Are you Camera Shy?  Maybe this could help

Today is World Mental Health day and it may seem a strange thing for a photographer to choose to blog about, but I seem to come up against it a lot in my line of work. It makes me feel like I should speak up about it, not only for myself but for my clients and other photographers and videographers in the industry.

I GET IT!

I have recently been encouraged to get out from behind the camera and to start filming videos for social media posts. This is completely out of my comfort zone, which is probably quite obvious from the videos I have already done. I become very self-conscious, worrying that I am waving my arms around, waffling and not making any sense. I've noticed that worrying about it makes it worse too. Watching them back isn't much fun either, I can laugh off the fact I said the word MASSIVE 100 times in one video and I can honestly say I am much more comfortable on the other side of the lens. In general, I am a confident person, happy to talk to everyone whether I know them or not, so it's unusual for me to feel anxious. It has definitely helped me to empathise with my clients who feel camera shy.

Do You Hate Having Your Photo taken?

A lot of my clients have expressed concern about having their photos taken! It actually puts some people off having a shoot. They worry about whether they will look right, that they have bad skin, they have wobbly bits, a double chin, what to wear, do they need to diet first if you can think it I've heard it! In fact, it's rare to have someone who is super confident, there have been a couple, but it is pretty rare. 

I try hard to reassure people that they will love their pictures. Professional photography produces different results to a selfie on your phone. The right lighting, settings, equipment, backdrop and position all play a part in creating brilliant portraits. Over the years I have developed a few ways of getting that perfect image. 

Plan Out the Day. I like to make sure that everybody knows what to expect on the day, especially if they seem anxious about the upcoming shoot. If people feel prepared and organised they often feel calmer, I certainly do. We try to discuss what they should bring with them, clothing etc, what will look best on camera and what to avoid.

Getting Comfortable. On the day I spend time just chatting, having a brew and letting the person get used to the studio and to me. I don't like to rush straight into shooting unless they are happy to do so. As people begin to feel more comfortable and relax a bit, it starts to show in their photos. I like to keep people talking throughout the shoot and the atmosphere light. the moment that someone genuinely laughs is pure gold. 

Be Open. If you are anxious or worried I urge you to open up and talk about it with me. If I know how you are feeling then I can try my best to make it as easy as possible. We can take our time and we will get there.

Adjustments. Every person is different. Every shoot is different. I've learnt to take them one at a time, if someone wants to bring their entire family for moral support, then they are more than welcome. (COVID rules allowing) If shooting at Albion Street Studio, Halifax is too overwhelming then we can take the photos in your home, or a cafe or even outside. Whatever makes it easier.

I recently had a client who suffered from Body Dysmorphia. This wasn't anything that I had come across before and for others who aren't aware it is a mental health condition that causes a person to worry or fixate on particular parts of the body and it interferes with everyday life. It opened my eyes to the complexity of mental health and the impact on photography. Despite her worries, she was brave enough to have a photo shoot and the images were beautiful. It took her a little time to see what others were seeing and she later mentioned that it had been helpful for her to have this experience. 

It's important for all industries to be aware of mental health issues that can arise. The better awareness we all have, the kinder and more understanding we can all be. I try to play my part, where I can, however small it may be. So far I have managed to make people feel comfortable and ease their fears over having their photos taken. I hope to feel more confident with my filming experience and I've got lots of people helping me out. If you find yourself struggling with anxiety, body dysmorphia or any other mental health issue there is lots of support available. I recently became a Mental Health Champion after completing a course with Unmasked Mental Health, which I highly recommend for anyone.

Don't miss out on incredible photos, personal or business, get in touch and we can have a chat and see if what we can do! 

email : danny@dannythompsonphotography.co.uk

phone: 07540118284

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Big Announcements for Danny Thompson Photography

 

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT  - In fact it’s MASSIVE! 

