Category Archives: image

Do testimonials work… do you read them or skip over??

When you’ve completed a successful shoot and your client is really pleased… should you always remember to ask for a review or testimonial? This is usually the bit I forget!! … although some clients spontaneously provide one anyway 🙂

I’m told google likes them, and sources like ‘Trust Pilot’ wouldn’t exist if people didn’t look for them – LInkedIn and Facebook have a business page ‘review’ feature, so I guess the answer is that you should. It feels like ‘self praise’ and blowing your own trumpet, but nowadays it’s much more about showing you are a credible and trustworthy business and who better to authenticate your services than happy customers.

So, do you read reviews and testimonials? Well, yes if I’m purchasing items from a source that I don’t know personally, they are very helpful. Or, researching the best item to buy on say, camera equipment. Does this apply to services too, especially those that are hugely personal, such as photography? In addition to ‘reviews’ and ‘testimonials’ we should add ‘recommendations’, as these are frequently asked for on places like Facebook. I ask this, because most of my work comes via face to face networking and getting to know people, who in turn use and recommend my services.

Perhaps reviews, in addition to a solid portfolio, are mainly part of a credible and true presence online, including all the various social media platforms … will you read any further 🙂 ??

” I can not begin to express the delight I felt when I saw our photos however the outstanding service started months before we got them!
For my 50th I wanted a picture of my family so hubby duly got a voucher from Penny and then handed over to me! Oh my what a pain pinning 4 sets of families and diaries to one Saturday. Penny was supportive and patient, no pressure just gentle reassurance that we would get there. So we got a date and we all turned up at the most beautiful house and gardens… chaos ensued with sorting two 3 year olds, two under 12 months and one teenager who needed to be serious.
Penny had taken the time to ask questions before hand so she knew all the likes and dislikes and all the names, plus Terry supported Penny and entertained the children and took additional pictures.

Thank you thank you thank you 😊

If you are looking for someone who cares about the service they give and the shots they take then please use Penny – you will not be disappointed

Venitia Billings “

All ready for delivery..

All ready for delivery…

#portrait #suffolk #family #together Family gathering

Quick tips – how to be in front of the camera:

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If you are one of those people who feel mighty uncomfortable in front of a lens and you’ve not had the opportunity to work with a professional, I wanted to share a few ‘rules of thumb’ and tips to help, that you can take away and actively put into practice.

First of all, I firmly believe that the responsibility lies with the photographer to capture a good shot of someone – not that of the people being photographed. Everyone without exception can take a good photograph, no arguments – and if you are working with a professional, they should have the knowledge to guide you all the way through it.

There are exceptions to the rules and as a professional photographer, I work with the individual and capture what is right for them, as we are all different.

However in a ‘non’ professional situation, you have more control that you may imagine, because it’s unlikely there will be any guidance of where and how to be, whether you are seated, standing, on your own, or in a group. It’s also very doubtful you will be given an indication when the image is about to be taken.

1 – When standing full on, or square to the camera, this is your widest angle and gives little opportunity to show your personality. If you stand sideways onto the camera, it’s going to look quite awkward turning your head so far to look at the camera and also shows all your outlines. 45 degrees towards the camera is your best angle and streamlines everything.

2 – Stand comfortably, either equal weight on each leg, or, place your weight on your back leg and allow your other leg to casually point forward. Hands can either be gently clasped in front of you, or behind.

3 – Angles to the camera are good – we’ve already mentioned in Tip1, but SMALL tilts of the head also help. The camera is at a more flattering angle if a little above you and less flattering if below you.

4 – All the above also applies to being seated in front of the camera.

5 – If you find yourself in a group, say at a party, wedding or family gathering, apply the above tips, focus on the fun of the event, allow a smile to come to your face and resist the urge to chatter. Watch the camera and wait until they have taken the image and put the camera away.

People can be amazingly kind in their testimonials…

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Christmas 2018 seems long gone now, however wanted to share a pleasant surprise last month, from the contact who booked my services to cover their Christmas Parties. Along with two other very good photographers over 13 evenings, we captured several hundred people all enjoying the festive time at both The Apex and The Athenaeum in Bury St Edmunds. To receive the attached testimonial was brilliant!

I’ll let the following link do the talking!

Penny Morgan Photography Testimonial

The Athenaeum Christmas Parties, 2018, Bury St Edmunds

I love me, I love my image

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How many times have your heard remarks which are derogatory in nature, but not seriously intended, ‘off the cuff’, ‘in jest’, ‘I didn’t mean it’? Things about our looks, body and face features, height, weight, personality… anything really.

