Wow! A Change in Business Activity

I have been noticing a positive change in my business since starting to blog more often! It's not uncommon for businesses to see an increase in enquiries and bookings when they start blogging regularly.

By sharing my thoughts and experiences, I’m building more trust with my audience and establishing myself as an expert in my field. Blogging also helps to improve my website's search engine ranking, making it easier for potential customers to find me online.  My page visits have spiralled!

It's important to keep up with regular blogging to maintain the momentum and continue to attract new customers to my business.

Bye Bye TikTok

As a photographer, I have established a strong social media presence for my business, actively sharing my work and engaging with my audience. However, I have made a conscious decision not to use TikTok as a promotional tool for my business, as I feel that this platform is not the right fit for my brand. While TikTok can be an effective way to reach a younger audience, I believe that going viral and doing crazy things for attention is not aligned with my brand or my values. Instead, I prefer to focus on creating high-quality content that showcases my unique perspective and artistic vision. By staying true to myself and brand, I am confident that I will continue to build a loyal following on the social media platforms that are most relevant to my business goals.

However, platforms do often change, so I will be watching TikTok from a far with interest!

#socialmedia

Positivity in Business

In the world of business, positivity is a powerful tool that can help you achieve success in ways you may never have thought possible. A positive attitude can help you build stronger relationships, create innovative solutions, and overcome obstacles with ease. It can also help you attract and retain top talent, increase productivity, and ultimately, grow your bottom line.

There are countless benefits to maintaining a positive outlook in business. One of the most significant is the ability to build stronger relationships with your colleagues, clients, and customers. When you approach your interactions with a positive attitude, people are more likely to respond positively to you. This can help you establish trust, build rapport, and foster a sense of loyalty among those you work with.

Another benefit of a positive mindset is that it allows you to think more creatively and come up with innovative solutions to complex problems. When you're feeling negative or stressed, it can be difficult to think outside the box and see things from a different perspective. But when you're in a positive state of mind, you're more likely to approach challenges with an open mind and find new ways to tackle them.

A positive attitude can also help you overcome obstacles more easily. When you're faced with a setback or challenge, it can be easy to get discouraged and lose momentum. But if you maintain a positive outlook, you're more likely to stay motivated and keep pushing forward. This can help you overcome obstacles and achieve your goals more quickly and efficiently.

In addition to these benefits, a positive mindset can also help you attract and retain top talent. People are naturally drawn to those who exude positivity and optimism, and they're more likely to want to work with and for someone who embodies these traits. This can help you build a strong team and create a positive company culture that attracts and retains top talent.

Finally, a positive mindset can help you grow your bottom line. When you approach your business with a positive attitude, you're more likely to make smart, strategic decisions that lead to growth and success. You're also more likely to inspire confidence in others, which can help you win new business and increase revenue.

In conclusion, the importance of being positive in business cannot be overstated. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a manager, or an employee, maintaining a positive attitude can help you build stronger relationships, think more creatively, overcome obstacles, attract top talent, and grow your bottom line. So, embrace positivity and watch your business soar!

Social Media & My Photography Business - Diluting My Presence

In recent years, social media has become an integral part of our lives. It has transformed the way we communicate, interact with others, and do business.

For many businesses, social media platforms have become a critical tool for marketing and advertising. However, for some businesses like mine, the benefits of social media are not as significant. In particular, for photography businesses, social media can be more of a presence thing than a source of actual work.

In this essay, I will discuss why taking a step away from social media with with my photography business and focusing on other areas that bring in work is essential.

One of the most significant advantages of social media for businesses is its ability to increase visibility and brand awareness. It can be a powerful tool for creating a strong online presence and engaging with potential customers.

However, for photography businesses, social media can often be a double-edged sword. While it may help create a presence, it may not necessarily translate into actual work. Social media can be highly competitive, and there are countless photographers sharing their work on these platforms, making it challenging to stand out.

Another disadvantage of social media is that it can be time-consuming, which can take away from other essential business activities. For instance, a photography business owner may spend hours creating content and engaging with followers on social media, which could be better spent on actual photography work, networking, or marketing efforts that bring in actual work. Social media can be an excellent tool for marketing, but it should not be the only tool in your arsenal.

Moreover, social media platforms are continually changing their algorithms, making it more challenging to reach a broader audience.  Many marketeers claim to understand the algorithms but only the people at the top really understand how it works.  This means that businesses may have to invest more time and resources to keep up with the latest trends and changes. This can be an expensive and time-consuming process that may not yield significant results in terms of actual work.