It feels good to be able to share some positive news with people during this crazy pandemic that we find ourselves in! I didn’t expect to have made such progress throughout the last few months with all the restrictions in place, but being on lockdown with lots of time on my hands gave me plenty of time to plan and create new ideas for the business. So it’s with great excitement that I can announce the ALBION STREET STUDIOS. 

Yep, I finally have my own studio space, it’s taken a lot of hard work to get everything in place and up and running, but we’ve done it! Danny Thompson Photography is live and kicking in the Town Centre of Halifax, Albion street in the Westgate Arcade! I’m all set up for Commercial, branding, product lifestyle & family shoots and I’ve already been photographing some new and old clients! We’ve had some great shoots, it’s brilliant to be able to provide a relaxed and safe environment for my clients and the results have been amazing. (It’s also the perfect location to sample some of Halifax’s amazing food venues for lunch! We’ve toured the Halifax Borough Market and can honestly say if you haven’t been to some of the incredible eateries in there you’re missing out! Burritos and Thai food are fantastic!

That’s not the only bit of exciting news though, I’m not on my own in the studio!

I have teamed up with a fantastic videographer, James Mellor, from RAINBOW TROUT FILMS & THE NORTHERN VIDEO COMPANY! 

He is an amazingly talented videographer with a wealth of experience in the industry and his work is incredible! We have been working together on some commercial projects offering a complete digital media package to businesses. It’s amazing to work alongside someone who shares my passion for photography and media and we’ve been able to come up with new and exciting ideas, which are now all in the pipeline for the future! 

He’s even been encouraging me to make more videos for my social media, something I am not yet 100% comfortable with, as you may be able to tell if you’ve ever watched them. At least it’s helping me appreciate my client's nerves in front of my camera, so I’m working on it! I’m learning to work with the anxiety which I hope to be able to pass on to anyone who I work with who feels self-conscious or nervous about being in front of the lens. I’ll post another blog on this later! Back to the good news though... ALBION STREET STUDIOS is part of something even bigger... ALBION HQ...

The team at UNMASKED MENTAL HEALTH are in the space next door, providing much-needed entertainment, ideas and support as always! They’ve been a great motivation through COVID and are masters at making Yorkshire Tea! 

It’s the only tea allowed in ALBION HQ 

It’s a great space to work and as a bonus, we have meeting rooms to hire to other businesses or groups that need somewhere central and relaxed to meet. It’s been great to meet other local organisations and businesses in Calderdale and I can’t wait to see what else happens...

Then to top off my positive month...

I am now listed as a finalist for THE NORTH OF ENGLAND WEDDING AWARDS 2020, which was amazing news and very unexpected! I can’t thank my amazing brides and grooms and all their friends and family who voted for me enough! It’s a MASSIVE honour! I love what I do and being part of someone’s wedding day is reward enough, but I won’t lie, I’m very excited to be a finalist for the best photographer! So I’d like to say a MASSIVE Thank you to everyone! (If you haven’t seen my video, with the massive amounts of massive Thanks please check it out!)

Crab & Lobster Wedding, Crab Manor Hotel, Thirsk, North Yorkshire

Holdsworth House, Halifax, Calderdale, West Yorkshire

Holdsworth House, Halifax, West Yorkshire, Wedding 

So all in all, even though the last few months have been difficult I have been able to keep pushing forward and have tried to remain positive! It’s been hard work, but it’s paying off... 

So welcome to the next phase of DANNY THOMPSON PHOTOGRAPHY and the ALBION STREET STUDIOS... 

Thank you for reading my blog it's much appreciated, please comment below and give me a cheeky share =)If you would like to see more of my work and want any information ring me on

 07540118284  

email - danny@dannythompsonphotography.co.uk


https://www.dannythompsonphotography.co.uk/Commercial-

Someone called me Mr Networking! Is this a bad thing?

Someone called me Mr Networking! Is this a bad thing?

In the last few months, I seemed to have gained myself a reputation as the guy who is always at Networking events! (Thanks to Doug @unmaskedmentalhealth) Yes, I have been to a fair few recently, I admit (including Ladies4networking L4N but that was an accident!), but that’s ok, isn’t it? Well, it got me thinking about why I’ve been going to so many networking events and if I really am Mr Networking!

