Mar 262018
 

First Sunday afternoon of British Summer Time 25 March 2018 Copyright Paul David Drabble www.pauldaviddrabble.co.uk (Paul David Drabble)

Professional Photography

This image was shot in 2010 for The Co-operative Funeralcare who sponsor the World Bowls Tour. It was taken a few nights before the Final during a Pro-Am bowls night. I was rather pleased with the image because using only available light, so as not to distract the players, I have incorporated a good example of my clients branding and the actual world Bowls Tour Trophy on the back wall yet maintained a balanced composition.

Good knowledge and use of photography techniques allowed me to select a shutter speed that lets the players hand and Bowl to blur helping to convey movement yet maintain sharp focus on his face.  I have used an aperture that gives enough Depth of Field that the clients branding is still clearly visible.

While many of today’s modern cameras can produce an equally well exposed images shot under a wide variety of lighting conditions I believe you still need someone behind the camera who knows what the manual settings do, and can override the cameras automation to deliver the best result for my clients needs.

Feb 082018
 
Photographers Near Me

Back in 2011 I wrote a Guest Post for Quest PR What Makes a Good PR Photo.  That blog disappeared into the ether  and the post with it. I have resurrected article and re posted it here. While times have changed I see no reason to change the advice I gave then. What makes a good PR photo for print media still makes a good PR photo for digital media.  I would argue that good strong PR images are even more essential now as they often appear much smaller on screen and are easily lost amongst thousands upon thousands of mediocre photographs all vying for the viewers attention.

What Makes A Good PR Photo

As a professional news and PR photographer I could be quite self serving and say “a good PR photographer” but I’m sure that’s not the bit you came to read!

So what does make a good PR photograph

  • – apart from the obvious that it needs to be in focus and correctly exposed?

For me the secret of a really good PR photograph is the same as makes any good news picture.

  • It needs to tell the story.
  • It must bring together the most important elements of a story into a single image and grab the viewers’ attention to make them interested enough to want to know more
  • It should encourage them to read the caption and accompanying article.
    Most PR stories seem to include three main important ingredients.


The Story

What or Why is the Picture is Being Taken?

Is the story photogenic – and if not, can it be made photogenic?

A staff photographer on a local paper was asked to photograph an old lady whose birdhouse had been stolen from her garden. There had been no break-in no property damage or vandalism. Some light-fingered individual had nipped through the gate and stolen her free standing birdhouse.

“How do I photograph her with a birdhouse that isn’t there?” he asked in disbelief.

The trick is finding another approach. Adding a lock to her garden gate? Holding armfuls of wild bird food she can no longer give to the birds?

The moral of the story… a good PR image is not the most obvious shot. The best PR picture will grab the viewer, stop them in their tracks and make them think.

Taking people out of their normal environment can also be a good technique. I once convinced three gents who work at a bank head office to pretend to play rugby in their business suits.

The People

News pictures with the most impact are usually tightly cropped and don’t contain too many people.

The ability to work with people is a key skill for good photography. Encouraging them to do things they may not normally do just for the sake of a photo (back to those pesky bankers!), making someone laugh and relax when nervous in front of a camera, spotting when a pose looks uncomfortable or unnatural and being able to fix it are all necessary skills to create good PR images.

Group shots are best avoided if possible, they can be uninspiring but there are always occasions where the story is the group. This means something creative is needed. Finding an interesting vantage point to shoot from or unusual place to arrange people will help. If it’s a large group, don’t think that sticking them in front of a great background will work often the shot ends up having the background cropped out. The location in which the group is photographed should relate to the story.

The Brand

Photographically, branding can be a tricky little devil and from a PR perspective it’s the whole point of the story. From a publications viewpoint branding is advertising – and advertising is income – not news.

There are a few techniques worth keeping in mind for branding. When included it should be, if at all possible, in a way that makes it difficult or even impossible to crop out, but it shouldn’t be too forced or the image may not be used. You also need to be able to identify the times when including branding is not appropriate or ruins the picture. If the right people are in the photograph, branding can always be included in the caption.

Style should likewise be considered. A photograph that’s right for the local newspaper may not fit in trade press or in regional or national publications. This applies equally for websites. Not all websites are the same, and what works on a client’s Facebook page is not necessarily what will look right on their blog or their business homepage.

A truly good PR photograph will do a number of things.

Grab the readers’ attention and hold it.
Illustrate the story by capturing all the elements in a single frame.
Connect the brand to the story without being forced or too contrived.
Match the style of the publication it is aimed at.

Paul David Drabble is a professional news, public relations and editorial photographer with over 15 years experience.

For more information see www.pauldaviddrabble.co.uk and check out his blog on
www.blog.pauldaviddrabble.co.uk You can find Paul on Facebook, LinkedIn and @PaulDDrabble on Twitter and Instagram @pauldaviddrabble

This post lead on to a second shorter post about PR Photography which can be found here

How to Create a Good PR Photo People Actually Want To Publish

Dec 122017
 
Christmas Card Tree Decoration

Merry Christmas 2017 & Happy New Year. If you need a PR or news Photographer please do call 07831 853913

Christmas Tree 20 December 2016 Copyright Paul David Drabble www.pauldaviddrabble.co.uk (Paul David Drabble)

 

If you are looking for an image to borrow for your Personal Christmas card this year, or as a background screen to personalise your laptop please feel free to borrow this one. Just click Here and when asked for a password to download the image simply Enter “Merry Christmas 2017”
Dont worry the Copyright Paul David Drabble watermark will not be visible on the downloaded version.

