Author: denise
Fantastic Opportunity to work for FREE!
Anyone fancy working for FREE?
Imagine a job request looking for someone to work for free, but not just ‘anyone’ they specifically looking for someone that is highly skilled, with years of experience, thousands of pounds of high end equipment, an extensive portfolio, ability to work independently and in groups, with their own transport and links to get articles / images / published in international high end publications.
I often come across or are tagged in a ”fantastic opportunity” that arises from someone that needing an “amazing photographer” and professional service but who does not want an amateur and at the same time to pay for professional expertise.
Reserved for Creatives
If you are not in the creative industry (including but not limited to writers, photographers, dancers, graphic designers, web designers, journalists, artists, musicians) you may have read this so far with a raised eyebrow, or a puzzled look. It doesn’t seem to quite make sense? but this offer to work for free , is an offer we (the creative community) get often.
After nearly 10 years of being full time, it kind of grates on you. Having spent all these years perfecting and improving my art (yes there is much more to it than simply buying a camera pressing a button), after having spent a small mortgage on equipment and training, having worked hard to get to the point where I have been published and work internationally, why do people continue to ask photographers (and other creatives) to work for free?
Work for FREE?
So again you may be scratching your head thinking “I’ve never heard anyone ask a photographer to work for free”. But it doesn’t present itself so direct and clearcut, it comes out in other guises, it has pseudonyms and disguises. No one (well not in my experience to date) comes to you and says “Hey professional photographer, can you come and work for free for me” .
To anyone in the creative community, being asked to work for free will not be a new story, but an age old one, rehashed again and again, but the one thing it generally has in common, the thing that does not change about this story is that your payment is usually EXPOSURE, we call it ‘exposure pounds’ in the industry. It doesn’t pay for new cameras, travel, courses or insurance. Some of the things photographers need to pay for to stay in business.
Camera Kit that cannot be purchased with exposure – Jeff Hopper
It is not accepted at ASDA when I do my grocery shopping, it is not accepted online when I want to buy a new lens, it is interestingly not accepted as payment terms by the very people offering this as a way of paying you!
Asda by Lensi Photography
The Work for FREE pitch
The sell usually goes along the lines of “everyone will see your work in our newsletter / on our instagram / website / Facebook and naturally this will bring you lots of paid work”.
So lets test this common sell. Ask yourself when was the last time you read an article in a newsletter or on a website and took time to look at who the photographer was?
If you can remember the last time you did this, then when was the last time this lead to you contacting them for business? If you knew they worked x event free, when was the last time this lead to you hiring them for paid work? Facts show that less than 1% of consumers look for the creator or any piece of online content.
I did look up a photographer from an online image a couple times. I saw an amazing image on google, it was one of those images on the holder screen when you are about deciding which Netflix program to watch, I looked up the photographer, flicked through his Instagram, didn’t even actually add him, and carried on with my binge tv day.
Are you still with us?
I expect many of you haven’t even got to this point – looking up a photographer from an image you see online or in print – let alone an image on a company page / bloggers instagram / corporate website, because in my experience, when these same people want a ‘proper’ job doing, they contact the highly paid professional, not the one valuing their work as ZERO being prepared to work for free. You see, this type of ‘pro bono’ ‘fantastic opportunity’ offer has little value or appeal for most photographers, once they are established.
It’s a LOT of work
Six hours shooting a conference could range from an average of £500 – 1000 for many photographers, is this ‘exposure payment’ going to be worth that amount? And what if you end up getting a potential booking for a big paid job on the same day? Do you turn down the paid booking to work for free? Or break your agreement for the non paying client, for a paying one? Now, if someone wants to paint my house in return for a job such as shooting a conference, that may be pro bono I would accept (painting takes so long!), but funnily enough, no one wants to work for free, not THAT hard for FREE … because that’s just outrageous!
SOME OF IT’S DISGUISES
In case anyone needs any tips on recognising when someone is asking you to work for free or even when you are asking someone to work for free, here are a few of the forms it takes:
1. PRO BONO
Payment : Exposure, portfolio images, credit
A “pro bono opportunity”
The conversation usually goes along the lines of – we have an event coming up that we would love some amazing images of that we can use across our social media and printed platforms. We have some amazing speakers and we have spent so much on the venue and food that we have no money for a photographer. You will be able to use the images for your portfolio, and we will credit you. Notice no one actually says the words ‘work for free’.
My response – “sorry I do not bring out thousands of pounds worth of equipment I use to make my everyday living with for free”.
Points to note
It is also worth noting that crediting the copyright owner (the photographer) is legal, not something the photographer is being given as part of their payment.
The photographer being able to use their own images in their portfolio is also something that is legal, not something they are given by the organisation/ person they are shooting images for. So this takes the exchange to simply ‘exposure’ and work for free.
The organisation thinks everyone will see these amazing images of a regular event like a conference (of which you probably have tons of examples already in your portfolio), contact the organisation to see who shot their images, find out you were free, but somehow want to pay for your services.
An amazing image or two
(Here are a couple of our conference / event images by the way, we do cover them, if you are blown away by this image, please feel free to contact us for our services).
MBCC Awards 2021 by Lensi Photography
Event Show photography NEC – Lensi Photography
I have on previous occasions suggested £600 worth of their services or products in return, which would be the cost of an average conference, but that is usually seen as an outrageous exchange.
