My Heroes

Photographers are always asking me to recommend suppliers. So I thought it was about time I shared a few of the greats on here. 
And in this first post I bring you the wonderful, the smiley, the multitasking wonders that are Hero.

I love these girls, Kate & Helena, and they run a wonderful team.
They're currently branching out from their roots in TV production to Stills shoot production and are also offering a helping hand to photographers looking to take steps into moving imagery.

Here's Hero in their own words . . .

HERO supports photographers by offering full production services for advertising, editorial and corporate clients. 

We handle briefs for both still and moving images. Often at the same time.

It’s really simple, whatever your brief we can help you turn it into a reality, leaving you free to focus on taking the best shots.

Services include:

Pre-production / Production / Post-production

Lighting / Studio / Kit / Crew / Casting / Locations

Set Build / Props / Wardrobe / Make-up / Styling

Permits / Visas / Transport / Hotels / Catering

Budgets/ Risk Assessment / Insurance / Paperwork

I've employed them before and think they're tops. Check out their website here. <==

Thoughts For Photographers

Before I meet with photographers for me 1hr consult sessions I ask them to bring a list of questions. And recently a really interesting one cropped up. . .

"What's the trick to getting my work/life balance right?"

A really great question I thought and one, if you're honest, we've all considered at one time or another.
The thing is the answer is ridiculously simple. So incredibly simple. They are utterly the same thing, or they should be anyway.

If you're working in any kind of creative discipline you're pretty much a creative right down to your bones. So you're never off the clock, not truly.
Photographers when out from behind the lens are walking down the street and spotting the way light hits a building, or eating an apple that reminds them to explore the notions of gravity in a new personal project.
You are constantly absorbing your surroundings and this all feeds into you work.

This is not a job folks and if it's starting to feel like one then something isn't quite right.

Portrait Salon This Thurs

I am really looking forward to this Thursday 29th Nov, because it's Portrait Salon night!

Last years launch party was a great gathering of beautiful imagery, lovely upbeat photographers and plenty of boozes.
I was really impressed with how quickly and impressively Carole Evans and James O'Jenkins (PS Founders) had turned the event around. It's inaugural year was a real success and showed real promise as an annual event in the Photography world's calendar.


In fact I was so impressed that I offered to help them raise funds for this years event; after all they had self funded Yr1.

So I wrote a reference for their Arts Council grant and devised a sponsorship format that they could approach photographic businesses with.  And I jumped on board under my Creative Advice Network banner as one of their first sponsors.

This year Portrait Salon will simultaneously launch their 2012 exhibition in London, Brighton, Leeds and Cardiff. to find out more visit their website here <==

A selection of the 2011 exhibition

Officially Moved In!

Home

I'm incredibly happy to say we are now properly moved in to the new Fox Den.
Lovely new light shades have been bought from fave new local shop Lush Designs, many walks across the heath and through Greenwich park are being enjoyed and I've just treated our mantlepiece to a new Robin sculpture by Michael Lythgoe. Domestic bliss :)

Most importantly for you lot my office is now fully unboxed.
So if you're a photographer wanting to send me any lovely postal bits make sure it's to my new office base.

The Fox Den
53 Westcombe Hill
Blackheath
London
SE3 7DU

Photography Workshop

Balcony Jump are running a workshop on 8th & 9th December. 

This two-day intensive workshop is designed for photographers of all stages in their career, who are looking to improve their photographic, marketing and business skills. With over 15 years of experience in helping photographers build successful, lucrative careers we know how imperative it is to have a strong business ethic as well as a set of photographic skills.

The course will cover many areas of photography from fashion to stock photography, with something for everyone trying to improve or break into the photographic industry. We believe that spending time listening and learning from industry professionals is essential and hope to pass on all we have learnt to the next generation of photographers. This is a unique opportunity to speak to some of the industry’s most knowledgeable and well-connected figures for one-on-one advice and guidance.

