Chris Brock Photography

Got to pick a pocket or two...

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:44:00 +0000

I recently photographed actor Steven Hartley for the April 2010 issue of Runner's World magazine.

Steven is probably best know for playing Superintendent Tom Chandler in ITV's The Bill, and is now appearing as Bill Sykes in Oliver Twist at London's Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

A Photographer's Interview

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:02:00 +0000

I was recently interview by fellow photographer Scott Wyden as part of his ongoing series titled "A Photographer's Interview".

The interview has now been published online, so if you want to find out how I got into this business, and what makes me tick, then take a look at A Photographers Interview with Chris Brock.

New Year, New Website

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:08:00 +0000

Happy New Year!!

You'll probably have noticed that there have been some changes to the website. In fact, it's been completely rebuilt by our inhouse people, and then made to work properly thanks to the skills of the fantastic photographer and web guru Ian Battersby and technical genius Bradley Wright, who put right the mess we made of it.

The hope is that the new site will, for the interim, show off our images a little better, and also provide a better platform from where you can follow what we're up to over the coming year. During that time we hope to replace it with something with a bit more whizz and bang, but for the time being this should represent us pretty well.

There may still be the odd ghost in the machine, so if you find a bug, let us know by emailing the office at admin@chrisbrock.co.uk

Little Big Planet

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 13:52:00 +0000

Just before we closed the office here at Chris Brock Photography for Christmas, we were invited by the team behind hit Playstation game Little Big Planet to photograph their Christmas party.

It was a lot of fun, and a nicer bunch of people you'd be hard pressed to find. We did 80 portraits in all that night. Check out the whole set on our Flickr stream HERE!!

Win a framed print of your choice...

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:19:00 +0000

I've been in a pretty generous mood lately, so as well as giving away a free photoshoot to the 100th fan on my Facebook page I'm also giving my Twitter followers a chance to win a framed print of their choice from my Flickr page.

The photoshoot has already been won, but if you fancy winning the framed print, all you have to do is follow me on Twitter (@chrisbrockphoto) and post a Tweet with my username and the hashtag #chrisbrockphotoframe.

After I get enough Tweets, I'll pick a winner at random and sort out their print.

And here are a few useful links for you to click:

My Flickr stream: www.flickr.com/photos/cjmbrock/

My Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/chrisbrockphoto

My Facebook fan page: www.facebook.com

Good luck!!

UPDATE: A WINNER WAS CHOSEN BEFORE CHRISTMAS - CONGRATULATIONS TO ANNIKA FAHNING FROM DUSSELDORF IN GERMANY!

Chris Brock - at the cutting edge of fashion!

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:45:00 +0000

Last week was London Fashion Week, and I had the pleasure of being invited down to take some photos of the mad circus that these things tend to be.

If you're not familiar with LFW, it's the place to be seen if you are in the least bit interested in clothes and accessories. It's essentially a trade show, but that doesn't stop anyone with an eye for fine threads dropping by - so it stood to reason that I was going to be there!

To be honest, it's a bit mental, but good fun nonetheless. The main aim is to stand-out, but when everyone is trying to stand out, that's no mean feat. So anything goes and it's worth being there just to get a glimpse of some of the outrageous outfits on display as the peacocks try to attract people's attention.

Of course, my award for the best dressed man goes to performer Andre J. You may recognise him from his famous appearance on the cover of Vogue, or his work for Designers Against Aids, and here he's wearing a fantastic dress by designer Ioannis Dimitrousis.

I also had the pleasure of visiting designer Henry Holland of House of Holland in his Shoreditch studio for a portrait shoot.

And in case you're wondering, I was wearing a cutting edge ensemble of jeans, shirt and trainers by that most sought-after label, Primark.

No news is good news...

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 03:04:00 +0000

If anyone's wondering why I've been so quiet lately, it's because I've been doing a lot of stuff for the new online store of fantastic Marylebone-based fashion boutique, KJ's Laundry.

Well, the store is now live, and if you're into fashion in the slightest, you should check it out at:

www.kjslaundry.com

I've also started a Facebook fan page for followers of my stuff, so check it out and become a fan:

www.facebook.com

And of course, I'm still ranting and raving on Twitter. A lot of it doesn't make much sense, but if you want to be privy to the mumblings of a madman, you can follow me at:

www.twitter.com/chrisbrockphoto

I've also got a few exciting personal projects coming up, and if you're in London and fancy volunteering, drop me a line at photo@chrisbrock.co.uk.

I got rhythm, I got music...

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 17:51:00 +0000

I don't normally do live music photography, but recently I made an exception when I was invited along to see two fantastic bands perform.

