This blog has now moved to a new address – to see it click on http://www.craigholmes.com/journal/
This is part of the new Craig Holmes website at www.craigholmes.com
For anybody that links to this blog, I would be really grateful if you could change it to the above site. Many thanks. Craig
Posted in Photography, commercial photography
From now until September 24th there is an exhibition of some of my flower photography at John Lewis Oxford Street, London (only a small number of pieces). Unfortunately, there is no link to the work – but it is there!
Over the next few weeks there are going to be a fair few changes taking place at our business, Metro Photographic.
Probably the most significant is that the majority of the Crowded Gallery print sales business will pass to a high street retailer. The agreement means that although we can still provide prints, it will be ‘different’ to how it is now. Essentially, we can’t market it – and our web site will have to come down in the next few days or so.
So, if you are interested in a print, it might be worth ordering now, as prices ‘may’ be rising shortly..ok, they will be. www.crowded.co.uk
Amongst other changes will be that this blog will carry on at a new address.
What has happened is that since the business was started in 1998, it has grown in to a much larger firm - or rather the five aspects that make up Metro Photographic – have grown. Crowded will, as I mention, be managed by ‘another firm’. Craig Holmes Archive, will carry on representing my stock interests (as well as being represented by six other agencies). Metro PR Training is growing in order to provide photographic training to marketing and PR agencies. Images of Birmingham has, since 2003, taken on a life of its own meaning that we have to allocate many more resources to it than originally planned (probably just my bad planning!). However, the biggest growth has come from Craig Holmes Photography – every week I am working 80 hours providing photography to the Midlands region.
Providing photographic services to the business community in the Midlands has always been what Metro Photographic is about – and I am making sure that this is what is focused on for the next ten years. Crowded doesn’t quite fit in with this strategy, so we have found a way for it to continue without day to day management.
Posted in Business, My Sites, Uncategorized
The previously mentioned contract to market the West Midlands is now well underway, with just another week to go. It has covered everything from food technology, to manufacturing, to lasers, to military advances, to accountants, to electricity generation, to tyre production, to call centres (I’m not sure where that fits in, but we must be good at it…).
Even though the timetable has been tight, giving just 1.5 hours for an assignment (including dropping equipment off, doing a quick viewing, arranging a model, setting up lighting and cameras, photography, and packing away). It has been really really interesting (who knew Worcestershire produces some of the World’s finest cider and crisps!?). Saying that, it has also been very tiring. A working day has stretched from 7am until midnight for the last two weeks – and on nearly all the assignments I can’t use an assistant due to security clearances needed. The driving alone has taken me from the Welsh Borders, right through to Warwickshire – with mileage totalling nearly 2500 miles so far. The chappy (Martin) who has arranged all the assignments has done an absolutely great job though – meaning I don’t have to cover one area of the West Mids more than once, and also ensuring everyone is ready – even managing to stop robots on the BMW Mini production line.
The first set of images are now with the client to be used abroad. Below is just a very small sample of the photos so far…..
Towards the end of last year I won the photography contract to market Birmingham – and the photos have now pretty much been used worldwide. Well, today I started the newly won contract to market the whole of the West Midlands region to an international market.
It is a huge project, taking place over nearly a month. It really is huge….just the organisation of the project involves someone working full time.
On top of that have been the usual array of other commissions, as well as being asked to act as a consultant on photography for various marketing firms (an area which should be increasing over time).
Finally, I just managed to get an entry in to the Taylor Wessing NPG Portrait Awards – a rush getting the entry to London before the doors closed.
Posted in Business, Photography
Birmingham.