Tutors will include: 
Tim Payton, MD Balcony Jump Management
Nick Turpin, Advertising and Street Photographer
Zoe Whishaw, Commercial Photography Consultant
Emma Taylor, Creative Advice Network.
plus more TBC…

Topics covered in the workshop will include:
• Breaking into Advertising Photography
• Stock Photography
• Commercial Galleries
• Editorial Photography
• Studio fashion photography session with a professional team of models and stylists
• Marketing for photographers
• Case studies, production and budgets
• Using social media to promote your work
• Digital retouching and workflow

BOOK NOW HERE <==

Inspiration - For Our Pleasure?

by Daniel Kukla

For Our Pleasure? New Exhibition at the Hackney Picturehouse
270 Mare Street, E8 1HE
1st - 28th November, 11:00am-10:00pm daily
Panel Discussion: 18th November, 2:00 - 4:00pm

by Martin Usborne

Alex Grace has brought together photographers Daniel Kukla, Martin Usborne and Adrien Ehrhardt to create the thought provoking Exhibition 'For Our Pleasure?' which examines the weird relationship we have with animals.

From stuffed Bison heads and a taxidermy stag head wearing make up, the exhibition shows the work of four very different photographers and looks at the way we, as humans, exploit and interact with animals in the created environment around us.

Moving Office

Interval House by Jessica Rae Gordon

I'll be in the throws of moving Office/House for the next couple of weeks so you'll have to excuse the slight disruption. Normal service will resume as soon as I can find my way out of the box fort I'll have no doubt made myself. I'm a sucker for a box fort :)

I'm tempted to buy this lovely Jessica Rae Gordon print for the new office wall. You can buy one too here <=

Check the Contact Me page for the new postal address. Wish me luck!

By Royal Appointment - Gregoire Alexandre

I'm currently having a serious bit of eye love for the floaty work of Gregoire Alexandre. It started with the lovely French Connection ads, from 101 and CD Richard Flintham.

Don't get me wrong there's more on the site than just wispy photos, there's an awful lot of graphic still life too. But it still retains an ethereal quality of light that brings a calm consideration to Gregoire's work.

My current favourite on the website is this beauty, very reminiscent of the Antony Gormley Blind Light exhibition.

Check out more of Gregoire's work here <==

Event: Social Media For Photographers

Recent years have seen dramatic changes across the photographic sector. There are less commissions to go around, clients have different media needs and personal marketing tools seem to be changing almost daily.

So, when faced with so many changes and new social/online marketing platforms, how do you find out which ones are right for you and your photography business?

Join us for a Morning or Afternoon to find out what's what, how it all works and what you could use to help make the right connections and promote your work. You'll get something out of this session whether you're new to using social media, want to know how to be more effective or are loaded with questions.

You can book your place here <==

Speakers & run down of session:

From each of our speakers perspectives you, as a small group, will be walked through the workings of a variety of Social Media platforms, how they use them themselves for business and how to identify which ones you should be using. And are on hand to answer any questions you may have.

Emma Taylor (Photography Consultant and Director of Creative Advice Network)

Cemanthe Harris (Social Media advisor and founder of New Media Angels)

Martin Homent (Creative Director at The Lounge Group)

Thoughts For Photographers

IPads. Most creatives have them now. Let's be honest we're all such Apple addicts it's more of a shock to people when we don't have one.

They're a great way to show your work. Personally I'm still an advocate of the Print Portfolio as your main stage but to have one to bring along to show extended project work, or to take to a PPM to show casting choices; darn handy.

But make sure you don't just rely on that lovely retina display.
One of my favourite folio apps is Folio Book. Which are your faves?

Inspiration

I'm loving the new male portraiture turning up on Simon Winnall's website.

Portrait Salon 2012 Is Open!!!

Just received your Taylor Wessing rejection email? 
Well lucky you, you're now eligible to enter the 2012 Portrait Salon FREE!

This morning at 8am they opened their submissions page here <==

Launched last year Portrait Salon is a form of Salon des Refusés - an exhibition of works rejected from a juried art show - which has a long tradition as a fringe way of showcasing artists’ work that may otherwise go unseen. Devised by Carole Evans & James O Jenkins, Portrait Salon aims to show the best of the unselected entries from the annual NPG Photographic Portrait Prize.

