Included in a packed program of speakers, demonstrations and seminars, was a talk by our own Catherine Connor and Lisa Aldersley on How to Build a Successful Wedding Business.

Lisa commented, “It was amazing to spend a day with so many people active within the wedding industry; so passionate about their craft and so keen to share their knowledge with others.  A great experience!”

“Catherine was an exceptional speaker and I scribbled quotes of hers down throughout.  Lisa was also excellent – it was interesting to hear about some of the soft skills involved in her acquiring work.”  UNVEILED delegate

To enter the UNVEILED competition and be in with a chance of having your images printed in Wedding Magazine, one of the UK’s best selling bridal titles – select five shots of a real-life marriage which you feel best display your photographic talents and follow this link to for further details – THE COMPETITION

Catherine’s advice –

•    Make sure that you buy a copy of Wedding Magazine, browse their website, before selecting your entry images.  Get a feel for their type of photography, what they like.
•    Think about how your collection of images will sit alongside other entries – remember judges won’t be seeing your work in isolation.
•    The Rules! Don’t just skim over them – read them carefully, and make sure you stick to any essential guidelines, as images are often rejected purely because they haven’t followed the submission procedure.
•    Keep an eye on the deadline date – 31st August 2010 – and give yourself plenty of time to prepare your images.  Start creating image folders on your computer now, and spend time over the next month creating and selecting potential award-winning images.  Little and often.
•    A great way to develop your style is to plan some playtime into your photography.  It could be the last ten minutes after a wedding, when you have already captured your required shot list.  Here you can be truly creative without one eye on the clock.

Remember, the only limits are the ones you set for yourself!

Good Luck

WE ARE VERY PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE WINNER OF THE ANNABEL WILLIAMS CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHIC TRAINING BESPOKE PROGRAMME COMPETITION 2010 AS LUCY WOODROW OF WARWICKSHIRE!

We are very proud to announce the winner of the Annabel Williams Contemporary Photographic Training Bespoke Programme Competition 2010 as Lucy Woodrow of Warwickshire!

Lucy WINS a place on the industry-leading 12-month Bespoke Programme.  She will join the 34th group of aspiring photographers to embark on the programme in September of this year.

On hearing the news Lucy said, “I am just so completely thrilled to have been chosen for this phenomenal prize.  I have followed the blogs and sites of many of the super-talented photographers who have completed the Bespoke Programme and I am acutely aware of the many, many benefits this will hold for my photography business and me.  Ordinarily I wouldn’t wish the summer away but I simply can’t wait until September when the course begins!”

Lucy, wife of Ed and mum two, only found her true vocation as a photographer three years ago.  From that moment on she was convinced that something special was on the horizon – she was right!

Having spent her post university years as a wedding coordinator’s assistant followed by a customer services representative Lucy always knew that her true passion lay in the creative arts.

“I am a very creative person, (right brained all the way) and I thought that perhaps I might be a talented painter like my mum.  I tried and I was wrong.  Then I found photography and it found me.

I could over-sentimentalise about what it means to me to have found my true vocation, I won’t, but it is a great deal and I believe that the strength of that passion shows through in the images I create.”

Like many creative people, Lucy admits to finding the commercial side of running a photography business challenging at times but she constantly strives to educate herself to overcome any obstacles that she faces.

Catherine Connor commented, “Lucy has exceptional potential as both a photographer and a businesswoman.  She has both the maturity and determination to succeed and I know that she will give it 130%!  This is the right time for Lucy and we can’t wait to work with her.”

Congratulations Lucy!  We are all really looking forward to seeing you in September!

For more information on the Bespoke Programme and availability on the September intake please contact Mel on 01539 821791 or email enquiries@annabelwilliams.com.

WIN A PLACE ON THE RENOWNED BESPOKE PROGRAMME FROM ANNABEL WILLIAMS CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHIC TRAINING WORTH OVER £9,000!

The Bespoke Programme has developed a reputation for excellence having produced some of the biggest names in the business!  This 12-month business-building programme is designed to provide you with all of the knowledge and tools that you need to launch a successful photographic business from scratch with intensive training and support from the most reputable photographers and business trainers in the industry today.

ABOUT YOU

• Passionate about photography?
• Longing to start a successful photographic business?
• Determined to work hard alongside our training team to realise your dream?
• Able to commit to the 14 module dates scheduled?
  

Our winner should answer “Yes” to all of these questions.  If you have the will, we have the way!

