Andy Cowin

As the MD of  the information architecture consultancy Sanfire, Andy Cowin needed his multiple on-line profiles to be professional, polished but less 'corporate'. Let's see how we got on...

Q&A

 

Q. Why did you choose Me & I Photography?

A. Personal contact with Matt and seeing his website

Q. What prompted the shoot - an event, gift for example?

A. A need for some professionally shot images to use on my website

Q. Where was your shoot?

A. The Custard Factory, Digbeth.

Q. What was it like to be a part of?

A. OK. Quite informal/casual

Q. How would you describe the images produced from your shoot?

A. Interesting use of the available textures and backgrounds created a unique set if photos.

Q. Could you please indicate your favourite 2 images?

Q. What has been the reaction of others to the images?

A. Very positive.

Q. Could you sum up the experience and would you recommend it to others? 

A. A relaxed shoot and an unusual way of taking portrait pictures has produced some memorable photos. I'd recommend Matt from Me & I Photography to anyone who wants a portrait that's a little bit different.

Featured
Andy Cowin by Me & I Photography
Andy Cowin
The ami Family
The Rami Family
The Birch Family by Me & I Photography
The Birch Family
The Davies Family

The Rami Family

At a recent family event, I was told that it was common place in the 1950s and 60s to have  photographers knock on your door to see if you fancy an impromptu family portrait session. It's a bit different now in our image saturated on line world, so for this testimonial section I've tried to address the key questions when looking for a photographer; why Me & I Photography, what was it like and what has been the response to the images.

With a park round the corner, football and hide and seek still to play, it was a great Autumn afternoon with...

The Rami Family

Q&A

Why did you choose Me & I Photography?

​We wanted some photos of our family that were natural and 'real' - so they didn't look staged or 'set up'. We saw the photography Matt had done for other families and though it was just what we wanted.

What prompted the shoot ?

We wanted a good set of family photos to choose from as gifts for family at Christmas, and also to put up at home.

Where did your shoot take place?

In the local park.

What was it like to be a part of?

Great fun - Matt is a natural 'people person' and great with children - in fact one of the children asked if Matt could 'come round to play' every Sunday afternoon!

How would you describe the images produced from your shoot?

Stunning - we couldn't believe how Matt had managed to capture us all looking so natural, but also like photos from a magazine.

​What are your 2 favourite photos?

What has been the reaction of others to the images?

Everyone has been amazed - especially that Matt could get so many good images in only one shoot.

Could you sum up the experience and would you recommend it to others? 

A great experience - brilliant photos that make me smile every time I look at them - I would highly recommend Matt, his approach and his skill.



The Birch Family

A crisp cloudless January sunday were the conditions for a wonderful fun filled family shoot with ...

The Birch Family

Q&A

Why did you choose Me & I Photography?

 I'd seen some other photos Matt had taken on Facebook and thought he was a very talented photographer.  I was really excited in the run up to the shoot as I knew the photos would be ones we could look back on in years to come with happy memories.

What prompted the shoot ?

 As a family, it's often difficult to get nice shots of us all together, as Freddie rarely sits still now and he's at the age where he wants to be taking the pictures or looking at the photos you've taken rather than sitting and posing!  So the thought of a dedicated time just for family pictures was something I really looked forward to. 

Where was your shoot?

Summerfield Park, Birmingham.  It's our local park, so somewhere we knew our way around and a place where Freddie has had lots of fun in the past!  I think it was really important to have somewhere Freddie felt comfortable with - had we gone in a studio I think he would have either spent most of the shoot trying to get hold of the camera equipment or wouldn't have wanted to have his photo taken.

What was it like to be a part of?

Pure fun!  Matt brought lots of props to keep Freddie entertained, like biscuits, balloons and bubbles (which were also plenty of fun for the grown-ups).  Freddie had met Matt when he was a baby, and hadn't seen him since.  However, he took to Matt almost immediately and really enjoyed the shoot.  Very quickly after the shoot began, I forgot that Matt was taking pictures, which is why most of them aren't posed shots, just natural, which is something that's hard to achieve when you're taking pictures of your own.  It was an absolute pleasure and a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

 How would you describe the images produced from your shoot?

Natural, happy, classic - photos to be proud of.  Thank you Matt - you made me and Dave look a million miles away from our usual frazzled selves.  The photos of Freddie in particular captured his character and you can really see how he resembles other people in our family.

What are your 2 favourite images? 

Difficult to pick just 2!

What has been the reaction of others to the images?

We were delighted with the photos and waited their arrival with bated breath.  They didn’t disappoint!  There are so many good ones, it's difficult to pick the ones we like the best.  Our immediate family love the photos and were very impressed.  They think they’re some of the best photos they’ve ever seen of us.  Our parents have been taking the CD of images round to their friends’ houses to show them off, and printing off their favourites and framing them on their mantelpieces.   

How would you sum up the experience and would you recommend it to others?

Absolutely fantastic.  Matt is a natural with people, and with a camera – perfectly suited to the photography profession.  My husband isn’t one for having his photo taken but he found the whole process fun and pain free!  We’ll always look back on these pictures with a smile.  I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants natural and relaxed images, or to anyone who wants family portraits but doesn’t fancy sitting in front of a fake background in a studio.  Having photos taken at play, in a familiar surrounding really makes the difference.  Often when you try to take photos of your own family, you can often miss the moment or get distracted.  Matt captured everything we usually manage to miss with our own camera! It’s something I would like to be able to do annually, and have it as a yearly family tradition. It would be lovely to have a high quality collection of photos which documents our son as he grows up.  Thank you Matt – you’re a star. 

  

The Davies Family

The weather in early December looked liked it could either way, but more importantly young Grace was in the mood for a play. Let's throw caution to the winter wind we thought and have some fun... 


The Davies Family

The Davies' at Winterbourne Gardens

 

Q&A

Why did you choose Me & I Photography?

Our decision to proceed with a photoshoot by Matt was influenced initially by the quality of his portfolio but then also by talking to him and hearing his ideas about the kind of photos he envisioned for my family

What prompted the shoot ?

We realised that all the photos we own consisted of either Grace on her own, or one of us with her and the other one taking the photo, so we decided that we needed some more quality photos of us all together as a family. We had also decided that these photos would be used as christmas presents to family.

Where was your shoot?

Our shoot took place at Winterbourne Gardens in Edgbaston

What was it like to be a part of?

It felt just like any normal afternoon we spend with Grace, which was exactly what we wanted. We don’t like staged studio-based photos.

How would you describe the images produced from your shoot?

We were very pleased with all the photos. Like most people, we use our phones to take snaps and have rarely come anywhere near to the quality Matt has produced for us. We used Matt’s website to choose our very favourites, which were printed out and framed to give to family as gifts

What are your 2 favourite images?

1. The close up of grace in the kids room

Close-up of Grace in colour

2. The one with me squatting down next to grace and her smiling

Father and daughter

What has been the reaction of others to the images?

Our families loved the photos and have pride of place on all our mantlepieces. Friends on Facebook were also very impressed

Could you sum up the experience and would you recommend it to others? 

The experience was completely natural and enjoyable. Matt was both friendly and professional and Grace took to him immediately. We would definitely recommend his services to anyone looking to get some very special photos of their family or event