PROJECT : Catalogue products shoot,

Our client had a 4 months deadline to produce a 250 page catalogue containing over 500 storage and handling products. Many of the items were large and required assembly. On previous occasions because of the logistics, the shoot normally took around 3 months to complete. We were asked if we could improve on this. After a few meetings with the clients, we devised a plan to do the complete shoot within 3 weeks. Our plan was to rent a large warehouse, build a purpose designed temporary studio that could handle most of the products effectively and quickly, build a mock room set for the larger products. organise casual labour for unloading, assembling and carrying, organise a story board and schedule for each days shoot and hire in models in line with the schedule. The client then had to organise the products to be delivered and picked up during the shoot. Our client thought the task was optimistic to say the least, but was up for the challenge so they could meet the deadline and as a bonus, make a large saving on the photography.
The shoot went exactly to plan, and we took the last shot 2 days ahead of time. The client was delighted, the catalogue was produced well ahead of schedule, and as a bonus, was actually voted 2nd in the catalogue of the year. Needless to say we shot many more editions after that.

PROJECT : Room set

Our client, a fireplace manufacturer, had produced a range of fireplaces. As they were new, none had yet been sold and could be shot in their normal situation. Our client also wanted the shots to give a certain ambience of a warm and cosy room setting. In a corner of his factory we erected a room set complete with a false wall, furniture, fittings and props, and erected lighting to suit the required mood. After the shoot our client also took advantage of our design service to produce leaflets for the products, saving him time and money.

PROJECT : Survey photography

The famous Sheffield Tinsley Towers were about to be demolished. Previous to that we had provided two and a half years monthly progress photography of the gradual process of strengthening the the M1 Tinsley viaduct running beside the towers. Our job at the finale, was to capture the downfall of the towers just in case they fell or caused any damage to the viaduct. As well as taking pre & post shots, the actual demolition was to be captured in rapid sequence. As the job was unrepeatable, some time was spent researching numerous videos of previous cooling tower demolitions to make us familiar of what should happen. As an insurance, 3 cameras were set up and shutters released on the explosion rendering a set of explicit photographs. Fortunately, there was no damage to the viaduct.

PROJECT : Product shoot in situ.

Our client had developed and built a prototype conveyor system that they wanted to market. The conveyor was almost 40 feet in length and had been electrically installed in an old factory unit on their premises. Because of the size, the cost of transporting it, rebuilding it and finding a studio that was large enough to shoot it, the only option was to shoot it in situ. We met a guy, Alan, from the advertising agency on site who was assigned to market the product. Alan was concerned that the factory the conveyor was situated in wasn't in the best location to show it off at its best. He had already been supplied with a set of shots that couldn't be used. From a photography point of view, apart from the problems of the old factory backdrop, there was also a mix of daytime skylight and yellow tungsten light illuminating the product. Our plan was to arrive late in the afternoon, and build a studio around the conveyor by erecting even lighting to the factory walls. Once this had been erected, the shoot would take place through the night so there were no natural daylight affecting the quality. Alan was a little skeptical, however all went to plan, and after receiving the images, Alan quickly called us to thank us for our professionalism and quality of work, and for making his job much easier to market the conveyor.

PROJECT : Portfolios

AERIAL. A property portfolio was required for 18 large sites across the UK. To employ different aerial photographers from different areas would have been costly and time consuming. With careful pre planning and surveying the weather reports we undertook and completed the job in 2 flights saving the client a costly bill and giving early delivery of the portfolio.

GROUND. The same scenario as above, but ground shots of 22 properties throughout the UK from Brighton to Dundee. We carefully studied each site beforehand to determine what would be the best time of day, to photograph each property in its best light. Starting the project on Monday in Dundee we took the last shot on Thursday in Brighton, again saving the client money and time by using one company (ourselves) for the complete job.

PROJECT : Digital imaging

A night shot was required of a logistics maneuver, however, the shot had to be taken in the daytime and also, the container to be unloaded wasn't available. This meant a job for our digital imaging skills. Result, one happy client.