Headshots - or commercial portraits to you!

Taking someone's portrait is the absolute basis of my photography career.  Whether I'm shooting a wedding or doing commercial photography, somewhere along the line I'll be photographing a person.  And each time, no matter who it is, no matter where we are, I have to make them look their best.  End of story.

If it's a wedding, then it's called a portrait.  I guess it sounds better.

If it's a commercial portrait, then the technical term is a headshot.  Doesn't sound quite as good I guess.  In fact, it's actually a bit sinister isn't it?  After all, the only other people who spring to mind that take headshots are assassins.  So perhaps we ought to stick to commercial portraits.

The secret of a good headshot  ahem commercial portrait has very little to do with the technicalities of photography.  Sure, I have to know how to use a camera correctly.  I have to have chosen the right lens for the situation.  I may have had to rig some studio lights, or set some flash up in order to light the photo the way I want it to look.  But all this is secondary.  The real secret is to build up a rapport with the subject.  That's when the technical stuff kicks in.  Because I build up the rapport, then I get the shot.  It may only last for a few seconds, but the subject will look how I want them to, and I'll seize that moment, capture it on the sensor.

My oldest friend Iain has just set up a new business and wanted some commercial portraits doing for his new website.  He came along to my studio at Arley Hall for these.

Iain works in Digital Media, so we could show him a little more relaxed, and not so formal.  He'll use these for flyers, on his website, to send to conferences he'll be speaking at, and so on.

These days the commercial portrait is ever-important.  Even if you just want something to use for your LinkedIn profile, or even your Twitter avatar, it's worth showing the world you at your best.   Give me a call at the studio and I'd be happy to talk commercial portraits, or even headshots, with you.

Chamber of Commerce Business Showcase at the Point

At the end of June the Altrincham and Sale Chamber of Commerce held its latest business showcase.  These are starting to come along thick and fast every few months now, such is their popularity.  On this occasion it was also being held for the first time at the Point at Lancashire County Cricket Club.  What a great building!  It's a fantastic new conference and event centre, with a stunning view over the Old Trafford pitch to boot.  What more could you ask for?

This was also the biggest business showcase the Chamber had put on, with over seventy local businesses exhibiting and plenty more attending during the day.

I was there in two capacities; one, as the owner of Martin Hambleton Photography I had a stand promoting the range of commercial photography I offer.  I was also letting people know about my new, exclusively commercial website, www.commercialphotographynorthwest.co.uk.  And two, as the official Chamber photographer, I was covering the event, taking photographs that will end up being used by the Chamber in forthcoming editions of the magazine, Altruism.

As such, it was a rather busy day, to say the least, but I did get the chance to chat briefly to a few familiar, and some new, faces.  Among these were the nice guys at Juiced Orange Marketing, who have recently joined the Chamber, the wonderful ladies from Ice Cream Dub (who, as a fellow owner of a VW camper van, I'm a big fan of), Paul from Premium Collections Ltd, who was sponsoring the event, and others.

Here are a few shots of the day.

Among the speakers were Chris Barry from The Business Desk and Mark Williams of Inusers, who provided some very useful tips on using LinkedIn.  

Already looking forward to the next one! 

Martin Hambleton Commercial Photography

When I began Martin Hambleton Photography eight years ago I decided to build the business on people photography.  Quickly, that meant that I spent most of my time photographing weddings and portraits of individuals, couples and families.  Working with people is what I do best, and enjoy.

But I've been asked to do an increasing amount of commercial photography over the years, so just before New Year I took the decision to set up a separate commercial photography business, to run alongside the work I currently do.

The result is Martin Hambleton Commercial Photography.  Okay, not the snappiest name going, but it tells you what you need to know doesn't it?

On the website, you'll see that people still form the basis of the commercial work I undertake.  Portraits, events and promotions occupy a lot of my time on commercial assignments.  Although I'm doing an increasing amount of work shooting product, buildings and interiors too.

My other website will contain examples of my wedding and portrait work only, while all commercial photography and information will be contained in www.commercialphotographynorthwest.co.uk.  Similarly, if you enjoy reading about my wedding and portrait work on my blog, this will now move to www.martinhambleton.wordpress.com, while this blog will become dedicated to my commercial work.

I'll end by giving a mention to David Bellin of Software Assistance, who designed and built the site for me.   Thanks David!

