All posts by Andrew Mason

Portrait Photography

Portrait Photographer London

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I am a professional London portrait photographer who creates portrait photos and headshots that people actually like. These images are used by businesses as corporate portrait photography, and also by individuals who want to capture more personal pictures.

Even if you or your team hate having photos taken you still need up to date photos for a website, social media presence or publication.

I make the process of getting portrait photography done painless and stress free and create photos that people are really happy with.

Your photos will be in a similar style to these:

London Portrait Photography

Do You Hate Having Your Photo Taken?

One of the first things you’ll probably say to me when we meet is “I hate having my photo taken”. I hate having my photo taken too, so it’s my job to make your portrait photography session as painless as possible.

You will look much better in photos if you are relaxed in front of the camera. As a result of photographing hundreds of people, I  have developed an ability to make your session seem effortless and easy. Because portraits are about people, creating an environment where you feel confident and comfortable is really important.

My friendly and professional approach will help you feel at ease while I take your photo. Even if you book a relatively simple headshot session I will bring just enough of your personality out to make you actually look like you in your photos. If you book me for a longer session we’ll be able to spend a bit more time creating images that capture different aspects of your personality and make you look exactly like you want to.

The session will be as relaxed and informal as possible because that will make the shoot much more enjoyable for both you and me, and it results in better photos. The selection of images on this page is a true reflection of my work, so it should give you a good idea of the type portrait photos you can expect from me.

My Portrait Photography Technique

I really enjoy photographing people because I enjoy the challenge and rewards of working with a massive variety of people. Two main factors are important to me when I photograph you: one is the way you look, and another is the way you act.

The way you look will influence the way I photograph you. Every  face is unique so a cookie cutter approach doesn’t work. Depending on the way you look, I will tailor lighting and your pose, therefore getting the best possible images of you.

Due to my knowledge and experience I can use lighting which will make you look as good as possible. Every face reacts differently to light, and due to the fact that I’ve taken photos of every type of face I can quite quickly apply several lighting techniques that will work for you. Similarly, posing and using flattering angles will help make you look your best.

Personality almost always influences how the photos look, therefore everyone needs to be treated individually whilst having their portrait photo taken. I’ve worked with massive extroverts and also much more reserved people.  My job is to capture images which express not only the way a you look, but also shows your personality.

A Personalised Approach

Rather than working in the same way with everyone, I may treat two people completely differently. One may require a slower more relaxed approach to gently coax the best images from them, while another may react better to a higher energy shoot. Some people need lots of support and guidance with posing, in contrast others need none at all. I’ve become good at quickly building a relationship with my clients so that I can really capture what they are all about.

It’s important to consider how you want to look in your photos. There is no point in me thinking I’ve taken the worlds best photo if you don’t like the way you look in the image. So I will certainly get feedback from you on the photos I’m taking throughout the shoot. Additionally I’ll always use locations that are relevant to you, sometimes the studio is best, and sometimes other locations around London are more appropriate

I know that the first 10 minutes of a shoot probably won’t produce the best images, so I will use this time to get to know you a little bit and observe your natural poses and movements. As I spend more time with a client, I know that we’ll finally produce a set of images that we will be happy with.

During the shoot I’m very open to feedback and will show you the photos I’m taking as we go so you can make any changes or suggestions that you like.

So far I have failed only once to produce photos that my client was happy with, if you come into the studio maybe I’ll tell you about it.

Portrait Photography Tips

If you’re working with a photographer in London to create your portrait, here are some tips so to follow so your session is as successful as possible:
– Try to arrive at the session in good time so you can relax, adjust your hair, and take some time to chat to the photographer.
– Bring two or three outfits so that the photographer can create a range of different shots. Consequently you’ll benefit from having a set of portrait photos you can use for different uses over a period of time.
– You should certainly try to have a night in before the shoot so you look your best.
– Above all, relax and enjoy the session. A good photographer will be able to make you feel at ease and also enjoy your shoot. Both you and the photographer will be more satisfied with the images as a result of capturing something of your true personality.
– If you’d like to learn to shoot your own portraits, so you can bypass booking me as your photographer (not recommended of course), here are some tips on shooting portrait photography.

