New Rules for Passport Photos
Tens of thousands of passport photos have been rejected for failing to meet strict new rules which were introduced to combat fraud.
UK Passport Service figures showed that out of 597,863 applications in the first eight weeks of the new rules some 81,927 photos – 13.7% – were rejected. Source BBC Jan 2006
In particular, the “Photo Booth” and DIY photos are most likely to fall foul of the strict regulations. The face has to be the correct size in the picture, not too light or too dark, no teeth showing, no shadow on the face… The list goes on.
Jayne and Chris Birchall’s advice is to have these photographs professionally produced at a studio which adheres to the new guidelines and to do so well in advance of your deadline.
Details of the ID/Passport Photo service at BeautyPhoto.co.uk’s Ruthin studio.
Stop Press!
We can now produce photographs for American, Canadian, Australian, French passports and others.
Cheeky Chappies Charity Calendar
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Twelve of North Wales’ finest working men have bared their souls – and a whole lot more – to raise money for charity.
Motor Mechanic, Electrician, Personal Trainer, Chef, Hairdresser – in all, twelve Cheeky Chappies from all walks of life agreed to pose for this saucy calendar to raise money for the North Wales Cancer Service based at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.
The calendar was shot by Jayne and Chris at their Ruthin studio, and because the printers, Modern Press of Maidstone, agreed to print it for nothing, every penny raised will go to the charity.
Laura Crowned Miss Denbighshire
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Following her photo session at Jayne & Chris Birchall’s Ruthin portrait studio, teenager Laura Taylor was crowned “Miss Denbighshire 2006″
Laura, from St Asaph, used her photographs to accompany her application to enter the contest.
The competition was held as part of the Miss Teen British Isles contest.
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Quirky Quotes & Amusing Tales
| The things people say | Things people say, intentionally or not, can often raise a smile – especially when take out of context.These are a few quotes which tickled our sense of humor.If you have any “quirky quotes” or amusing tales to tell, why not use our Contact Page to share them with us here. |
Flying Dogs a specialty
They say never work with animals and children. Portrait photographers, however, encounter both these species on a regular basis.
Whilst taking a child’s portrait at his North Wales studio, a photographer friend of mine heard a pitter patter on the ceiling. He concluded that his faithful mutt had found its way into the roof space via an open cupboard in the attic office.
Turning briefly to the youngster’s parents, he heard a crash from behind him followed by those immortal words “Doggy has fallen out of the sky!”
The crazy canine had stood on the trap door which promptly sprung open, ejecting the surprised pooch from the darkness into the brightly lit camera room below!
Happily, the dog survived with a wagging tail, and the child was left with an interesting tale to tell at play school – all about the doggy who dropped in on his portrait session!
“Quirky Quotes”
“QUOTE“
“I never cared for fashion much, amusing little seams and witty little pleats: it was the girls I liked.” David Bailey
“QUOTE“
As fashion icon David Bailey arrived at a dinner party, the hostess blurted out: “I love your photos – you must have a really good camera!”
At the end of the evening, the cockney snapper returned the ‘compliment’ “I loved the meal – you must have a really good set of pans”
(With thanks to Mike Williams)
“QUOTE”
“When I die I want to go to Vogue.” David Bailey
“QUOTE”
“Most things in life end up being a moment’s pleasure followed by a lifetime of embarrassment. A portrait, on the other hand, is a moment’s embarrassment followed by a lifetime of pleasure”
(Enoch Powell)
“QUOTE”
A recent television advert for the ‘Pru’ insurance company featured a poem which ended:
“If you should find my house on fire, never mind the silver – save my photographs”
“QUOTE”
I’d like to be able to be the person my cats think I am.
Do you have any amusing tales to tell?
Hit the “Comments” link and share them with us here.
National Fujifilm Distinctions Awards
This touching portrait of a father and baby won a Merit Award for Jayne and Chris Birchall in the 2005 UK FUJI DISTINCTIONS AWARDS, announced at the annual “Focus on Imaging” trade event held in the NEC Birmingham.
Jayne and Chris Birchall have twice featured as finalists in the prestigious event.
Having also won several quarterly heats in the Kodak Wedding and Portrait Awards, in 2002 they won the title Kodak Open UK Portrait Photographer of the Year.
Och Aye the Noo
Some people are easily pleased.
Me for instance. As a birthday treat I was quite content to sit listening to a chubby 60 year old bloke having a sing-song followed by tea in a motorway services.
Only a select few joined me for the tea, but altogether 9,999 other people joined in the community singing. The community was Glasgow, and the aging warbler was Elton John.
When I last saw Captain Fantastic, twenty years ago, he was just that. Back then he justified his standing as a world class rock star – with a live performance every bit as good as on his recordings.
He didn’t have to sing “I’m Still Standing” this weekend. But he did. And he is. In fact I’d go as far as to say that he sounded even better.
