Photographer in Solent today

[lenseman]

There was a time early this year (16 Feb 2009) when the current government passed a law enabling the police to stop anyone in a public place from photographing a police officer or any military person in uniform.

There was an outcry and the press stated that they would not be able to report news events and also, overseas London visitors would not be allowed to take a picture with anyone standing next to a Buckingham Palace guard!!!

Watch the following video and see how bad it got earlier this year:

http://current.com/items/88856223_you-cant-picture-this.htm

See also:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImC2orpcA4I&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYCjA7goCpQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrmP4MwHTKw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1RKRpS7CT8&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoayJD8X268&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWoiy3fVaQM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXk4nLIv5jo&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlLqHpFtKxM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYwVM0Jf834

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLjHZZodIl0

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/feb/12/photographers-anti-terror-laws

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/new...4643415/Spy-chief-We-risk-a-police-state.html

 

[sea]

All of the above simply confirms in my mind that the police are the most dangerous people on the streets, especially as they seem to have no clue about the law.

And they wonder why the country is in such a state?

i personally have VERY little time for the boys in blue.

 

[andythilo]

There was a time early this year (16 Feb 2009) when the current government passed a law enabling the police to stop anyone in a public place from photographing a police officer or any military person in uniform.

There was an outcry and the press stated that they would not be able to report news events and also, overseas London visitors would not be allowed to take a picture with anyone standing next to a Buckingham Palace guard!!!

Watch the following video and see how bad it got earlier this year:

http://current.com/items/88856223_you-cant-picture-this.htm

See also:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImC2orpcA4I&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYCjA7goCpQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrmP4MwHTKw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1RKRpS7CT8&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoayJD8X268&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWoiy3fVaQM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXk4nLIv5jo&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlLqHpFtKxM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYwVM0Jf834

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLjHZZodIl0

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/feb/12/photographers-anti-terror-laws

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/new...4643415/Spy-chief-We-risk-a-police-state.html

Can't believe the attitude of that Community Support Office. Talk about abusing his powers, what a moron.

 

[snooks]

As for boatphotos, we bought a pic from them, good service and a good price.

What I dont get... is how on earth they do enough volume to make any money????

10 quid a print... figure costs em around £2..... but with say 2 peeps working full time, plus boat, overheads, website etc.... They need to be selling at least £250 a day to make any money... which means 30 prints a day... 365 days a year....

You see, you've got your business head on....swap it for your boating head

The way I see it is that they go and play on their boat, they enjoy taking photos...they take their cameras with them when they play on their boat.

Their boat is now commercial/part of the business (red diesel??) VAT back on service and upkeep. VAT back on cameras

The pics contribute/pay for the diesel that day...Taaa didily ah dah dahhhhh!

A free day out on the water

 

[robp]

Firstly £10 is the smallest pic. A bigger pic will cost more. But I think the real money is in "corporate stuff" - so if you can get some corporate charter / day out with say 8 guests there - then as part of the nice "package" for the guests then they/thier hosts can buy prints for everyone. Magazine work, commerical shots for promotional literature etc - all adds £ - then I guess it depends if you are trying to make serious money or just maintain a lifestyle.

My son is a photographer and does this. He has the facility to offer large format prints and stretched canvas, which expands the business. He has a very good take up for canvasses.

Ahem - makes a nice gift for Christmas!

 

[[2574]]

Directed at Photodog...............

Doug,

I'm surprised that you don't take your kit on board when you're drifting around the West Country (trying to catch up with a Nauticat!) and take a few photo's; it would make good beer money surely? I think I paid > £120 for an A3 sized photo of my boat from Beken. And jolly good it is too..............

 

[Matrosen]

All of the above simply confirms in my mind that the police are the most dangerous people on the streets, especially as they seem to have no clue about the law.

And they wonder why the country is in such a state?

i personally have VERY little time for the boys in blue.

As, from a another land ,Isee this happening to the country of my birth , I recall the title of the South African book/film 'Cry beloved country'.

 

[shmoo]

Of course if you are lucky enough to be photographed by someone who uploads the picture to yourboatpix, you will get it for free!

Sorry, couldn't resist a plug.

 

[photodog]

Doug,

I'm surprised that you don't take your kit on board when you're drifting around the West Country (trying to catch up with a Nauticat!) and take a few photo's; it would make good beer money surely? I think I paid > £120 for an A3 sized photo of my boat from Beken. And jolly good it is too..............

One should never mix business with pleasure.


I have a couple of other rules as well...

Dont get your meat were you get your bread.
Dont expect your staff to do something that you cannot or will not do.
Gin is for the ladies.


But its a funny thing... Everyone thinks that because I am a photographer... I should be out doing pictures all the time for pleasure... But what I do is not determined by my own desires, what I do is determined by the client. Whilst I enjoy this, and enjoy the challenges that this presents... I find that attempting to be my own client is much more difficult. The challenge and the joy for me, is producing a result which brings pleasure to the client.
I enjoy good photography, and am a student of the art... but for me the real challenge lies in pleasing the client. That is what brings me satisfaction.


We have a well developed feedback system in the company... and I find that I get a huge buzz when this feedback is positive... and I am lucky that my staff also find this very satisfying.

We produce a lot of photography... and having done this for 25 years, most of what we do is not far removed from what we did last week, and last month, and last year..... So the challenge is getting inside the skin of the client... and turning them into fans.

So, when I go sailing, I like to sail! In fact, I LOVE to sail!

 

[snooks]

One should never mix business with pleasure.

Doh!

 

[[2574]]

The challenge and the joy for me, is producing a result which brings pleasure to the client. I enjoy good photography, and am a student of the art... but for me the real challenge lies in pleasing the client. That is what brings me satisfaction. So, when I go sailing, I like to sail! In fact, I LOVE to sail!

The artist wins over the capitalist once again; and rightly so..............

 

[BoatPhotos]

Boat Photos, Prices and Privacy

A friend has just brought this thread to my attention and I welcome the opportunity to comment.

As Robin suggests, the satisfaction in this job is the feedback from customers, which is reward in itself. Yes, the income helps with running the boat, but I don’t do it for the money.

What started as a hobby in 2005 has become a full time job from April to October. The popularity of the website is justified by the 400,000 page views received in the last year.

Cheap prices – well maybe – I call it good value. The price structure has been developed from regular feedback from clients. Yes, we do sell photos at £9.95 but this is only a small part of the turnover which ranges to canvasses, gifts and more. Our most popular line is JPEG digital files which enable people to share with friends and family.

When it comes to privacy, I try to be sensible. I have no problem uploading a shot of three or more people all waving and shouting, whereas if there are just two on board I will usually upload a long shot. When owners log on and request the close ups that’s fine by me. After all, most people want to be able to see themselves in a photo.

This brings to mind two amusing incidents. A 70ft flybridge cruiser with a gentleman and his young lady aboard turned around and shouted that I was breaking the data protection act! Once I assured him that his photo would not be published he went away happy. On another occasion, a RIB owner asked me to remove his photo from the site as he was supposed to be somewhere else that day! Over four summers and about 100,000 photos I can honestly say these are the only two complaints received.

Oh, apart from the Corniche owner who insisted that he had parked his boat on the beach just outside Poole Harbour on purpose. Oh yes? Have a look and see what you think http://www.boatphotos.co.uk/portfolio58043.html.