Bargain Does Not Mean Best – Why You Should Avoid Amateur Photographers

We all love a bargain, but as any savvy shopper will tell you, the cheapest product does not generally equate to the best. It’s great when you buy a £5 dress from the High Street, but not so great when it falls apart after the first wash. With smaller purchases we tend to grin and bear it, but what if you choose to cut corners on something much more important, like your corporate or wedding photos?

Professional photography may seem like a large expense, especially when you only see the photographer for the few hours they attend your event, but there’s a lot more to it than turning up on the day and taking a few photos.

The Photography Gamble: The Importance of Professional Corporate Photography

Would you let your uncle’s cousin’s friend design your logo, write your email shots or organise your corporate awards ceremony? Then why run the risk of less than exemplary results when you hire a corporate photographer? Photographs of events or images that are used in brochures and other promotional materials can be a powerful marketing tool -provided they look professional. On the other hand, allowing poor photographs to be used to represent your company can have the exact opposite effect and send out all the wrong signals about the professionalism of your company.

The advent of digital cameras has meant that any Tom, Dick or Harry can buy relatively cheap machinery, have zero photography skills and still call themselves a professional. But as with any profession, becoming a really great photographer takes time, effort, experience and sheer hard work.

There are a whole host of instances when a professional corporate photographer can be just what you need and great photographs of your premises, your awards ceremonies, your key staff members or your charitable events are ideal for making an unforgettable first impression and sending out a positive message about your company.

The Case of the Wedding Photographer

The photographs that are taken at your wedding serve as a record of the happiest and most important day of your life. If they go wrong, or you’re not satisfied with what you get, you can’t do the day over again - so you’ve really got no recompense. The best way to avoid this happening is to choose a professional photographer who knows what they’re doing. 

Whereas in the past you had little choice about the type of photographer you could hire and the results you’d get, today there are hundreds of competitors, some of whom pride themselves on a professional service and others who are looking to make a quick buck.

Weddings are expensive so it’s understandable that couples look for ways to make savings, but consider this; which would be more devastating - a poor wedding breakfast that didn’t impress your guests, or completely ruined wedding photographs that can never be replaced? If you want to take a gamble on your wedding photos then by all means do, but be prepared for disappointment if you choose a cheap service.

Why choose a Professional Photographer?

When you opt for a professional photographer, you’re getting far more than photos. Professional photographers use the best equipment and have exemplary skills in the art of photography. This means they’ll work with you to ensure that you get the photographs you want.

Photographers of all fields, whether they specialise in weddings or corporate projects, understand how to create engaging, exciting photos and truly capture a moment or message, which is far more complex that the ‘point and click’ approach of amateurs.

In addition, professional photographers can provide better quality prints. When it comes to wedding albums, they are able to create beautiful books that commemorate your special day, and when it comes to commercial images, their offerings will look much slicker. What’s more, professional photographers are trained to notice the most minute details, so you’ll get a shot with no ‘little niggles’ that ruin the whole effect.

So before you go for the bargain basement option, remember just how important your photographs really are and consider whether you can really afford to opt for a cheap photographer.

AUTHOR BYLINE
Ellie Taylor is a professional portrait photographer and avid photography blogger. During the week Ellie can be found at Alternative Images - the corporate photography specialists in London.

The Benefits of Using a Professional Chauffeur

There are many ways to make a great night extra special, whether it be a bespoke suit or dress, a bottle of the most expensive wine on the menu or simply a table in the finest restaurant in town.  Of course, you could also look into hiring a chauffeur – after all, it’s about the most stylish way to arrive at your venue!  Why then, should you consider hiring a professional chauffeur for that big night?

It’ll mean you can really relax

Using a high quality, genuine chauffeur service means that you won’t have to worry about the extra glass or two of champagne if you really fancy it, and you won’t need to stress about conserving enough energy to make the drive home.  Hell, if you really want to then you can even catch up on some sleep on the way back – ideal if the big night comes at the end of a busy week!  Enjoy your night however you like, safe in the knowledge that at the end of it all, you’ll be whisked right back to your door.

