Miss Northern Ireland 2010

Last month I covered the Miss Northern Ireland final for the 2nd time covering for the main sponsor Rushmere shopping centre, Craigavon. The event had 26 girls trying to take the title from last years winner Cherie Gardiner.

As usual the dress code is very glamourous:

The eventual winner Lori Moore:

More images are available HERE

B

Value for money?

If anything has changed over the last 2 years it's how people value their money and how they spend it. Even as the economy seems at the start of a recovery it will be a long time before the confidence is back with the consumer to spend like they did before the Credit crunch.

The knock on effect of these spending cuts have been job cuts, if the businesses are not making money they can't afford to pay the staff who work for them. With these people having no jobs to go to they pick up the easiest (or only) thing they can find to do. Many become taxi drivers (with the car at the door its an obvious choice), but on occasion some decide to become photographers and with digital cameras that some has become many.


The first question most photographers get asked is "How much they charge?", below I'll break down why that question should be the last question on your mind. I'm taking this from a wedding photography perspective as most approached to a photographer would be related to wedding photography, but it goes the same for all types of photography and some points even in other industries.

1. Personality - Not the first thing most people think about, but if you are going to pay someone to do a job getting on with them would be a big part of getting the best from your photographer. Like wise they should like you, otherwise it's just going to be a long day. I've heard more complaints from people about personality clashes than a photographer's work. When I ask people to come see me on a booking enquiry, its not just my work they see but also who I am.
2. Work ethic - A hard one to find out without recommendation but let's be honest you want them to turn up on time and do what's expected below.
3. Work quality - Don't just phone a photographer if you know they have a website and haven't checked it. This may actually save you a call if their work is not up to standard that you want (we'll come to that). All photographers put up their best images for people to view but seeing a whole album is a must. So many people shoot over the professional's shoulders now its easy to get a nice shot with no input of their own and pass it off as their own (this happens).How do you know what a good standard of photo is? Look around at a few different photographers websites and look at images carefully, good work can speak for itself very easily. It has been well known that some photographers use a certain style of photography called "photojournalism" to hide their technical ability behind the camera and their interpersonal skills. Paul Crawford, a wedding photographer based in Northern Ireland has a blog on the different styles of wedding photography. 
4. Experience - Any form of photography requires experience to be good and even more to be great. Don't punish a professional of 20 years for charging more than someone who's being doing it 6 months, there's no comparison, honestly. A friend of the family offer? If your aunt hasn't baked the cake then its probably best uncle doesn't do the photos. I've been doing this for 5 years FYI.
5. Presentation - CD, Prints or Album. In film days there was one option only and the pricing structure was a lot more simplified, making price comparison a lot easier. Today people have a huge choice and that's good, but....you can't really compare someone selling a £200 CD package to £600 album package, surprisingly it happens, A LOT. The quality of albums can vary hugely too and that affects the end price. Prices up to and over £2500 is not out of the ordinary for bespoke albums.
6. Equipment - You don't have to have the latest equipment to take the best photographs but it helps. A working photographer should really have no less than two cameras, and backups of the most important equipment needed to work. This of course affects the over all price. The last thing a bride wants to hear on her wedding day is "My cameras broke....".
7. Insurance - Equipment insurance, Public liability insurance and Public indemnity insurance. A working photographer knows what these are and more importantly have them.

If you only have a certain budget this is going to restrict the type of photographer you can get, but just remember sometimes that an extra £100 on a photography budget makes a BIG difference. Ask yourself "Why is that photographers so cheap/expensive?." The best advice is to shop around but not on price but value for money.

B

Miss NI at Rushmere

Once again Rushmere being key sponsor to the Miss Northern Ireland event held its own heat in the centre on the 24th April. Over 30 girls turned up, with 2 eventual winners, Miss Rushmere and Miss Craigavon.

These are the eventual two winners:

The final is held on June 21st, I'll be there covering for Rushmere.

All photos from the Rushmere heat are HERE

For more information on Miss NI contest go HERE

B

Face of Bar Seven

I recently covered the first round of the Face of Bar 7 in the Odyssey Arena.

The event was for a male and female to be the face of the club for the next year, there must have been around 40 entrants:

The contestants had to show some "talent" to the judges, we had a Michael Jackson fan:

and for those with no "talent" there was always the Baywatch run:

More photo on my Flickr.

The final is on Saturday the 24th of April.

B

New site

Finally got the new site up somewhat.

Both domains www.brendangallagher.com and www.brendangallagher.net point to the new site.

Hope you like it

B

Earth Hour

Following my last Earth Hour post, the world event seemed to have went very well.

All major cities around the world put out the lights of their famous buildings and in Belfast we did the same.

I covered Queens University going out last night (27th), thankfully the rain stayed off and the coldness lifted.

For more information on the Earth Hour event go here http://www.earthhour.org/

B

WWF: Earth hour

Recently I did a job for the WWF for their Earth Hour.

Initially we hit Sea Park at Holywood to photograph a few hundred tea lights, but with darkness closing in and the wind picking up we found it a challenge to get the job done as below....

Plan B was to head indoors, thankfully a home was close at hand, and with a bit of time and effort we recreated the image EARTH HOUR in all its glory....

With the helping hand of Jonny and a bit of simple flash work we created the below photo for press...

Even "quick" jobs easily turn into demanding jobs very easily, but its fun doing it.

