Patience is a virtue.....

No posts for a while then, hmmm.  No excuse but I was convinced the new blog would be up and running by now so was saving all the juicy bits for that but seeing as its going to be a while and my last post here was in October (naughty!) I think I better be more patient and offer you guys a catch up on the last few weeks.

  

It has been a busy one which is great news and has included another commission from Vodafone to shoot Sevilla football players / club for an Advertising campaign so that was a fantastic experience and a quick and warm trip out of the country.  I have also been getting to grips with fbml for the new facebook page, shooting a private birthday party where much cake eating and face painting has taken place and even had a really exciting last minute request to shoot a corporate event for Disney.  Unfortunately delegates were not dressed as Mickey Mouse much to my disappointment!

To get things started, more pics to follow.......

Hello boys....

A month or so ago Carli-Art was commissioned to take some images for new Mens Jewellery brand, 10 Sterling.  Based in the UK and offering high quality, bespoke dog tag style bracelets and necklaces for all the boys out there; we had the pleasure of working with Hareth who has helped to make the images and the jewellery look fantabulous.  Most importantly of course the site is now live and you can see all of the pictures plus the lovely bling online.

Fearing six year olds & New Vodafone commission published...

The past few days my mind has seemed unable to concentrate on more than one thing at a time, which is an odd feeling considering I usually have a huge party of thoughts up there!  Anyway, the preoccupation of preparing a thirty minute activity for 15 six year olds has been far more than I imagined and although excited, the nerves are beginning to show.  (I have even been put off eating a delicious looking lemon drizzle cupcake, this is clearly getting serious!)

On a different note I do have something to celebrate as a couple of weeks ago Carli-Art was commissioned by Vodafone to shoot some imagery for an advertising Case Study.  The idea was to demonstrate how useful a new business product called One-Tel had been to a small business (Fit Mama) and helped it to grow and improves its future prospects.  The results are now live to see on Vodafone UK, downloadable on their One Tel Case Study PDF and will shortly be seen in various print forms through national publications such as The Times and The Telegraph and online monsters such as Linked in and Yahoo.  Preview of some of the images that didn't make the final cut below....enjoy!

Breeding guilt babies...

My mother once said to me that the moment she gave birth to me (or any of my siblings I convince myself), she gave birth to guilt.  I think I might know how she feels.  As a freelancer I seem to spend 98% of my time feeling guilty.  Guilty I need a cup of tea and that five minutes could be better spent editing, guilty it took me 5 snooze attempts before getting out of bed, guilty I even went to bed in the first place.  Sleep...what a waste of time I say.  I was discussing this very same thing with another freelancer last night and thankfully his wide eyed giggle gave me the reassurance that it isn't just me & yes, guilt is the baby that is bred by most freelancers and small business owners.  

In a bid to tackle guilt I tend to do one of two things.  Go shopping or pursue the plight of my customer through various forms of internet searching.  Of course Facebook doesn't come in to it, huh hum.

Twitter is great and because its time consuming and it involves you paying attention to others & whats around you, you can enjoy a mini break while at the same time keeping an eye on your market.  Genius form of useful procrastination right there.  Another more recent discovery is something I fear I may be well out of touch with, Google Alerts.  Hit the 'anything results' button and watch some rather odd but strangely interesting articles, bits of information and links just drop into your mail box.  The more diverse one's often lead that train of thought places I never expected but hell, enjoyed!  

Not forgetting the shopping front, I for once avoided the clothes and stumbled across this....The Now Habit.  (I heard that groan, apparently this is far from the traditional self help book and you can appease your shopping guilt as its for the good of your work!)

Sneaky Peek & working Purple...

Celebrating in style below are images from a birthday party I photographed at the weekend at the boutique hotel, The Bermondsey Square in London. Purple Grape provided the delicious food and did an amazing job, I understand plates came back licked clean which can never be a bad sign! 

 So here is a sneak preview and Happy Birthday Tim!

56% spam, 44% after party...

Who would have believed just 4 days out of the office & I am literally swimming in emails, admittedly at least 56% (rough estimation of course) are spam or newsletters or various info I am signed up to but the others must be answered.  Therefore anybody still waiting for a reply I apologise and promise I will get back to you as soon as I possibly can.  

