Photography Training October Sneak Preview

Been putting alot of time lately into getting this slide show ready. It's going to be a part of my new site eventually (when i get round to sorting out exactly how i want it). See what you think It's taken days to get to this stage but i thought I would treat you and give you a sneak peak.

This slide show is a mixed bag of images some Dougs some mine. If you fancy joining us on the training day on the 8th October check out my site www.martinwilmottphotography.com under the tips section and you'll find the details. Or if you can't be bothered with all that reading just give me or Doug a bell (on the numbers above) and we'll talk you through it. Its going to be GREAT!! Don't leave it too late though .... you don't want to be disapointed!!

photography

Photshop CS2

You know how you just get used to how something works and your happy in the knowledge you've got it sussed and then it all gets updated. I finally got round to having a play with Photoshop CS2 today. Looks really exciting but there's now even more to learn!!

What happened to the days when photographers used to turn up and take photographs for a living? I can't really complain its the ability to manipulate an image that makes the general public realise that there camera phone perhaps isn't the replacement for a wedding photographer after all.

Been trying out several new styles and I must admit I think once I'm used to it (in about 12 years time) me and PSCS2 are going to get on just fine. Of course it's only a matter of time before Adobe bring out CS3 (about 4 months from what I've heard) but that's just par for the cause I guess.

Web design is coming together slowly (my fault entirely). Thanks to all the guys who e mailed and said what parts of the site to keep. Nice to know what others think. I'm really excited by the whole thing and I'm hoping my visitors will be too.

My Site is Changing

I really like my current web site but there are a few outstanding points that need changing. For a start the search engines don't like it. Too technical for me but apparently the flash software is not readable by the search engines spiders ????

Between Nick (my web designer) and myself we have been blasting e mails to and from for the last couple of weeks. All of the best bits will still be there (the albums and free tips are currently the most popular). Also there's going top be some great changes that at the moment I'm going to keep under wraps.

I just love the way the internet has changed the way I can do business. Years ago if I was looking for a supplier I'd have probably gone local. Now I don't even think twice about contacting someone who lives no where near me. If I consider their work to be outstanding I'll get in touch. A casing point is Nick my web designer (www.twolittlefishes.co.uk) he lives some 300 hundred miles from me yet I can still use his services. Another example would be my albums. They are cut to my own personal bespoke design by a company in New Zealand. The service they provide far outperforms anyone else on the planet I have be in contact with, so they're the company I choose to represent me.

This is why I believe my website is the central hub to my business and needs to be as good as it can be ....... stay tuned

The Importance of Photography

Recently I was booked by a family for a portrait session. Having chatted on the phone for some time it became obvious that the major reason behind the shoot was that Rocky (the family dog) had recently been diagnosed with untreatable cancer.

Rocky was obviously a very loved member of the family and will be very much missed I'm sure. I only hope the images of him and the family will render happy memories of the good times they all had together.

This brings up a very valid point about our time on this world, none of us know when the clock will stop ticking for us so it's vital to enjoy every second. Take as many photographs of happy times as you can, you never know if you'll have another chance again and please if you have a digital camera print the pictures. I hear so many stories from people who have deleted or lost all the photographs when their computer went bang and are now left with no pictures of their children from the last 4 + years. Digital has a lot to answer for.

Basically what I am trying to say is don't put off anything and take lots and lots of photographs ..... Thank you Rocky for reminding me of this lesson ... God bless

Fantastic Wedding Venues

I consider myself extremely lucky in that because of my role as a wedding photographer I get to work in some fantastic places. The image here for example is the ball room at the Dorchester Hotel in London.

I always try and get an image like this for the Bride and Groom before the room fills up with guests (300+) as it never looks the same once the people have been allowed in. Chances are that as they are the last to enter they would not have been able to appreciate how well it had been decorated.

This shot was taken from a wedding last year I remember it well as a certain Hollywood celebrity was staying in the hotel which meant wherever I wanted to photograph the bride and groom we had to be escorted by security in case I tried to get a sneak photograph of the celeb. A complete pain!

Sometimes it can feel that on a wedding day everything is against the wedding photographer. There is so much that can go wrong (and something nearly always does) that it takes a brave / stupid person to think they have everything under control. I always think if I plan for the worst case scenario than anything less than that is a bonus. Not to say I'm paranoid but on a typical wedding I take no less than five cameras 2 x Hasselblads and 3 x 35mm. Of these I would probably use at least three of them ..... It's so much better to be safe than oh so sorry .....

