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Running with dogs – One man and his wolf pack

Running with Dogs

Running with Dogs – One man and his wolf pack

Running with Dogs – One Man and His Wolf Pack from Blanc Creative on Vimeo.

There was always too much work and never the time to shoot a creative short film for myself. Bills had to be paid and rightfully, as an owner of a commercial video production company, my client productions will always come first and always take pride of place. Then it happened. The Covid-19 pandemic broke across the globe and the UK fell into twelve weeks of lockdown. Work had ceased and the realisation crept up on me day by day, that Running with Dogs may just become a reality. As restrictions eased, I was now locking up my car on a quiet Norfolk countryside driveway, met for the last time not by the sound of birds chirping, but a chorus of howls that would be more in place in the heart of a Transylvanian forest. We were recording the last of our voice over for Running with Dogs.

Running with the Trail Dogs

 

Neil Featherby is a well known face in Norfolk, a regular contributor to local press wit a weekly running column in the EDP. Neil had a had a privileged career as an athlete.  He represented England and Great Britain on a number of occasions including a World and European Cup.  He competed in marathons and events all around the World whilst also winning the Leicester, Wolverhampton, Bungay and Norfolk (four times) marathons in the UK. He even boasts personal best times of 29 mins 28 secs for 10k, 49:47 for 10 miles and 2 hours 17 mins 35 seconds for the marathon. In International Competition, he also took the runners up position whilst running for England in Aberdeen as well as finishing 3rd in The Hong Kong, Malta, Bermuda and Luton Home Countries Marathons. Further honours include Norfolk AAA Marathon Champion 1986/87/89/90, Eastern Counties Marathon Champion 1987/89/90, South of England Marathon Silver Medalist 1991 and South of England Half Marathon Bronze Medalist 1992. Neil is also a coaching advisor offering training advice on many aspects of specific fitness and sports nutrition for individuals and groups which includes a number of World Class and Elite sportsmen.

Neil holds diplomas in sports psychology and sports nutrition for which he has written several articles. Neil owns Sportlink, the most prestigious running shop in the county and away from his working and sporting life, he spends a lot of time organising charity raising events to help local causes particularly for animal and rescue centres. Neil is a huge dog animal lover. Running with Dogs is his passion.

Neil and I go back thirty years, but a chance visit to the shop and a catch up sat on the wall outside turned my vision into reality. We talked about the concept and everything just panned out naturally after that.

The days were long. Walking a camera, drone and tripod around fields and woods up to eight 8 miles a day and shooting in locations that could only be reached on foot were at times a logistical nightmare, but not as much as the shame of trying to running full pelt with a camera and steadicam in my hand as Neil literally jogged effortlessly further and further away from me in a matter of seconds.

Running with Dogs is a key part of Neil’s life. He’s obsessed about running, obsessed with Dogs.. But I can’t say too much, it would spoil the film.

We hope you’ll take a few moments to watch Running with Dogs. It’s an emotional short story and we’re humbled to have made it.

Trail Dogs

Creative Video Production Norfolk

Running with Dogs

A few words from Neil Featherby

On the back of my EDP column this week and the mention of my charity challenge this year, needless to say it has produced several messages asking me for more details and as to why I have kept it fairly quiet up until now.
Well the truth being told is that the plan originally had been to run Hadrian’s Wall again back in May with some friends and the same team from when we did it back in Sept 2018. However, this time around was also going to be extra special as the date had been set for May 21st which would have coincided with what would have been the Big Man’s 15th Birthday. The Big Man being Oslo of course who we lost last October, which still cuts me up just thinking about it. However, with him very firmly fixed in my thoughts I am pretty sure we would have smashed it and completed the 84 plus miles over really rugged and hilly terrain well within the 24 hour barrier whilst also raising money for Northern Inuit Dogs, The Hallswood Animal Sanctuary and Nelson’s Journey.
Needless to say it didn’t happen and as we all now know, any plans made pre March of this year went well and truly out of the window after lock down while pretty much turning all our lives upside down. Tia our number two dog also got ill so there was no way I wanted to leave her for any amount of time either.
Therefore and starting next Thursday, the plan is to now run, jog and walk Peddars Way and The Norfolk Coastal Footpath over four days Aug 20th – 23rd. I think it will work out somewhere between 33 and 35 miles each day. Doing it over four days also reduces any pressure of busting a gut to get it done in any record time too although a part of me thinks that 30 plus miles each day may prove to be even tougher as fatigue sets in each day. When I say we, that means me, Karen Grapes, Craig Bowen Jones (first two days) and several other friends (Mark Thorpe, Simon Bales, Chas Allen) who have said they would like to come along and join us for a few miles or even a full day. Possibly all the way.
With regards to fund raising, we all know that it has been a pretty torrid time for charities and good causes the last few months, so any money we raise will be a bonus. Lots of people have been doing some pretty amazing challenges for their own causes this year and this will now be ours and seriously even a quid will be very much appreciated. Karen is setting up a Go fund me page which will be posted later and every single penny raised will go to our dedicated causes which are The Hallswood Animal Sanctuary, Nelson’s Journey which is headed up by Simon Wright who is so very well known in the running community and NI Dog Rescue. Oslo was a Northern Inuit so this is also my extra bit for him and his memory.
If you want to come along and join in with us at any point or help out, then please do let me know in advance.
Lastly, the film with my dogs which so many people have also been asking me about has now been completed. I have to say a huge thank you to Lee Blanchflower who really did produce something which went well beyond my expectations and of that of those very few friends who have seen it.

