"images in marketing" a presentation to the Waveney WiRE Network

It's been a whirlwind two weeks, so much has happened, and my blogging has taken backbench again!!  Aargh!

Two weeks ago I delivered a presentation about "Images in Marketing" to the lovely ladies at the Waveney Valley WiRE 

I have already mentioned this in another blog post I wrote recently, when I was planning on how to best deliver a presentation on the subject.  It is quite easy to cram a slide-show full of your own images and talk to business women about how you achieved your brief, however not so easy to remain totally objective and present a talk that is balancedwith a minimum of your own images and refer to work that hasn't actually been beneficial for the marketing campaign that it was used for as well as highly effective work.

I talked about the use of different types of images for specific areas in marketing and used a multiple intelligences approach to how customers are attracted by marketing material.

I used the website of a talented Maltese artist, Denise Scicluna, as a case study on how the visual and tactile and also kinesthetic elements are effectively targeted in a website, keeping in mind most of the business women present in the room were trading in the crafts and art business.  Denise is a talented artist and photographer and also is the creator if the first arts and crafts market, Patches, in Malta.  

I was wary of using a local example as I did not want to seem to be taking any sides with any local web/marketing companies, particularly as I find that a lot of work here tends to be inspired by people in the same patch and often we need to look further afield for inspiration...

I was initially very tense, as although I have presented complex presentations before, this was totally a new platform to me and I wasn't sure whether I had pitched my presentation at the right level.

The tension however quickly wore off and I found myself in my relaxed, highly talkative and somewhat gesticulating self, delivering what turned out to be quite new information to most of the ladies there.

I was very pleased to hear the excellent feedback from the business women present, and to learn that my delivery had actually been quite clear and efficient as well as being a whole new interesting subject for most of the people there.

Lisa North, one of the Network Leaders of Waveney WiRE kindly took this shot of me in the swing of things.  I must admit I wish I could photoshop and change the way I look in it but that would lose on the documentary that it provides! :))  Many thanks to Lisa for the image and permission to publish! :)

I would be very happy to deliver this presentation to any business networking group that may find the subject particularly useful for their members.  If you feel I can help your business, please get in touch!  :)

contact@antonellamuscatphotography.co.uk

*The Look of Love*

My plan for blog postings has gone amok this month as I've just been too busy, in a good way.  Marketing is taking up a lot more of my time and I continue to refine work on my website and my portfolio.  I've also recently attended the SWPP convention in London and been to some interesting masterclasses, made some good contacts and been thinking about new ways in which to market my business.

In the meanwhile work has also been done towards the launch of East Nofolk WiRE and my presentation for the South Norfolk WiRE Meeting about 'marketing in photography'... I must stop coming up with excuses and just BLOG MORE  :)

Just as Valentine's Day is round the corner I must tell you about my photoshoot for lovers, coming up on the 6th of February.  Just as Valentine's is a celebration of love and happy bliss, this photoshoot will capture the moments of love in a quirky, emotional and personal way, inspired by the love the couples bring with them on the day :)

We will be strolling on the banks of the River Wensum creating a fun atmosphere for couples to enjoy, so that moments of intensity and happiness are captured.  My good friend and fab MUA Helen Dickenson will be doing a makeover for the ladies and the couples will be greeted with a complementary drink, followed by a 30 minute photoshoot.  You will get 5 high res images on disc, and all images will be on a password protected online portfolio for you to view and share with friends and family... all this for £45

Contact me if you are interested as soon as you can, on 07748 197522, to avoid disappointment, as places are filling in quick! :)

Speak soon!

A reply to Lord Alan Sugar...

Earlier last week, Lord Sugar wrote an article in The Telegraph highlighting "home truths about how to succeed in business".

As the owner of a small business myself I read the article with a lot of interest, particularly at that time of year where everybody is doing their resolutions and the rest of us are coming up with a strategy for the year ahead.