Submissions deadline is 21st Sept with judging starting from the 8th Oct.

And after last years highly successful and enjoyable evening PS is returning to Roxy, Borough High Street for the winning projection evening on 29th Nov.

I'm proud to be helping as one of this years sponsors under my Creative Advice Network banner. And I'm in great company alongside Locate, Folio Book, Lucid, Hero, Mustard Post and others.

So what are you waiting for? Head to the site now and get submitting.

A Great Interactive Project

Still Life photographer and thoroughly top bloke Jonathan Minster is starting a great new project, and he needs YOU!

Jonathan is asking for folk to post him objects, direct to his studio and without any packaging.
So we're talking no envelopes, no parcel paper, no boxes!
Just his studio address either on a label or written directly onto the item. And don't forget the stamp :)
He'll then photograph it and send you back a print, also unpackaged.

There's a beautiful random unrestrained excitement to this that I'm very on board with.

So if you want to get involved the studio address is . . .

Ermine Works Studio

Arch 348,

37 Ermine Mews,

Hackney,

London,

E2 8BF

 

And you can give him a heads up on a pending delivery by emailing him on studio@jonathanminster.co.uk

 

Thoughts For Photographers

Can't believe I'm even having to say this one but folks please check that your websites are smart phone compatible.

I've stumbled upon a few photographers of late who are still running Flash sites and way too many hijacking my computer screen with automatic pop up window enlargements.
I'm sure there's a technical name for when that happens but I'm too full of swears to learn it!

Just thought of another good point. If you think that the above doesn't include you, double check your mobile phone number is copyable or clickable from a phone too. Ta :)

Help Save The Dover Bookshop

This shop is amazing!
I mean utterly wonderful and a joy to ferret around.

There are books full of fonts, books full of paper toys to cut out and make (these are what I bought this week).
And illustrations of anything you can name. In fact go in and challenge Mark and the team to find what ever takes your fancy. They won't disappoint.


"The Dover Bookshop needs our help! Every designer I know has used a Dover book at some point and their amazingly resourceful books grace the shelves of many a swanky design studio, yet they're in trouble and need the support of the design community to keep going.

For those who aren't familiar with The Dover Bookshop, shame on you! Long before you could drag reference images off the internet, The Dover Bookshop was a wealth of copyright and permission-free imagery and a huge source of inspiration.

They've been selling their range of pictorial archive books in Covent Garden for 25 years, but are struggling to survive the recession. Please buy even just one book from here to help keep this wonderful institution around for another 25 years!" post via Delicious Industries

Olympics

Photographer Dean Rogers

All Olympics moaning aside (believe me I can go on for hrs) I really love Dean Rogers work on this Adidas campaign.

There's a softness and strength shown across the ads that, for me, perfectly captures the duality of being an Olympian. Both a sports warrior staring down your opposition and a lone figure with the eyes of your country boring into you.

Softness and strength very much a constant thread through Deans work.

Agency: Sid Lee

ECD: Kris Manchester

Creatives: Dan Brooks, Dan Chandler

Designer: Richard Hooker

Photographer: Dean Rogers represented by Blunt

Inspiration

Kat Dennings by Kurt Iswarienko

I adore this shot, to be honest I'm a little smitten with Kat Dennings anyways.
There are some tremendous portraits on Iswarienko's site. Repped by CLM.

Thoughts For (Ad) Photographers

Moving Imagery eh!
You had a crack yet? Perhaps just a little play or a maybe big fiddle with a Phantom?
or have you taken the hide under the covers route?

If you're falling into the latter then you best throw off that duvet pronto.

We're all of us getting used to the increased client ask for "a little bit of motion capture as well" but what I've come to discover recently is those pesky photography student graduate types are being bloomin well taught how to use all of the shiny motion kit.
They've got whole moving imagery units in their syllabus now!