30 second video marketing is a winner

30 second videos Norwich

30 Second Video Marketing in a nutshell.

30 second video marketing has never been so important as a means of marketing your business, products and services. We currently live in globally challenging times with the Covid-19 pandemic sweeping the world, your future customers are spending more and more time trawling online content. Individuals are working from home, people are in lockdown or are extremely apprehensive about venturing out to shops and businesses. In fact there’s never been a better time to take your business to the next level with short creative films. 30 second video marketing is all about cutting out the clutter and focusing on key content elements and delivering a creative message very succinctly in order to succeed. This is a huge push towards short advertising formats on social media channels with Facebook, InstagramTwitter and Linkedin and all offering the facilities to distribute video. So why is the 30 second number so important. Unless you’ve been living as a hermit, you’re probably aware that video is truly the king of online content. With billions of hours’ worth of video being viewed each day,  it’s easy to see why brands are flocking to this highly engaging format to communicate their message.

 

Keep it Short. Keep the attention.

The only downside is that the average consumer has an extremely short attention span, which has pretty much pushed the video producer to tailor content to meet the demands of a generation that is very easily distracted. Over half of the videos out there are under 120 seconds in length and whilst social media sites have a different set of preferences about maximum run times, you don’t necessarily have to fill out that whole time with content. 30 Second Video Marketing has its’ name for a reason. It’s a fact,  that the average social media video that lasts 30 seconds in length, is viewed 85% of the way through, while the average 2-minute video was viewed on average 50% of the way through. Ask yourself? How many times you’ve failed to reach the end of a social media video just because you can’t be bothered to watch it. We used to have the same problem with long blogs, so I actually wonder how many of you reading this will get to the end? We’re time precious and have a desire to suck up online media like a sponge, so as a business, well made  30 second video marketing is a no brainer.

Key tips for 30 second video marketing

1. Create a storyboard and don’t deviate.

Visualising your content is a priority when preparing 30 second video marketing. Deviate and you the risk of project creep. You’ll shoot footage you don’t need, you’ll try to cram in too much and end up with a 60 seconds of video with no space for movement and unable to upload your content where you really want it especially as you’re trying to stick to a limited timeframe. This is what will help you avoid wasting time – you’ll be setting each frame ‘in stone’, so there’s no way you’ll end up with a scene that fails to communicate something important.

In the storyboard, there shouldn’t be frames left without information: everything that ends up being in the storyboard must be essential. This is a job for the director of the video!

2. Your script should be short and sweet

30 second video marketing is what it is! For millennials they should be even shorter – a study by IAB found brands running 10-second mobile video ads had greater appeal and persuasion potential with younger audiences. However, a slightly longer, 30-second spot did better with those between the ages of 35 and 54.

Keep your content succinct and direct. Don’t complicate things. 30 seconds to sell a service or a product is highly achievable if you plan your content.. Especially as you will have a well written script (If you’re having spoken content or a voice over) or key subtitles. Remember though, you don’t always need a script to convey a message as you’ll see in our very own FOSTERS SOLICITORS LLP CASE STUDY.

3. Think about it like a TV commercial

We all know it’s not it’s not the same but… for the sake of the comparison, think of your video as a way to introduce your brand to the audience, just like a TV advert. 30 seconds on TV is a huge amount of time so you should be able to transfer the same message online.

How Lurpak influenced our latest 30 second project.

It may be hard to believe that Proper Danish butter producer Lurpak was the influence for a 30 second video to showcase a renowned firm of Solicitors, but that’s just how it happened. We’ve put together a little case study explaining how we worked with Fosters Solicitors LLP on there latest project and a little insight into how you can create inexpensive content for your business.

