Saturday, 16 July 2011

Esther Ling Photography


Is anyone in need of some new photography?... Well we know just the person!

A few weeks ago I had Esther Ling round to take some shoots for a new website we were working on.

Esther is an expert in wedding and portrait commissions within the UK and Internationally. After looking at some of Esther Ling's Wedding Photography I was so impressed with her work, I had to request her services!

It was about time I had some photos done for my new website found at www.rachelducker.com.

Esther captured the exact image I was looking for and I was extremely impressed with the results.

Her approach is Intuitive, spontaneous, informal and I can confirm this is the person that I took my photos.

Check out a few of the shoots below:


 Thanks very much Esther!

The Anglian Business Awards

Terry Hunt, my editor at EADT (Archant)

We had a fabulous night last week at the Anglian Business Awards.

It was a very smooth running evening with great Adnams Champagne, a guest speaker John Humphries from BBC radio four, who was very funny plus amazing food from trainees at Milsoms.

To see Archant put on such a wonderful event I felt very proud of my association with the EADT newspaper paper.

As some of you may know our Suffolk Creative Agency Apparition Marketing and Design were up for the best start-up business of the year along with my good friend Hayley Sparkes and Together Property also based in Bury.


Hayley and I decided to put on a united front and we went to the event together along with our partners Craig and James. In a professional way we agreed to be happy for who ever won and if it was one of the two of us it would be a win win!

Rachel and Hayley finalists for the start-up business award

Sadly we were not successful this time, however I am very proud to announce that Gorgeous Star PR set up by Hayley won the award.

Gorgeous Star PR announced as winner!

I first met Hayley she worked for SK spa in Bury St Edmunds, she really wanted to set up her own business and I said well why don't you?

So I referred Hayley to my accountant who helped her to set up the business and donated her a website. This was enough to get her up and running and the rest was down to her! She has a great way with people which is what judges commented on during the awards.

Also during the night I bumped into a few good friends of mine, my good friend Esther Ling who is an amazing wedding photographer in Suffolk, along with her husband Ed Ling (who most of you may know! I swear he is Mr Facebook!)

Rachel with Esther Ling

Rachel with Ed Ling

And lastly the end of the night ended with a catch up with my good friend (head of the IOD and Ipswich building society) Paul Winter who was shortlisted for business person of the year award.

Rachel with Paul Winter

Another highlight was meeting those Crafty boys and girls from Crafted Media, who very kindly poured me one more glass of champagne (that I probably shouldn't have had) to celebrate their success of winning best small business. Which is great for the design industry in the area! Well done guys and ps. Tom I am on to you!


Two of the Crafted Media team!

Monday, 20 June 2011

Finalist for The Anglian Business Awards



I have received the some wonderful news that my first company, Apparition Marketing and Design Ltd, has been selected to be a finalist for the best start-up business in the 2011 Anglian Business Awards.

I am delighted to share this news, as it has been a really hard working year for all of the Apparition team.

I would personally like to thank all of our clients, team and friends for their invaluable support.

The awards will be announced next week at the Trinity Park Conference Center on 7th July.

Tickets are available at a cost of £75+VAT from Archant Suffolk on 01473 324559 or from events.suffolk@archant.co.uk

I have to say I am delighted I have had a few personal struggles lately and this has been a little reminder that I am still on course with my plan. Win or lose I am proud to be in this position with a number of other fantastic business people.

Will let you know the outcome soon!

10 reasons I love being a businesswoman...


1. I love being able to help others grow their own businesses.

2. It excites me enough to get me out of bed every day!

3. I learn something new when I least expect it.

4. It has helped me to grow up.

5. It has brought to me many other opportunities including radio and TV work.

6. It has given me the chance to express my views in my own newspaper column.

7. I can help my family and friends through other  business ventures. 

8. I can act as a mentor to people who need a little extra help.

9. I have proven to myself I can do it without a degree.

10. I feel really happy about my life because it is part f it.

Wednesday, 15 June 2011

I have launched my second business...


A few weeks ago I decided to launch my second business 'Time2Shine.'

Time2Shine has been designed to help young people and first times businesses. Our goal is to support and encourage those who want to be able to work for themselves, providing them with the correct tools to steer them in the right direction for the future.

We aim to mentor those willing to learn, offering advice and guidance about the issues important in business, develop confidence and help every step of the way whilst offering a fundamental business package. 

I am very please with how the first few weeks have gone, there have been lots of interest and we have also teamed up with Suffolk EBP. We will be launching a workshop soon along with a competition to help local sixth formers in schools in Suffolk.

If you want to check out the new site visit www.time2shineltd.co.uk.

The Vanessa Show Reel

I have regularly appeared on Channel 5's Vanessa Show and some people have still yet to see it. So I managed to get some footage and put it into a show reel!

Enjoy!




Saturday, 28 May 2011

My business celebrates its second birthday!

So it is official my first company, Apparition Marketing and Design a Creative Agency in Norfolk and Suffolk, has now made it past two years in business.

I really can't say where the time has gone, but it has certainly been a busy two years for us.

Below we have listed just a few of the highlights...


Opening the Apparition Studio
Appartions Christmas open evening
Raising money for the Halesworth Christmas Lights
With T.Coffeey MP
Talking at the IOD inspirations event in Southend
Charity Fashion Show
Winning EEBW award
Talking at the Swan Hotel in Beccles
Promoting all over the place!
Writing a weekly business column Water off a ducks back in EADT
On a billboard!
Regular appearances on the Vanessa Show on channel 5
Working with some amazing international clients!
And some local ones!
Talking at WiRE and helping other women in business
Becoming Mark Murphys Apprentice Guru on Radio Suffolk!

Apparitions First Birthday!













Judging EEBW awards 2010