On the other hand, focusing on other areas that bring in work, such as networking, referrals, and traditional marketing, can be more effective in generating actual work. For instance, attending events, conferences, and industry trade shows can help build relationships with potential clients and other professionals in the industry. Word of mouth referrals from satisfied customers can also be a powerful marketing tool that can bring in actual work.

In conclusion, while social media can be an essential tool for creating a strong online presence, it may not necessarily translate into actual work for photography businesses or indeed businesses.  In fact, it can be more of a presence thing than a source of actual work. Focusing on other areas that bring in work, such as networking, referrals, and traditional marketing, can be more effective in generating actual work.

Networking Pros & Cons

Networking refers to the act of building relationships and connections with individuals and groups for personal or professional purposes. In the world of business, networking plays a crucial role in helping entrepreneurs and business owners to grow their businesses. Like any other business strategy, networking has its advantages and disadvantages, which we'll explore below.

Benefits of networking for business:

Increased business opportunities: Networking opens up doors for new business opportunities. As you meet new people and build relationships, you increase your chances of meeting potential clients, partners, investors, and other industry players.

Learning opportunities: Networking offers a chance to learn from others who have more experience or knowledge in your industry. By attending industry events, joining online forums or groups, and engaging in conversations with peers, you can gain valuable insights and information that can help you improve your business.

Building trust and credibility: Networking allows you to establish trust and credibility with your peers, potential clients, and partners. This is especially important for new businesses that are yet to build a reputation.

Access to resources: Networking provides access to valuable resources such as mentors, advisors, and service providers. You can leverage these resources to enhance your business operations and decision-making.

Increased visibility: Networking offers an opportunity to promote your brand and increase your visibility within your industry. By attending conferences, speaking at events, and engaging in social media, you can showcase your expertise and build your reputation.

Cons of networking for business:

Time-consuming: Networking requires a significant amount of time and effort. As a business owner, you may have limited time to attend events, engage in online forums, and build relationships.

High cost: Some networking opportunities such as attending conferences, joining exclusive groups, or hiring a networking coach can be expensive.

Limited ROI: Networking does not always lead to tangible results such as new clients or partnerships. It may take time before you see any benefits.

Risk of wasting time: Not all networking opportunities are created equal. Some events or groups may not be relevant or useful for your business, and attending them could be a waste of time and resources.

Cliche. Some networks can appear cliquey and can be hard to break into for business.

In conclusion, networking can be a valuable strategy for business growth, but it also has its challenges. Business owners must weigh the benefits and drawbacks and choose networking opportunities that align with their goals and priorities.

Some networking groups you may want to try include Networx4business, BNI, Celtic Business Network, etc.

Duomo Cathedral, Florence

As I approached the Duomo Cathedral in Florence, I felt a sense of awe and wonder that took my breath away. The intricate details of the towering cathedral and the beauty of its architecture left me speechless. I couldn't believe that I was actually standing in front of such a magnificent structure. Overwhelmed by emotion, tears streamed down my face as I gazed upon the stunning sight before me.

Despite the rain that was pouring down on me, I felt an immense sense of joy and gratitude for this experience.

Climbing to the top of the Duomo Cathedral in the misty weather allowed me to witness the city of Florence from a unique perspective. The view was simply breathtaking and it was a moment that I will never forget.#florence #DuomoFirenze #photographer #holiday #travel

Duomo Cathedral, Florence

Inspired by Another Creative.

I recently had the pleasure of meeting a wonderfully creative soul, an artist whose passion for her craft is evident in every stroke of her brush, Wendy Taylor. As a photographer, I was immediately drawn to her paintings, and I have to say, I was blown away by their beauty and depth. Each piece was a unique reflection of her vision and imagination, and I found myself completely engrossed in the intricate details and vibrant colours of her work. It was a joy to capture her art through my lens, and I can honestly say that I felt inspired by her talent and enthusiasm.

I had an incredible experience creating short films (the below is the first of four) with my photographs of Wendy’s paintings. I wanted a unique and organic mix of visuals and the soundtrack was made by recording wind chimes from my garden.

There’s was something truly special about combining different art forms to create something entirely new and wonderful. Using my photographs of Wendy’s paintings in my film was an excellent way to bring her art to life.

Meeting Wendy was a highlight of my day, and I look forward to the opportunity to collaborate again in the future.

