Business
Here you will find a growing resource of valuable information to promote good photographic business practice and and to help you achieve a good lifestyle balance.
August 30th, 2011 01:41pm
damien
A few truths: Professional doesn’t mean high quality and part time doesn’t mean poor quality. There is no correlation whatsoever. I see a good cross section of the industry as a trainer and there are good and bad photographers on both sides of the fence. There are uninsured professionals that churn out rubbish and there are expert amateurs making fine wedding albums. I agree with several of my Twitter followers that the term ‘weekend warrior’ is derogatory so I will use ‘second income shooter’ instead. (more…)
January 10th, 2011 12:47am
damien
7 Key steps to building a world class wedding photography business
Here are seven of the twenty five key steps that I have identified that are needed to develop a world class wedding photography business…
1. Start with the end in mind
One of my favourite couples in a favourite location of mine, Babington House in Somerset. I lit the groom with a small 50w battery light and used 1/8th of a second shutter speed with my camera on a monopod to make the exposure.
Having an exit strategy is one the most important parts of the process, hence why an exit strategy is (more…)
December 13th, 2010 10:59pm
damien
The name. What is in a name? Quite a lot really. A name can be branded to become a very finely tuned image no matter how boring or flamboyant it is. Take John Lewis for instance, we don’t think of a regular kind of guy when we hear that name. We think of the friendly, high quality, department store, owned by it’s staff, that is never knowingly undersold. How fantastic is that.
Some companies opt for made up names without any preconceptions like (more…)
December 13th, 2010 10:44pm
damien
This is the final part of the journey from concept to market for my first coffee table book.
I shot all the pictures for the book over a four and a half month period in 2010 and they are all of Chloe-Jasmine Whichello. The text is a combination of poems by C-J and some of my stories about the shoots. My November task was to find a company to print our book. Luke Knight, my in-house graphics expert had nearly finished the book design and layouts and I knew the project was likely to be best sourced from a company in the far East so I set about finding a book broker with command of the Korean and Chinese languages. I settled down with a glass of wine and an iPad to do my research.
The cover and the spine complete with the Floppy Chicken logo.
It didn’t take long using Google and following my nose to find (more…)
July 4th, 2010 07:00pm
damien
The workings and my thoughts behind the Vintage Cherish The Dress™ portrait shoot.
I started my vintage quest online, by looking to the past for my picture style inspiration. It seems that today’s trending looks have been here before and it is always easier to get them right second time around. I found plenty of fine examples of period photographs that capture the essence of the times. The hair styles, false eyelashes, dress designs and the all important poses make up a look that is captivating and bang up to date.
The vintage image genre is about the sense of freedom and hope, evoking a feeling of fantasy far removed from the drab existence of normal everyday life back in the day. It takes a bit of time to understand the subtleties of what makes these pictures work. When you are recreating them, It’s just not enough to have your clients hands and arms in the right place. You need to work on the posture, the care free and fly away gay abandon bits too. Do it right, and do it well, was very much the order of the day then and needs to be the same now. Research and learn how to do it well and your photography will be in big demand. (more…)
April 10th, 2010 08:59pm
damien
It doesn’t matter if you shoot weddings or location portraits under the guise of a genre like lifestyle or boudoir, the location you shoot at can make or break your pictures. Although reportage shooters usually take what they are given, the rest of us have the opportunity to create shots that make the most of the environment. With this in mind I’ve put together these notes on selecting suitable locations for your photography.
This shot was taken en-route between the Church and a marquee reception. We knew we had to come up with some shoot location options so our Bride and Groom contacted local farmers to see what was available. Farmyards can be muddy, smelly places but this one was hosed down for the occasion. This hay barn complete with a ladder was a perfect location for a whole series of shots. Don't just take what you are given, there maybe far better locations within easy reach or en-route between venues.
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March 13th, 2010 08:57am
damien
Now that the wedding season is under way I thought I’d spend a bit of time sharing our system of picture management with you. It’s all too easy to add hours or even days of work to each and every wedding for little or no reward. There is not just one correct workflow and the system you currently use may suit you better than ours, but there are many bad, inefficient workflows out there and a lot of life is wasted in our industry. (more…)
January 30th, 2010 05:22pm
damien
Five pictures that charted my career. By Damien Lovegrove 2010
Mirage in the Western Desert in Egypt. Taken by me in 1996 using a Nikon F90 with a 300mm Tamron lens and an unbranded 2x converter on Kodachrome 64. This picture was shot for stock and continues to sell well today. Sales from this shot alone total over £20,000. Every GCSE student of Physics will recognise this shot from their text books. Dorling Kindersley love it too and it often appears in their publications.
