Sports Photography East Lothian and Scotland
Hi All
My first photo job of the new year, apart from some infrared stock photos in East Lothian, I was primed and ready to photograph some junior football at Dunbar. I have started using my Fuji XT2 and 100-400mm lens for outdoor sport. It copes great with the low light, some issues with focusing but I can revert back to my Canon when the light improves. I love photographing at this time of the year. Apart from the lack of light at night time, I like the freshness of it and as a professional photographer in Scotland, it has been over a month since I did a football photoshoot. This was a junior game between Dunbar and Camelon. It ended 0-0 but was still great to photograph.
It made me think of compiling a few tips for football sports photography and here they are below:
1. Dress accordingly, especially in the winter, find ways of keeping your hands warm, ie thin gloves, wear waterproofs etc
2. Take at least at 1/800 speed, even more if possible, to freeze the action
3. Try and keep concentration, especially when there is a possibility of a goal
4. Make sure you are standing in the correct position ie this depends on who you are covering the game for, if neutral then the half way line is best, if for one club, I like either behind the goals or near the corner flag
5. Don't forget the non-football action ie arguments between players, crowd reaction, celebrations etc
The above are just for starters, more later in the year. So with the new year upon us, I am now looking forward to some corporate event and conference photography commissions in Edinburgh and around Scotland. I will keep you posted.
All the best.
Kind Regards
Colin
www.colinwrightphotography.co.uk
www.edinburghphotographer.com
Combining professional Photography with leisure Time
Hi All
One of the great things about being a professional photographer in Scotland, is that you can combine your professional photography skills with your day to day leisure time. Often on family days out in East Lothian and beyond, I take my camera and combine trips to castles with some infrared photography. As a fine art photographer, these photos can often have commercial value and it is enjoyable taking them. You can also shoot family portraits, still life, urban photography etc, all of which can be added to your portfolio and used to boost your website presence and keep you "out there" from a social media point of view. Many of my Instagram photos come from day trips with my family, or photos I have taken on the way home from somewhere. I know we all have phones now, but the age old saying of "always carry your camera" still holds true and this is now easier with smaller mirrorless cameras. Infrared photography can now be undertaken without a tripod, so the option for quick grab shots hand held is always there.
So, here is a photo taken with my infrared camera, depicting the view from Hailes Castle in East Lothian, Scotland.
Happy New Year.
Colin
www.colinwrightphotography.co.uk
www.edinburghphotographer.com
Infrared Photo of the Year, my choice from this year
Photos from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2019 by professional event and corporate photographer Edinburgh Colin Wright
Professional Photographers and the Winter Season
Hi All
As a professional event photographer who regularly works in and around Edinburgh and Scotland, at this time of the year, I always reflect on the year, what was good, what needs to change etc. This has been a good year for me with an abundance of business over the spring and summer period and also a good variety of professional photography commissions spread around Scotland, everything from sport, to award ceremonies, graduation events, birthday parties, conference photography and fine art infrared photography around Scotland. In fact one of my challenges was fitting all the commissions into the summer and autumn period. However, here is the seasonal problem facing most photographers. As mostly an outdoor event photographer, I could work twice during the spring and summer months, but often have periods of inactivity in the winter ie now. Whilst this gives me the opportunity to spend time on my marketing, social media and my website, you still need finances to see you through all seasons and this is the challenge. So one of my targets of the year will be to find other markets which generate income between November and March. I already have plans for my infrared work next year, more presence online and I am sourcing the possibility of producing an "Infrared Photography in Scotland" book. I have purchased some new equipment to enhance my corporate, conference and event photography in Edinburgh and around Scotland.
The highlights of the year, well that's a difficult one but I think I have 2, the first was a golf photography commission to cover the Deer Park Masters in August, this was my first attempt at golf photography and I loved it. Also, whilst I have been selling infrared photography prints depicting locations around Scotland, I received my first infrared photography commission from CrossReach, to photograph Charis House in Edinburgh, this provided me with total creative freedom to depict the garden area and the building in infrared. All the client had to do was to choose their preferred print. It worked out well and everyone was pleased with the print.
Anyway, have a great Christmas and New Year, can't wait to get going next year.
Until next time.
Kind Regards
Colin
www.colinwrightphotogrpahy.co.uk
www.edinburghphotographer.com
Professional Corporate Photography and Why We Need It
In these days of mobile phones and accessible digital technology in cameras, why do we need corporate photography from commercial photographers in Scotland. Well for one they bring all their experience and expertise to enable capture of the best quality of images for your event. Timing is crucial in corporate and event photography. The ability to capture the decisive moment is paramount, this includes ensuring you have the correct vantage point, the right equipment for the location and the ability to react quickly to unpredictable situations. Modern professional cameras also deal effectively with very challenging lighting and a good professional photographer will know when artificial lighting is required and when it is appropriate to use it. You can’t constantly burst the flash at the delegates during conferences, you will need to ration your usage, otherwise you could risk disrupting the event and ruining the learning experience for the delegates. A good photographer will get the balance right. Then there is also composition, what should be in the frame and why, also when is it appropriate to get the essential shots and when can you add something that little bit different and creative. The variety of final photos provided to the client is also important, some close ups of the speakers, images of the delegates, networking images and key moments if special guests or politicians arrive at the event.
Then you also need to be able to respond quickly and effectively to unexpected requests for group shots, often large numbers of people in confined spaces, with very limited time. Finally, there is the editing of hundreds of photos, often required immediately, or very soon after the event. The final photos should be what the client requested and more. They should tell a story and be of the highest quality. I hope this convinces you that it is worth employing a professional event photographer to cover your event. You won’t be disappointed.
For further details. contact Colin Wright, professional event photographer Edinburgh, at [email protected] or through his websites at www.colinwrightphotography.co.uk, or www.edinburghphotographer.com