2014, a Staffordshire photographer's year in pictures

But if 27-year-old Matt Cotterell, from Codsall, were to slack on his resolution for even one day the proof would be there for all to see.

Matt doesn't smoke and enjoys a drink with friends.

He works full time and doesn't consider himself in need of a fitness push, so he opted for a different challenge in 2014 - to take a photograph to mark each and every day.

His final 365 pictures will be turned into a video, mapping out the highs and lows of the year, set to specially made music by Canadian DJ Daniel Kim.

He said: "It started off as a joke suggestion really, but my friends seemed to like it and encouraged me to take it up.

"I'm not a keen photographer by any means, I have taken all these on my phone for convenience, it is just satisfying to have the document.

"At first I was struggling for ideas but by the end of January I couldn't give up, I was in too deep."

Matt's 2014 has been eventful and has taken in weddings, music festivals, football matches and plenty of time with friends and family.

Matt currently works at Western Power Distribution, started the year at the Wolves ticket office, where he got to meet some of his footballing idols, including Steve Bull and Nouha Dicko.

He said: "I have had a lot of fun, I guess I picked quite a good year.

"Looking back I seem to have spent the majority of my time with friends, family and work colleagues.

"Meeting players like Bully and Dicko was great.

"I really enjoyed working at the ticket office, they were a great bunch of people, we worked hard but had a good laugh together."

Outside of current and former players, Matt took a photo with another true Wolves hero in the shape of Graham Hughes, who had worked as a historian at the club for 30 years before retiring in 2012.

Matt said: "Graham was a really nice guy, full of interesting stories.

"I used to drop him home after work and every time he would have a new story to tell me about Wolves, which was amazing for a fan like myself."

The club plays a major role in Matt's, with one photograph showing him with a group of friends in honour of Lee Morgan, who they used to attend matches with.

He said: "We want to try and do something in Lee's honour every year, the anniversary of his death fell on the day Wolves played away at Derby this year.

"We went to the game then visited his local for a few drinks in his honour."

Matt's selection of snaps can also act as a reminder of the fads and crazes that have defined 2014, including the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, which took the web by storm throughout August.

The split second when Matt throws the icy water on himself for charity was fortunately captured perfectly on photo.

He said: "That one was very nearly a disaster.

"My dad shot the video and he isn't very good with phones, so he stopped filming pretty much as soon as the water went over my head.

"I had to screen shot it and take a photo from that, which luckily worked out pretty well."

Matt's main passion, music, is a regular feature in his photo diary, from attending live performances to DJing at parties.

A shot of him behind decks decorated with the line 'kids love magic parties' is a particularly humorous memory.

He said: "I had to borrow the equipment and it just looked so strangely funny.

"My friend said that had to be my photo for that day, me trying to do a professional job behind this comedy set up."

His gig list for the year includes Justin Timberlake's show at Birminghams LG Arena, Eminem's date at Wembley Stadium, Xstatic Festival and Reading Festival.

As an aspiring DJ, Matt took the opportunity to take part in a meet and greet with North London electro duo Gorgon City during his weekend at Reading.

He said: "They have a signing tent at Reading, where acts will sit for a couple of hours and meet their fans.

"I am a big fan of Gorgon City and was planning to go and see them later on in the day.

"As I walked past the tent, I noticed they were doing a signing but it looked pretty much finished, everyone was packing up.

"I had a word with security and told them about my resolution and they let me through.

"The guys seemed to think it was a good idea too and were more than happy to pose."

Another music event, Birmingham's BPM, a three day event for lovers of electronic music, gave Matt an opportunity to grab a snap with Star Wars character Chewbacca.

He said: "By that point I was well into the swing of taking these photographs and as soon as I saw this guy dressed up like Chewbacca I knew that would be my photo for that day."

When the shots of Matt living the party life are placed alongside selfies and photographs with family, the collection becomes a real personal scrapbook.

The family shots are a document of something that is of the utmost importance to Matt.

He said: "We are a very close family.

"We like to get together a lot anyway and take photographs so they were happy to join in."

One especially significant photograph that will stay with Matt for a long time shows him with his great aunt Betty Austin, who would pass away from cancer just months later.

He would go on to run the Wolverhampton Marathon in Betty's honour, dressed as '118 man' from the directory enquiries advertisements.

Matt plans to try and raise money for Compton Hospice off the back of his compilation video release after they cared for Betty in her final days.

Matt said: "I didn't know when I took the photo that she was ill.

"It was just the fact I had saw her that day.

"Even though that photo may be upsetting sometimes to look back on, it is things like that which have made the whole thing worthwhile."

Romance is also a feature, with 2014 being the first year Matt has spent with his girlfriend Kelly.

The pair met while working as comperes on Disneyland cruise ships.

Matt said: "It's strange that we got together last December so she has only known me as this guy who takes photographs everyday.

"I think she wants me to pick a different new years resolution for 2015, sometimes hunting for photographs can become quite tiresome for others."

Another fond photograph shows Matt with the bride and groom at his best friend Ben Harvey's wedding, where he was best man.

He said: "We have known each other all our lives, our parents are best friends and so are we.

"That was a special day and it's nice to have got a photo with the happy couple."

As 2014 comes to a close, Matt said: "At times I have felt a little strange constantly taking photographs.

"I must have looked crazy to others.

"But I have a priceless memento of this year that I will never lose."