Category: Professionalism

Corporate Group Photography on Location

21/4/2016

So lucky with the Location/Lighting/Weather/Sheep!

The harder I try the luckier I get - as many people have already said, true source of which appears to be Thomas Jefferson circa 1947.

These lovely people are a group of solicitors from JWK in Lancaster who all work within the rural community. A 'lively and authentic' image was the order of the day.

A week or two before the shoot, with the help of their marketing coordinator, the location you see here was found, reference shots taken, and lighting direction assessed. I was looking for a site which would give great back lighting on eight people for the selected time slot of 9am, and something to break up the potential 'wedding group'.

2nd Image Photography location equipment

I wanted the shot to have a slight 'studio' feel to it, so I knew I'd be needing extra lighting to contrast the strong sunlight. This would also give the 'something special' look I had in mind for the group. An elevated viewpoint would help to keep heads within the background hillside, hence the steps, and for the comfort of the group members who would be sitting down, I threw a few cushions into the back of the car!

Team briefing of the Sheep

Rural professional photography Lancashire

After closely watching the forecasts for an appropriate and convenient day, the shoot was on, and I arrived on-site 40 minutes before my clients to set up and run a lighting check.

So there you have it. I could have turned up 'blind' on the day with a camera and tripod . . . . but then that would have been a completely different result.

A good photographer will always deliver a thought process, so use a professional.

Shoot List:

CAMERA/LENS
TRIPOD
LIGHTING
STANDS
CABLES
STEPS
CUSHIONS

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The clue is: 'Professional'

2/7/2012

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£2.08 interior?

OK, so I've calmed down now.

Yesterday, I received a request for samples of interior photography from a 'Holiday Letting Company', with "many units in your area". It was all about 'quality' 'experience' and 'professionalism'. So I compiled an email, complete with links to my work. I got a link to their image samples and here is the jist of their reply:

" . . It usually takes our photographers about 45 minutes to shoot a listing with 24 images . . . "

Mmmm, now where do I begin with this rant? With the risk of alienating potential clients, 45 minutes would just about get me out of the car, with lighting, computer, camera and tripod set up to go for the first shot! So who is going to benefit from this wonderful experience?

The Holiday Unit Owner?

Unlikely. Unprofesional 'flash-on-camera' photography is hardly going to win over potential holiday seekers and they will move on to another more attractively presented abode.

The Letting Agent?

Why would they want a site compiled with amateur style photographs to showcase their service? Surely their clients who have spent a considerable amount of money creating these holiday lets will be of a discerning background and reject the substandard images?

The Photographer?

Ooo, that's me! Well it's not, as I wont be going near it, but hypothetically I'm going to drive, lets say 20 mile (probably more) and get complete job satisfaction by walking through these rooms with a handheld camera and flash as swiftly as I can for my £2.08 fee per image. Yes, that's right I get 50 quid. Oh, and if I want to shoot a video while I'm there, I get another tenner!

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Corporate Group Photography on Location

So lucky with the Location/Lighting/Weather/Sheep!

Team briefing of the Sheep

The clue is: 'Professional'

Geoff Harris

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