2020, no one could have predicted it!

On paper 2020 was meant to be my busiest business year to date. Due to the pandemic, the majority of my wedding bookings got postponed. I have spent hours on the phone to clients, answering emails, putting plans and procedures in place, and working with wedding industry suppliers to reassure my clients they will still have there wedding whatever they decide.
I have had to come up with new business ideas to see me through the last year. 2020 has given me the time and reflection I needed. Time to think about my business future but also time to learn new skills, refocus and challenge myself.

A none essential business?

This is one thing that really got me down during the first lockdown as my business was deemed as a none essential business. My confidence was knocked and I felt frustrated. It wasn’t until the summer that i realised how important my business actually was. Capturing families, micro weddings and creating moments so that these pictures could be shared with extended family and friends to keep everyone connected until they could see each other again.

Doorstep pictures became popular, as well as capturing families and pets. It soon came apparent that photography and sending loved ones photographs were a great way of connecting emotionally but also a great way of increasing people’s moods and bring people together.

Mirco Weddings

I was lucky enough to be able to do some weddings this year. One back in February before any restrictions.
Then the others were restricted to 30 guests and then later in the year 15 guests. With the restrictions, it meant that weddings had to be done differently. No confetti, no singing in church, guests had to wear facemasks indoors, and no evening reception. I have to say all my weddings were amazing. The Micro weddings with just a handful of their closest family and friends were very relaxed and magical. It wasn’t what the couples had originally planned, changes had to be made but it didn’t make it any less beautiful. Love will last forever and no amount of social distancing will prevent this.

Growing my business

At the beginning of the year, I was very excited to announce My partnership with Hillsgreen. Providing their rural clients with business branding photography. I have had the opportunity to work with some great companies this year. Personal trainers, golf courses, agricultural business, holiday cottages, and veterinary services are just to name a few. I was able to provide them with bespoke images for a fresh new look for their websites, marketing and social media.
Another area of my business that I was able to grow further is my family & Pet photography. In a year where we were encouraged to be outside, it gave me the opportunity to remind my clients that outdoor family photography is so much fun! Walk-in local parks, treasure hunts, bike rides, playing in maize fields even people’s front doors became my backdrops.
In November for a bit of fun, I converted my horse trailer into a Christmas pet photo booth. In total I photographed 23 dogs over two mornings from cockerpoos to Labradors we had great fun and even managing to raise some money for East Cheshire Hospice.

I am proud what I have been able to achieved in this difficult year.  At times I have been slightly overwhelmed by the support from my clients. I’m a great believer that everything happens for a reason. So let’s take the positives from 2020 , appreciate the little things and lets never take the hugs and handshakes for granted. 

So here’s to 2021…..
When corona is a beer again, when tiers sit on a wedding cake and when bubbles only exist in champagne.

Jo x

(All photographs taken were in compliance to government guidelines)

In these times now more than ever we value our printed pictures a lot more.  As we are not being able to see our friends and family, printed pictures in the house will remind ourselves of the treasured times we have had together.
My house is full of them. I can sit down all day and go through the old photo albums from when we were younger or, even older photos that have been passed down from generations.
There is something powerful about a print, especially the emotional connection. How many times have you passed a picture on a wall that reminds you of a moment in time, or milestone.
Prints have been proven to increase our mood and improve how we feel. To me, prints make a house a home and it gives me great joy when clients fill their homes with pictures I have taken.  I offer a range of print products, wall art as well and Albums Perhaps, for them pictures that you haven’t got round to printing yet, or a print to send to a loved one to let them know you are thinking of them.

 My wedding Album Brochure link:-

 www.joannaeardleyphotography.pixieset.com/weddingalbums/

Jo x

Autumn is my favourite time of the year for portrait photography. The autumnal colours and low light creates a perfect backdrop for pet portraits. The commission for dog portraits have become more popular and in 2019 I found myself doing more and more of them. As a dog owner myself, I understand the bond that owners have with their pets and the part they play in our lives.  

In November, I was contacted by Heather from Cheshire K9 training and asked if I would be interested in a few of her members taking part in an afternoon photography session with their dogs. Cheshire K9 training is a dog training group that runs Obedience, Gundog and Ability classes based in Chelford. I currently do Heather’s obedience and gundogs classes with my labradors. The dogs and I really enjoy her classes. 

I decided that Tatton Park in Knutsford would be the best location for the photoshoots. The weather forecast wasn’t looking great so as a back up I thought I could use the shelter of the trees just in case it started to rain. Tatton Park has a lot to offer as a photography backdrop the Autumnal trees, woodland, lakes, fields and large areas of space make it the perfect location for the dogs to run around in. 

 In total, I had a number of 6 members and 14 dogs. Each member was given a half an hour photography time slot. I tried to give each member a variety of images from posed pictures in the wood such as the dog sitting, headshots, off-camera flash before taking the dog to the field for some action shots of the dogs playing. 

 The afternoon was a great success with some lovely feedback from the members. It was a privilege to photograph your beautiful dogs and I hope I was able to give you some pictures that you can treasure.  

www.cheshirek9training.co.uk

Jo x