Please shoot my line for free
I was contacted by a blogger / influencer / insta model who had a clothing line with Pretty Little Thing or Asos I can’t quite remember which one it was now, but to have a line on either of these multi million pound businesses is pretty major in my book
She wanted me to shoot this – for FREE. It would of course be an amazing opportunity to get my images on such a huge platform (which shows no credit to photographers anyway), and her instagram (which does credit photographers) that has thousands of followers. I suggested £600 worth of clothes, but this was so ridiculous to her, I could literally hear the laugh through the email message.
So in reality you are well …working for free.
It is also worth noting that a 6 hour conference would also accrue a couple hours of kit preparation at home, maybe 1.5 hours travel there and back, another 5 hours of image culling, editing, storage and delivery; so you have in fact done near on two days work for free.
2. CHARITY
For the poor – Jon Tyson
PAYMENT – Exposure, Credit, Sandwiches and Drink (sometimes a free bag for life with the charity logo printed on it)
A Charitable Cause
It’s for the poor
The conversation is usually along the lines of – we work for x charity, and do some amazing work with x community. We are looking for someone to come along to shoot our event and support our cause, we will credit you on all out social media platforms and there will be drinks and sandwiches at the event that you are also welcome to have.
My response – “I respect your charitable organisation, I am a for profit business and sorry I do not bring out thousands of pounds worth of equipment I use to make my everyday living with, for free”. It is also worth noting here that many of these charities have bosses with 6 figure salaries, millions in the business bank account and not doing too bad at all. They may not be ‘for profit’ but many are in heck of a better financial situation than myself or most photographers I know!
3. AN INVITE
Birthday Invite – Sujan Khalifah
PAYMENT – Exposure, credit, having a great day / night out
Just come along … and bring your camera.
This conversation usually goes along the lines of – I’m having a birthday party / launch event / christening / wedding, I would love you to come if you can make it. Can you also bring your camera and “grab a few shots” while you are here.
This actually means you are the event photographer; organising groups, individual shots, wearing working clothes to the event not heels and a nice dress that I may otherwise wear; with the responsibility of making sure everything is covered.
Your work for free soon becomes very professional when the person that made the request comes back to you and ask why there is not a photo of x person, or when nan kissed her, or when x cut the cake – even though you were supposed to be just “grabbing a few shots”.
My response “I’m sorry but I can’t be a guest and your photographer at the same time, as a guest I do not bring out thousands of pounds worth of equipment I use to make my everyday living with, on a night / day out”
4. PORTFOLIO BUILDING
PAYMENT – Exposure, portfolio enhancement
As above – but it is stressed that these will be great portfolio images
This is especially so, if it is an event there may be some celebrities there. If it is a wedding it will be an amazing wedding, with a beautiful couple in an amazing venue. If a fashion show, there will be some amazing new talent showing.
You will be able to use the images for you portfolio as they will be so amazing. My response “Have you had a chance to take a look at my website, I have quite an extensive and varied portfolio” – having shot amazing weddings in the UK and as far
Newland Manor Wedding – Lensi Photography
afield as Rwanda; public figures such as Barak Obama and celebrities such as Jamie Fox. I also shoot London Fashion Week and The Diamond League athletics – just to highlight some of my diverse work. So to date, I am pretty happy with my portfolio, and dare I say, I have some amazing content.
My response “I already have an extensive portfolio that I use to show clients the quality of my work. I am also sorry but I do not bring out thousands of pounds worth of equipment I use to make my everyday living with, for free”.
Jamie Foxx – Lensi Photography
Anya Hindmarch London Fashion Week – Lensi Photography
It is worth noting here that they rely on you being so blown away by the idea of shooting a celebrity, that that will suddenly mean you have no desire to get paid for your job.
If a wedding they rely on the idea that because they are a beautiful couple or are booking a nice venue, you don’t already have beautiful couples and great venues in your portfolio; Or that conventional stereotypical beauty is worth more. All established photographers will already have experience and a portfolio.
5. JUST GIVING A FREE IMAGE
PAYMENT – Exposure, credit, seeing your image in print / or a popular platform
“Can we use your x image for free in perpetuity, across all our platforms with credit to yourself”
This is usually line from newspapers and magazines, if you scroll through twitter you will often see tweets from newspapers asking to use images they find online.
It is also common with wedding and such venues after you have covered an event in their venue. Some of these usages would literally cost hundreds of pounds, sometimes thousands if there were to pay the going rate for it. I often get this after fashion shows from models, or events from the people present. I have also on occasion had this from events that did not hire me, hired someone else, but are interested in me providing them with images for free … imagine that!
It’s just a photo, its not worth anything
Somehow, some people believe that giving away something of this value is not working for free. There is also a huge misconception that because they feature in the image, they have a right to it. This may come as a surprise to many but being the subject of an image gives you no more right over than image than not being in it. Celebrities do not own the images thousands of photographers take of them, royalty do not own the images taken of them. I also remember my mom having to pay for images that featured me when I was at school. Whats the difference?
The image was created because of the equipment and education you invested thousands in to be able to create it. If you are not compensated for this investment, you are again …working for free. My response to this type of request is “I am a full time photographer, as such all of my images are licensed, as part of my income, I can send you my licensing rates if you would like / the price is x”.
6. SPEAKING TO OUR GROUP
PAYMENT – A thank you / feeling good
“We would like you to come and talk to our group of up and coming photographers, share some of your knowledge and tips”
I have spent a lot of money on education to get to my position; some of that money was spent with other photographers imparting their knowledge to me. I paid for their expertise.
