Heidi Lewis 6/7/17 Heidi Lewis 6/7/17

5 tips for building your photo library

"A picture tells a thousand words." We have heard the saying... how many times?

How do your photos tell your story?

Here are some tips to get your photo library working best for you.

Your photo library is the visual foundation on which any marketing strategy is built. Photographs show the appeal – and the competitiveness – of a company or destination.

Research says you have 8 seconds to catch the eye of a Gen Z. And for print... the decision to read or reject pamphlets and direct mail pieces is made by readers in just 2.5 seconds.

Considering thousands of dollars are being spent taking those images into the marketplace - think websites, promotional collateral, travel shows, social media... it makes sense to do it properly from the start. Good photographs are the foundations of your marketing.

Here are a couple of suggestions to make sure your foundations are sturdy.

1. Don't rush it. Plan to build your library over several assignments. You are unlikely to get all the images you need in a single assignment. Consider different light, times of year, emotions, feelings, events... Develop a shot list with your photographer, taking into consideration seasons, major events, travel time and accessibility. Then prioritise. Work out what you can do straight away and what you have to wait for.

2. Recognise the difference between “Stock Shots” (the necessary pictures that show the range of attractions you have to offer) and “Hero Shots” (the flagship photographs that are likely to lead your promotional effort). Like a magazine with their hero cover shot and then the additional feature shots inside the article. Plan to it.

Hero shot showing emotion and experience...

3. Build your library on professional standards from the start. For example... ensure all images are licensed to you and your stakeholders to use for promotional purposes, you have Talent Releases for all people in the photographs, and the images are of a professional standard (i.e., size, colour space, etc.).

4. Work out the most effective way of keeping and distributing your library of images. This will save you hours searching for images in your next campaign. And save you from losing any. Your photographer can also offer advice on how they do it/what they recommend.

5. Make sure your images (hero and stock) sit firmly within your marketing brand. Images that define you and make you unique.

If you want to start showing off to the world - the best way you can... contact me. We can chat, I can give you ideas, and of course, I can make beautiful photos for you.

All pics taken at www.almertastation.com.au - a place where ‘Kids can be kids and adults can reconnect.’ — All pics taken at www.almertastation.com.au - a place where ‘Kids can be kids and adults can reconnect.’

Heidi Lewis 5/7/17 Heidi Lewis 5/7/17

UPDATE: South Australian Regional Tours - new dates and new packages!

I'm hitting the road again. Now is the time to update your photos. I have some awesome new packages too.

I'm very excited to announce some new dates for regional South Australian tours. Maybe Tasmania has given me itchy feet? (Who am I kidding, I've always got itchy feet for discovery.)

If you missed out last time, then now is your chance. I loved my last tours and clients found them ultra beneficial and cost effective. Email me now to get going.

BOOK ASAP FOR THESE TWO...

Flinders/Outback - Mon 31 July - Sun 6 Aug
Barossa/Clare - Wed 19 - Fri 21 July

DATES TO BE COMFIRMED...
Riverland/Murrayland - Oct
Limestone - Oct
Yorkes/Eyre - Nov
Fleurieu - Sept/Oct

A range of packages are on offer for these tours, check them out...

Website overhaul
Ideas and package prices to be discussed. This is the big kahuna. Something that will set you up - website, printed promos, Instagram. It's all sorted with these packages.

Social Media Rock Pack - get three months of social pics. 100 pics! $500 - 3-hour shoot

Tell your story SPECIAL PRICE $1500
Various portraits, details, overviews, variations.
Up to four hours
Business
Pics of you
Social media brand style
Website pics
Hero images for advertising
Up to 50 images

Valued at $1900

Region In Residence SPECIAL PRICE $5000
Five days including 2 ‘hero image’ half day shoots including 50 images
3hr workshop
Social media pics x100 taken throughout the week
BONUS: 50% discount Editorial shoots for members/businesses in area booked through this package
Valued at $6500

Better Pics for Social Workshop $500
Suitable for beginners - no fancy equipment required
Simple tips for photographing people, food, events, architecture
Story and light
3 hours

Limited Contra Deals are also available for accommodations.

