Who Needs Professional Photographers when Digital Cameras are so Good?

How many awful profile photos have you seen on LinkedIn lately?  Chances are, you will have seen lots of very unflattering photos.  All those people are trying to impress you with their updates about the wonderful things they are doing in their businesses, but they failed to see that you lost interest when you saw their photo.  With the growth of social media, it has never been more important to have a really good business portrait to put an approachable face to your business.

When potential clients visit your website, do they see lots of strong, well-lit photos of your products or services taken at interesting angles to grab your attention, or do they see just a block of text or uninspiring photos?  Well-taken, professional photographs will engage with the viewer and make them eager to find out more, but text on its own is dull and poor photos will just make your business look amateurish.  If you are not interested in showing your business in its best light, what does that say about your level of confidence in it?

With the advancement of digital cameras, many people think they just need the latest camera to get great photos, as it can set the exposure and focus for them.  However, the camera will not be able to light the subject well, compose the photograph, or coax the perfect expression from a subject.  It takes years to learn how to do those things. That’s why successful businesses use professional photographers as they know that first impressions count.

Stop-motion Video for UK Car-servicing Franchise

I have just produced a stop-motion video for UK car-servicing franchise iAutoUK, to show their stand at The National Franchise Exhibition 2013 at the NEC in Birmingham.

The brief was to produce a lively stop-motion film which shows the exhibition stand in a fun way, while still showing that it is a serious business.  I hope you agree that I have fulfilled the brief.

Countryfile Filming on Rain-soaked Cannock Chase

I got soaked yesterday as I was photographing the filming of Countryfile on Cannock Chase in the pouring rain.

Countryfile were filming the re-burial of the World War 1 Messines model which was built by German prisoners of war.  It has just been discovered, uncovered and documented, but it had to be re-buried under a protective membrane and sand to avoid erosion.  The sand was donated by my client Cemex, who commissioned me for the assignment.

Here are some photos of Countryfile presenter Jules Hudson (right) interviewing archaeologist Martin Brown and getting soaked at the same time.  Working in the media isn't always as glamourous as it seems!

Busy, Busy, Busy at LBE13

I have just returned from a very busy day at the Leicester Business Event 2013 (LBE13).

As you can see from the photos below, I set up a mobile studio for taking business portraits as well as an exhibition stand showing both my commercial photography and video work as well as my reportage wedding photography.  I was so busy all day taking portraits and talking to prospective clients that I'm exhausted now!

 I also had a free-to-enter prize draw to win a free business portrait and I am pleased to announce that the lucky winner is Hilary Bowerman of Rock Advertising.

If you wish to find out more about me and what I have to offer, please visit either my commercial photography and video website or my wedding photography website.

Win a FREE Business Portrait at Leicester Business Event 2013

Come to the Leicester Business Event 2013 (LBE13) on Thursday 3rd October at the Leicester Tigers GNC stand from 9.30am until 4.30pm and you could win a 

FREE BUSINESS PORTRAIT taken by me.  Drop in to see me at stand MP11 on the ground floor (in "The Final Whistle"), where I will not only have an exhibition stand, I will also have my mobile studio set up.

I will be taking studio-lit portraits against a bright white background for FREE.  If you have your portrait taken, the proofs will be sent to you by e-mail and one lucky winner (drawn at random at the end of the day) will receive a fully-optimised high-resolution digital file of their portrait for FREE.  

If you are not lucky enough to win, you can buy fully-optimised high-resolution digital files for just £25 + VAT each (or £50 + VAT for 3 photos of the same person), although there is no obligation to buy.  

This offer is limited until 2 weeks after the show, when all photos will be £40 + VAT each.  You will be licenced to publish the photos anywhere (including on-line and in print), forever.  My standard minimum rate for photography work is £130 + VAT, so this show offer represents exceptional value for money, even if you are not the lucky winner of a free portrait.

A bit more about the show...

Exhibition spaces are now fully booked for the Leicester Business Event 2013 (LBE13) however visitors can attend the event for free with the opportunity to explore over 110 exhibition stands which are spread across two floors. 

Visitors are encouraged to pre-register to attend the event for their pre-registration pack which includes a full list of exhibitors, floor plan, event schedule and name badge. This will save queuing on the day and give visitors the opportunity to prepare their own strategy for making the most of the event for their business or organisation.

Not only does the event have a variety of exhibitors but also, for the first time, the exhibition is featuring a section called the Market Street which will be located on the ground floor known as the Final Whistle and will have high street retailers with products to sell on the day - as well as a top UK photographer!  ;-)

Other activities will be held throughout the day including seminars with eight speakers, two speed networking sessions with the opportunity to meet 18 different businesses in under an hour. There’s also a ‘Meet the Buyer’ session where you can have a one-to-one consultation with a variety of Public Sector suppliers and larger organisations.

Free to attend, the exhibition is going to be the biggest it has ever been with an expected 1,000 visitors.

To register and receive your free pre-registration pack and badge, please visit www.hi2events.co.uk/pages/events/eventitem/LeicestershireBusinessEvent2013LBE/86/.

For a full list of exhibitors please visit http://www.leicesterbusinessevents.co.uk/Exhibitors.aspx

Blog Article Interview

I have just been featured in a blog article about my business: http://www.greenapplecommunications.co.uk/case-studies/adapt-and-prosper/#more-739

The interview was based on how I have had to adapt my business over the years, especially with regards to social media marketing.

Natural Photography of Care Homes in The Midlands

I have recently been commissioned to do some stills photography for a group of care homes in the Midlands.

My brief was to take natural shots of the staff and residents in order to bring out the their characters and to show the caring and friendly faces of the staff to illustrate what great jobs they do in quite often, very demanding situations.  I also had to take some staff photos and some general views.  The photos were to be used on the care home group's new website and also in brochures.  Here are a few of my favourite shots...

N.B. This blog covers just the PR, commercial, corporate editorial, architectural and aerial photography and videography side of my business.  Please see my Reportage Wedding Photography Blog for up-to-date news about the wedding and portrait side of my business. 

Corporate Portrait Photography

While "high-key" white-background corporate portraits are still very popular, I am regularly commissioned to photograph portraits of staff and management of companies in The Midlands in a natural and relaxed style known as environmental portraiture.  This style makes use of whatever surroundings can be found within the workplace, but I use them in such a way to compliment the subjects, rather than over-powering them.

Here are some examples of some staff portraits I took for a housing association in Leicestershire:

N.B. This blog covers just the PR, commercial, corporate editorial, architectural and aerial photography and videography side of my business.  Please see my Reportage Wedding Photography Blog for up-to-date news about the wedding and portrait side of my business.