Where to See Portrait Photography in London

It’s always interesting to look at portraits because they may give you ideas and inspiration for the types of portrait images that could be created for you. It seems like much of the lighting used today by portrait photographers is adapted from the old masters who created very successful portrait imagery. For that reason many of the same principles of lighting and posing are applied by photographers today. Check out London’s National Portrait Gallery for inspiration.

Contact Me

If you’d like to enquire about creating some portrait photos for you just send me an email using the form below, or call me on 07779 082 909. I work from a studio in Kennington, London; one stop on the Northern Line from Waterloo, or I can also work on location.

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Portrait Photography London
Portrait Photography London

By Andrew Mason.

 

 

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Photography For Brands

I create images for brands who want to tell stories and build strong narratives. I work with agencies, PR firms, brands and companies in the UK and Europe.

Brand Photography

Event Photography

Event Photography in London

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Good event photography will drive attendees to your future events because it provides visual content that can be used in all of your marketing efforts. Without good imagery, it is difficult to sell your next event to delegates and sponsors.

That is why I create professional event photography in London that captures the the key moments and success of your conference, meeting or seminar. My photos will make your event look like it was full of engaged attendees and enthusiastic speakers so that your sponsors and delegates can see the benefit or booking their place at your next conference.

Event Photography

 

Why Have An Event Photographer?

Good photography is essential for attracting delegates and sponsors because it increases sales. It sells the fact that sponsoring or exhibiting at your event is a good thing because there are lots of engaged people that your sponsors and exhibitors will get in front of. The photos can be used on social media while the event is happening, and as content for all of your marketing efforts.

My Approach To Event Photography

To represent your event in a way that tells a good story I capture key moments, atmosphere and scale, including both people and the venue. The photography requirements are usually confirmed in advance, so often I’ll work to a photography brief which highlights the essential shots to get.

My Clients

I have photographed events for large companies such as Microsoft and Marriott, plus worked with smaller clients and charities.

 

Contact me to find out more:

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Corporate Portrait Photography

Have you been tasked with finding a Corporate Portrait Photographer in London?

Do you want a photographer to come into your office and take a set of corporate portraits that everyone will be happy with?  Would you like that process to be simple to arrange and for the session to run smoothly?

When I visit your office to create staff headshots or photos for you that’s exactly what will happen. All you need to do is give me a room to work in so that I can take pictures of each of your people that will make them look friendly, approachable and professional.

At the end of the session, you’ll have an office full of colleagues who actually enjoyed having their photo taken, additionally you’ll be satisfied with  how well the day went.

Here is a selection of my corporate portrait photography, taken over the last few years:

As you can see, business portraits can be created in a variety of styles so that they match the character of your organisation and people.

How To Organise A Corporate Portrait Photography Session

If you’ve been tasked with arranging photos for your staff, these tips will help with setting up the session:

Half a day is usually enough to create portrait photos of up to 16 staff at your organisation because that allows 10-15 minutes per person.  By giving a bit more time to each person it means they can be more relaxed so that they get a company photo that they’re happy with because they won’t feel rushed. Up to 50 people  can be photographed in one day.

Think about how your corporate portraits will work with your website and also your social media channels.  Maybe you will may want a happy, relaxed image along with a more serious photo, depending on what you do and where the images will be published. Do your staff blog, speak at events, meet clients? These are important considerations, as a result you may need different photos for each scenario.

Warn your staff in advance because some people will be apprehensive and they may want to put some effort into how they look in their image,

You can have a standard company headshot against a plain white background if you like, however a better approach may be to try to show some of the character of your people and organisation.

