Out in the Wild...

Isn't it every photographers dream to see their work on a billboard, printed in a magazine, newspaper, on packaging, and posters,... you know out in the wild!

Well that is something I really do still enjoy, and get a kick out of when I see mine on a billboard as I casually get stuck in traffic during a storm. Or when Im in the queue for the self check out, and start to look at magazines and see one of my images in there adverting the brand I work/ed with. It still makes me giggle, because I don’t always get told where my work will be printed as an in-house photographer in Ireland.

Ive added a few phone snaps and images sent to me from the marking managers, & others, of my work in the wild.

So what is involved in making an image like this?

Most people who are working in the marketing world know its a team effort, its not just one photographer with one camera, one lens, and one idea that creates the work and makes it all happen, no, its a team of people. Sometimes that team is only 3 people, sometimes its 10+.

So who is in this team I hear you ask, well in my experience it can include:

Marketing managers, Creative managers, Production Designers, Set builders, Stylists, Location scouts, Hair & Make-up artist, Models, Retouchers, Graphic Designers, Runners, and of course the Photographer. It really depends on what the shoot is for, who the shoot is for, what the images will be used for, and not forgetting the budget.

I once got asked by someone “So can it not just be done by the photographer here (outside in the carpark on a bench), because I can take really good photos on my iPhone myself, and I've printed them big and they look fine?”.  I honestly would love to show you the image this person produced just so I could visually show you and explain why it doesn’t work for print. But I cant, and this is not a class on Photography for print.

The equipment a photographer needs all depends on the job, the location, the outcome. Just like a tradesman has his tools, we have ours. A chef can do a lot with a knife, but without a way of cooking they cant finish the job. Just like the chef needs more than a fire and one pot to cook many meals for a whole restaurant, Photographers need more than just the camera. Especially when it comes to producing work for large scale print, and for brands who understand how important a good image is for branding.

When I shoot I control my environment the best I can, this is for a lot of reasons, the main one is consistency. This includes studio lighting.

If we try use the chef analogy here again, I guess lighting is like the cooking process. Sure we can go outside with just our camera and hope for the best, and we might get lucky with the weather and light here in Ireland. Just like you could give a chef an open fire outside. Yes there are tools that can be used to help, but give a chef the kitchen and you will get consistency, you will get delicious meals every time,.. depending on the chef … Same thing goes for professional photographers, and our equipment!

You might need a Summer image shot in February, or a Christmas image shot in July. How is that going to work?  Thats where a professional teams come in.

Above are some examples of published images, in print in Irish magazines, and originals for Ez Living Interiors.

Above are some behind the scenes (iPhone snaps) on a Christmas shoot for Ez Living Interiors in September with sun hitting 20 degrees outside, and the final image shot with Canon 5Ds DSLR and fully retouched for print.

So I say all this to try help you understand that its not a matter of getting an iPhone out and hoping for the best.

If you want your product to look its optimal, if you want your brand to stand tall along with its competitors and the brands you aspire to be as good as, or better. Images that will help your product sell more, images that will help gain trust and loyalty from your customers. Then you need to hire a Professional Photographer with experience in delivering the images that can stand tall and strong against the competition, and leave customers trusting that your brand is strong and you are who they should buy from. 

Examples of some of my work for a local Fast food restaurant The Hungry Lyons in Limerick city who put the images on everything from packaging to large scale posters, and vans.

Who wants to invest a penny in a product, or service that isn’t trustworthy. We all like to know we spent our hard earned money well, bargains are nice, but knowing you got the best for your money, thats what everyone hopes for no matter the product, or service.

Above are examples of my work printed large scale on bus shelters in Northern Ireland, along side my orginal images for Ez Living Interiors, images taken of the bus shelters are from the printers Clear Channel NI. Also an advertisement in Image magazine.

You can see more examples of my work here on my website. I shoot everything from Pack shots to lifestyles and everything inbewteen.