This is an evening not to be missed. If you want to get up close and personal with an excellent band then this is for you. The Hope and Social guys are having a Come Dine With Us evening at the Crypt on March 27th. Billed as a recording event with food and music – the idea was conceived during the recording of their second album which is still being put together. There was a song that James said had the feel of “A french Bistro, in a cave or cellar, with a small jazz band playing, and red candles on the tables”. So the guys are going to turn the Crypt into a French Bistro and invite fans down to get involved with a fun night. The 3B Media boys are going to be there to document the evening and do a little video as well.

Go here for full Come Dine With Us details

One cold Friday I went across the hills to Manchester to do a shoot for fashion website & retailer  MissGuided to create some new and fresh images for their website and adverts. They specialise in up to the minute trends (their range is updated weekly) and are regularly featured in fashion mags. On my trip I was ably assisted by Mr Rob Booker. The shoot take place in a old warehouse in the centre of Manchester which in 3B Media style was run down and really dirty but a great place to get something different. The two models Stef – who I have worked with before – and Charlotte were amazing and helped the whole shoot run really well.

Some of the images have already been used – The full page adverts are in these issues of Closer (2nd March) – More (2nd March) – Fabulous (7th March) – Look ( 8th March). Also if you check out Missguided website - the main splash page has images from the shoot

Some of the images are now on their website.

Take a look at some more images taken on the day

Saturday night I was asked to pop down and cover the first anniversary of the Spanish Harlem nights at The Wardrobe. To celebrate this fact they had an amazing line up.  The New Mastersounds were accompanied by some awesome guests performers Cleve Freckleton and the Haggis Horns Brass. The opening band was Freckles, the Mastersounds guitarist Eddie Roberts’ new collaboration with singer Rhianna Kenny!

The UK’s finest funk band The New Mastersounds are very rarely heard live in the UK never mind their hometown of Leeds! Overseas most of the year in the USA, mainland Europe or Japan. To celebrate the Mastersounds first gig at the venue in eight years, the whole night will be dedicated to the band….the current line-up showcasing tracks from the new CD “Ten Years On”, some former band members making guest appearances on early New Mastersounds classics.

Check out some images from the night and watch the video of more images from a great night

A couple of weeks ago I had my first pre-wedding shoot of 2010. Michelle and Richard are a great couple and came out and braved the cold for a shoot around the Holbeck Urban Village area of Leeds. It is a location that has been slowly regenerated and is now starting to be a thriving part of Leeds with its bars, cafes and trendy offices. The businesses around here are focused on creative & digital media and is the location we hold our 3B Media training courses (being cool and trendy ourselves!!). It’s a great location for shoots as it offers the best of both worlds – a little bit country, a little bit rock & roll!

At the start of the shoot I think Richard was a bit unsure of what was going to happen but threw himself into the morning and by the end of the shoot was really enjoying it. The pre-wedding shoot is a good way for me to get to know our clients and find more about their wedding days but also to take the fear out of having their picture taken. Anyway Michelle & Richard’s plans for their wedding seem to moving along apace and we are really looking forward to meeting up with them in August for their wedding at Waterton Park – it sould be a fabulous day.

Check out more of the images in the slideshow at the bottom of the post.

This afternoon I headed on down to The Crypt where our good friends Hope and Social are in the middle of recording their second album. I had my 3B Media chums Rob & Barnaby along as we were there to chat and discuss some future projects they had in mind. These are exciting times for these guys and it is great to be involved with them . They have such a great philosophy in their approach. For them it is about getting the fans involved as much as possible. Currently they are asking fans to twitter them names of towns which they are then going to work into the lyrics of one of  their new songs “Marching on through” Check their twitter if you want in – #hopeandsocial #crowdsourcing

Anyhow with the band and Ben Denison @bendenison working on an idea to invite bands to the Crypt to record & film covers! All in one day. Not sure the logistics of it. But will be a great day and everybody can get involved using twitter and facebook and the blogs. More to follow on this and other ideas we chatted about over several cups of coffee.

It is a privilege to be allowed to document a band in the middle of their creative process. What we heard sounded cool and can’t wait to hear more of the tracks that will end up on the album. Spent most of the afternoon chatting but the band did spend some time laying down some tracks – so took a few shots of the guys in action. Check Rob’s blog for more images from our visit.

Just a really quick post as I’m just about to set off for Hazlewood’s wedding fair. Its always a great wedding fair to show at and we love meeting potential new clients. We usually go together to the fairs but Lou can’t make it today so it’s just me. I might get a bit lonely without her so if you’re planning on coming down please come and say hello!

Phil x

We ventured over the pennines last week for Tracey & Nick’s wedding. Their wedding was at the stunning Inn at Whitewell which is such a fantastic venue. It’s set in a beautiful part of the world and quite a hidden gem really – it’s an area sandwiched between the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District and I think it tends to get a bit overlooked as a result. Whatever, it’s gorgeous.

Anyway, we arrived at the hotel on a very cold but very bright, beautiful morning. Both Nick & Tracey were getting ready at the Inn – Nick in the main building and Tracey in the coach house, so everything was very relaxed. The hotel was buzzing with locals enjoying lunch after a country walk, but gradually Nick & Tracey’s guests arrived for the celebrations starting at 4pm. Tracey looked amazing as she walked down the aisle in her stunning dress (and purple shoes!) and the ceremony was such a happy occasion.

Tracey and Nick had opted for a purely reportage approach for their photography, although we did manage to sneak in a couple of shots of just the two of them outside before the chill got the better of everybody. After a wedding breakfast and speeches in the marquee a fantastic ceilidh was set up which was a great way of getting everyone up on the dance floor. We got some great shots of everyone, although I would rather have been up dancing with everyone!

Tracey and Nick, you were such a great couple to work with. We hope you had a fantastic wedding day – lots of love and congratultions to you both!

Phil & Lou xx

“On a winters day I go out for a walk. My cosy blue

boots are sinking in the dazzling white crunchy snow!

WOW dazzling snowflakes falling peacefully down onto the

creamy white pavement.

An icy wind blasts my face bringing tears to my eyes.

As the day is so cold it makes my tears freeze!

Walking through the woods is like being in a fairy tale!

Time to go home because my nose and toes are freezing

back to a warm, cozy house where I can smell mummy

making lovely sweet hot chocolate also with a pink

fatty bacon sandwich MMMMmmmm gorgeous!“

Leeds music stalwart James Owen Fender decided to host a Battle of the Bands to dig out Leeds’ finest upcoming groups in association with his night ‘Plumpton Presents‘.  It’s been cunningly named ‘The Battle of Plumpton’ and has some quality prizes, such as the winning band getting a track waxed by ace producer James Kenosha, which gets onto a limited edition Plumpton Presents Record (via ADA distribution) and get to play the Beach Break Live 2010 music festival.

The Battle kicked off to a roaring start at the Wardrobe in Leeds, with the Leeds College of Music heat.  Those kids generally require a grade 8 in something to get in, so musical tightness & mad skills were pretty much guaranteed.

I went to the fourth heat which was held at the Leeds Met. One of the bands I know well ‘Gavin Mart & The Saturday Vandals’ was playing so it was great to go along photograph the gig but also be there to support Gav. We managed to get there in time as Barns and I had seen Martin Parr earlier in the evening.

Below are some images of Gav and the guys in action.

Also we caught the next band playing which was DodoDeadDead. These guys eventually won that night’s heat and will play in the final at Oporto on the 3rd February 2010 at 20:00. The other bands playing will be Moody Gowns Charlie Bath and The Luminaries. Go along and vote for your top band. Free admission too. Bargain!