Head Shots

Brand Photography for your business or product

by Zelda de Hollander

Brand photography means creating an image library of professional images that represent your business visually, and fit with your visual identity through their use of colours, tone, props, sets and etc… These can include photos of you, your team, your products, your process, your space and other things that make your business unique.

But, why are branding photos important?

It’s important to be strategic and intentional in how you showcase the visual aspects of your brand. Your branding photos show your businesses personality, and your team members. Branded images are so versatile because you can use them a variety of ways throughout your website, social media and marketing efforts.

Why should you use a professional photographer for your social media images?
* One less job for you & your staff to do
* Strengthens your brand & keeps consistency
* The best representation of your business
* Your images will be optimised for socials
* Your images will look much better than your competitors
* Strong first impression

Why are brand photos important?

It’s important to be strategic and intentional in how you showcase the visual aspects of your brand.

Your branding photos show your businesses personality, and your team members. Branded images are so versatile because you can use them a variety of ways throughout your website, social media and marketing efforts.

Meet the Team Pictures are SO Important!

by Zelda de Hollander

To a potential new client seeking any new service provider, can be a little overwhelming. It’s easy to wonder: Who are the people behind all the smoke and mirrors?

Adding a “Meet the Team” page or section to your website, or showcasing your actual team members on your social media is an easy, effective way to give your business an accessible face. It gives clients an idea of who exactly they’ll be working with, and shows potential employees that you’re proud of the people on your team.

Lockdown easing in the UK – what work can we do?

by Zelda de Hollander

Absolutely delighted to hear the UK roadmap out of lockdown on February 22nd! There is now a light at the end of the tunnel, with so many positives to really look forward to.

I just wanted to list off the types of shoots that I offer, and when these can happen. Understandably, these are provisional dates but it does give us something to work with.

Now to April 12th 
Business Head Shots on Location, Personal branding photography, Property photography, Product photography, News/PR and Landscape photography.

No earlier than April 12th 
Commercial Photography Studios open!
Studio sessions suitable for 1 individual person, for services including business head shots and personal branding
Commercial & Business Photography including hospitality and retail

No earlier than May 17th
Studio open to up to 6 people, or 1 household including business head shots, product photography with a team, family photo shoot, couples shoots, babies and kids photography, maternity photo shoots and all additional portrait and commercial photography types (only excluding large scale events).

From June 21st
EVERYTHING GOES!
Events, networking and conference bookings now welcome.

If you have any questions, would like to discuss possible photo shoots for now or the future, or to get booked in, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

info@studioshotz.co.uk
01202 432234

Lockdowns and photography – can we still work?

by Zelda de Hollander

Although the services we offer are now limited by the current UK restrictions, there are a few areas of work that we can still undertake safely.

PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY & PACKSHOTS
We can provide white background pack shot photography, as well as styled studio photography of products. Our home based photographic studio is available for any products that can be dropped off to our Christchurch location & be left within our porch, to ensure no contact. Products can also be posted or scheduled for courier delivery to us.

PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPHY
The property market is still open and trading, allowing estate agents to do house viewings “Initial viewings should be done virtually wherever this is possible and property agents should help you to do this” we can provide interior photography to help aid with the virtual viewings and sales visuals.

We can also use this time wisely to update airbnb, bed & breakfast or hotel imagery.

PRE-PLANNING FOR UPCOMING PHOTO SHOOTS
If you’re thinking about booking in for a shoot once restrictions ease, why not book in a preliminary conversation now.

Throughout all photo shoots, we are adhering to all social distancing rules, and COVID compliance to ensure the safety of all parties throughout the process.

All consultations and pre-planning of photo shoots will be done over the phone, over email or by zoom video chat.

All sales materials including invoices will be send digitally with no hard (printed) copies being exchanged in person. All images sent are digital, sent electronically.

If you have any questions, would like to discuss possible photo shoots for now or the future, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

info@studioshotz.co.uk
01202 432234

Why your business should have an image library

by Zelda de Hollander

Has your business set up changed, has the layout changed, has your staff or team dynamics, your offerings, products or services changed in the past few months? If you’d answered yes to any of these, then you should think about having an update on your business photography

Why would I need an image library though? What’s the benefit?

What a personalised image library offers you is a variety of photos at your fingertips, ready to go!

Press release due yesterday? At least you don’t have to worry about quickly taking a photo as well.

Stock imagery of your business to use for your blog and socials for the next few months – sorted.

Someone’s been interviewed and they need to send a recent head shot, you already have it.

Having a stock library of your business ready to dip into saves you a massive amount of time, stress and panic shooting.

I could just use stock images
Sure, you could. But why bother?
That’s not your business, that’s not your team, your office space and that’s obvious to your viewer.