I paid for the shortcut to know how to do particular things, because they had already put years into perfecting that thing. Knowledge has a value. Students pay thousands of pounds to go University …to gain knowledge.
That’s a little stingy of you, not everyone can afford to pay
This is the way of the world. We would not question BMW for not having their cars at a price everyone can afford. No one would complain to Apple for not making their iPhones at a price we can all afford. I also currently live in a two bedroom house because developers are “too stingy” to give me a four bedroom one, because I cannot afford to pay for it …
Iphone by Kevin Bhagat
A small creative business is no different.
My response to this type of request is “I am a full time photographer, as such my time and knowledge has a value, this is my income and I do not work for free”.
7. COLLABORATION OR PARTNERSHIP
PAYMENT – Amazing images you can use for your portfolio to gain exposure and experience from
“Do you collaborate with other businesses / do you do collaboration shoots?”
If I come up with a crazy idea that I would like try out to test my artistic genes, this is a collaboration. A business contacting you for commercial images they need to market their business, is a commercial shoot, not a collaboration. A conference contacting you to shoot their event where your name will be listed in the business guide or on stage is also a commercial shoot. A question I often ask here is – when was the last time YOU attended a conference, took note of the photographer that was shooting for free (cough couch collaboration / partnership) took down their details, and contacted them for paid work at the going rate? If you answer is often or many times – that is great! This stuff really works! If your answer is never – not so great, it proves my point.
That’s a little stingy of you, not everyone can afford to pay
Yes some people can’t, they may be a small business like Lensi, and will have to do without some things they need. I recently needed trees cut down in my back garden, I could not believe the price of the quotes. Although they were worth every bit of what they were asking. Professional chainsaws cost hundreds of pounds, learning to use them takes time. Safety gear is not cheap. Insurance is not cheap. Cutting the trees into smaller pieces to allow them to be taken away takes time. The tree surgeons have to pay to take the trees to be disposed of, or they may own very expensive wood chipper machines. Despite all of this it was beyond my budget.
I had three choices
- Ask the small business to lower their very justified price.
- Ask the small business to work for free offering to tell everyone how great their service was in exchange, maybe put a plaque in front of my house with their details on advertising them. This is sure to get them extra business.
- Do it myself
- Do without
This is a couple photos of me with safety gear on cutting down trees.
Cutting down trees
Sometimes they are a huge business who wants to give shareholders extra money rather than paying a small business.
Sometimes they prefer to spend the money on lighting and staging, because everyone wants their event to look great right?
Sometimes they are paying so much for speakers that SOMETHING has to give, and of course it will be the creative…
Sometimes they see no value in photography, therefore just don’t want to pay for it.
Sainsbury’s is one such example, asking for someone to paint their canteen, for experience.
But you do not need to take only these few thought out examples as gospel, the internet is littered with websites exposing the same.
Madonna worth an estimated 850 million recently celebrated the fact that the whole team worked for free on her Madam X project. This unsurprisingly received some backlash.
Photographers need to make a living too. It always baffles me to wonder why some people do not feel we need real money to pay our bills and stay in business.
My response to this type of request is “I am a full time photographer, this is a commercial shoot not a collaboration / partnership, the cost would be x ”.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS WHEN WORKING FOR FREE
“CLICK MILEAGE”
Just like a car, a camera has what I call “click mileage” a certain number of actuations and wear and tear, before it needs a major costly service, then before it dies altogether.
Yes camera’s has a life expectancy! They do not go on forever.
Life Expectancy – Moira Dillon
Enough of these free jobs brings it closer to this point, without contributing towards its repair or replacement.
If photography is your business, your living, this makes little business sense. To keep using something, building up the wear and tear and click mileage, without any payment to replace that very thing.
Imagine and Uber driver giving away free rides to charities, or for exposure because they are carrying celebrities and such. There then comes a day when they actually have a huge fare, someone that wants to travel from London to Birmingham for example, a nice payday … but unfortunately they cannot take up the offer because …their car has broken down due to the extensive free rides! Now working for free has actually ended up costing you the loss of real money! An average conference can put and extra 5k clicks on your camera.
DAMAGED OR BROKEN KIT
Another consideration when doing a free job, if something were to happen on this job, who pays? Who would pay for your kit if something is stolen or damaged at this free job?
You are already working for free, so is this organisation / person going to then say “I know we were not paying you for this gig, but here is £2000 for your stolen camera / here is £500 to repair the lens your dropped while covering our event” …
Broken Camera – Christian Bolt
Would you simply get a sorry and an extra ham sandwich?
Ham Sandwich – Wilfred Wong
Lifestyle Fitness Shoot by Lensi Photography
An insurance claim may cost you an excess of at least £250, so on top of the costs of working for free, this could cost the photographer quite a lot, all with any payment.
If the worst were to happen, and you had a paid job the next day, it would be irritating in the least, having to pay to hire a lens for a paid job, because the lens you own was damaged or stolen on a FREE JOB
RESELLING YOUR OLD KIT
I recently got some quotes from MPB for selling my old kit. Well looked after and less used cameras can be resold for four times the amount of heavily used and less looked after cameras and lenses. So even in after sales, working for free means the photographer loses out at the end of their working life too.
WHAT USALLY HAPPENS WHEN YOU CANNOT AFFORD A SERVICE OR PRODUCT?
My last general consideration here is where I ask you to question what happens if you want a service or product you cant afford.