WHAT OUR STUDENTS SAY…

“The whole course has been inspiring, tiring, exciting, fun, life-changing and a whole lot of other things. You could run out of words to describe the positives coming out of this course. I’ve never experienced such wise counsel or inspirational instruction as I have in the last year and you should be proud of everything you have shared with our group.”

Kenn Reay – Bespoke Programme Graduate

THE BESPOKE PROGRAMME

14 days of training combined with 12 months unlimited business support via telephone, email and online. We have a dedicated team of trainers, who are as committed to your success as you are. Take a look at the programme overview and dates below and if you have any questions please call Mel on 01539 821791.

Brand building and finance – Monday 27th September 2010
Liberate your camera – Tuesday 28th September 2010
Sales and presentation – Wednesday 29th September 2010
Marketing and PR – Monday 13th December and Tuesday 14th December 2010
Intensive photography workshop – Monday 21st February and Tuesday 22nd February 2011
Digital workflow – Wednesday 23rd February 2011
Wedding photography and business – Monday 18th April and Tuesday 19th April 2011
Developing your business leadership – Monday 27th June and Tuesday 28th June 2011
Planning your future – Tuesday 5th September and Wednesday 6th September 2011

THE COMPETITION

Photography is subjective and we are open-minded.  We admire those that do it their way and our mission is to develop people with a creative eye and sense for capturing the emotion they see in their subjects.

TO ENTER PLEASE SUBMIT -

Two prints:  Select two images in which you feel you have captured the emotions of your subjects.  It could be a family interacting together, a wedding couple or a solitary moment – a child; a teenager; an adult or even “one man and his dog!”  The images should represent your style of photography, must be supplied as prints and should be no larger than 10”x 8”.

Your answer to the following question in a maximum of 250 words:  Why do you want to do the Bespoke Programme?

Full contact details including:
Name
Address
Postcode
Email
Telephone
Website (if applicable)

PLEASE POST YOUR ENTRY TO -

The Bespoke Competition 2010
Annabel Williams Studio
Staveley Mill Yard
Staveley
Nr Kendal
LA8 9LR

CLOSING DATE – 31st May 2010

FINALISTS - Six finalists will be invited to an interview at the Annabel Williams Studio on 19th June 2010 and further to this the winner will be announced.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS -

• Deadline – midnight on Monday 31st May 2010 (We are firm so don’t be late!).
• Entries by post only please – any entries received via email will be disregarded.
• Images should be printed on photographic paper, no larger than 10”x 8” and cut to size.
• We are unable to return any of the prints submitted.
• The judges’ decision is final and no dialogue will be entered into.
• The competition is open to UK and Southern Ireland residents aged 18 or over only.
• No part of this prize is exchangeable for cash or any other product or service provided by Annabel Williams Contemporary Photographic Training.
• The prize is not transferable to another person.
• Entry limited to one per person.  The winner is responsible for ensuring they are able to accept the prize as set out and in accordance with the Bespoke Programme dates and interview date for finalists as detailed, in the event they are unable to do so Annabel Williams Contemporary Photographic Training reserves the right to re issue the prize to another entrant.
• You must be prepared to contribute to the Annabel Williams Contemporary Photographic Training blog on a regular basis and other media where requested with details of your Bespoke Programme experience and supporting images with our support.
• By entering, all eligible entrants agree to abide by each and all these terms and conditions.
  

Good Luck!  We look forward to receiving your entries.

What gestures of love and friendship will you be showering your clients and close business contacts with this year?  Building and maintaining relationships for the business is a life long commitment that should not be switch off because of work pressures.  Loving our customers should always be at the forefront of your mind.  Think about what you have been taught as a grown up, about the effort required in maintaining healthy relationships, all that experience and knowledge can be transferred to the business world too.

Catherine Connor

Photography

What motivated you to become a digital trainer?

My first ever job within the industry was teaching photography on a government funded training scheme.  The thrill of ‘watching the penny drop’ with students was (and still is) fantastic to see.  The digital side of this has really just been a natural progression.

If you could teach only one thing what might it be?

A camera is blind, it is just a box with a hole in it.  Your eye and imagination are the tools of your trade.

How would you describe your photographic education?

Self taught through magazines such as Practical Photography.

If you could give a tip to somebody in the early stages of learning, what might that be?

Follow your heart, don’t get dispirited and most of all keep plugging away.  If you want it enough eventually it will all come together.

Who are your photographic heroes?

Bob Carlos Clarke.  His book ‘The Dark Summer’ is the reason I became a photographer.