30 second video marketing is a winner

Read our extensive case study of how we made our latest social media video for Fosters Solicitors LLP

 Blanc Creative have been making short, to-the-point commercial videos for a wide range of businesses of all sizes including startups, local companies and national organisations. We transform your visions into memorable, engaging videos. Why not reach out and contact our office today on 07871 364041 or email studio@blanc-creative.com

Elinchrom ELB 500 TTL Kit Review

Norwich Commercial Photography

Elinchrom ELB 500 TTL

Why choose the Elinchrom ELB 500 TTL Lighting kit as your go to potable lighting setup? Well we all know when it comes to lighting equipment, there’s a massive amount of choice on the market with a range of prices to fit every pocket and the whole spectrum of photographers from novice to award winning professional. Choosing what is right for you as a photographer can at first seem a bit overwhelming. Believe me, I know. I trawled the internet and Wex Photography (the showroom in Norwich happens to be literally on my doorstep,) to try and find a solution that would fit my work as a commercial photographer. I’ve done the whole heavy light set-up having owned two pairs of Bowens 500 Gemini R lights for the past ten years. The Bowens didn’t owe me a penny. They were used spectacularly for assignments including professional hairdressing photography, commercial portraits, event photography set-ups and acted as warm constant lighting during video production. But they weighed a tonne. The lights were cumbersome, heavy and were totally oversized for transportation. The lighting stands really weren’t very substantial and the modelling lamps and fuses had a tendency to blow at the most inappropriate of times. They were amazing workhorses, but In July 2017, Bowens went into liquidation after 94 years of business, ultimately succumbing to the market’s growing competition and changes in consumer purchase trends. The ELB 500 TTL weighs 1.7 kg (3.83 lbs) and the battery weighs about 0.73 kg (1.60 lbs). It’s got a very small carry case which means it’s a dream to just throw in the back of the car.

If you’re planning to shoot on location somewhere without mains power, battery powered lights are the most practical means of achieving professional powerful lighting and The Elinchrome ELB 500 TTL is incredibly light and compact. I opted for the dual kit, which comes as standard with two lighting heads.  is the most powerful and portable TTL kit on the market and I was very impressed with both the design and the sheer lightness of the kit. There are different types of quality out there depending upon what you’re looking for — Profoto have an extensive range of superb lights including the B10and  B10 Plus, there’s the Badger and entry level Interfit FLA2002K1 Studio Essentials to name just a few. Elinchrom have a solid reputation for making great lighting and are constantly bringing out new and improved products. The ELB 500 TTL Kit is designed for use both on location and in the studio but does not have a dedicated mains setting in order to power the lights without a battery.

Elinchrom ELB 500 TTLElinchrom ELB 500 TTL

 

About the Elinchrom ELB 500 TTL

This is a very clever piece of kit. Not only does it offer TTL but it also offers HSS. Basically, it will synchronize at super high speeds up to 1/8000s so capturing ultra fast action isn’t go to cause problems. The battery will give You about 400 flashes from one charge dependent on the power output that you’re pushing to the lights. The battery has the active charging, which means you can charge the battery as you shoot. This is awesome if you’re using the lights to shoot event photography on location or any indpoor locations where you have mains power available. It means you can shoot the interior set and still have a afull battery when there’s no charging options and still have a full battery to work with. The ELB 500 TTL features built-in Skyport, Elinchrom’s proprietary wireless system. For photographers already using the Skyport Plus HS Transmitter, there’s a firmware update available to obtain the TTL feature set. There’s also built-in functionality for the Phottix Odin II transmitters. 

The Elinchrom ELB 500 TTL battery pack allows for two separate lights to run off the one power supply. Labelled A and B, the pack can power and control two separate heads at the same time with  independent control of one another, meaning you can fire the lights as you would any mains powered system. The battery pack has an easily navigable menu system with options for black and white background colours and functionality that is clear and very simple to manage. he display gives you complete control over the kit, allowing you to activate and has asymmetrical distribution, meaning you can extend the power range when you’re using a single head.