You have a few options:
- Steal it
- Do without it
- Buy a cheaper version
- Restructure your priorities / save for it
I can think of very few cases where I would ask for it for free, or steal it. So just for fun, I have given you a few examples of putting the same exposure requests that creatives get to other businesses and services.
WORKING FOR FREE REQUESTS
GYM OR FITNESS CLASSES
I would love to have a few months worth of sessions for free to enable me to get into shape.
PLUMBER
I need a new bathroom plumbing in. It is a lovely modern home which would be amazing on your website. A real show piece. I cannot afford to pay for the plumbing because I have already paid an electrician so much. I have also invested in some great designer artwork for the walls. You will be able to use images of my bathroom on your leaflets and website to show the quality of your work. I will also give you a great review.
HAIRDRESSER
Come along to my BBQ that I am having on Sunday, while you are here can you just bring your hair kit and give me a quick wash and blow dry! It is going to be a great day, great music and my famous BBQ spare ribs. It shouldn’t take you long.
Hairdresser – Keren Perez
SOME OF MY PERSONAL FAVOURITES OFFERS
(yes I have been personally approached with all these amazing opportunities)
1. A local council that had had their budgets cut during austerity. They were putting on a conference, but didn’t have the money to pay for this conference. They were asking everyone involved to work for free. Interestingly though, the council workers were being paid as it was part of their day job; so it was actually only small businesses that were being asked to work for free. The bigger businesses such as the one where the event was being held, had been paid. I have a policy to never ‘help’ established multi million pound organisations or companies with FREE WORK.
2. A magazine who contacted me for an image they did not want to pay for (i.e free), to accompany an article about people not wanting to pay photographers. (I kid you not).
3. A very high end fashion house (think dresses in excess of 15k), with A list celebs, contacting me to use an image for free. I am not sure why as they had their own paid photographer at the event. Maybe he did not capture the image that I did … who knows.
I have a policy of not giving free stuff to companies who have dresses that cost more than my car or what some people earn in a year.
4. This was was experienced by a colleague. He had shot a wedding a venue, the venue approached him to use a photo from this wedding. He was willing to do this and asked if in return he would use the venue for a styled shoot. The venues response “there would be an applicable hire charge for this, as a commercial venue for hire”.
So yes … we will happily have your work for for FREE, but please do not be so ridiculous as to ask to use our venue for free.
BEFORE I GO
Before all the critics rolls in, let me also clear up a few things I am expecting.
1. Everyone was new to the business once
People who are just starting in the business, with entry level kit and little experience will take up these opportunities; I did myself; but these are not the types of photographers the people who pay with ‘exposure pounds’ are looking for. Your value increases with the more experience (and kit) you accrue.
Think about how much you may pay a newly qualified solicitor compared to a Barrister. How much a Newly qualified teacher may get paid, compared to a year Head or Principal; an Actress with decades of Hollywood Blockbusters under her belt compared to someone just getting into the business. A consultant compared to a newly qualified doctor.
2. Lots of people do voluntary work.
Volunteer – “a person who OFFERS to take part on an enterprise or undertake a task” – see the key difference there?
3. Remember where you came from or started
I do. I remember starting at the bottom and spending thousands of pounds on courses, training and equipment. The same person invested thousands upon thousands of hours gaining the expertise that allows me to shoot and capture images the way I currently do.
But I see no correlation between remembering your humble beginnings and being asked to work for free.
Just like some of the professions I have named above, I have done my ‘internship’ of FREE WORK. If you were asked to earn the same in your job that you have been in for many years, the same as someone who is not even qualified in it yet, would it slightly raise the irritation levels?
4. I would be overjoyed to have my image in print / on the instagram page of x organisation / x celebrity
Thats fine, and your choice. I would rather be paid with real money.
I will update this article periodically, but as of its publication that last time I was asked to work for free was August 2019.
5. I cannot see the big deal, what are photographers going on about, it is just a picture.
Try saying this to Karen Anvil who is rumoured to have made £50,000 from a photo she took on her phone of The young Royals on their Christmas walk.
Photos are how I pay my bills. Yes in todays world they have become so accessible. But each photo is worth something to a photographer, especially full time ones. Imagine being asked to come into work at the local council for one month for free …
Would you be jumping for joy at the opportunity or working for no pay. Even if they put you in their newsletter!
6. I have seen you advertise for emerging photographers to attend gigs with you
Yes, as part of me helping someone on their journey or as part of my mentorship. See my Patreon mentoring page for this.
Neither I or my clients need or use any of their work, most times I do not even see the images until I see them on socials. If I have a job that NEEDS an assistant, I pay them, because I do not have time to explain what I need, I just need it done! I pay for the expertise.
My free work offers totalled £17,000 in 2018
My free work offers so far in 2019 total to £7,000 (August 2019)
I didn’t count my free work in 2020, 2021 or 2022. But I have in this week alone been contacted for International Womens Week, by a women’s groups wanted women to “bounce back stronger” by having me speak for free at their meeting. I pointed out that the way to help women (who are still paid less than men) to bounce back, is the value their time and knowledge by paying the going rate.’ I pointed this out and did not even receive a response from this group supporting women.
I have also been contacted by a very big business conference think NEC / Excel Centre sizes for a ‘collaboration’. I will keep coming back there to list some of these.
I would be interested to see which other average everyday people give this amount to charity in a year.
