Some Photographic jobs are just… well, scrummy…

On this lovely morning in Y Felinheli as I have been sitting in my office watching with enjoyment the boats go in and out of the Dinorwic Marina, I almost felt in holiday mode.

What would have made it even more perfect was a “Nice Bistro Lunch” in the sunshine I was thinking to myself.

Just then, in rushed Eifion telling me to lock up the office and to get myself over to Yr Hen Lechan because he had been told to eat the sumptuous delights that he had been photographing for them…

Welshot are using this restaurant to do our catering for our photographic workshops, modules and courses and they have, in return, asked Eifion to do the Photography of their interiors and their food (all handmade and superb) so after spending a morning getting some of the shots required for their website, Eifion was told to EAT the food…

Eifion, who is a “Get it right in Camera first” sort of a guy had not done anything to the food to make it look better, it didnt need hairspray or anything else to make it more appealing, the work itself was (until I scoffed it) a piece of art work, handcrafted and arranged perfectly on the plate.   Just some correct lighting and technical camera knowledge was all that was needed to get the shots perfect for this Restaurant.

So, I got to enjoy my Foie Gras, Smoked Mackerel Mousse and an amazing chocolate thing that I am so sure is way off my Slimming World plan but hey who cares, it is still summer and I took time to just enjoy and watch the boats drift in and out.

What a scrummy job to have :)  Thanks Eifion and Thanks Yr Hen Lechan it is great when local businesses can help each other

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When Eifion and I first started talking about Welshot, it was in a very different format, it was about me selling work on behalf of other Photographers.

With an Administrative and Research Background with a NZ Govt Department, then working for Thomas Cook Travel, one of my biggest skills (I think) is organisation and I love nothing more than when I am in organisation mode….

I love photography (when Im inspired, not when I HAVE to) and never considered myself good enough.  So, I put together what I was good at and what I LOVED and came up with Welshot…  That’s when Eif came on board, cos it was Eif’s images that I sold from the first.

That’s when Welshot was born.

However, we quickly realised that it wasn’t enough so over a few glasses, we got to talking about what it was we had wanted from all our years at Camera Clubs.  What was the common thread was “We had wanted a place that we and others could go, to learn and do practical, hands on, learn YOUR camera stuff”  Winning a few competitions would have been a bonus but primarily we wanted to LEARN.  (And have FUN)

Now, Eifion, who studies Camera Manuals for fun, knows camera’s inside out and back to front, will always readily admit that you just cant know it all, be good at everything or know every skill possible in the encyclopedia of photography…

So, over a few more glasses, we thought… “Why not bring in experts from their genres of photography and get them to run workshops, courses and mini-modules….”

Make it FUN, FRIENDLY and AFFORDABLE for everyone, in a non competative, unintimidating (it does not matter one jot what sort of camera you have as long as you have a passion and just want to have fun) and safe environment.

We ran a couple of workshops, people liked the informal, friendly style and the social aspect of it all (food is always involved with me around )  Meeting people and laughing in the pouring rain seemed like a lot of fun when you are with like minded people

In April 2009 we had our first Open Day at the Anglesey Arms Hotel in Menai Bridge and we had 110 people attend.  We had everything from Business Lectures, Adobe Photoshop, Copyright Issues, Accountancy and Tax, Insurance PLUS 12 different photography modules that you got to learn a multitude of things from portraiture, lighting, off camera flash, wedding photography, printing your own work…  You name it, we had it.

This launched our Welshot Photographic Academy Evenings which run from 6.30 - 10.00pm  and always include supper.  Two practical, hands on modules with professional photographers helping YOU to get the best from YOUR camera.

Since then Welshot has launched in Llandudno, Chester and the IT ( Photoshop and other Computer Software courses are run here) suite in Colwyn Bay.

On October 24th we will launch in Stockport and tonight we launched our new “Discuss & Learn” Evenings that have been designed to take the photographer to the next level and maybe into the semi-pro and professional arena.

We will be organising everything YOU need to know, from how to brand a business, to how to run your own website to how to become self employed and what are the tax implications to providing you with everything from a legal point of view with agreemens and license contract templates  drawn up by our Strategic Partner SIS Law.

Next time I will tell you how Welshot aim to bring Strategic Partners, such as SIS Law to form a large umbrella of organisations, business and suppliers of photographic products that we all need as Photographers.

Our aim is to be a one-stop shop for the person who just loves photography and wants to get the best from their camera….  In a Fun, Friendly and Affordable way

Lee

The boys ( the most important people in my life and that of Welshot) told me to get rid, they have been saying that for a while now…

“You are never going to do it” or “It needs to be done on a regular basis Lee, get rid” or “It looks wrong on the website when it is not being used, get rid”

Trouble is, I didn’t want to and I still don’t want to…  “Get rid”

What I wanted from a blog was a place I could write all the feelings I have for Welshot in a place that people could read it and maybe get to know the “Real Me” and the “Real Eifion”

But, if I’m honest, I was a bit scared, would anybody really be interested…  So, it just never happened.

The blog just became a place I promoted all the things that were going on in Welshot, from a new member of the team, to an event, to yes, even a bit of a sales pitch and I really didn’t like it or feel comfortable with it at all.

I wanted the blog to be what I want Welshot to always be “Fun” and “Friendly” in a light hearted manner with no formalities and a place I could let you the reader in behind the scenes of Me, Eifion, the rest of the Team and Welshot.

A place where you could meet Chris Jones the amazing web designer otherwise known as Flat Ant (apparently named because ant’s work hard and are very productive but I know it’s because it was  the result of a few too many beers) who has become such a huge part of Welshot, or Lynsey from L29 Creative who taught me so much about why branding was so important in business right down to maybe some members who are very loyal and follow us around the whole of North Wales just to learn about lighting, camera metering systems and adobe photoshop shortcut’s…

Maybe even a place Team Members (otherwise known as Welshot Workshop Leads) would drop in occasionally to say gidday!!  ( I’m a Kiwi, so we are always gong to need and want an informal, fun and friendly place to just drop into)

Along the way, YES, I wanted to tell you what is going on, what our plans are, what we hope to bring to the Photographic Academy and the Academy Members (and Non Academy Members, because they are important too) but I also wanted it to be a place where you could get to know us, see what we were doing  and planning in a way that would be fun for you the reader and NOT just another sales pitch.

So, here I am, writing this because Mr. Flat Ant has promised to update the “Look” of my new blog page so it matches with the rest of the site if I proved that I would “Just” get it done…

Gotta be better than “Just get rid” any day huh.  See you around, cos, if you are interested, I will be here, and if you’re not then that’s fine too.

With Welshot, it’s always got to be about having fun in YOUR photography so why should the blog be any different to the Academy Evenings or our Photography Workshops and Courses….

Have a nice day

Lee