They're hot on your heels folks, worth thinking about huh?

Inspiration

Large Fox Stamp by Tom Frost

Everyone knows I've got a thing for foxes. You do right?
You're all following me on Twitter, right?

So it was a given when I saw this wonderful piece by Tom Frost (and an otter one) that I had to have them for my very own, well mine and the hublets very own.

As well as a stunning array of prints The Boy Frost also sells incredibly beautiful screen printed plywood toys like this Rocket Racer.

Go have a look at more of his work here <=

By Royal Appt - Artur Conka

Every single Summer I head out to see photography student grad shows.
Whether at Free Range or in an independent gallery or in a factory or a garden shed, I will try my darndest to come see the work.

I remember what it was like to be a fresh(ish) faced student type heading down to London, all nervous & excited & relieved & blissfully unaware of which of the grad portfolio stereotypes I was about conform to. Hell you're to busy hoping someone other than your Mum will turn up to the PV!

But conform they all do, generally. There's the self portrait nude one, the gothic dolls head one, the intentionally out of focus one, do I need to go on?
It's not a bad thing, it's expected, that's cool. But it can grate a tad, bit like being stuck in a Groundhog Day with really bad wine.

So when an artist and their work catches your eye, goodness how they standout and give you the wibbles. Or is that just me?

Now I'm being bold and calling it early, but I think you'll understand why, because Derby student Artur Conka is the one for me this year.
His project Lunix IX is an incredibly sensitive and beautiful piece of documentary film making, giving a voice to the people on Slovakia's biggest Roma ghetto. Watch for yourselves and bear in mind Artur is only 22yrs old!!!



You can find out more about Artur here <=

Thoughts For Photographers

Oy! You lot!
Stop stuffing your Twitter streams with web links!

As a community us photography folk have been playing in the Twittersphere for quiet some time now. So it baffles me to still see photographers, assistants and agents for that matter, constantly telling their followers to go somewhere else.
Because that's what you're doing every time you post a URL into your 140characters.

It's fine on occasion, of course. You want to remind people to visit your website, show them you've been featured somewhere fabulous, sure, but engage with your audience and show your conversational side. Twitter is a personality platform after all.

Inspiration

Did you know that David Boni's photography for The Strangler's album launch was the first ever billboard campaign to be held to the Watershed?
Shown on digital billboards it was only up between 9pm - 5am. Amazing!

 David is repped by A Pale Horse.

#peoplereadingactualbooks

From @clarapandy

As many of you know I do loves me some books,

an awful lot of books actually. 

From the smell, to the beautiful covers & of course the adventures inside, books set my heart aflutter. 

So you can imagine how I feel about eReaders *shudders* The damn things are everywhere! 

How am I supposed to see what people are reading now? 

So I'm taking a stand, a quiet one mind, and taking snaps of wonderful people I see out & about people reading actual books. And I've started the above hashtag on Twitter.

Here are some of the shots so far. And not just from me because, Twitter being the lovely place it is, people have started joining in.

Feel free to join in too and if you spot anyone you know in the pics (and can prove it) I'll send them a book token to encourage their papery love.

Thanks to @fabhat, @Tim_A_Roberts, @tomwatkinsphoto and @clarapandy for sending me your pictures. And special thanks to @cameraportraits for sending me a link to a great NYC book reading project. Glad to see I'm not alone :)

My finds so far

From @Tim_A_Roberts, @FabHat & @TomWatkinsPhoto

Thoughts For Photographers

Printed Mailouts eh!

Should we still be doing them? (ahh think of the trees!)

Do people actually like receiving them? (ahh think of the bins!) 

Personally I like receiving them, just not everyday. And I like to see a bit of thought involved from the sender. Be it a Ltd. edition print, a newspaper or something a bit quirkier. Like a kids photographer sending a shot of their's printed on a jigsaw.

Let's be honest you'll not be the only person trying to make Mr or Mrs Art Buyer fall in love with you that week.

