My new fave band: The Son play Club Fandango, The Bull & Gate, Kentish Town

Another day, another gig, but 'Oh no, no!' Not just another day because it SNOWED big fat flakes and 'No, no, no!' I didn't take a snow pictures, but I did take lots of gig shots of my new fave band, The Son [www.facebook.com/thesonband] and folk darlings Thank Pablo [www.facebook.com/thankpablo] at Club Fandango, The Bull and Gate, Kentish Town, Laaaaandon, EngERland, the World. 

For more pictures of the night please check out my website:

http://www.loukia.co.uk/#!client-login > The Son > Password: theson

http://www.loukia.co.uk/#!client-login > Thank Pablo > Password: pablo

Stompin’ at the Savoy on NYE

For two years running I haven’t been able to give my lovely man a kiss on NYE because I have been working *sob sob*.  

So there I was at the stroke of 12, snapping away like a loon whilst balloons descended, people kissed and that good old feeling emerged… out with the old and in with the new. I have a crack pot theory…in whatever way you see in the New Year an element of it will carry through into the year itself so what better way to start then by working hard, shooting some fab celebs (ala Miss Cat Deeley) and doing what you love. Hopefully my theory is poppycock (great word) as I would like to keep my kissing quota relatively high this year!

The night was a huge success and such a great event to be part of. The organisers ‘Three’s a Crowd Events Ltd’ put many a prosperous derriere on expensive seats and certainly didn’t disappoint with the lure of exquisite food and exceptional live performances from the likes of Beverly Knight, Tony Christie, Buddy Grecco and Paloma Faith who were all accompanied by the 30-piece Guy Barker Orchestra. The whole event was broadcast live on Radio 2 and hosted by none other than Mr Patrick Kietly and because I am a regular listener to Radio 2, you can imagine it was all pretty exciting for me (excitable seal hand-clap,excitable seal hand-clap, excitable seal hand-clap).

For someone who has never ventured into the centre of town on NYE for fear of suffocation, stampedes, loss of Oyster card who knows, I – along with the rest of London – tried to leave Embankment at about 1am. Yikes.  So in a desperate attempt to start 2012 in a very un-squish way (note my theory here if you will), I decided to bide my time and buy a Double Decker chocolate bar (rock n ‘roll), 12.5grams of Golden Virginia, a packet of Rizlas, some Swan filters and a lighter (spot the semi ex-smoker with crack pot theories)and smoked a cigarette on the steps of Temple next to a burly bunch of Police officers while commending the impressive manner in which they hoarded the masses down into the tube and thus clearing the entrance for me to make my way home. Note to self: chocolate + cigarettes do not mix.  

Back in Fulham my neighbours played some very loud music until approximately 7am.

New Years Eve 2011 will always be remembered as an evening of incredible musical talent, observing the merriment, sleeping with headphones and waking up with sore ears.

To see more images from the evening, please click on the following link: http://www.stompinatthesavoy.co.uk/ 

Theo, Lou and Boux too

Oh Lord am I behind with my blog! I have, however, stopped the self-inflicted beatings because - when my blog/website is needing some attention - it means dear web-world followers (Mum), I have been busy shooting! Yes, I have been busy outside, indoors, up ladders shooting. Just what I needed in the run-up to Christmas.
Happy belated everything by the way.
As you can see from the images below I shot the Guildford store opening for Boux Avenue in November and met the lovely Mr Theo Paphitis, fellow Greek (OK he's from Cyprus, but it’s all Greek innit ;), said in best Grecco Laaaandon voice). And I also did some prop photography for them which took me to their Lakeside and Bluewater stores. (Thank you Sat Nav for bypassing the 30min Dartford Crossing option and taking me back into London and showing me a scenic view of the A13 and Blackwall Tunnel THANK YOU).
I’ve fallen in love with this lingerie company - http://www.bouxavenue.com/ - it's very me. The prices are very me too. The window dressings are so gorgeous I thought it was beyond my reach, but on further inspection, par exemple, two sets of pyjamas (pyjamas are like Chow Mein and Burgers...essential life tools) for £30! B A R G A I N! 
The shops are beautifully designed and a good nod to the very vintage/burlesque wave that is oh so now and, let’s be honest, what us ladies really like. Pretty, pretty, pretty… with lots of pretty on the side.

Amy & Joachim. A very misty, romantic Sunday wedding.

