Well we have had a busy few days so apologies for the lack of posts. We have just finished a 1-2-1 mentoring studio portrait session with Chris who brought Katrina who had kindly agreed to be his model for the session. We went through all of the basic lighting set-up for traditional studio portraiture as well as some more contemporary techniques. Faye post processed this image before they left to demonstrate how we present our work to clients.

Of interest we have been asked by BOWENS to do a couple of lighting demonstrations at FOCUS and in addition supply 28 of our images for display in the Bowens Gallery at Focus so we are delighted and honoured to have been asked. Also delighted to have be invited back to speak at the London Portrait Group Tuesday the 6th of July and down to the MPA in Southampton for an all day wedding workshop on Monday the 21st of June. Email me if you need details of how to book a place and I will put you in touch with the relevant person.

We spent last Friday with one of our one to one Studio Mentor delegates and it made me realise that while many photographers spend large amounts of time and money on practical training, in general, they spend little time on looking at and addressing the business and financial side. This is not a side swipe at anybody simply an observation that many of our delegates seem to place such great importance on the ‘how to’ of photography and ‘what kit’ can I buy next rather than looking at how to set up and run a successful marketing or promotional campaign. Faye and I believe that any photographer needs a thorough grounding in both the technical and creative aspects of social photography as well as how to implement that into running a promotion that will produced clients for their studios where they can then put into use what they have learnt in all the creative workshops they have attended. I know many, many excellent photographers who have superb talent and yet struggle to survive while I also know several mediocre photographers who have made a great success in their business through carefully targeted marketing and promotional activities. So the question I ask is what camp do you fall into, creatively talented but always looking to where the next penny is coming from or the not so talented photographer who places as much importance on what the next business promotion as they do on the creative side of their photography?

We will soon be offering a limited number of places on our 6-month Studio Mentor course, which places as much emphasis on the marketing and promotion of the business as we do on developing the creativity and studio skills of our students. Only 4 places available on each series.

Today, not images just words I am afraid, but to many aspiring photographers I hope words of wisdom. It concerns many, many photographers who are far too concerned and spend too much time looking at and lusting for new equipment.  Now I have one, yes just one, camera. A Nikon D700 with a 85mm lens, that’s it one camera and one lens. That’s it I am afraid no other digital camera.  Yes I also have a 10×8 Gandolfi and a Hasselblad but both are film cameras and anyway thay also just have a single lens each.

When we host workshops I am always amazed at the amount of kit some photographers have, in some cases enough to start a small retail outlet!  But is it all necessary I ask or is it just a vanity kick, the ‘I have so much kit I must be a good photographer’? Well lets face simple facts, its not the camera that takes the image its you the photographer, rather its your heart telling your brain to tell your finger that this is a good/great moment to press that shutter release. Its within you, the photographer, its your emotional interaction with the image that tells you that the moment has arrived, the camera is simply a mechanical object that captures what you tell it to capture. It’s a tool, it’s not magic and it does not have a mind of its own. No camera has ever won an award nor will one ever win an award the author of any image is the heart, mind and soul behind the viewfinder so rather than spend even more money on the latest camera body or lens, pause, take a deep breath and remind yourself that it’s all within you to create the image all you need to do is to see the image and then capture it on whatever medium. In truth you should be able to create an excellent image on any camera, film or digital, so instead of always wishing for new kit make use of the kit you already have to create some new and exciting image. The secret is to set youself a project and just get out there and take images.

2010 promises to be an exciting and challenging year for all of you who are involved in the wedding and portrait market and our Mentoring Programme is being devised with that specific challenge in mind. So if you are tired of feeling like one of the crowd and seminars and workshops are not giving you the attention you need or covering the aspects of business you need help with then why not spend a day with Trevor & Faye and get the one-on-one you need to succeed!  We will also be launching a new web based Mentoring Programme in the Spring available to all but more of that later.

A final image to end the week from Monday’s workshop at Loxleys, a bit of Sex, Lust & Passion, what weddings are all about but all in the best possible taste. Oh and I forgot to say photographed in Loxley’s reception area.

Well as promised the final processed images from Monday’s Lighting workshop held @ Loxley Colour in Glasgow.

We had wanted to get some exterior shots during the day but as usual the weather decided to be nasty and the rain just seemed to sweep over Glasgow and Loxley for most of the day. With one, almost dry, break in the weather I dragged Aicha and our delegates outside Loxleys and down to the the metal fencing that surrounds the building. Though it was light drizzle we did manage to get several shots again using the Quantum Turbo head to light Aicha and her striking yellow coat.

Back inside I wanted to show how to light a portrait with a single soft box using one of the wonderful new Bowens Gemini 500R heads. Faye has processed a colour and black and white version. Let us know your favourite.

And finally back to the Loxley red wall where we shot this image of Aicha using the Bowens Gemini 500R head fitted with the fab Bowens Fresnel spotlight.