“Images made for business – images made for you”

Having a passion for photography has grown into a business opportunity for Derek Houghton. He finds that his new business venture complements his day job by giving him the creative outlet that he needs. Developing the skills required to establish a new business can be challenging

Throughout his career, a love of photography has been always been important to Derek and is now a Friendly freelance photographer, a Nikon Pro user, a member of the Bureau of Freelance Photography, has been a member of Enterprise HQ since its inception and is also now a member of the Shropshire Chamber of Commerce. Based in the Ironbridge and Coalbrookdale area of Telford, Shropshire providing Photography and Digital Imaging Services

Derek Houghton- images produce wonderful pictures of the landscape, sports and music events from around the country with the aim of selling them through galleries, to magazines and for websites. He has recently branched out into wedding photography and portraiture which is his current focus. Small businesses can also benefit from professional imaging to promote themselves and their products.

Poor quality images can do more damage than good when trying to promote your business so it pays to invest. There are many good photographers in Shropshire but there are a lot more businesses choosing to use low quality images.

Hiring a good professional photographer is the only solution for a company that wants exclusive photographic imagery that sets it apart from competitors.

Mobile: 0785 447 3718

E-mail: derek@houghton.net

Web: www.Shropshire-images.com

Twitter:@derekhoughton

Happy New Year 2011

3 months in and I’ve been very busy researching markets, networking, revamping websites and even taking a few images. Now I’m a member of Shropshire Chamber of Commerce and my membership to Bureau of Freelance Photographers is renewed. I’ve been a member of Enterprise HQ for a few years now and will be renewing membership this month. Shropshire Jelly , a local co-working event which I host the 5-9 sessions, is planning a BIG Jelly this year in March which will be a national event held in Shropshire.

Sticking to a niche is tricky when you have bills to pay. Promoting weddings with some nice new leaflets and portraits was my planned income stream however with only a few firm bookings diversity is the key. I am on plan to shoot some interiors for a B&B and this could lead to another potential 30 B&B’s, another potential is a nursery shoot and a pet product catalogue. Sports have been hard hit with the weather last month and there may be some catching up to do. There is potential to develop the “fine art” line with the museum relocating and requiring catalogue and promotional material along with the local gallery and local artists requiring fine art turned into digital prints.

January can be a time to look forward and I’m positive about the future and there are opportunities in abundance, I’ve probably spent enough time researching and it’s time to get the ball rolling. I’d like to link with PR companies and find a regular income stream. This year (year 3) is the crucial year to succeed.

All the best for 2011 from Shropshire-images

http://en.gravatar.com/derekhoughtonimages

So today IS the first day of the rest of my life and I’m working at home planning and tidying up loose ends, sorting out what to do and where to go.

Today is exciting, the future is Freelance …

By adding value to their clients by producing high quality images of their events, employees, products at a reasonable cost.

It’s an area of interest for me as a “start up” myself I know many of the pitfalls in setting up a business and have a few years of management experience behind me I know that marketing is a key part of any business – no marketing – nobody knows your there!

PR is relatively new to me and there appears to be quite a lot of people “in” PR – so I need to know more about it – what is involved – who to speak to – what is it these “PR People” actually do -

There must be an opportunity here – if public relations is a lot about marketing then PR companies need a good imagineer on there side to produce quality images to promote their clients

Business Startup and Business Assist companies , and there appear to be  a few of these around too – I need to know what they do and offer my services. Improving image must be a part of Business Assist – so a good imagineer can help here too.

Refresh your image – use quality images – sell more product – cost effective

contact me if you’d like to know more about how I can help your Public Relations , Business Startup and Business Assist.

below are my new main areas of focus for my Business Development

EnterpriseHQ / ShropshireJelly / VisualArtsNetwork

“Images made for Business – Images made for you”

It’s easy to keep options open till a specialist subject which “pays the bills” becomes apparent

So for my own benefit and to keep things in place, I’ve been using this blog, although not as often as I probably should.

Images, People, Places, Events, Sports and Business

I’m proposing that my new strategy will encompass the above headings.

“Images” will cover everything that doesn’t fall into the other categories

“People” will cover portraits, people in the street

“Places” will cover landscapes, towns and architecture.

“Events” will cover PR, music, festivals.

“Sports” will cover action, team and individual local sports,

“Business” will cover small business start ups

Additional ideas will come from “walks and talks” – advice sessions for people who would like to learn about photography and business.

Being based in Shropshire, there are multitudes of all of the above and the website name www.Shropshire-images.com prescribes that most of images will come from within the county.

Coming originally from Scotland, there will of course be the obligatory landscapes.

Concentrating on Shropshire for now the aim is to capture history past and present events keeping a keen eye on the future.

“images”: can be abstract images and anything which doesn’t fit the main categories.

“people” :have been discussed briefly in the previous blog , places will consist of a tick list of places to visit to create stock style images.

