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 DriveMark 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.

Glenelg FC Naked Calendar

Glenelg is one of the smallest villages in Scotland (basically last bit of mainland before you get to the Isle of Skye), it's as remote as it is beautiful and I had the pleasure of being involved in photographing a rather unusual project there - a nude calendar for the local football team. It took 3 days, 12 locations, 16 naked men as well as quite a bit of whiskey to complete but it was all worth it and for a good cause as all proceeds from the calendar sales will go to the Glenelg Football Team for their home and away kits, training equipment, travel, etc. The final product was beautifully designed by the award-winning Graphical House and is available for purchase from glenelgteam.com as well as various shops around Glasgow and in Glenelg itself. Below you can find a short promo video and a few frames from the calendar:

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And here are a couple of shots that didn't make the final product... :

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...and some snaps from our location scouting expedition as well as a few behind the scenes shots:

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Welcome to 2017

Happy New Year!

Bye bye 2016! And what a year it's been - seems like the world turned upside down these past 12 months and nothing will ever be the same. Let's hope for a less mental year ahead! Here are some of my favourite shots taken in 2016:

Caroline Gilmour - "Electric Waterfalls" EP cover shoot, January 2016

Caroline Gilmour - "Electric Waterfalls" EP cover shoot, January 2016

Mark Angels, January 2016

Mark Angels, January 2016

Monkoora, February 2016

Monkoora, February 2016

Horse - "Careful" Promo, March 2016

Horse - "Careful" Promo, March 2016

Glenelg Football Calendar, May 2016

Glenelg Football Calendar, May 2016

Ceòl's Craic - "Briseadh Na Cloiche" (Play), June 2016

Ceòl's Craic - "Briseadh Na Cloiche" (Play), June 2016

Andrew, June 2016

Andrew, June 2016

Poppy & Emily, June 2016

Poppy & Emily, June 2016

Nu Blvck, July 2016

Nu Blvck, July 2016

Jill Jackson, August 2016

Jill Jackson, August 2016

Carrie Mac, August 2016

Carrie Mac, August 2016

Olivia Ennemoser - "Don't Explain" Album Cover Shoot, August 2016

Olivia Ennemoser - "Don't Explain" Album Cover Shoot, August 2016

Tyler, December 2016

Tyler, December 2016

And here’s a recap of my favourite albums and tracks from 2016 (in no particular order):

ALBUMS:

Alicia Keys "Here"

Beyoncé "Lemonade"

Christine & The Queens "Chaleur Humaine"

Solange "A Seat at the Table"

Chance The Rapper "Coloring Book"

Margo Price "Midwest Farmer's Daughter"

Drake "Views" The Weeknd "Starboy"

Tove Lo "Lady Wood"

Michael Kiwanuka "Love & Hate"

Bruno Mars "24K Magic"

SONGS:

Christine & The Queens "Tilted"

Bruno Mars "Chunky"

Michael Kiwanuka "Cold Little Heart"

Margo Price "Four Years Of Chances"

Beyoncé "Daddy Lessons"

Drake "One Dance"

Weeknd "Rockin'"

Tove Lo "True Disaster"

Justin Timberlake "Can't Stop The Feeling"