This is what some other creatives have said about it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWZYnE-YGo0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULfpBcQzKhc
My hope for this article.
I hope the article reaches some of the people it needs to… it is embarrassing and awkward.
We (creatives) hope those who ask people to work for free understand their request.
I wish that professionals that work for free understand what they are giving away.
Thanks to all my clients for the respect of paying me in real recognised currencies!! (Even if some of you haggle!)
Follow us on instagram to view some of our “working for pay” jobs! With the recognised currency I am paid for these jobs I buy lovely things like food, fuel, camera equipment, courses, all kinds of wonderful stuff!
Corporate Photography for Guhring
Corporate Photography for Guhring
We were commissioned by The Alternative Events Company http://www.thealternativeevents.co.uk and Events Specialist Tru Powell for the corporate photography of the official opening of Guhring http://www.guhring.co.uk in Birmingham, an engineering firm bringing skilled jobs to Birmingham.
AV and staging was provided by Saqi Roadshow http://www.saqiroadshow.com so the the factory was transformed into a classy event space. Corporate Photography in a factory was never so easy for us!
Locating the Event
Lensi will shoot the location where your event is happening if it is important to the event story. The Guhring factory was a main part of the story, so it was also important to also create quality imagery around this.
Guhring Opening Birmingham
Guhring Opening Birmingham
Guhring Opening Birmingham
Guhring Opening Birmingham
Before the Event
- Who are the delegates?
- Does it look as though they are enjoying the event?
- Are there key delegates that you need to ensure are captured?
- Is there a branding board or other branded items to include?
Guhring Opening Birmingham
Guhring Opening Birmingham
Guhring Opening Birmingham
Guhring Opening Birmingham
The Main Event
Guhring Opening Birmingham
Guhring Opening Birmingham
Guhring Opening Birmingham
Guhring Opening Birmingham
Guhring Opening Birmingham
Guhring Opening Birmingham
Guhring Opening Birmingham
Guhring Opening Birmingham
Guhring Opening Birmingham
Guhring Opening Birmingham
To show how interesting events are it is important to capture them from various angles an perspectives and reactions to speeches. Key images may include images of speakers, CEO’s, Managing Directors and celebrity guests.
The Official Opening
Guhring Opening Birmingham
Guhring Opening Birmingham
Guhring Opening Birmingham
Guhring Opening Birmingham
- Cutting of the ribbon
- Group shot of key delegates / speakers
- Branding
With this event we also were able to prepare a few immediate images for a press release for Marketing Birmingham http://www.marketingbirmingham.com and released them via our own press agency contacts also.
If you are looking for Corporate Photography, Business Photography or Event Photography, contact us for a quote.
Conference Photography Birmingham
Conference Photography Birmingham
Conference Photography Birmingham – If you are looking for Conference Photography in Birmingham, or searching the web for conference rates, and conference prices, or conference pricing you have arrived at the right place.
Lensi Photography covers a range of events and conference photography in Birmingham and throughout the UK to the highest levels.
You may have a shot list that you wish us to work from, or want us to use our own experience to cover all the essentials of your conference in Birmingham, images can be used to advertise future conferences in Birmingham or another area, for press releases and any other future marketing.
We have covered conferences for a range of sectors including Higher and Further Education, International Delivery Companies, Education Sectors, Corporates and Charities.
Conference Rates
Conference Photography in Birmingham would cover essentials such as :
- Keynote Speakers (from various angles)
- Headshot portraits of speakers if required
- Shots of the venue
- Natural shots of the delegates interacting in workshops and Q&A’s
- Images of the awards
- Delegates being awarded certificates or awards.
- Real time social media posting
With rates starting from £375 we have a range of both full days and half day packages that will cover all events adequately. We can also provide bespoke packages.
Shown is an example from the NASBM Educational Conference held at The Hilton Metropole in Birmingham, UK.
Conference Photography Birmingham
Keynote Speaker Conference Birmingham
Conference Photography Birmingham
Delegates Conference Birmingham
Expo Vendors Conference Birmingham
Keynote Speech Conference Birmingham
Delegates Conference Birmingham
Conference Photography Birmingham
Delegates – Conference Photography
Conference Photography Birmingham
Conference Photography Birmingham
Conference Photography Birmingham
Conference Photography Birmingham
Delegates Conference Birmingham
Delegates Conference Birmingham
Delegates Conference Birmingham
Warwick House Wedding
Warwick House Wedding
We photographed this lovely couple who had a Warwick House Wedding recently.
We met the bride during a video shoot we were doing for a beauty salon, and we clicked straight away. She asked about our wedding photography and we talked about our Birmingham Wedding Photography, as they were looking for at local photographers in Birmingham we had a wedding photography consultation at our offices and were booked!
A lovely intimate wedding. Although the weather was not kind to us, we still managed to create magic at this Warwickshire Wedding Venue, a lovely Warwickshire venue, tucked away on an unexpected street in Warwickshire.
Our Birmingham Wedding Photography includes a range of styles including both bridal and groom preparations, roaming photography of natural shots of the the emotions as they happen, a couples photoshoot of portraits of just the two of them, and family shots of all of the guests and family.
We created so many beautiful images on this day, here are a selection of a few.
