Fionnuala's Model Shoot

My lovely niece Fionnuala came into the studio today to model for a shoot I was doing with budding photographer, Matty. Our aim was to create some beautiful (and very colourful) images using the lights in the studio. Here are three gorgeous pictures that would grace any model's portfolio:









We are always keen to hear from potential models looking for portfolio images. If you'd like to pose for a model shoot, whether for your own portfolio or simply to give it a go and see what it's like, get in touch and we'll arrange a session for you,
David

The 2010 Erne Vintage Car Club Charity Parade

On Friday evening, the Erne Vintage Car Club held its annual charity parade through the streets of Enniskillen and the crowd thronged the roadside to catch a glimpse of some wonderful vehicles from a bygone age. I managed to find a great viewing point and here's just a few of the evocative images I made:

David

Making A Splash

I took this image on a recent afternoon walk with the family at Emy Lough in County Monaghan. The boys took a spontaneous paddle in the lough with a couple of friends. I love the way this shot captures Finn's sense of enjoyment - it exudes something about childhood that I think everyone will recognise:

David

Stacey, Shannon and Matty

Every now and again I give up a little time to help a photography student gain some fresh insight into their developing skills. When Matty contacted me, we talked about his plans to become a professional photographer and had a look at some of his work. He's made a good start and has plenty of potential so we decided to build on this and arrange an outdoor shoot using only natural light. We booked two models, Stacey and Shannon (otherwise known as Matty's girlfriend and her younger sister), and found a nearby location. Here's some of the images I shot while teaching Matty a few tricks of the trade:









As it's important to have empathy with your subject, Matty found himself on the opposite side of the lens for a few shots too:






David

Aoife's First Communion Portraits

After a short break in England, I returned to the studio today. A busy schedule was rounded off with a wonderful First Communion portrait session. Aoife was lovely to photograph, posing beautifully in the studio, and then outside where the shutters on a neighbouring unit gave us a modern twist on what is usually a fairly traditional-looking shoot:

Well done, Aoife, for being great fun to work with,

David

Emma

I've been preparing some images for display in the studio today and decided to convert this image - one of my favourites from 2009 - to black-and-white:



I'm sure this is going to make a big impression once it's hanging on the studio wall. Hope you like it!

David

The McNally Children

I had a great time recently photographing the five lovely McNally children. We held the shoot in their garden and then I was lucky enough to enjoy a barbecue with the whole family afterwards. Here is a handful of shots, one of each of the children, from our session:















David

Dunluce Castle at Sunset

Every now and again I like to post an image that's completely unrelated to my wedding and portrait work. A few weeks ago I was up on the stunning north Antrim coastline and found myself near Dunluce Castle as the sun was going down. Anyone who's been there will know it's an incredible place to watch the sun set and this particular evening was no exception:




Hope you like it,
David

June - Family Portrait Month

June is nearly upon us and that means it's time for Family Portrait Month. Throughout the month, we're offering a reduced session fee - down from £75 to just £25 - for all family sittings. Whether you choose to have your pictures taken in the studio, at home or on location is entirely down to you. And with print prices starting at just £15 now is the time to stop putting off your family portrait and book yourselves a session.

Call NOW on 9267 0620 or email info@davidlesterphotography.co.uk - we know you won't be disappointed!

This offer may not be used in conjunction with other offers, nor is it redeemable for cash. Normal studio conditions apply.

Finn's Portrait

Every now and again I like to put a family image up on the blog, and here's the latest. This is my youngest son Finn and as he likes to tell everyone he's four and a half, not four! This shot was taken a couple of weeks ago, at our home in Glaslough, Co Monaghan, and shows Finn taking some much needed rest and recuperation during a lull in his long-running battles with various Pokemon characters:

David

Katie's Portrait Shoot

Katie came in for a portrait session last week and we had a great time capturing a range of naturally lit images in my new studio. Softly diffused daylight streams into this room and, as you can see, it has lent an amazing sparkle to Katie's already beautiful eyes.

This was only the second time I'd photographed in this part of the studio and I'm really excited about the results - can't wait to shoot more in there!

Hope you like them, Katie, and I look forward to sharing the other shots with you soon,

David

Northern Ireland's Wedding Journal Now On Sale

The summer edition of Ireland's Wedding Journal is now on sale and features our advertisement below. It's the first ad we've published since relocating from England and we're hoping it attracts plenty of attention.

