Looking up.

Do we actually look up enough as we scurry about our daily routines or even when we are out and about?

A nice break in the weather today brought me out for a short walk around my local wildlife reserve where I found myself looking up. Nothing much happening at ground level so my thoughts wandered to the trees yet not much happening their either. Onward and upward to the sky my gaze went where a feint patch of blue sky was found amidst the gloom and emptiness.

Looking up is fun, though don’t forget to look forward too as there’s plenty to walk into or trip over 😉

So here is “Beyond the trees” and not a horizon in sight.

More work finally up.

After a rather large delay with getting the print sorted the Tumbletime poster is finally in situ at the Airco Arena in Walton Street Hull.

The customer is extremely happy and I have been approached about the possibility of completing something similar for someone else already.

Prime site in the foyer too…

Random Youtube film comes good.

This all began a few years ago when we had suffered the worst winter in many years. Having popped out for the obligatory walk about and snowball fight, on the way back, my kids decided to do snow angels on our front lawn.

Being a snap happy Dad I had taken a picture, but then oddly, decided to film the moment with my point & shoot camera. Having had a good laugh I posted it onto Youtube for grandparents and other family members to watch and laugh at. As usual the clip was forgotten about not long after.

Forward to June 2014 and I get a random email from a production company in America, ’24&sunny’, asking if I would allow my clip to be used in any potential advert. I replied it was no problem and again this was forgotten about. 3 weeks ago I had documents emailed for the video usage within a corporate advert. Ooh I thought this is fun so began some research on the company which all came back legitimate. I completed the documents, returned them and then today I get an email giving me a link to a Starbucks 2014 holiday season advert containing 2 seconds of my clip. It also confirmed the agreed amount for licensing the film had been paid to my account, which it has. Good times and Xmas is paid for.

Moral of the blog is never dismiss anything as a potential money maker. Might bung this out to You’ve been framed now 😉

The original clip taken by myself –

And the Starbucks Ad. Blink and you miss my kids in the first 2 seconds.

New product reception.

To put it bluntly the new twin image offering, we now have, has been a roaring success. This twin image option ultimately gives the parents and competitors an easier choice in narrowing down their choices. Very often two images would be liked yet only room or indeed money available for one. With this option they get both, save a few bob on the two single images and our margin is increased too so everyone’s a winner.

A superb day with many superb routines delivered by the competitors. As a plus point to the day my daughter managed a second place in the under 9’s.

This is an image of the trophies etc with inserts of the competitors awaiting the medal ceremony, well those that stayed for it, which also turned out to be fun.

And of course it would be rude to not include my daughter and her haul.

Missing a sleigh !!!!

Rather silly moment when out shopping with our 8 year old daughter and she starts compiling the reindeer names for Santa’s sleigh in coke bottles. Some ferreting amongst the display and look what can be achieved.

Never too old to have some fun…

New event product.

Owing to the unprecedented demand of our 5 image montage available, post event, via my website I have decided to offer a new twin image at events.

Sales of the single 12×8 image, in slip case, have remained excellent though with the introduction and uptake on the 5 image montage I felt a second offering would keep things fresh. The event prints are popular with those wanting to personalise the text when they have placed on the podium in either individual or team events. My thinking was that they could now either have two active images on the duo image or one of the activity followed by one with their medal or trophy. One of the first we did had the second image with competitor and parents.

There is a price premium added, for the cost of production, though we still remain cheaper than our main competitor by some margin. As with the 12×8 images the text is changeable for full personalisation by the purchaser. The image is created in three stages within Photoshop consisting of five layers.

Simple additions by us giving our customers an expanded choice of products.

The new product…

Back in the saddle.

Nearly two weeks off for the first time since May, including one full weekend of no work, it was time to get back in the saddle and find the 5D’s on/off switches again.

Completed the second of the two day national events we had been booked for, this time at Liverpool. A superb two days with some exceptional displays from the competitors. Sadly there was one major crash-out with the injured young lady requiring a multi person lift from the bed and away to the waiting ambulance.

On a business front we were busy from arrival with parents who had not been to the Perth competition looking to view and purchase images. I had a feeling this might happen so we had brought the entire Perth event images ready for such viewings. Post event sales of Liverpool, via the website, have also been strong from those parents not travelling or able to travel.

It was frequently commented upon that it was nice to see the same photography company attending the event. It’s fine using a UK franchise company, as previously, but no two photographers attend consecutive events owing to location and geographical business boundaries. This is something that does not affect us and our consistency in delivery, and although brief, was welcomed by parents, competitors and even several of the judges. Seems we are well liked as a company with our professional approach and delivery impressing everyone.

Along with the positive comments came a request to cover the North West Schools Trampoline/DMT competition, via the organiser, at the end of November. Sadly, for both parties, we are already booked to cover the Yorkshire Schools competition on the same weekend. This has however prompted certain individuals to start confirming dates for next year in fear of losing our respected coverage of their events. First come first served and we have already been turning down business as we have a healthy pre booked set of business for 2015. It seems strange that from having a reasonable 2014 in our first proper year of trading that 2015 is filling at a great rate and beyond my Year 2 business plan expectations.

On a technical front I added another 2000+ clicks to the Mkiii and so, with well over 50,000 clicks, I need to add another quality body to the inventory. Which body is proving the issue. Should I win the full 2015 calendar then a 1Dx would be a clear choice, however a second 5Diii would cope with a part season plus all the weddings already pencilled into the calendar. The printer also took a battering and we have also muted the possibility of purchasing a second unit there too. Time to wait for contact confirmation. The potential addition of regular equestrian work may just push the 1Dx to the front though.

Lighting was good with average iso’s in the 5000 range using more than adequate shutter speeds which was nice.

A nice 200mm f/2 telephoto……..not quite yet 😉

A couple of images to finish the post, as usual, from the event. Both are iPhone images, taken by my lad, showing the arena and beds. Eight beds with four judging panels kept me busy, yet certainly nothing which I couldn’t and didn’t cover confidently, providing quality images of all competitors. What these do show is some classic marketing strategy. Our main floor banner not 15ft from the main doors to the arena so everyone who walked in saw we were there and what we offered.