Client C - nhs

Brief:

Brief was to show up at Branston Pavilion at Branston Golf Club and meet the Printing and Photography Manager of the NHS Trust for Burton. There I would have an introductory chat with him and have the chance to photograph an event they were holding before their AGM.

Extra information:

Arranged to visit Alan with my images after the event - there he would be able to give me feedback, show me around the hospital, talk about the different types of photography they need and discuss any employment opportunities.

Equipment:

I took my Canon 5D and Speedlite flash as the event was indoors.

Shoot:

I don't enjoy PR and Event photography when I am not very well briefed. Also as I am not getting paid I do not feel I HAVE to get THE shot in the bag. As I was walking around however a couple of the stall holders asked if could I photograph them and send them the images for their work newsletter. As this was a freebie all round I said yes why not! When I sent the images I did insist that they make mention of me and put my web address next to the images.

Issues:

None except my feelings about doing this with people watching!

Images:

Here are a couple that I like:

Derbyshire Link

Clive, RSM Tenon

NAK - Newhall Art Kollective

Client feedback:

My images were liked and we discussed how they could be used, the different uses if cropped differently and the technical issues I had had. Very useful. I also had feedback about my website saying it was very good, professional, with some lovely images. He even said he might have some of the abstract images for the hospital. Well that was tremendous and not what I was expecting.

There is going to be the opportunity to do some portrait work for their staff awards. I am looking forward to that.

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Client B - Lots for Tots Brief

Brief:

Brief from the client for this work is as follows:

"I need two shots of 0-5 year olds with or without their parent for the October-December magazine. I need an image for each of the magazines (Derbyshire South and Burton & Ashby). They don't have to be two different children just doing two different things. I think the closer the shot the better. The focus needs to be slightly off centre so the text can run down the side (it doesn't matter which side), plus you need some space around the focus as the photo needs to fill behind the header & footer. I very much look forward to seeing what the outcome is! The deadline for the magazines are 30th September. Please take a look at previous front covers on my website."

Extra information:

A telephone conversation also revealed that last year she had used children playing in autumn leaves being thrown into the air. It needs to be autumnal and the children have to be all wrapped up - not christmasy and not too wintry. Playing with parents indoors or outdoors is OK or even being cosy in front of the fire.

Models:

I decided to source models for myself. Approached members of my networking group and will be using Ashley. I will ensure that her father signs the model release form.

Equipment:

I will be using Canon 5D with Speedlite flash. Anything more will be too cumbersome as I want Ashley to be freely running around and having fun - so I need to be as mobile as I can be. This will not be a static studio set up.

Shoot:

I also have four different set ups for her to choose from. If I was shooting again I think I would have put the flash on. In fact I think I would have taken another camera body with the 50mm lens on.

Issues:

Boy do children move about quickly. I have a high ISO and a fast shutter speed but still some of the images have motion blur. However there were enough interesting images for me to pass to my client.

Images:

I am going to give the client the option of 4 different activities and then she can chose which she prefers. Being mindful of how her front page works and where the mast head, footers and lead articles sit I have chosen these as the ones I think meet the brief - however I am sending more that I processed in case there is one that suits her more.

Ashley gardening

Ashley cycling

Ashley clearing the leaves

Ashley playing with Play Doh

This does not fit the client brief but I will like it and perhaps her parents will

Invoice and Client feedback:

Invoice was raised and posted along with the CD of high resolution images. I send 4 low resolution images with an email to my client to give her a taste of what was coming. I posted the invoice with a covering letter and the CD first class to her.
In the meantime I received a response from my email:

"Thank you- the photos are fabulous!! The 2 I am instantly drawn to are the leaves & the bike ones. They have the room to the side & the top to fit perfectly & they are great for the season, thank you so very much!"

Job well done I think.

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Client A - resize image

Nice trip out today to deliver a job to my client 'A'.

Background:

He had asked me if I could take his favourite image of the ski resort he visits every year and double its size to 4ft wide. His plan was to frame it and hang it over his fireplace. He had been to see a number of printers and photographers with this problem and no-one had said they could help him. I asked him to give me his image and leave it with me.

Challenge:

When I got the image home I realised that it was approximately the length of two A4 sheets of paper (around 60cm). This meant I would be able to scan it on my A4 scanner and stitch the two images  together in photoshop.

Quote:

I worked out how much this might cost. I had to work out how long it would take me and apply my hourly rate to that; account for the mileage I had incurred and would also incur; find out the most effective and cost-effective way to get this huge image printed. I prepared a quote and sent it to him - he approved it. 

