Fellow Photographers,

As you will know from previous newsletters, this coming Saturday I have an open day at the studio to celebrate 10 years as a professional photographer (and my 50th Birthday). I already know that many of you are going to call in at various times during the day and I am looking forward to see you.

In preparation for the open day I have been planing events and workshops for the rest of the year. I now have themes worked out for all the Friday Night events that I will be leading and dates for many of the full day events and workshops. It is taking a little while to put all that information on to the website, but at the time of writing, I’ve got 16 different events posted – and able to accept bookings. Take a look at the “Full Programme” section of this newsletter.

I’ll just hightlight a couple of those events. Firstly this week we still have two places available at our “Art Nude Triptychs” event. Next week is “Props, props, props” the concept for that event came from an exercise I set up on the “comprehensive studio photography course”. The exercise is all about learning to direct models and create fun images with energy… and because of how I am setting up the event no two photographers will have the same images. Once our model has use a prop with one photographer it cannot be used again for anyone else until there has been a change of outfit.

Finally I want to give you advance warning of two special events coming up early in June. Firstly we have Jess Wilcock returning to the studio on Saturday 8th June. Jess’s event have always sold out in the past so please book early if you don’t want to be disappointed. Two days after Jess’s visit to the studio, on Monday 10th June, we have a special one off event – a pregnancy shoot with model Strawberry Venom. Strawberry Venom has been a regular at the studio, and when it comes to striking a pose she is one of the best models I know. This is an event not to be missed.

For full details of all this and more… please read on…

Forthcoming Events

Friday, 17 May 2013 – Art Nude Triptychs

Art Nude Triptychs

Location: Ian’s Studio
Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Price: £29

For tonight’s Friday Night at the Studio event we are going to take a different perspective on Art Nude photography. The aim from each set up is to create 3 images that will work together to form a triptych.A triptych is a display of three images that work well together. These may be three complimentary images, three contrasting image, or even three sections of a single image.

At this event we will look at various ideas which we can use to find three images from one or more set-ups. We will look at techniques such as using props as a common feature, the use of poses to unite the three images.

It is planned that we will include bodyscape triptychs as as well as more traditional art nude triptychs.

Details of the model for this event will be announced shortly.

Price: £29

Please book via my website: http://www.ians-studio.co.uk/events/art-nude-triptychs/

Saturday, 18 May 2013 – Celebration Open Day

Celebration Open Day

Location: Ian’s Studio
Time: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Price: £

On 19th May 2003 – I became a full-time, freelance photographer. A little over 2 years previously I set myself the goal of going freelance before I was 40. I made it with 4 days to spare.

To celebrate those 10 years as a freelance photographer and to celebrate my 50th birthday I am having a studio open day.

Free use of the studio facilities, plenty of chance to socialise over cups of tea and coffee. The day is open to photographers, models, make-up artists and anyone else who knows me and who just wants to drop in.

I’m not taking booking for this, but it would really help be if you can let me know if you are coming and approximately what time. I wouldn’t want to run out of biscuits!

Please book via my website: http://www.ians-studio.co.uk/events/celebration-open-day/

Friday, 24 May 2013 – Props, props, props

Props, props, props

Location: Ian’s Studio
Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Price: £25

For tonight’s Friday Night at the Studio event, we are going to look at the challenge of working with props. We are going to look at how simple props can dramatically change the images we are creating.

Working with an experienced model the format of the evening will be a series of quick rounds where you direct the model to use a single prop in lots of different ways. Keeping each round short encourages you to think quickly and experiment to create a variety of looks.

We have a range of props at the studio including hats, glasses, feather bowers, telephones, swords, wigs, lengths of material, etc.

Details of the model for this event will be published shortly.

Price: £25

Please book via my website: http://www.ians-studio.co.uk/events/props-props-props/

Friday, 31 May 2013 – Vintage/Pin-up Night with Laura Norrey

Vintage/Pin-up Night with Laura Norrey

Location: Ian’s Studio
Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Price: £29

Popular vintage/pin-up model Laura Norrey comes to Ian’s Studio tonight for her first “Friday Night at the Studio” event.

Laura has featured on posters for the Saddleworth Vintage & Handmade Fair and on the front cover of The Vintage Directory, as well as creating and modelling for a 50s pin-up charity calendar (Memory Lane), which raised over £2,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society.

We will be concentrating on the 1950′s for this vintage shoot – so think Hollywood Glamour, think Rock-a-billy, think pin-up!

You can see examples of Laura’s work on Purpleport: http://purpleport.com/portfolio/lauranorrey/?referrer=iansstudio and also on her facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/Laura.Norrey/photos

Price: £29

Please book via my website: http://www.ians-studio.co.uk/events/vintagepin-up-night-with-laura-norrey/

Friday, 7 June 2013 – RPS Distinctions Night

RPS Distinctions Night

Location: Ian’s Studio
Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Price: £12

Something a bit different for this “Friday Night at the Studio” event. I keep getting people asking me what is involved in getting an LRPS or and ARPS from the Royal Photographic Society. At this event I will explain the process. I will show you my LRPS and ARPS panels and provide you with some feedback/critique on any panels you are planing to submit to the society.

This event is a rerun of the RPS distinctions night that I ran a year ago. Those who attended last time found the event very helpful in preparing their submissions.

Please Note: Although I am a member of the RPS and I have an ARPS distinction. I hold no position with the RPS and this session is not authorised by the RPS. The views expressed are my own and are based on lessons I learned while preparing my own images for submission.

Price: £12

Please book via my website: http://www.ians-studio.co.uk/events/rps-distinctions-night-2/

From the Blog…

“Is there still space for….”

One of the most frequent questions I get asked either by phone or by email is this: “Are there still spaces available for…. (Insert name of event here)”.

I honestly don’t have any problems with answering that question either on the phone or by email, but I will let you in to a little secret… the booking system on the website is intelligent; it will only let you book if there are spaces available (and the software bug that did allow over booking a few months ago has been fixed).

I am still more than happy to tell over the phone if places are available or not. But if you ever find you can’t sleep at night because you don’t know if there is space for the latest event or not – there is no need to ring me at 3am to ask. (Not that anyone ever has rung me at that time of day!) – just go to the booking form and the maximum number in the “spaces” dropdown box shows you how many places are still available for that event.

Happy booking!