Published Leicester Photographer Pete Martin

Published Leicester Photographer Pete Martin - Art Festival Event Photography

One of my favourite jobs of the year is ArtReach’s Journeys International Festival.

Journeys Festival International brings together artists and communities to explore big ideas and create experiences that will excite and entertain. It was first delivered in Leicester in 2013 and since then has hosted regular editions in Manchester and Portsmouth too. With this festival, we create a platform for artists from sanctuary seeking backgrounds, a showcase to share artistic talent, community cultural exchanges and incredible live events.

I’ve been photographing this event since 2021, and every one has been amazing. Such diverse performers and some absolutely moving themes.

In October 2024 the festival returned to Leicester, so armed with my camera and a few lenses I took to the streets for a weekend of event capture.

Over the 2 days I took 2,847 images and covered 48,000 steps!

Here are a couple of images from the weekend.

Here is a link to Journeys Festival. https://artreach.org.uk/journeysfestival/

On a side note, two of my images were featured in ‘Church Times’.

Church Times Article

A few days after this was published I was contacted by an editor for the Daily Telegraph. They wanted to purchase a licence to one of the images! The licence was 12 months online and 1 print use in the UK.

Telegraph Article

So I’m officially a published photographer!

Furnley House Community Champions Awards - Photo & Video

Leicestershire Photographer & videographer Interviews and Events

One part of my work I don’t often speak about is Video, or Videography.

Whilst my passion will always be photography, lots of the same principals apply to videography. Ok, the lighting kit if different, and there is audio to consider.. and the editing is completely different!

But I enjoy it.

A regular client, Furnley House needed some video interviews for their Leicester community champions awards night. Last year I was a finalist in the awards so couldn’t photograph the event. But I did attend the interviews and enjoyed the whole experience.

This year Furnley House wanted a different look to the videos, last year they had vides against a plain wall with people looking into the camera. Absolutly nothing wrong with that, and those videos looked great in my opinion.

As they wanted in different, myself and Charlotte from Cross Productions chose to do an interview style video, which would mean the camera was set to one side and the person who was being interviewed was looking at Charlotte and not the camera.

But I wanted it to be even more different.

So, I set up using Furnley Houses coffee bar as a background, but threw it out of focus. I then added to accent lights to the side of the person with different coloured gels on. I kept the lights in shot and even changed the gels around half was through the day.

Everyone got mic’d up with a wireless radio mic ensuring great audio.

The recording day was a great success, here are two interviews

The following month and it was time fo rhte awards night, which I photographed. This took place at the City Rooms, a notoriously hard place to photograph as its always pretty dark in there at night and the ceilings are high not allowing for great on camera flash techniques.

Here are a few shots from the awards night.

Belmont Hotel Interior Photoshoot

Belmont Hotel Leicester Property Interior Photography Shoot

Commercial photographer Leicester

This was a nice enquiry that came in from a friend of mine who has seen a few of my recent shoots where I’d photographed some commercial places (Miele Stores and Everyone Active Leisure Centres).

I set up an in person meeting with the general manager Robert where he shows me around the two function rooms which were still in a state of refurbishment. I’ve known these rooms for about the last 8yrs as I’ve photographed many a function in them! They were looking a little tired and dated to be fair!

We pencilled in two dates for me to go in and photograph the rooms, one ahead of schedule and one a safe time after the refurbishment would be complete. Luckily the first date was used as all the contractors were ahead of time. And the rooms look amazing!

A local venue stylist was tasked with dressing the room, and she did an amazing job. I shot the main big room first, then the smaller room. While in the small room the bigger room was being turned around from a wedding venue to a business conference type of space… this happed three times so we could capture the room in every way possible.

It’s been great to see the images shared on all of their social media channels, take a look at a few of them below.

Personal Branding Photography - Environmental Portraits

Personal Branding Storytelling Photographer Leicester

Lifestyle & Environmental Portraits

1 year ago I photographed Lauren & Kelly who had recently set up L & K Financial Limited. Both really nice ladies who wanted a couple of headshots and a few shots together for their new website and social media. They had tried another photographer who had sadly got the brief wrong, so I got the call. The brief was text book for me, it was the exact type of headshot I do, even down to the grey background!

On to this year, I get another email saying they have taken on a third member of staff who needed a headshot, but they also wanted some ‘in the office’ types shots as well. You could describe this as a personal branding type shoot as it features the people as they are, showing their fun side.

They found a great location, an estate agents over in Oakham. We were allowed to shoot there for the morning, so we got straight into the team in the office shots. We ventured outside as there was a nice bench area, some brilliant looking black shutters and green area. We also used a couple of area’s inside, the bar being my favourite. Yes, this estate agents have a raised bar area!

