Jude’s photo firm is still developing

MARKING a decade in business, photographer Jude Gidney called on her friends — and destroyed a giant cupcake.

The cake was top of photographer Jude’s list for the celebrations to mark 10 years as a freelance photographer - even though she never planned to serve it up!

Instead she used it for a fun cake-smash photoshoot: “Anyone can cut a cake,” laughed the Greenfield-based wedding and portrait photographer. “I wanted to do something that was a little bit different and a lot of fun.”

Jude’s willing models were the two children of her studio’s resident make-up artist Lisa Marie Gee while the cake was supplied by Karen Lambert, of Saddleworth Bakehouse, in Austerlands.

The three mums, who each run their own business, met via social media and regularly collaborate on vintage-style hen parties at Jude’s studio at The Tanner Business Centre, Greenfield.

The parties have gone from strength to strength since Jude moved from smaller premises in Mossley last September.

A former NHS dietician, Jude turned a lifelong passion into a business in April, 2003, working from a studio at her Uppermill home, since when she has photographed countless weddings, worked with a number of celebrity clients and won a stack of photography industry awards.

Last year she and Lisa were finalists in the Vintage Manchester awards, less than a year after launching the vintage arm of their business.

By contrast, Karen has celebrated her first year in business.

A lifelong baker, she was persuaded to go professional by her husband, Inspiral Carpets’ guitarist Graham Lambert. Her client list already ranges from local families to international rock bands and she supplied cakes for The Killers before the American band’s Manchester Arena gig.

She said: “I have never had a request like this one before though. It is certainly an unusual way to publicise my business. I flinched a little when I saw my hard work being destroyed, but it was a lot of fun.”