“places” :The main towns are:

Telford, Ironbridge, Church Stretton, Much Wenlock, Bridgnorth, Shrewsbury, Ludlow, Broseley, Ellesmere, Oswestry, Bishops Castle, Clun, Craven Arms, Newport, Market Drayton Wem, Whitchurch

    Images of local points of interest, high streets, railway stations and shops.

“events”: including local music events, town festivals, special events, annual events.

“sports”: including rugby, football and cricket clubs also golf and sports centres.

“business”: helping small business with affordable images to assist with promotional material and websites.

To be updated soon

The “mission” – is to photograph “people of influence” in Shropshire to feature as a display in a gallery.

“people of influence” could be in the field of business, sport, charity, education, local government, music, arts – anywhere really

The location can be of the “people’s” choice – relaxed at home, at work or at play. It would be preferred if an item of “comfort” e.g. mobile phone, cuddly toy whatever.

The key here is to have “people recommended” – the idea here is to start with a “person of influence” who will recommend and more importantly arrange, a shoot with another person of influence who could be a friend or colleague and so on and so on…

The project has a 2 year time limit from start to be completed by mid/end 2012.

Generally it’s good and polite to arrive early; at least 30 minutes before the arranged time, after double checking and confirming the time that the team is expecting you.

This gives you time to survey the area, look for a suitable location, check the weather conditions, check the lighting conditions, where the shadows are likely to fall, check equipment so that you are ready to go when the team is ready.

I’ve generally found that one or two people from a team will be late, sports kit will need to be changed into and coaches will have more on their mind than a photoshoot so it is essential to be quick and professional.

These are fairly basic rules, not hard and fast, but there is quite a lot to remember and with experience, these will become second nature.

Generally these tips will apply to both team and individual although the pose for the team and individual will have to be pre-planned on the pre shoot survey – ideally beforehand or on the day.

I have found it easier to do the team shoot first so that everyone is together to enable a “line-up” for individual shots – the other way round and you have to try to get the team back together which can be tricky.

Names, if required can be taken and written by the coaches if possible – this keeps them busy while you are in charge of their team for a while.

Kit

Battery charged, lenses clean, enough clear memory cards – basic camera bag checks before leaving for the shoot

Timing

Ensure everybody is present, who needs to be (someone will always be late in a team!)

Direct the shoot – generally coaches ask – ok where do you want us? – Of course you will already know this having done the survey

Be as quick and efficient as you can, you really need to be thinking on your feet – there may be other more important things like a match or training to consider.

If shooting youngsters – parents can be an obstacle – they all have cameras or want to take pictures on their mobile – plan to go where parents can’t – on the pitch is sometimes good if possible

Lighting

Flash is essential piece of kit especially if shooting into the sun, generally if the subject is looking into the sun they will end up squinting!

Check the shadows on everyone’s face if it is a team shot, adjust the people if required to allow good facial lighting

Props

Use a ball, trophey or piece of equipment associated with the sport – this also helps put the subject at ease.

Pose

Check background is clear and doesn’t interfere with subject

Make the team look good – try to get everyone kneeling on the same knee, all shirt sleeves rolled down, all arms crossed, sponsor and club badge visible, all team in the same kit, – all the same whatever the rules.

Balance tall and not so tall people in the frame of the shot – balance the goalkeeper (usually different colour top) – prop a ball or trophy in front of the team – equal numbers in equal rows

Try to get everyone to smile pleasantly, look at the camera and don’t blink for 5 minutes (usually gets a laugh!) take several shots – someone always blinks!

If the team are youngsters then try to avoid having the coaches in the shot– unless they are sitting to keep the height balanced.

Shoot a close shot with a 35/50mm filling the frame then go further back and zoom up to 80mm – longer if necessary to get a good fill of the viewfinder – Kneel down to shoot to add to the aspect.

For individual shots suggest your subject kneels on one knee with hand on a ball for example – shoot from above to get a clean background of – well, ground!

Generally, sports people are not too keen on posing as they would rather be doing – sports, but with a bit of persuasion and “banter” you should be able to get them on your side and they usually do like the results.

– remember time is short and they want to do what they do best and you want to do your best to make them look good!

the screenshot above doesn’t follow all the rules – “but practice makes perfect.”

Follow up with web and print sales opportunities and discuss future opportunities for action shots, tournaments and annual visits.

Always be natural, polite and enthusiastic.

See more on www.shropshire-images.com/sports

Do you need to root through those CD’s files and folders remembering where you put them, are they the right size for printing or web?

No problem, once you’ve booked a photoshoot you can have your images as a backup gallery, link from your website or blog, have you got enough image space on your website for all your products, people or whatever you need to promote your business?

Does your stock update regularly? Monthly, 6 monthly? Regular update visits and monthly payment scheme is available.

Benefits to you:

Professional looking images

Lo cost web gallery

Regular updates

Monthly Payments available

The page can be customised to suit you, maybe as a slideshow? Whatever you need to show your images professionally safely and securely can be hosted through www.Shropshire-images.com with your own personalised link.