Here are the top 5 reasons why I network!

1.   Business Connections: stating the obvious I guess, as it’s the whole point of these events but Meeting other business owners in person is a really important step to securing new jobs and clients. It creates a path from You to Them!

2.   Learn from the experts: who better to gain advice and recommendations from than other people who have worked in business, some for a lot of years! The chance to talk and ask questions with people who are experts by experience is priceless. They will have connections and ideas that could be hugely valuable to your business’s progress and development. 

The Power Of A Photograph

The Power Of A Photograph

I was wondering the other day, whilst passing time in Lockdown, whether anyone else had noticed the sudden surge in The Arts? Social media has been flooded by people playing instruments, performing DJ sets from balconies, knitting matching hearts for hospitals, painting rainbows, singing (or screeching) COVID Karaoke, writing and taking photographs. Suddenly these things have become hugely important in our lives, to pass the time, to cheer us up, take care of our mental health and bring people together. 

When I was younger, everyone I knew learnt to play the recorder, we chalked pictures on pavements, we loved hours of art at school mixing powder paints and using charcoal! Kids don’t seem to have as many opportunities within school, maybe targets and funding, it is a shame. I hope this lockdown helps people remember the importance of the Arts!

Yes... this is me!

Obviously being a photographer myself I have always cherished photographs. The ability to return to a moment that lasted a second and relive it for a lifetime. A photograph can evoke an emotion in an instant. The magnitude of the current pandemic has become real when people have seen pictures of the new “Nightingale Hospital” and could appreciate the sheer scale, the photos taken by NHS staff of colleagues exhausted in corridors, in pain from their PPE and the loss of yet another patient, another person, an empty funeral. Photographs have a way of passing the emotion, the feeling in a way that words can not do. We all feel this at the moment.

6 Top Tips for booking the right Wedding Photographer for you!

Booking the right Wedding Photographer for you!

6 top tips advice from a photographer

It can be a huge and very difficult decision choosing who you will hire to capture your big day! After all, it’s something that you have spent hours planning for and you want it to be preserved in your pictures forever!

Couples have often said to me “ we need to think about it,” and I try and offer them these few bits of advice so that ultimately they can choose the photographer that is right for them!

1. It is so important to meet with the photographer in person. I can’t stress how crucial this in! You need to feel relaxed and comfortable with them. They will be with you on your big day, following you around ALOT, so the more at ease you feel with them the more natural your photos will be.

2. Ask to see a full wedding shoot. You may like the ‘wow’ shots that they use for grabbing your attention but make sure you like how they will capture the rest of your day too. Sometimes it’s the shots that you didn’t realise they were even taking that can hold the most memories.

3.  Ask any questions that are important to you. However silly they may seem. A good photographer will be more than happy to answer and put your mind at ease.

4. Read reviews from previous clients, it will give you a better idea of how they will be on the day. Most photographers will put reviews on social media, google and their websites but if possible try speak to the couples who have used them.

5. Don’t leave it to the last minute to book your photographer! Reputable photographers are booking in weddings sometimes two years in advance, especially during prime wedding season! If you have your sights set on a particular photographer it would be a shame to miss out. If they are already booked ask them if they can recommend another. Photographers often work together and are happy to pass weddings along to people they trust. 

6. Don’t focus on pricing, obviously the budget will influence your decision making, but many photographers will try to accommodate different budgets. Don’t forget to ask if they have any offers on either! Remember you will have your pictures as memories for the rest of your life, it’s important that you are happy with the results and service you are investing in!

Hopefully, this might help you if you are currently planning a wedding and are feeling overwhelmed with decision making. Congratulations and happy wedding day!

Thank you for reading my blog it's much appreciated, please comment below and give me a cheeky share =)

If you would like to see more of my work and want any information ring me on 07540118284 or email - dannythompsonphotography15@gmail.com

www.dannythompsonphotography.co.uk