Process:

This was a very tricky process and I gave it a lot of care and attention, whilst not over-running the time I had quoted. Burton and South Derbyshire College shop was my preferred supplier for the print and I negotiated with them how to prepare the image and when they could do it. It took a week for the print to be ready but my client was on holiday - so there was no rush.

Delivery:

Today he was back from his holiday and back to work and we met half way up the M1.

Future Work:

He drove home happy asking if he wanted it bigger could I do it. I said 'Yes, of course'.

Payment:

I drove home with a back pocket full of £20 notes and the possibility of producing another print for him.

Image:

Les Carroz

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My Clients

People I have worked with are shown on my website and can be found here. I have worked with many other clients - but I have not necessarily linked to them from my website.

Which were most successful/best/interesting clients?

Part of me wants to say the best job was the one I was paid the most money for - but this is not always the case.

SHEEPDOGS
The work for Nij Vyas Sheepdog Training involved 12 hours in a field with him, four dogs and over 40 sheep. It was a blissful day and very enjoyable. The weather was good so I did not have any issues with lighting. The only issues were to capture the image he required for his book. I took art direction from him about where he needed himself, the dogs and the sheep to illustrate the point he would be making in his book.

EDEN
The work for the Eden Project was very interesting. Well written briefs allowed for the speedy turn round of edited images that were required by the client. My images have been created into a book - which has been sent to the client. Eden Project have begun to use my images on their website. I like some of the images so much I use them on the back of my business cards.

PORTRAITS
The clients that are the most fun are the clients requesting portraits - even though I sometimes don't like dealing with people, the results are always lovely - basically because my clients are lovely. I am particularly proud of the images of Maisie and Charlotte and her family. Primarily because I made use of the lighting kit. Which I would like to become more adept with.

Maisie

Maisie

Charlotte and her family

Charlotte's youngest son

Other lovelies are:

John Merison - JMBMC

ISSUES
Work for Company X where I was given a very specific brief. I produced shots that met the brief, whilst adding some of my own creativity. These images have never been used as the client has issues with their web designer. I have all sorts of ideas for what I can do for this client. But it requires a long discussion which I do not want to have at this stage in my business - come June I will be contacting them and have already got the support from another company that also wants to work with him when he is ready.

List of recent clients and the type of work:

Portraits of people at work for their website, annual report and conference banners.  Images for a college for use in their prospectus. Event photography for the Vikings of Middle England. Captured images for local fitness coach for her website. Family portraits for 3 clients. Training for a student about to start A level Art.

Pet Portraits - Ruby

Family Portrait - Jacob

Work in the pipeline:

• Magazine cover for Lots for Tots magazine - model organised, images to be capture this Saturday afternoon.
• Product shots for Eves of St Agnes once her rebranding has been completed.
• Training on how to get the best out of camera for an Ecclesbourne Interiors - interior designer to capture her own work. 
• Family portrait set for early December.
• 2012 - wedding. Have always said I wont do a wedding but a very persuasive person is encouraging me to photograph his son's wedding.

MARKETING
This work is coming my way because I market myself. I have decided that the best form of marketing for my business at this stage is word of mouth and the best way to do that is face-to-face. I do this by attending two very useful network meetings. One is weekly 6.45-8.30am every Friday morning and the other is monthly 12-2pm on the first Thursday of the month. These networks require not only the time to attend the meetings, but the commitment to attend every meeting, money in the form of a subscription fee, time to prepare a 60 second presentation, politeness to follow up contacts made at the meeting and finding referrals for other businesses in the network. Hard work, but rewarding on a number of different levels.

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Labels

"You know how to whistle Steve,

just put your lips together and blow".

Humph the Bogart

Labelling for blog entries:
Professional and Contextual Studies
PCS:LO-01. planning events and issues surrounding that.
PCS:LO-02. communication methods when planning.
PCS:LO-03. industry guidelines when planning.
Creativity and Social Context
CSC:LO-01. research of media industry.
CSC:LO-02. key movements and influences.
CSC:LO-03. cultural inheritance and creativity.
CSC:LO-04. talk about your work to your client.

Not sure how I will organise this as the marking criteria is always a bit like quadrilateral equations. But have assigned a meaning based on the learning outcome tables to try and make it smoother. I think one blog entry my cover off many learning outcomes - anyway - I shall give it a go. Knowing me I'll probably add the labels in hindsight. Might be easier that way.

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