They are often mitigated with an ‘only joking’ caveat, as though this somehow limits the damage, but it’s too late, the seed has been planted, germinated and is thriving. These comments can leave unseen impressions on us.

We scrutinise ourselves in the bathroom mirror, however photographs are the exact reverse of how we actually appear. This is one of the reasons why we think the images are not a true representation of how we look and why we are unfamiliar with them. Other people have only ever seen you as you view your image and, our friends see US, whereas we see what we perceive as our faults.

The camera never lies – Oh yes it can! No, this is not panto season, but we do see images that are not accurate and really believe this is how we are. Here are a few things that can effect the image:

1) Phone camera distortion – all the pictures of ourselves/friends we exclaim ‘Ooo eck, bulbous moon face’.

2) Light & shade – can be our friend and foe. As good as cameras are some lighting conditions can overwhelm them. Therefore its interpretation of light and shade is not always accurate.

Filters – flowers, big eyes, puppy dog ears and noses. All these things are seen as fun and amusing, but how many of us use them to hide behind?

We hear comments from ‘Can you make me look 10 years younger’ to ‘I look too young to be taken seriously’.

Despite the bravado all the points covered affect men as well as women.

You have options, you don’t have to live with not liking your image.

Where do we turn to for reassurance? Online presence of beauty guides, behaviour guides, makeup, relationships, both personal and family. Who or what is right? For you – you are right. Our friends mean well but are they helping or worsening the situation? We share and empathise with each other but what do we do about it?

‘Love Your Image’ & ‘Evolve Your Image’ are bespoke products that will guide you through the potential pitfalls of having your photograph taken. You can learn why you feel anxious, nervous, or ’dread the thought’ … and how to do something about it.

Photograph copyright of Penny Morgan Photography

The ‘Elephant’ in the room… a photographers focus.

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So for the last two years, I’ve talked about getting to grips with changing how we feel about being photographed. Discovering just how many dislike it and/or the results, has been both eye opening and yet strangely not a surprise.

After developing the program ‘Love Your Image’, to help people who don’t like being photographed change this mind-set, has been an interesting and rewarding journey. Just about everyone thinks it’s a good idea and most will talk about it on a ‘general’ level, but how open would you want to be to discuss this subject on a much more personal level? No so much I find. Often what we don’t like about our image may feel somewhat trivial or connected with vanity and nobody really wants to admit to being vain? I hear so many different stories of why people don’t like their photograph taken, but if you are in business, can you afford to be an Eeore about it?

Being aware of your ‘Mind-set’ is being applied to many things these days and how you present yourself in images IS hugely important. Therefore so is changing your mind-set in front of the camera… and change it YOU CAN… this is something that is within an individuals reach regardless of how you have felt… perhaps for many years? With the right help and guidance you can do this.

To change how you feel and be among a growing group who have learned to ‘Love Their Image’ has MANY rewards. It’s neither trivial nor vain to decide to address this and the benefits are considerable.

The first step of the journey is:

Learning and understanding ‘why’ we arrive at such an attitude.
Useful tips on ‘how’ to be in front of the camera and why they work!

… and when you feel brave enough…

A photo-shoot – that only you see the results, until you are ready to share.

And that’s just the start, to making it a permanent change.

This doesn’t ask anything more of you than a willingness to be open minded to change.

So consider this… and its nothing to do with your size… can the ‘Elephant’ in your room be ignored any longer…?

Elephant In The Room

Photograph copyright of Penny Morgan Photography

Is it all in our heads…?

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This blog is asking people to think about their profile image on social media, whether you’re representing yourself personally, or in a business capacity. I’ve started asking people at events and networking what first impressions they draw when making new connections on social media?

Photographs on these platforms can be clear, up to date, friendly, approachable, even creative and quirky! However, many are also, unclear, dark, out of date, too far away, doubtful in expression… or missing altogether – we call these people ‘Mr Grey-face’!

So the question is, if someones photograph causes you to draw a first impression of that person, what does your image say about you? If you are in business, or represent a company, have you ever considered people’s first impressions about you and does it have an impact on your business?

A head shot is a window into our personality – does yours reflect the true person?

What first impression do you want to make?

This autumn on Tuesday, October 20th and Wednesday, November 4th, you can come and find the unique way I get the best from people and have fresh/new profile images sorted in either Bury St Edmunds, or Mellis.

To book your place on either of these dates, please call me on 0845 257 2038, or email design@pennymorgan.co.uk.

A – Z Photography tips and information … ‘E’

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‘E’ is for ‘err… a bit of a delay since the last in this series, however I’m back on it now!

So ‘E’ firstly is for ‘exposure’. Do you understand what exposure means and is determined by on your camera? Let me clarify/simplify it a little for you. Three main things determine the exposure of shot:

Aperture – discussed under ‘A’
Shutter speed – will be discussed further on
ISO – or your cameras sensor speed and sensitivity.

