An out take from a corporate cliental aerial shoot. Couldn’t resist the planned symmetry.
Living The Dream, from the frontier of urban sprawl. Mirabel, Quebec, May 2024.
Living The Dream
in FINE ART, TRAVEL, ARCHITECTURE
Montreal photojournalist
CONTENT MARKETING USING PHOTOGRAPHY
in ARCHITECTURE, INTERIORS, DESIGN
Content is king and businesses that realize this and apply it will make gains in their marketing efforts. Below is an example of interior photography I created for the Laurentian based company Construction Panache. Panache uses images of their completed projects on their portfolio website to show potential clients what they have already achieved. Furthermore these images will supply content for their social media; Instagram, FaceBook and on their Google Places listing. Strong visual content is key to grabbing attention and creating engagement with clients. In a few hours of work, I was able to create weeks of content for Construction Panache to use in their daily marking mix. Are you looking to make inroads within your market? Give me a call and lets make a plan for that together.
All the best for a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2020!
Joyeuses fêtes! Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Joyeux Noël!
Solo Traveler Portrait Session - Mont-Tremblant
in PEOPLE
Solo travel can be a wonderful way to explore the world without anyone interrupting your plans. However, there are only so many selfies one can take. Why not consider hiring a local photographer to help in capturing your memories?
Side Hustles for Photographers
Seems everyone has, or needs, as side hustle these days. Why should photographers be any different? I have had many photography side hustles over the last 17 years, in addition to my main editorial and corporate photography work. Below are some of the extra revenue streams I have utilized to generate additional income throughout my photography career.
Family Portraits
Family portrait photography is a great way to supplement income as a photographer. Pretty much everyone has a camera these days, and to some degree, appreciated photography. However, not many people have great family photos. If you are already doing people related photography getting into family portraits needn’t be that difficult. I started doing this as my children’s friend’s spread the word that I was a photographer. Moving to a tourist destination also increase the demand for this service. What style you offer is up to you. I work as a photojournalist and corporate photographer so my style is more location, response based.
A lot of people invest in professional family portraits. They can be very formal studio affairs, or more casual location shoots.
Weddings
At some point, I think all photographers look at weddings as an income source. How many pursue it to a high degree is another thing. The truth is, wedding photography has a market for every type of client. So you can be very high end, traveling the world on weekends, or you can be more local, meeting at the courthouse and sending on digital files. Wedding photography is a huge market and worth considering.
Weddings are a great way to add revenue. Mostly, they take place on weekends, and can happen in month in the year.
Engagements / Proposals
Much like the two options above, engagements and proposal photo shoots are popular. Again, my style of photojournalism works well here. I live in a resort town, and that helps too. I was doing this when I was in Montreal. Start by capturing couples you know. Build a portfolio, and spread the word.
Break the mold a bit. Engagements and proposal photography can be very rewarding and stimulation.
Print Gallery
Sell your photographs as prints. I am always amazed at how many photographer do no or very little actual printing. Sad in a way. Creating a collection of your favourite images should not be that difficult. There is a market for almost all types of print photography. Have a look at other photographers who are selling on sites like Etsy. Or better yet, set up your own on-line gallery. Here’s mine - www.N117.ca
Everything Changes © Allen McEachern / N117 - One of the images from my on-line print gallery www.N117.ca
Stock
Stock is dead. Long live stock. This market is not what it once was, but it is still something. More and more photo content is being consumed then every previously. The market is huge, the competition is fierce, and fees are low. I know, but still it is a source of income, passive income. Find a niche agency for the photography your produce. Chances are they feed Getty, Alamy, or Corbis and so forth. This is also a great source of inbound passive marketing for you and your brand. As the images you have chosen for stock circulate, editorial use often comes with a photographer credit.
Food is food. Stock photography is so varied, it can be almost anything. Put these images to work for you.