Wedding Dress by Lensi Photography
The Groom by Lensi Photography
The Groom by Lensi Photography
Groom Portraits by Lensi Photography
Bride Portrait by Lensi Photography
Wedding Dress by Lensi Photography
White Wedding Dress by Lensi Photography
Mother of the Bride by Lensi Photography
Warwick House Wedding by Lensi Photography
Wedding Shoes by Lensi Photography
Bridal Shoes by Lensi Photography
Warwick House Wedding by Lensi Photography
Warwick House Wedding by Lensi Photography
Warwick House Wedding by Lensi Phtotography
Warwick House Wedding by Lensi Photography
Warwick House Wedding by Lensi Photography
Warwick House Wedding by Lensi Photography
Wedding Decor by Lensi Photography
Wedding Cake by Lensi Photography
Warwick House Wedding by Lensi Photography
First Dance by Lensi Photography
First Dance by Lensi Photography
First Dance by Lensi Photography
Couples Photoshoot
Couples Photoshoot
Couples Photoshoot
Wedding Rings
15 Seconds to More Customer Interaction for Businesses
15 Seconds to More Customer Interaction for Businesses
15 seconds to more customer interaction for businesses; sounds great doesn’t it? Who does not want more business? Can you really do things in your business that will bring more customers to you. The answer is yes.
We produced this 15 second instagram video Click here (which is the maximum length for that platform) as a short review of a new product we use for filming. We generally produce a longer one for Youtube Click here to view or what ever platform we are posting it to, and a shorter one for instagram.
We have a big project coming up in Education, as well as all of the weddings we shoot, so try to combine our work (both filming and photography) with reviews / information about the products we use – The Edelkrone Slider Plus (only the film makers will be interested in that part)!
Obviously quality images are important to all your content, but so are moving images – video.
Increasing your user interaction
All studies show that video content interaction increases annually, and continues to grow to dominate the market on the most successful way to engage your customers.
We even use it more in our day-to-day interaction, which is a testament to this. How often you do pull your phone out to film something on your daily travels? Send it to your friends? Post it on social media?
How well are video social media platforms such as snapchat and periscope doing?
Have you thought about how much you use video in your business? Do you use video in your business? When do you choose to use your phone compared to professional video? If you already use video, how do your videos look? Do they convey the message in the ways you wish to?
Book Your Pre Wedding Photoshoot in London, Paris or Vegas
Pre Wedding Photoshoot in London
Many couples now choose to do pre wedding photoshoot in London and other major cities across the world. Paris, Las Vegas, Venice and so on.
The demand for a particular type of scenic backdrop that is recognised by all drives couples to travel across the world for this.
Some couples do their couples photoshoots in London by getting up very early in the morning to be part of an eerily quiet London backdrop before the work commuters kick in.
Others climb up mountains after driving hours to again get a particular type of backdrop.
Others brave the stares from crowds bemused at wedding photography taking place away from the wedding on Tower Bridge or in front of Big Ben or St Paul’s Cathedral which are all favourites for pre and post wedding couples photo shoots with Chinese or Asian Couples.
In some cultures, such as with Asian (if you are reading this from the US or other countries around the world) or Chinese (if you are reading this from the UK) couples, the traditions is to have pre wedding photos before the wedding, often wearing the wedding dress and suit, with many couples having pre wedding photoshoots in multiple cities across the world; or even to have a couples photoshoot in your wedding attires months after your wedding has taken place.
Other couples do this as a post wedding shoot after the wedding.
Whether you call it a pre wedding photoshoot in London or post wedding photoshoot? You may ask what is a pre wedding shoot? It has been described as a couples photoshoot but on steroids! It shows the couple looking their best, their most loving, it shows a fairytale, scenic backdrops, hollywood lifestyles, suits and cocktail dresses, fun laughter ….all with a professional editorial photoshoot edge. It shows the couple as people they have seeing celeb lifestyle magazines; and creates that memory of them that they can preserve forever.
Brides also often have Rock The Frock Shoots alone with a chance to get to wear their dress once more, without all the stress and time restraints of the big day!
With excellent knowledge of these cities Lensi Photography regularly shoot pre wedding photoshoots in London and post wedding shoots, creating a very personal piece of art for the couples. We are booked by Bride and Grooms from the UK, as well as by Bride and Grooms abroad. We also travel and shoot all over the world.
We also have a fashion background and are one of the photographers for London Fashion Week which influences our Pre Wedding Photoshoot Photography.
Contact us via the website or our Facebook Page for more information about creating art for your pre wedding photoshoot.
Or see more of our work featured in this blog here :
Your Perfect Wedding Photographer
Wedding Photography London
Wedding Photography Birmingham
Wedding Photography Las Vegas
Wedding Photography Las Vegas
Pre Wedding Photoshoot
Engagement Photoshoot Locations
Pre Wedding Photoshoot
Las Vegas Wedding Photographer
Wedding Dress Photoshoot London
Pre Wedding Photoshoot
Pre Wedding Photoshoot
Couples Photo Shoot London
Big Ben Photoshoot London
Pre Wedding Photoshoot
Engagement Photoshoot London
Pre Wedding Shoot London
Fashion Photographer for Catwalk Fashion
Fashion Photographer
As a Fashion Photographer our job is to make your clothes look the best they can.
Making clothes look good as a fashion photographer is a combination of a few things. Good light, great clothes, professional models, amazing MUA’s, creative stylists and … photographers. If all of these are in place, your fashion photographer will make your clothes look as amazing as they are.
