pressmen performance and photography

The Pressmen as Fake Paparazzi and Event photographers

noreply@blogger.com (the clown) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 21:08:00 +0000

The Pressmen as Fake Paparazzi and Event photographers

In an earlier article I looked at the concept of Value for Money. In 2013 we are living through a period of austerity where the country if not actually in Recession is suffering a downturn along with many other countries. Clients must consider how they are using their money and whether the service they are buying gives them enough value.

The value I believe is in the blending together of a theatrical experience combined with relevant event photography. Event photography can be categorised in two ways.

The first is the photographer who essentially creates a studio environment on site in the chosen venue. They will arrive with a dedicated backdrop, usually a lighting set up with two lights each with either an umbrella or a soft box. They will adjust the lights to give general lighting that is pleasing to the eye. The lights will fit with getting a good recording of skin tones with neither too much light or to little. The idea in diffusing the light being to reduce shadows which lessens wrinkles and skin issues. The goal is to get a really pleasing portrait that enhances a persons look. Not only this the photographer will aim to get the best angle and the best pose to end up with a photograph that clients like so much they will want a copy.

This type of event photography will also involve having a printer so that prints can be delivered on the night.

In creating the Pressmen we have created a different strategy which is the second type. Our aim is to be like newspaper photographers and capture the best moments in a function. Sometimes this strategy is called reportage or candid photography. Because this method calls for instant judgements it is necessary to have cameras and lenses that are of a very good quality. We cannot afford to have a lag between the moment when we push the shutter release button and the moment the camera actually takes the picture. It is important to understand the way light effects a picture and when to take pictures with just the ambient light and when flash light is needed. We tend to have flash lights that can be separate from the camera in order to be able to create different atmospheres. Light from above,below or from the side. Light from different angles create or reduce shadows which has a major impact on a photograph from simple pleasant light to very dramatic shadows.

But reportage photography involves not only technical issues but also artistic ones.

The photographer who was the of great importance to this tradition of candid photography talked about the decisive moment. He described it in this way,

"Photography is not like painting," Cartier-Bresson told the Washington Post in 1957. "There is a creative fraction of a second when you are taking a picture. Your eye must see a composition or an expression that life itself offers you, and you must know with intuition when to click the camera. That is the moment the photographer is creative," he said. "Oop! The Moment! Once you miss it, it is gone forever."

This takes study, experience and much practice.

It is the goal of our photography in the pressmen. To capture all the decisive moments. Add all those together and the story of the event is captured. The photographs allow a client to remember all that took place at the event and to be able to relive the experience of the event with all its passion and intense emotion. Even to see things that they may have missed. In other words it is a visual description of that event.

The Pressmen are thus able to produce a veritable feast of images using the art of photojournalism but also with the theatricality of fake Paparazzi or Spoof Paparazzi they can become an essential aspect of what is necessary to make an event work both on the day and to memorialize it for years to come.

Fake Paparazzi Value for money

noreply@blogger.com (the clown) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 00:14:00 +0000

Fake Paparazzi

can be just that. Fake in the sense that their job is to help create a fun atmosphere and help to ensure the guests feel special. This would easily fit into the concept of Mix and Mingle Entertainment. Ice breaking Entertainment.

Value for money

It is important to ask if the client is getting value for money. It is an idea that is rarely thought about. Most clients do not have a good overall vision of what makes an event. They have surely been to events and experienced them but in general it is not their area of expertise.

What makes an event work and has it achieved its goals which are often implicit rather than explicit. At say a birthday how will a client categorize their event as a success. For each client it will be different but there are certain universal values one can point to. At the end of the event is the client feeling good about their party, are the guests feeling the same, are they thinking about the party, remembering aspects of the party to tell their friends ,have they a recording of the party and so forth.

What goes into achieving these results. The venue, the décor, the food, the entertainment, the atmosphere etc.

So if we are talking about value for money where do fake Paparazzi fit into this. It is important at the beginning of the event that the Fake Paparazzi help guests feel like they are at a party, help to ensure that each guest feels special and help to break the ice between guests who do not know each other. These are the building blocks for creating a fun atmosphere.

Value for money really needs more than that. Fake Paparazzi have cameras and it is a big loss if they don’t have cameras that are fit for purpose and know how to use those cameras as well as know how to look for all the decisive moments that go to create special memories. The skills of a Professional Photographer, or an Event Photographer.

Cheap cameras or camera phones will record certain aspects of a party but they will not be able on a consistent basis capture enough of the decisive moments. For example, at a birthday party there is the cake cutting moment. There is a period of time when the cake is being cut but in that time there are only a few instances when the photograph would be right. Let alone that the light would show up the person and the cake in the best aspect. To take the decisive moment takes both a skilled photographer and a professional camera and lighting system.

To get value for money the Fake Paparazzi must have the quality of an experienced performer as well as the skills of a professional photographer. The value for money aspect comes in the way the Fake Paparazzi or Spoof Paparazzi can create atmosphere and create memories by recording the decisive moments.

All of that makes the Fake Paparazzi/Spoof Paparazzi/Event Photographer an essential element in what it takes to create a successful event.