The ELB 500 TTL enables the unit to act as a slave unit, so it will flash automatically along with other flash units. Triggering with the ELB 500 TTL is 15m is around 10 metres. I really recommend the Skyport Transmitter Pro. It’s reliable, has multiple frequency channels and fully controllable from the top of the camera. The lights will automatically adjust the power based on the metering of the scene and your camera’s settings. And, as the kit has HSS, if your shutter speed is outside the sync speed of your camera the light will automatically detect this and use HSS to maintain the correct exposure levels for the shot. The TTL option will automatically  predict the power to us

Blanc Creative Norwich

Elinchrom ELB 500 TTL

The kit is reasonably priced but be prepared It’s definitely a great piece of kit but the extras will bump up the cost. The lights will wet you back just shy of £1800, but remember you get no lighting stands, no Skyport Transmitter. Obviously softboxes and light shapers are another very personal and subjective item, so the lights come with mo modifiers. I opted for the Rotalux modifiers but in order to use these, the Q-Reflector Adapter MK-II will also be required. This will push up the overall cost by another £700-£800 for a pair of modifiers and mounts.

For professional use, the Elinchrom ELB 500 TTL series is a compact, easily transportable system with a host of features that are heard to beat for the price.

Review – Wacom Intuos Pro Redefines Pen Tablets

Wacom Intuos Pro Paper Edition Redefines Pen Tablets for Creatives

 

I’ve been using a Wacom Intuos Pro for many years and watched closely as the premium range of tablets has developed over a decade. Since I work predominantly with Lightroom and Photoshop, but also work with Video editing in Final Cut Pro and Da Vinci 16. Owning a Wacom Intuos Pro totally removed the need to use any form of mouse or trackpad. For editing work, the Wacom Intuos Pro tablet is not an option, it’s a necessity. Over the years, Wacom tablets have only gotten better and better with features being added year after year. Yes, the Intuos Pro is expensive, but the prices haven’t increased that much making the new 2019 great value for money when compared to previous models. The latest Wacom Intuos Pro design offers the user a more natural creative control than ever before. I have to say that the last tablet I purchased from Wacom didn’t last as long as I anticipated. I had problems with battery life and the physical longevity of the battery was underwhelming, finding the full time return to a fully wired wired Wacom came long before I would have liked. It didn’t impact on the usability of the product because my work editing work is predominantly desk based , but it is annoying when you pay for a wireless model and it doesn’t function because of a poor battery. The 2019 Wacom Intuos Pro wireless model from the outset functions very well, but the only thing that will really determine how Wacom have looked at charging and battery life will be timescale, so I really can’t comment on this.

I was excited to get my hands on the new 2019 updated Intuos Pro model. It is available in 3 sizes, Small which is roughly A6, Medium which is around A5 and Large, which is around A4 and my personal preference. The new Large Pro is beautiful and really comfortable to work with! It has no hard edges and it is a solid build, utilising premium materials like anodised aluminium and glass fibre composite resin. It’s a slick design and pretty thin at only 8mm of thickness. Wacom Intuos Pro is built from premium materials and has been rigorously tested to meet professionals’ needs although with my own philosophy of ‘Buy Cheap Buy Twice,” the Wacom Intuos Pro would be my go to choice for enthusiasts as well as prosumers and professionals.  As with the previous models it has touch gestures, which can be disable if desired, although personally, the variety of pens and different personalisation options remains a great feature. Easy shortcuts, customisable ExpressKeys and Touch Ring, and pen side switches give a huge amount of flexibility. The Wacom comes with Bluetooth 4.2 for wireless connectivity, but it does still retain the standard USB port for a wired connection which based on my own experiences with the last generation Intuos Pro, is an absolute must have. It just gives that extra sense of security. To set it up, you’ll need an internet connection for driver downloads and installation. I have to mention that I have also historically experienced some drive issues on Mac OSX where my Intuos presets have been wiped and the pen reverts to working as a traditional  mouse, so you have to drag the pen across the screen in a number of strokes to move from one side of the screen to another. This is an annoyance but it has only happened very occasionally. The Paper Edition is compatible with Windows 7 or later and Mac OS 10.10 or later.

Digital Drawing with the Wacom Intuos Pro Paper Edition

The new Paper Edition is a great tool and possibly one of the best new features for creatives who don’t want to spend money on the likes of a Cintique. The concept enables the user to automatically convert paper sketches into digital files, as you draw. This is perfect for your next creative breakthrough. Choose from a variety of pens and different Texture Sheets* to personalise the way you work. Paper Edition* gives you the freedom to choose how you work. You can sketch directly onto to the pen tablet using Wacom Pro Pen 2, working digitally from start to finish. Alternatively, you can start by drawing on paper with Wacom Finetip Pen, then edit your sketches digitally in your favourite software. The Wacom Intuos Pro Paper Edition Wacom comes with two pens, the new battery free Pro Pen 2 or an actual Finetip Pen, both of which are included in the box. The Pro Pen 2 comes with athe usual selection of spare nibs concelaed in the underside of the pen holder (there are six standard nibs and four felt pen nibs), while the real pen comes with ink cartridges and ensbles physical real drawing on paper. Each artist or designer will know which they need for their workflow—perhaps you do work that requires both—but the versatility of the Paper Edition is part of the appeal. Both pens feature 8,192 pressure levels and tilt recognition for holding the pen at an angle, and are battery free. The more advanced Pro Pen 2 includes two buttons, an eraser and multiple pressure levels, which can be fine tuned using the Wacom dashboard.