Have you ever sat down and written a title for an essay with absolutely no idea how to complete the task? I perhaps stupidly suggested to Terry Hope, the editor of PhotoPro magazine that it would be fun to write a piece about just a few pictures that became stepping stones in my life. Then perhaps he could invite other photographers to write the same essay. He wrote back and said okay get the job done. So here is the start of what might be an interesting chain of personal stories loosely strung around photographs. (more…)
December 19th, 2009 12:37am
damien
Here is my 10 point plan for creating a successful portrait business. Get the retail business basics right and reap the rewards in 2010. (more…)
November 1st, 2009 08:02pm
damien
After a period of 5 years of not doing an annual ballet photo promotion in the run up to Christmas I decided this year that I’d make a fresh start and redesign the promotion from scratch. I refitted my studio and did a test shoot with my daughter Francesca. The promo artwork was designed by Luke using these test pictures and 500 fliers were printed last week while I was in Tuscany.
This picture of Francesca was taken with in camera diffusion and a simple studio lighting set up.
With a promotion like this you need to ensure absolute accuracy and attention to detail. The position of the feet and hands, body posture and pose are all important as most ballet mums used to do ballet themselves and they can spot a sickle-foot instantly. (more…)
August 24th, 2009 11:20pm
damien
A wedding photographer is a person first and foremost, one that a bride and groom would be happy to have at their wedding. Their photographic ability is important for certain but not necessarily the most important aspect of their professionalism. How can you test and measure the ‘lovely person’ factor. You can’t.
I am often asked by delegates (more…)
July 25th, 2009 11:32am
damien
A black polished granite table provided the reflection in this shot of Lisa-Marie and Shawn and natural light did the rest. The difference that a few millimeters make in camera position is staggering when using reflections.
This week has been a tough one for me, It started on Sunday afternoon with… (more…)
May 10th, 2009 11:21pm
damien
Photographer Martin Hill is already hitting the high notes as he launches into the top flight of social photography. The last ten months have been a full on learning experience for Martin and his team and I am pleased to say they have come through Evolve with flying colours.
This fabulous shot taken in Somerset was lit with a Broncolor Mobil flash and secured Martin his first gold award from his first ever professional competition entry.
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April 29th, 2009 12:48pm
damien
Several months in the planning stages have finally come to fruition. We were originally offered the ‘Graphi Studio’ castle in northern Italy but delays in it’s refurbishment meant we had to look elsewhere. Luckily Julie and I have shot several weddings at Italian castles and villas in recent years so we decided to revisit one of the most enchanting of them all in the heart of Tuscany.
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April 26th, 2009 06:55pm
damien
All through my professional career I have been inspired by other photographers and accepted guidance on creative and business direction from other professionals outside of photography. It is very rare that a talented creative is also (more…)
April 24th, 2009 09:31pm
damien
As part of the Evolve training workshop on Wednesday I was teaching the delegates how to shoot for big pictures. A big product on a wall of a client’s home can make a dramatic impact on the mood of the place it is in. The bigger the mood change in the room, the higher the perceived value etc. So that got me thinking what constitutes an ideal picture to print big? Photographers like Jo De Banzie are fantastic at taking the ‘big pictures’ of children, so I thought I’d share a few of my own.
This was one of my pictures from Wednesday's shoot. It is quite common for me to shoot from behind my client. No eye contact with the child means the viewer can express a more fluid imagination of drifting thoughts.
It’s not just the viewpoint, or the telephoto perspective that makes the shot. (more…)
April 3rd, 2009 11:05pm
damien
There's nothing like a set of pictures to lift a business piece so here is a selection of last nights street portraits I took in Cork with Liam Ramsell, my host for the previous two workshops. (workshop pictures coming soon).
I walked into a bookshop in Singapore back in August 2008 when I was returning from a holiday in Malaysia, and stumbled across a book called ‘Pro Blogger‘ with a sub title ‘blog your way to a six figure income’ (more…)
March 31st, 2009 09:34am
damien
A collegue and friend of mine has a plethora of event work all over the UK and is looking for photographers with the Mitsubishi Click system, or experience of using one, to take on commissions. If you are in a position to photograph proms and charity balls please get in touch by email and I will ensure your details are passed on.
