Sky. The campaign also included Sir Chris Hoy, Perri Shakes-Drayton, and a host of Sky viewers and staff.

Bling!

I don't know about you but I thought the Olympics were really rather good. Boothnation's Adidas photobooths in Loughborough and Stratford photographed all of Team GB and many more athletes over seven weeks. Here are just three from the set. But who are they? Answers on a postcard please.

Pop Art at the Photobooth Festival

Just three shots from the Pop Art Photobooth taken at our wildly popular Photobooth Festival. Ten different booths captured an amazing 18,000 images over two happy days. To see more shots click here.

So wish I had a ticket

An inspiring ten days traversing the country to photograph some of Team GB's Olympic hopefuls for Camelot.  You just wouldn't believe their dedication. Sadly, I'll be rooting for each and every one of them from the comfort of my living room. Anyone got a ticket to spare? 
Art direction by Caroline Dolan.

The Photo Booth Festival

Be part of history at the World's first ever Photobooth Festival on Saturday 21st of July. Indulge yourself and the family in some of the most innovative and creative booths on the planet.
Featured booths include Dinky Dub (the campervan booth) fresh from Latitude, the Pop Art Booth (thanks Andy), the Discobooth (Ah, Ah, Ah, stayin alive) and the Toddlerbooth (the World's smallest).

Free makeovers courtesy of The Powder Puff Girls with Rough Trade DJs on the decks. Bean About Town will delight your palate as you marvel at your moment in the spotlight.
The first of it's kind in the history of photography. If you've ever had fun in a photobooth  you really will love this. To secure your place in history just click here.

Look in the eyes. Don't look around the eyes!

Here's a shot from a lovely day spent in the company of the charming and multi talented Derren Brown. His wonderful show Svengali returns to London in July. I've seen it, it's fab. If you need an antidote to the  Olympics, go and see Svengali.

Headspace

An image from last Sunday's shoot which was titled Headspace. Back to basics with a very simple lighting set up. This little girl will surely go far.
To see the rest of the shoot click here.

Highlights

Had a moment this evening to review some of this year's Sunday Shoots. This portrait from January reminds me what a privilege it is to have an open public shoot each week.

The Seating Plan

Last Sunday's shoot was called The Seating Plan, ariel views of the public in my very basic set. A fun shoot with some lovely surprise guests. To see the project please click here.

Skinner Dipping

A steamy shoot for Sport Relief with the lovely Frank Skinner at Marshall Street Baths. Frank's challenge for this year's Sport Relief may well eclipse some of the other participant's  feats in terms of sheer bravery. Frank is learning to swim. He will face his lifelong fear of water by swimming 25 meters in front of millions of viewers on Sport Relief Weekend (23rd-25th March). Well, that's the plan anyway. To find out more and to find out how you can take part please click here. Good luck Frank.

Hello Sailor!

Sir Robin Knox Johnston was the first person to sail single handed and non-stop around the world.This epic journey took place between June 1968 and April 1969. He went on to have an illustrious sailing career winning just about every race there is. Despite being nautical royalty he regaled us all throughout the shoot with many a salty tale and his distinctive brand of humour. He very kindly sent me a copy of his book 'A World of My Own' , the gripping account of his extraordinary journey. I read it in one sitting. I have a new hero!

Ade Edmondson lets rip

This month's cover feature for Reader's Digest featuring the life force that is Adrian Edmondson. The article is on his take on happiness and I had planned to have him jumping for joy. Unfortunately the poor man turned up with a broken foot so that idea was shelved. Memories of  The Young One's Vyvyan bursting through the title frame for 'The Good Life' inspired this hastily prepared set up.

Table Setting

Mrs Ryan and I bought this table back in 1990. Although the family have out grown it, I never had the heart to get rid of it. Yesterday's Sunday Shoot saw it back in action once more as visitors got to experience it's knotty charms in a table top portrait session. The project will be online from Wednesday. www.sundayshoots.com 

Ugo Boss!

Rugby stars Ugo Monye, Tim Payne and Danny Care all took part in this charity shoot in aid of the Prostate Cancer Charity. Funds and much needed awareness are being raised through sales of 'The Blue' a custom fitted mouthguard. Ugo was very charming. He called me a complete flanker. At least that's what I think he said.....

