CORPORATE

International Women's Day Portraits for Audi Canada

in ,

I recently had the pleasure to take part in a national project for Audi Canada highlighting International Women’s Day. Here are my 2 favourites.

Sir Richard Branson

in ,

Sir Richard Branson was one of a wealth of speakers attending C2 Montreal in 2013. Being in the room, C2 as my client. This is why photographers know so much!

MONTREAL AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

in ,

I had the pleasure of helicopter flight yesterday over Montreal. The mandate was to created a series of images showing the project development stages of various publicly funded infrastructure sites. Respecting my client, I offer you instead a few of my out takes from the flight. (Out-takes: images I create for my own interests)

C2 Montreal [RE] Imagined in a Covid World

in ,

C2 Montreal 2021 wrapped yesterday at Tohu. I was happy to be back with the C2 team and working alongside so many creative collaborators. After the loss of C2, 2020, due to Covid, I was curious to see how the event would unfold this year. C2 Montreal ran their iconic event on a smaller, [RE] imagined scale. This allowed them to test out their new "hybrid" event format, which combines both live in person with remote via screen participations. One conference I photographed just had three screens with people all interacting in conversation. It was bizarre but still delivered lively content. Many attendees participated on-line as well due to restricted in person places. All said, it was different, but still worked. Here are some of my favourite images from the three days.

C2 Montreal 2019

in , , ,

By Allen McEachern

C2 Montreal wrapped last Friday night. This year marked my 7th edition as one of the official photographers of C2. My role in this edition was to cover the speakers and events of the Cabaret venue. Great master classes and tons of insight into the trends of today and tomorrow. Here are a few of my favourite images from #C2M19.

Inside Montreal's Metro

in ,

These images represent a portion of a larger corporate image bank that I created for the L'Autorité Régionale de Transport Métropolitain (ARTM). A wonderful example of public works design in Canada during 1960’s and 70’s.

Urban Mobility - A 3 Season Corporate Stock Shoot for the ARTM

in ,

During the Summer, Autumn, and Winter of 2017, I had the great pleasure and honour of creating a corporate image bank for the then newly formed Autorité Régionale de Transport Métropolitain (ARTM). This one mother agency consolidated 35 separate transportation agencies in to one large company. With no existing image licenses under the new corporate identity, the ARTM hired me to create a body of work which they could draw upon for their marketing and communications. All of the images that I created were shot on location, were not staged, and had to be free from identifiable people and company logos. This is exactly my wheelhouse. The main themes were interconnectedness, urban mobility, active communities, and usability. Here are few of my favourites from the 1200 images I submitted to them.

Movin'On 2018 by Michelin - My Top Five Images

in , ,

Last week Montreal hosted the 21st edition of Michelin's conference on global mobility - Movin'On. This three day event is produced by C2 Montreal. Movin'on brings global leaders in the transportation industry together for dynamic talks and networking activities. My role is to capture images of all the main speakers. My images are used for media hand outs, social media, and of course, by Michelin in their marketing and promotion efforts. Here are my top 5 images selected from over 15000 captures. (Click on the images for a larger view and captions)

A Week Long Shoot in Panama for Traffic Coffee

in , , , ,

By Allen McEachern.

Some of my favourites from my recent trip to Bouquete, Panama + Playa Venao, Panama.

C2 Montreal 2017 Photo Highlights

in , , ,

By Allen McEachern

Over the past five years, I have had the tremendous pleasure to be one of the official photographers of C2 Montreal. Every spring I look forward to the week of C2. The content, space, participation, and logistics of this project are impressive. As one of 5 photographers my take is limited to the main conferences and general movement from place to place. Here are some of my favourite images from C2 Montreal 2017. 

Photographing Non-Professional Models

in , ,

By Allen McEachern.

I recently had the experience of working with non-professional models to create advertising for a national brand. The reason was that the client wanted to use their real employees to show the face of their company. This is an increasing trend in advertising photography. I believe that in this case it was a great approach to being transparent with the bigger message. The campaign has the goal of recruiting new employees. The message is that it is not just a job, but a career - highlighting the possibility for advancement with in the company. 

The challenge for photographers, in this case me, is to be selective and honest with the candidates to be photographed. Without the intent of hurting feelings…not all people photograph well. The client is expecting a specific result and it starts by choosing the “right” people available at the time. When I am involved in the selection process I try to get the most visual information from the subject as quickly as I can. I try to see a range of expressions, looking at them from different perspectives. I start by getting them comfortable with me, making them laugh, or asking about them. I also want to start and build a raport with them as quickly as possible, make them feel at ease, relaxed.