March 26th, 2009 11:53pm
damien
When I set out my plans to be a photographer over a decade ago I didn’t see the struggle that lay ahead. Now that struggle is behind me the future is bright. I learned a lot of lessons along the way and this is the most important one by far. (more…)
March 15th, 2009 12:25am
damien
Now available online here.
Have your name or logo embossed into the grain of these fine leather portfolios to make the best possible first impression. Whatever you shoot these portfolios are an ideal way to showcase your work and they are now available online.
For five years now our portfolios have gained recognition around the globe as a well presented body of work that screams ‘wow’ to our clients. Now it’s your chance to get hold of these lavish, splendid beauties. (more…)
March 11th, 2009 11:42pm
damien
Marketing is one area of a photography business that isn’t easy to grasp. Other tasks like taking pictures, making albums, doing sales, generating invoices and filling in tax returns are all tangible activities that deliver predictable results. Marketing however is (more…)
March 1st, 2009 01:08pm
damien
Joe and Lisa make a convincing partnership. They are resting actor friends of mine and were up for the test shoot.
It came to me in a flash. My mind was on a roll while we were brainstorming the next wave of picture opportunities for portrait photographers. Then I remembered back to 1998 (more…)
March 1st, 2009 12:55am
damien
Our stand at the Focus show played host to thousands of visitors over the four days. The big pull was the pair of portfolios in the foreground. These folios are now available online from our shop.
Once a year at ‘Focus’ we get the chance to meet many thousands of photographers face to face. We listen to their successes and try to understand their needs. The Focus on Imaging show in Birmingham was smaller this year with some major exhibitors absent. (more…)
February 18th, 2009 01:22pm
damien
My message today is ‘Get ready to reap the benefits of the upturn’. If a lack of portrait bookings at this early stage in the season is worrying you, it’s time to… (more…)
February 15th, 2009 11:46pm
damien
Are your portrait bookings down? Promotions becoming increasingly less profitable? The good news is there are several ways to buck the trend and here is one such system. (more…)
February 10th, 2009 10:28pm
damien
If you look in any of the key fashion magazines at the moment you will see… (more…)
February 4th, 2009 11:31pm
damien
I am often asked to recommend a web development team that can deliver content managed non flash website solutions for photographers in a simple to understand and very professional manner.
My initial thoughts point to a team that consists of… (more…)
January 30th, 2009 11:23am
damien
Everywhere I go I see evidence of photographers setting up training workshops and photographic classes. Some of the trainers have been in the industry for years and have a real talent to… (more…)
January 30th, 2009 10:25am
damien
The concept of Cherish the dress™ came about from a brainstorming session between Chris Hanley and I. We wanted to put a thoroughly British twist on the very American ‘Trash the Dress’ concept. Many brides… (more…)
January 21st, 2009 07:23pm
damien
Do you want to thrive and not just survive in 2009? The elite training programme for photographers destined for success is Evolve, and group 2 details have just been published click here for details.
Those of you in the know are well aware that a highly successful 10 month mentoring programme set up by Lovegrove Consulting is drawing to a close in April and to end the speculation about the second generation all the information of the revamped second Evolve programme is finally here.
January 21st, 2009 07:17pm
damien
I am often asked about my ballet photography for the local dance school. Here is a gallery showing some of my images. I’ve kept them neutral to show you the clarity of the original files. These images lend themselves to a fair amount of post production to take them to the next level. All the shots were taken on a grey background roll and lit with 2 or 3 lights.
Please feel free to comment on the pictures and link to ones that you have taken. – Damien
January 12th, 2009 11:42pm
damien
Last week I gave a masterclass on shooting colourful studio pictures using grey or white backgrounds. The delegates of the 4 hour session were on our Evolve business development programme. I want to share these pictures with you because the webpage was created with Adobe Lightroom and integrated with my website CSS. Are you making the most of the resources you already have to share pictures with your clients?
Take a look at the proof pictures here.
The rest of Katie Younger’s test shots from Thursday’s shoot are here. These pictures were taken as part of a 1:1 shooting session using off camera flash. The various looks were a result of batched Photoshop actions. These are only proofs and a few are a bit red for my liking.
December 31st, 2008 02:23pm
damien
Planning a wedding – The Devil is in the detail.