Looking To The Future

I spent the day at the NEC in Birmingham yesterday. It's the International Print Exhibition, whilst it is definitely not aimed at photographers it's really interesting to go and see what the print industry has planned and (if you're smart) how you can take advantage of it.

I spotted several different things that could be used in the near future so the plans are in place. If you want to go and have a look yourself be aware it's huge. To give you an idea Focus (the photography version) takes up two halls. IPEX takes up ten. It's also not cheap £30 I think (unless you get an invite from one of the major players ...... like I did).

80% is not of interest to the average photographer however once you can find that 20% you'll be ahead of the game. If the print companies are only just finding out about it it will take years for photographers to be offered it, unless of course you search it out for yourself .......

Have fun

Wedding Photography, Standing Out From the Crowd

Pin It I had an email from someone asking what this image was all about so I thought I'd share the story with you. It always makes me chuckle. As you probably have worked out from now I love to work outside of the box, in fact I totally deny the existence of any boxes in most cases.

This is a major advantage when it comes to advertising. Most photographers are great photographers but are pretty useless at marketing. For instance the number one objective for adverts is to be seen. The mistake most photographers make is to put one of their best images of a couple next to their text in an advert. As everyone else does the same they become invisible in a page full of adverts and anyone viewing are left struggling to find something that catches their eye. The idea behind this advert was to firstly attract attention and secondly to put across a little of me into the ad so people realised I am not some stuffy, boring, taste like chicken photographer. When people book me they know they'll enjoy the experience.

The shoot was semi set up in that the bride had got married earlier in the year and was up for a laugh. We met one Sunday morning and had a dry run through of what was going to happen. Basically Toni (my assistant) would go into the supermarket and put some stuff in a trolley and when she was ready call on the mobile. It was then down to us to come in take the trolley and get the shots we needed before getting thrown out.

The shoot took about five minutes in total (but about a week in planning). Did we get asked to leave? You bet but not before the manager was surrounded by her own customers stating the bride should be allowed to do what she wanted on her wedding day. We made our excuses and left. I know the right way would have been to approach the store and ask but in the real world it's a lot easier to apologise than ask permission. We got the images we needed and nobody was hurt. I can imagine the amount of begging letters and PR departments it would have taken to get permission prior to the shoot. Five minutes in and out no problems!

Another photographer once asked me if this approach didn't put some couples off, my answer, "I hope so. There's only so many weddings I can shoot and if this puts off people who aren't happy to have a laugh that saves me having to do it".

Incidently I wouldn't advise anyone to place adverts in the press / magazines there are far more productive ways of letting people know you exist. But if you are going to place an ad, don't place an invisible one. In fact I'm currently working on a book about marketing a photography business in which all of my secrets and methods will be revealed, if you have signed up for my regular tips from my website you'll be informed as soon as I've finished it.

The bride shoot in the supermarket will be one of the pictures for my upcoming calendar "Brides" that should hopefully be finished in the next coming months (yes the other images are just as mad). FANTASTIC FUN! I love my job. Happy shooting

The Freedom Of Working Outside

One of the best things that I enjoy about being a lifestyle photographer is every day is different. You never know what backgrounds your going to be working with or how the weather will affect the shoot.

One day you can be in the rolling countryside of Cumbria or Wales the next your can be in an urban environment like London or Manchester, Fantastic. I sometimes feel sorry for those poor guys who get stuck in the studios with yet another white background shot! Still I guess each to their own and if that's what they like good luck to them.

Oh while I think about it the software that keeps my photography notes in order (sends them out regularly) keeps telling me some e mail addresses are being added more than once. Basically due to spam precautions it will only allow one email address once. Once you have started to receive them the only way to get them again is another e mail address. Don't panic though if you have accidently deleted one just drop me an e mail and I'll zap it over again.

If you're wondering what I'm talking about, I write free downloadable tips on getting images. If you want to be added to the list just follow the click through on the right to my site. Then click on tips, scroll down the page and you'll see a form to fill in (name and e mail address) fill it in click on subscribe and the notes will start coming. Oh and I promise You wont get spammed to death, I don't sell the addresses or anything like that. I just write these tips to encourage others in a profession I love. Till next time keep shooting .... Oooo nearly forgot some time back I wrote about moving to the dark side and going digital, well don't hold your breath just yet. I'm still gonna stick with film for the time being, several reasons that perhaps I might share soon .......