‘Over’ exposed mean your image has had too much light allowed in and the results will be too bright and ‘under’ exposed means just the opposite – not enough light allowed in resulting in your image being too dark.

If you leave your camera on ‘auto’, this decides on the above three settings for you, according to the composition you are framing up. Understanding how to gain a good exposure also involves getting your head round your cameras metering – which I will cover further on.

Have attached a couple of very random examples of both over and under exposed images.

Over exposed

Better exposed.

Under exposed.

Better exposed.

‘E’ is also for ‘expressions’ – in my opinion capturing a natural expression in people photography, is what rates a successful image and one that people will like of themselves, whether it’s smiling or serious. There can be a very fine line between a truly natural expression in a person and the one that displays a degree of tension, stiffness, or just not appearing quite comfortable. This is why many people like images of themselves when they didn’t know a photograph was being taken and their attention was elsewhere. Many many times, I see people become quickly uncomfortable as soon as a camera is produced!

So consider this, among other reasons, it can be a self perpetuating thing. You see an image you don’t like of yourself and next time you’r e in front of a camera, consciously or not, tension creeps in and you don’t know where to look or how to be – indeed, you may put on a brave face, but inside are wishing the whole process was over… and it shows! So you see yet another image of yourself you’re not particularly happy with and so it repeats itself – you just resign to thinking you don’t take a good photograph.

But, who was in charge of the camera, did they try to put you at ease and guide you how to stand/pose? The feeling ‘uncomfortable’ only likely crept in when the camera appeared (unless you were already not in the best of moods)!

People are a lot more photogenic than they think!!

You can Love Your Image…

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Sometimes blogs can be a bit like waiting for a bus… however…!

In January of this year I gave a talk on a very common subject, but very little discussed – those who dislike being photographed and think they’re not very photogenic.

If you think it’s all down to you and there’s nothing that can be done… think again and read on. The cause can be very different from person to person, but the result is very similar.

Hear me out… it’s not all down to you and there is something you can do about it.

Imagine being completely comfortable in front of the camera and not let it become a repeated challenge to your self esteem.

I’ve launched a specially designed experience to help you explore this further and discover a fresh new outlook and confidence.

Click on the image to read more, or, the following link, for full information on the website – LOVE YOUR IMAGE:

Get in touch if you would like to learn more:

Telephone: 0845 257 2038

Contact: Via the website

Awesome Autumn 2014 promotions…

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Well it’s been a long and busy summer, with shoots as varied as I can remember!

I have a bag full of blogs waiting to share with you, but in the meantime have launched a couple of Autumn promotions.

The first is so important to those of us in business and was recently reminded by a clients quote… a strong indication that good profile photographs can draw people to you.

“I get a lot of compliments on the photo’s that you did! I ask all my clients where they found me and a good majority of them reply from my website. They chose me because they like my photo and I look approachable! ” 🙂

I will be arranging the first session dates in the next week if you would like to take advantage of this promotion.

Click on the image, or, the following link for further information – LATEST PROMOTIONS.

The second is making the most of our lovely autumn colours that have started to appear and a great opportunity to enjoy some valuable downtime to yourself or with your family.

I won’t mention the ‘C’ word yet, but a promotion worth considering if you would like gift ideas!

These shoots will be arranged and held at a beautiful outdoor Suffolk location – flexibility with our lovely British weather will be allowed for!

Click on the image to read all the information.

You can get in touch via email, phone, or my website for any further information.

You CAN… Love Your Image…

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How many of you think you’re not photogenic or dislike being photographed?

Having heard this many times from people, over the past few years, I’ve put this question to several individuals and groups of ladies and amazed, not because people responded, but how many did so…

Let me help you feel differently.

Would you join me and enjoy a complimentary tea or coffee, as I give an informative talk on this subject and open up the possibility for change, that you CAN love your image.

FEAR NOT, no photography will be taking place at this talk… however there will be workshops set up at The Self Centre, for those who wish to explore further – more about these soon.

I really want to share this information so IT’S FREE TO ATTEND:

Thursday 30th Jan 2014 – 1.30 – 2.30pm

at The Self Centre, Drinkstone Investment Park, Kempson Way, Bury St Edmunds, IP32 7AR

Telephone: 01284 769090 – www.the-self-centre.co.uk

Email: admin@the-self-centre.co.uk

TO BOOK YOUR SEAT, PLEASE CONTACT:

The Self Centre, or, contact me via my website, or, at – pennyjm@gmail.com – we just need your name, telephone and email address.

See you there!