Success happens when preparation and opportunity meet. Never under estimate the importance of planning each wedding from the outset. Here’s my complete guide to getting the planning right…
Taken on my Canon 10D IR, Hand held with my 16 - 35mm f/2.8 lens. All the pictures in this feature were taken by Damien or Julie Lovegrove during the making of the excellent new DVD 'The Big Day the Lovegrove Way'.
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December 13th, 2008 11:58pm
damien
I want to share these concepts with you. They are widely regarded as the 4 vital factors needed to achieve growth in a photography business… (more…)
December 13th, 2008 12:48am
damien
“One of the UK’s finest portrait photographers recently said in an email to a prospective fellow professional, “If I’m brutally honest… (more…)
December 4th, 2008 11:02pm
damien
I walked into a bookshop in Singapore earlier this year and bought a book of wisdom. Some of the many notable passages are these… (more…)
December 2nd, 2008 12:17am
damien
In my previous post on the Wedding Contract I posted a link to our FAQs. I thought I’d share with you my reason for having them.
This infra red shot was taken on my Canon 10Dir. I took it hand held during the 'Big Day' DVD wedding.
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December 1st, 2008 11:56pm
damien
Right from the start of my first wedding photography career I’ve had a contract between myself and my clients. At first, I cobbled together a contract from ones I’d seen in a magazine article but it soon became clear that I needed a custom contract for my business.
How to arrange casual groups with a moment both created and captured is a key learning element of the new 'Lovegrove Big Day' DVD. This still from the wedding is just one of 200+ pictures shown being created by Julie & I from our perspective.
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November 21st, 2008 11:45pm
damien
In response to the thoughts and discussions raised by my previous post on selling pictures on disc I thought I’d have a go at establishing the tipping point for the sell / don’t sell argument.
Bamboo at Westonburt Arboretum in Gloucestershire gave me just the 'film set' needed for this demure portrait of one of my favourite clients. Taken at f/4 on my 70-200mm lens.
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November 9th, 2008 01:23pm
damien
One of the golden rules of retail is ‘Give your customers what they want.’ Let’s face it, there are very few wedding clients that wouldn’t want to have their wedding pictures at high resolution on disc. In this article I explain how to make a lot of money with pictures on disc packages.
I love tunnel light pictures. Julie took this picture while I drove to the reception.
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November 3rd, 2008 12:57am
damien
A picture is worth a 1000 words but can it be worth £1000. Putting a price on photography has always presented itself as a bit of a challenge. How much should I charge is one of the most frequent questions I am asked. Here is my guide to getting it right.
I shot this into the light in the sweltering Brisbane sun using a Nikon D3 with a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens.
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October 22nd, 2008 10:00pm
damien
I recently had the good fortune to come across a set of pictures by Chris Hanley that made me go ‘wow’. I want to share a selection of these pictures with you, plus the thoughts and ideas behind the man himself who created them.
"There is a down lighter set into the ceiling creating the top light on the model and I used a zoomed in speedlight bouncing into a Lastolite sunfire reflector back onto her face - This created the tight spot of diffused light." Nikon D300 in manual mode, ISO 800, f/2.8, 1/80th second, and 70mm lens.
Damien Lovegrove Interviews Chris Hanley…
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October 5th, 2008 10:20pm
damien
“If I’d asked my customers what they wanted, they’d have said a faster horse.” – Henry Ford
This weeks inspiration comes from a famous quote by a famous entrepreneur. We all know about the importance of listening to our customers but what happens when you think outside the box. What happens when your vision is bigger than that of your customers… (more…)
September 28th, 2008 11:33pm
damien
I’m often asked questions like “How did you get started?” and “I’ve booked my first wedding – help! What do I do now?” If you have a decent camera and can use it, sooner or later you will be asked to photograph a friends wedding.
The rings in this shot were placed on a bit of white paper on a windowsill in direct sunlight. Simple but effective composition with shadows. Remember to ask the best man for the rings early on before you really get busy. ISO 400 f/5.6 at 1/250th
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September 27th, 2008 02:29pm
damien
Three seconds at f8 with the camera on a monopod gave just the right combination of long exposure with artistic movement blur. Capturing this image with high ISO, a short exposure, and a splash of flash would have been the safe option. Rarely is 'safe' wonderful.