Where do you head for inspiration?

Google, Google & Google!  The internet is a fantastic learning and visual experience.  I wish it had been available when I had first started out!

What keeps your photographic offering fresh?

Hopefully by not following trends, not plagiarizing others work and shooting as much personal work as possible to keep me sane!

Where do you feel photography is heading?

I know where the industry wants it to go and that is the route of video, although I REALLY hope this is not the case.  Taking a video sequence then choosing a frame involves no skill at all.

What is the biggest mistake photographer’s make when becoming a photographer?

I think most photographers become professional because the love taking pictures, however in a professional environment if you are not careful you can lose sight of this.

What is the biggest mistake successful photographer’s make?

Forgetting why they wanted to be professional in the first place!  When people take the plunge and turn professional they don’t take pictures ‘for fun’ anymore, that is such a shame.

The man within the business

What have been your best learns to date when developing the business?

Don’t be too precious with your work.  If the client likes it and wants to pay for it you have done well, and remember clients don’t always have good taste!

What do you wish you had done differently/known in your first few years in business?

I wish I had learn’t more business skills especially cold calling on the telephone, something I still dread to this day!

What is currently influencing the success of your business?

Making a conscious decision to work to my strengths and not my weaknesses.  This has been hard to achieve as I don’t like to be beaten!!  It is however paying dividends.

The big picture

What aspects of running the business do you enjoy the most?

Everything, except dealing with the tax man!

What is your secret to success?

Living, breathing and eating photography.   Never giving up.  Developing a VERY thick skin!

This seminar provides an insight into all that you need to know with regard to running a successful photography business and how to position that business on the industry map at speed. If you have no time for mistakes and are determined to take a place in the photographic lifestyle market, this is the seminar for you. In four days of intensive training you will cover areas including brand building, operations, photography, digital workflow, sales tools, to name but a few. You will learn how to attract the right clients and create a complete photographic experience to remember from the first point of contact to the image viewing. Whether you are at the start of a new career or looking to re invent your current business The A to Z of Photography and Business will put you on the right road. You will leave with more than an education. You will leave with the answers that you have been searching for, the questions that you should be pondering and a team of life long, like-minded friends.

The Creative Christmas competition was designed to give you a platform to exercise your humour and creativity through photography.  Many of you rose to the challenge and I would like to thank everyone who did.  The industry holds a great deal of talent all of which should be celebrated.

Creative Winner:  Claire Burns

Creative Christmas was about pushing your boundaries.  With her winning image, Claire has managed to capture the magic of Christmas and all of the beauty that the festive season brings with her own unique and innovative approach to photography.

Prize – 12 month subscription to What Digital Camera and a bottle of bubbly

Naff Winner:  Carl Keenan

This image immediately brought a smile to our faces.  I imagine that a Christmas cake was destroyed and a great effort made to create this naff Christmas scene.  There is something so endearing about it, you can’t quite not like it.  This image represents all that is fun in photography and the great things that can be achieved when you look at the most everyday items a little differently.  “That bad it’s fab!”

Prize – 6 month subscription to Amateur Photographer and a bottle of bubbly

The winner’s prizes are winging there way to them as we speak – champagne and photography magazines packed full of inspiration – what creative synergy!

The A to Z of photography and Business is a seminar dedicated to photographers who seek answers, information and a fast track approach to developing themselves and their business.

If you would like an opportunity to WIN a place on this 4-day seminar all you have to do is complete the following questionnaire, your details will then be entered into a prize draw taking place on Monday 25th January 2010.

All entries need to be received no later than Friday 22nd January 2010, any entries received after this date will not be eligible to enter.

Good Luck!

http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e2odp49ug45kx7l1/start

So, that said, what is going to be hot property into this year? The media has the answer in one word, Gok! Women all over the UK have, and are still avidly watching ‘How to Look Good Naked’ with Gok Wan, listening to his famous catchphrase ‘Celebrate your body’, and being influenced. Clearly not all can appear on the show but the interest is there and growing daily.

Many of you will still remember the impact that Annabel Williams had on the media herself when she introduced her Cover Girl makeover shoots. She became a legend in the press who were as hungry for an innovative new product as the consumer at the time, not to mention her television appearances. It was from this that she established her position in the marketplace and remains ahead of the game to this day.

Our next ‘Making Women Looking Fantastic in Lingerie’ is on January 28th 2010.

Below is a selection of images taken on the last seminar.