The first was a band that you may have already heard of. The Thirst have just taken up a regular residency at Jamm in Brixton, London. I couldn't believe the atmosphere and the band, who have supported the Rolling Stones in the past, have a massive, enthusiastic following.

The second band that I went to see was Sugar for the House. They recently won a competition that I ran on Myspace to have their photo taken by me, and they asked me to come along to watch them perform at London's famous Jazz Cafe. And I'm so glad they did.

If you get a chance you should check out both of these acts. You won't be disappointed.

The Thirst: www.thethirst.co.uk

Sugar for the House: www.myspace.com/sugarforthehouse

A message from Afghanisan

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:40:00 +0000

A couple of days ago, I received the following email - and to be honest, it knocked me for six:

Hi Chris

My name is Steve Wood and I'm a professional photographer in the Military (Army), and I am currently serving out in Afghanistan as a Combat Photographer.

I just wanted to take the time to email you as I have just stumbled across your website. Can I please and honestly say that you are probably the most inspirational portrait photographer I have come across for ages, your work is so unique, dynamic and current.

Since becoming a military photographer, I have been scared and very daunted to walk up to people and "just photograph" them for the sake of documenting the Army in Afghanistan.

But it is something we have to do, and something I must adjust to very quickly. Trying to find my style is very difficult, but looking at how your images show themselves... is the style I have in my head. But I find it hard to capture, and it's also a style the military won't always accept - they like images to be bright and persuasive - if that makes sense?

Hope this message reached you ok.

Amazing work... well done

Steve Wood

To get praise like that from someone taking this discipline to the front line is mind-blowing for me. People like Steve and others who take pictures at the hard-edge of reality - whether that's combat situations, areas of famine, disease, oppression, whatever - remind me just how important photography can be. And while there are those of us who work comfortably in what are relatively stress-free environments, it's always worth remembering that there are people out there making a difference through the lens.

Since I received the email, I've had the pleasure of looking at some of Steve's amazing work, and if you're interested, take a look at his blog:

throughwoodyslens.blogspot.com

This email has been a real inspiration to me, and a great motivator to keep on working and trying new things.

Thanks again, Steve.

Escape to the country... in the city

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:55:00 +0000

"Nothing happens when you sit at home. I always make it a point to carry a camera with me at all times. I just shoot at what interests me at that moment."

- Elliott Erwitt

These are some wise words from Magnum photographer Elliot Erwitt, whose snaps of everyday Americana and, funnily enough, dogs, set the scene for photographers such as our own Martin Parr and a generation of new snappers hellbent on sharing the world as they see it.

As a photographer I find that I'm always hungry for inspiration, and on those days when it isn't coming from within, I remember Erwitt's advice, so I grab my camera and head out the door.

While we're talking in quotes it's also worth remembering those famous Pet Shop Boys lyrics "We were never feeling bored because we were never being boring". There's always something going on that you can go out and snap, not matter how dull your day seems.

Just recently Lambeth, in South London, held its annual Country Show. While you may think that there's nothing exciting about folk music and a few sheep, the day actually provided plenty of opportunities to get out and get shooting. Plus, there was some great food and lots of really potent cider. Falconry, farmyard animals and family fun about, all in the middle of urban London.

There are always opportunities to get out and express yourself while also honing your skills. Pick up a local paper, check out posters in shop windows, or just put some time aside for a long walk.

In the words of Ferris Beuller, "life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it".

A dedicated follower of fashion

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:18:00 +0000

It's been a busy few weeks of late, with a decidedly musical twist as I've been doing a lot of promo shoots with up and coming bands. More on that will follow, as there are some great new pictures that I'll be adding to the website soon, so watch this space.

This week, though, I've been mainly working with the lovely people at trendy Marylebone fashion boutique, KJ's Laundry. They've got a new online shop coming soon that I've been producing photographs for, and it looks set to be a massive success. So if you think you know a think or two about fashion, keep an eye on their site for some fantastic clothes and accessories.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US!

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Sun, 31 May 2009 13:01:00 +0000

This weekend marks the anniversary of Chris Brock Photography! And to celebrate we decided to give away a couple of free photoshoots on Myspace and Twitter. You've already seen the results of the first one - the chap (Dan Needham)falling with the briefcase full of money.

The second shoot is still to take place, and goes to a band who got in touch through Myspace. More details and pics will follow when the shoot has taken place - but until then, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US!

Update

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Mon, 11 May 2009 13:57:00 +0000

I've been a busy bee, lately, and have been slightly neglectful of this blog. So while I think of something interesting to write, I'll give you a quick update about what I've been up to over the last few weeks.