For anybody spending multiple hours in front of the computer, the Wacom Intuos Pro is a no brainer. I reverted back to using a mouse after my old Wacom gave up and the results were immediately noticeable with cramped hands and an almost repetitive strain injury pain in my knuckles and the edge of my hand. You get so used to working with a pen that a mouse almost feels alien when you have to revert back to using it. The idea that a tablet is specifically for illustrators and artists couldn’t be further from the truth. It may take a bit of time to convert to pen use but persevere and it will change the way you work forever.. Much like when somebody converts from a Windows operating system to the sleek Apple Mac OSX. You’ll never go back and the gras is most definitely greener on the other side. After a few days it will feel natural, and better than using the mouse.

The tablet accurately documents every line and stroke, you can work in layers and the creative options are vast for any creative.  You can work using the Inkspace app and your drawings will be automatically imported very efficiently. The added beauty is that, within the app, you can make adjustments to your original ink sketches. This includes drawing additional lines, erasing lines, and even rewinding to a certain point in your sketch and isolating each step. One of the most awesome aspects of the Wacom Intuos Pro Paper Edition is that once you’ve designing your drawings or sketching your artwork, you can save and export the files in JPG, PNG or PSD format. Moving files is a pretty simple process but it’s really up to the individual to set up their own protocols because everybody will work completely different.

As a complete Wacom Intuous Pro fan, the paper edition gives just that little bit more and if you’re looking to enter the tablet market and want something with drawing capability, then this really is the tablet. It is an investment and if you read my previous blog about the Wacom  not a cheap investment, but for something that will last you years and allow you to create hand-drawn and digital work, it will very likely prove worth its cost.

 

Features

Exceptional pen performance: Wacom Pro Pen 2 features 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, tilt-response and virtually lag-free tracking

Paper to digital ability lets you choose how to work: capture editable versions of your paper sketches or work completely digital from start to finish

Use Wacom Inkspace to sync, store, and export your paper sketches in common creative file formats, then fine-tune your work on your Mac or PC

Speed your workflow with multi-touch gestures, customizable ExpressKeys™, Radial Menus and pen side switches

Super-slim tablet design with a smaller, more compact footprint and premium materials

Accessories (sold separately) include: Ballpoint Pen, Finetip Pen, Pencil, Texture Sheets (from smooth to rough), Soft Cases, Pen Nibs, Refills

What’s Inside

Wacom Intuos Pro Paper Edition Pen Tablet (large A4)

Wacom Pro Pen 2 (battery free)

Pen stand (includes 6 standard nibs, 4 Felt nibs)

Finetip Pen (Battery-free)

Paper Clip

10 single Paper sheets – A4

Accessory soft case

4 extra pen color rings

3 finetip ink refills

Texture sheet sample card

2m (6.6ft) PVC-free USB cable

Quick start guide

 

Professional Headshot Portraits

Professional Headshot Portraits

Professional Headshot Portraits

I’ve recently returned to London to Photograph a new set of Professional Headshot Portraits for one of my International Clients, Artorius Wealth Management , a group of internationally based financial professionals. I’ve had the pleasure of working with their personnel and senior management for around two years across offices in Manchester, London and Zurich. One of the key requirements for Artorius is achieving modern, natural looking images, with a clean, uncluttered style. It was important that I produced dynamic, natural, Professional Headshot Portraits to re-enforce not only the corporate environment, but images that would reflect the personalities of each individual member of the Team.

Each office was situated in a very different geographical location, with the London Office situated in an 18th-century garden square in the Marylebone area in London, a short distance from Oxford Street. It is one of the smaller but best preserved squares in central London and made for the perfect backdrop to capture external portrait images as well as board-room based Professional Headshot Portraits.

