New Dimension...

Bio...

Andrew Eldridge Burton on Trent Portrait Photographer & Web Designer

Born in Burton upon Trent in1956 a father of two with one grand daughter, I am a fully qualified Master Photographer - Holder of an enhanced CRB certificate (which is available for you to view on request) and winner of 24 professional awards to date, which you can see below. I have over 29 years experience of wedding and portrait photography and providing exactly what my clients have required. I was one of the pioneers in digital photography and certainly the first local to go totally digital. As a result, I am able to offer an amazing range of products that compliment my portraiture as you will find on this site.

The images I create can often be viewed instantly and printing in most cases can be done while you wait, turning the whole session around in about an hour. An amazing thing considering it used to take three visits and up to a month to complete using the old methods.

I took up photography in 1981 working door to door until I opened my first studio in 1984 in Horninglow Road Burton on Trent. In 1987 I built a new portrait studio with a 44' frontage in Worthington Walk. The studio was not ideally laid out but it lifted my business a step and in spring/summer 1988 I was able to move out of rented property and into home ownership to the house where I still live happily today. I joined The Master Photographers Association (MPA) and went onto become a fully qualified "Licentiate Master Photographer" and win my first award before the end of that year.

Within two years I became the chairman of the West Midlands MPA and within four I had filled the role as National Chairman of Marketing. During my time I saw in the introduction of the highly successful national cherub scheme. Seen here with Ellis Watson (on left) then Marketing Director News International, I was also responsible for introducing the national portrait promotions through The News of the World and subsequently The Mail newspapers. I enjoyed the role immensely however it was an unpaid voluntary elected post that had its rewards purely in the knowledge that I bought much needed business to other members of the association.

Within three I had I had opened a Film processing shop in Station street in the town centre and moved the studio into the Burton Shopping Centre (now Coopers Square) During the revamp of the centre a couple of years later, I moved the studio temporarily and at great inconvenience into Swan walk to aid the landlords with the centre revamp before moving back into a purpose built studio complete with viewing cinema which I designed myself. From the frontage as you can see here on the right it disguised the fact that the studio was contained in a 1200 square foot upper floor space. Sadly following three years of rapid growth in the shop business, it all came to halt following the recession of the early nineties. Basically as things got worse it came to a head when the then studio landlords made unrealistic demands on a rent review and I had no option but to but restart from scratch. After five very hard years, I eventually moved my business into my home and have continued to operate from there ever since.

After a few years of absence in entering for awards I tried my luck again in 2003 and came away with two highly commended awards which inspired me to achieve what I consider to be my ultimate year in 2004 as you will see below. I have now retired from competition entry because I don't believe I can better that year.

Finally and for now: In 2008 I decided to retire from wedding photography and spend time to giving something back to the children that have paid my wages over the previous 28 years by going out and teaching them some of my digital artwork knowledge. In 2008 November I did my first full day of teaching at The All Saints' CE (C) Primary School in Rangemore - I thoroughly enjoyed it and the children at such a young age produced some lovely abstract work which you can see more of here The following efforts come from Oliver B, and Chloe S, both mug designs produced from the paint pots image below.

By Oliver B Class 3

By Chloe S Class 3

Over the last two years I have been studying to build and create websites like this one. my other works include www.ukportraitgroup.co.uk and one other I built and run because my passion is to dance modern jive and blues; is www.dancebooker.co.uk

There is still much more to come from me yet, so check out the awards below and if you could use any of my portrait, web design or teaching skills and services or could suggest any extra services I could provide, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

The Awards

The following is a copy of a press release sent to local and regional news media. As a result I was a guest on Radio Derby for an hour with Shane O'Connor I hope shortly to put extracts online for you to here

Newly Crowned West Midlands Master Photographer of The Year

" PRESS RELEASE "

Well known local photographer Andrew Eldridge hit the big time last night (15th June 2004) winning an unprecedented " 5 " Yes FIVE West Midlands Master Photographer of the year titles in one year, and includes the most prestigious of them all, that allows him to rightfully claim the overall title of:-

" WEST MIDLANDS MASTER PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR " 2004/05

Entering into four different categories in the annual West Midland Master Photographer of the Year awards, he has come away with the winning trophy in each section and now holds the titles of

West Midlands Digital Photographer of the Year 2004

West Midlands Licentiate Portrait Photographer of the Year 2004

West Midlands Under Fives Photographer of the Year 2004

West Midlands Parent & Child Photographer of the Year 2004

Andrew has previously won Eighteen awards since qualifying back in 1988 and they include being twice Wedding photographer of the year and twice Pet photographer of the year and with last nights haul bringing his total to Twenty Three, he is rightfully as he puts it " Chuffed to bits "

Receiving his awards from National President Peter Ellis Fmpa, Andrew says " To receive the four awards is fantastic but to become overall Master Photographer of the Year is the highest honour that you can achieve in the region and the award has come as a total shock to me ", " To say I'm Chuffed to bits, is an understatement but I don't have the words to tell people how I feel ", " I would like to thank all my past and present clients for their help in allowing me to photograph themselves and their families, for without them, I could never have gained the experience to take my work to this level ".

This annual competition is run by the West Midlands region of the Master photographers association (The only photographic trade organisation that accepts qualified members only. Currently having around 2,000 members nationwide).

The Winning prints will be forwarded for entry into the Associations National Awards which take place in October when hopefully Andrew (fingers crossed), will add to his tally with a national award or two. To check out the winning images visit Andrews web site www. andreweldridge. co.uk You can also contact Andrew on 01283 546418 or 07957 750115 or by email andrew @ andreweldridge.co.uk

" ENDS "

No.24 British Professional Photography National Award 2004

West Midlands Licentiate Wedding Award 2003

West Midlands Digital Award 2003

Further awards over the years shown below:-