Good Start to 2013
What tripple dip?I found the year starting off with the usual doom and gloom only to be told on the news yesterday (and by the way, did you know that the word NEWS is made from North, East, West and South) that the stock market was 'doing very well' and that manufacturing was also up. This was followed by my accountant coming in and telling me that Photoshoot studio hire was also doing 'very well'. Of course I knew this already 1. because I do my own books and 2. because the studio is so busy. But I am not complacent about it and in fact have some great new collaborations coming up, so here's what's been going on.
Monday started slow but with plenty of enquiries and a Passport shot. Tuesday I had a great meeting with Bonnita Moaby (my web site guru) discussing updating my website and introducing a user friendly site, with the ability to see studio availability and to link to people who use the studio much easier than it is at the moment.
Via the wonderful technology that is Twitter, Amanda Wells MFHT @tinybluebubbles contacted me to do a shoot for the Tunbridge Wells Ladies&Girls U16 and U14 Football club @rtwlgfc What a fun, busy and very loud shoot. My thanks also to Mark Nicholson (Club Chairman) for agreeing to do the shoot here and for my credited Image in the Courier.
I am very excited to be working in the near future with Sparrow and Finch www.sparrowandfinch.co.uk. They have used the studio on many occasions but after I did some recent test shots for them, they asked me to photograph some products for them. We will be working together on their new web site and catalog and we are on the look out for some great locations to shoot their bird tables and planters. My thanks to Samantha and Darren and I am looking forward to working with you in the future.
I have been working with another local company, Willowstix http://www.willostix.co.uk doing some shots for their outstanding new Cricket Bat called the 'Spitfire' which has been getting fantastic reviews.
Now I am not a cricketing man, but you can tell by the shape and the superb design, that this is meant to destroy the enemy, and I suspect that R. J. Mitchell (designer of the 2 world war fighter with the same name) himself would have been very pleased with it.
Thursday was yet another busy day and evening, starting with a meeting with
Karen Rollason
@KMaidmarion a great local writer with the possibility of a collaboration with the Tunbridge wells writer Circle. this was followed by the very prolific local photographer Jamie Craig @JamieCraigPhoto. Jamie uses the studio frequently (most of the time getting so into his shots he runs over!) but today finish on time and with great results, thank you once again Jamie.
In the evening the PPP AXA photography group came in for a lesson in studio photography. Myself and Jonathan Bolland @JonStrobeme did the training, this was the largest group I had the privilege of sharing my knowledge with and it was very very enjoyable. I loved the fact the people really got involved and hopefully the lesson empowered them to develop their photography. We also had the benefit of the lovely Elle Skinner
@EllieJSkinner modelling for us, so thank you once again Ellie x.
The last day of the working week had Photographer Madeleine Norman www.pictureyourday.co.uk in the studio. Madeleine is a great wedding and portrait photographer, but today she was photographing little baby Jake, ahhhh bless.
A new and very exciting collaboration I am working on is with Pro Photographer Matt Walker www.matthewwalkerphotography.com is green screen. Working in the studio is always great fun and I am constantly looking for new ways to develop and build services for my client. Green screen technology isn't new but it is much more accessible than it has ever been. With the aid of new computer software, we are able to offer you the ability to drop you into ANY background! here is a quick example of Matt jumping into a shot of New York! The Top image is on the green screen the bottom is the finished shot. You could even bring along your own landscape or seascape image and we could drop you into it! We will also be offering this for outside events in the near future so watch this space for more info.
The weekend welcomed Sam yardley www.samyardleyphotography.com back to the studio. Sam is a great friend of the studio and has been working very hard on not only her photography (having many wedding bookings already for 2013) but also had a very successful stand in Royal Victoria Place just before Christmas with her Canvas printing service. So please have a look at her site if you need a canvas print or contact the studio.
Next in the studio was Emma louise www.emma-louise-photography.co.uk who has been using the studio for some time now and offers great shoots at affordable prices and always includes fabulous props to make your shoot come to life.
I am always getting new clients using the studio, so it was lovely to welcome Yolanda Frost www.yolandafrost.co.uk to the studio. Yolanda has a wonderful friendly nature and her work reflects that, her web site has only just gone live but you can tell she has a delicate touch. Yolanda has already booked another shoot, this time a full day wedding dress fashion shoot, which I know will be a fun and relaxed shoot.
Following Yolanda was Nik Guyatt
@nikgphotography, Nik is a perfect gentleman and it's always good to see him and his wife at the studio. He was doing some lovely baby shots for a client which I am sure produced some beautiful images.
Today (Sunday) was... how can I say this, crazy busy! I had Tonbridge Photographer and Photoshop expert Emily Dews emilydewsphotography.co.uk shooting for Hospice in the Weald
@Hospiceweald wedding Dresses. So many lovely people, so much giggling and so much food! This was all for the Hospice who do such great work for the community. Here is a link to one of the iPhone shots taken today. pic.twitter.com/i8CKb0Oq
That leaves last but by no means least Vicki Swift, again another new photographer to the studio. She is fairly new to studio photography but is already getting lots of enquiries for shoots, and specialises in new born and baby photography. most of her work comes from reputation but I hope this blog will help her a little as well, so I am looking forward to working with her again in the near future.
One Final Note.
I have for sale 2 used Canon lenses.
- Canon EFS 18-135 is 3.5-5.6 £295.00
- Canon EF 70-300 is 4-5.6 £150.00
Have a great week everybody and thank you for you reading this short look into the goings on at Photoshoot Studio Hire and to those of you who use my facilities.
If you would like to see how Photoshoot Studio Hire can help your business, please contact Me (Paul) on 01892 526034 or e-mail info@photoshootstudio.co.uk