The thing I love about being a photographer - apart from the photography itself - is the variety that comes with it. For example, in the last couple of weeks I've been photographing athletes in their living rooms, MPs inside the Houses of Parliament, and have been hanging around on rooftops in the City of London.

I've also been travelling all over the place. Recent gigs down in Gloucestershire and Southampton have worn my poor feet to the nub as I've been racing around. But it's all good fun, and well worth the effort.

In case you weren't aware, I'm also on Twitter (just like Oprah and the rest of the world). And if you want to follow my inane ramblings, petty moans, and find out a bit more about the kind of things that interest me feel free to follow me at here!

And finally I've written a guest post for New York photo agency Black Star. It's all about interacting with your wedding photographer. If you fancy having a read, you can find it here.

Enjoy the sun everyone!

The stuff we leave behind

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:19:00 +0000

The road where I live is often beseiged by foxes - particularly the night before the bin men do their rounds. Having torn open rubbish bags and strewn their contents everywhere in the search for food, it's not unusual to find that the foxes have left all manner of stuff all over the place.

This morning on the way to today's shoot, I found this poor little fella lying in the gutter. With his eyes missing, he presented quite a sad little scene. Once loved, he now lies waiting to be swept up when the street cleaners come along.

Never work with children or animals

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 01:36:00 +0000

Actors always say this, and for photography, too, animals and children present their own set of challenges - particularly when you combine the two. When I photographed a friend's four month old kitten, Fizz Pop, we had a lot of fun, and taking extra time over the shoot certainly paid off. And in the end it was definitely worth it.

Using photography to build confidence and drive business in the credit crunch

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:21:00 +0000

It's always said that marketing, advertising and PR activities are the first to take a hit when the going gets tough. Budgets are cut, campaigns scaled down and, as we are seeing on an almost daily basis on the television news, employees are made redundant.

But in a time when people are scared for their careers and revenue is falling, photography can have a powerful effect both on employees and customers.

Driving business

Contrary to popular belief, the credit crunch is exactly the time when marketing activities should be ramped up, and if budgets need to be diverted anywhere, this is exactly where. But rather than blowing vast amounts of cash on elaborate marketing campaigns, this is where a clever use of photography can come into its own.

They always say that a picture is worth a thousand words, and this couldn't be more true. Clever use of photography in marketing can be cost effective, saving money in the short term and generating income in the long term. Photography can be used right across media - in both above the line and below the line activities, and this broad flexibility results in dramatic cost savings. And it can also be used with ingenuity to subtle, but dramatic effect.

One corporate shoot that I carried out recently for a large pharmaceutical organisation saw ten-foot high photographs of happy customers plastered across the reception and waiting areas of their offices around the country. What might seem like a lot of unnecessary expense actually had a crucial purpose - it was reinforcing the idea that behind this particular company was a market place of happy, healthy customers, and as this was the first impression the company gave to its visitors, it was clearly an important one. The same images went on the become part of their "library of life" and were used time and time again in marketing material and promotions around the world. What had been a series of low-cost shoots paid for themselves in no time at all, and kept delivering value time and time again.

Building confidence in the workforce

Talking to friends, I have been struck by how many are fearing for their jobs. Having seen their colleagues being made redundant due to the credit crunch, and hearing the rumours going around that more redundancies are to come, they find themselves uncertain about their futures. The story is the same across the UK, and I'm sure in many other countries around the world. And the outcome? Workforces are being destabilised, employee confidence is dropping, and so is productivity as people question their loyalty and start to consider their options.

But having worked on internal marketing campaigns, I have seen that a valuable tool for making individuals feel valued, and more than just a number, is the effective use of photography.

Whether it's a poster campaign, employee competitions, or a rewards scheme, people love to see themselves and their colleagues recognised and rewarded for their hard work. And whether or not they will cringe at seeing their photo displayed across the company (and they usually will cringe), it drives home the fact that they are a valued part of the organisation, makes them feel valued and more than just faceless member of the masses. And what could be more important at a time when productivity is dropping and large numbers of people are looking for potential safety nets?

The power of photography should never be overlooked, particularly at times like these. Using it to its full effect, can be a clever, financially savvy step in keeping your business going, and weathering the storm.

Beware of hidden costs - don't be held hostage!

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:56:00 +0000

Booking a photographer should be a straightforward process - and I've always tried to be as transparent as possible when it comes to providing my services. But I've heard many tales of woe from people who commissioned a photographer for both personal and professional gigs, only to find themselves facing unforeseen costs later down the line.

