Ive made a lot of progress with my Professional practice module.
Yesterday 24/02 i joined photographer Cliff Grainger at the Signal 1 Radio Wedding Fayre held at The Moat House Hotel, Hanley from 10.30- 4pm...where he was an exhibitor promoting his wifes wedding photography. (as Alison was attending another fayre at Stafford County Showground)
I spent the day on the stall with him, giving details to possible clients about the service Cliff and Alison provide and taking clients details etc. Inbetween i managed to pick his brains about their business- how they started, equipment used/ prefered, and more technical details about Cliffs side of the business- Specialist commercial photography, elevated photography for use of Estate Agents and his work for Google, as the local Google trusted photographer for Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. Creating panoramic virtual tours of businesses, which can be accessed straight from Streetview.
http://www.alisongraingerphotography.co.uk/
In a few weeks time they are being flown out to Sorrento, Italy to photograph a wedding and when asked how successful the fayres were for gaining clients, Cliff explained that most of their business comes from recommendation, as this type of photography is quite a personnal thing.
We were located just opposite the catwalk stage- so was able to view the designer outfits too!
He gave me a lot of advice about the industry and provided me with more opportunities to shadow them whilst at work, including a commercial photography fayre this Thursday, a chance to join Alison on a wedding shoot and a meeting at the Focus on Imaging event at the NEC. He was really helpful and eager to share as much knowledge as possible. But i think the piece of advice that stuck in my mind the most was how they got to where they are...by being open for opportunites and not restricting yourself by only sticking to one type of photography ie wedding. Professional photography is a competitive and diverse industry that 'anyone' can provide nowadays, with the technology available. But to offer something different and get to know the client- photography is personnal.
For instance they offer a complimentary engagement shoot, at a location significant to the couple or local beauty spot..which gives the photographer (Alison) a chance to get to know them, the clients a chance to warm to posing and for them to be comfortable around each other on the day of the wedding- in order to get the best shots.
He also gave me the details of a graphic designer i could approach for more work placement, as i'd talked about approaching Panda Press in Stone. It was a great day and i thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I look forward to working more with Alison and Cliff, and was also offered the opportunity of some payed work, if i were to keep in touch in the future.
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