David and Claire were married at Close House near Wylam, Northumberland in the summer. It's a lovely location where I have worked many times. Here is a selection of photos from their day.

Shona and Paul were married at Otterburn Towers in the summer.

The ceremony is over- they are married!

Fantastic reds!

Jane and Chris were married at St Helen's Church, Longhorsley on a very rainy day.

Umbrellas always add to photos. I like the dreamy quality of this one.

Men are so chivalrous aren't they!

Jane's dress is wonderful so full and romantic.

Later on the blue sky returned which it often does.

Fabulous dance floor with the sparkles and lighting.

Jenni and David were married in August 2011 at Beltingham Church. I managed to visit the church to see the flowers before the heavens opened and gave us a continuous summer downpour! My first studio was a mile away from this church and I was there from 1999 to 2003. It's a wonderful church to visit as it has a Yew Tree behind it which is at least 900 years old.

Children are very important to Jenni as she is a nanny and so they feature very much in the photos too. Jenni gave her flower girls their necklaces so it is so natural to see them holding them here.

The lynch gate at Beltingham gave us all some welcome shelter. You can see how heavy the rain is as it falls in front of the trees.

Jenni and David had a marquee at her parent's house and it was beautiful, warm and comfortable inside.

The adults are busy being served with the wedding breakfast. The children have found how much fun the black and white squares are! It's very rare for a lot of rain all through a wedding but it never spoils it at all it just adds to the atmosphere and for me it becomes a natural part of the story telling. Also it's supposed to be good luck too x

Belinda and James were married at St Aiden's Church, Bamburgh, Northumberland and then went onto their reception in their marquee next to Bamburgh Golf Club. A beautiful setting above the fabulous Northumberland Coast. When I visited the marquee I found a stunning array of flowers. Delicate variations on a theme.

Belinda and her bridesmaids were getting ready in a holiday cottage in Bamburgh and I quietly followed the preparations.

I also had time to visit James and the groomsmen as they were nearby and as often happens the soft rain eased so that we could pop outside for some garden photos.

I arrived at church a little while before Belinda and so I was able to photograph guests entering the church. This is always a delight for me as I move from behind the scenes of people getting ready into the event.

St Aiden's has a lovely walk to the church door. It feels natural for me to be in this position as the bride moves towards her future !

This is a lovely photo. I rarely tell anyone what to do, I may ask of course but as I remember it the bridesmaids gave a last look quite spontaneously. If you look through the group you can see the vicar watching me. He will want to know that I won't hold anyone up and I never do. I don't feel it's appropriate.

I do ask the couple to pause at the door as they come out and then what they choose to do is always natural to them. So as long as they feel comfortable I'll keep taking photos.

And then everyone comes out and it's an exciting time for candid photos and spontaneous confetti if thats what the couple wants. At some weddings the ushers arrange the confetti throwing which works well too and I can count to three. We discuss all this before the wedding so I know what you want and how to make sure the photography fits in with your plans.

We went back into the church for a little while as the flowers were too good to miss!

It's a beautiful church door at St Aiden's so a very natural comfortable space for the agreed group photos. If the light had been uncomfortable we would have found some soft shade somewhere nearby. The quality of light takes precedence.

On the way to the golf club I had found this spot to stop and hop out of the car. It was a damp day and the couple didn't want to take too much time away from their guests which going onto the beach would have meant. This is such a lovely view of the castle.

It got wetter! But by now it didn't matter at all. The couple are waiting to enter the marquee for the speeches and there is always something good to photograph whatever is happening.

Belinda and James now have children and are coming up to Northumberland this year to have their complimentary family portrait session with me so it will be lovely to see them all. I feel very lucky.

I have photographed Bespoke Fitness a couple of times now. At the first session we concentrated upon the images they needed for their web site, so I photographed them demonstrating exercises and their range of portable equipment. The second shoot was at their very successful Fit camp sessions and I was so impressed by the commitment of the participants.

One of many photos I took in my studio of the equipment Bespoke Fitness can provide.

The Fit Camp session at Blaydon on a lovely sunny evening. A wide variety of activities and full on enjoyment.