Fake Paparazzi and Birthday Parties

noreply@blogger.com (the clown) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 11:43:00 +0000

Fake Paparazzi and Event Paparazzi together

Choosing the correct way to explain what we do is always difficult. Much depends on the understanding of the person who is reading the words.

In the case of birthday parties we are using Fake Paparazzi and Event Paparazzi to help create the atmosphere at the beginning and to create memories throughout with photography and trying to catch the decisive moments.

"I just wanted to say thank you for making my party such a success everyone thought you were great and I love the photos."

see more testimonials

The difference between Fake Paparazzi and Event Paparazzi

Fake Paparazzi is the theatre created at the beginning of an event. It is that moment when guests arrive and they are treated as special celebrities.

Event Paparazzi is the candid or reportage photography that happens during the event. Because we have created a relationship with the guests through the theatre of Paparazzi it means the guests are more relaxed around us and this allows for much better photographs.

Fake Paparazzi for birthdays

As can be seen from the above quote "everyone thought you were great" As Fake Paparazzi we created an impact with the guests and this not only made the party more fun but also helped to get better photographs,"I love the photos"

Fake Paparazzi and Fake Autograph Hunters

noreply@blogger.com (the clown) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 11:51:00 +0000

Fake Paparazzi in action

Working at an awards luncheon for a medical supply company. At this function we had a series of goals. We had two fake Paparazzi and two Fake Autograph Hunters. The two Fake Autograph Hunters were trained dancers and actors.

The first goal was to help create a fun atmosphere for this awards ceremony. As it was in the companies building and during a working day we had to really add extra enthusiasm to create the right sense of theatre. As people arrived the Fake Autograph hunters and the Fake Paparazzi rushed over to the arriving guests treating them as major celebrities,asking for their autographs,calling for them to look at the cameras,and without a doubt creating a sense of fun. After the event we heard from the client as to the impact we had on the awards ceremony. The second goal was to continue creating a sense of fun during the lunch and then continue with that energy into the awards themselves.

During the lunch itself we added an idea that could be called Photo Bombing. People do this when an odd person turns up in a picture. This can happen with tourists when a stranger pulls an odd face at the back of their picture. Here we turned this idea into a very positive experience combining it with the continuing idea that all the guests are very special. So both our Fake Autograph Hunters posed behind guests at every table. That way everybody had a good time and we got to take photos of all the guests enjoying themselves.

As to the Awards Ceremony we again helped to build the atmosphere. With a lot of awards the continued walking to the podium can be a downtime if there are lots of awards. Our dancers accompanied people along the red carpet improvising new actions with every award winner. So cheering their name,different dance steps with them,twirls and whirls. This was something the client had not seen before and they were very pleased with the interaction.

Of course all of this was professionally photographed by the two pressmen.

Pressman working as event Photographer

Fake Autograph Hunters in action

Why choose the Pressmen and both Fake Paparazzi and professional photography

noreply@blogger.com (the clown) — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 18:31:00 +0000

Fake Paparazzi

What is Fake Paparazzi? Sometimes it is called spoof paparazzi or digital paparazzi.

Within the idea of Fake Paparazzi one can have 1950's style or a modern style. For us at the Pressmen we prefer the old fashioned style with double breasted pinstripe suits,trench coats and trilby's.

We do have a modern version which although good is not as strong theatrically.

Theatrical Paparazzi

What is in it for the client. How will they benefit from booking Fake Paparazzi? There are two main factors. One is they act as an icebreaker at the beginning of a party and in doing this help create a fun atmosphere.

For the client this makes their guests happy which in turn makes their party fun and everyone remembers the party. Impact and memorability.

The nitty gritty of doing this is to create a moment of theatre. As soon as guests see the Fake Paparazzi they know what they represent. They understand the setting. The stage is created. That leads into making the guests feel special. The Fake Paparazzi treat them as special,as celebrities,as winners. They talk to them as if they are famous and that in itself although a piece of theatre still has impact. In modern anonymous society to be treated as a human being as someone who is special, that has impact.

The key to performing in this way is to set the scene and then listen to what the guests says. Then improvise to their reply. This cannot be overlooked if the performance is to maximize its impact. Listen and relate to what they say. It is essential to listen and create a dialogue. It is only a quick moment but it is essential that there is real dialogue.

Listening Paparazzi

If as Fake Paparazzi we get both the listening and dialogue at the right level we have done our job. This creates a relationship to the guests which has an immense effect later on in the event. It is essential for the event photography. Listening Paparazzi create relationships for the evening. This makes the Fake Paparazzi opening work and it is a key to the effective taking of photographs.

And so ends Part 1 of this blog. These ideas will be developed in the next part of this blog.

Marline and Elvis photographed alive and well in Surrey

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:30:00 +0000

Derren Brown on the Melenium Bridge

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 12:40:00 +0000

Last Friday on my way to tate Modern I Paped Derren Brown Filming on the bridge

Sunset in Ibiza

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 12:33:00 +0000

on Holiday and away from fake papaeazzi and all things pressmen

Bethia Beadman at Hugo's Speaker Palace

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 14:38:00 +0000

Last night Chas was at Hugo's Speaker Palace to photograph Bethia Beadman
Here are some of the pictures

Pressmen still working Hard

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 17:04:00 +0000

The Birthday Boy

The Band

We were working as fake paparazzi an 18th birthday bash here is a taste of the pictures and you can see us in action taking real pictures.