About a year and a half ago, Sian (ESC Events planner extraordinaire and past bride) came to me with a suggestion; a competition. One lucky bride would get the chance to win ESC wedding planning services and a full day's photography. This lucky lady was Amy Chung. I only met her about a month before her wedding to Joachim and suddenly I became the lucky lady. Let's be honest, it could have been difficult. I could have ended up with a Bridezilla (do they still exist?). I have lived in a bubble of wonderful, easy-going couples since my wedding lark began and I have never encountered a scary couple so I feared my luck may have run out. But lady luck has a soft spot for me and gave me the lovely Amy & Joachim.

So there I was last Sunday, up at the crack of a very foggy dawn and driving into New Malden. Oddly, my boyfriend was also driving into New Malden to play golf. He chose to be up at 6.30am on a Sunday. Dear God, the call of Golf is strong in that one.

I kept thinking "the fog will clear. It will clear. Not a problem." It didn't. But what it did do is something misty and romantic and moody and I liked it a lot.

As always, the getting-ready-venue (family home) = chaos, excitement, pretty things, stunning dresses, cake, great hospitality and not one camera shy individual. Even the little ones positively relished posing whilst still maintaining that air of nonchalance that kids do so well.

Make-up artist Sam Sharm really did a wonderful job with Amy's hair and makeup. She looked incredible..like a beautiful porcelain doll. And while everyone was running around her, she remained the epitome of calm throughout. I was very impressed.

As Registry offices go, Merton is really quite beautiful. It's pretty old and positioned right by Morden Park, so it's perfect for the personal shots. And on this occasion the mist and fog gave it such a wistful, romantic ambience that it was the perfect setting for such a special wedding. Maid of Honour Kim, was on hand to help and came fully prepared for assisting in potential adverse weather conditions; Coat, boots, scarf, gloves, a trooper maid of honour indeed.

Oddly enough, I think this was the first wedding I have done where there has been a harpist, so heads up to Maria Beattie who played beautifully.

The reception was held upstairs at the London Hong Kong restaurant near Heathrow. I normally sneak off for something to eat whilst the guests are themselves tucking in, but this time I learnt a little bit about Chinese hospitality as Amy's Uncle insisted I join one of the tables and enjoy the 10 course banquet and there was absolutely no arguing with him. The food was amazing and I actually ate shark for the first time (it was nice to get my own back on Jaws for scaring the hell out of me as a child). I must thank the guests at the table as they were great company and very happy for me to join them.

I loved the Chinese tea ceremony. The bowing and exchanging of tea for gifts and good wishes between the newlyweds and the older family relatives was lovely.

As with all weddings I could go on and on, but to round off I would just like to thank Amy & Joachim and their friends and family for being so friendly and fun to work with. I think the day was an enormous success and they truly deserved to win the competition.
I wish them all the wonderful goodies that life has to offer and I hope their Swedish wedding will be as enjoyable as their Chinese one. xx

It's Friday and I have little to say today

This is Chloe. She's gorgeous and cute and I like her mole.

and this is her eye and lips.

My friend Fearn..Where's my stick?!

Well I always knew my friend Fearn was a beauty, but I didn't realise just how much. I have the omnipotent pleasure of seeing everything in an image (except those times when I miss things of course ;) and I can hand-on-heart say (barring a minor blemish that had to be removed) the girl's face is well, perfect. PERFECT. Damn you Fearn and your perfectness. I'm off to eat some potatoes and poke my face with a stick.  

The ladies know how to do it...

A couple of weeks ago (pre-holiday…I am back now and slightly jaded) a last minute job cropped up for BIMM (Brighton Institute of Modern Music) so off I popped down to the sea, IN THE SUN!!! (That old cousin that rarely appears at any important event. Oh how we relish his fleeting visits).


I think this is the third Induction day I have worked on and sadly, I fear I never really do a great job because I always get sidetracked by the interesting and well, pretty famous/talented people that are interviewed by Briggy Smales, entertainment guru, reporter lady whose accounts of Brighton folk will have you giggling and uttering those infamous words, 'Only in Brighton'. 


Doing these odd jobs for BIMM an overriding thought always hits me, 'these students are so incredibly lucky'. They get to hear the wise words, anecdotes and quirky stories from some of the biggest names in the music industry and I guess I am pretty lucky too because I get to shoot them occasionally.


This time I got to meet Krissi Murison, Editor of NME and singer/songwriter Emiliana Torrini (whose voice I have fallen in love with…GIRL CRUSH, GIRL CRUSH). Both ladies were incredibly interesting, witty and charming and the students enjoyed them enormously and listened intently. Ears certainly pricked when hearing Krissi question what lies between her legs...Nice lady, nice. A room full of nubile testosterone can only squirm in wonder.