Being busy is fab, I will never complain and its when I perform best.  Eating Snack a Jacks and Snickers in the car, reaching insane sugar levels with Lucozade energy tablets every time I manage to return to my camera bag and grabbing 5 hours sleep before up to do it again.  It fills me with a little dread before I have a mad run like this but I love it when I am there and the time flies by.  Clearly, hence the increasing back log I am now faced with.  When its quiet it suddenly becomes very difficult to focus on whats important and all those really vital business running things that I should be doing fade from memory & I find interesting industry articles to read, new blogs to code (another excellent procrastination tool, I am learning HTML) and of course editing.  This week, editing is the name of the game and the laptop is suffering as much as me with a corrupt hard drive and yet another full external drive already.

On the picture front, which I suppose is why you are really here; as promised below are some of the Bryce Aime After Party images.  Hope you enjoy.  To follow.....A test shoot and me playing with various effects on some events photography.

 

Bryce Aime @ LFW and making friends with the enemy...

Being ill sucks.  It does. Not only does the drone of Jeremy Kyle, Loose Woman and 60 minute makeover offer a torture only known by those sitting long enough to endure them but you also, as I have found out, miss out on some great opportunities....so far for me these have included the Venue and Event show in London, lunch with a lovely friend / client and a job offer.  This is where knowing other quality photographers that you would be proud to recommend are vital.  Knowing your business competition not only helps you in terms of your marketing and general business planning but it helps your business, I tend to get the feeling that some freelancers avoid their peers...I say get up close and personal!  Know them, love them and build alliances!

On a different note before the cold managed to produce a sea of tissues in my otherwise tidy bedroom, I had the pleasure of attending the After Party for Bryce Aime this London Fashion Week.....Pics to follow and for the moment, some of his lovely designs!

Extending the exclusive...

Besides the obvious cakes and sweet goodies, exclusive viewing galleries are an addition to my services I have really enjoyed offering recently.  They offer a fantastic way to showcase your event or project within a bespoke designed website, giving your guests, delegates or employee's am opportunity to remember their event in style.  Its a great way to spread the love and of course the PR.  

For those of you that don't want the world and its mother to know about your event, your not alone and its not a problem.  The galleries can be designed without any SEO or optimisation making them darn near impossible to find unless you have the web address.

This was a service I originally offered to Toyota Lexus when I covered their Hybrid Sport launch in August and have had the pleasure of extending the fun to Ernst & Young, Jalouse and Competitive Events.    

Want to see a site?  Want to see my experiences last night at the Jalouse club in Mayfair?  Check it out: HERE 

Feeling mobile? How much time do you spend on yours...

Yes its almost midnight (23:56 to be exact) and I am awake working having just got in from an event in Bloomsbury with Hotel Russell and Genie.  Pictures are required for PR first thing so typically, my card reader is taking its time & stopping at Bognor Regis for a holiday before completing its upload.

On another note though I sat there on the train on the way home & started thinking about just how much I used my mobile phone, so were talking 85% of my life really.  Text, call, internet, photos, maps, whatever. if I can find an excuse to use it I will.  It got me thinking as to if I used it more to view the web than my actual computer which lead me to thinking my new website (coming soon!) really should be mobile optimised.  I-phones of course fail miserably as they cant read flash (I hope that decision maker was fired in the world of shiny silver Apples) but otherwise were all good & I have for once been relatively sensible and have a html only version of my site available.  Yay for old school.  

So the post was leading somewhere...oh yeah...this rather interesting article & some scary facts such as we spend almost 7 hours a day on our phones or using media content!

MTV presenters & chocolate dipped strawberries......Commercial fashion shoot and the ideal corporate gift.

I am starting to become disheartened by Apple.  First the iphone 4, now repeated problems with Snow Leopard....is it that they really were this troublesome before but their big shiny Apple shaped exterior & genius marketing just plastered (very well I might add) over the cracks?  I am beginning to think so and now that plaster is cracking....is this the beginning of a few tainted experiences and now questioning consumers who before, would have stood bare chested in a sand storm for the brand.  Is anyone else feeling the strain or is it just me?