The master entrepreneur laudably criticises business for their massive over dependence on the banking system.  As I come from a country where people rely on the banks on the absolute minimum, I completely agree with this argument, having never relied on the banks for anything unless the situation couldn't be tackled in any other way.  I feel playing around with credit is basically playing around with money that isn't one's own and if your budgets are tight and you want to be successful, do you really want to, or actually need to, tie yourself down?

I often hear of people who want to start a photography business with a loan, as if it is the amount of kit or how big your studio is will affect how successful your business is!!  I think we've all been on courses where people's first question is, what kit do you use? Are people confusing priorities here?  Carefully select your kit (and don't compromise on quality) and use your precious budget to improve your skills and get out of the mire of samey work we see published every day by the masses of generalist togs...  Does that piece of plastic seem so important now?

Time is the most important investment in your business.... period.  Time to think and time to plan a way forward is precious....

I'm also very much in agreeance with Lord Sugar where he talks about the fact that a business is "all about you".  The strength of a business is often dependant on the individual approach an enterprise takes.  If everybody took the same approach, copied the same style and packages, developed in quite a similar way and invested a similar amount of money (remember we are SMALL businesses) then clients wouldn't know what to choose.  The client will look at what stands out for them, be it pricing tier, creativity, versatility, location, approach etc etc...  How are you going to impinge your individuality on your business, why are people choosing you?  Is it because you appear on the first page on the Google search or is it really because people have fallen in love with your photography and are they impressed with your approach when you actually get to speak...  Be different, we're all different.  Competitors have a look at my work all the time, they copy my approaches, my packages... they can't copy what goes on in my head though and how I choose to move forward, how I take my creativity forward, there is only one of me! :)

Where I really struggle to follow Lord Sugar's argument is where he slags off networks for being the sort of thing make for people who need to be told what to do.  Of course there are different types of networks who deal for specific target businesses, and some are a lot more high powered and testosterone loaded than others.... however...

...as a photographer I feel the strength of business networks is not only about training or making business contacts (most people know about ten other photographers anyway), but it's about gaining confidence, knowing that it isn't just you that hits a brick wall sometimes and then after a while, looking back and seeing how much you and the other networkers have moved on, with each others support.  You get to meet some lovely people, some of which actually become friends, people who appreciate you as a person first and foremost, before all your skills and business expertise....

Finally, Lord Sugar, just remember, we're not all there to take, some of us are there to give!  :)

Antonella :)

PS look forward to your comments!!!

Quick posting... important update... :)

Just a quick post to let you know that the link from the previous post to my new website was'nt working.

It's all fixed now!! :)

So just click on to this text, to view my new website! :)

Many thanks to Paul for spotting this! :)

New Year, New Website!!!

Dear all, I hope your 2011 has started on a good note! I view it as a brand new year full of opportunities for me, to which I bring all the learning from experiences from 2010, good and bad, an ongoing enthusiasm, a clear direction for my future and the support of friends old and new!  I hope things will go well, but as always, good things are mostly the result of hard work, and I'm here ready with my sleeves rolled up ready for action.

I launch 2011 with my business website, finally, as my blog has been a valid showcase for my work for the last eighteen months, and flickr before that.... Many have thought I was new to websites and I've had a good number of professionals network with me trying to sell me the benefits of a website. ;)  

The reality is that my experience with websites goes back to the year 2000, when I convinced a friend of mine to build a personal site for me that centered around my passion for motorsport.  The site was an advanced one for the time, with a flash intro, and music from one of my favourite Maltese bands Beangrowers, and aptly named Antonella's World, to cover my many interests...

Photography was featured, as I've always been into this, but, being the self critical person I am, it took me a long time and some convincing from people around me that I had talent so it took me around 25years to start calling myself a photographer. Anyway, website one brought me into contact with many petrolheads around the world and opened my world a great deal, and gave me my first experiences into design and elemenatary SEO skills.  

At the time I was also public relations officer for the Island Car Club (the Maltese Hillclimb and Sprint Club) and we launched the ICC website, which I helped to design, to a very impressed crowd at the ICC annual awards dinner in December 2000.