Raymond Jones Images: The Future of Photography

The Future of Photography

I’ve been reading a few photography books recently that were given to me as Christmas presents (below). I’m always researching new trends, where they’ve come from and what’s may happen.

Knowledge for me has always been a strength and power thing for me.

Photography The Whole Story by Juliet Hacking

Wildlife Photographer of The Year by Natural History Museum

I’m glad I no longer use chemicals in a dark room washing away those substances down the sink at the end of the process. I must admit though that I do miss the feel and look of film which you don’t really get with digital!

Since the beginning of digital SLRs, I have enjoyed the immediacy of digital. I take a photograph and immediately see my results. There’s more to it than than but you know what I mean.

Then came mobile phones with in-built cameras which nowadays are almost comparable to the earliest DSLR’s. We all find them useful especially because of their size. Mobile phone quality images aren’t comparable to DSLRs are they? I’m sure you’ve been on Instagram and realised the difference between a mobile phone photo and a DSLR image.

But does anyone care? Some businesses do and surprisingly some don’t. I’ve lost count of the number of smart businesses who invest in their business yet when I’ve seen them represented on social, their advertising materials are of poor quality and taken most often by a member of staff in bad lighting. Many businesses don’t realise every photo of their business from their business creates an impression of their business.

I certainly care about images and their quality which is why I’ve invested significantly in new equipment including cameras, lenses, etc. I’ve also invested in many years studying light and getting the best light whether that be for a business portrait or a product.

What are your opinions about this? I‘d really like to hear your views.

The Future

I’m unsure, but I know digital is here to stay and social media will have a big influence as to where it will morph into!? I see people turning away from big user apps to more locally based ones. I’m excited for the future and to adapt like I’ve always done. .

Ray

Ps. This self portrait wasn’t just taken. I set my R5 on a tripod. I triggered the tripod with my remote trigger. If you look at the photo, you’ll see the trigger in my right hand. I chose to stand where I did because there was closed shade above provided by thick branches. The main light came from open light to my right. The mask of my face is perfectly lit because I looked in that direction.

Self portrait of Raymond Jones near his home by the canal in North Wales

One of the pitfalls of being self employed: not getting paid

I’ve been wanting to write a blog post on this subject for a while now but I’m happy to being doing that now.

It’s been a busy year for my little business. I pushed it in ways I never thought possible being totally out of my zone of comfort but it has paid off in so many ways.

However, with the increased work load, I’ve experienced not being paid on now two occasions. I really don’t know why these businesses don’t pay up as they’ve received the promised and given digital products and are even being used online on websites and social media. It’s a strange experience, seeing ones photographs on the net and yet they haven’t been paid for!

I always pay businesses straight away because I know how important cash flow is to me and them.

On with the reminder emails because I won’t give up and I’m currently updating my terms and conditions which have unfortunately I’ve got to do to help prevent this from happening again.

If you’ve been in a similar situation, please do reach out to me. I would really find that helpful!

Ray

Why I went mirrorless - what some photographers won’t tell you!

Earlier this year, I made a change from digital single lens reflex (DSLR) to mirrorless. My 6d’s and 5ds were a few years old and I was realising they had a few flaws which I didn’t like!

I like to shoot my portraits, most often business portraits, at my lenses widest aperture, sometimes at f1.2. I like the look of a portraits taken at f1.2 and I like the natural vignette at this aperture.

However, I was realising that some of my portraits, after bringing them into my software, Lightroom, that some portraits were soft when I zoomed in 100%. To compensate for this, I would take several shots of my subject and with a safer aperture of say f2 or above.

Even though I used to send my lenses away to be calibrated, that wasn’t enough!

Eye Focus

This is where eye focus came in handy with my new mirrorless cameras. AI (artificial intelligence) enables me to select a subject to track and my camera tracks it, particularly when I’m up close to them, their eyes and their nearest eye are locked on to. It’s really cool.

My workflow’s changed dramatically. I take less photographs, saving space on my computer, and I now zoom in 100% and have amazing accuracy.

Video

I do quite a few videos for business where a lot of my clients are talking direct to camera, eye focus is really useful here. I also film myself quite often and eye focus has enabled me not to worry about focus, so I can concentrate on other technical details!

Are you copying photographs from the net and social media and using them on social media or in other ways?