There are a limited number of royalty free stock images available out there, and they’ve probably seen that images being used before, not giving a sense of authenticity to your business which in turn makes it not appear trustworthy.

Professional photography may be the more expensive option, initially, but also provides longevity. The image library that you begin to create through multiple shoots will truly reflect your businesses style, brand and values. These images help to create an emotional connection between your potential buyer and your service or product, something a stock photo could never do.

How do we do this?

Firstly, let’s chat! The more about your business, services, products I know the better I can showcase them through photographs!

A basic image library creation usually takes a half day shoot minimum up to a day shoot, depending on how many elements, how many people and how many services we’re wanting to show. Exactly what is photographed will entirely depend on your business, and this is why our initial consultation is so important.

COVID-19 update for Photo Shoots June 2020

by Zelda de Hollander

COVID update from 1st June 2020

STUDIO PHOTO SHOOTS

Following the new government guidelines, allowing photography studios to open from June 15th, we are delighted to be able to offer these services from then.

However, these photo shoots will not be taking place in our home-based studio, but instead at a commercial photography studio based in central New Milton, BH25.

Throughout studio photo shoots, we are adhering to all social distancing rules to ensure the safety of all parties throughout the process.

All consultations and pre-planning of photo shoots will be done over the phone, over email or by zoom video chat.

All sales materials including invoices will be send digitally with no hard (printed) copies being exchanged in person. All images sent are digital, sent electronically.

Although face masks are not actually government advised for my line of work, I shall be carrying them with me and will be more than happy to use throughout our photo shoot if it would make you, or any member of your team, feel more comfortable. This can be discussed during our consultation. “When managing the risk of COVID-19, additional PPE beyond what you usually wear is not beneficial. This is because COVID-19 is a different type of risk to the risks you normally face in a workplace, and needs to be managed through social distancing, hygiene and fixed teams or partnering, not through the use of PPE”- Gov.uk

 

LOCATION PHOTO SHOOT

We are adhering to all social distancing rules throughout the photo shoot process. Location photo shoots are available now.

All consultations and pre-planning of photo shoots will be done over the phone, over email or by zoom video chat.

All sales materials including invoices will be send digitally with no hard (printed) copies being exchanged in person. All images sent are digital, sent electronically.

Although face masks are not actually government advised for my line of work, I shall be carrying them with me and will be more than happy to use throughout our photo shoot if it would make you, or any member of your team, feel more comfortable. This can be discussed during our consultation. “When managing the risk of COVID-19, additional PPE beyond what you usually wear is not beneficial. This is because COVID-19 is a different type of risk to the risks you normally face in a workplace, and needs to be managed through social distancing, hygiene and fixed teams or partnering, not through the use of PPE”- Gov.uk

 

ADDITIONAL NOTES

PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPHY

With the new government guidelines for the property market and allowing estate agents to do house viewings “Initial viewings should be done virtually wherever this is possible and property agents should help you to do this” we can provide interior photography to help aid with the virtual viewings and sales visuals, available now.

 

PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY

Studio Product Photography can still be undertaken at our home studio, for products that can be dropped off to our Christchurch studio location & be left within our porch, to ensure no contact. These can then be picked up at an agreed later date. Available now.

For products that require the client to be present during the photo shoot, we will have to use the commercial photography premises in New Milton, adhering to social distancing throughout, please see the full ‘studio’ section for guidance. Available from June 15th. 

 

Please get in touch to discuss your photo shoot.

info@studioshotz.co.uk

WE ARE OPEN! But, what are we doing to keep our customers safe for photo shoots?

by Zelda de Hollander

WE ARE OPEN
enquiries and consultations this week 18th – 24th May
Photo Shoot bookings from 25th May 2020

But, what are we doing to keep our customers (and us!) safe for photo shoots?

We are limiting the types of shoots we are undertaking to ensure that all parties are safe throughout the photo shoot process.

All consultations and pre-planning of photo shoots will be done over the phone or over email, all sales materials including invoices will be send digitally with no hard (printed) copies being exchanged in person. All images sent are digital, sent electronically.

We are currently only offering face to face photo shoots outdoors, and not in our home studio. Photo shoots such as head shots and portraits, so that we can adhere to social distancing rules easily.

Although face masks are not actually government advised for my line of work, I shall be carrying them with me and will be more than happy to use throughout our photo shoot if it would make you, or any member of your team, feel more comfortable. This can be discussed during our consultation. “When managing the risk of COVID-19, additional PPE beyond what you usually wear is not beneficial. This is because COVID-19 is a different type of risk to the risks you normally face in a workplace, and needs to be managed through social distancing, hygiene and fixed teams or partnering, not through the use of PPE”- Gov.uk

Studio Product Photography can still be undertaken, for products that can be dropped off to our Christchurch studio location & be left within our porch, to ensure no contact. These can then be picked up at an agreed later date.