So a mailout with a nod to it's visual content or one that speaks volumes about it's sender; Now that's something that would catch my eye, something that would make me want to know more about them.

The Photographer's Gallery is back with us!

But you all knew that and no doubt rushed down at the weekend to sniff it's newly painted walls. Mmmm . . . lovely :)

And just to spoil us that little bit more they've just launched a new look website. A huge improvement and real feast for the eyes. Check it out here <==

Inspiration - Samuel Hicks

I've been a fan of Samuel Hicks for quite some time. His works seems to capture a softness and strength within each frame. 

I'm sure you'll know his work but if you don't have a look on his website, there's a lot to enjoy there.

Including this stunning campaign for The Prince's Trust.

The campaign is a perfect example of how you can marry great photography and strong art direction to produce brave and arresting ads. 

Truly wonderful stuff in my opinion.

By Royal Appt - Jonathan Knowles

As most of you know one of my current clients is photographer Jonathan Knowles.
I can't say enough lovely things about him really, he's fearlessly creative and a joy to be around.

Here's one* of his latest personal projects 'Asteroids'. More shots can be seen on his Behance portfolio here.

*I say one of his latest because there's a ton more on the way.

Rob Evans - Photographer For Hire

I love getting treats in the post, particularly when they're photographic treats.
So I was right chuffed to receive one of Rob Evans Ltd. Edition prints from 'Behind the Street'; an exhibition he put together last year to celebrate Coronation Street's 50th anniversary.

Rob has spent the last three years as Corrie's official photographer and has built up a lovely set of cast portraits. But now he's flown The Street and is headed off into the freelance realm. I'm looking forward to seeing where it takes him next.

You can have a look at his website here and find out more about the man himself here. And in case you're wondering what he looks like :)

Books, books & more books

Bit of a lazy post for me this one. But one full of bookish love.

BOOKS!
Recently I was asked to contribute to the wonderful Booklish Blog. A Tumblr dedicated to "Beautiful books and beautiful writing. Booklish is a blog devoted to bookish things. You'll find stuff here about authors, readers, book design and illustration and other book ephemera."
At the time I was falling deeply in love with these Vintage Lawrence covers by Carla van de Puttelaar.

You can read my Booklish post here. And make sure you add them to your RSS feed, the site is a constant stream of loveliness.

BOOKS!!
I was also asked by Twitter chum @sarahrajabalee to contribute to her equally delight blog. This post was about the three books that shaped my reading life.
The first of which was childhood favourite Fantastic Mr Fox. " I loved the adventure, the rebellious quality and all that talk of geese and stolen cider after hours just made me long for a midnight feast. Fantastic Mr Fox was my gateway into reading for escapism. Armed with my torch, I would sit up for hours forgetting the worries of the day. To be honest this probably explains my great love of cider, although oddly has no bearing as to why I ended up as @OandtheFoxes on Twitter."

MORE BOOKS!!!
Last month I also found myself thrusting free books into the hands of commuters in Victoria Station. I was one of the World Book Night volunteers, a merry band of book addicts determined to share the joy of paper bound adventures to the masses.
I choose to give out Maggie O'Farrell's The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox. Every copy of which I numbered and registered at Book Crossing, a great site that allows you to log in and share your experience of the book, before passing it along for another reader to do the same, Fab!

All 25 copies before they went to new homes.

This room is good for your soul

© Do Ho Suh, courtesy Lehmann Maupin Gallery, New York

Since the instillation of Do Ho Suh's 'Staircase III, 2010', in Tate Modern, I have been back four times to soak up it's warm, mood elevating glow. And I've been bringing friends back with me too.

I urge everyone to go. The room is an absolute tonic against Creative Block.

And heaven knows when you're feeling down a tip like this is magic.

The work is currently on display at Tate Modern, Level 5: Energy & Process, Room 7.

World Photo London

Ever keen to get my mitts on portfolios, & thrust my opinions at their authors, I'm on board as part of this years Portfolio Review Team at World Photo London. 

I'll be at Somerset House all day Friday and Saturday morning, come along and say hi. 

