I first met Helena & Andy in 2007 when I shot their beautiful wedding in Northumberland.  I was over the moon when Andy got in touch late last year wanting to treat Helena to a bump and baby shoot for her Christmas present! Esme arrived a little earlier than expected but is doing just fine – and as you can see is beautiful. x Manchester Portrait & Wedding Photographer www.aliford.com ..read more

“What props will you be bringing to the shoot?”…….er..none!! “If I provide the teacup will you take the photos?”………erm nope!! I have thought loooong and hard over the years about trying to adopt the latest portrait craze for the sake of getting a few extra bookings….there have been a few in all the years I have had my photography business….spot colour…remember that one??! I said “no” to that one too…. I’m not being precious about my work, I am just staying true to myself… My photography is self taught – have lots of letters after my name – but none of them relate to photography…. My style is ..read more

I’ll let you into a little secret. Since Ali Groves and I first talked about working together, putting her amazing photographs alongside the words that I write for our clients, I’ve been trying to decide whose work is really most important! When we present a client with the photographs that Ali has taken of them in their studio or office, with their products, doing what they do and I email them the words that I have written, based on our relaxed conversation about what they have to offer to their customers and why they are so passionate about their business, what really matters most? That t ..read more

We had postponed the shoot a couple of times, waiting for the perfect evening to catch the gorgeous light at the coast for this maternity portrait shoot. I am so pleased that we did.  My client had thought carefully about outfits and the look she wanted for these very previous images.  I cant wait to catch up with the new arrival next month!!  xx www.aliford.com ..read more

I was invited by this lovely family to do a Family Portrait Shoot whilst they were staying at Moo House in Northumberland.  The property is one of the fabulous Coastal retreats holiday homes.  The extended family were all spending time together to celebrate a big birthday so it was a great opportunity to get some shots of the three generations having fun.  As you can see it was a chilly Northumberland day – but we were not deterred and kept popping back into the big farmhouse style kitchen for warming cups of tea.   Photography of relaxed family occasions is so importa ..read more

We have been there for important times in each others lives….University days, weddings, new babies…. so there was no hesitation when one of my oldest friends asked me to head down to Bristol to do a family portrait shoot with her, her sister and cousin and their families. We started off at the house and then headed to the gorgeous Ashton Court for some running around, and finally ice creams!! x ..read more

This gorgeous family had their portrait shoot at their home in Northumberland on a lovely sunny day.  Shooting a family at home means that the children are comfortable with their surroundings and can relax and just be themselves rather than feeling under pressure to “perform” in front of a camera in a studio. Family and Childrens Portrait Photography Manchester – www.aliford.com ..read more

I love it when I get to go back and see clients that Ive done shoots for before!  The Parker family have been clients since the birth of Ben, and I’ve visited them a few times since for christenings, family celebrations and the newborns shots of Issie, and now a long overdue up date shoot in the garden with the lovely autumn colours!!  Fab to see family’s grow! Their Mum Victoria is soon to be a published author too – so watch out for her shoot (if she’ll let me!!) as she needed PR shots – cant wait for her book to come out next year!! Alison Groves Portrait Photography Manchester ww ..read more

I had the pleasure of doing some corporate headshots for Natasha McCreesh’s new website for her business PiP to Grow Strong. www.piptogrowstrong.com which is just about to be launched.  I knew straight away when I met Natasha that the type of photography done needed to match her personality, which is perfect as I’m not a fan of the staid sitting at your desk type of corporate photography – these images tell you nothing about the person being photographed, and would always make alternative suggestions.  The shoot took place at Natasha’s beautiful house in Yorkshire. Manchester Portrai ..read more

Ive known the Bradbury’s now for around 9 or 10 years I think, when Judith & Bradbury chose me to be their wedding photographer.  We’ve both had two children since then, at very similar times, and so baby shoots, christening shoots have followed.  Life has moved on, and the gorgeous Wilbur has joined their family (the amazing Pyrenean Mountain dog!) and we decided an update family portrait shoot was loooong overdue!  We managed to catch the last of the late summer sun at their beautiful Northumberland home. Alison Groves Portrait Photography Manchester www.aliford.com ..read more