Of course, if you want something special and unique (who doesn't), I can work with you on that also. Call or email me to discuss ideas.

Conditions: Minimum numbers required for tour to be confirmed.
All prices are exclusive of GST.

Take a look at some of the shoots on my last tours. All done on the popular Editorial Package (with slight variations) valued at $400.

Heidi Lewis 22/6/17 Heidi Lewis 22/6/17

Regional South Australia photo tours - mid 2017 update

South Australian Regional Photo Shoot 2017 TOUR UPDATE

Need photos?
Don't have $$$$ to spend on a full photo shoot?
Not happy with your own pics for social media?
Want awesome pics easy?

I know you realise how important photography is, but when it comes down to budget, there is always something more pressing.

Good photography builds a solid foundation for your marketing. Without it, you can spend thousands and not get the return on invest you hope to see. With just seconds to make an impression (online), you need to give it your best.

To help you get that impact and return on investment, I am doing Regional South Australian tours over the next few months. Not only will you be able to book an awesome package that offers lots of photos, but you won't have to pay any travel/accom fees either. Sounds great, yes? Plus, if you are a member with SATIC, you get an ultra special package. Check your membership area. :)

Dates are...
Barossa/Clare - June/July
Flinders/Outback - Aug/Sept
Fleurieu - Sept/Oct
Riverland/Murrayland - Oct
Limestone - Oct
Yorke/Eyre Peninsula - Nov

There are some new packages available on these tours, as well as my popular $400 Editorial Package which gets you...

Pre-shoot plan
- We will discuss your ideas, what you need, and how to plan to get the most out of your hour of photography. With a little planning and organisation, you will be amazed at what can be done.

1-hour photo shoot
- I can photograph quickly! Have it all ready to go, and we can move around like a 'production line'. With over five years News Limited experience, I know how to get in, get the shots, and get out.

Up to 20 images delivered via Dropbox
- I'll supply your images via Dropbox in both print and web sizes. You can use these images for whatever you want within your business.

Ten pack Social media photos
- While I'm in the area, I'll also get some stock photos. You have access to 10 of these for free use on any social media channel for your business.

Of course, you can book more than one package, or get a tailored package to suit your requirements.

AND THE OTHER AWESOME PACKAGES...

Website overhaul
Ideas and package prices to be discussed. This is the big kahuna. Something that will set you up - website, printed promos, Instagram. It's all sorted with these packages.

Social Media Rock Pack - get three months of social pics. 100 pics! $500 - 3-hour shoot

Valued at $1900

Region In Residence SPECIAL PRICE $5000
Five days including 2 ‘hero image’ half day shoots including 50 images
3hr workshop
Social media pics x100 taken throughout the week
BONUS: 50% discount Editorial shoots for members/businesses in area booked through this package
Valued at $6500

Better Pics for Social Workshop $500
Suitable for beginners - no fancy equipment required
Simple tips for photographing people, food, events, architecture
Story and light
3 hours

Limited Contra Deals are also available for accommodations.

Email me or call me on 0402 716 406 now to book or discuss what you need.

Heidi Lewis 21/6/17 Heidi Lewis 21/6/17

A day in the Tarkine, North-West Tasmania.

The Tarkine in North-West Tasmania is a place l fell in love with. It ruined Eastern Tasmania for me.

Wow, this is an amazing part of the world. And to see the damage the 2016 bushfires made is sad, but it also gives hope with all the new growth colouring the charred trunks.

I attempted this in a day, although, if you are doing lots of walks, I'd recommend two days. I knew I wouldn't be doing too many hikes with the kids so chose carefully and drove a lot. It is a long day of driving, but so entrancing.

Thin winding roads lead the way to the Tarkine.

