Anthony Hunt Photography

Choosing a PR Photographer

2012-02-02T20:31:00.003Z

There are several things you should look out for when selecting a photographer for your press releases and PR photos.

Provide a good brief

PR Shoot - Richard Branson and Giant Suitcase

To begin with ensure that you provide the photographer with a good brief. Outlining the key message of the photos, intended publications, as well as who and what needs to be included (and excluded) will all contribute to effective shots and smooth running on the day of the shoot.

Portfolios
Obviously, these days it is fairly easy to look at a photographers portfolio online and it will give you a clear indication of their range of assignments and technical abilities.

Testimonials
Look at the photographers testimonials, either on their site or on resources like LinkedIn. Testimonials will give you an insight into how easy they are to work with and how they deal with people. Speaking to them on the phone will also help you assess the next point...

Personal as well as photography skills
Good PR photographers are creative, work quickly and deliver consistent quality images, enhancing the brief rather than just fulfilling it. In addition they need to be good at interacting with people so they can build a rapport with clients quickly and make them feel relaxed in front of the camera. They are equally confident in directing a CEO of a blue chip in his boardroom or a group of kids at a charity event, if necessary for the purposes of the shot.

PR Photography - corporate appointment

The photographer is also more often than not representing your company or organisation - they should be professional, presentable and approachable.

Image delivery
Press releases are time sensitive and so your pictures need to be delivered quickly, normally within a 24 hour window. For professional photographers this should not be a problem, but make your photographer aware of your deadlines and ensure that they can process and deliver the images in time. For smaller images email is normally sufficient, for larger files FTP or services such as dropbox are recomended.

Pricing
Professional PR photographers will normally provide you with hourly, half-day and full-day shooting rates. Discuss with the photographer your requirements to work out how much time will be needed and get a written quote (or at least a confirmation email). For long term PR projects a photographer may well be willing to offer discounted rates if put on a retainer.

Reflecting on a varied and busy 2011

2012-01-05T20:03:00.066Z

2011 turned out to be a pretty interesting year, testing me in a wide range of photographic disciplines, as well as testing me personally and mentally. From attention to detail product photography shoots, to extensive travelling around the UK for various events, conferences and pr shoots; corporate briefs in Texas and Qatar to six weeks with the UN/AU in Somalia. Politicians, celebrities, soldiers, acrobats, prize winners and business leaders were amongst those in front of my lens over the year.

The highlight was certainly Mogadishu. Having never done any kind of editorial photography in a hostile environment, the oft-called 'most dangerous city in the world' was possibly not the first place that one might consider to break into it. However, despite the obvious potential dangers I found myself in my element and I enjoyed my two 3-week tours there with the African Union troops. It's an extraordinary place ravished by 20 years of war, blighted by famine and disease and a constantly complicated, precarious political situation. Against this backdrop there were also incredible moments of hope, joy, pride and humour.

I'm also proud of the body of work that I produced, some of which was published across the world including in the UK, Germany and Australia.
I am looking forward to the opportunity of doing similar work in the coming months - both in Somalia and other regions of Africa.

The year literally ended with me on assignment for a third sector client as as Big Ben chimed to signal the passing of 2011. This picture was taken at 5 seconds past midnight. Not a bad way to start 2012 photographically. Lets hope this year turns out to be as challenging and interesting.

German Newspaper Publishes Bakaara Market Photo

2011-09-14T13:31:00.004+01:00

The German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung has today published one of my photos from Mogadishu. Written by its African correspondent Arne Perras, 'Die Musik von Mogadischu' is featured on the broadsheet's Page Three reserved for feature stories. I am told it doesn't often carry photos, however the image they are using is about A4 sized. Will definitely get a copy of that framed when I get back.

The image features an African Union troop on patrol in the until recently inaccessible Bakaara Market.

Human Wishing Wall

2011-04-01T16:10:00.000+01:00

I had a long, but great day on Wednesday, photographing acrobats The Dream Performers who constructed a human 'Wishing Wall' on London's South Bank and Manchester's Exchange Square to mark the launch of the Government's £600million Cancer Drugs Fund.