Packages available are:

1* – ½ Hour Shoot + editing + images on a CD

2* – 1 Hour Shoot + editing + images on CD + web gallery

3* – 1 ½ Hour Shoot + editing + images on CD + web gallery + secure, password protected, full size imagebank

Contact me for further details and pricing. Monthly Payments available and regular updates if required.

all the best for now

Derek

www.Shropshire-images

January is a time for reflection and a time for looking forward, out with the old and in with the new as some would say. DH iMAGES has been going now since April 2009 and it has been a steep learning curve,although I do like a challenge! A love of photography is one thing but to make a living at it is another. It was clear early on that this first year would be challenging and mainly depend on making contacts setting up clients and finding a niche. “Go big, go niche or go bust” is one of the quotes my old boss used regularly (sorry not sure where he got it from!) I think clearly applies here. The initial goals were fairly vague however my “Go Big” was to create www.Shropshire-images.com, ok Shropshire isn’t the biggest place on the planet but the idea of covering a county was big to start with. My “Go Niche” is heading towards sports and business, maybe not entirely niche but it’s narrowing the field, this has grown from my induction into Shrewsbury Rugby Club photography over the last few years and joining Enterprise HQ, a local business startup enterprise. “Go Bust” – failure is just not an option, I currently have the benefit of being employed as well as freelancing, and it may be some time till I take the plunge to full time freelance, but needs must. I’m hoping that photography will keep me going long into retirement – and maybe even longer if I get really good at it!

On my journey last year I have started www.shropshire-images as my main website, this contains the categories, eVent iMAGES, Music iMAGES, Business iMAGES, Sports iMAGES, Travel and Landscape iMAGES (which allows me moderate artistic licence as I can go outwith Shropshire!), People iMAGES and iMAGES (for anything that doesn’t fit into the other categories).

Twitter has been a valuable resource for contacts and local businesses as well as up to date local and international news as well as a certain level of entertainment. It is quite an insight into social networking and how different people use Twitter for different reasons http://twitter.com/derekhoughton

This blog is relatively new and I have been inspired by http://blogs.photopreneur.com for quite a while now. My aim for this blog is to add words to the images and update (myself! and others) as to where the business is going. It may be just good therapy to empty a head full of ideas and get them down on “paper”

This year I’m still toying with keeping http://www.derekhoughton-images.net/ going or at least developing it as a secondary site, this was my main site prior to Shropshire-images and offers scope for non- Shropshire-images which could be useful.

Flickr has been a wonderful inspiration http://www.flickr.com/photos/derekhoughton/collections/ for a few years however I’ve not really been keeping it up to date lately mainly as I wanted to concentrate on the business aspect, however I do think Flickr has a place for any budding photographer looking for inspiration.

Myspace http://www.myspace.com/derekhoughton-images was again a place I felt I needed to be to show music images and catch any potential musical clients.

Facebook hasn’t been a source of inspiration really, from a business point of view. I know lots of businesses are using it but, probably more than Myspace. Personally I see it more as a personal social network site as opposed to business and hardly use it, if at all.

Kidz in sport http://kidzinsport.co.uk/ has been a fantastic enterprise with a local publisher who specialises in local sport – there is great potential here for scope in the future.

So above is a blatant plug – “where I’m at” and as it is January I’m working on a “where I’m going.”“images made for business, images made for you” covers the business angle and makes it personal, my aim for promoting businesses or individuals/families through offering an imagebank. – more to come soon….

• Images hosted on a web gallery for those with limited image web space
• Images hosted on a secure website gallery for users to download and use for promotional material
• An outlet for sales in the form of mobile studio facilities
• An outlet for sales in the form of retail property

By continuing to develop ideas and relationships with other photographers and business entrepreneurs my aim this year is to concentrate on building sales to be sustainable for 2010.

All the best and wishing everyone a prosperous New Year

A Guid New Year to ane an’ a’

A guid new year to ane an’ a’
An’ mony may ye see,
An’ during a’ the years to come,
O happy may ye be.
An’ may ye ne’er hae cause to mourn,
To sigh or shed a tear;
To ane an’a baith great an’ sma’
A hearty guid New year.

Chorus
A guid New Year to ane an’ a’
An’ mony may ye see,
An’ during a’ the years to come,
O happy may ye be.

O time flies past, he winna wait,
My friend for you or me,
He works his wonders day by day,
And onward still doth flee.
O wha can tell when ilka ane,
I see sae happy here,
Will meet again and merry be
Anither guid New year.

Chorus

We twa ha’e baith been happy lang.
We ran about the braes.
In yon wee cot beneath the tree,
We spent our early days.
We ran about the burnie’s side,
The spot will aye be dear,
An’those that used to meet us there,
We’ll think on mony a year.

Chorus

Noo let us hope our years may be
As guid as they ha’e been,
And trust we ne’er again may see,
The sorrows we ha’e seen.
And let us wish that ane an’a’
Our friends baith far an’ near,
May aye enjoy in times to come -
A hearty guid New year!

Chorus

Meaning of unusual words:
mony=many
winna=will not
ilka=every
burnie=small stream

http://www.rampantscotland.com/songs/blsongs_guidnewyear.htm