Why Do You Need Professional Headshot Portraits

Professional Headshot Portraits are a super way to really stand out from your competitors in a crowded marketplace. Taking yourself and your team seriously will undoubtedly be at the forefront of your business and brand, but many businesses fall short when it comes down to Business Headshot Photography. It makes sense that the quality of leadership and professionalism is reflected in headshot portraits, but more and more, we see inferior quality images, selfies and smartphone photography forming a basis for management and team photography. We have literally been shooting professional headshot photography, commercial portraits and Team PR imagery for almost a decade and we have a diverse portfolio to reflect the many different approaches we take this important area of business photography. Shooting in a studio, natural work environment or on key location are all options available to clients. We take a relaxed, engaging approach to our business headshot photography. After all, not everybody loves to stand in front of the camera and people can find the whole process a little daunting. Business headshot Photography is used for a multitude of purposes and forms part of your own personal brand, particularly if your business is independent or if your brand, is yourself. First impressions are invaluable and it’s always reassuring that you can visualise the person at the end of the telephone or before your first meeting. There’s nothing worse than seeing an inappropriate profile image.

To view more of our Headshot Photography, please Click Here;

Please don’t hesitate to call me on Mob: 07871 364041 or email studio@blanc-creative.com for a free quotation for Professional Headshots.

Professional Headshot PortraitsProfessional Headshot PortraitsProfessional Headshot PortraitsProfessional Headshot PortraitsProfessional Headshot PortraitsHeadshot Photography NorwichHeadshot Photography NorwichHeadshot Photography NorwichHeadshot Photography NorwichHeadshot Photography NorwichNorfolk Portrait PhotographyProfessional Headshot PortraitsNorfolk Portrait PhotographyProfessional Headshot PortraitsNorfolk Portrait PhotographyProfessional Headshot PortraitsProfessional Headshot PortraitsProfessional Headshot Portraits

Urban Drone Photography over Norwich City

Urban Drone Photography

Urban Drone Photography Norwich

Drone Photography NorwichUrban Drone photography is still a relatively new style of photography and comes with its own set of challenges. Here in the The UK, The Civil Aviation Authority lay down a set of air navigation laws that apply to the use of drones with an emphasis on protecting unlawful flights in congested areas. The purpose of these laws is there to protect not only members of public but also to protect licensed drone operators who operate within the law when carrying out Urban Drone Photography. Following recent arrests by climate change demonstrators at London’s Heathrow Airport and major disruption at Gatwick Airport during December 2018 the Civil Aviation Authority implemented new strict regulations for drones that carry a camera on board and record data.

The Congested Area – Urban Drone Photography

A congested area is defined as ‘any area of a city, town or settlement which is substantially used for residential, industrial, commercial or recreational purposes.’ This covers a multitude of locations including housing estates, retail parks, theme parks, shopping centres, industrial areas, football grounds and city centre areas. It means that urban Drone Photography can be difficult to capture “LEGALLY” as the requirements to fly mean that many areas are off completely off limits and finding an area in an urban environment that ticks all the boxes for safe lawful flights are often limited.Commercial Drone Filming Norfolk

Norwich Aerial Photography and filming

Congested Area Drone Photography Commercial Drone Services NorwichUrban Drone Photography Norfolk

Drone Photography NorfolkUrban Drone Photography

St Annes Quarter Norwich

Undertaking “Legal”Flying in the Centre of the City of Norwich falls completely into the realms of the Congested Area. However, working with Orbit Homes to document the building of an exciting new community of prestigious residential and commercial properties in Norwich, we opened up the ideal opportunity to capture Urban Drone Photography and scenes of  the vibrant, history filled city. Congested Area flights prohibit flying near a congested area at any distance closer than 150m. This is just one rule of many that dictate where a drone can be flown, alongside restrictions such as flying over 50m away from another person and keeping the drone within 500m of the pilot horizontally at all times. In order to acquire such permission, it is important that you are able to demonstrate the safety measures you plan to put in place to ensure that you fly responsibly in this risky area in a way that put no person, property or fellow aircraft in danger.

Professional commercial Drone Photography in a congested area requires extensive planning, risk assessment, insurance and a permission from the Civil Aviation Authority to allow for commercial operation. There are literally thousands of unlicensed drone operators currently flying within the UK and as recently as September 2019, reports of a near miss involving an Air Ambulance narrowly missing a Drone flying at three times the legal height were reported to the Civil Aviation Authority. Why You Should Only Hire a Licensed Drone Pilot?