The drive there is fun too - thin bitumen roads winding their way through farmland. Bales of hay, cows and random chickens dot the rolling hills. Only the chickens notice the car as they flap away from the sides of the road as I pass. The highway is not much different to the country roads. It is a fraction wider, has a white line painted in the middle, and I can pass another vehicle without pulling off the road. Not that there are many cars on the road.

The Tarkine Dive itself has just over twenty attractions - lookouts, bridges, walks and sink holes. Walks range from easy 15 minute strolls to 5-6 hour coastal hikes.

Trowutta Arch is an easy 15-minute stroll on a path through the rainforest. The floor is carpeted with moss, fallen trees and tree roots. At the end of the path is Trowutta Arch, the entrance to a water-filled sinkhole - a collapsed cave. One of the mossy rocks makes the perfect canvas to sketch your name. It entertained my artistic Belle while Ashton threw rocks into the water, measuring the 'plops' as they hit - as boys do.

And the wildlife? Loud talk of leeches, the excitement of finding Cicada shells and 'testing' if the forest carries a coo-ee make sure we don't see any wildlife. Thankfully, we are the only tourists here, so we aren't ruining the quiet serenity for others.

Belle and Ashton finding little bugs and leaves.

Next is a drive through the burnt out area. An area that clashes with the general lush Tarkine elsewhere, where forest kisses each side of the road. These trees are now separated by the sky, little puffs of new green growth smothering the trunks. Burnt, spindly dead sticks stick up in between. Will it ever be the same?

After a late lunch stop at Julia's River, where we walked another 30 minute round forest track (which probably only took us 20 with after lunch energy) I headed towards the coast. Another contrast.

Driving the road up to the coast, all I could see was barren farmland with nothing able to be grown. It's not windy today, but I can imagine the wind blasting in off the wild ocean. I mean, there is nothing between here and 15,000km of ocean to Patagonia on the south coast of America. Roaring 40's winds of up to 200km have been recorded here!

I'd love to stop and do some of the hike out to the ocean, but it's raining, and the kids are tired. So I don't.

But I do stop at Edge of the World in Arthur River. And it looks jut like its name, if not a very pretty version. Waves pound in as far as I can see, huge logs have been tossed on every rocky outcrop of the coastline, and the tumbleweed sits sideways.

The other side of this rock is a five metre drop.

It's here that Ashton decides to sprint up to a rocky ledge to see what he and see. I see him running, and my heart stops, I go to scream, then he stops. And sits down. And calmly watches. Heart pounding I go over to him and see what he's looking at. And below him is a drop of over 5 metres. Argh. At least he knew what he was doing.

I'm calling it a day... back to Stanley for fish and chips. Now I'm tired.

NOTE:
I saw (somewhere) it's about 135km drive, but when you are twisting and turning, of course, it takes a lot longer. In some sections allow 15 minutes for 15km.

Heidi Lewis 1/6/17 Heidi Lewis 1/6/17

Workshop: Marden Senior College

Taking a sneak peak into a workshop I conducted for Marden Senior College students.

Last week I gave a workshop to the students of Marden Senior College. Focusing on how I photograph food, but we also touched on location portraits.

The day was split into a studio food shoot, shoot in a kitchen, on location food shoot and portrait shoot.

I started off my intro by saying 'I am not a technical photographer, I go with a feeling. I care more about the story than the camera model or tech specs (although I am fully aware of how I'm shooting and why). Not everything I do is correct, but it's the way I do it.' I don't know if there is a dead set right or wrong way to do things in photography? Or life really.

We also spoke about Contra work, charity jobs, social media and how to get clients. There can be confusion and misunderstanding that there is a prescribed way of how you have to do things.

There isn't.

I accept or decline things on a case by case basis. Some things I do for love, practice, exposure or desire to help. Other things are purely business decisions.

But something I did want to 'bang on' about is the relationship building. It's so important. I have been in business since 2004 and put emphasis on networking, being friendly, doing a good job... people will talk. You know the old saying... 'It's not what you know, it's who you know.'

