Hi Everyone

As I approach the winter conference photography season with a conference photography commission in Edinburgh next week, I thought this would be a good time to reflect on the challenges and new issues facing conference and event photographers.  I have been photographing conferences around Scotland for over 15 years and it is an aspect of corporate event photography that I really enjoy.  As conferences are mainly held indoors - you may get the occasional outdoor group shot - the development and advances in digital camera equipment is very important for photographers involved in this line of work.  I have just purchased a Canon EOS R Mirrorless camera and I cant wait to start using it at conferences.  The improved ISO performance over the years has been fantastic for conference photographers, you cant always use flash and in some cases they wont allow flash at all, so you need this facility.  One of the reasons I am looking forward to using the EOS R, is the ability to shoot without the loud shutter noise you get from DSLRs.  This is vital in conferences as the constant shutter sound can annoy delegates.  Smaller cameras are starting to show equal performance with the large DSLRs and this will also make life easier for photographers.  I often attend events where some photographers still insist on using large lenses when there is no need.  Large gear can intimidate the delegates and there is also an increased risk you could whack one the delegates on the head with your your massive telephoto lens.  Wifi enablement can be very useful at conferences and often you are asked right away for images, this can be handy and prevents the need to carry a laptop.  The improved focusing and touch screen facilities in new equipment can also be very useful for corporate event photographers.  New lighting off camera flash and more portable equipment is also a boost for event photographers.  All this means of course that more is expected of us, so you may find yourself working harder now at an event, but this is all good, as there is more scope for creativity and in some cases our job is a bit easier due to the technological improvements.

Hope all this helps, happy snapping.

Until next time.

Kind Regards

Colin

www.colinwrightphotography.co.uk

www.edinburghphotographer.com

Hi Everyone

Every photographer is different and my time as a professional photographer in Scotland is largely divided between my corporate conference photography commissions in Edinburgh and throughout Scotland and outdoor events, mostly sports photography in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Fife.  So you can imagine that it is fairly seasonal to a certain extent, although I also photograph a number of conferences, award events and student graduation balls during the winter months.  There is however, a period between November and the end of February where things slow down a bit.  it is probably just as well as I can often work flat out in the spring and summer.  Whilst marketing, training and general networking can dominate these winter months in my case, I also ensure there is time for personal projects and the art of photography.  Indulging in your passion every now and again is essential for photographers.  This year, I plan to extend my infrared photography in Scotland project to try and include some new subjects not normally associated with infrared photography - watch this space.  I also want to re-visit my puddle photography in urban areas in Scotland , in addition to a Three City Triangle project encompassing Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee, more details soon.  Whilst winter is challenging due to lack of light and poor weather, it can be a great time for photography due to lack of crowds, dramatic light and night photography. 

So, from next week, all will be clearer, but my advice to you is get outdoors and just go for it in the winter.  it will be worth it, I promise.

Kind Regards

Colin

www.colinwrightphotography.co.uk

www.edinburghphotographer.com

Hi All

As I finish a very busy period as a professional photographer in Scotland and head into a time when I may have a little bit of free time for a new photography fine art venture, I think this is a good time to reflect on the importance of starting a new project.  As a mainly conference and event photographer, usually at venues in Edinburgh and other parts of Scotland, I tend to base my projects on genres of photography entirely different from my day to day work.  I have in the past completed a number of project based on subjects including the following: scrapyard photos, infrared photography, puddle images and black and white urban photography.  Someone once said to me why not just rest when you are not busy or do something non-photographic but I think there are a number of reasons why a photography project is so important.  here they are below:

1. You can often make money from your projects, I have made a sizeable income from infrared photography and have also sold scrapyard images.  Many a quiet winter has been saved by sales of fine art work

2. You can make your project the subject of an exhibition, which can lead to sales and increase your profile

3. Projects keep you fresh

4. you can use the skills you have learned in your day to day corporate commissions ie I supply wedding clients with infrared photos, in addition to the main images they receive

5. It enables you to explore your creative and artistic side, which is what most of us photographers should be about and I think we need this kind of feedback to keep going

Anyway, hope this helps.

Until next time.

Kind Regards

Colin

ww.colinwrightphotography.co.uk

www.edinburghphotographer.com