Strobist

Woman in gray hoodie sits on moss-covered stone wall, smiling in a rustic, outdoor setting with an old stone pathway.

Upgrading Your Brand with Business Portrait Photography

Business, Discussion, Musings, People, Strobist /

Boosting Your Brand Identity with Business Portrait Photography In today’s fast-paced world, first impressions often start online, making a top-notch business portrait more crucial than ever. It’s not just about looking smart; it’s about weaving your brand’s ethos and professionalism into a single image. These portraits offer a unique blend of personality and professionalism, setting […]

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Beginner Flash Photography: 3 Main Reasons to Use A Flash

Discussion, Photography Basics for Beginners, Strobist, Tips, Training /

Use A Flash Like a Pro: 3 Tips for Better Flash Photography Flash photography often gets a bad rap, conjuring images of blinding lights at family gatherings or the harsh glare of a smartphone’s LED in a dimly lit pub. Yet, for us professionals, it’s an entirely different ball game—a game of three parts, to

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A single bright red berry on a mossy branch against a dark background.

Discovering hidden beauty through macro photography

Blog, Discussion, Equipment and Kit, Musings, Photography Basics for Beginners, Strobist, Tips /

A Day with the Macro Lens: A Photographer’s Exploration I want to share the story of my recent walk – a routine two-mile amble around my local area, a practice I’ve cherished for years to clear the head and stretch the legs. It’s my daily escape from the confines of the desk, a necessary ritual

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A Sunset Serenade: Capturing Sharon Stacey at Winscar Reservoir

Blog, CASE STUDY, Commercial, Landscapes, People, Photography, Strobist /

There’s an undeniable magic that happens when the universe conspires to bring together elements of raw nature, an artist’s passion, and the fleeting beauty of a setting sun. On the 19th of July, 2023, I had the pleasure of photographing the incredibly talented Sharon Stacey, as she serenaded the setting sun at Winscar Reservoir. Setting

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10 Must-Have Accessories for Your Photography Kit

Musings, Photography, Strobist, Tips, Training /

Building a well-equipped photography kit is essential for capturing stunning images. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced photographer, having the right equipment can make a significant difference in the quality of your photographs. In this article, we’ll explore 10 must-have photography equipment items and discuss why they are crucial for every photographer. Let’s dive

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Tips for Capturing Authentic Headshots

Blog, Business, Commercial, Discussion, People, Photography, Strobist, Tips /

Why do we need headshots… Corporate headshots are essential for showcasing the professionals behind and working in a company and creating a positive first impression – usually on the About us page of your website and on professional networking sites. However, traditional headshots often lack authenticity and fail to reflect the true personality of the

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The Sharon Stacy’s 90’s Club Hit Band

Blog, CASE STUDY, Commercial, Discussion, People, Photography, Strobist, Tips /

90’s House and Rave Music! I was a student in Manchester in the early nineties and a regular at Raves and house music clubs, like:- The state, The Hacienda Sankey’s soap. The boardwalk, The Limit. Home …and many, many others I can’t remember the name of around the Manchester area.  So when my friend, soul

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How to Get Started as a Model – The Test Shoot

Blog, Business, Commercial, Musings, People, Strobist, Tips /

How do you get started in this industry? I’m sure you’ve seen some of the amazing photos gracing magazine covers and advertisements. You might even have a few friends who’ve modelled for various modelling sites and agencies. But what do you really need to know about getting started? The first step to getting started is

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Lencarta Beauty Dish Test Shoot

Blog, Discussion, Musings, Photography, Strobist, Tips, Training /

I recently bought the “MOD048 | 60cm Folding Beauty Dish Silver Mk.2” as a small, portable light modifier. These are available (or will be when stock arrives) on their website (https://www.lencarta.com/all-products/light-shapers/studio-beauty-dishes) or if you’re in West Yorkshire, you can order on line and pick it up in Bradford, which is what I did. Couple of

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Using the Godox AD600 on My First Post-Lockdown Model Photoshoot!