Putting an unlicensed pilot to work, particularly when filming Urban Drone Photography, breaches CAA regulations if there is any form of payment either in terms of money, goods or services in return for flying for a client. While the pilot ay be prosecuted, you may also be held responsible. In addition to these fees, you could find yourself liable for damages that result from operating the drone. Providing aerial photography and videography, drones are capable of capturing a huge amount of detail including things that shouldn’t end up on film. If these devices violate a person’s privacy rights in any way, you and the unlicensed pilot could be held accountable. Licensed Operators understand the limits of privacy laws and how to direct the drone in a way that won’t violate these rights. UK Drone Licensing requires an individual to show they understand how to not only operate a drone, but also how to fly  in a variety various conditions such as avoiding obstacles or considerations of bad weather. Without this knowledge, the risk of an accident increases, putting you and others in danger.

Norwich Commercial Drone Service

Tips for Humanising Your Website

Bespoke Stock Photography Norwich

Tips for Humanising Your Website

I recently read a Linkedin Post from StevenThompson, a former college who I worked with when we were both Police Officers. Steve now runs a PR company called BIGDaddy Digital  and I run Blanc Creative, a Commercial Photography and Video Production business. Steven wrote a short post about people paying more attention if you’re Humanising your website and your social media posts. With so many people throwing ideas about how you should run your business, it’s difficult to know what to take in, but this one really stuck in my mind and a week later, I was re-designing my whole website. There are always so many consideration to make when building your new pages. Trying to play off google crawling your content for maximum site hits, getting your business message across to potential clients and perhaps even giving the impression that your business is ten times bigger than it actually is. It’s a fine line between being truthful and playing a game of ‘smoke and mirrors’ and I’ve been personally so guilty of working terribly hard to deliver such a dynamic and professional overviews of how great our business is at Blanc Creative, that I’ve actually lost a sense of telling people what ‘really’ matters and the concepts that make our own company stand out from others in an otherwise saturated market.

Humanising Your Website

The first step in Humanising your website is about taking an honest approach to your values and knowing that you can deliver your product and services that you’re writing about. It’s no secret that people are more likely to engage if they see a personable, real side to your business and less like your content had been written by artificial intelligence. However, humanising your website can be a difficult task.  It a strange phenomena that making something “human” can be so alien but writing content for blogs and web pages is time consuming and needs a lot of thought. Sure, you can pay somebody to do it, but many small businesses don’t have the budgets to employ as team of copy writers and designers to think for them.

What is Humanising?

The official terminology is;

(redirected from humanising) Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Legal. Related to humanising: recoverer, humanizes

hu·man·ize

(hyo͞o′mə-nīz′)

tr.v. hu·man·ized, hu·man·iz·ing, hu·man·iz·es

1. To portray or endow with human characteristics or attributes; make human: humanized the puppets with great skill.
2. To imbue with humaneness or human kindness; civilize: acts of courtesy that humanize life in a big city.

3.

a. To modify (a nonhuman compound, cell, organ, or organism) such that some of its components are replaced
with human forms of those components, usually by means of genetic engineering.
b. To replace most of the variable region of (a monoclonal antibody from a nonhuman source)
with a humansequence of amino acids so that the resulting antibody
is more compatible with the human immune system. Even the terminology isn’t human!

In a nutshell, Humanising is simply about giving it a “human” touch. It shouldn’t be too difficult to be yourself. I’m sure you gain new business through to talking to people and verbally communicating, so it should be a natural transition to do the same on your website and on social media. I spoke with Steven today about the very subject of Humanising and communicating in a human way through social media and he said one very true comment that people don’t actually humanise on social media or like posts, through a fear of being judged by others. If you’re posting in a professional manner and your content is not offence, contentious or inappropriate, then surely, this can only increase you profile positively online.

 

Humanising your website

Humanising your website

How exactly do you Humanise Your Website?

Your ‘About Us’ Page

Lee Blanchflower PhotographyThe ‘About Us’ page is the best example of humanising your website. It’s a phrase that I actually don’t personally like because ‘About Us’ oozes traditional non-humanised Bios. Tell people about who you are, what makes you tick and how great it’s going to be working with you. There’s no set rule behind this. You have to do what’s right for you, however, you should check out this great article about Bio Pages on the subject from BLOGTYRANT. Tell people about what you do, who you are, and why you will appeal to them. It doesn’t have to be complex.  My previous ‘About Me’ Page was so long, even I got bored of reading it. So, why would I think for one minute that visitors to my page are going to take the time to do the same. Wishful thinking perhaps. So my own profile has been stripped down and replaced with bold, bullet points and a few humanised facts. It can be simple, but engaging. Who you are and what you do can be summed up in a few words  Personalising sections of this page will leave visitors feeling like they know a little bit more about you and makes the process of determining if they’d like to do business with so much easier.