When photographers create photographs of products, people, food, landscapes, etc they are using professional equipment to take these images and edit them often with expensive computers and software.  Add to this the other overhead costs of insurance, etc.  In other words it’s costs money to produce these images.

When images are stolen from the net, often just by copying via a mobile phone, the photographer could be loosing revenue.

It’s also illegal to copy someone else’s photographs and use them on the net on social media, printing materials, etc.  The photographer owns the copyright.

It’s theft and no different from walking in a shop, taking an item from the shelf and walking out the shop without paying!

Over the years I’ve discovered my images being used elsewhere on the net and successfully asked for them to be removed or for me to be credited.  It can be quite flattering seeing my photographs elsewhere but it can also be quite annoying when my photographs have been copied, cropped and filterised!

I often search for my images via Google Images and I also use other tools to search for them.

If you do copy images on the net, you’ll eventually get caught and you could even be taken to court.

My advice

Ask the photographer if you may use their image or images.  I’ve been contacted several times by people about using my images and I often give permission as long as I get a credit.  Always ask before you intend to use them.

Ray

Goals do happen when I write them down

Michael (my partner) has always told me to write things down. Have a list so I know what I’m doing and where I’m going.

I never took his advice. How could things happen if I write anything down? That’s just mad. Surely it’s enough to discuss ideas and eventually things happen. I just didn’t get it until recently…

Since joining BNI, a network that I love because it’s an organisation that monitors everything that each member does. It’s not for everyone but it it for me.

I’d become lazy networking with other networks. Sometime’s I would attend and sometimes I wouldn’t depending on my workload. Other members were the same. I wasn’t taking them seriously and to be honest nor was I.

Since BNI, I’ve changed my whole business outlook. I’ve become educated in business. I’m looking after myself as well as my business. I attend face to face workshops and when I’m not able to do that I’m constantly listening to Ivan Misner , founder of BNI and his podcasts. I enjoy listening to his wise words, I’m dreading the day when I get to the last one!

I’m constantly writing my goals, re-evaluating them and adjusting them and it works. Because I’m writing down goals, it registers in my brain, so whenever I’m with a business working or having meetings my goals pop into the forefront of my thoughts.

Michael was right all along. Writing it down does makes things happen and they are!

Being too good can make clients reluctant or scared to contact me!

As my wedding season approaches, yes I still photograph weddings but no where near as many as pre Covid! Covid was a wake up call for me. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket!

luckily, I’ve never just been a wedding photographer, I’ve been equally at home photographing people in business, products, interiors and food photography. I photograph anything but I don’t photography babies! I’ve also been bringing back video production as an increasing amount of clients are asking me for video interviews and talking straight to camera film. I’ve just invested in the latest mirrorless cameras that record in broadcast quality which is important to me and my clients.

I digress. I’ve had a great week with photographing business meetings (fly on the wall) and photographing and a couple of entrepreneurs too. I’ve also clinched three food and interior business deals.

One client contacted me and said they loved my photography but were scared to contact me about how much I charge. After a great telephone chat, they were surprised to discover I was affordable. Another comment from a client was that my food photography was so good that if I photographed their food, their clients might be let down when they see it in real life on the plate! With reassurance, I was honest and said I don’t retouch food, I photograph food straight from chef. It’s my dramatic lighting that makes the food pop!

Ray

Influences in Photography

I was asked recently about my influences in my photography.  I think my answers came as a surprise because I’m not influenced by other photographers!


I’ve always admired fine art paintings by artists like William Turner, etc.  I like his dramatic,  moody sky’s.  His paintings influence my wedding photography especially when I’m looking to capture those wow photos with a wide angle lens capturing a pink sky with cloud formations and newlyweds embracing each other.

Another admired painter is Rembrandt.  I adore his warm tones and dramatic use of light and shadow giving dimension to his portraits.  My food photography is heavy influenced by Rembrandt.  My foods often lit with a single light at a low angle.

What or who are your influences?

Perfectionism

I created my YouTube channel about 7 years ago hoping to start talking to camera about photography. I’ve hardly posted in this time which is down to perfectionism.

I really feel it’s had a detrimental effect on my creativity, especially when it came to me talking to camera. I’ve never liked seeing myself on camera and I disliked the sound of my voice. I would record myself talking to camera, make a mistake, and finally get it right. Then when it came to editing my work, I’d see flaws in the way I came across or whatever. It wasnt good enough. It wasn’t perfect. I never completed lots of projects because it wasn’t acceptable. Yet it would take sometimes a whole day to record a sequence. It wasn’t wasted. I used to get so angry and frustrated and I even felt fake and useless. Then I researched on YouTube how others had overcome perfectionism.

