A gift voucher can make a lovely present, and this year I'm introducing them for the first time, as we begin to see a little sunshine and the season for lovely, relaxed lifestyle portrait shoots is on the horizon. You can choose exactly what you'd like to cover, perhaps buying a voucher for all (like the the voucher shown) or part of the shoot fee, or you could add in the cost of a framed print or an album if you prefer. I'll happily tailor it for you, including your name and name of the person you're giving the gift to, if you like. That really make a special, very personal gift.

Still on the Isle of Harris, after a trip to Rodel Church (where there's a sad wee stone: "Drowned through the ice. Aged 11"),  we drove up through the astonishing lunar landscape of the east coast. We looked at Beka Globe's wonderful b&w photography at the Mission House, shown alongside Nikolai Globe's ceramics, which echo elements of the surroundings.

A pause in the climbing, tumbling and wrestling, and the brothers rest - on a rooftop. Eek!

I've just spent an afternoon organising prints, including one of this picture to be mounted and sent to grandma in Spain for her to frame out there. I think she'll rather enjoy seeing it on her wall every day...

One of my lovely clients is making a film about their operations, and so when I went to photograph an event for them in Glasgow last week, I met these two smiling people, both charming experts in their field. Good to chat in the bit of downtime we had - don't we all lead such different lives??!!  They were filming and interviewing people I was photographing, and vice versa - and so while they ended up in some of my pictures, I ended up in theirs too. I'm looking forward to seeing their finished product at at my client's big event in London in October. I think. Ho hum!

Capturing a moment like this is why I do what I do.

A family photoshoot in Manchester City Centre - a sunny day, with lots to see and climb on - great fun. And when you're a kid having fun, you haven't got time to be distracted by a woman with a camera - you just get on with the fun!  Having meandered through Castlefield and along the canals around Deansgate, we popped up by the Bridgewater Hall, where there's  a great big marble stone. Quite a challenge for a 10 year old to get onto - and then to stay on - given that it's as smooth as glass, and your brother is literally pulling your leg!

Ben Scarlett is a runner: 800m is his distance. Respect! I met him at Manchester City Stadium for a portrait session, specifically for a piece to appear in the Manchester Evening News next week: just the start of the publicity that will come as he gets into his stride (see what I did there...?) for the run up (and again!) to the 2012 Olympics, for which he's a qualification contender. His day job is a little different - he works with in the finance field, wielding his laptop instead of those rather fearsome spikes. Go, Ben, go!

Well...I do promise that your shoot will be relaxed...  This was a family shoot, including these four cousins. They were all pretty comfortable with the camera, but one, as you can see, was totally chilled!

Well...Mrs H is now in Mauritius with her new husband, both still (they say in todays text), on Cloud 9. Me too! And Mark (and it WASN'T just the Ferrari, he swears - and they both SO know it wasn't!). It was an utterly beautiful day...about which I've promised them I'll blog a little. So here goes...

Jack and Joseph love football, rugby, camping with their dad, their baby sister - and each other. Jack and Joseph love football, rugby, camping with their dad, their baby sister - and each other.

I just LOVE the rings. That blue diamond of Neils is exceptional, and the glitter and sparkle of Laura's gorgeous wedding ring is - well - swoon - words aren't enough! Second-shooter Mark and I arrived at the best man's house promptly. We knew we were in the right place by the sound (1st) of the Ferrari and then the sight (2nd) of it shimmering outside the door. Exhale.

James is a singer/songwriter from Kentucky in the USA, now living in France, who uses both electric and acoustic guitars.  He and Monnika, a writer, live in an astonishingly beautiful cleft in the hills, with two streams (creeks, says James) running through their land, on which they've built a couple of yurts. Listening to him rehearsing in his mountain studio at the time, I was struck by the depth and power of his voice, and Leonard Cohen came to mind.

Neil arrived at St James's Church with best man Dave in a Ferrari Spyder; Laura arrived with her Dad in a vintage Daimler, at a rather more stately pace. The dress was astonishing: a perfect fairytale, fitted above, floating from the waist down like a proper princess dress. The bouquet? Stunning in every respect - from roses, to arums, to ivy, to berries. As she got out of the car, the bells were pealing out. I was in position inside the church, at the front looking back towards the door, listening to the organist playing as people took their seats.