My website designer became very busy as his business took off with the motorsport links he got set up with and Antonellasworld became an abandoned site, as I had no control over the site and had no working knowledge of HTML.

Around 2005 I decided to go my own way and launch a functional version of my website on Moonfruit.com, which allowed me to use ready made templates, offered few features but allowed me to upload and change things at will.  I still recommend Moonfruit to small businesses and individuals with a limited budget as it provides a step into the web without major expense and allows people to slowly learn their way though the basics of managing a website.  I used Moonfruit up to early 2008 when it became clear to me that my life needed a change of direction and that the content no longer reflected that and I closed site two down.

Since I've started to run my photography business, people have asked me for my website address, and I've directed them to this blog all the while.  The blog has served me very well in allowing me to showcase some of my work and also letting people have some insight into what sort of person and photographer I am.  I must say I am impressed by how much I have continued to have business and continued interest in my work via this blog.

I have delayed the website by a long time as I wanted to make sure I was ready.. I wanted a site that was better than what I had before, and the bar was already set high...  I spent many months thinking, and weighing out options before I sat down at my desk last week and worked out flat for nearly 48 hours... coming up with what I think is a site that best reflects me and my style of work at this time.

As with all that I do, it is a site in development, and I have been doing lots of tweaking over the last few days.  

I hope you like it, and look forward to your feedback....

ANTONELLA MUSCAT PHOTOGRAPHY

Note that if you are using an iPhone or android phone to view the site you will see the  fast loading mobile version with less features.

Meanwhile I will continue to blog regularly and look forward to your suggestions for new blog postings, if there is anything that you would specifically like me to cover.

Hope 2011 brings you peace, happiness and good health xxx

Sneak preview Shoot with Andie Beaven

Short blog posting today, just a quick sneak preview of a  fun shoot with Norwich based actress Andie Beaven in the snow.  The first shot is my very favourite, as it captures what this shoot was about... Fun and Snow!!! :)

Andie was brilliant and didn't seem to mind  the shoot in the sub zero temperatures, whilst big thanks go to the Park Hill Hotel in Lowestoft for the lovely coffees and the soothing warmth of their open fire.

 

That's all for now folks, hope you like the selection for now!  :)

Will post some more soon, but in the meantime, hope you have a good week! x

Shoot for the Inspire Discovery Centre

A few weeks back I was asked to shoot a series of images which will go into the Inspire Discovery Centre's new website.  My brief was to photograph the team on their stand at a recent B2B Exhibition organised by the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, as well as photograph some of their activities and stands on a busy day.

The Inspire Discovery Centre is a wonderful place to visit if you have young kids and you live in or around Norwich.  Inspire's aim is to stimulate curiosity and interest in science and technology, and must I say this 42 year old found plenty to study and think about during the photoshoot and it's the sort of place where both kids and their parents can join into an activity that is both fun and a learning opportunity.  The Centre is housed in one of Norwich's finest mediaeval churches and provides an interesting setting as well as a huge floor space for activities. 

I start off this set with a picture of Shell and her team at Inspire with their business partners at the B2B. These include Inspired Change, Pink Connect and Repro Arts, along with other organisations that are helping Inspire Discovery keep going.  Unfortunately these are difficult times for the centre, and they are having to scale down their budgets in these difficult times.  It would be really sad to see the centre close down because it is a really special environment for parents who want to introduce a science biased learning environment to their young ones.  Inspire Discovery have a link to their donations website so as to enable people to donate whatever they can towards the cause.  Please donate generously if you can as it is an investment towards the local future generation.

I hope my images best illustrate Shell's team's hard work and the facilities of this Centre and in some small way generate more interest in what they do. From the photographic point of view, the challenge in this shoot was the poor lighting in the church, which was compounded by the fact that the shoot was held on an extremely gray and rainy day.  Gladly the low light capabilities in my D700 never fail to amaze me as well as the great performance of my trusty 50mm 1.4 which gives the best results possible in such conditions.