You can sign up here.

P.S. Just heard AOP members get a discount.

Thoughts For Photographers

This is a thought I had on Twitter a while back and as I have a slightly different audience on here I ought to share it again. Mainly because it raises a very good point.

When will Photography Assistants learn to pull their jeans up?
I mean at least screen print your CV on your pants or maybe a nice folio shot?

Think about it.
As an Assistant your first contact with your future clients, and those all important AdLand contacts into your database, are your days on set in another Photographers team. You really want peoples first impression to be your ass?*

*Unless of course you have an amazing ass, but really you don't want to be 'that' photographer.

A new client for the next few mths

I'm one month into a stint in-studio with Jonathan Knowles, and loving every second of it. So x3 days a week for the next couple more months I can be found over in Hammersmith. And hopefully with the better weather I'll also be found in some of it's riverside pubs :)

It's lovely to have a long term client like this so I can really get my teeth into some creative projects and do some in-depth development work. We've already been shooting lots of incredible work and have so much planned for the coming weeks, so keep an eye on his Twitter acct for updates.

And don't worry (as if you would) because even though Mr Knowles is keeping me quite busy, I still have x2 days a week to fill with lots of one-one photographer consulting sessions. And will soon be lending my portfolio critiquing eyes to the World Photo Org run Sony Awards.

Most of you will know Jonathan's work particularly these bubbles ==>

He's been a big name on the Still Life scene for many years, forging a great reputation amongst AdLand as a liquid & drinks specialist. And more recently receiving accolades for his Beauty Portrait commissions from the Editorial world.

Jonathan is a joy to work with. He's incredibly creative and very up for challenging himself, never afraid to push his work in new directions.

Here's a taster of some of my favourite images from his portfolio. Enjoy!

Can you see what it is yet?

Cicada Album Cover

Dairy Cow

Broken Britain

Inspiration

Warning! This will break you heart :(


Keaton Henson - Small Hands from Blink on Vimeo.

The A-Z of Advertising

C is for Cannes.
In the words of the Lions themselves. . .

"Inspiring Creativity is at the heart of Cannes Lions. The Festival is where creative professionals come to debate, learn and be inspired; where the greatest industry honours are bestowed; where those pushing creative communications forward are celebrated. For nearly 60 years,  the Cannes Lions Awards have set the benchmark for excellence in creative communications."


But if we're really honest it's AdLands eagerly anticipated annual holiday of debauched excess. Where things like this happen or this. Classic!


C is also for Campaign.
Campaign Magazine that is. A great resource and professional stalking paper.
You can find out which Creative Director is moving where, and which Account has switched agencies. And, if you are so inclined post Cannes (see above), whose slumped body it was you tripped over on the beach. This you'll normally find recorded on the Diary page. Enjoy!

It also stands for Chemistry Meeting but I'm saving that definition until the perverse T is for Tissue Meeting. *shudders*

Thoughts For Photographers

No one likes an unbalanced Photographer!
Or mores to the point an unbalanced portfolio.

It makes little to no sense to have a 30 page portfolio containing 27 pages of colour studio portraits and 3 B&W Landscape shots of the Norfolk Broads.
I'm sure they look beautiful but you're only pleasing your Mum with this and you're most likely confusing the hell out of your clients.

Go and have a quick look at your folio now. If the above applies to you then correct this madness immediately.

Trust me, it's for your own good.

By Royal Appt - Chris Turner

Bird

I recently stumbled across these 'Anatomize' shots by Chris Turner on one of my wanders across the interweb. And oh I love them so! 

They were an editorial commission for Schon Magazine. A delightful series, I hope you'll agree!

Fish

Frog

Thanks to Chris for allowing me to feature the work :)
Chris is repped by The Miss Jones Agency.

Pinterest or how to confuse Photographers

You may be familiar with the company logo above. It might currently be filling you with a seething rage just by the mere utterance of it's name and you may not even be entirely sure why.
Well I'm here to add my 2p worth to the debate that seems to have 'kicked off' over the past week.

