BLOG – Advertising, press the flesh….

Hi All,

Been a few days since the last post, and I’ve been having a rough couple of days, my heads just not been wanting to play ball.

Anyway I’ve been trying to decide how to move the work forward, don’t get me wrong I’m happy with everything at the minute, but failure to move forward is the same as moving backwards.

If I put my corporate business head on, it’s telling me to advertise. But this needs to be a cautious plan. When you advertise, are you actually advertising your business or your brand? Brand marketing is crucial but converting this into successful sales is tricky.

My personal plan for the business growth has always been an organic one, anything that grows naturally, will always be healthier and stronger than a forced pattern. The business has been growing well, but I discovered an old adage that has never been truer. It’s the simple ones you forget.

“..Nothing beats actually talking to your clients. Press the flesh!”

You want someone to buy something from you, you don’t just stand on a corner with a camera, you need to actually go and talk to people, your selling a service not a product. Go to baby clubs, talk to the mums, show them samples and hand out your card, go to wedding dress shops, show them samples and hand out your card, got to sports events, show them samples……. Well you get the idea.

Nothing beats physically talking to people, do it people, go and press the flesh!

Happy shooting

Neil

BLOG – How to get rich!

I’ve worked it out; I know how to get rich from photography! And I’ve been kind enough to post it on my blog! How lucky are you guys.

Oh wait, no I haven’t, but I have managed to recycle the same usual stuff you can find anywhere on the web, NOT!.  BUT I have got a few pointers I can recommend.

1)      Never assume that because you know which side of the camera to hold that you the next Rankin – I’d take a very safe bet, your not, you may be good, you may one de be great, but only one in a million are a Rankin.

2)      Don’t give your work away for free, UNLESS you want to. I still do TFCD shoots when the subject interests me, or I want to work with that person.

3)      Be prepared to say NO – You will never cease to be amazed by the amount of people that want something for free, yes by all means I’ll tailor a package to you, but not for free, (see point 2)

4)      All the Gear No idea – I’m still building up my kit and by comparison it’s basic, compared to true professionals.  BUT the number of times I’ve seen people shooting with a £1K camera and £1K lens, and can’t understand where the built in flash is trying to go off and they don’t seem to like me going “Erm that’s in auto mode mate”, start basic, and learn your gear, learn it well.

5)      Finally be prepared to be laughed at. –  I once got laughed at with my, quote, “toy camera”, yes it’s not a Nikon D3X, but I’ve shot at Silverstone, Rugby at Twickenham, Bears in the Canadian rainforest, Whales in the Atlantic, dolphins in Scotland, Weddings, and NASCAR in America, so I guess it’s not too bad.

Bottom line my friends, just be happy and avoid impatience, all good things to those who wait.

Happy shooting

Neil

BLOG – In search of perfection

I’ve often heard people referring to “being in search of perfection”.  I’m fairly sure the oldest definition of perfection is by Aristotle, in book Delta on Metaphysics.  One of his definitions of Perfection is that “which is complete”.

For a long time I thought I was going to be constantly looking for the perfect image.  But recently I’ve changed my viewpoint.  Maybe I don’t need to chase a perfect image.  All my images are complete; therefore by Aristotle’s definition they are perfect.  Maybe I just need to study how to improve my techniques, to make my images “more complete”.

I’m not being big headed, I know my images aren’t as good as other photographers (yet), but I do know that for me they are complete, I also know if the client is happy, then the image must be complete for them too.

Let’s look at this from another point of view.  What is perfection today?  Let’s consider a few measures.  A tan, makes you perfect, means you can afford to go on foreign holidays right?  Travel back a couple of hundred years, the French aristocracy believed tans meant you were a commoner working in the sunny fields, and went to great lengths to develop a white pale complexion! (Including lead based powder paint).  Ok lets consider another measure then, how about Skinny models? Being skinny makes you more famous and popular, (ignoring the significant damage it causes to your body), now we only need to go back 60 years, when women made huge efforts to exaggerate there curves, curves were, (and still are) sexy.

Don’t worry I have insecurities too, I don’t like my belly, but I like going to the Gym less! so I’ve accepted it.

I guess it just comes down to what you view as perfection, the key point being what YOU view as perfect for YOU, not what you THINK others want to see, none of us are mind readers.

Or just possibly, I’m completely wrong, who knows, that’s half the fun in finding out and enjoying the journey. After all the journey is longer than what waits at the finish.

Happy shooting.

NB

BLOG – So Who’s next?

Well I’m still on a bit of a high from the weekend, but starting the decent back down.  Every time I have a weekend like this is imagine more and more what could be happening, and as a plus I’m starting to understand, or at least ask about what’s needed to get there.

It may take 6 minutes, it may take 60 years, oddly this doesn’t bother me, and I’m enjoying the journey too much now.

The strange satisfaction that comes from seeing someone complement your work, especially when they don’t know it’s your is great.  Moreover the smiles it seems to bring to a clients face is really rewarding too.

In the past week, I won another first place award for one of my flower images, sold my 400^th stock image, photographed a GT world supercar race, and worked with an amazing client.  I’m starting to think more and more I’m not too bad at this, (don’t worry I still want to improve!)

So this brings me back to my title, “So who’s next?” model, car, flower, pet, baby? I’m up for anything!

Check out my work on the website of Facebook fan page, and let me know

All the best

Neil

 

BLOG – Fast cars and Beautiful women.

Well this weekend has been immense, started as a normal
weekend, and ended very quickly with a personal tour of Silverstone, The GT
cars and a day’s photography trackside, followed by a 2hour shoot in the beautiful
sun at Sywell Country Park with what can only be described as a stunning model.

