All posts by Bob McEvoy

Freelance Photographer.
Beautiful Ulster, Co. Down

Photo-Essay: Dundrum, Co. Down

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On a warm sunny winter day in December, Janette and I visited Dundrum Castle, and took a wee walk around the town.  I took with me my ‘twins’ – the two Nikon D610 dSLRs one with a 24-120mm f/4 lens, and the other with a 80-210 f/2.8 lens.  Before I started I metered the ambient light at f/14 @ 1/100 th sec on ISO100. Because the day was so bright and sunny, the 24-120 lens was fitted with a circular polarising filter which reduced light by around 2 stops

Here’s some of the images.

We started at the ‘Belfast Road’ side of the town, parked in the small car park and wandered along the street.   Continue reading Photo-Essay: Dundrum, Co. Down →

Child Portraiture, Uncategorized

January SMILE Competition.

How to Get Real, Genuine Smiles From Your Kids!

Children of a certain age can suddenly lose the power to grin without looking like some weird gargoyle off a church! (In fact some parents do too!)  The tip to getting a genuine grin is to give them something they really giggle at.

Here are some things you can do:-

  • Be prepared to giggle yourself – and if needs be to wholly act the idiot.
  • Remember what TV programs really make them smile.
  • It’s surprising how frequently Daddy doing something unfortunate works!
  • If they are old enough, do they tell jokes? Do they laugh at jokes?
  • For young children, if they have a favorite toy the photographer can use it that in all sorts of ways to make them look and giggle.
  • If they like a special song or rhyme, then either bring it on your smartphone or be ready to sing it with them
  • Make a checklist of funny things and send it to us before the experience, that way we can be armed and prepared.

We like to keep things fun and simple with youngsters. We understand they trade moods from moment to moment. We will treat them with respect and generally mess around with them to help everyone get the final photograph.

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JANUARY SMILE COMPETITION

Tell us what makes them laugh?  What do you do – or what have you done, to make your kids laugh and smile?  Funniest and most original answers will get posted on the blog and the winner gets a free Photoshoot Gift Voucher for our £45 Winter Studio Deal!  The answer with the most FB likes wins. Competition ends on 30 Jan 2017.  Winner notified within 5 days thereafter. 

    Enter on Facebook:

    https://www.facebook.com/Portraits2Go/posts/1332259070171298

    Want a fun photoshoot experience of your own?  With prices from just £45, its easy to buy professional photography.  Click: CLICK ME FOR MORE INFO

    Studio

    Like Fashion? Book a fashion photoshoot!

    Here’s some tips to get the best from your fashion photoshoot.

    You want to look your best on your photoshoot. You understand that the photos will be seen by all your friends and family for many years. So we’ve collected some advice for you on beauty and fashion and photography.

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    1. Work out your hairstyle in advance. Take a selfie or two to see how it looks on you.
    2. Don’t do anything major immediately before the shoot. No extreme hair cuts or hair colouring. You don’t want to be in the position where you don’t like your new appearance.
    3. No fake tans two weeks before your shoot. Fake tans need a long time to settle in. Recent fake tans come across very badly in photographs.
    4. You should avoid big or whacky accessories. They will tend to detract from you in the photographs. Simple but sophisticated accessories w ork much better.
    5. Don’t forget the details, make certain your nails, hair and skin are all cared for. Drink plenty of water for the few days beforehand. Have a manicure close to the day. Don’t pick at zits, we will re-touch them anyway.
    6. Make up works very differently in pictures compared to in real life. Book a consultation with a professional make-up artist. She will make sure you look your best.  We recommend Jenny at Scissor-Sisters…  Click:-

    https://www.facebook.com/JennyShawMua/?fref=ts

    Book your fashion shoot now.  Click this link:-

    Book a photoshoot.

    Pets, Uncategorized

    Arlow the Collie

    Introducing the beautiful Arlow the Collie, he’s just a big puppy, with a lively personality.  He bounced into the studio this afternoon with his master and his ‘Granny!’  Here’s a sample from his photoshoot…

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    Child Portraiture, Uncategorized

    Zach’s Christmas Surprise

    Once upon a time…

    …baby Zach got into the car with his mummy and daddy, and they drove all the way to Dundonald – where Zach fell asleep.  When he woke up he was out of the car and in a photography studio, and guess who was standing next to him?  Here’s a clue…

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    Zach was so excited and he smiled and waved his arms around for the nice photographer.  And they all lived happily ever after!