The day started at 8am on a cloudy and dull Southbank, but the acrobats routine as well as their orange brick-patterned catsuits certainly brightened the proceedings. Then we were hightailing it up to Manchester to perform the routine several times in Exchange Square, Manchester.

Wishes of hope for people living with cancer can be pledged on the website, www.thewishingwall.co.uk

Front Cover of Planet Odonti Magazine

2011-03-30T12:06:00.002+01:00

It's always nice to see your images go into print. This week, Planet Odonti, a new lifestyle magazine for dental professionals was launched. The magazine featured a seven page shoot of dental nurse Linda taken by me, including the front cover - Linda with a small selection of her shoe collection!

www.anthony-hunt.com/odontifrontcover.html

My favourite wedding photos from the summer

2010-10-29T16:39:00.001+01:00

It's been a busy time over the last few months with weekend after weekend of weddings (for which I am grateful),but they have all been fun, lovely couples, amazing venues, and as you would expect the mixed bag of weather that is the British Summer - from 30 degree plus days where i got a sunburnt head to driving rain and my kit soaked through.

Each wedding is different and presents a range of photographic opportunities and I have captured some wonderful images. So many to choose from but these are my personal favourites (in no particular order);

The first three images are from Emily and Andreas' wedding in Arundel.

I love the sheer scale of Arundel Cathedral and the composition of them with the vicars outstretched hand in the bottom corner.

This a beautiful portrait of Emily taken against a bright window. She was completely unaware and I love the profile and details of her hair and veil.

The last image from that day outside the cathedral is just great. A grabbed shot, they just look so happy.

The next image is from Shelley and Iain's wedding - The Sussex countryside at its best.

The next image is a grab shot. Lucy the bride, was crouched down talking to her daughter, and as she looked up she made the perfect eye contact with me. Against that neutral background it's so striking.

More images for their day can be found here

The next two images are from Katie and Mark's wedding in September. I got Mark (a most willing model) to lean over the camera while I tried a crash zoom. The fairy lights in the barn roof produced a great star burst effect.

In the morning just as we were leaving Katie's family home, I saw this porthole window and quickly asked her to pose. I love the light falling on her face and the slightly unusual composition.

Iain and Shelley's wedding in West Chiltington. The Sussex countryside at its best and a real romantic shot.

Lastly, are three pictures from Maxine and Stuart's wedding. The first is them leaving the church - it's a great spontaneous moment as she celebrates being married.

Confetti shots are always great moments. I tend to choose a low view point to get as much confetti in as possible. At Maxine and Stuart's wedding though I have never known so much confetti thrown (you can see the confettin on my lens). It is part luck, but that you see their expressive faces in between the gaps makes this a cracking image.

The last is my personal favourite, in the limousine with Maxine and Stuart. I lent back to incorporate as much of the roof as I could and it gives a great starburst effect that leads you down to couple and their toast.

Tough decisions - there are so many pictures I could have chosen. Hope you liked them

For all my wedding pictures from the summer please visit www.ahweddingphotography.com.

Election Project

2010-10-28T23:07:00.000+01:00

One in 2,000

Croatian Magazine stealing my image

2010-10-21T20:27:00.001+01:00

Yesterday while doing a routine search of Google images for a number of political figures that I covered for the 2010 Election, I discovered an image of MikeWeatherley, MP for Hove and Portslade taken by me (back in May) in a Croation E-zine called Xmag, The magazine had used the image to illustrate an article about the recent unfortunate headlines revealed in the Sunday papers (I am not posting an opinion on those headlines).

The picture had been up on there website for at least 5 weeks and had been lifted from the MP's official website (which had been licensed for use by me). Needless to say, I sent Xmag a rather short and sweet email demanding that they pay me for use of the picture. I also in rather juvenile fashion posted on their comment board below the article that this was a infringement of my copyright approximately 30 times.

The Original Photo: www.anthony-hunt/eventphotography.html

I received a reply this morning from the Editor, stateing they had immediately taken it down (as well as my 30 comments!) and were sorry. Their defence being that there were no terms and conditions on the website. AS IF that was a justifiable reason to steal other people's content.

