Event Photography
Why having a professional photographer at an event is a good idea
Event Photography Leicester
Why book an event photographer?
As good as mobile phone camera’s are now, there is still no substitute for a decent camera and flash.. and the professional operating it.
And here’s why, this might get a bit technical!
The sensor on a decent full frame camera is roughly 24x36mm in diameter. An iPhone sensor roughly measures 7.01 x 5.79 mm.
The sensors job is to capture the the image, which is based on mainly on the available light hitting the sensor.. so the bigger the sensor the more light can hit it and therefor... will equate to a better image.
Add to that the use of flash and the results speak for themselves.
Most camera phones have a small flash next to the sensor/lens, which points directly at the subject. In a pinch, just to get the shot.. this is ok. But using a real camera with a dedicated flash gun (speedlite) is a much better option.
The flash head on a speedlite can be rotated to different positions, so we can bounce that light from the ceiling or a nearby wall which will create a much more natural and pleasing image. We can also place more of these speedlites around the room on stands to create dramatic lighting, or simply to add more light if the venue doesn’t have great lights itself.
Check these two images out, The first was taken on an iPhone X, in the image you can see me taking a shot…
And this is the photo I took at that time. Notice how my additional light has made the subject (Kwoklyn Wan) look normal, and less purple.. Also the image is much sharper and clearer.
So if you or someone you know is holding an event, drop me an email or give me a call!
Below are a few images of mine from recent events, the last image was taken on an iPhone X… see the difference.
www.petemartinphotography.co.uk/events
Headshot Photographer Leicestershire
Headshot photographer Leicester
When is the last time you had your headshot updated?
In todays online world having a great up to date headshot is a must. Whether it’s for LinkedIn, your website about me page, your staff board or for a leaflet going into print. An up to date headshot will set you apart from the rest.
I’m a mobile photographer, I can bring a portable photography studio to your place of work. This is really useful for a company that has a larger number of staff who require new headshots but can’t afford for those staff to be out of the office for a long period.
Space wise all I need is a small room, 2m by 3m is the smallest space i’ve worked in, and I had great results!
Check out the video on my home page, it’s only 30 seconds long, but you’ll see the whole process from setting up to editing.
Here are a few headshots from Hollingsworth, a firm of commercial solicitors based here in Leicester. All these photos were taken in their office space.
Drop me an email about your next headshot session, let’s see what I can do for you.
Headshot Photographer Leicester
Pete Martin Photography
Charity Fashion Show for LAMP
The models and Kwoklyn Wan
LAMP - Leicestershire Action for Mental Health Project
This was my 2nd event for LAMP this year, following the successful launch of their 30 Acts Of Kindness event in January.
The fashion show was to raise funds for LAMP, helping them continue delivering the excellent service they provide. I have a close friend who used LAMP a number of years ago and his life changed for the better from the service he received.
My photograph task was to capture a shot of each model once they had done their lap of the room.
I therefor had to set up a small studio in a corridor! So a small backdrop and one light was all i could safely use! I’m really happy with the results and am looking forward to seeing the images get used in future promotions.
Here are a few from the day
Wow, I've not Blogged in a while!! Time for Cake, and a little personal project
An hour in the life of a professional baker.
A Busy Leicester Photographer
So lots have changed, expect a few blogs to come out very soon!
Thursday this week after my BNI Central meeting I headed over to Desford to meet Tracey, of Iced By Tracey. Tracey was a visitor a few weeks ago at BNI and we had a little chat. I checked out her website and Instagram and was impressed, some of the most beautiful looking cakes I’d seen, and I love cake!
A few emails were exchanged and we agreed a time when i could go over to her house and document a fairly typical hour in the like of a baker, a very talented baker.
This little shoot would be a personal project for me. I’m going to set myself a few of these throughout the year, they will be something different, something that pushes me to think and work differently.
Camera gear, i used the trusty Canon 5dmk4, Canon 50mm 1.2L, 100m 2.8L Macro, Sigma Art 35mm 1.4. Most images were shot using available light, some shots i added in a little extra flash through a softbox.
I was lucky to see the entire process of cupcake creation, and it was pretty different to when I make cupcakes with my 5yr old daughter Callie.
While I was sorting through the photos to edit, I decided to create a very short slideshow. This would be as well as the usual digital files which i will deliver.
Let me know what you think!
Canon CPS Event - Chelsea Football Club
I was lucky enough to be able to attend a recent Canon CPS event about low light photography. This involved two fantastic guest speakers, being able to try out all on the new Canon gear. Then finally a photo shoot of an amazing student band from London.
Here are a few of the images from throughout the day.
Cosby U16 Foxes, Girls Football Team
A friend of mine manages the under 16 girls football team over in Cosby. He asked my advice about taking a group shot with his point and shoot camera, in the dark, on the pitch lit by floodlights.
I knew this would be a little challenging so i put myself forward to do the job. Armed with a couple of small flashguns, stands and umbrella's i started shooting.
Adam Bowler Music
I had the privilege of shooting my good friend Adam recently.
He's a very talented singer, guitarist and songwriter. He had booked out The City Rooms in Leicester to shoot a promotion video, so I went along to grab some stills and make them look a little different to the video.
Our friend Doug was doing the video with his new kit so I also grabbed some photos of him for use on his upcoming website as well.
1st Class Pole Fitness
On Sunday evening I popped over to Melton Mowbray to shoot 1st Class Pole Fitness's show.
Now dance photography was my nemesis way back in the late 1990's. I had done some work (lighting & sound) for a few local dance companies at a college I was working at. I'd seen the photographers there and thought to myself 'I can do this'. So during a tech rehearsal armed with my fathers SLR camera and 10-12 rolls of film (yep, film, iso 400 36 exposures) I began shooting.
Did the entire show.
Then waited a few weeks for the films to be developed and printed at 8x10.
Got the prints back and out of 400 odd photos only 6-8, 10 at a push were any good!
I was horrified at how badly i'd done, and how much it had just cost me! I stopped doing any photography until I purchased my first digital camera at this point!
Looking back i can see where i went wrong.
So photographing this dance show was going to be a challenge for me, a challenge that involved low light (no flash allowed) fast movement and multiple person dance routines..
Overall I feel quite good about it, and had a really great evening doing it. The performers were all excellent. There were times when i simply forgot to shoot as I was engrossed in the performance.
Here are a few shots, the full set can be found on my facebook page.
Surprise 30th wedding anniversary party
I was originally just going to be a guest at this event, then i learned that the couple did not have a photographer at their actual wedding... and it was a big regret of theirs.
So i took my camera and hoped to get a few shots for them.
Was nice to see a couple so happy together after 30 years of marriage, and also nice to see the first dance re-done!
Here's a short clip of the main slide show i put together, so they can see the images before they get printed in the book... which i'm also doing.
Now i'm off to shoot a dance group!
Birthday Party!
Who doesn't love a good birthday party??!
My daughter had an invite to her friends party, so I thought i'd grab a few shots whilst there. It was an amazing fun packed 3 hours, and i'm pretty sure everyone who attended (adults included!) were tired by the end!