This little sweetie was with her Mum, Claire, at a wedding I shot in the autumn, and she was just mesmerised by the lights when the guy set up the disco after the meal. I love the picture, and with Claire's permission, have had it printed on canvas, a metre and a half wide, for my exhibition, which starts next month. It'll be hung right opposite the door - you won't be able to miss it!

Just spent some time walking and talking with cameras: a photowalk - my favourite way to see my favourite (and home) city, and a very mellow way to share enthusiasm, looking for light and shape in the cityscape. Buildings, bits of buildings, strange juxtapositions, water (the cascade picture below was at one of the Castlefield locks), graffiti - there's so much to catch the attention.  Jo, pictured here,  is a trained fine artist who produces stunning oil paintings, a few of which I'm lucky enough to own, and it's fascinating to see how her eye turns to photography.

I visited Susan at home in 2007 to take her picture, which she wanted to give to her husband in a desk frame for the office. They've moved since then, and it was great to visit her new home,  now that the builders have left, which I think was rather later than Susan had anticipated! - for a family shoot organised this time by her daughters. There are some lovely shots, but this is is my favourite from the day, so far.

I'm delighted to have three images in an exhibition this week and next…it's in Southport, in the lovely, light, bright Wayfarers Arcade in Lord Street, opposite the Town Hall. The exhibition is called "Infinite Variety" and celebrates the beauty of the ageing female face. The original idea came from Dame Harriet Walter, who started collecting images to challenge perceptions of what we consider beauty to be.

Isn't she lovely? Isn't she wonderful? Isn't she precious? We have been heaven blessed... (courtesy of Stevie Wonder, who puts it so very well!) This is Imogen, a smiley delight, the star of last weekend's 4 generation family portrait shoot.  I'm finding myself singing away just looking at her!

A baby is such a precious wee thing at any time; this tiny baby came rather worryingly earlier than planned into the world...but she's fine now, and SO loved. Gracie won't remember being the youngest guest at her Aunt Laura's wedding, but everyone else who was there will, I expect. And of course, Aunt Laura will have quite a few photographs to show her niece the story of the day...

Sophie surprised Lawrence with a photo shoot for their first anniversary. What a great idea. I photographed Sophie's family a couple of years ago, since when she's gone to college, where she met Lawrence - on his last day there! Cutting it a bit fine - but fate was clearly at work. Sophie surprised Lawrence with a photo shoot for their first anniversary. What a great idea.

Séverine and I met on a lovely autumn afternoon at her home in Cheshire, facing south over rolling fields. What a great afternoon we had: a cup of tea here, a glass of wine there, a pause for a bite to eat... chatting all the while, moving from location to location - we got some absolutely wonderful shots, in just one ground floor room and the garden, changing outfits, using just the gorgeous natural light we were blessed with. Great teamwork, Séverine!

Emma and Allison came to visit yesterday - both bringing their baby daughters, both of whom I’ve photographed this year. They’re growing - what a difference a few months makes! Olivia, here, is wearing a gorgeous creation, knitted by her grandmother, and looking absolutely CAPtivating (see what I did there??!!)). We sorted out some photo-books I’ve designed from their earlier shoots, which will make great - and totally unique - Christmas presents. Lovely!

This was a quick and pleasant commission: a single headshot for a professional man who knew what he wanted...an image in black and white, which was - is - direct, strong and straightforward. I really like the result. Clarity pays off, that's for sure.

She's the smallest member of the family, but undoubtedly the star. Albeit a bit of a wobbly one!

I'm working on a slightly different commission at the moment, for a client with a UK-wide organisation, who wants to give every regional office a camera. I've been asked to help produce a guide to go with it, setting out some tips on how to take photographs of people and places with impact and interest for internal and external publication. So over the next few weeks I'm having to do some thinking and writing about photography, which is an interesting change!