Makes, tassels and latex
Gareth Pugh Show
Creative Catwalk Photography
LFW
Models on the catwalk
Model at LFW
Fashion Photography LFW
Catwalk Procession
We were delighted to shoot the catwalk for Sunderland born Gareth Pugh‘s return to London Fashion Week after a 7 year break. He is the type of designer that makes life easy for a Photographer. Again great models, interesting concept (the catwalk was littered with 1penny coins), interesting clothes to shoot, and just so well put together.
Fashion Photographer
We have been shooting London Fashion Week for a number of years now. This catwalk shows just one of these many catwalks.
If you are looking for a Photographer, who is experienced in shooting fashion shows, and catwalks with some of the top designers and models in their genre contact us for a quote.
Advising you on your Fashion Show
For a Fashion Photographer, having worked on some of these leading shows, witnessing interesting sets ups, understanding lighting and having shot some of the worlds most well known models such as Winnie Harlow, Cara Delevigne and Jourdan Dunn, we can advise you on your lighting and other elements that are needed to make your Fashion Show the best it can be.
If you are looking for a House Photographer for your show, we can get your catwalk or presentation edited and uploaded on the same day of your show for maximum marketing exposure.
Wedding at Aston Villa
Wedding at Aston Villa
If you are thinking of having your Wedding at Aston Villa, and are looking for photography and cinematography, consider our team.
We covered the beautiful wedding at Aston Villa of J&A, in the main Holte Suite, with photos at Aston Hall across the road.
At day that started at 10am and ended a little after 10pm.
BRIDAL PREPARATIONS
We started with bridal preps at the house.
THE CHURCH
Then moved onto The beautiful Church of St John and St Peter’s a hidden away gem in Ladyhood, Birmingham, with many of the features people look for in a church to get married in. A long aisle, big stained glass windows at the alter and Ministers that understand the importance of photography in this special moment for the couple.
THE RECEPTION
When you have a Wedding at Aston Villa or Villa Park as it is known to some, the steps leading to the stalls is an ideal place to have a group photo where all your guests can easily been seen, and the tiers will hold big groups of people.
When you hold your wedding at Aston Villa, Aston Hall is right across the road, and ideal for your couples and bridal shots images.
THE PARTY
We ended the day with reception games, and of course the party … which the bride took very seriously …
When we cover your event, we provide true all day coverage. We tend not to miss out bits that some other photographers do when they leave early, after a mock cutting of the cake. We cover the emotion, the love, the fun and the people. Everything you want to remember for years to come.
Contact Lensi Photography if you would like a quote for your wedding at Aston Villa.
Jago / Jaago Ceremony Photography – Sikh Punjabi Wedding Tradition
As a Female Wedding Photographer in Birmingham, who also covers Asian Weddings, even though I am not Asian, I often have anxious photographer colleagues who are covering their first Asian Wedding approach me for advice and information; knowing that as I too shoot Weddings from Culture’s and Religion’s different to my own, I would have at some point been in the same position.
After having to have done this a few times, it made sense to write a few blog posts on aspects of Asian Wedding and Asian Wedding Photography.
Jago / Jaago Ceremony Photography – Sikh Punjabi Wedding Tradition
This is a ceremony that happens before the main wedding, often part of a pre wedding party. Often held in a hall, but lower key than the main wedding.
Jaago means “wake up”. Before the days of Wedding Invites and Interactive Wedding Invites relative of the Bride and Groom used to go around their village the night before the wedding days carrying candle lit pots – before the days of electricity on their heads singing songs as a way of telling everyone that a wedding would be taking place the following day and as an open invitation to attend.
The traditional folk song is “jaago”, so they would encourage people to wake-up and join in the festivities.
The modern day conversation of this will see the family gather at a venue before the wedding, for a pre wedding party. At some point during the evening the main family members will disappear to another room and re enter the main room carrying Jaagos (pots with decorated lights) and Jaago sticks (decorated sticks) , which will be passed from person to person, who will carry them for a little while.
Traditional songs will be sung …and then …its time to PARTY! During the Jago / Jaago – Sikh Punjabi Wedding Tradition people will also share a meal, but then hit the dance floor (and also bar) hard. It is a reason to celebrate and people will do. As a Wedding Photographer, photographing a pre-wedding party, you will be expected to capture
- Guest entering and being greeted by the family
- Group shots of as many people at the event as possible
- Roaming shots of what is going on
- Venue Shots
- The procession coming into the main room for the Jago, close ups of the pots and sticks
- Shots of each person that has the Jago on their head
- Shots of all the close family members (siblings, parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents)
- Then Party Shots, stopping people on the dance floor periodically to get a shot of them posing for the camera.
Photographing a Wedding or Pre Wedding Party or event such as a Jago / Jaago from Cultures and Religions different to what you are familiar with does not need to be daunting, its simply about the familiarity. There are no restrictions on photography, after having done a few you will look back and wonder what al the anxiety was about!
If you are looking for a Wedding Photographer in Birmingham to cover your Wedding or Pre Wedding Party such as your Mendhi, Maiyan or Jago, contact us for a quote
No Photos in Church Please – Wedding Photography
“No Photos in Church Please” – Wedding Photography
As a wedding photographer this may seem like a crazy statement to see or hear, Wedding Photography is all about taking photos in Church or a Gudwara or any other religious place, but this has literally been what we have ben told in some churches when covering some weddings “No Photos in Church Please”.
You may be reading this with a puzzled look on your face, I certainly thought that the first time I was told this by a Minister.