Consider the location where your company portraits are taken. You could use a studio, which may or may not work depending on staff logistics and numbers. If you have at relatively large room in your office, you could probably use that and set up a small studio quite easily.

I can work with you to make the whole process run smoothly.

If you’d like to discuss your corporate portrait photography in London or elsewhere, call me on 07779082909 or send me an email. I can help with ideas to get you the best photos.

Musician Photography

Musician Photography

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I specialise in musician photography in London and photograph musicians and people involved with music, including classical musicians, jazz trombonists, acoustic guitar duos, rock bands, piano teachers, conductors, girl bands and singing coaches. I work with individual musicians and also do band photography.

Typical uses of my musician photography is on websites, CVs, promotional material and in programmes.

Your shoot can be arranged in my studio, on location or during a performance.

Musician Photos

After your music photography shoot, I will edit your images and supply web and print ready shots which can then be easily used on websites and in print if needed.

 

Musician Photography Tips

If you’re a musician who wants to get the most out of their photography session, these tips will ensure you have an enjoyable shoot, and get lots of photos you like:

  • Bring your personality to the shoot. As well as capturing your physical appearance, your photos should also display your character. Try to get into the same mindset that you have on stage and hold that feeling when your photos are taken.
  • Bring two or three different outfits, so that a range of music portraits can be created with different looks. You’ll then have a set of images which can be used in different situations.
  • Do whatever you need to do to relax before the shoot.
  • Ensure you look your best, and don’t have a late night out the night before!

 

Contact Me About Your Musician Photography Shoot

If you’d like to ask any questions about creating your music photos, then just send me an email using the form below, or call me on 07779082909. I work from a studio in Kennington, London; one stop on the Northern Line from Waterloo, or I can work on location.

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LinkedIn Headshot Photography

Are you looking for LinkedIn Headshot Photographer to update your profile photo for 2020 and beyond?

Would you like that photo to make you look credible, approachable and employable?

What if the process of getting the shot done was painless and actually quite enjoyable?

Not all LinkedIn Profile Photography is created equal. A good LinkedIn headshot should be something you’re pleased to have representing you professionally on the web. A bad LinkedIn profile photo is something you pulled off your phone because you couldn’t find anything better.

Your professional LinkedIn photo can be created in my studio or at your office. I create headshots for individuals who are looking for a job or trying to further their career and for companies so they can have consistency across their staff.

Usually individual people go for a 45 minute headshot session which results in 5 final images, or I can go into an office for a half or full day.

Everyone is unique and everyone hates having their profile photo taken, so the session is about establishing what type of images will work best for you and then going about creating that. Sometimes I get the shot in the first 10 minutes, and other times it take a little longer for me to work with the client to create headshot photos that will make them look good on LinkedIn and other social networks.

You can also go for  a longer session so that we can create some nice headshots plus another set of more relaxed and informal portrait photos that you can use for whatever other purposes you need. It’s often a good idea to have a bank of great portrait photos so you can use them if you’re speaking at a conference, writing an article or being featured in a magazine. Each of these will have different requirements for the image you use, and having a choice will help you make the best impression.

LinkedIn Headshots can be created during your lunchtime or after work if you’re pushed for time.

The cost of the session is £149. Send me a message to get started.

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Excel Centre Event Photography

This week I worked on behalf of Microsoft to create event photography at the Excel Centre during Sibos 2019.

Sibos is a vast show, taking the whole of the Excel Centre. Anyone who is anyone in the corporate banking world is there for four days of insight and networking.

Microsoft‘s stand at Excel was used to give talks and as a space for meetings for financial services executives to find out more about their payment, risk and crime prevention services and products. Microsoft had senior people for people to meet.

I had a specific photography brief to shoot executives as they gave talks, capture action in the stand and to show events as they happened. My event photos at the Excel Centre were needed throughout the day to provide updates on Microsoft at Sibos, so I edited between sessions and provided photos to the team.

Here are a few photos from the three days I was there.