“Rocket Man” orbited the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre for a good ten minutes and was by far the best rendition of that 1972 rock classic I have ever heard. The extended instrumental segment they belted out at the end of the song was out of this world. Then, just as I’m thinking it’s going to be a long, long time before I hear anything to better it – along came Crocodile Rock.
Just a couple of the numbers were from his recent album and they blended seamlessly with his classics. I would have been disappointed if he’d not played either “Benny and the Jets” or “Saturday Night”. He gave us both.
His band (too small a name for the other five guys on Elton’s stage) produced solid, perfectly balanced wall of sound. Nigel Olson provided the solid drumming which is at the very heart of rock, and scot Davey Johnstone played rock guitar in a way that left you begging for more. The pair have been with Elton since the seventies, so I guess they’re getting the hang of it by now.
The youngsters of today’s music industry don’t even come close.
Fresh talent
However… On the subject of youngsters… Elton invited Glasgow lass Amy McDonald to open the show with five numbers from her soon to be released debut album. Reminiscent of Joan Armatrading and alone on stage with her guitar, she sang effortlessly and beautifully – as she has in the pubs and clubs of her home town for the past couple of years. I guarantee we are going to see and hear a lot more of this wee lassie.
Then at the end of her spot, diminutive on a stage built for one of the world’s greatest, richest and most loved performers, she thanked ten thousand people for listening to her songs and invited us to log on to her “My Space” page to hear more!
Anyone for tea?
We liked Glasgow and its friendly people, but could only linger ‘til mid afternoon on the day after the concert. Then it was the long drive home.
Did I mention Tea? Hunger struck halfway down the M6 so we pulled in to a Motorway Services. But what we discovered was in fact the Best Motorway Services – in the World!!
I absolutely mean it. If ever you are on the M6 you MUST call in at the Tebay Services. In fact, just go up (or down) the M6 especially to visit. Forget the over priced greasy mess usually found in these places. This was fast food at its best. – freshly cooked on the premises. Really, really good. And, under the same management, a fantastic farm shop/delicatessen and gift shop.
All in all it was a great weekend.
http://www.westmorland.com/static/Tebay_Services.htm
http://www.myspace.com/amymacdonald
Terms and Conditions
Copyright
In accordance with the 1988 Copyrights act, all photographs remain the property of the photographer and are automatically copyright protected. It is a violation of copyright law to copy, scan, or allow photographs thus created to be reprinted, duplicated, digitally reproduced, copied, scanned, or altered (digitally or otherwise), without the photographer’s express written permission. The Client agrees that any photographic prints will be purchased directly from The Photographer unless in possession of a copy the digital negatives which can be purchased separately.
The original digital negatives remain the sole property of The Photographer. When purchasing a copy of a digital negative, The Client acquires the right to make printed copies of that image for personal (non commercial) purposes. A separate licence must be obtained to publish the image in printed or electronic form or to otherwise use the image for any business purposes.
photographs produced by this studio, whether commissioned or otherwise, remain the copyright of Jayne & Chris Birchall Photography.
In the case of commissioned portrait photography, the moral rights belong to the person commissioning/appearing in the photographs.
In simple terms, this means that without the express written permission of the photographer, it is illegal to make a copy or to otherwise publish any professionally produced photograph – even if you have paid for it! The act also protects the moral rights of person depicted in a photograph.
Here at BeautyPhoto Studios, we understand our customers may well want to make additional prints for family and friends, to email their images or use them on social networking sites such as Facebook. In the light of this, we operate a quid-pro-quo arrangement whereby we freely licence the making of prints from any image files that we supply in digital form, and the use of any such photographs for personal (non commercial) purposes including publishing on Internet sites. In exchange, the subject and/or commissioning agent grants us permission to use the images for display, promotion, editorial and publicity purposes. Moral rights are irrevocably relinquished in exchange for free or reduced price photo sessions and/or discounted prints and photographic services.
Jayne and Chris Birchall of the BeautyPhoto Studio [hereinafter the “Studio”] takes the utmost care with respect to the exposure, development, and delivery of photographs. In the event the Studio fails to comply with the terms of any contract due to any event or act outside the control of the Studio, or for any other unforeseen reason, the Studio’s liability is limited to the refund of fees paid.
ARCHIVAL. Upon 1 year after the date the photographs were taken, the Client will be given the option to purchase the digital negative files at the cost as it applies at that time. If the Client declines to purchase the digital negatives the Client will be given two options:
1. The photographer will continue to archive and protect the files for another year; the Client will be charged the archival cost as it applies at that time.
2. The Clients digital negative files will be destroyed to make room for other clients files and will
no longer be available in any form.
DELIVERY
The time for performance of the Contract by the Studio shall not be of the essence of the Contract, the Studio’s failure to so deliver and/or provide by any implied due date(s) shall not constitute a breach of Contract and the Studio shall not in any circumstances be responsible for any direct or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever resulting there from. The Studio may wholly or partly suspend deliveries of Goods and/or provision of Services and the Buyer shall accept late delivery of such Goods and/or provision of Services unless the Buyer has cancelled the Contract before work has commenced on the production of said goods.