B

Belfast Fashion Week 2010 opening night

Last night was the first night of Belfast (West Coast Cooler) Fashion Week.
The turnout was great as always, a very good opening night.

As in-house photographer I get prime position at the bottom of the catwalk.

Some of the girls who have been on the catwalk before were there to watch.

Katie Larmour, Lucy Evangelista, Jenny Curran

B

Belfast Fashion Week 2010

This week I attended the launch of Belfast Fashion Week for 2010.
As usual the turnout was great and we also get some models to photograph for the papers.

This time around we had Zara and Jude doing the rounds with the photographers.

More to follow as Fashion week starts on the 9th March.

B

Deborah K photoshoot part 2

Well its been near a week since we done the photoshoot and we are still wilting down the 1000 images to a more manageable number.

In the mean time here are a few images to look at:

And my favourite so far:

Models: Catherine McAteer, Beccy Milne
MUA: Julie Davidson
Hair: Olivia Muldoon
Jewellery: Deborah K

More to follow.

B

Deborah K photoshoot

This Friday I will once again be shooting for Deborah K Designs.

Last April we had a fantastic shoot at Belfast Castle, this time we are in the studio.

We have 2 models with the Hair and Make up being done by Olivia Muldoon and Julie Davidson respectively.

Keep an eye out for some finished images on here.

Brendan

Backdating

Hi all,

I'm currently back dating posts to the blog that should have been added in the past but were not.

This gives you a chance to check back and see other work I have done in the past.

B

End of year

It's the end of a good year with photographic work.

Worked with many new clients and of course many of the same.

I have a lot of work to show case in the next week or two that has been taken over the year.

I have penned in a few days next week to get the site up and running and get the blog started for the new year.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Brendan

End of the summer

So the end of the summer seems to have arrived, the weather is changing and its getting colder.

With the change the weddings slow down, although September is a busy month with every Saturday booked up. I've had a last minute booking for November, my only wedding in November.

On the PR side of things summer has been good, and as the economy seems to be getting better hopefully Christmas will bring more work.

Miss Northern Ireland Final

Carrying on from the Miss NI heat post.

I got a privileged place to cover the final from...one of the benefits of being a photographer.

I have to admit photographing all the Miss NI's from 2005 onwards this was my first Miss NI event.
I was not disappointed. With some of NI most beautiful girls on the catwalk and the best personality's of NI in attendance it could only be a good night.

These are the girls in question:

The winners car in the background ;)

Some of the guests:

Ben Shephard, Zoe Salmon, Alan Simpson 

Zoe Salmon, Pete Snodden

Robin Elliot, Katie Larmour

More show photos to follow...

Brendan

Miss Northern Ireland heats

On assignment for Rushmere shopping centre, I had to cover the Miss NI heat at the centre in Craigavon.

As the major sponsor there was a fair bit involved to make sure Rushmere got their shots for their angle on the event and for the Miss Northern Ireland event itself. Of course with the pretty girls the job is that little bit easier :).

Some girls with Alison Campbell of Miss NI event and Alan Simpson.

Alan talks to the girls.

Heat winners with Rushmere centre manager

For more photos go to HERE
For Miss NI info go to HERE

The final photos will be online soon.

Brendan

Wedding season

So its that time of year.

Weddings are starting to pick up and so is the weather. Those extra few hours of light make all the difference to an album and a photographers stress levels.

This weekend I am doing a shoot for Blush and Deborah K jewellery. Should be fun.

B

Fashion Week 2009

Below are some images taken from Belfast Fashion Week 2009

Girls on the launch day

Some from the shows themselves:

For more of this set go to HERE

Photos from Thursday night at FW Belfast

Belfast Fashion Week....

...is back with the timetable as below.

Held in the Grand Opera House, Belfast.


Thursday 16 October
6.30pm
AVOCA, HARPER, Beverly Hills, Liberty Blue, Atelier, Oxfam Vintage, Raspberry Beret, Madison Rose, Mary Rose McGrath, Pillar Box Red, Una Rodden, Julie Ann Graham

Thursday 16 October
8.00pm
AVOCA, HARPER, Beverly Hills, Liberty Blue, Atelier, Oxfam Vintage, Raspberry Beret, Madison Rose, Mary Rose McGrath, Pillar Box Red, Una Rodden, Julie Ann Graham

Friday 17 October
6.30pm
Jourdan, MaxMara, Excel, Roxbury & McQueen, Havana, Hugo Thomas, Coral, Posh Frocks, Marina Rinaldi, Blush

Friday 17 October
8.00pm
Jourdan, MaxMara, Excel, Roxbury & McQueen, Havana, Hugo Thomas, Coral, Posh Frocks, Marina Rinaldi, Blush

Saturday 18 October
11.00am
House of Fraser in store Brunch show. Held at Ba Mizu, 5th floor House of Fraser (Victoria Square)

Saturday 18 October
8.00pm
Fashion & Retail awards with collections from House of Fraser, WAREHOUSE, Coast, French Connection, Great Plains at Baby Grand.

Photos to follow...

Weekend ahead

Busy weekend ahead, wedding today, weather seems to be unsettled but could be worse.

Model shoot tomorrow in the studio and then on Monday I have a fashion/lingerie shoot for Vanjo Underwear, http://www.vanjo.co.uk/, big house outside Belfast is the location, models, hair/makeup and PR team and me.

Back to work. :)