Studio - playing with angles, light, reflections in glass, working without a lightmeter and reading the histogram.

Kitchen - telling a story. Detail, medium and wide shots. Looking for interest. Keeping out of the way.

Food on location - light, direction, props, backgrounds, creating stories (including one here done by a student on healthy/indulgent), playing around.

People - Looking at interesting backgrounds, graphic, space, reflector or speedlight, working with your subject to make them comfortable.

I put a call out on Facebook for anyone willing to lend us some food... Kayla from Natural Naughties came to our party with some delicious, healthy food. Check out her food, recipes books and more here. http://www.naturalnaughties.com/

Heidi Lewis 31/5/17 Heidi Lewis 31/5/17

Client: Marion Holiday Park

Marion Holiday Park - there really is accommodation for everyone. These images were part of a package I took while there for two hours of event coverage.

Late last year I photographed Marion Holiday Parks 35th birthday celebrations.

Must say, this park is pretty awesome... accommodation for everyone from tent sites to two storey poolside residences. Yes please.

www.marionhp.com.au

Check out some of the pics I took while there...

Heidi Lewis 29/5/17 Heidi Lewis 29/5/17

Regional South Australia photo tours - mid 2017 update

South Australian Regional Photo Shoot 2017 TOUR UPDATE

Need photos?
Don't have $$$$ to spend on a full photo shoot?
Not happy with your own pics for social media?
Want awesome pics easy?

I know you realise how important photography is, but when it comes down to budget, there is always something more pressing.

AND THE OTHER AWESOME PACKAGES...

Website overhaul
Ideas and package prices to be discussed. This is the big kahuna. Something that will set you up - website, printed promos, Instagram. It's all sorted with these packages.

Social Media Rock Pack - get three months of social pics. 100 pics! $500 - 3-hour shoot

Valued at $1900

Better Pics for Social Workshop $500
Suitable for beginners - no fancy equipment required
Simple tips for photographing people, food, events, architecture
Story and light
3 hours

Limited Contra Deals are also available for accommodations.

Email me or call me on 0402 716 406 now to book or discuss what you need.

Heidi Lewis 25/5/17 Heidi Lewis 25/5/17

CLIENT SHOWCASE: King River Rafting

Kayaking on the Franklin River with King River Rafting - and the promo pics.

I hadn't thought of taking the kids kayaking before. I love adventures but presumed they would get bored after, hmm, 10 minutes.

They proved me wrong. This time I was happy to be wrong. And that doesn't happen often. :)

We were in Queenstown with King River Rafting. Paul normally takes people out white water rafting, but for kids aged five and seven, as you know, rafting is not really that appropriate. So he suggested a kayak up the Franklin River. He also liked the idea of getting some kids pics to promote that area of his biz.

Leaving Strahan early, I'd forgotten to pack spare clothes so was hoping we wouldn't get too wet. Oh well, I thought to myself, it's just kayaking (and worse case scenario, we can blast the heaters in the car when we get back). When Paul brought out wetsuits, booties and thermal layers for all of us I realised I had completely underestimated the experience and how cold we could get. Oops.

The kids looked ridiculously cute in the smallest adult gear we could find. Wetsuit legs rolled up like big cream puffs. Booties that flopped about like flippers. They stomped about with giggles.

The next clue to our adventure not being as leisurely as I thought hit me when we arrived at the river. I hauled a kayak over my head and plodded for ten minutes down the forest path to the river. Of course Paul asked if I was ok, but of course I answered, 'yep, no problems'. The kids had to carry a paddle each while I stepped one foot in front of the other, blinded by the kayak, hoping I wouldn't fall in the leech-infested ferns.

While Paul climbed in his and slid down the rock face to the water, I was a little more cautious. I shouldn't have worried, the blow-up kayaks are very stable and can handle just about anything, as I was soon to discover. Ashton jumped in and was paddling before I could push off the rocks.

We paddled for about five minutes. I'm sure I looked ridiculous... learning how to paddle straight using the paddle out one side only (not switching sides). The kayak nosing left then right up river, Paul had to come back and check in on me a few times. It was definitely a slow start.

