COVID-19, the London Lockdown and the affects on Photographers.

When I first heard about the coronavirus, I went into beast mode and was thinking it won’t hurt me and ill get over it. I still believe even if I do contract it I would be fine. I went into a super work-o-holic mode and I was really pushing for as much work in one day as possible for at least 4 days. On Monday it was announced that we are going into lockdown. The real worry kicked in for me, but common sense was telling me the more people that stay in and the more people that listen now, the quicker we can all go back work and start earning money again. For everywhere that is self-employed, not only photographers, so I had to pull the trigger and unfortunately cancel all the shoots I had over the next two weeks (15 shoots). What I’m seeing is nothing but selfishness form the rest of the UK that are still able to get paid 80% of their salary. They are going still and the lockdown will only get more strict and more severe, definitely, it will be longer. Financially it will cripple a lot of people and it is definitely an action that we take now that will make the future of our business’. I had formed relationships with some new clients I was intending on starting working on their projects 3 weeks from Monday 23rd. I will keep in contact with all my clients during this time from now and then. To keep updated and to inform them when I am able to go back to work.

I DO NOT trust or rely on government help during this time, as self-employed currently don’t have much help, I believe it SSP which basically isn’t enough for me for what I have to pay for. If you don’t know it’s around £98 per week. As long as after the 3-week lockdown we can go back to work then all will be well. I hope that everything can continue with caution.

Real Estate Agents, this photography works...

An Estate agent I work for recently took me up on an offer to shoot twilight photos, its stuns me that I rarely see this type of photography and just how many people decline the opportunity to stand out. I’m on a mission to change the way agents think and how they spend their marketing budget. It is incredibly important to get a great photographer, instead, a lot of agents chose this agency that offers half-hearted photos, because they don’t pay the photographers well.

My mission is to show agents they should invest more into photography as marketing material and the benefits that come with it. I recently shot this home on a beautiful day, but even more beautiful evening and the photos are there to prove my point. Million-pound property arent the only ones that deserve amazing photos, the properties are usually beautiful and could sell themself. It’s my job as a property photographer to get the absolute best out of every property, no matter the price of the property.

I’m not offering these services for the money, it’s about value for me, I want to provide a lot of value for my clients because I want to make the difference that will make them succeed.

This is what happens behind the scenes...

When I’m asked to do a job, people often ask why? what am I paying for? no matter what type of job I get they are all important to me as an independent photographer shooting real estate in the prime locations in London. Luxury homes forced me to provide a luxury product and it’s a skill that has funnelled down into the cheaper shoots that do for what I would call regular homes. I have found a way to speed up the luxury process for these types of shoot.

I have screen recorded the process of the treatment that I give to all my real estate shoots.

This is One of the Coolest House's I've Shot...

When I was told the address I give all the properties a quick google search to get a sense of what I am about to go shoot. I also ask for the previous photos so I know what the rooms are like and also to know what type of expectations my clients may have. On this occasion I could get the interior shots as it was a very last minute booking. I over packed my bag with more than i may need for ‘just-in-case’ sake. I was pleasantly surprised by this property when i arrived. After spending a while drawing the floor plan for this property, it was time to start shooting and it was delightful to shoot, It was well designed rooms. huge windows flooded it with directional light and tall ceilings really opening up the space. London has really kept me open minded when it comes to shooting luxury properties because the 500sq ft properties are sometimes more incredible than 6000sq ft properties, and vise-versa at times.

Here are some of my favorites from the shoot, let me know what your favorite shot it.

I love shooting for airbnb because ...

I regularly shoot in multi million pound properties in some of the most prestige’s places in London, the interiors are fantastic, but there is something extra special about about the furniture they choose, the art they hang, beds and the colors they use to stand out. I just wanted to share a few images that I recent shot and just look how amazing the presentation is. Airbnb host’s will definitely be taking notes.