Every month, In The Frame will be discussing a whole host of issues that form the backbone of the services Giles Babbidge Photography provides. Topics such as 'How to go about arranging a photographic shoot' and 'Using words and images as an effective marketing tool'.

We will be looking at myths surrounding the use of photography in the digital age - what you as a business owner need to know and what, frankly, you don't. Confused by cropping... puzzled by pixels...? Out of the window goes the technical jargon because, let's face it, life's just too short!

You will be the first to know of any updates to the website, including the ongoing development of online image supply, and latest additions to the Stock Library and Portfolio sections.

News and views will feature each month - giving you notification of special offers and an insight into various assignments undertaken recently. I've always been a big fan of 'real world' secenarios as a means to understanding, so case studies will feature in forthcoming editions of In The Frame, too.

Curious? Have a look at the website now!

Now that Christmas is behind us, it's time to think about growing your business and generating some revenue - if for no other reason than to pay off those lavish Christmas presents!

But how are you going to do this? Whilst some favour cold-calling, knocking on doors and re-visiting old clients, you may prefer a traditional mail-shot approach - carefully co-ordinated from the comfort of your shiny new office chair.

Whatever method you choose, do not underestimate just how much consideration needs to be given towards content. And we’re not just talking words and images here. Size, fonts, colour, paper weight, quantity, target audience… you get the idea.

Ever heard the saying “A picture paints a thousand words”? What a cliché! But also very true - not just for ‘pretty’ pictures hanging on your living room wall, but for those which are used to promote you and your business.

The use of a powerful photograph or set of photographs in your marketing campaign does so much more than simply attract attention in the first instance - it acts as a visual anchor, a way of keeping you and your product/service in the minds of those who have viewed the website/advert/flyer in which it appeared. How many times have you thought back to an occasion where you met someone and immediately remembered them because there was something striking about them or their service? Exactly.

Professional photography should be used in your business to evoke quality, professionalism, even mood… as well as to show off how approachable you are and how great your product is. The process of creating those images doesn’t have to take a long time and it certainly doesn’t have to be expensive - so why not get your thinking cap on and let me help you on your way to paying off those presents!

Look at some imagery now

As the launch of In The Frame coincides nicely with the start of the new year, here’s something of an incentive for you - Once you have got all those wonderful ideas together, pick up the phone or drop a few lines in an email and tell me what it is that you aim to achieve with a fresh set of pictures for your exciting new campaign.

No matter whether it's a press launch or party, a new portrait for your website or your latest product line-up...

This Special Offer applies to all assignments carried out in January 2007, giving you a 15% discount off all rates and services. Just be sure to quote In The Frame with all correspondence!

Let's talk!

This section comes to you via carriage Number Two of the 10:59am train from Chichester to London Victoria. I’m on my way to an assignment in Battersea, having just completed an earlier shoot which began at 7:30am.

Time constraints are ever narrowing in our hectic world, it seems, and it is at moments like these when I am trying to multi-task and keep everyone happy that I am reminded of just how advances in digital technology have shaped the photographic industry over the last few years.

Yes, film is still widely available and used by professional photographers, but it does appear that the days when we drop off our canisters at the lab and wait the best part of the week to see the results and then present them to the client, are numbered. Now that we are used to this technology, many would say that film is just too slow!

The pictures shot this morning will be edited, burnt to CD and delivered along with reference sheets to the client first thing tomorrow as they are needed by the design team as soon as possible. If I had been returning to the office straight after, they could have been placed online for immediate download later today, with hard copy to follow.

The same procedure follows with my next client’s work… but thanks to the IT and digital revolution, he can be sure to receive his high-quality images in the quickest possible time.

Because of the flexibility of digital technology, there are many output options available, from traditional prints to large-scale vehicle wraps. So the next time you consider using photography as a part of your marketing strategy, why not have a think about trying a new approach to the way you present your image?

Tailored options

How do you know that the photographer you have chosen is right for the job? After all, not every style suits every client’s needs. And in a worst-case scenario, not everybody is who they seem...

Last Month, the BBC's Watchdog programme featured the story of a wedding photographer. According to a number of his clients, all was well... right up until the time he turned up (often late) to take the photographs.

Frequently dark, blurred and poorly composed, the resulting images were nothing short of a disgrace. On some occasions this man appeared in the background of the pictures himself (hmm... do we hear alarm bells ringing?!). On other occasions, having been asked “how should I pose you?”, couples were even left with no record what so ever of their special day, such was his ineptitude.

So how can you be sure that you’re onto a winner? At the very least, you should have a good look at the photographer's portfolio to see if the imagery appeals. If it doesn’t, chances are there’s your answer - time to keep looking!

There is a lot to be said for personal recommendations. Ask friends, family, colleagues and trusted associates whether they have ever used a particular professional photographer and were delighted with the results; if they have, follow this up with a call to the photographer in question to find out more about the way they work.

What about formal qualifications? So many industries are built on the need for their practitioners to prove themselves in the first instance - so why should photography be any different? Look for letters after names and reference to organisations such as the British Professional Photographers Associates (BPPA) and the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers (SWPP). And again, be sure to follow this up with the relevant bodies.

Why choose an SWPP & BPPA Photographer?

Giles Babbidge Photography Ltd is a member of Fusion - a network of creative companies which provides solutions for all your design, marketing, promotional, communication and technology requirements.

Many thanks to all who attended our pre-Christmas get-together; it was nice to catch up with you after a busy year.

Fusion is also launching a Newsletter this month, which will feature case studies and news of the network's activities. If you would like more information or would like to be added to the mailing list, please send an email to giles@fusion-creative.net

Fusion Creative Network

For those of you who appreciate good business seminars, I would like to make a recommendation…

In November last year, I attended a fantastically helpful two-day seminar put on by John De Groot and the Business Warrior team. Like many, I was full of expectation - as well as a touch of apprehension, I must admit - and to say that I was not disappointed would be a huge understatement!

John’s approach is like none I have come across before, favouring a different - and at times painfully frank - way of considering how you run your business. What I found most refreshing was the way in which, through a series of exercises, I was able to strip away the layers of my business in order to see just what I need to do in order to progress. Something we should all do from time to time!

By encouraging delegates to be completely open-minded and willing to learn about themselves (this was the key!), and not just their businesses, I am sure The Business Warrior team helped many people break through their particular barriers (fellow attendees, remember the karate exercise?!)

If you are intrigued, you should definitely check out the Business Warrior website at www.businesswarrior.co.uk. The next ‘1 Thing’ Seminar is coming up on 30th & 31st March 2007, followed again on 25th & 26th April 2007. Alternatively, you can find out more by following the link below.

The One Thing

Over the coming weeks, the Giles Babbidge Photography website will be undergoing a few changes. But fear not, the site will remain 'live' throughout.

Taking onboard some of the feedback received from clients over the past 12 months, the site will see the addition of new pages as well as the improvement of existing ones.

Naturally, any changes will be brought to your attention via In The Frame.

View current website