A regular villain in this scenario is the wedding and family portrait photographer. Some of the bigger family portrait studios (I'm not naming names, but we all know who they are) lure in clients with a knock-down price for a photoshoot. If I had a pound for each time I've lost potential clients because my prices appeared to be higher than the big studios were asking, I'd be a rich man. But before I can warn them of the trap they're about to fall into, these poor people are already handing over their hard-earned cash, and the trap is sprung.

It's only once the shoot is over that these studios reveal how much it's going to cost for their clients to get their hands on the pictures. I know some people who have ended up paying almost £1,000 for three framed prints.

Wedding photographers have also been known to pull a similar stunt. After paying thousands to have a photographer turn up for the special day, it's a month or two later when the happy couple enquire about when they'll receive their prints that they learn they will have to pay a significant amount more to receive them.

In essence, their photos are being held hostage!

People booking corporate photography can also fall foul of the same sort of thing. Many photographers charge a fee, and that includes delivery of only a few pictures. Want more and they're charged on a per photo basis. This isn't necessarily crooked on the part of the photographer because of the amount of post processing involved in many cases, but it's important that you are clear on costs right from the start so you don't suddenly find yourself having to hand over more cash.

The final surprise people can find themselves in is when they've underestimated costs altogether.

A recent shoot I carried out for a well-known sportswear brand involved shooting a model running along an athletics track. It was pretty straightforward, but once the client had booked me, they thought that was everything. They had forgotten they still had to pay a model, a stylist, rent lights and cameras, and hire a location - let alone pay for the post-processing that was required.

Put simply, to avoid unexpected surprises when booking a photo shoot, firstly consider what's involved in the shoot you're planning, and secondly make sure what you're paying for includes all deliverables - before you sign up to anything.

Commissioning successful corporate portraits

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 14:43:00 +0000

Much of the work I do is corporate, photographing company employees or teams. In these cases often the emphasis is on getting value for money - ie. photographing as many people in as short a period of time as possible. And while this may deliver bang for your buck, it's not always the best way to get excellent results.

A recent advert for a big-name buttery spread advises that when you're baking a potato, you should show it some respect... "give it an oven, give it an hour" says the gravelly voiced loner on how to get the best results. Corporate photography might well be compared to a potato in this respect, and when commissioning a photographer to snap your employees, two simple rules can really add impact.

1. Give it some space

Many offices are not the most attractive places to to take photographs, so think carefully about where the photographs are going to be shot. If you can put aside a conference room or a "soft seating" area... brilliant. Try to avoid places where the background is going to be distracting. When choosing a setting, less is often more, and if you're thinking of lining your employees up in front of your company logo, don't be surprised if the resulting photos are slightly uninspiring. By putting the subjects in the foreground, and removing distractions from the background, the focus will be on them, and add impact.

2. Give it some time

Lots of photographers charge by the hour, so it's tempting to cram as much into that hour as possible. But taking your time will often pay dividends. Let the photographer set up their gear in the space that you've put aside (see point 1) and you are already adding value beyond the financial cost. Let them take their time with each subject, allowing them to get results that they're happy with and you will most likely be much happier with the results too. In the end, it will be money well spent.

So, two simple things to bear in mind when tackling the commissioning of corporate photographs. And while you may end up spending a little more on a per hour basis, you'll be getting much better value for money at the end.

The reluctant gulp blogger!

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:51:00 +0000

So I've grabbed the bull by the horns, bitten the bullet and decided to wake up and smell the coffee. I've only gone and set up a blog, haven't I?!

So what's the big idea? Well, as much as all this talk of blogging can be a tad nerdy and dull, I'm doing it with some objectives in my sights. Firstly, though, to put your minds at rest, here's what I'm not trying to do with it:

1. Discuss politics or religion
2. Talk about the latest reality TV
3. Desribe the minutae of my daily life (what I've had for breakfast, what socks I am wearing, etc.)
4. Share with the world the emotional ups and downs of being the leg-end that is Chris Brock.

No, this blog is about my photography and is an effort on my part to not only help drive my business forward, but also promote a bit of debate among my peers. And in that sense, it will contain the following:

1. News about recent and upcoming shoots and projects
2. Short bites about my frustrations with modern photography, with my own business, my own shortcomings, and the state of the market
3. Observations on my own personal development
4. Links to places I find inspiration
5. Some other stuff that I can't think of at the moment, but will be really gripping, and I'm sure will get me nominated for some awards or something
6. My ambitions to "chuck out the cheese" (more on that at a later date).

So there it is. That's what this is about. I hope it gets some interest, and if you've any comments, please feel free to drop me a line at photo@chrisbrock.co.uk