Some churches (and I find this is common in churches of a certain denomination – naming no names, we have never had this in any other religious ceremony) and we cover all kinds of Weddings in Birmingham and beyond, from Muslim Weddings to Sikh Weddings to Christian Weddings to Hindu Weddings and secular weddings.
This seems to have been a topic in many forums, with wedding photographers firm on each side.
CAMP A
There are photographers who believe that the Minister’s wishes for his / her church are paramount, and will happily sit at the back of a church for the whole ceremony, and only get shots when he bride is walking in, walking out and signing the register, which is what is allowed by that Minister.
CAMP B
There are other photographers who believe that their clients (the Bride and Groom) wishes are paramount, and if they want images of their ceremony, even if that means going against the Minsters wishes, so be it
I genuinely find that many couples do not know that some churches do not allow Wedding Photography or are not friendly to Wedding Photography at their venue. I photograph a lot of Asian Weddings where it is common for at least 4 photographers and cinematographers to be at one wedding, but not uncommon for there to be as many as 8 staff capturing the day.
So what are the reasons for this, these have been reasons we have been given:
1. Over zealous previous photographers, rolling on the floor etc to take photos.
I have never personally seen over excited photographer rolling on the floor etc during a service . I do not know any photographers that have personally seen this at a wedding, and I have a lot of photographers in my circles.
2. The couple need to concentrate on the vows they are making before God.
You have to question if having pictures taken make them think any less about what they are undertaking.
3. It distracts the guests / couple.
Wedding Photography and Cinematography are now such a normal part of a Wedding Day, again I would question who it distracts. I know that when I photograph weddings, I wear soft loafer shoes (as do my other staff), and dress in all black, a ninja would be hard pressed to be more slight than me.
On the guests side, I find guests phones pinging, children crying in church, and guest photographers with iPhones and iPads that need to go right up to the Bride and Groom or couple to get a shot, much more distractive.
Churches have people in them, as such there will be children playing, people crying, people laughing all kinds of things that people COULD get distracted by.
Guests in church
4. The couple will remember it better if they concentrate on what is happening.
I find that for many brides especially, the day goes by in whirlwind, they have been planning their wedding day for years, and before they know it, their wedding day is over. So what do they have to remember their wedding day by? Their Wedding Photography and Wedding Cinematography.
Wedding Photography Birmingham
5. It is Gods House and it is disrespectful for anyone to be snapping away or moving about the place.
Some churches stream church services to millions across the world. Images taken in churches are so common now.
Some churches have no problem with wedding photography, so it makes you question what is it about particular churches that do not see it in this way?
We live in a world documented by images, and sharing so many parts of our lives.
Imagine if on one of …if not the biggest day of your life, and whole chunks of it are missing, because the minister was not happy with it? In fact if you have a minister like this, and you follow their wishes instead of stating yours, you may end up having more photos from your works trip to Nandos than you do of your wedding ceremony? This somehow just does not seem right.
6. Data Protection (especially when signing the register)
When this reason is given you may question, if the data that is being protected, the data of the same Bride and Groom whose wedding you are photographing for them? It’s their data, their signatures, their names?
This data later becomes a publicly available document that can be looked up in any library or obtained online for a few pounds? So if you are given this reason, does it add up.
Previously we have photographed weddings where Ministers have suggested a shot where the Bride and Groom hold up their register towards the camera. So not every minster feels this way, which points towards the idea the idea that this is the personal choice of each minister.
7. We simply do not allow it! No Photography in Church please!
If you are given this reason, you have paid for a photographer to deliver a service. You have also paid to have your wedding at a church and a Minster deliver a service. If one vendor (the photographer or Minster) obstructs the other and stops them delivering that service, are they doing the best for their customer? The Bride and Groom or wedding couple?
The guests on the other hand, can snap away at any point, and more than a few with have DSLR cameras …. for all of us at Lensi, the Wedding is always about the Bride and Groom, we will advise so that they get the best from their day, and always do our best for them.
Guest taking photo
Now this is not meant to sound like a moan about churches or other religious or wedding establishments, we have worked with some fantastic Ministers, Churches and places of worship and celebration, in fact most of them have been, but just a short post for you to consider when choosing a church for your Wedding Day.
If you have read this and thought … oh that wont apply to us, we are getting married in a …country house, register office etc. Think again, we have also seen this at non religious establishments.
If you have already chosen and booked your church, this is something worth explicitly stating to your minister or person leading your service.
It is something most couples do not know, so we share it to make your planning journey a little bit more informed. This has genuinely only happened at weddings we have photographed a few times, but when it has happened the Bride and Groom were not made aware of this rule about wedding photography, and therefore did not have the chance to question it.
Their photographer has either had to ignore the Minsters wishes, much to their disdain. Debate with the Minster, again also much to their disdain, or not get any pictures during their ceremony, only images of them coming into church, walking back up the aisle, and signing the register! And thats it!
So when you are looking at a venue for your Wedding Photography, consider all the things you normally would for your wedding day. The sentimental links that church may have to your family, its location, how beautiful it looks, if it can hold all of your weddings guests, how far it is for you to travel….and also if they have issues with photography!
If you are happy with limited images during your ceremony, none of the guests or mom and dad smiling or crying during the service. If you are content with no close ups of the special exchange or rings moment, none of the bride looking into the yes of the groom or vice versa, this is fine.
Exchange of rings
If not think about asking the question on their approach to photographers in the ceremony! And decide if you want photography or not, it may be such an issue where you have to consider changing your venue (if you want Wedding Photography!).