Not literally of course!

Sorry to keep you all waiting for this blog post, I have lots of things I’m working on at the moment and I can’t wait to share them with you.

When Simone came to the UK for all the press bits and also IMATS – my previous blog post, we also had a bit of fun at mine doing a photo shoot.

Jessica-Leigh has a tea pot toy that sings various songs, talks and makes noises, it’s one of her favourites. Simone liked this as much as a real good English cup of tea. She also met one of my cats – Gibson, who is a bit of a camera lover and poses on cue. He loves fusses, especially from ladies.

MegaBeth joined in too, and swapped jackets for a silly picture.

A Slipknot fan in disguise? haha.

We did some serious fashion style pics as well as being silly. This is my favourite.

It was a good time until the snow came and Simone’s flight got cancelled. So we ended up having a movie marathon and cooking a roast dinner.

I guess it could have been worse

Mx

The International Make-Up Trade Show (also known as IMATS) came to London last weekend. My first time going to this, along with Simone who was over in the UK for her press schedule on the new Epica album.

We both were very excited – like kids in a candy store!

It wasn’t just every day make-up. Also on show were some really great pieces from movies including Leonardo DiCaprio’s bald cap, face pieces and false teeth from his latest movie J. Edgar.

And these two dudes – The Godfather and General Zod from Superman II

Exhibitions were happening all day along with people being made up and painted – a plethora of talent in the building!

Who knew that eyelashes could be so creative?!

The guy on the right took 2 hours on his own make-up, he couldn’t see out of his left eye at all with that contact lens piece – scary!

It was a really interesting day out, so much to look at and we both made a great amount of purchases.

The building was also beautiful – Alexandra Palace.

Simone and I also did a fashion style shoot on her stay here. My next post will be on this!

Until next time, have a great day.

Mx

Before the snow hit the UK, I went on a trek through London to Essex on a shoot for a new musical project.

Full of excitement, as I have previously worked with these two, but in a very different guise. Chris has many a musical project under his belt. I knew him from the days of Biomechanical in 2006. In fact, my first ever published picture in Metal Hammer was a live image of that band. He also teaches guitar and sessions for various bands. Every time Vykki and I shoot together, we totally hit it off on a creative level and it’s super cool. You may recognise them both from the promos I shot last year along with a music video of their band Solsikk.

Here’s a teaser of the promo session (click to view bigger)

I will let you know more info when it’s released. Knowing the talent these two have, it’ll be something special.

Mx

Godsized are on tour with My Ruin around the UK at the moment for the Southern Revelation Tour. I went along to their London date to do some promos and snap some live pics.

Around last year I was at the Scala for a different show and spotted a really cool location for a photo shoot. So while the other bands were sound checking, I set up in a stair well with really huge windows on a curved wall, along with a mosaic tiled floor. Really unusual.

Here’s one of the final shots (click to view larger)

Godsized kicked serious ass live. It was a very different crowd as My Ruin have a particular kind of following, but the guys went down really well.

Here’s a few live pics

They have just over a week left on the tour. Check here for a list of the remaining dates and also their up-and-coming dates including their Mini Tour of Europe in April.

Also, they have a Special Limited Edition Tour T-Shirt – only available while they’re on the road. It has all the show dates on the back.

(picture courtesy of Godsized)

Be sure to grab one at a show before they disappear!!

Mx

Just before Christmas I asked jeweller friend Alex at Seventh Circle Artworks if he could make me a custom key ring after an idea that I had brewing for a while.

I had collected British coins made in the years that were memorable for me – My birth year, Glen, MegaBeth and Jessica-Leigh’s birth years, and our Wedding year.

Along with that, I wanted to make the coins into a key ring and  have a solid silver disc engraved to tie them all together. “Not a problem!” said Alex. He’s always so up for making crazy ideas happen. Though I’m sure he thought I was a little weird.

I wanted the word ‘Lucky’ engraved on the silver disc which would be slightly larger than the biggest coin so you could see the text.

The best key ring I’ve ever had and it’s original and personal to me!

Contact Alex at Seventh Circle Artworks for any custom piece ideas you may have – big or small. It seems he can do anything, including drilling tiny holes in British currency (before going to Alex with my idea I was frowned upon for that at my local engravers!). Just don’t drill through the Queen’s head, I’m sure you could go to prison for that

Seventh Circle Artworks are sponsoring the ‘Southern Revelation’ Tour which comes to London tomorrow night. My Ruin to headline and Godsized main support. I will be there doing pics.