I’ve been on a bit of a high ever since, been busy
processing some images and thoroughly enjoying myself.  Only drawback was the sunburn and sunstroke I
woke up with this morning, but totally worth it!.

Better still I get the feeling the model is happy with her
image that she has seen first.  Always a
nice feeling when the client is happy!

A couple of samples below let me know what you think

BLOG – Silverstone, GT cars, must be Octane O’clock.

Well hasn’t this weekend taken a shine for the better?  I’m sat awaiting the results of the latest photography contest I entered to be announced (I won first place by the way). And I get a text message from a very good friend, saying “Neil, what you doing Saturday, you fancy Silverstone on some priority passes?”

Hmmm, let me think for 0.000003 seconds, YES, YES I do please, thank you.  I’ve never been to Silverstone, a shameful admission for someone living so close.

The friend who shall remain anonymous, and is now owed several favours, then proceeds to add, “Oh you know it’s the GT world championship this weekend? Fancy having a look behind the scenes at some of the cars?”

Then casually goes, “you like your photos, best bring your camera too, get a few snaps for the album” no need to tell me twice, yes sir thank you please.

Well needless to say I’m a very happy boy, and will be filling up various memory cards with images soon!

Images coming shortly…..

BLOG – Upcoming shoot Laura Harrison

Well I woke up this morning and thought that the weather men may actually have it right! Another glorious day and by the sounds of it a gorgeous weekend to boot. 

This means two things.

1) I get to drive my toy car; it has no roof (or doors or windscreen)

2) My Shoot with the rather fabulous Laura Harrison is going to warm and dry!

I’m currently planning on heading down to Sywell reservoir for the shoot and have scouted a few locations.  I feel a change from my norm and some subtle lighting and bright colours coming on.

As always I’m getting far too excited about this shoot, there’s just something reassuring about having a camera in hand that relaxes me.

Watch this space for the first images from the shoot…

Have a lovely rest of the day

BLOG – Stop your moaning!

I’ve woken up in a strange mood this morning. Not a bad one just a strange one.  

A quick check of the old social media and the same things are happening to day as yesterday. Mostly amounting to people moaning. Urgh I can’t get any photography work, urgh I’m not getting any modelling work, urgh I can’t win any competitions, urgh I’m a struggling artist etc.

Once again I’m sure at some point I’ve said all of these (possibly not the modelling one!), but I realised something recently. You need to stop and ask yourself why are you struggling. Is this not the route you have chosen in life? If this is the route you chose then you should be happy, if you’re not happy then why not try another route?

You will always find that whatever job your in not just photography, that there is always someone competing for you for your job and or promotion, so ask yourself and you doing this to make you happy, or because of another reason.

I was once told by a wise woman, “Do whatever make you happy, so long as you accept the consequences”. As ever she was right.

So now I CHOOSE to do photography, I CHOOSE to let it make me happy, I ACCEPT I will not become a millionaire doing it, I ACCEPT I may not know where my next job is coming from, BUT I am happy, I get to do what I love, and enjoy it.

Thanks for listening.

Neil

Ever felt lost?

Maybe I should start by explaining myself a little. I have Depression, it’s a fact, I had a doctor tell me, I’ve seen a great counsellor, and I’m still taking the “happy” pills.  I’ve learned how to cope with it and I have learned many techniques to overcome it, but I know it’s always there.  Churchill had it and he called it his little black dog, like a faithful pet never leaving your side.

I have to remind myself why I got it too, strange as that sounds. I got it because my mind and body had, had enough of the way I was treating them, and it was time for a change, a change in my life, my direction, my priorities, and to start on a new journey in life.

Now some of you will be wondering, what does this have to do with Photography?  Well truth is everything and nothing, those who know me may not see any difference in me, those who really know me will.

At one time I was going to leave everything and become a “professional” photographer; looking back I think this would have been a huge mistake. Because I have had my life reset button pressed, I’ve had the time to think and study, and the truth is I was not ready, (some say you never are).

 Because I’ve had the time to stop, look around, see (for the first time in a long time) I’ve actually been able to understand what I want from my photography. Too many times I’ve seen photographers go fulltime and give up on there love for it.  This can also be said for any hobby that is turned into a job too.  I now know and have a clear vision of what I want to do.

 The question “do I ever feel lost?”, yes I still feel lost, but not for very long, yes I still have bad times, but all I have to do is look at my wife, and my portfolio, and things have “colour” again.

 Thanks Gemma I love you

 

Competiton Time

Its competition time again.
I always enter the photographic competitions when they are on, and
occasionally surprise myself with a win or placing.

But judges do make me laugh from time to time.  I’ve had my work described as plain, badly
lit, and as glamour, quite where the last one came from I still haven’t worked
out.

I’ve got my prints done now, and once again I’m surprising
myself, the images look good on screen, but nothing beats seeing them on a
large print, after all that’s how images are meant to be seen, printed and in
real life, not as a compressed, pixel on a screen.

I’ve started being a bit cruel to the judges and fellow
competitors now.  With every competition
and competitor, photographers are said to have their own style and technique,
and I have a theory, that people make assumptions about the image based on who
took it.  Because of this I’ve started
entering a whole array of different images that are “outside” of my Norm, whatever
my norm actually is.

Yes I want to become known for having a style, but I also
want to demonstrate my flexibility, here’s a question for you then, do you have
a style? Are you flexible?

Here’s a big question for you, how do you define my style……….?

 

think differently