Wild animals at Arley Hall

Here's a lovely little job that I did recently for Arley Hall, where my studio is based.  This was something a bit out of the ordinary, which is one of the reasons I love my job so much.  While I'm principally a wedding photographer, I can never resist the opportunity to shoot a different subject.   While Arley Hall is a great wedding venue, and I've photographed many weddings there and captured some lovely images of couples in the grounds, I was really looking forward to shooting something different in an environment with which I am so familiar.  

At the end of May the Hall was playing host to a collection of sculptures by South African sculptor Dylan Lewis.  Dylan has won worldwide acclaim for his work, and his latest collection, entitled Predators and Prey II, is garnering similar praise.  It's a series of studies in bronze of wild animals from his homeland, many of which are life sized.

They were on display in the grounds of the Hall before being transported down to London where they will be auctioned by Christie's on June 16th.

The juxtaposition of wild animals from another continent with the formality of the gardens shouldn't work should it?  But somehow, it seems to come together rather wonderfully I think.

So, a beautiful spring day, award winning grounds and gardens of a splendid stately home, and thousands of pounds' worth of sculpture by a world famous artist.  A pretty good combination for creating some great images!

If you want any more information about the auction, visit Christie's website at www.christies.com.  If you decide to put in a bid please let me know.  I'd love to photograph the sculptures again in their new home!

For more information on Dylan and his work go to www.dylanlewis.com.

Arley Hall can be reached via www.arleyhallandgardens.co.uk

A photographic star of the future?

On Wednesday I visited one of the schools local to where I live, Altrincham Grammar School for Girls to talk to one of the sixth formers.  Jayne is the first pupil from the school to be offered a place on a photography degree course at Stafford College.

As a local resident I try to support my local community where I can, and I'd offered my photographic services to the school in the past.  I received a phone call a couple of months ago asking if I'd be interested in talking to sixth formers about possible careers in the photographic industry, and so on Wednesday arrived at lunchtime to answer any questions Jayne might have.

There are many people out there who pursue photography as a hobby, and would love nothing better than to make a living from it.  Unfortunately, there is a big difference between doing something for yourself, for pleasure, and doing it as a means of paying the bills.  I don't know a single professional photographer who doesn't absolutely love their job, but we all agree that it is seriously hard work!

I spent an hour chatting with Jayne about the business of photography, showed here the wide range of projects and commissions I'd worked on over the past year and asked her about her own photographic interests.  Thankfully, I don't seem to have put her off, as this email landed in my inbox yesterday from the head of sixth form Gillian Winter:

"I met Jayne yesterday afternoon as I walked over from Main School and she stopped me to say how really useful meeting you was and how you have given her an insight into what she can do and how to run a photography business.  She was so enthusiastic that I wanted to share that with you."

Glad to have helped, Mrs Winter!

If you'd be interested in talking about the business of photography, I'd be happy to talk.  I can be contacted at my studio or via my website.

Kate and Gino's big day

Tonight I'm heading up to the Lake District as it's an early start tomorrow for the big wedding of the day.  Yes, Kate and Gino are marrying at Our Lady of the Wayside church in Grasmere, and having their reception at the wonderful Linthwaite House Hotel in Windermere.  

This has been in the diary for over a year, and I can't wait to get cracking.  It has all the makings of a fantastic day: great couple, wonderful backdrop of the English Lakes, very pretty country church (and Father Dave, who sounds like a lovely man on the phone, will do a great job of the service), and a top venue.  I shall also be working with one of my favourite companies, Reel Vision Films, who will be filming the event.  

On a personal note, if those of you who weren't invited to either wedding wanted to stay indoors to watch telly (there may be something on in the morning), that'd be great as it would mean the road from Ambleside to the church would be free of traffic.  Much appreciated!

Altrincham and Sale Chamber of Commerce Business Showcase

Well, well, well.  You don't hear anything for a while and then, just like the bus, three blog posts come along in quick succession!

So, there I was on Wednesday night at the latest business showcase that the Altrincham Chamber was putting on, as I advertised two days ago.  Put on by the Altrincham Chamber of Commerce and hosted by the good people at Altrincham Grammar School for Boys again, it's an evening where local businesses can talk to other businesses and the public who attend.

Of course, it's the people that make these events, and it was great to meet some new faces among the familiar ones.  A few new faces I photographed were Andrew from  Matchpoint Franchise Consultancy,      Helen at Ice Cream Dub and Mr Ali of Aminah Tandoori (who, incidentally, provided the superb curry on offer that evening).

The next Business Showcase is at the Point, Lancashire Cricket Club on 30th June.  Contact the Altrincham Chamber for more details.