Horton Grange is a lovely Hotel and although I work in the same rooms each time I visit the photos are always unique I feel. I hope you agree. The flower arrangements were so beautiful I loved the way they were presented in cups and saucers so creative and pretty.

A joy of photography for me is to see and respond to the light as it is so I will use flash if I need to but natural light is so flattering.

Anyone who has photographed babies will know how good it is to manage a photograph with everyone looking and feeling good including the baby. I find these work well with the softly softly approach, stay alert and keep looking and be ready to respond.

Their first dance. This photo is achieved where the flash will come in even though there is a very slow shutter speed and so you get this nice mix of softness through their movement but also some clarity through the flash light.

I have worked at the Centre for Life many times over the last few years photographing a variety of events. This is a Life lab Genetics workshop in their Educational Department organised by The UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres. Each week, ASDC members engage 385,000 children and adults with science, how brilliant. The brief was to photograph the session, and to do some close up photos of equipment. I did this without interference so that the photos are authentic. Here are a few examples from the 116 provided. Feedback from ASDC was "they look fabulous".

I was lucky enough to be able to pop out of the house and catch the race passing by last summer 2011. "Northumbrian Water is once again proud to host and sponsor the 2011 Northumbrian Water Tour of the Reservoir in partnership with the Tyne Valley Cycle Club and welcomes all competitors, spectators and visitors. The 1,000 acres of the magnificent Derwent Reservoir make a spectacular backdrop for this major national cycling event"

It's always great to be able to photograph fast moving unpredictable events as it gives opportunities for the unexpected. I photograph Appleby Horse Fair regularly too which is also visually very exciting.

The final leg along to the finish line on the Dam.

The winners and the Champagne I got drenched in which makes a change from confetti.

If you would like to view the whole gallery it is on the client area site where images are available to purchase. http://shonabranigan.zenfolio.com/tyne/valley/cycle/club/tour/of/the/reservoir/2011

I have been very lucky to be invited to act as one of the official show photographers every year since 2009. I have a very open brief which is to cover a few of the areas of the show and to "capture the magic".The show wouldn't happen without the dedication of those who plan it and run it, but it's also dependant upon the enthusiasm and commitment of those who travel vast distances to take part. So it's a delight to share in the show experience. Watching the judges I have learnt a little bit about poultry.

The commentary is always very interesting, informative and entertaining. The winners of the best breeds are paraded through the main arena to have further judging to find the best in show overall.

I spent a very enjoyable day at Haydon Bridge School last summer photographing a variety of lessons for their school prospectus. It was nice to visit the school again having worked there previously as a visiting tutor in Photography and Photoshop. The school has a great atmosphere and a very vibrant art department. I also photographed art students from the school at an Art Tour workshop run by Christina Mingard a very talented local artist at Bardon Mill.

An intimate family wedding at Lindisfarne Castle. The Castle lends itself well to small weddings, even just the 'two of you'. It's a location full of atmosphere which you never forget.

The boys had cool sunglasses- so did the girls- and then the case with the gramphone, very cool!

Tim and Ailsa were married at Newcastle Registry office in 2002 in the days when I worked with film camera's. This meant that you got it right in the moment and I didn't do any post editing as the films went straight to the lab. I have since seen Ailsa and Tim with their children for a portrait session and they are planning to visit again this year.

We went to Malmaison for some social time and drinks before heading over the Bridge to the Baltic.

Fabulous contemporary, delicious looking wedding cake.

I spent half a day at the Kingswood Outdoor Centre in Hexham and photographed a variety of activities for their publicity and web site use. I love this kind of photography. It's the chance to be involved with what is happening as the quiet observer and recorder. The children has a fabulous time. They were challenged and stretched an their expressions say it all. Kingswood were very pleased with the photos supplied and have added my details to their information pack to schools as their recommended photographer. I also obtained my CRB through Kingswood so I am cleared to work with children in all situations.

I watched this girl climb a telegraph pole, stand on the top of it and then jump out into space to catch a trapeze bar. She was so brave I didn't think I would have the courage to do it myself. The glint in her eyes when she got down is full of her achievement.

This was a new piece of equipment in which the children are hoisted as high as possible and then the swing drops. Eek. I took some very funny photos of the kinds of expressions this produced but it wouldn't be fair to show them here.

Team work is just as important as individual achievements.