We are also able to undertake all aspects of landscape photography; ideal for businesses to help showcase your local area, to provide updated website banners or to use as part of your social media campaigns.

Lastly, with the new government guidelines for the property market and allowing estate agents to do house viewings “Initial viewings should be done virtually wherever this is possible and property agents should help you to do this” we can provide interior photography to help aid with the virtual viewings.

So…..let’s chat!

01202 432234
info@studioshotz.co.uk

Hoping to get published in the press? You’ll need great PR Photos

by Zelda de Hollander

The importance of photography in PR and newsworthy stories should not be underestimated. We all know the saying ‘a picture tells a thousand words’ and it’s true! Did you know that a recent study showed 90% of what we remember comes from visuals?

Pick up a newspaper or magazine near you and have a flick through — what catches your eye? I would guess that the images are getting your attention, right? Good images are essential when trying to achieve press coverage.

In some cases, the media won’t even publish the story unless there’s a decent image to go with it. In other cases, having a good photo or collection of images can make all the difference between a small, text-based story – which the reader could easily miss – and a longer feature, with lots of eye-catching images for maximum impact

“What a professional. Excellent pics turned around fast with no fuss.” – Darren Slade, Bournemouth Daily Echo

Whether you’re using images on your website, social media or sending them to press, if they are unprofessional or poor quality, it won’t reflect well on your business… Don’t get me wrong, the cameras on smartphones these days are pretty good and in the right light, you can take a half decent shot. ⛔️ BUT ⛔️ you should invest in at least some decent head shots and ‘business in action’ images.

It’s always a good idea to invest in a professional photo shoot. Never underestimate what a photographer can do for your brand visuals. Outside of the business of actually taking the photos, a good photographer can advise on the kind of images you need to show your business to its best advantage, provide lighting and professional backdrops and develop creative ideas to really make you stand out from the crowd

 

Venus magazine cover with Rowena Co-Founder of Lush

by Zelda de Hollander

I was recently commissioned by the Venus Awards to create their new magazine cover & focus feature. For this edition, Rowena Bird, co-founder of Lush graced the cover.

Within the magazine, the art director & I had planned a special photo shoot to reveal of the finalists of the awards ceremonies within the pages.

But, back to the cover…

Rowena kindly invited us into her home for the photo shoot. The house décor was so incredibly colourful, and Rowena’s personality so welcoming and cheerful, you’d never have guessed that it was a pouring down with rain outside and that it was 7.30am on a Monday…

While Anita took care of Rowena’s hair & make-up, founder of the Venus awards Tara Howard & I, raided Rowena’s closet and picked out her outfits, accessories & decided on our shooting locations.

The shoot itself was over within an hour before Rowena & I scooted off to her Poole shop to capture some images of her within her business.

My plotting with Art Director, Seb, was finally revealed! Within the glossy magazine housed the Dorset and Hampshire Finalists group photos that I’d taken at the respective finalist announcement events 8 weeks prior (with a few people photo shopped in! But you’d never have been able to tell)

 

The magazine was revealed on the Dorset Finals Night much to the delight of the finalists, having patiently waited 8 weeks to see their photos! It was lovely to see people engrossed in the articles on the awards night – sharing their finalists photos in anticipation.

 

So, pick up the magazine & have a read!
To finish off this blog post, here are my favourite unpublished shots from my photo shoot with Rowena….

 


Magazine: Venus Dorset & Hampshire Edition
Hair & Make-Up: Anita Kaur-Simon
Styling: Tara Howard & Zelda de Hollander
Photography: Zelda de Hollander

Venus Awards National Finals

by Zelda de Hollander

Today I attended the Venus Women’s Awards National Finals & one of the ‘bits’ was getting each winner to give their ‘nugget’ of advice / inspiring story.

N.B. Best acceptance speech was Helen Jenkins who spoke about chicken nuggets #winning

As I sat there waiting for my category to be called, I thought, what on earth would I say to a room of inspiring and successful businesswomen….. General business advice and motivational quotes on running a business just didn’t seem appropriate. I suddenly occurred to me, I knew exactly what I’d say, the 1 reason why I run my business & the core value of why I do what I do.

Unfortunately, I didn’t win my award category so never got to share my ‘nugget’ of wisdom. But, I’m a stubborn girl, and as I sit on the train on my way home I still feel that I need to say this, as it doesn’t just apply to businesswomen, but well…everyone.

Be in photographs.

Please. For your children, their children and beyond that. Leave something that they will cherish. Sometimes a memory just isn’t enough; you need to leave a souvenir. What better way to relieve those piercing blue eyes or that sparkling smile than in a photograph.

What would you grab if your house was burning down? I can’t speak for you, but I’d grab my family photo albums and I’m pretty certain you would too.