HELLO!
I‘m Alistair. ‘Ideal Imaging’ may sound bigger than it actually is but really it’s just me – PLUS my long suffering but incredibly supportive family. They are every bit a part of this family business as I am. I’ve included a little bit about them below.
We live in Old Basing, a not very sleepy village right next door to Basingstoke, Hampshire. Still, it’s a lovely little place with loads of history (even if a bit ‘bloody’ thanks to the civil war). We chose this house as it has an open fire place. Plus it backs on to fields (now a designated nature reserve!), the other side of which is a great pub where you’ll usually find me on a Thursday evening pretending I’m making a healthy contribution to our 3 man quiz team. Being able to literally open our gate on to all that open space is great for being walked by the dog (see more about ‘Herbie’ below) and for kicking a ball around with my son Seb. Well he kicks it, I go and retrieve it from the next field.
In an endeavour to remain relatively fit I love spinning (the bike sort, not the ‘I’ve had too many’ sort). I’ve also had a life-long love affair with cricket (sorry if I’ve just lost a couple of you). I also love cooking and a spot of gardening, but I liken them to my relationship with chocolate – I can go ages without having any but give me a chunk and I have to eat the whole God damn bar.
All-in-all I live for the moment. And when it arrives I revel in it. It’s a bit like my approach to photography – I always want my images to be alive and to be all about the moment.
CHARITY WORK
I‘m very lucky that my I’m able to earn a living from doing something that I absolutely love! I’m also very aware that it’s so important to give something back. A few years ago I grabbed the opportunity to go out to Kolkata, India, to help the Hope Foundation by using my photography skills to raise awareness of their work in supporting the street children and vulnerable communities in and around the city. Please see below for a blog post about that trip.
Ever since then I’ve regularly worked with them, capturing events such as the Street Child cricket world cup and London Gala Dinners.
Kolkata: Capturing today with the HOPE of a better tomorrow
Kolkata: Capturing today with the HOPE of a better tomorrow hen I took the decision, with the support of my family, to leave a well paid career in accountancy to become a full time photographer it was in a quest to get closer to 'real life' as much as following a...
Alistair first visited the Hope Projects in Kolkata in 2015, and since then has been a passionate and ardent supporter on a regular basis. Alistair is not just a great artistic photographer, but also uses this media to observe and highlight the conditions in which some of these kids live in Kolkata and the huge efforts that HOPE put into extracting them from that black hole.
Alistair gives generously of his professional time to us; and it is only through the kindness and generosity of people like Alistair, that HOPE can continue providing this level of support to these street-connected children. As an Ambassador for HOPE, I am grateful for all that Alistair does for us.
AWARDS & FEATURES
The greatest recognition that I crave is from my clients – I love receiving words of thanks for a job well done. However, I’ve got to admit that it is rather lovely and very re-assuring when I receive awards etc from my own industry and profession. One of the highlights was being awarded ‘International Top 10 Wedding Photographer of the Year’ by the Guild of Professional Photographers. You can read all about it here.
MY SUPPORTING CAST
8 1/2 THINGS I LOVE
SNOW DAYS
I love nothing more than waking to a blanket of snow and the prospect of a snowball fight with my son. Although I usually lose.
ICE CREAM
Complete with waffle cone, ideally from the Amalfi Coast. Wow what a gelati it was!!
BONGO, OUR VAN
And plenty of opportunities to do it all over again, with a different view on our next camping trip. Best enjoyed with a cup of tea and a family hug!
HERBIE & ALL HIS AWESOME TRICKS!
Meet Herbie – our Miniature Schnauzer. All the local school children know and adore him. You see, Herbie is a registered ‘PAT’ dog (Pets As Therapy) and once a week Nicola takes him into school to help the children with their reading, trying not to distract them too much with all his tricks!
AFFECTING PEOPLE WITHOUT REALISING IT
One Christmas morning I was sat quietly with my family and Nicola asked what I was grinning about. Simply, I felt a little like Father Christmas. It dawned on me that there were at least 25 families that day that would be opening a gift from a very special person in their lives that I had created. Memories for those families that would last forever. It thrills me, enough to take my breath away, that the memories of my photo shoots bring smiles to hundreds of people each and every day.
SAYING YES TO APPEARING IN SELFIES WITH MY CLIENTS!
However silly I might look! Still, it’s a great way to remember my clients and after all if they request it then you can’t say no, can you?
GOING THROUGH LIFE LIKE….
Yes, this was us, myself and Nicola, on our, ahem, 20th wedding anniversary! We had the most amazing few days in this awesome treehouse!
BEACH HUTS
Even better when we are in them.
THE BETTER HALF!
My wife Nicola, of course. Full of ideas and inspiration. She has said yes to all that I ask – some crazy, some lifelong questions. She provides me with the encouragement to just keep going and is a great ‘hermey dancer’.
