I have been feeling really bad as I haven’t had a chance to blog all week. I’ve started writing this at 6 something AM as I woke up and started thinking – I could get up and catch-up on a bit of work or lay on. Work won! But excited to tell you about my recent experience at Wedding Journal Show!

Last Sunday I exhibited at Love Bridal Expo in the Guildhall and my friend, Roisin, manned (womanned) my stand, as I was helping to organise the event.

Monday and Tuesday was spent in Belfast at a Guy Gowan photoshop course. He is a guru when it comes to digital perfection of images and I subscribed to his site to access his uber cool action and tutorial; so looking forward to posting some pics soon using the actions. When in Belfast I headed out to IKEA to buy some more stuff for the studio. I lived in Sweden for a year, going to university in Örebro, so I must be the only man who loves going to IKEA! I also dropped into the crew at Calumet Belfast and had the sensor of my 40D cleaned – and apparently that bad boy was filthy! I’m always reluctant to clean the inside of my lenses myself as I’m scared of damaging the super expensive pieces of kit, but am making a commitment to regularly take my equipment in for maintenance.

On Wednesday I caught up on a lot of things business wise, replying to emails etc – I feel, with all the work over the last month, a little overwhelmed as photography is really taking off. Every time I feel myself getting on top of the work the phone rings and more work comes in, which is a great complaint to have.

Thursday was my chance to get ready for The Wedding Journal Show this weekend and because I have been so busy my prep was a little late, but as I know a lot of suppliers in the NW they are really accommodating. I got two pop-ups from Des Graphics in Newbuildings and 1,000 flyers from Speediprint in Eglinton and have been so glad of them. I had to beg my dad to come up to Belfast with me and to bring his van, so he finally relented, but I feel a bit bad as this is his second weekend having to help me out. Mums and dad’s are awesome, where would we be without them!

On Friday I set up with excitement and a little trepidation and hoped that all the money spent on the show would be worth it. The little 3×1 metre space I have is compact, but I’m really happy in how I’ve managed to make it look (pimp my stand wouldn’t have a look in!). The only bummer is that I ordered three sample albums from my suppliers and they hadn’t arrived yet. The album I have as my sample is from the first wedding I shot and for me, my photography has really moved on over the last two and half years since that. Although when people look at the album they love it, I really wish I had the more recent samples for the show. I had the chance to talk to so many people as I manned the stand on my own, and boy oh boy my feet were so sore that night.

Yesterday was a great day at the Wedding Journal Show. I managed to get a Starbucks in the morning and bought a new percolator. Mine broke a couple of weeks ago and I have been restricted to instant coffee in the meantime. As I write, I’m drinking a super-strong cup of coffee my friend Diarmuid bought me when on holidays in Vanuatu and gave to me for Christmas in Australia. The show was sooooo busy yesterday and Grianne Devine came up to Belfast to help me on the stand. I have a special offer for those visiting the show and people have loved it and the photos. I drove back to Derry and arrived home to find the Queenberry welcome/sample pack had arrived, so can’t wait to bring that to the show.

Looking forward to the last day of the Wedding Journal Show today and to meeting more brides and grooms to be. Check out my stand! (Photos taken on a point and shoot Sony camera).

Here’s an overview of the event from my stand on the balcony.

(Photos taken on a point and shoot Sony camera).