Have a great weekend you!

Mx

Having shot with 2 members of this band in the very early days, I was stoked they called me in to shoot again – this time with the full lineup.

The Drowning Sorrows describe themselves as an eclectic mix of Country, Blues & Rockabilly played with the energy of a punk rock band. They were certainly a joy to shoot with!

A teaser from the shoot at the 12 Bar Club in ‘Tin Pan Alley’ London last weekend.

The first shoot I’ve ever done with a double bass – such a beautiful instrument. Check the band out on their facebook page.

Mx

Recently I had the honour of a photo shoot with a lovely couple and their daughter of 18 months, Pia. Time flies so fast when children are growing and they wanted some nice pictures of them all together before Pia grew even more.

Working with children is so fun as they are spontaneous and really don’t care about the fact there’s a camera pointed at them. They have no inhibitions at all.

This is one of the pics from their shoot. I was so happy to help capture something for their memories.

Mx

The past year was a quiet one with regard to work for me, but personally a very busy year having had a baby! I’ve enjoyed compiling my favourite pictures of 2011; it’s been wonderful to look back over the images, to experience the emotion and memory attached to them. From reading Nikki Sixx’s book ‘This is Gonna Hurt’, I’ve been reminded that photography isn’t about the use of amazing equipment, editing techniques and making a perfect shot (there’s a time and a place for that of course when I’m working). It’s about capturing a feeling and moment in time whether it be on an iPhone, compact camera or professional digital SLR camera – especially as the best moments typically happen when I’m not carrying around my big bulky camera!

These pictures sum up my year, my life and my loves.

22 Weeks, Hello Bump!

Along with the Solsikk feature and album release, came their music video for Viridescere which I filmed. My first music video! Check it out here

30 weeks!

39 weeks!

Fajitas are a family favourite

Spontaneous smiles

I started reaching for the eye cream around the same time Jessica-Leigh started reaching for her toys!

Sisters

Thank you for checking out my last year in pictures, I look forward to you joining me in my adventures this year!

Mx

My previous years blogs are linked below.

Year 2010

Years 2009 and earlier

Hello and Happy New Year!

Hope you all enjoyed the festivities and celebrations!

Just before Christmas I ran a giveaway competition – a chance to win a signed poster of Simone Simons who was Miss December in the Dolls ‘n’ Divas 2011 Calendar. I was overwhelmed with all your entries – well into the hundreds and all with the right answer ( I think maybe I will make it a bit more difficult next time ). Thank you all for entering! The correct answer was of course Kathleen Turner, who did the speaking voice for Jessica Rabbit in the movie ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’.

The lucky winner is Doug Yauch from Minnesota, USA. Your poster is on its way with warm wishes from Simone! Congratulations!

Just before I log off for the day, I wanted to let you in on some of the fun that we had in making the Calendar. A couple of collages of the ‘best bits’ once the serious work was out of the way….mostly! You can click on the images to view our silly faces larger.

There will be a couple more pieces of news to come soon from the 2011 Dolls ‘n’ Divas girls, then it will be time to move on to the new project!

Tomorrow my post will be 2011 – My year in pictures. See you then!

Mx

Exactly one week left until Christmas and I don’t feel bad talking about it now.

It will be Jessica-Leigh’s first Christmas which makes it even more exciting for us here. She won’t have a clue what it’s all about but I plan on taking lots of pictures for her to look back on when she’s older and I hope that she will have a very distant memory of something fun this year. But, it’s highly likely she will just try and eat the wrapping paper.

Jessica-Leigh is six months now. Time has flown and it feels like only yesterday I introduced you all to her! She’s now weaning and almost crawling. Her hair is finally growing and her sense of humour is as vibrant as her first week with us.

Remember horsie from the moses basket? He was big and taking up all of the room in her first week.

Well I think he’s got his commupense as Jessica-Leigh eats him. She’s been planning it for months.

Our tree is up and she loves to look at the twinkly lights. The cats however see it as a new thing to attack and want to pull all the baubles off. Glen and Beth eat the Lindt chocolates. Everyone is happy in their own way.

In the light of the Christmas tree, Jessica-Leigh sleeps like her daddy.

Winding down the year with my usual tradition, I’m in the process of compiling all my favourite pictures of 2011 in the next week or so. I’m also taking on bookings and planning fun projects for 2012. Drop me a line at marie@mariegc.com or fill in the contact form if you’ve got something in mind you’d like to work with me on.

Have a super Christmas every one!

Mx