Composition, Discussion, Musings, Photography, Strobist, Tips /

Back in Action with the Godox AD600: A Post-Lockdown Location Portrait Photography Session It’s been donkey’s years, but I finally got back behind the lens with my long-time collaborator and model, Andy Taylor Boocock. Picking a spot in Leeds was like choosing your favourite biscuit—difficult, but ultimately rewarding. So, I packed my Godox AD600 and

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Wh0

People, Photography, Strobist /

DJ and production duo “Wh0” are a mysterious pair currently rocking the House dance floors around the UK – They’ve both been around in their regular DJ slots for years and have remixed some of the biggest acts around. So after a gig in Leeds a few weeks back, we met up at this amazing

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9 Affordable Gadgets To Transform Your Photography

Musings, Photography, Strobist, Tips, Workshop /

Photography Kit Which Doesn’t Cost The Earth 1 – Angle Finder – £20 – £200 If you shoot low down, maybe for landscapes or createive atchitecture shots, so see through your camera, you’ll either have to lie fly on the floor or guess your compoisition. This is where your “angle finder” comes into play. It allows

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Business Profile Shoot – Illiya the Presentation Designer

Blog, People, Photography, Strobist /

The Presentation Designer Illiya Vjestica is a great designer – a strong typographic presence, uses powerful images which leave the “message” in no doubt and also happens to be great bloke too. His business takes these skills to the art of “presentation” – he creates slides for people to transform how they present in pitches, talks and seminars.

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Dr Lovelution

People, Photography, Strobist /

Joe Cusimano Founder of the Lovelution Movement, Joe Cusimano met for a shoot in Halifax – sheltering from the rain under a few of its viaducts! What is Lovelution… From his Viva La Lovelution Facebook page, Joe says… Join the Lovelution: Follow your Heart, Shine your Light,Seek the Truth and Reunite! This is YOUR revolution!

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Team Shoot for Ardent – York City Centre

Blog, CASE STUDY, Commercial, People, Photography, PR Shoot, Strobist /

York based financial advisers, Ardent Financial Planning, are having a new website site and brand built by digital agency “Plump Digital” – Rob Colley invited McFade over to capture some great new shots of directors. Being a York based company, I was keen to create some images with York in the background – it’s a

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5 Essential Tips for Engaging Portrait Photography: Build Rapport and Capture Authentic Shots

Blog, Discussion, People, Photography, Strobist, Tips, Training /

Mastering the Art of Portrait Photography: 5 Essential Tips for Engaging with Your Subject When it comes to portrait photography, the technical aspects like lighting, camera settings, and composition are undeniably important. However, the way you interact with your subject can often make the difference between a good portrait and a great one. Whether you’re

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Sam’s Big Band!

Blog, Commercial, Strobist /

[singlepic id=843 w=700 h= mode=web20 float=center] Band leader, arranger and sax supremo (is that bigging you up enough Sam ?? lol) asked for some shots of his big band – so we got everyone into an empty office in Leeds and started creating some shots. Herding cats and musicians is never easy, though it didn’t

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Photographer Meets Celebrity Look Alikes in Leeds

Blog, Leeds, Networking, People, Photography, Slider, Strobist /

Celebrity Look Alikes in Leeds [singlepic id=661 float=] Had the great pleasure of meeting and photographing:- David Beckham Mr T Austin Powers Simon Cowell Britney Spears Will Smith Or at least I thought I did! These were a great bunch of actors who make a career from looking like the actual celebrity – and it

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5 ESSENTIALS every photographer MUST know before using Off Camera Flash

Discussion, Musings, People, Photography, Strobist, Tips, Training, Workshop /

Off Camera Flash Essentials Off camera flash is a popular technique at the moment, taking speedlite flashes off the camera, onto light stands and using radio transmitters to trigger them. It’s getting easier and cheaper – with budget brands bringing flash to the masses Technically, there and awful lot to understand to get fantastic results

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McFade Edits Phil Gledhill’s “Chris” playing

Lightroom, Musings, People, Photography, Strobist, Workshop /

As part of the Lightroom 4 exploration, we’ve been editing our student’s shots for fun – using just Lightroom 4, no plugins or photoshop. Here’s one from the Lyric of Chris with his trombone on the stairs. Original Shot This shot seemed to suit mono, so started off with a black and white pre-set – went through

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McFade Edits Phil Gledhill’s “Chris in Window” shot

Lightroom, Photography, Strobist, Training, Workshop /

As part of the Lightroom 4 exploration, we’ve been editing our student’s shots for fun – using just Lightroom 4, no plugins or photoshop. Here’s one from the Lyric of Chris playing his trombone. The gallery feature isn’t in the right order, but each shot has a number after it;s name “brass-band-119-3” – that number

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