Anyway besides my Apple related issues this week I have also had a chance to collect some of the images from the 10 Sterling shoot, an up and coming mens jewellery brand providing high quality, bespoke accessories for men including sterling silver dog tags and bracelets.  The images below are unedited so be kind but they give you a glimpse of the hard work put in by the team (thank you Clive, Hareth and Ilona...not Lloyd who didn't turn up, why do people do that?!) and an insight as to whats to come.  Final images and previews of the 10 sterling site to follow.

On a different note, yes, below is a picture of cupcakes!  We all know I love a good cupcake and even better if sprinkled with sweets so I was very excited that Susie at Angelic Cupcakes put together these beautiful edible delights for a friend and colleague who is leaving their current role at an Events agency to move onto another events agency and a change of scenery - Good luck Claire!

I thought they would make a great gift and am delighted with the results....even if i didn't get to sample them!  There will also be cupcakes in association with my rebrand....exact logistics and plan yet to be decided but there will be sweetness and mid afternoon sugar rushes so keep those kettle warmed!

Weddings, Corporate Portraiture & what not to wear....

Another busy week lays behind me which is fab news as another one also stands in front.  What scares me is my busy as a bumble bee schedule has left little time for that all important CRM so am looking forward to getting back on it and as a result hopefully filling more of that diary as Christmas (yes I said it) approaches.

Still to come also is the rebrand...new name, new logo, new site and new blog.  Very excited and just tying a few final ends before it all goes live, late predictably but it will happen so please - watch this space!

Last Sunday I got together with some old Uni friends and we worked on our first shoot together in 5 years!  Vintage themed images coming soon and to appear in 'Frock &Roll' Readings new, exclusive Vintage boutique.

My wedding portfolio (as a second shooter) is getting ever fuller which is great so thinking I will put some of those up in the coming weeks (a few above to get you started) plus my corporate portrait skills are being tested with an abundance of requests, must be that time of year which is fantastic.  I always like to learn more and more and more and....well you get it but came across some great sites for portraiture so have put below in the hope you find them useful.  Good for tog or sitter, enjoy.

Photography Posing

Digital photo school (includes lighting set up diagrams)

Mansurvos

What not to wear

Ehow

Photo Tips

PS: Coming soon - downloadable Bright Ideas guides including Tog Talk explained, Understanding imagery; In front of the camera, having your corporate portrait done; Knowing what to ask for, getting the best bang for your buck... plus many more!

The next big thing?

Event UK are holding another 'Next Big thing' competition, giving the events industries top acts and performers a chance to compete and the opportunity to break into the corporate entertainment and party scene.  You can win £1000, a contract with top entertainment industry Sternberg Clarke and extensive free promotion - visit the Event UK 2010 site or click here for more info and an entry form.

Caffeine & Umbrella's....The Grant Barnett shoot....

There is something about driving through London at 5.45am in the morning that although insanely early, is also somewhat invigorating.  Our early start was to be blamed on the needs of a commercial fashion shoot, a team of 9 arriving at The Rag Factory in Brick Lane at 7am to dance, prance and generally get out and about with designer Brolli's.

Caffeine was in high demand and after some excellent work from the team, a few 'is that rain' moments and  some rush changes in the back of taxi's we finished tired but happy...oh and all with a small crush on a certain pink, punched lace umbrella.

I chose these images to post as these are the ones I am likely to put in my portfolio, they are the one's either often passed off as 'mistakes' or images that for some reason, speak to me! Plus a little behind the scenes at the Rag Factory - with thanks to: The Rag Factory, Tim, Tom, Ilona from IE Makeup, Rachel West Wardrobe stylist, Jo from Nicholas Hair and fantastic models Emily and Louise. 

Final images approved and passed to campaign to be posted soon...watch this space!

'The' Weekend for Events...

The weekend just gone was apparently 'the' weekend that everything happened in terms of events and weddings, there were agencies crying out for more Champagne flutes and teams cursing the intern who mis ordered the caviar appetisers & were now attempting to rescue the situation with a emergency trip to Waitrose.  

I did indeed attend (kind of, stay with me here) two weddings.  I was second photographer for Emma Coleman of Blink Photography for a beautiful wedding at Pembroke Lodge, a regular venue for Emma I had never ventured there before and was very much taken with the outside terrace and the willing staff who kept offering me alcohol based refreshments!  If you keep an eye on her blog there will be a posting soon I am sure, look out for the shot of the white chocolate cake, yes that is the cake I resisted sticking my finger in to lick off the icing!