Burns Night in Hackney

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 18:23:00 +0000

This year as previous the pressmen (pressman) Chas has been taking pictures of the Burns night which was put on to raise funds for the Hackney branch of the LCC So acting like a fake paparazzi chas managed to capture the while event from start to finish.

Spain in the hills

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 17:44:00 +0000

A few pics taken using HDR

Picture from Spain

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 17:38:00 +0000

A little picture I took in Spain over the christmas period

Hatfield House 360 Panaramic pictures using HDR

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 10:22:00 +0000

Hi Chas of the pressmen here unable to load a 360 panoramic picture in to the blog so here is the link:
Hatfield House Panarama 360 quicktime Required
Taken yesterday at Hatfield House in Hertfordshire

sunset by chas

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 07:47:00 +0000

A semi HDR shot just HDR on the sky and photoshop on the foreground

Chas Photo Exhibition

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 00:25:00 +0000

Chas has a photo exhibition on at the moment in Tottenham see
http://www.chaswilshere.co.uk/exhibition.html for details

fake/spoof/digital Paparazzi and the pressmen

noreply@blogger.com (the clown) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:28:00 +0000

The pressmen constantly strive to improve the services they provide. The first part of the act adds consistently to helping create a fun atmosphere to any event and party. It also adds to creating rapport between the pressmen and the guests. This is essential as the pressmen pride themselves on the level of their photography. Good shots come from a rapport with guests,and professional level photographic skills and equipment. The pressmen can be seen as fake paparazzi for hire or spoof paparazzi for hire. This element always has the photography as an essential element. It is the photography that adds incredible value long after the event has finished. it becomes the source of an archive that allows people to remember their event and relive the excitement of their party. The photographs jog peoples memories.

the pressmen and wedding ethos

noreply@blogger.com (the clown) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 01:03:00 +0000

We aim to make our service special for you. It is important for us to get to know you and understand your vision for your special event. You need to have a sense of who we are and the way we work. We think it is important that you actually like your photographer and feel that they will interact well with your guests. To get a good photograph it is important to have a good camera, technical skill and above all that to get on with people. In a wedding it is essential to have an eye for every moment and constantly pick out those moments that reveal the atmosphere of an event and the character and spirit of the guests as they enjoy the day.

pistachios

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 13:10:00 +0000

A few pictures taken yesterday as the sun was setting near Totenham by the pressmen no need for fake paparazzi to do this

Presmen down the thames as fake paparazzi

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:53:00 +0000

shooting great pictures using HDR as we are now using one of the top end Canon Cameras which can shoot 10 frames a second so movement on the HDR is kept to a minimum and here are some of the results

Pressmen out catching the Autumn in Kent

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:31:00 +0000

Been out trying using HDR in Photoshop as described in Mac user

Pressmen @ a Batmitzvah

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 12:36:00 +0000

PRESSMEN at work again as Event Photographers and fake paparazzi/spoof paparazzi.

The Pressmen some thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (the clown) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:43:00 +0000

We at the pressmen have focussed in the last few years in developing and refining our photographic expertise. Whether it be parties,engagements,weddings,company events and public relation launches. After each job we reflect on how it worked and if there is anything we can do better. In this way we constantly develop our skills.

This is common sense. However, in japanese culture there is a word that describes this called kaizen or the philosophy of constant improvement. It was one way that leaders in Japanese industry strived to maintain a cutting edge in all areas of their business.

Common sense it is and we are making sure that this remains part of our brand philosophy.

Constant improvement for the 2 sides of our business- event photography and fake paparazzi/spoof paparazzi/event entertainment

Ramada event photography and fake paparazzi

noreply@blogger.com (the clown) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:16:00 +0000

The pressmen have just worked at a first birthday party for a Ramada hotel. This is what the client wrote to us, "Just a quick email to thank you for your superb pictures you took of our 1st Birthday Party. I was amazed at the quality and the atmosphere you added to the evening. I have passed our link on to all of our guests and they have commented on how wonderful everything went."

Again it shows that our clients are impressed with the quality of our photography. Often as part of our efforts to provide added value we have taken pictures of the room and decor using a range of lenses from wide angle to fisheye. In fact on some jobs we have taken shots of the clients building using a special technique called HDR. Our special skill continues to be an ability to capture the atmosphere with candid /reportage photography. We have honed this skill via all the pressmen jobs we do as well as our news and music photography.

In terms of entertainment we continue with our ability to help create a fun and lively atmosphere. What is called the fake paparazzi or spoof paparazzi. No matter how I explain this to clients they are still amazed at how good it is when they see the effect at their function.

This year we have increased the number of weddings we have done. Our photography and rapport again has amazed the wedding couples. Even we were were surprised when one client provided us with a forklift truck in order to take some unusual group shots.

Pressmen keep shooting digital paparazzi

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:23:00 +0000

Pressmen out shooting getting great testimonials