Take a look at a few of the shots taken during the morning.

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Events and Awards Night Photographer Leicester & East Midlands

The best event photography for awards nights

September should be know as event and awards night month!

I’ve been ran of my feet with events this month, and i’m going to tell you about two of them.

First being the East Midlands Chamber’s Enterprising Women’s Awards night. This was a very last minute booking for me, literally the day before. Despite having two photoshoots in the day, I said yes to the awards night. I thought it would be fun (it was!) and I might see a few people I know (i did!).

Secondly, It was off to the Hilton Park Lane in Mayfair for the Signature Awards. These are always amazing nights. I share photography duties with Damian, a London photographer. With 450+ guests it’s just too much to capture for one photographer. I arrived early with Dave the video guy, then went for a walk into Central London. Shooting the awards was fairly straight forward for me as i’ve done it for a few years now.

As with most of these events, both required a next day turn around for the edited images. EMC was done when I got home straight after the event, and the Signature Awards was done on the M1 as I was a passenger.

Here are a few images from both events

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When planning an awards night, the focus is on celebrating achievements and creating lasting memories. Hiring an event photographer can significantly enhance the experience and provide benefits that extend well beyond the night itself.

Capture Professional Moments
An event photographer brings expertise in capturing key moments with precision. From award presentations to candid interactions, a professional ensures that every significant event is documented beautifully. This means you won’t miss those spontaneous smiles and heartfelt congratulations.

High-Quality Images
Professional photographers use advanced equipment and techniques to produce high-quality images. These photographs will reflect the atmosphere and emotions of the evening, providing images that are sharply detailed and vibrantly colored. Such quality makes a lasting impression whether for internal reporting, social media sharing, or marketing materials.

Stress Reduction
Planning an event can be overwhelming, and the last thing you want is to worry about photography. By hiring an event photographer, you can focus on enjoying the evening with your guests while knowing that every moment is being captured professionally. This allows you to be fully present during the celebration.

Memorable Marketing Material
The images taken during your awards night can be valuable for future promotions. High-quality photographs can be used in brochures, newsletters, and social media posts, helping to enhance your brand’s image and engage your audience. They serve as a compelling visual record of your company culture and achievements.

Create Lasting Memories
Lastly, a professional photographer not only captures the event for immediate enjoyment but also provides a visual archive of your organization’s milestones. These images can be cherished for years to come, allowing everyone to relive the excitement and honor the accomplishments celebrated during the awards night.

Basically, hiring an event photographer for your awards night is an investment in quality, lasting memories, and stress relief that enhances the overall experience. It’s a decision worth considering for any event that celebrates success.

Website Content Shoot Leicester & East Midlands

Bespoke Images for Businesses in Leicester

There is nothing worse than seeing a great business fill their website with stock images. You know the type of thing, UK law firms using obvious American people in American office spaces..

Normally the reason for this is the company has no images of their own to use, and the web designer needs content to build out the website.

Did you know I have a simple half day rate of £450 to get you all the images you need for your business or brands website.

With most websites costing upwards of £1500 (for a good but basic one), or £3000 for high end site. Why would you use stock images that your competitors have already used??

Here are 5 reasons why your should consider bespoke images for your website

1. Brand Identity Enhancement
Custom images help establish a unique brand identity. They reflect your business’s values, personality, and mission, making it easier for consumers to connect with your brand on a deeper level.
2. Improved Engagement
Bespoke images can significantly increase user engagement on your website. High-quality, relevant visuals attract more attention than stock photos, keeping visitors on your site longer and encouraging them to explore your content.
3. Authenticity and Trust
Custom photography showcases real products, services, and team members, fostering authenticity. This transparency builds trust with your audience, as customers are more likely to purchase from brands that present themselves genuinely.
4. SEO Benefits
Unique images can contribute positively to your website's SEO. Optimized alt text and file names for bespoke images can improve search engine visibility, helping to drive organic traffic to your site.
5. Competitive Advantage
In a crowded market, bespoke images can set your business apart from competitors who rely on generic stock images. Customised visuals make your website memorable and can be a crucial factor for potential customers when making a decision.

Below are a few images I shot recently for a DPF cleaning company here in Leicester. Their web designer asked them to get in touch with me to shoot 60 images to be used across the whole site and various planned social media campaign’s.

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Dental Practise Photography

Headshots & Branding photography for Dental Practice

An interesting enquiry this one which came directly from my website, Quorn Dental Practice.

These guys wanted a full set of headshots, natural style and some environmental portrait shots around the practise. I arrived on one of the hottest days of the year and get set up in the waiting room. There was a nice off white wall which was perfect for the headshot backgrounds. We then devised a little plan on which people were going to be in the environmental portraits, some members of the team donned normal clothes (to represent the general public) and others kept their uniforms on. We then worked through most rooms of this fantastic practise to get the desired shots.