Businesses need pictures of their teams, to help them show the personality behind the company, and this company CX hadn't had a new picture taken in several years. When she booked me for her portrait session,  Sue explained that she needed a variety of pictures for different uses - website, annual report and to illustrate a profile of her in a business magazine next week.  We talked through how best to approach it, and she brought a bag with different outfits to the studio. After a strong cup of tea, we got started, using costume changes and varied backdrops to get what we needed. Job done!

I do lots of portraits for people who, when they first contact me, tell me that they hate having their picture taken.  I can well understand it - if its an unpleasant experience and then you don't even like the results, who wouldn't feel negative? I like the challenge, and enjoy spending the time and care it takes to organise a good experience, a relaxed and enjoyable shoot, and get great results - whether the pictures are for work or personal use.

Jessica wore the most vibrant electric blue for her shoot; not just the dress but also the fabulous shoes...yet what do you see - those amazing eyes! They are stunning, even in the black and white images. She has had both of these  pictures framed and hung in her apartment. Visitors never fail to complement her. Quite right...and for her choice of photographer too, I hope!

I love shoots that celebrate an event or milestone in a woman's life - perhaps a birthday or anniversary. I work with a hair and make-up artist, Roxanna, who is wonderful...very talented, with a gentle touch, bringing her film, TV and editorial experience with her. I ask my client to bring several different outfits and some favourite accessories, and we relax into a few hours of fun, shooting outside and inside the studio. Every shoot is different, but every single one is a wonderful experience, just as much for Roxanna and me as for our client, that's for sure! 

Dave and Karolina are both personal trainers - fitness to the power of two! Their portrait shoot was on a Sunday morning; no pressure, no rush. We got some great shots in between cups of green tea and costume changes, just in time to get things organised in time for Christmas presents for families.

What a great afternoon on Sunday, on the PhotoWalk in Manchester's Northern Quarter: three hours of walking and talking, with a wonderful group of photographers. Laura and Neil were kind enough to join us for an hour, to demonstrate how brilliant the area is for portrait and pre-wedding/engagement shoots.  Here they are just a few minutes from Piccadilly Station, by the fork of the Ashton and Rochdale canals.

Great shoot today, with Joshua, his mum and her dad. We did some indoor shots, which were lovely, but had most fun outside by the water. Many ducks were fed, and many mushy leaves were inspected and waggled about in the water - a very busy and productive morning. Great shoot today, with Joshua, his mum and her dad. We did some indoor shots, which were lovely, but had most fun outside by the water.

Here's a couple more images from the PhotoWalk, with Laura and Neil modelling. This area is a car park during the week, but empty at weekends. I must admit that I was a bit worried as the security guard walked towards us as we approached the site: we were a big group (30 of us, all but 2 with cameras) and eveyone slowed down in apprehension. I'd included the site on our route for the colour, textures and patterns of its various walls - they make wonderful backgrounds for portraits.

Family photography with babies is such a pleasure, and the images capture a moment in that family's life forever. These pictures (with others) have just gone into a lovely little album, tied with a satin ribbon, for grandma in Ireland to open on Christmas morning. Aaaah! Family photography with babies is such a pleasure, and the images capture a moment in that family's life forever.

This amazing building, Kaywana Hall, is so sleek and contemporary, perched in among huge trees on a hillside just up from the Dart estuary in Devon. It's full of light, of exceptional quality in every little detail and ...just works! The builders were just finishing off a refurbishment of the huge outdoor pool and two new guest suites, so I had to dodge materials and ladders and piles of tiles to get the shots my client needed.

I met Janet, a nurse, at St Ann’s Hospice, when I was photographing a birthday party there recently, and she mentioned that she was keen to have a picture in her African dress - so I when I was there again a week later we found a spot for a few pictures. That was her last day at St Ann’s - she’s off to do more training.But she has her portrait on canvas at home to remind her of St Ann's - and they have one there at the hospice too, to remind them of Janet!

Clarity Creation are building a website for a new company, headed up by Khrystina, and called me to help with a quick portrait shoot to get her new homepage picture in the bag. Which we did.