An exciting new novel, even I want to read.

July 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment
MacKenzie with his new book

MacKenzie with his new book

They say a picture paints a thousand words, but when it comes to books full of well-intentioned words, anyone who knows me well will tell you about my aversion to reading fiction.

It’s probably a hang back from school days when we were expected to read a certain number of fiction books during the holidays and the resulting detentions when you couldn’t answer questions on them once term had restarted.

I can confidently say that the last fiction I read was the third Harry Potter book, which I read to my younger daughter at bed-time.

So when Nigel Morgan of Berkshire’s leading public relations and social media consultancy Morgan PR approached me to take pictures of Mackenzie Smith to promote his new book “Who pays the Piper” an SAS novel, I was delighted to help him, however I also thought: “So what? – It’s just another story book!”

After I’d agreed to take the commission, Nigel sent me various background materials about the author, and invited me to download the first chapter of Who Pays the Piper for free from the author’s website.

Now I happen to believe that, being a commercial photographer it is essential to know about the product I’m photographing and on this occasion, who, I’m working with.

MacKenzie Smith on the sofa

MacKenzie Smith on the sofa

Establishing a comfortable relationship with them is vital, if you really want to achieve the best and most relaxed photographs and of course building that essential ingredient – the magic of rapport.

To this end and in the interest of research, I decided I must put my prejudice about fiction aside and find out what this book is all about, so I began reading the first chapter, which was included in my brief.

After the first few sentences my imagination was sparked by the visual and sometimes graphic descriptions which appeal to my rather right-brained mind and I soon found myself abruptly halted by the end of the chapter and wanting to know more. So much so, that even without meeting the client, I have ‘liked’ the book on Amazon and pre-ordered it ahead of the September launch.

When I eventually met Mackenzie, it was obvious that he was going to make a great subject, but like so many people before him, he didn’t feel particularly comfortable being photographed and while he is destined to become a much photographed best-selling author, for now it was all new to him.

MacKenzie starting to enjoy himself

MacKenzie starting to enjoy himself

The greatest secrets of getting good pictures of anyone is not to be rushed, Nigel had allowed plenty of time to get these pictures, and also to try and take them in their own environment, whether it’s their office or home, these really are key.

My technique is simple, I get my subject to talk to me, while I fire off pictures, inevitably, there will be some bizarre expressions, which you can sometimes share with the client before deleting, although this can be risky as they may react badly and destroy their confidence.

After about half an hour the whole atmosphere changed, relaxation took over and the pictures improved. The plan had been to do some indoor shots and then try and get some exterior shots by the local river but when we arrived at Mackenzie’s office, it had been pouring with rain.

Now fully relaxed

Now fully relaxed

The sky having cleared, we had the opportunity to start some outside pictures, and that heralded an almost Eureka moment; where he had been hesitant about the camera, suddenly, both Nigel and I noticed a change, Mackenzie was starting to enjoy being photographed and even stopped talking to pose, which ended the session with some really great shots which he has started to share on the Facebook page for Who Pays the Piper – you can also follow Mackenzie Smith on Twitter via @MSmith_Author.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: blogging, business portraits, commercial photography, product photography, social media, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Meet ‘necessity’, Mother of invention.

July 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment
The Steersman

The Steersman installed on Rob's yacht, "Justine"

The British have always been at the forefront of invention, this ingenuity, fascination and curiosity that drives so many designers, engineers and craftsmen to take the challenge of trying to provide an answer to a problem by producing an invention is unique.

One such inventor is Rob Chicken of Combe Products in Hungerford,West Berkshire.

A keen yachtsman, Rob noticed a need that single handed or night-time sailors had, to enable them to control the boat when they couldn’t man the helm constantly.

Although there are already systems available they rely on electronics, which need battery power and the greater the needed for the device the more power it uses. Consequently, in bad weather the importance of navigation lights and other essential electrical resources can be compromised by using this automatic steering system.

As a trained engineer, Rob devised a mechanical answer to the problem, which not only addressed the need but produced a far more responsive solution.

After working on the initial designs he produced full working plans and began the tortuous route required to protect his intellectual

Final Adjustments

Final Adjustments

property rights and ensure the design was covered by the necessary patents, registrations and trademarks. Eventually a working prototype was created and after much testing and development, Rob started putting together a group of fabricators who would produce the final product.

With a finished demonstration unit and having registered the name “The Steersman”, Rob started to consider how to market this invention and at this point I became involved in his enterprise.

As a commercial photographer from Newbury, just up the road from Rob’s base in Hungerford he asked me to go and spend a day photographing “The Steersman” being assembled on his 30 foot yacht “Justine” and to take some pictures to be used in a yachting magazine advert, timed to appear at the Southampton Boat Show in September, where he will be manning a stand.

Fortunately, the weather on the river Hamble was kind and we managed to get some great pictures including some useful stock shots for my own personal library.

For any inventor producing something novel, one of the greatest problems is communicating how it works and what it looks like, this can be a massive challenge and the skill of a photographer will often be essential in doing this.

The importance of getting good clear photographs of a product should never be underestimated and using a specialist in this type of commercial photography is a worthwhile investment.

Rob Chicken

Rob Chicken

While we were shooting, I also convinced Rob of the importance of having a good corporate portrait or headshot, to accompany any press releases he may send out and with any editorial space he may be given. This would also be invaluable for the increasingly essential social media networking that businesses are becoming involved with and of course the ever important website.