Interiors / Real Estate
Realtors always need great pictures of beautiful properties. Not all want to pay for them. And not many pay much for them. But if you are already equipped to shoot interiors (wide angles, tripod) than consider offering your services to realtors in your area. Look for ones that are either selling a lot (quantity) or are selling more high end (quality). My experience is that these are really the only two markets worth the work.
Real estate photography can be a bridge to working with contractors, landscapers, architects, interior designers…
Teaching
Give back what you know. Find ways to monetize your knowledge. It could be through blogging, or course development. You could actually get a photography teaching job. You could advertise workshops and seminars leveraging your professional work and experience. Perhaps you have an e-book inside of you waiting to come out. As mentioned, many many people are interested in photography, you are the expert.
10 YEARS OF MONTREAL FASHION WEEK
Montreal, March 23, 2005. Images from Montreal Fashion Week, Oscar Leopold and Envers Fall / Winter collection shows. One of the earliest fashion events I ever photographed. One that led to a 10 year working relationship with La Semaine de mode de Montréal / Montreal Fashion Week. Official Montreal Fashion Week Photography Team 2005 - 2015. (Created with Canon 10D / Canon 200mm F2) View More Images
My First Assignment - Johnny Fasciano
Vancouver 2001…I was beginning the process of becoming a photojournalist. I was studying media and communications. I was making documentary films, editing sound, and shooting 35mm film SLR’s. I had just returned to Canada after 5 years abroad. A trip that took me through places like Syria, Lebanon, Sudan, East Timor, Indonesia, Romania…amongst others. I knew I wanted to tell stories. I knew I wanted to be a photojournalist.
During my student years in Vancouver, I met and to some degree, befriended a man living on the streets of Vancouver’s Downtown East Side, Johnny Fasciano. Johnny was addicted to heroin, crack cocaine, was HIV +, Hepatitis C+ and homeless. Johnny was trying to get off the streets and get clean. I think he knew the end was coming for him. Together we formed a working relationship. I documented his personal journey to overcome terrible life choices and simply find a place to live and die in peace. Over two years we worked to create a short documentary film title The Needs Of One. I created a lot of images during this time. I learned to work with difficult subject matter. I learned to be objective, impassive. Johnny taught me a lot about the role of media and the stories that we choose to tell. Below are some of my images from this time. All were created using a K1000 35mm Pentax and were shot on Fuji Colour Slide Film. These images always remind me of where I started, and for what reasons. I welcome any feedback you may be inclined to share. How did you get started?
Shambhala Music Festival 2019 - 100 Photos
Shambhala Music Festival is an annual multi-day non-stop electronic music party held on the 500 acre Salmo River Ranch in Southern British Columbia. My role for the last four years has been to document the work of the 180 person volunteer medical team. The following gallery is my 100 favourite images from Shambhala 2019.
C2 Montreal 2019
in CORPORATE, EVENT, PEOPLE, PHOTOJOURNALISM
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
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.
A Dalco Built Office in Mont-Tremblant
in ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN, INTERIORS
A recent project at Tremblant. New offices by Dalco Constrction.
Urban Mobility - A 3 Season Corporate Stock Shoot for the ARTM
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
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
By Allen McEachern.
Some of my favourites from my recent trip to Bouquete, Panama + Playa Venao, Panama.
C2 Montreal 2017 Photo Highlights
in CORPORATE, EVENT, PEOPLE, PHOTOJOURNALISM
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 CORPORATE, PEOPLE, ADVERTISING
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.
3 Reasons Why You Need A Good Portrait
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
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.
Follow Along on Instagram
in EMERGE
By Allen McEachern.
I have made a commitment this year to exploring the potential of Instagram. My plan is to use the platform to share assignment work during 2017. I am welcome to any suggestions or feedback you can offer as to how to get the most (fun) out of using it. All comments welcome. Please follow by clicking the link below.
https://www.instagram.com/allenmceachern/
New Portraits
in EDITORIAL, FOOD, PEOPLE, PHOTOJOURNALISM
By Allen McEachern.
A few new additions to my People Portfolio.
Normand Laprise of Toqué & Patrice Demers of Patrice Patissier