For now best of luck Inspired Discovery!! Hope the new year brings you the long term funding which will secure your future!

my first photography speaking experience...

Awake at silly o'clock again, today with an extremely painful gum condition .... I woke up to a random dream and realised I really was planning a photoshoot in my head...  I've got this idea to depict a scene from the Italian Commedia dell'arte, but I wont give away anything yet, as need to discuss this with my make up artist, find a suitable location, models etc... maybe I will go book some costumes later ;)

After a search for historically relevant scenery I found myself looking at backlinks to my blog and found that Waveney Valley WiRE have put their speakers list for 2011 up on their page.  There I am in all my pixellated glory! Eek! :) (Lisa, I will send you a profile photo later ! :) 

I will be speaking about marketing in photography, as I am constantly aware that businesses may actually negatively affect their marketing strategy, either by using overused stock photography, poor quality images or images that do not clearly reflect the style and ethos of the business.

I plan for the presentation to be an interactive and challenging one, based on a variety of media and using some scientific background knowledge I feel businesswomen need to  be aware of when commissioning marketing companies and media professionals.  That's all I can say for now, as the presentation is fully ready in my head but still needs to come down into physical form and I may change details in the next few weeks.

Although I have given regular and sometimes complex presentations before, sometimes to a discerning professional platform, I must admit that I will probably be very tense and anxious whilst I deliver this, as this is my first time presenting to such an audience.

I hope they will be kind...

Anyway, my presentation is scheduled for the 1st of February at the Fisher Theatre in Bungay... Please come and have a listen to what I have to say if you are a businesswoman in the Norfolk/Suffolk area with some time to spare that evening.  You can attend to two WiRE events for free until you consider joining and the membership only then costs £40 a year (although I am told this is going up soon).  This gives you wonderful value for money if you want to join a dynamic business group run by women for women.

WiRE will also be launching in Great Yarmouth as East Norfolk WiRE on the 3rd of February.  We  (Maureen Chadwick and myself) will be holding our events at the Cobholm and Lichfield Centre next to the Nelson Surgery in Pasteur Road. Parking is freely available.  Attendance costs £5 and includes tea/coffee.  We will be announcing our calendar of speakers in the next few weeks so watch this space.  :)

Hope you have a lovely weekend .... x

* the meaning of life *

Dear Friends,

 

I just wanted to share with you a lovely video I came across on Facebook, found on a page called Sante et Beaute pour tous (apologies for the missing accents but I can't locate them on my laptop)!

Some lovely thoughts about the meaning of life, a subject which has made me wonder and think hard, especially in particularly difficult times I have been through.

I moved on when I learnt to accept myself and to love myself first and foremost, as you cannot be strong and offer love and support to others if you are not strong and self assured in yourself before everything else.  

I came to the UK nearly five years ago with a number of boxes of books, some clothing, my dear son and some precious court papers, and virtually no money, but with a job in hand.  Where I am today is a combination of tenacity, very hard work and an assurance in my own heart that things would be better than they ever were... and when you have very little in life, you start to appreciate the best things in life, the loveliest and the most basic, the ones that light our lives and give it meaning.  As I browsed this link on FB, I realised that what came to me as a realisation after a tortuous life experience, may something others may still need to come to...

I hope you will find this little clip as wonderful as I do :)

In the meantime, Goodnight ... x

The winners of my free photography portfolio opportunity for businesses

It's been a manically busy week with exhibitions and business networking but I now have some time to update you with the latest stuff....

I just wanted to announce the winners of my free business portfolio offer:

These are...

Jane Pennington - Stone Me   
http://www.stone-me.co.uk/

Sue Huckle - Posh Plants
http://www.poshplants.com/

Elaine Martin- Silver Clay Designs
http://www.silverclaydesigns.com/

I am delighted to be working with these three businesses and to develop a portfolio that will help their marketing campaign.

Over the next few weeks you will see evidence of their campaigns developing with an introduction to these businesses and how I will work to create images to their brief.

More updates very soon!!! :)