The evening saw me head over to Ayslesbuty for probably the plushest wedding I have ever laid eyes on...a stunning display of stretch tents, bespoke cushions, bar and bunny shaped lighting.  Some sneeky peeks below for you which were taken on behalf of Ten By Fifteen structures.  If your into tents or moonlight might just be your thing.

The other event I attended, this week actually but hey ho, was the launch of the new Toyota Lexus Hybrid Auris...phew thats a title.  It was held in Cambridge and managed by TMB and was filled with pretty pink lights, free luxury beverages and check it out - an old school games room!  Loved by many this room featured Pac Man, Table football and Space Invaders...images to follow soon.

On an entirely separate note if you wish to see a posting I did on Networking in Berkshire re Twitter then click on me.  I by no means posses some magic key to the door of Twitter knowledge however I have found a local clan of professionals who meet in a rather nice bar and talk tech; offering advise, guidance and also a networking opportunity.  I am going just for the board games and Jelly beans!   

A little Rouge....

The Tuesday chin wag is early for a change, OK its actually a week overdue but hey today is a Monday so let me live the dream.   I bring you today a chat to Rouge Media, a lovely agency just down the road from me in Berks.  I had the pleasure of meeting Andy who heads up this creative hub....lets get nosey!

Andy, why the name Rouge?

We wanted a name that we could grow into.. Something that sounded like a big agency but was still very approachable.  The name came out of the idea that we add colour to marketing materials - 'adding a touch of rouge.'

Your not web monkeys as far as I am aware...so what animal is Rouge if it had to be one and why?

I've always felt that we operate well as a team of specialists looking out for each other, so maybe meerkats. I know a wolf pack would sound better but we are just a bit more friendly than that!

Can you tell us something about your latest project that you think illustrates why Rouge are so fabulous darling?

Just now we are doing some work for Mclaren, but i can say no more than that as its top secret!

Our latest launch is for East Youth Dance.  This is a community dance website for the East of England.  It's a relatively small site right now but will grow as the dance network starts to populate it with evens, news, groups and activities.  I guess that what i like about it best, the website will eventually take on a life of its own,

Now I bought you cake when i came to see you...other than sugary treats what other things make you stand up and take notice or would be a good thank you?

We love cake, but pork pies or scotch eggs would be outstanding.

Pick one....Telephone, Good old letter, Email, Twitter or a Post it note.

Email.  I can still remember sending my first email in 95.  It was like a form of magic!  Amazing its now so essential everyday.

What's it really like working in an office full of young creatives - juicy gossip, fashion disasters and mad brainstorming meetings?

Sadly its not like that anymore.  We are all quite nerdy serious about what we do.  I cant even say we work hard, play harder.  Its about being professional and delivering the goods.  That not to say we don't have fun doing it but the playboy days of champagne lunches have long gone.  Its better now.  It certainly means that the industry gets taken more seriously, I'm no longer afraid of those awkward introductions...and what do you do?

I notice your doing free website checks at the moment, can you tell us a little more about it?

Websites are often launched then forgotten, they can rapidly go out of date and fall apart.  As a freebie we will spend a couple of hours with our site on our consultation couch, find if there are any issues then help suggest remedies.  Unashamedly this is a route to new business for us but the things we recommend can be things you can do yourself, we are big fans of people taking control of their own websites.

What other things does Rouge do that we may not know about?

We have great experience of logos, branding and advertising.

An lastly, a quick fire round.....

• Favourite word - Spoon
• Favourite book - Magician by Raymond Feist
• Scariest thing about running your own business - The tax man
• CD you currently have playing in your car - Falcon by The Courteeners
• The last thing that made you laugh - My kids drawing all over their own faces
• Last time you dug, delved and had a good poke around what did you find? - A good friend that i lost touch with nearly 15 years ago.  He wasn't down he back of the sofa or anything, turns out he was only in Richmond.

Thank you to Andy at Rouge!  Check his digits below.

www.rouge-media.com

info@rouge-media.com