The problem with this situation is that there is no real recourse to take in this instance that won't probably do me more harm than good. Unfortunately, any legal pursuit of this issue would probably be a huge waste of time and money and result in no financial recompense anyway.

The web, regrettably presents the perfect opportunity for many to infringe copyright, and without constantly searching to check whether your images are being used without permission, enables them to largely get away with it. Even when caught out they can just take it down and almost say what are you gonna do about it?

Photographers be vigilant!

Rant over :o)

Picture published in The Guardian

2010-07-14T16:10:00.001+01:00

Very happy this morning - I got a picture (a tiddler) into The Guardian - Page 9 - taken of the police investigation at the former residence in Portslade of serial killer Peter Tobin.

July 13th copy of the Guardian (and below the original from which it was taken)

http://www.anthony-hunt.com/guardian130710.html

The Poetry of Life: The Work of Long Thanh

2010-03-16T15:13:00.009Z

During my recent sojourn through Asia, there were many occasions that I wanted to commit my camera to the bin.

In pursuit of that definitive shot, I was frustrated by technical (and operator) failings, blurred scenes from the back of speeding motos and decapitated subjects whilst trying to surreptitiously shoot from the hip.

However, no greater was the urge to commit my DSLR to a cylindrical disposal device than the day I visited the gallery of one of Vietnam's most celebrated photographers, Long Thanh.

Cliché that it is, it is impossible not to be instantly overwhelmed when first entering the gallery. Hanging in the centre is his most famous photograph, In the Rain. It depicts two girls with an umbrella walking down the street in a downpour, illuminated by an almost improbable shaft of light. It is every photographers dream shot.

But it is just one of many wonderfully stirring images. Taken over 40 years, his work encapsulates the essence of everyday Vietnam - his portraits capture the fears, loneliness, loves, hopes and happiness of its people; his landscapes the back breaking toil in the beauty of the Vietnamese countryside.

Whilst many of Vietnam’s photographers locate themselves in Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, Long Thanh has remained in his native town, the beachside resort of Nha Trang. The majority of his photographs are taken whilst walking around the town and its hinterland, finding inspiration in all around him as he seeks to in capture ‘the poetry of life’.

Whilst surveying these wonderful images, Long Thanh arrives at the gallery. Affable and warm, he takes time to discuss with me his images and even to ask about my own photography. Sighting my camera over my shoulder he asks to see it. With the trepidation a pupil confronting his master I passed it over. ‘Digital!’ He said genially but disapprovingly, snapping a quick portrait shot of me.

Thanh is a true purist. He religiously only uses black and white film, and laments the use of colour film and now even more so the onset of digital. He handprints the results in his makeshift darkroom, a kitchen at the back of the gallery and with quality materials scarce in

Vietnam

, he relies on supplies of paper brought to him from his associates around the world.

Leaving the gallery enriched by Thanh’s images and two of his prints ready to be Fed Ex’d home, I pondered whether I would ever be able to capture such evocative and beautiful images. After a quick survey of a street devoid of bins, I decided to get back on my moto and give it another go.

More information can be found at www.longthanhart.com.

My photos from Vietnam can be found here .

(This post is a modified post originally published on my old blog in 2009)

What is Reportage Wedding Photography

2010-03-12T12:26:00.004Z

I am often being asked by couples what is reportage wedding photography, so I thought I would take a moment to write down what I think it is.

What is reportage wedding photography?

Reportage wedding photography is a style of wedding photography that looks to capture the events of your wedding day as they naturally unfold, with minimal intrusion and intervention.

Reportage Wedding Photography is far more natural, spontaneous and candid - often capturing unique moments from the day that go unseen by many.

Reportage wedding photographers do not dictate the proceedings of the day (there is nothing worse than going to a wedding and being coralled around like cattle, or made to stand around for eternal group shots).

Reportage wedding photography is a fluid record or story of your day from start to finish, rather than a series of staged and contrived shots.

... and What it isn't!

Reportage wedding photography isnt an excuse for poor photography! Good reportage wedding photographers dont simply point the camera at events, but anticipate moments that are about to unfold and look to compose them on the move.

For more examples please take a look at my portfolio