This weekend, I drove down to Bournemouth to hang out with a bunch of my Photographer friends! its very rare to get a bunch of us together, as we’re all pretty busy & separated by huge distances of motorway – so its always fun to meet up, shoot, drink, laugh, chat, eat… all the usual stuff!!! We also talk business, but this weekend we managed to plan the business discussions for a seperate day, allowing us time to go exploring the bars & pubs of Bournemouth with the amazing Big Bouquet team – Emma & Ian!! (Thanks so much guys!!!)
It was super cold, but great fun! At one point we considered going to see the sea, but it was far too cold (& a long walk away!!) So we ended up shooting each other in the car park! Glamorous eh?!?
This is Laura, one of the amazing photographers of Lawson Photography – rather unfortunately, she was shooting me… so I returned the favour!
& heres her other half, Pete – another amazing photographer…although not too good at getting drink orders correct!! 
This is one Laura took of me, using my camera… testing out a lens which I’m convinced doesn’t work… (not a bad picture!! – bit of sharpening, but other than that – looking good!!!)
After our mini session – loads more photographers came into Bournemouth to meet up with us, at the amazing sixty million postcards – a bar suggested by Emma & Ian, (what a perfect venue for us!!) I’ll try to mention who everyone is, as I go…but Laura has done a fabulously detail introduction of everyone over on their blog! Also worth noting, is that my camera was being passed around, so these pictures were taken by myself & various people!! I don’t know who took what though…!!
Firstly, Emma & Ian – our tour guides, taxi service, body guards etc. for the weekend!! Huge Thanks to them!! Brilliant times guys!!
Stuart James listening intently, Cristina Barton looking pretty bored… or perhaps thoughtful.. =) Hazel Du Preez is also in the background – taking notes! Must have been a good discussion!
Stuart James & Ian Olssen
me, looking very interested in what Pete & Laura are saying!! I’m such a fanboy!!
You pass a camera around & people take pictures of cups…granted arty pictures of cups… but still…cups!!
Wonder who’ll admit to taking this lovely shot of Stu Cooper! – in fairness my camera is set up in an odd way, but still…its a bit out of focus!!! Great bokeh though!!
The rest of these shots were definately taken by me!!
Carrie Bugg, doing…er… something?!? maybe she’s cheerleading for Stu Cooper! (Give us a C! Give us an O!!) or maybe there was an outbreak of Y-M-C-A that I forgot?
The back of Cristina Bartons head, Stu Cooper, Carrie Bugg & Hazel Du preez!
Pete, taking more pictures of me… the mans an addict!
Here’s Pete with a bit of invasion of privacy! Hope Stuart wasn’t reading anything secret!!!
Very cool venue! Loads of lovely little details!!
Finally, Emma trying to throw up a gang symbol albeit not well…
Was great catching up with old friends & meeting some great new people! Should do it regularily!! – Although I wish I’d taken more pictures after seeing Lauras cool blog post!!
That’s not fair! I was feeling very rough and that shot of me is hideously distraught looking. I took the best shot of the cups though
Fantastic photos and I love the commentary!
The OOF shot of Stu Cooper is superb and I’m sure totally intentional!!
Cracking post mate – I’m thinking maybe I should start making an effort and shaving before I meet up with everyone in future lol!
)
Love that shot of Stu Cooper – unforunately I can’t claim it though
sj.p
Fun times! You’re right, you totally look like a model in that shot
) sorry about the one we posted on our blog, but we have to make the rest of you look bad somehow – it’s all part of our evil world domination plan!
Awesome stuff! I think my fave (apart from your model shot of course) is Emma’s gang symbol – she got da skillz! Fun weekend, have to do it again next year!
What? Mr F doing a blog post, blimey! Great stuff. Ian
Mr Cooper has never looked lovelier.
Another great post & lovely shots! Thanks Simon
(the headshot Laura took of you is fab!). Loving Emma’s gang sign, and I believe I know who the arty ‘tog is behind the conceptual Cooper shot 
Great pictures
gutted I missed out!!
Fantastic shots, gutted I missed it, next time!! x
Oh dear – do I really use my hands when I speak that much? HIDEOUS! Great photos – and yes I’m the culprit for the arty Stu shot! (I didn’t know you had it on back button focus when I picked it up!) I do however love the bokeh – very Christmassy!
Oh boy, I look way too studious! Didn’t have my usual camouflage out (camera) to hind behind, so pen and paper is second best
Happy to share my scribbles if anyone’s interested (and no they’re not minutes of the meeting!). Working it in that model shot Mr F, niiiice!!