Christmas Tree 20 December 2016 Copyright Paul David Drabble www.pauldaviddrabble.co.uk (Paul David Drabble)

If you wish to License the clean image below for commercial purposes or want a print for your wall then please click Here

Christmas Tree 20 December 2016 Copyright Paul David Drabble www.pauldaviddrabble.co.uk (Paul David Drabble)

Aug 152017
 

Brian Deane went down in footballing history 25 years ago.  On August 15, 1992 he scored the first goal in the FA Premier League.  A header for Sheffield United against Manchester United guaranteed his place in history, it was the New FA Premier League’s first goal. Twenty five years on Brian returns to the exact spot where he made footballing history for Sheffield United and the blades home ground of Bramall Lane talks to the worlds media.


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Nov 072016
 

A Fantastic PR photography opportunity came my way last week. I was asked to photograph the press call at Chatsworth House to launch Christmas at Chatsworth. The Sugar Plum Fairy, Clara and The Nutcracker ballet dancers striking poses in the beautifully decorated rooms Chatsworth house dressed for The Nutcracker for the Christmas season, opening to the public on Saturday 5 November.

Attracting more than 100,000 visitors during the festive season, Christmas at Chatsworth is one of the must do events for families. With the house transformed into The Nutcracker, Christmas 2016 is set to be more magical than ever. The fairytale magic of the most famous of ballets will sweep everyone along into an enchanting winter wonderland at Chatsworth this festive season.

Christmas at Chatsworth

The Nutcracker sees the house transformed to present the festive tale complete with lavish costumes, beautiful decorations, wonderful stage sets and a few fantastic surprises in store sure to captivate all who visit.
Christmas at Chatsworth will transport everyone to a fairytale world populated by Nutcracker soldiers; elegant ballerinas and dancing snowflakes. All the cast will be on view – from the Mouse King and the Sugar Plum Fairy to the Nutcracker and Clara – to depict the story in a series of stunning tableau scenes throughout the house.

In the tale, a box of performing toys charms the children and adults alike, but it is the Nutcracker doll that enchants Clara the most. As the curtain rises on Christmas Eve, visitors will be able to share in Clara’s adventures as she is swept away by the Nutcracker Prince to a wonderful place where the magic really begins.

Along the way, the beautifully dressed rooms tell the story of The Nutcracker with all the classic scenes from Clara’s dream; from the waltz of the snowflakes to the dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.


Christmas A Chatsworth book tickets here

Dancers from The Claire Dobinson School of Dancing based in Darley Dale, Matlock, Derbyshire, 

Apr 102016
 


The Labour Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell was in Sheffield on Saturday 9th April to addresses a rally held in Barkerspool. The protest against the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) announcement that it will close BIS Sheffield, its biggest office outside London was also addressed by Sheffield Central Labour MP and PPS to Shadow Foreign Secretary, Paul Blomfield representatives from the PCs, UNITE, GMB, NUT unions and Sheffield City Councils Deputy Leader

Mar 122016
 


Sheffield Saturday 12th March 2016:
South Yorkshire Police closed the M1 South Bound at Junction 35 after a collision between a black VW golf and a white Citeron DS4 on Saturday (12 March 2016). The driver of the back Golf, a 56 year old man from Barnsley, was airlifted to hospital but died later.
Copyright Paul David Drabble
www.pauldaviddrabble.co.uk

Dec 222015
 


Santa Clause Saddles up beside the Duke of Wellington in Glasgow

Ricky McConnell (Santa Clause) 52, drew a crowd in Glasgow on Monday December 21 when dressed as Santa he Saddled up beside the Duke of Wellington in Glasgow. The statue which stands in Royal Exchange Square Glasgow usually sporting a traffic cone hat was where the publicity stunt was carried out to raise awareness for ‘Kids Have Rights 2’. According to media reports Ricky was given a fixed-penalty ticket for performing the same stunt in 2014 after firefighters had to be called in to help him down. Apparently he avoided a fixed penaty this year as the cherry picker hired to lift him into place was also used to get him down. Once safely back on solid ground Ricky was taken to one side by a uinformed officer from Police Scotland for a quiet word.

Nov 082015
 


The people of Barnsley were out in force again this year along side Veterans organisations, cadets, military units and families take part in the Remembrance Sunday service in Barnsley South Yorkshire.

 

Nov 062015
 

Its amazing who you run into on a straight forward PR shoot. The man behind the make-up, making his first foray into the world of Panto, is Doncaster born actor Stephen Nicholas from Sky’s Dream Team and Premier League All Stars also Celebrity Most Haunted, Date the Enemy and films including The Damned United, Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal, Futbaal: The Price of Dreams, and Goal! The Dream Begins. Simon who now lives in Sheffield will be appearing in Aladdin this year (2015) Panto at Doncaster Little Theatre.