Networking to make a positive difference!

2010 is already looking like a very positive year January has been a record month!

Next week shooting for a catalogue Monday and Tuesday, Thursday some lifestyle shots for an article - “A Day in the Life of an Entrepreneur”. Shooting two clients head-shots at my studios on Friday.

Actually have a weekend off thinking of popping over to Tenerife to get some sun!

Having only embraced networking last February I love to see how effective networking can be! I have been pleasantly surprised how I am already realizing my dream of making a positive difference!!

One of the most exciting things that happened this January was to get commissioned to photograph a convention at the House of Commons on 8th February on climate change looks like my goal to be more involved in charity work and something that truly makes a positive difference is unfolding.

The event will be focused on the performance to date against the targets within Millennium Development Goal 7 – Environmental Sustainability and will be hosted for us by Colin Challon MP, founding Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Climate Change Group.

Colin Challon (Cross Party Chair of the Climate Change Group) will highlight progress to date around the world in achieving the targets within MDG 7 and, Penny On will launch "New Dawn", a programme designed to bring food and water security to the Sahawari people, using Permaculture technology and the energy and enthusiasm of Britain's young people.

Penny On was conceived in the Western Sahara desert back in 2002, when the Founders (Martin Dewhurst and Anthony Vernon-Riley) were working for an NGO programme supporting the Sahawari people. Penny On was born in Chorley, Lancs in May 2009 and is an effortless, inclusive, fundraising mechanism that supports the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.


Stephen Bailey, CEO of Penny On - http://www.pennyon.com/ (No relations to David he he) told me he was looking for someone involved in combating climate change so I immediately thought of Bill Liao who I met whilst photographing a weekend conference for the Africa Gathering, http://www.africagathering.org.uk/ (a group of entrepreneurs and business people who have pledged to work together to help Africa to become a sustainable continent and eradicate poverty and famine).

Bill is involved with an amazing reforestation project. He was recently at the Copenhagen climate talks with Gordon Brown, who seemed surprised to learn that trees create clouds durrr! (Where is this man’s brain – obviously – in the clouds!!) Bill is now going to be one of the speakers at the conference and hopefully will be more involved with New Dawn!

Stephen then asked me if by any chance I know Stuart Rose, CEO of M&S and actually I do! I photograph the annual M&S awards, so was able to connect him to Stuart too. Hope M&S will decide to be a part of it!.

M&S recently celebrated their 50 years anniversary and Penny Bazaar which fits really well with the Penny On charity which wants retailers to encourage all shoppers to add 1p on to their purchases to the charity.

My dream this year is to connect like-minded people who want to make a positive difference to world climate and poverty and who are passionate about the planet.
I hope to realize this through my photography.

I have extensive experience photographing seminars, conferences and speakers as well as many other events, recently photographed “Make it Big in 2001” with James Caan from Dragons Den and Kevin Green from Secret Millionaire Channel 4’;s program – both Kevin and James are truly inspirational people a who are actively making a difference. Kevin Green is involved with “Make a Wish Foundation” and I will be working with Kevin at his 3 day seminar in July this year.

Hearing James Caan speak was truly an inspiration. He has his own foundation setting up a school in a rural village in Pakistan among other projects. I also recently photographed the FT Environmental Awards and the FT Sustainable Banking awards when I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing Sir Bob Geldof – always an outspoken, but truly passionate speaker!


If you know anyone in the charity sector who may need a photographer, either at a fund raiser, charity PR event or to cover a story – or any Event Organizers, Productions Companies, PR Companies, Journalists, Magazine Picture Editors……let me know!


I am confident that I will represent their events with passion and give them images that will help their cause to make a positive difference!