It’s easy to get sucked in to the quest for absolute sharpness. I’ve been down that road many a time. It is no bad thing to strive for technically perfect images but I believe that often the greatest things in life are flawed… (more…)
September 26th, 2008 11:51am
damien
I thought that would get your attention. It is true to say that ever since Photoshop 3 was released we have been using the software for half the price of that paid by the majority of our other contemporaries. This is how you too can benefit from half price Photoshop and other goodies. (more…)
September 22nd, 2008 09:05pm
damien
Well Canon have the video technology and probably asked the question – Why not? So that leaves us to come up with answers to the question – Why?
Simple use of verticals and horizontals combined with the human touch.
In the process of finding uses for the extra facilities that we never asked for I am busy developing ideas for the professional application of this new technology integration. Here are my first thoughts… (more…)
September 21st, 2008 11:57pm
damien
There are some basic rules in advertising that constantly get neglected by photographers. I’ve posted them here to inspire you to make more of your advertising opportunities and budget. I wrote this with print based adverting in mind but the principles still hold for other forms too.
Stand out from the crowd and grab some attention.
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September 13th, 2008 09:55am
damien
This picture was taken for World Pearl and I made the jewelery the star of the shot. Taken with a Hasselblad H2/Phase One P25 using natural light.
If you have ever run out of petrol in your car because you ignored the fuel gauge you will know how disastrous taking your eye off the indicators can be. Here are the top 6 stats to track in your business. (more…)
September 7th, 2008 05:14pm
damien
This weeks quote is not attributed to any particular author it is just good sound advice.
“Never miss an opportunity to do the right thing. It is not who is right that is important but what is right. You don’t need to cheat to win in life or business. Your ability to do the right thing based on your values and integrity will guide you to success.”
Reflective pictures like these are great in collections that contain a few wild pictures too. This shot was taken on location in Bristol using just natural light.
September 6th, 2008 11:09pm
damien
USPs are going to be the currency of survival in this economic downturn (if it ever arrives). Having high quality unique sales propositions or products and services will drive demand for your business and keep your prices at a profitable level.
Photographers without a unique product, are going to be forced to compete on price and in a recession this can be fatal.
U for USP
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September 6th, 2008 10:58pm
damien
Managing Cash Flow is the single biggest make or break factor in small business success. Make sure you are in check with my 7 step guide to ensure you survive.
Get yourself a coffee and read on. It may be the best 5 minutes you spend today.
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August 30th, 2008 11:48pm
damien
This weeks quote is from Bill Gove.
“Everyone loves to buy, but they hate to be sold to. Lead with your ears, ask questions, assess needs, and above all develop relationships. If you are really good at it people will practically beat your door down to buy from you.”
Can you believe this is lit with just natural light. The light on the girls face is the sun reflected from the windows of a building in front of her and the back light is directly from the sun itself. Having reflected sunlight as the key light means there is less squinting. There is a faint ring of flare in the image shadows.
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August 24th, 2008 11:15am
damien
I call these great tunes because when they are combined with a strong slide show they will add to the ambiance and built a heightened sense of emotional awareness. Please use responsibly. (more…)
August 24th, 2008 10:00am
damien
This weeks quote is from Stephen R Covey.
“If you don’t know where you are going you will never get there. Start your business with the end in mind.”
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August 17th, 2008 07:28pm
damien
Occasionally I find a writer whose thoughts and ideas so strong that they inspire me to take action. I’ve read and listened to a great number of self help and business guides over the past 10 years and each week I’d like to share some of the best bits with you.
“At any given time we are becoming the average of the five people with whom we are most closely associated. Don’t ever underestimate the importance of whom you choose to be with.” (more…)
August 14th, 2008 10:02pm
damien
If you’re like many people who are starting out on the path to being a full time professional photographer, you may well feel that an inner passion for taking pictures is the driving force for your switch from hobby to career. If so, this is just the guide you need. (more…)
August 14th, 2008 07:31pm
damien
From time to time it is important to use PR activity to generate awareness of your business in your local press. This is usually free and forms a valuable part of a coordinated marketing strategy. Here are 12 top tips to get your PR campaign off to a good start. (more…)
August 13th, 2008 06:40pm
damien
After a fairly good start to 2008 in the social photography business sector LC members are reporting continued wedding bookings and reasonable sales. An air of optimism surrounds the UK wedding and portrait market at the moment but financial analysts continue to predict a downturn in UK retail through 2008 and well into 2009. This is driven by high inflation, predicted to reach 5% and the ‘credit crunch’. Here is my 10 point plan to safeguard your business in the troubled waters ahead. (more…)
2 day shooting
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