    The end.

    Child Portraiture, Uncategorized

    Autumn’s Preview

    Brrrrrrrrr…  It’s freezing outside, but in our Dundonald studio, it’s a WINTER WONDERLAND!

    10 month-old Autumn came into the studio today with her mummy and daddy to meet Santa and pose for her special ‘Winter Wonderland’ Photoshoot, and what a great model she was.

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    She was so good that Santa gave her a special cuddly toy for Christmas!  Book YOUR special themed Photoshoot today.  See

    https://bobmcevoy.co.uk/babies-kids-families/

    and book today.

    Commercial Photography, Studio

    A photograph of you – yes it does help sell!

    A photograph of you – yes it does help sell!!

    If like me you were a user of Viking Direct office products you will remember that the catalogues always used to come with a photograph of Ian Helstead, the MD on every cover and it felt like half the pages.

    The reason is simple, brochures, flyers and catalogs all get a superior response when they feature an individual, and when the person’s photograph is repeated over and over on all materials and media, then they get an even better reaction.

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    I think business owners often shy away from this thought, that some how it’s a self-aggrandizement – I realise that  I do that – but I am now building my own photograph into all my media and marketing materials.

    Of course, in these days of social media marketing, it is becoming even more vital.    So, now’s the time to make a studio appointment for a simple head-shot. It takes just a few minutes, and it could be VERY profitable in the short term.

    Photo-Technique

    Photogenic Christmas!

    Bob’s Top Tips for Taking Great Christmas Photos
    Christmas is a great time for family photos so whether it’s a kids party or a visit to Santa or the big day itself, always keep your camera handy!  

    1) Get In Close – it’s the faces you’re interested in, not the shoes. Fill the frame with the face or faces. 

    2) Keep it natural – don’t over-pose pictures – natural pictures are often the best ones. Keep your camera ready and take peoples pictures when they’ are not looking. This is especially true for children.

    3) Get down with the kids: while your children are playing with the Christmas presents you want to be down on your knees or tummy photographing from their height.
    4) If you are posing to be in a photo – guys face square forward and look big. Girls should turn slightly sideways and kick the hip out for a more feminine shape.

    5) If you’re a couple, girls should rest their head on the fella’s shoulder for a nice relaxed, but loving and joined portrait.

    6) If you’re shooting one person, then put them off-center in the frame rather than bang in the middle – it makes a more interesting picture.

    7) If you’re shooting a couple make sure your camera is not focusing down the gap in the middle of them – leaving you with an out of focus picture.

    8) If you’re shooting three or more people, try and arrange the heads into a triangle, or a circle if there’s lots of people – this makes a much stronger composition.

    9) Lots of Christmas pictures are taken at parties – but try and keep the drinks out of shot – they look messy and ruin many a good photo.

    10) If you can, try and shoot without flash – many new digital cameras can shoot in quite dark places without flash – the images will look much more natural.
    11) If you have to use flash – see if your camera has a “night” mode – this will make sure your subject is properly lit, but will also show the background well too.
    12) Backgrounds are interesting too – and let you remember where you were when the picture was taken. 

    13) Bounce your flash! If you’ve got an add-on flash unit that fits to the top of your camera – tip it towards the ceiling to “bounce” of the ceiling – it’s a much nicer light and also stops red-eye

    14) See if you can find a plain wall as a background, doesn’t matter what color – but if you get a choice blue works best for faces. Look out for fire signs, plant pots, etc. Don’t stand the subject right against the wall though – the more space between your subject and the background the better.

    15) Take a second picture straight after the first – often the moment when people relax after they think the picture has been taken is the best one.

    Child Portraiture, Studio, Uncategorized

    Active Children? No Problem!

    Active Children? No Problem!

    Not all children can sit still and pose. Here at Portraits2Go.co.uk we don’t think that is a problem.   In fact most of the time we prefer the images of the little tear-aways playing and having fun.

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    Those candid moments when they are relaxed and enjoying themselves are often the ones that really capture their personality.

    So, don’t worry if you think your child won’t have the patience, we do! We’ll take the time to set them up to enjoy themselves. You will have pictures of your children as they are and as you will remember them.

    P.S. Bring toys!