If you've seen the magazine, you may have noticed that we're offering a discount of £100 off an engagement shoot, bringing the cost down to just £295. For this modest sum you'll enjoy up to two hours of photography with David as he captures an exquisite range of images featuring the love, fun and intimacy of your relationship as you prepare to make that special commitment to one another. Your images will be edited ahead of your private viewing session, at which you may select up to six images to adorn a wonderful wall display for your home. (The offer is available for the remainder of 2010, normal studio conditions apply).

The development of a relaxed and trusting rapport between you and your photographer is the most important ingredient in successful wedding photography. There is no better way to create that relationship than through an engagement / pre-wedding shoot.

Taking advantage of this offer doesn't place you under any obligation to choose David as your wedding photographer ... but having seen how he works with you and the quality of images he produces it's highly likely you'll want to book him straight away.

Lily and The New Logo

For a little time I've been toying with the idea of getting myself a new logo and thanks to the excellent team at TK Consultancy in Lisburn (otherwise known as my new next door neighbours) I'm delighted to announce that I now have one. This is its initial outing and I can think of no better image for it to adorn than this lovely portrait of my beautiful niece Lily.

Three More Shots of Orlaith

As promised, I'm posting a few extra images from my shoot with Orlaith last week. I'm looking forward to sharing all the finished images with Orlaith's family very soon. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy having these to look at online:









I got some excellent news this morning which I'll be announcing here in the next few days, so do come back soon to hear all about it,
David

Perfect Cakes at The Perfect Cake

At a recent wedding fair, I had the good fortune of meeting Clair Williams who runs The Perfect Cake in Lisburn. As well as preparing stunning wedding cakes, Clair also bakes for a range of other special occasions, including birthdays, christenings, engagements, anniversaries and retirements. I love the attention to detail in Clair's creations which you can see in these two images I made for her last week:








Clair will be using some of my images to promote her business. And having seen the excellence of her work I'm very happy to recommend The Perfect Cake. You can contact Clair on 078 1763 0079 or by emailing claircakes@hotmail.co.uk.

Discount For First Ten Wedding Bookings in Northern Ireland

Here's a special offer to mark the start of taking wedding bookings since opening for business in Northern Ireland. The first ten couples to book their wedding with me will qualify for a discount off their chosen package: £50 off the Maxima package, £100 off the Optima package or, for those opting for the top-of-the-range Ultima package, a discount of £200. This offer is made strictly on a on a first come, first serve basis. So hurry!

Orlaith's Portrait Session

Just enough time before I vanish for a short Easter break to post some pictures from Orlaith's portrait session this afternoon. We had a real giggle and made some wonderful images together. I'll post a few more soon but here's two to be getting along with for now:






Happy Easter,
David

Special Offer

I'm pleased to report that the Ulster Star published a short feature on David Lester Photography, following the gold image award I obtained from the SWPP recently. I hope plenty of people saw it and look forward to welcoming new customers as a result.

If you did see the feature and are thinking about having that portrait you've been putting off, let me tempt you in with a 10% discount off any portrait shoot if you book your session to take place before the end of April 2010.

David

Radisson Blu Belfast Wedding Fair

This coming Sunday, 21st March, I will be exhibiting my work at the wedding fair at Belfast's Radisson Blu Hotel. This will be my first wedding fair since moving to Northern Ireland and I'm really looking forward to meeting lots of new brides and grooms.

I'll be holding a competition to win a wonderful pre-wedding shoot. And as if that were not exciting enough, I'll also be offering one lucky winner a free bridal boudoir shoot, designed to produce images that will really wow her groom!

So if you're planning your wedding, do come along and say hello. There are plenty of other wedding professionals to see, too, including two catwalk shows. It promises to be a wonderful day - doors open at 1pm and we'll be exhibiting until 5pm.

See you all there,

David

Gold Award Images

Wow, today has been a great day! I've just learned that one of my images has won a prestigious Gold award from the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers (SWPP) in their most recent monthly print competition. The image is of baby Joseph and here it is for you all to enjoy:



The shoot with Joseph was a lot of fun and it must have brought out the best in me because the image below was also awarded a Gold at the turn of the year while I was in the process of moving my business over to Northern Ireland. As I didn't get to post it then, I'm taking this opportunity to do so now. It's a little more serious than this month's winning image but still very cute all the same:



It's not all baby photos here, though. My work also gained 2 silver awards this month, in the 'Pets' and 'Contemporary Weddings' categories. If you'd like to put yourself forward for my next competition panel call the studio now to book your session on 028 9267 0620 - you never know, you may be a gold winner, too, like Jospeh.

David