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 <==