The Dolls are Louise McCarthy (Only an Excuse?) and Gayle Telfer Stevens (River City) and I wrote about working with them before. When their Dolls Abroad tour finally hit the King's Theatre in Glasgow earlier this spring (for 3 sold out shows no less) I was asked to document the process of putting the show together. It was a very, very long day but in all honesty, it was one of the most rewarding working experiences I've had. Have a look at some of the shots below:
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Celtic Orbit
Celtic Orbit is a musical collaboration between acclaimed pianist Barry Douglas and Eimear McGeown (Flute), Catriona McKay (Harp) and Chris Stout (Fiddle). I photographed and filmed part of their rehearsal process at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall earlier this year, have a look below:
Christine Bovill Album Promo
I've written about working with Christine Bovill, the chanteuse supreme, on a couple of occasions (here and here) but we actually go way back. When I was a student in the early 2000s, I used to work at this Italian coffee shop in Finnieston called Espresso. Christine may be best known for singing in French but she also has a soft spot for all things Italian and was a frequent visitor at the café as she lived nearby (she named her debut album Derby Street after all). Eventually, I quit that job, Christine moved flats and we lost touch for a decade or so until we bumped into each other at a function in the summer of 2013 (she was singing, I was taking pictures). After so many years it took us a while to figure out how we knew each other but it eventually clicked - Espresso! What followed was not only a brilliant working relationship but also a treasured friendship.
When Christine Bovill was getting ready to release her sophomore album The Sentence That I Serve, I was brought on board to oversee the whole visual side of the project - from photographing the recording process as well as the single/album covers to designing the CD packaging and finally filming the EPK. It was a lot of work but I couldn't have been happier to be involved.
EPK Video:
Recording/Rehearsals (with The Strange Blue Dreams):
Single Cover Shoot:
Album Cover Shoot:
Govanhill Baths Editorial
Govanhill Baths is an Edwardian public bathhouse which opened in Glasgow in 1917 and earlier this year students from West College of Scotland took it over for a one-day fashion photography workshop organised by photographer and lecturer Lauren Stirling. Govanhill Baths is such an amazing space - I photographed a musical there a few years ago (I know, how random!) and always wanted to come back and use it for something more editorial. I'd given a couple of photography talks at West College of Scotland on behalf of Bridge 2 Business in the past and was more than happy to come along to the workshop to give my 2 cents as well as take some photos of my own, especially once I've learned where it was taking place. Thanks to Lauren Stirling for the invitation and West College of Scotland students for help and donuts!
Models: Jack McQueen & Erin Charters (both from Model Team)
Hair & Make Up: Caroline Stewart
Headpieces & Vintage Wedding Dress: Kitsch Me Vintage
Mark Angels
Mark Angels is a Scottish singer/songwriter I've known for some time and have photographed on numerous occasions (performing with Soul Nation Choir for example). You may know him better as one of the contestants on BBC's recent talent show, Let It Shine where he sang and danced his way all the way to the finals as part of the band Drive. Mark is a brilliant singer and a truly amazing performer so when I was asked to do some promo shots for him at the end of last year we agreed that we would try to capture that vibe and energy in the photos. Big thanks to John at The Gray Room for being helpful and Sarah Kesson for assistance.