Conference Photography At The Excel Centre

 

The Excel Centre is a vast space and the production for Sibos was huge. Both halls were full with impressive stands and there was a packed schedule of talks from top executives. I saw Johnny Wilkinson and Brian Cox.

Microsoft had a great team at the show and I’m looking forward to working with them on future events.

And, I now know things I didn’t know I didn’t know about banking and payments!

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How To Write A Photography Brief

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Should you write a photography brief? Yes, if you want to avoid getting into a pickle with your photos.

At the offices of a private bank in Mayfair, a marketing manager receives an email with the photos from the portrait photography session he organised for the senior management team. It wasn’t easy getting time in their busy diaries, and the cost of flying one of them in from Frankfurt was eye watering, but the effort was worth it because he knows they will all be happy with the photos and the fresh new look they give to the website.

Eagerly he opens the email from the photographer and looks at the images. They all look great because each director looks approachable and credible which is exactly what he wanted, so he forwards them on to the web development team. An email shoots straight back saying “Thanks, nice photos. Can you send the landscape orientation versions so they fit with the rest of the website?”

The marketing manager checks the current website, and yes, the existing photos are all wider than they are tall to fit with the design. He emails the photographer to ask if he has any wider crops. She says no. She was never asked to shoot them in landscape orientation…

How to write a photography brief
How to write a photography brief

This could all have been prevented by spending 10 minutes writing a photography brief.

Why Write A Brief For A Photographer?

Spending a little time to write a photography brief could save you time, money and reputation. By ensuring that the photographer knows the exact requirements for the images you need means they will produce images which exactly meet your needs.

What Should You Include In The Brief?

In light of the fact that you and the photographer are busy people, the brief doesn’t have to be War and Peace. It could be written in an email or a one page document, but you should include the following items:

What Is The Background To The Shoot?

Begin by briefly stating why you need these photos. For an event photography brief you might give some background to the event including number of attendees, subject matter and target market. Alternatively for a portrait photography job you could say that you have 10 new staff and a new website.

Are There Any Visual And Brand Guidelines?

The look of your photos is obvisouly of paramount importance and you may have existing brand guidelines and images that you can share. If this is the case, include some examples of existing photos so that the photographer can try to match them.

If you want a completely new look, collect some examples that you like or that you think would work. Most photographers will be happy to collaborate on this.

Lots of elements can influence that look of your images, for example:

  • Light vs dark background, and plain vs office background
  • Dress code
  • Colour vs black and white
  • Posed vs candid portraits
  • Where the photos are taken

Where Will The Images Be Used?

It is very useful for the photographer to know where the photos will be used so make a list. This could include your website, social media sites, printed media and presentations.

What Are The Logistics?

To make sure everything runs smoothly during the shoot include details of the following:

  • Contact details
  • Shoot location (including room if applicable)
  • Date and time

Are There Any Deadlines?

If there are any deadlines that you are working with, let the photographer know so that the final photos are with you in good time.

What Image Formats and Sizes Are Required?

Your design team may have requirements for the format, size, orientation and resolution of the photos. It is better for the photographer to know this beforehand so that he can shoot for specific crops and orientation, and then supply the photos in the correct format.

What Shots Do You Need?

To make sure you get all of the photos you need create a list so that nothing gets forgotten.

Is There A Dress Code

If the photographer should dress in a certain way let them know. Turning up to a black tie event in jeans is embarrassing for everyone.

When Do You Need The Images To Be Delivered?

State how you would like the image files to be delivered if you have specific requirements within your organisation.

What Are The Invoice Details?

Let the photographer know where they should send their invoice to, and if they should include a PO number.

 

Including all of the above items when you write a photography brief will make sure you get the images you need, and it will help the photographer too.

In fact it’s useful to write the brief before you approach photographers for quotes because it will enable them to thoroughly understand your requirements so that the work can be priced correctly.

If you need any help writing a brief, let me know. I’d be happy to help.