So in this Covid 19 lockdown , we can still make videos and photos like this one . Low cost, Fast turnaround, marketing help.

One of the big ad agencies asked me the other day if we are able to shoot from home and I told them absolutely. We have everything here all the gear to props, backgrounds and that my wife is a food stylist. We shot these drinks recently here and we have shot TV ads here, I have shot Tesco TV ads here, work for Bord Bia here, Lidl here . So we’re still doing Food Photography and product Photography.

The reason I always keep my gear close to me is i often shoot stuff for myself , and i found that when i left my gear in a studio, i never had it close to me when i needed it or when the inspiration came to shoot something. 

The recent social distancing has freed me up , i don’t have to go for meetings or shoots, I have been busy developing my workshops and in a month or two I will be launching some courses, based on the idea that we teach the things other colleges don’t teach. if you have an idea for a course that no one is teaching, we have the platform and skills to develop it into an online course for you.

My Mindful Photography course due to be held at end of May at Castletown house is still on, Sat 23rd May and Sun 24th May at the moment.

https://www.reflectinglight.ie

Is Photography now a Commodity?

Photography is the true global language , the amount of images being created every day is testimony to the simple fact that photography makes visual expression available to everyone.

Can you imagine any event you’ve had that didn’t have a photograph to represent it and re experience it, family event , night out , eating out , anything ?

We don’t like to talk about beauty anymore especially in the world of business or art but beauty is central to our existence , when we see the beauty in our lives , it makes us feel a whole lot better.

The photographers job is to find beauty in anything - and that’s why I’m interested in everything, food , people , landscapes .

No matter what your photographing you have to fall in love with it otherwise  you can not bring out the best in it . The best photographers understand that. 

But can you order up creativity by text ?

I am shocked by the number of times I get calls mostly from direct clients who want to purchase photography . It’s like they are purchasing a commodity , just give us 10 and how much for that ? Or can we have an hour of your time ?

Despite the fact that almost everyone is aware of photography , the purchasing of creative services by the corporate world has become rote and uninspiring . 

Thankfully we still have our champions - agencies and art directors and designers that are on our side  . When I work direct for clients it makes me aware of the key role the agencies , art directors and designers play . Clients often don’t know how to brief work  or manage a creative task through from concept too finishing . They can’t visualise it and need reassurance and direction .

The Japanese writer Junichiro Tanizaki writes “Our thoughts don’t travel to what we can’t see ” and it’s true, there has to be a picture in our mind first -the picture drives our feelings , our feelings influence our actions.  

A  New York hotelier that purchased a Castle in Ireland told me last year - your photographs are the first thing people will see of our business . I was shown some examples from another project in America . 

It was just that simple, the shots had to be great  - no pressure !