You can avoid the stress of normal travel

If you’re visiting a club, bar or theatre that you’ve never been to, then it can be pretty hard work planning out exactly where you’re going, printing off directions and worrying about how much time will be needed to get there.   If you use a chauffeur service, then all that concern just melts away.  Your driver will arrive with more than enough time to get you to your chosen destination, so your only consideration is getting ready for when they arrive. 

It looks stylish

We’ve semi mentioned this above, but there’s no getting around the fact that arriving in a chauffeur driven car is simply a great way to look cool as hell.  If you’re going all out for all the other aspects of your evening, then why not invest the extra and make a grand entrance?  It’s worth observing that when you hire a chauffeur, you can usually hire the type of vehicle you want – it doesn’t have to be a stretch limo!  If you’d prefer to arrive in that flash Merc that you’ve always craved, then your wish is the company’s command.  (Of course, the classic stretch limo IS still an option!)

It’s a great place to hang out

A great many of the different vehicles used by professional chauffeurs can be kitted out with all the things you might need for a great night – you might say they make the perfect pre-party party venue!  Of course, this does depend on the individual vehicle, but things like free WiFi, a drinks fridge and even TVs can be found in some of the more luxury limos and saloon cars.  Whether you want a place for you and your friends to relax before you go out into the club, or you want to entertain your date with champagne and strawberries during the drive back to your place, a chauffeur driven limousine is your perfect ally for the perfect night!

AUTHOR BYLINE
Aaron Cartwright is not only a transport blogger, he's a professional chauffeur for We Chauffeur You -  the experienced Chelmsford chauffeur company.

Caring For Young Adults: What To Expect From Your Role

Working with young adults within a care setting requires a huge range of abilities, but if you want to make a success of caring for young adult, there is one skill that outweighs all others - the ability to empathise.

Behaviour and the Teenage Brain

What most people fail to realise about young brains is that they are physiologically different from those of older people. If you’ve got teenaged kids then you’ve probably been through the gamut of constant sleeping, mood swings and erratic decision making, but the truth of the matter is a lot of that behaviour is down to the fact that the person exhibiting it is young.

Between the ages of 0 to 5 the human brain undergoes its first major stage of development. It’s here that most children will need to learn the basic skills necessary to proceed through life, such as communication. Then, when the brain reaches puberty it begins to undergo its second major set of changes as it develops into a mature adult brain.

During this time the brain is swimming with hormones whilst the body is utilising masses of energy to finish growing. Which goes some way to explaining why young people always seem tired, often act erratically and seem to go from joyous to desperate in the space of a few minutes.

In the right circumstances, being a teenager or young person is ideal for embarking on a life of crime and if someone is prone to violence, they’re most likely to start displaying this behaviour during their teenage years.

Young Adults and You

If you’re planning on working with young adults in a care setting then the chances are you already have an interest in or proclivity towards this sort of position. Although it’s possible to make a comfortable living in care, it’s unlikely you’ll become a millionaire and working with young adults is one of the most challenging care roles you can take on, so it’s a good idea to go into it for the right reasons – i.e. to make a difference to people’s lives rather than boost your bank balance beyond all recognition.

So Why Empathy?

As stated earlier, working with young adults within a care setting requires a huge range of abilities. You’ll need to be able to present a professional image without being too formal. You’ll have to become an ace at paperwork. You’ll need to be aware of all the latest legislation and safety laws. You’ll need to be able to work as part of a team. You’ll have to be willing to undertake regular training and constantly build on your skills. So out of all these essential qualities, why is empathy the most important?

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, carer or anyone working with young adults, we often try to get them to see things from our point of view, but in many cases they may be physically unable to do that, especially if they’ve grown up without learning the life skills necessary to see things through the eyes of others.

However, as a carer it’s absolutely essential that you can view the world through the eyes of the people you care for and empathise with their situation. Doing so is by far the most effective way to understand the behaviour of young adults and react to it in a way that engenders a sense of trust and mutual respect, rather than alienating the people in your care.

AUTHOR BYLINE

Glen Phillips really enjoys sharing his nursing and medical expertise online. When he's not on the bloggosphere, Glen can be found at St Georges Care Agency - Essex's experts when it comes to residential and domiciliary care.