Then we hit a rapid - with no water. Slimy rocks and branches lay strewn across the river. Hmm. Paul was all over it. He hopped out, hitched his canoe above his head and ran over the rocks to the next section of the river. Then he returned and did the same with our kayaks.

Meanwhile, I was desperate to find a non-slippery rock or branch to step on, and make sure the kids do the same (I don't think I found one). They loved it. I worried about them falling. Nothing unusual. But after doing this about five times up river, I was getting used to it. Then we had to do it all again on the way back. Workout? You bet. Fun? Definitely. Scenic? Given. It's truly stunning.

And... did the kids enjoy it? Absolutely. We took a risk, but because it was just us and Paul, and knew we could turn back at any time. But the kids just kept on going. They loved to 'help' paddle, lay down and watch the water float by, and grab hold of Paul's canoe to get a pull.

Their favourite bit? Clambering all over the wet rocks. Ashton also loved skimming rocks over the river surface - well, trying to.

My favourite part? Getting the hang of keeping the kayak straight while moving forward, using only one paddle. Winning!

Here are the pics I took...

NOTE: Definitely make sure you have a wet bag or housing for your camera - it will get wet.

www.kingriverrafting.com.au

Heidi Lewis 22/5/17 Heidi Lewis 22/5/17

Getting arty farty...

Switching the brain from commissioned brief driven to creative. Eek.

Occasionally I have the time to think about creating, getting arty. I've done a few exhibitions now, and love the learning curve I get from it.

With my commercial photography, I shoot to a brief. When you sell a destination or company, you can't get too artistic and creative with what you show. It needs to tell the story.

Sometimes I struggle coming out of this mode and into creating mode. It takes a while. And I feel like a complete newbie.

Recently, while resourcing a new personal project, I found some drafts from one of my recent exhibitions. Salty Stories.

I enjoy looking back at my process from first concepts to final pieces... from 'let's put everything in one photo' to simple and soft.

The final 3 images are the exhibition pieces (in order from what I least to most liked).

Heidi Lewis 18/5/17 Heidi Lewis 18/5/17

Social media - It's not the full story.

Social media. The highlight reel of life. But there is always more to it.

I’m trying to be more open and honest on social media. I think it sucks that people see only the bright and positive side of people. But you know what, it’s hard. I love my job, and I have some pretty cool photoshoots. I also get to go to awesome places. And I love to ‘show the world off to the world’. I get excited - easily. I want others to get excited.

But you know what - it’s not all ‘happy days’.

When do I want to tell people that, some days, I sit at my computer in ugg boots and tracksuit pants for the whole day? Editing hundreds of pics or invoicing or resourcing. Yes, I had one of those days yesterday. I even went out to the supermarket in tracksuit pants - felt daggy, but you know…

What about when you have a shitty day - want to put those puffy red eyes up for all to see? I’ve had those this week too.

But I don’t. Sometimes I want to show the truth, but I don’t want all the soppy, ‘chin up’ comments. I’m not asking for love and ‘feel goods’. I just want to share that life isn’t always fabulous.

See all those inspiring office pics all over Pinterest? Yep, that’s not my office. Mine is shambolic. I have inspirational quotes stuck on the walls with BluTak, paperwork in piles, a to-do planner (x2) on the wall, bits of equipment scattered, an old laptop in the corner and my eCourse outline still stuck up on another wall. Do I want to show this scene? Hell no. But here you go… It’s not always this bad, but you get the idea.

I post pics from surfing and dancing… but I forget to tell you that I work late some nights. And weekends are not sacred to downtime. Having flexibility in my work does come with its consequences. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

So, my point… when you are scrolling social media, don’t take everything for face value. People normally only post the good stuff, the stuff they want to show off, the stuff they want to talk about. Remember, we are all human, and there is always more to the story than meets the eye. Don’t be harsh and judge yourself on these perceptions.