Take a look at a few of the images from the shoot.

Branding photography is essential because it visually communicates your brand's identity, values, and message to your audience. High-quality images create a strong first impression, foster brand recognition, and differentiate you from competitors. These compelling visuals can be utilized across various platforms, enhancing your marketing efforts and engaging potential customers. Ultimately, effective branding photography helps build trust and emotional connections, making it a crucial investment for any business looking to establish a memorable presence.

#LeicesterPhotographer #HeadshotPhotographer #BrandingPhotographer #EastmidlandsPhotographer #CoventryPhotographer #nottinghamphotographer #DerbyPhotographer #PortraitPhotographer

Young People Work Experience Photography Leicestershire

Location photography in the workplace, environmental portraits

One of my first ever clients was LEBC (Leicester Education Business Company) I was tasked to shoot their National Citizen Service awards ceremony at Athena Leicester. It was a great evening, over two nights as there were so many young people receiving awards. It was at this time that I also swapped camera brands from Canon to Sony. My assistant was using Sony and when I edited his photos a few days later I knew I just had to swap brands, this was summer 2018. Canon have now caught up I believe, but I’m firmly in camp Sony!

Anyway, back to summer 2024. I had the call to photograph various young people on work experience. I did this 2 years ago and it was a fun day! This year is was split over two days due to the amount of young people in placements.

Over the two days I visited a Florist, University of Leicester, Leicester Royal Infirmary, an engineering factory, Belgrave Hall and Gardens, a gym, a building society, my friend Rob Spence at Paragon Sales Solutions and a few more.

All of the young people were very engaged and enthusiastic about their placements, it was great to witness. Photographing this was pure joy, and I loved hearing about their individual journeys and aspirations.

I shot this very simply, one camera (Sony A7 IV), one lens (Sigma Art 35mm f/1.4) and the occasional on camera flash (Godox V1).

The Corporate Headshot, or Business Portrait

Pete Martin specialist Leicester Headshot & Portrait Photographer

While I do enjoy all aspects of the areas of photography I work in (events, drone, web content and headshots) the Corporate Headshot or Business Portrait will always hold something special for me.

The excitement when I get an enquiry for this service is pretty unmatched. I know when I get that person in front of my camera i’m going to learn about that person, I get to hear about the journey, their struggles and successes. I almost get to take something away from that person.

Most of the time, people don’t like having their photo taken, especially in the close up situation of a Headshot.

It’s my job to put that person at ease and get them the photo they want, desire or require. Maybe it’s just for LinkedIn, it could be for their new book. Maybe an album cover, possibly going on their companies website.. Have they been chosen to speak at a conference and require their headshot to be sent out to all delegates and even displayed on the screens at the side of the stage. It could be that the person has written an article for a business magazine and they need a photo to accompany it, showing the face of the person who wrote it.

All of the above situations require something slightly different, and every person is unique.

This is where I shine. My personal skills are something I get as many comments on as my photography skills.

Take a look at a few recent headshot/portrait examples as of July 2024

#LeicesterPortraitPhotographer #LeicesterHeadshotPhotographer #PeteMartinPhotography #LocationHeadshots #HeadshotsEastMidlands #LinkedInProfilePhoto

Everyone Active Gym Fitness Photographer East Midlands

Everyone Active Gym Fitness Photographer Leicester, Birmingham, Coventry, Derby, Nottingham, Northampton.

PR, Branding & Event Photographer East Midlands

One of my regular clients is Everyone Active, I travel all over country for these guys. It could be a recently acquired and refurbished site, a gym shoot, fun in the pool, or a special event.

This event was two special body pump workout classes with Radio 1 DJ Charlie Hedges. The centre for this event was Everyone Active in Dunstable, part of community hub. Like with other EA events, it was run perfectly with lots of staff bought in from Leicester and Derby, who I already know.

Also in attendance was FPV Drone pilot James Singleton, his drone skills are unmatched and a was real inspiration to me to lean more.

The event started with two instructors on the start with Charlie who played some amazing tunes. Class one quickly led into class two after a 15 min break.

Following on from Charlie was two body combat classes from the Les Mills team. I have to say these looked insane, and it’s on one hand hard to see why people put themselves through this, but on the other hand I can see how addictive it would become.

Overall a brilliant morning, with some great shots captured. I edited 50 images onsite and left them with the centre manager. The other 200+ images were edited and delivered Monday morning. On Monday afternoon the design team had already used some of the images in marketing for the centre.

Here are a few screen grabs for the images in place..

And finally, hear are a few of my images from throughout the morning.