Once we have a selection of staff to be photographed, I like to put them in context of their work. Place them or leave them in a place that is familiar to them. I ask the subject to show me something specific to their work, or tell me something about what they do. I ask questions and get engaged. Reading this back to myself I know this sounds obvious, but it really is a skill that has to be developed over time and delivered with ease, naturally.

I explain what I will be doing. How many shots will I be looking to make. What my goal is. “I am looking to make three strong portraits of you in three different poses. These images will be used for…….It should take us about so much time.” You get the picture. I explain briefly the settings of the camera and how they impact what I am creating - depth of field, lighting, sometimes describing a mood that I want to create. Most people are curious about photography and explaining what I am doing helps them focus on something else. I will even show them an image or two (beauty of digital). This can really help put people at ease once they see how they look. (* Use caution here - I won’t show images to someone that I sense as being self conscious or over nervous, or controlling - it could turn negative fast.)

Once the raport is established and the shooting starts, I am reading the subject’s body language. Are they engaging? How do they look? Am I getting both sides, different positions, changing the positions of the hands, the head, looking for details, making sure they look their best. I try to create as many options as I can. Horizontal, vertical, close up, medium, full length. Different placement in the frame, different lenses (two cameras) different d.o.f. settings, slight lighting adjustments. I am also very attentive to how the subject is feeling. Are they really nervous? Are they bored or distracted? Are they laughing for no reason? 

My goal is to create the most value for the client. I also want to make the person being photographed feel proud about the images we create. If I can do these two as a base then I know it will work out for all of us. 

How do you handle photographing everyday people for advertising? I think this is something that we will see more of. What are your thoughts. 

Photo Content for Small Business Marketing

in , ,

By Allen McEachern.

Content is king and it is everywhere. Content marketing is essential for small business to be found in today's digital market place. Our clients, new, existing, and potential, all interact with content across a multitude of platforms - Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, our websites, blog posts, search engines, and the list goes on... Adding strong visual content to our marking mix can dramatically enhance the chances of being found by clients, and more importantly remembered; or even better, having our content shared. 

Small business owners can use photography to their benefit. Here is a great example. Haricot Traiteur in Montreal has hired me a few times now to create content for their marketing. In one day we created multiple images that were used throughout a six month period - Facebook posts, portfolio updates, email marketing etc.

One day of photography = six months of content. Do you want to learn more about how photography can help your business be found, be remembered? Contact me to find out how I can help you. Follow me on Instagram to see how I am helping small businesses become discoverable.

3 Reasons Why You Need A Good Portrait

in ,

By Allen McEachern.

Who doesn't have a social media account today? Are you representing a business? Are you a professional? An entrepreneur? When was the last time that you made an objective review of the images you present of yourself on-line? It might be time to enlist the services of a professional photographer to help streamline your image. Here are three ways that a good portrait works to your benefit.

1. A strong confident portrait is often the first impression others get of us. How many times have you been contacted by someone you don't know? How many of us go and search the person on the internet? We look for a picture, make our impressions. People in business need to be in control of their image. A current, professional portrait is a good way to stay ahead.

2. A professional portrait does not have to be a boring headshot. This is a great opportunity for you to take charge and control the message, to sculpt the opinion that other people form about you. Get creative, let your personality shine. Be yourself. It will work in your favour.

3. Portraits add a human element to the buying process. Like true horror, what we do not see is often more scary than what we do see. Show people your confidence. Make you and your staff available to be seen. Make a human link by showing yourself. Remember, a website is always open for business. Putting a good portrait on your about page can make sure there is someone in the store at all hours.

Photographing Big Corporate Events

in ,

By Allen McEachern.

Photographing large, multi-day corporate events is something I truly love to do. The combination of all the moving parts that make these events so amazing also offer a lot of visual stimulation and inspiration for me. Large scale production - lights, sound, sets, talented and interesting speakers, access to industry leaders, creative spaces, other production teams, tons of people, networking, movement, working as a team, 12+ hour days, working closely with clients, sending images to media in almost real time, seeing your work live beyond the event, capturing a moment, sculpting a message...all of this without loosing site of why I am there...to create strong, clean, visually engaging creative content to help my client market, promote, share, sell, and explain. Do you attend large corporate events? What are your thoughts and experiences? Below are a few of my favourite images from events I photographed in 2016.

A CEO, The Best Chocolate, & Viral Fitness

in , , ,

Three new additions to my portrait portfolio. Mark Weinberger - CEO of Ernst & Young, Christine Blais - World Champion of Chocolate, and Marc Fitt - International fitness model and viral personal brand.

Joseph C. Papa - Chairman & CEO, Valeant Pharmaceuticals International

in , ,

By Allen McEachern.

C2 Montreal 2016 Photo Highlights

in , ,

AMT - Inauguration du Centre de Maintenance Lachine

in ,

By Allen McEachern.