SWPP & BPPA Photography Convention
18 January 2011
I really enjoyed the SWPP convention this year. I’m always moaning that there is not enough for the advertising / commercial / editorial photographer at this convention, with too much emphasis on the social photography (weddings, portraits) side of things. The bias is totally understandable as there are so many wedding photographers out there, it makes sense to cater for the masses. This year was an exception though. In one day I attended a couple of great seminars. First up, in the morning, Cornwall editorial photographer Bjorn Thomassen. This man really is an artist with location lighting. Truly inspiring and has motivated to increase my self initiated personal work. In the afternoon, I was one of the lucky few attending the seminar by Las Vegas hotel photographer Greg Preston.
Greg’s seminar was of particular interest to me. Although I’m known for photographing architecture and interiors, I also photograph people, lifestyle and food. This a surprisingly unusual mix for a photographer but it makes me ideal for my clients in the hotel, hospitality and travel sectors. Greg shoots the same subjects but for huge Las Vegas resorts such as Bellagio, New York, New York and Mandalay Bay. Unlike me, he works with a large team and big budgets but it was great to talk with him, hear how he and his wife Sharon plan and produce each shoot and how Sharon runs the business side of things. An extremely friendly, positive, likeable guy. As well as being a perfectionist in his work, I can imagine his clients love working with him – which in my experience is half the battle won.
His work is colourful, striking, glamorous and unapologetically commercial in style. It has to be, it’s Vegas. I also love the fact he and his clients are still pursuing quality rather than cramming as many shots as possible into a working day – a big problem since the digital revolution, which ultimately leads to a compromised result. There’s a definite feeling that he doesn’t want to take the shot unless it’s good enough for his portfolio. Unlike most photographers, I reckon he manages to stick to this ethos. From now on, me too.
