It's that time of year again, and I can't tell you how excited we are about it! Last year we worked with Dogs Trust Salisbury and Baskerville Press to run a competition to find the 12 most gorgeous hounds to feature in a bespoke calendar. We're doing the same again this year, only bigger and better.

Every dog is beautiful and we want to photograph as many of them as possible. The old showbiz adage of never working with children or animals goes out the window with photography. Kids and pets are brilliant to work with; they are happy to spend time with you without asking questions, and more importantly they have no preconception about their looks. A dog doesn't worry if he's come out with his breakfast round his chops, and a child couldn't care less if his hair hasn't been brushed. They have no idea about what makes a good picture and are completely at ease and natural around the camera, which gives us the chance to have some real fun and get some wonderful pictures. I'll attempt to upload them as we go on here for all to see. In advance though here are a few from last time. A cracker, each and every one.

Have you ever tried to write illuminating and effervescent prose whilst listening to Radio 4's finest comedy? When you get to the end of this see how well you think I've done!

We went to a fantastic event at Salisbury's Arts Centre the other evening. As members of the Business Members Group we are entitled to tickets to a few shows a year, and last week we were privvy to Laura Solon's Rabbit Faced Story Soup - I would urge everyone to catch her show if possible. The woman is brilliant, a comic genius. Marvellous.

http://www.salisburyartscentre.co.uk/working-with-business/business-members-group.aspx

http://www.laurasolon.com/live/

So what else is new? Well, we will be out and about at various shows and events over the next few weeks. Catch us at the Child's Play event, promoted by our good friends Ladies Who Love. They put on a huge variety of events which are always well-organised. If you're looking for something for the little people in your life this is an event not to be missed -

http://ladieswholove.co.uk/index.php/childs-play-the-birth-to-big-school-show-fun-for-all-the-family/

We've also got wedding fairs, craft fairs, conferences and sittings a-plenty over the next month. Catch us at the Ludgershall and Romsey wedding fairs, Salisbury's Guildhall for a craft fair and not forgetting the Fleet 1/2 Marathon this coming Sunday; we'll be there in force to get shots of people running their socks off in the pre-London warmup. Good luck to all who are taking part and give us a smile on your way round.

http://www.fleethalfmarathon.com/index.htm

What a cutie! Isn't he the most beautiful baby? Young master Cornwell came in to see us a couple of days shy of his 3-month birthday. He was trying manfully to manoeuvre himself but just couldn't quite manage it. It won't be long before he's running his parents ragged!

In other news, we've just come back from our annual trip to the biggest photographic trade show in the country, and happily managed to spend very little. A new Wacom tablet was the only thing to have made it back with us, although some new studio management software won't be far behind. I can't tell you how excited I am by this prospect - sometimes things look like they'll change the way you work for the better, and if this software is even half as good as it looks my admin will be a joy to behold.

Coming up we've got more baby shoots, which are always great fun, and the main event of the spring: Anthony's trip to the French Alps for some skiing and fantastic photography opportunities. The pics will be up by the middle of April, so check back then.

How is it February already? Where did January go? So much for my new year's resolution...
Anyway, plenty coming up to keep us - and you - amused. We had a wonderful shoot with baby Harry before Christmas: a beautiful 2-week-old who behaved fantastically and gave us some cracking expressions. We've got 3-month-old Lennon coming in to see us with his mum next week, and we'll post some of his pictures here. At the weekend we'll be at the Baby Show at the Guildhall in Salisbury, where we'll have some offers and products available. It's going to be a lot of fun; come and say hello. http://www.funkymoose.co.uk/index.php?main_page=page&id=39&chapter=0

And what about our latest offer? Well, it's that time of year again, and whether you love it or loathe it sometimes it's nice to indulge for, or in spite of, Valentine's Day. Book a boudoir shoot with us before Feb 28th for only £350 - we'll supply the hair and makeup artist, the champagne, the chocoloates and a framed image, you provide the glamour. Dare to bare as much - or as little - as you like and we promise you'll feel amazing. You've seen How To Look Good Naked, now do it for yourself! Give us a call or drop us a line to book your shoot.

'Til next time...

Almost the new year...

...and with it a revamped studio. We are busy clearing, sorting and tidying and are looking forward to starting 2010 with a bang. More posts, replete with news, pictures, wit and wisdom, and not only that, regularly updated. The biggest piece of news lately is that Fiona has become an aunt - Lennon Finley will hopefully be gracing these pages soon. For now have a ganders at a couple of recent pics. Happy new year.

Better late than never....

Well, here we are again. It isn't lack of will that prevents me writing these posts, more a lack of time. Things have been going quite nicely lately, with bookings coming in for the new year and some more last-minute Christmas Balls adding to our mix of portraits, corporate work and commissions.

Our garden project is on-going. This is a year-long (and a bit more) project to capture the different seasons and flora and fauna, and is resulting in some cracking photographs.

The Dogs Trust Calendar has been selling well - if you haven't got yours yet what's keeping you? The 12 hounds gracing the pages are all worthy covergirls (and boys) and it really is a beautiful calendar. Function and form, what more do you need?

We had a lovely booking a while ago at Buckingham Palace - the Not Forgotten Association is a military charity doing a lot of good work.

We've been doing more for the local Vets, some more calendar work - not dogs this time - for local businesses and taking part in the Art Trail, among other things. Coming up we've got balls, parties and functions, races, events and sittings, and some new and exciting ideas to reveal in the new year. Oh yes...

Quiet in cyberspace, busy in real life

Apologies one and all for the delay in posting anything new. What's the good of a blog if it doesn't get written I hear you cry. I quite agree and can only apologise for being a little slack this end. It doesn't mean we haven't been busy, oh no, quite the contrary. Among other things we've had an awful lot of fun over the last couple of months taking portraits of dogs for the 2010 Dogs Trust Salisbury calendar. This all came to a head on Sunday 2nd August at the open day, where you, the Great British public, kindly voted for your favourites. The 12 with the most votes will feature in the calendar, designed by us to grace your walls with something useful and at the same time beautiful to look at. The calendars will be available to buy from October from us here in the studio as well as Salisbury Dogs Trust Rehoming Centre: http://www.dogstrust.org.uk , and all proceeds will go to Dogs Trust.

Right, that's your lot for the time being. There's plenty more - the last few months have seen us at RAF Odiham, Buckingham Palace, summer balls a-plenty and portrait sittings left, right and centre. I promise to keep you posted soon...