Stars on Sunday

A wonderful first Sunday Shoot of the year. Winter brings out the characters and it was my joyous privilege to photograph the hardy souls who braved the chill to visit the studio on this frosty morn. To see the rest of the shoot click here.

Oliver leaves London

Cameron Mackintosh's spectacular touring production of Oliver! opens this month in Cardiff. Once more I had a great day photographing new cast members at the studio. Samantha Barks is the new Nancy and Iain Fletcher will be scaring the children as Bill Sikes. Neil Morrissey and Brian Conley play Fagin at selected venues. To find out more about the tour click here.

Helen of the Antarctic

Blue Peter's daring presenter Helen Skelton is about to embark on a gruelling 500 mile trip across Antartica  to reach the South Pole for Sport Relief 2012. I shot this publicity shot just after she had completed her training in Iceland. She's s really lovely person and an inspiration to so many young people.
At this shoot I realised a lifetime ambition. Helen presented me with my very own Blue Peter badge! I shall treaure it always. To find out more about Helen's challenge and how you can support this great cause please click here.

The Great Escape

This Sunday (November 20th) I'm rolling out the red paper for this year's vibrant portrait session. I hasten to add that this is in no way an attempt to garner print orders for Christmas. To see last year's shoot click here.

If you go down to the woods today...

A small woodland set, complete with Silver Birch and half a ton of mulch, was the setting for last weekend's Sunday Shoot. There seems to be a tree hugger in all of us. To see more from the session please click here.

Bank Job

I got to show the more acceptable face of banking in this campaign for the Co-Operative Bank.
Ageny: TBWA Manchester    Art Director: Paul Gregson  Wrangler: John Allen

Fresher's Week

Here's the first from a campaign I shot in July for Listerine Zero. Facial gymnastics courtesy of the uniquely talented and very funny Hollis Wakeema from Nevs. Art direction by Andy Smith. Agency JWT London.

Coals to Newcastle (Flowers to Columbia Road)

Five years of Sunday Shoots and this is the first time I have included flowers in a set up. For this series of 'flower' portraits I called on the unique talents of floral artist Rebecca Law (that's her in the picture top left although she really isn't that scary in real life). Rebecca is a prolific artist and teacher and is known for her  beautiful artworks in public spaces. Check her site by clicking here.
To see the Flower Portraits project click here.

The Catalyst Club

The Catalyst Club is a pioneering venture initiated by Cancer Research UK to raise £10 million to help in the advancement of personalised cancer treatment, where a person's genetic make-up and that of their cancer are used to treat their condition. I was commissioned to photograph some of the leading scientists in the field and the selfless cancer survivors who volunteer their support. James Caan is the Catalyst Club patron.

Rupert Grint White Magic

Now appearing on buses up and down the country my calcium rich shoot with Harry Potter star and very nice man Rupert Grint. Art Directed by advertising legend John Merriman from Kindred.

Beauty

I haven't done a beauty test in an age. Must do more. This is Laura Dodd from MOT who dropped in for a high speed shoot last week. Make up by Simona vankova at Artistic Licence.

Seamus uncovered!

Had the pleasure of being interviewed by the very pleasant Suzanne Kentish for The Photography Parlour, a nicely put together photography blog aimed at professionals and keen amateurs. To read the piece and discover more about the blog, please click here.

Downton Abbey Spoof for Comic Relief

A wonderful couple of days spent with the cast and crew of Comic Relief's hilarious take on hit period drama Downton Abbey.  Uptown Downstairs Abbey airs this Friday night as part of Red Nose Day on BBC1. To recreate the poster I had the privilege of photographing, among talented others, Harry Enfield, Jennifer Saunders, Victoria Wood, Kim Cattrall, Joanna Lumley, Tim Vine and Simon Callow. A good day to be a photographer.

Samantha Womack

A Reader's Digest cover shoot with a very nice person, Samantha Womack. Samantha had just returned from Kibera in Kenya (Africa's largest slum) where she had been filming a fundraising documentary for Comic Relief. She had also just announced her departure from Eastenders.

The Pies have it

Four charming chaps shot for the new Ginsters campaign. Actors Gareth Farr, Keir Charles, Samual Anderson and Tom Kane piled on their best smooth and smarmy expressions to win over the ladies in their lives. Agency: Grey London. Creatives: Nick Rowland and Giles Montgomery.