Now, after I’ve finished a video project where I’m recording myself, I ask myself “Is this 100% perfect?” I answer with a no and then I ask “Is this 70% perfect?” I’ll always answer with a yes!

Even with 70% perfect the small minor mistakes, no one seems to notice but me.

I still have issues but at least I’ve finally taken the plunge a make a short film on Perfectionism.

In a years time I know I’ll be thinking what was all the stress about.

Thank you for reading this.

Cheers,

Ray

In case you want to see the video, here’s the link and be kind:-

I no longer worry about camera focus and can get more creative…

After a few years saving hard earned money, I’ve updated all my photography equipment, cameras, lenses, etc in preparation for a new year of weddings, portraits and commercial photography.

I use canon DSLR full frame cameras with L lenses. I know my cameras literally from back to front but I would often get frustrated with DSLR’s focus abilities and their accuracy. Zooming in on portraits, DSLR’s can sometimes be off by a few millimetres which is why I would frequently overshoot scenes to at least make sure I nail the shot. At the end of the year I calibrate my lenses or in some cases send my cameras and lenses off to canon for this calibration. Mirrorless no longer need calibration.

After getting my hands on digital mirrorless cameras, I’m finding that I’m shooting subjects less because 99% of the time I’m nailing the shot. Eye focus now enables me to shoot wide open without fear of missing my subjects eye. I can use the 50mm f1.2 at f1.2

Another point that I should mention is that my creativity when photographing anything has increased or widened because focus is no longer an issue!

Ray

A Difference 15 Days Can Make

Happy New Year. I’m home at last having spent over 15 days from home. I missed Alfie, our dog, so much!

I had a total business break which included from all social media. Admittedly I found not posting to social media daily and turning silent all notifications a real benefit to my health. My sleeping patterns improved as did my overall concentration levels.

I’m of an age that I can say I remember when there wasn’t social media or even the internet and it felt good at the time.

As I plan a new approach to social media, personally and with my business, my emphasis will no longer be focused on daily postings but more so on quality postings, posts that give real value to my audience. How I photograph people and products, my thought processes, etc.

Ray

The Andrews Family: Wedding & Portrait Photographer

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Reviews

Where does the time go. In fact where do the years go? It’s that time of the year when I’m thinking about the holidays, relaxing with good company, food and just not thinking about work.

Reviews are an important part of my business and when I remember, I do ask clients to give me a review on my Google Business Page. I recently had a review from John. Heres the review which kind of chocked me and made me realise why, after all these years, I still do and have the passion for taking photos:-

Woodland portrait

“We have been returning customers to Raymond over the last 7 years and still he exceeds all expectations!! From Baby’s first photos, to Christenings, Birthdays and annual Christmas shoots he is the “Goto guy”. He always has a friendly, fun,positive attitude and his talents seem to know no end!! We’ve all heard the saying “never work with children or animals” but for Raymond this is not the case!! He adapts easily to rapid change and works well under pressure(which is a must with my kids and pets)!! It’s really difficult to put into words how much we admire and appreciate what he does, so all we can say is….. Perfection Personified!!”

John- Paul Andrews

(Ps. if I’ve worked with you I would really appreciate a review if you wouldn’t mind)

Professional Product Photography

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We create powerful professional product photography.  We can create clean, clear product photography that is essential for e-commerce sites including Amazon, Ebay, websites, etc.

If you’re looking for professional product photography, please call Ray on 07837788874 or email rrjj@btinternet.com

Now is the time for your business and product to be visible online with quality, crisp, professional images. Our aim is to be affordable. Whether you want simple white background, image psds or styled photography, we can help you with our award winning commercial photography.


SEND ME YOUR PRODUCTS BY POST

Covid-19 and it’s second lockdown is here so we are again offering you the chance to send us your products by post. Just pop your medium to small sized products in the post to us. We suggest using a local currier, Parcelforce or your own choice but if you’re local (we’re on the Welsh border, Chirk) we will collect and drop off!

We work with you on your product images before the planned shoot creating storyboards, etc via Zoom and on the day of the shoot, we’ll send you screenshots of the shoot as it’s happening and connect with you via Zoom.

Please complete the below form with your requirements and we’ll get back to you asap including a Free no obligation quotation.