I've been aware of Pinterest for about 8mths or so. It had been the talk of the Crafting community long before Ad Land got wind of it. But I have to admit I've only just signed up, mainly because Ad Land has just got wind of it and I sensed an onslaught of questions from clients. "What is it?" "Should I join?" "Is full of pauses & cheese rolls?"* etc.

So I went about creating my profile, following some people and creating some boards. Boards look like this . . .

Pinterest, in case you're not sure, is a site to visually bookmark & moodboard any subject you want. So you create a board, let's say "Ad's I Love", and then you start to bookmark or 'Pin images' within that board. So if you're on an ad agency's site and you see some work you think is tops, you hit the Pin It button on your bookmark bar (you install this when you join). And up goes the image onto said board.

You're encouraged to follow people, much like Twitter. This you can do by following an individual or by selecting only certain boards of theirs. And also much like Twitter your home page then becomes a stream of all the pins, from all the boards you follow. In this instance it makes for a very aesthetically pleasing feed.

But now for the reason I'm writing this post. To address the Copyright & Usage issues everyone has been talking about recently. As far as I can tell this is the paragraph in the T&C's that has got everyone all rilled up . . .

"By making available any Member Content through the Site, Application or Services, you hereby grant to Cold Brew Labs a worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, royalty-free license, with the right to sublicense, to use, copy, adapt, modify, distribute, license, sell, transfer, publicly display, publicly perform, transmit, stream, broadcast, access, view, and otherwise exploit such Member Content only on, through or by means of the Site, Application or Services."

Sounds a bit rights grabby, Clause 43 worrying right? Yes?
Ummm that's what I thought too but then I read it again, and again and then re-read it some more. And I spotted this bit . . .

"...and otherwise exploit such Member Content only on, through or by means of the Site, Application or Services."

So it's just on this site? And as yet there's no 'Buy This Image' button right? Yes?
Ah ha! Well that's not so bad.

This next bit's a tad sticky . . .

"... you represent and warrant that: (i) you either are the sole and exclusive owner of all Member Content that you make available through the Site, Application and Services or you have all rights, licenses, consents and releases that are necessary to grant to Cold Brew Labs the rights in such Member Content, as contemplated under these Terms."

But as I see it, if you're Pinning from original sources that author correctly, re-writing the author on your own pin notes or asking through your notes who did the work, and are fully prepared that if approached by the author to remove your pinning of their image, and swiftly do so, then you should be ok.

It also now raises the issue that instead of us all rushing to block the Pinability of our own websites, should we in fact be making sure we keep them open and thus allowing us to check the pinning traffic? And, more to the point, making it clearer who the authors of Pinned images are?

No doubt this post will encourage a comment or two. And I hope it does because we need to discuss sites like this, how we each interpret their T&C's and eliminate the grey areas.
Of course if I've been a massive donut and mis-read this do let me know, but as far as I can see Pinterest isn't doing anything YouTube, Instagram and their cousins aren't all already doing.

*Pinter joke

Thoughts For Photographers

Please I implore you . . .

DO NOT BE APOLOGETIC!

Of course when you're late to your own shoot or you sneeze coffee out ya nose and into the face of your client, then perhaps you ought to be.

But for the love of all things creative, can we stop with the shuffling, head bowing 

"er yeah, I don't know why that's in the folio either" or the 

"it's not my favourite shot but this one person once told me it was ok" 

Seriously? 

Trust the Boss as my old tutor used to tell me, whilst jabbing me in the stomach. 

You know deep down that you're doing yourself a disservice.

A happy portfolio makes for a happy photographer!

Inspiration

My mate Bertie Bollans did these!

Recently rediscovered illustration work from Bertie Bollans.
He made these for his daughter when she was a baby. Cool!

It's the beautiful immediacy . . .

Guinevere with cigarette - Paolo Roversi

Currently showing as part of the Paolo Roversi retrospective at The Wapping Project Bankside.
Beautiful write up by Wayne Ford here.