If you are an inventor building a good relationship with a commercial photographer can be invaluable in getting your idea promoted.

Filed Under: blogging, business portraits, commercial photography, product photography, social media, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

So what don’t you do? – Defining what your business does!

July 14, 2011 By 2 Comments

Not all photographers do weddings!

Anyone in business who spends time networking and meeting new people will know that one of the first questions you will be asked is “what do you do”?

As a photographer from Newbury in West Berkshire, I’ve discovered over the years that just saying, “I’m a commercial photographer”, is almost guaranteed to elicit the same reaction – “Oh, you do weddings and family portraits”.

“Well no – actually I don’t!”

This public perception that all photographers do the same thing isn’t that surprising, given that most peoples’ only connection with a professional photographer will be at a wedding or when they go as a family to have their pictures taken, to celebrate some significant lifestyle event. But in fact photographic skills cover such a vast variety of uses, from press to forensics, including some extraordinary niche applications.

I currently photograph products and corporate headshots for press releases and websites and my business is helping clients promote and improve the image they present to their customers.

But by qualification and training I am a registered medical photographer.

The extensive experience I gained during my 45 year career has given me the opportunity to sample many of these skills from extreme close up pictures, event photography including Royal Visits, corporate style portraiture of Nobel Prizewinners, scientific glassware and instruments, sometimes recording the most harrowing and distressing times as well as the happiest moments of life and working with the most vulnerable members of the community.

Probably the most important aspect of my work is closely shared with the wedding and portrait photographer and that is the ability to build rapport, with people of all backgrounds, which in a way is as crucial in putting people at ease, as the photographic skills

For this reason I have made a clear decision of where my photographic interests lie and although I still continue my niche clinical service helping diagnose skin cancer at an early stage using photography and photographing personal injuries for use in legal and insurance claims, I am now equally selective in my commercial interests.

I believe that photographing weddings and families is as specialist as any other branch of photography and I acknowledge and admire those choosing to work in these areas.

Unfortunately, with more and more camera owners turning to photography to supplement their incomes, it is essential that the professional specialist is recognised.

For this reason when someone asks what I do, I start by telling them what I don’t do – Weddings and Family Portraits.

Of course, if they’re disappointed that I can’t help them, I have a select list of highly skilled professionals that do, and will happily recommend them.

 

Filed Under: blogging, business portraits, commercial photography, product photography, social media, Uncategorized, website design Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Here’s a secret – Your Business should spend longer on Social Media Networking

July 7, 2011 By 1 Comment

Nigel Morgan from Morgan PR

How does any small business justify spending 2 hours a day, blogging and updating Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin?

With an increasing trend for businesses to use social media networking to increase brand awareness and lead generation it may be a good use of time and a relatively low cost way to find new customers.

When PR and Social Media expert Nigel Morgan from West Berkshire’s Morgan PR, recently presented to an exclusive group of small business owners at a Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) event, held in the historic surroundings of the Bear Hotel in Hungerford, those fortunate enough to attend, were introduced to the benefits of interacting on social media sites and regular blogging and how these are a cost efficient way of promoting their businesses.

With acquisition costs for new customers being one of the greatest expenditures for any business, finding a way to reduce these, is always welcome.

As Nigel frequently emphasises, “people buy people” and this is where social media is such a powerful tool.

Being a commercial photographer from Newbury, meeting local people face to face is important, so when I physically go networking, as I work the room, people frequently comment that they know me or, that they recognise me, even when it is very unlikely that we’ve met before.

It soon becomes clear that they know my face and often my name, and that can be directly attributed to one thing, my social media profile picture.

Once you recognise someone and can relate to them, you have begun the essential journey, called “building rapport”.

By this simple visual identification you have immediately overcome one of the greatest barriers to communicating with new people and can take advantage of this step on the ladder to getting to know more about the other person and conversationally introduce your business to them.

I believe your social media profile picture is vital in the way you present yourself on the various social media platforms, but it’s also essential that this image is congruent with your message; does the picture you use on Twitter really fit with the professional persona you present on Linkedin.

This is why I seriously advocate having different pictures for the various applications and having professional photographs taken can really enhance your business image.

The other important vehicle for promoting your business using the internet is by ‘blogging’ and Nigel explained how this can dramatically improve your website’s Google ranking when done regularly.

Blogging is just like publishing your own press releases, with the single most important difference that you are guaranteed publication. With clever support from your social media activities, your message can achieve far greater coverage than any traditional paper publication and if you happen to create a blog that captures the imagination of enough people it can become a massive viral entity, carrying your message beyond your wildest dreams.

Don’t forget, the visual impact of your blog can be enriched using an attention grabbing picture or video clip and remembering that originality is essential in attracting and keeping your readers attention, so always try to use new material and not rely too heavily on stock library pictures.

The 50 people who joined me at Nigel’s presentation will have left with many stimulating thoughts and some significant calls to action and I look forward to many more social media followers and the opportunity to read some exciting new blog posts.

If you like what you’ve read please follow me on Twitter @MikeSamuels68 or like my business page on Facebook and see the pictures from the event.

 

 

 

Filed Under: blogging, business portraits, commercial photography, social media Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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