A POPULAR photography studio has celebrated its 50th anniversary.
Brian Ollier launched Ollier Photography Studio on Sunderland Street on December 12, 1964.
It later moved to Mill Street and is now thriving on Queen Victoria Street.
Brian died suddenly in August during complications in surgery to treat his cancer. He was 69.
The business is now run by his son Joe, 24, and Matt Webb, 37, who trained with Brian for 14 years.
To mark the well-loved firm’s golden anniversary, each week the Express will be printing a selection of photos from the Ollier archives.
Joe said: “December 12 was an emotional day of celebration tinged with the sadness that dad couldn’t be with us to see his studio reach 50.
“We visited his grave, had a toast to the past and future, and then had to get on with our work.
“Through dad the studio built up a fantastic reputation. Most homes in Macclesfield probably have one of our photographs hanging on the wall. Matt and I plan to keep that tradition going in the future.”
As a boy, Brian developed a love of photography practising his art around the town and on school trips, developing his images in the cupboard under the stairs at home.
Brian’s ability even earned him his first paid job at the tender age of 13, when he was booked for his first wedding.
After leaving school he got a job at the Macclesfield Express as a junior photographer.
Although just a teenager, Brian set up his own studio in 1964 and over the next five decades took thousands of portraits, weddings and completing corporate jobs. Brian found fame and success in his original pastel portrait style and travelled the world attending lectures and seminars.
The baby competitions at the studio were legendary and one year Brian managed to capture 1,300 babies in just 10 days.
Brian also photographed famous faces over the years including Lord Lichfield The Duke of Gloucester, Dennis Healey and Angela Rippon. Other famous clients included David Davies, Mark Hughes, Mikael Sylvester, Philip Neville, Bradley Walsh, David Dickinson, Jesper Olsen, Jason Robinson, David Platt and Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff – in the bath.
Brian retained a strong connection with the Express and became a mainstay of the paper with his popular Looking Back column.
Look out for the first week of our anniversary special of Brian Ollier Photography in next week’s Express.