Business Speak

Norfolk Commercial Photography - Blanc Creative

Humanising your website with plain English wording is a great tool. Complex sentences and sector-specific terminology is a great way of trying to increase your own professionalism but turning potential customers away. We like to shout to our clients that;

“We’re a multi faceted Limited Company operating with a diverse corporate portfolio and capabilities for transnational assignments for globally recognised enterprises. 

However, the harsh reality is;

Not only do we offer great photography, but we also shoot creative video productions. We work with all sizes of business, from sole traders through to large international companies”  

You may think you sound super smart but the reality is, you’re probably putting off a huge chunk of potential business and you look unapproachable.

It contains keyword-stuffed copy.

Humanising your website

I mentioned in my opening paragraph about Google crawling your website. Remember back in the days, people would include 50 keywords in the same colour as the page they were writing so they’d appear invisible and hope that nobody would hover of the words and expose what they were doing. I’ve been so guilty of writing copious amounts of utter rubbish because I thought it would be great for my website to keep me up on Page 1. We live in an age where people don’ t have the time to read website material, particularly when it’s generated solely for the purpose of key wording.. Humanising your website is great. Humanising your website is really great. Who wouldn’t want to be Humanising your website? Do you understand what I’m saying? Keywords are crucial to driving SEO success, but the algorithms are so complex now, over key wording will result in your site tumbling through the rankings when you’re penalised. Keeping your content fresh, clean and up to date is really great.

It will keep visitors interested in you and your business. How many times have you been back to a website and seen a post for an event that happened six months ago still on their home page or the same material present year after year? We’re in the process of making our messages BOLD,  CLEAR & CONCISE without the need to overdress the messages we’re giving out. It’s not a quick process, but a steady progression and as things take shape, you may feel like me, that a big weight has ben lifted off your shoulders. It’s your product and services that sell and your own personalities that drive these. Look at how much repeat business you receive and ask yourself why? Because the chances are, it’s not down to having the fanciest descriptions and biggest words online.

Blogging is a great tool and we’ll tell you just why that is?

Blogging

If you’re reading this, you’ll know the importance of a blog on your site  and you’re missing out on huge opportunities. Not only will you gain more ranking opportunities, but your blogs are an awesome way to Humanise your Website too. Write about things you enjoy but try and engage people with the topic. Leave open a comment box and once people start talking, it’s a great way to communicate and show that you’re actually human. Don’t be frightened about blogging about fails. Often your audience is going to relate far more when you share your failures over your successes. Don’t ever discuss air out your dirty laundry, but sharing stories of overcoming barriers is a great way to let people know you’re human. Life experiences are invaluable, especially stories of how your business helped customers overcome failure or problems. You can’t beat a good news story.

Be Social

Humanising your website

It’s so easy to post out your blogs and your pages day after day and hope that people will click on your content, without giving anything in return. To show the real, diverse faces behind your brand, you need to communicate with people. Take a few moments each day to actually engage with others posting on social media or forums at least once. It’s all it takes to increase you online profile and to allow people to identify with you as a person. Think about who your target audience currently are and who you would like them to be. If somebody comments on your post, then reply to them. People won’t take the time to engage with you or your service or product unless you become part of the conversation. We live in an age where you’re accountable for every spect of  your business, so make all of your hard work count and start being a human.

 

The Sextortion Blackmail Scam

Photo by Dmitry Moraine on Unsplash

Sextortion Blackmail Scam Continues to Plague Business Emails.

Phishing scams have been around for over twenty-years and are still reeling in victims on a daily basis. Since the evolution of the internet we’ve been warned about the dangers of cyber crime. Yet, two decades later, the vulnerability of even the most astute and street wise individuals continues to be tested. The Phishing email was developed to be a smart hack, literally designed to fish for personal information. The terminology comes from PHREAKS, who were he first generation of notorious hackers to target the internet. Today, more than ever, hacking and cyber crime is prevalent in epidemic proportions.

As we enter 2019, the Sextortion Blackmail Scam is set to take it’s place alongside some of the Top Phishing Scams in history. These include The Moscow World Cup Vacation Rental Scam, Dear Customer Email Scams, Smishing and the legendary Nigerian scam, which involves someone overseas offering you a share in a large sum of money or a payment on the condition you help them to transfer money out of their country.

How Does the Sextortion Blackmail Scam Work?

The highly effective Sextortion Blackmail Scam continues to plague businesses and individuals across the globe by cyber criminals. The latest phishing trend uses cleverly constructed emails claiming to prove that the intended victims have been recorded online viewing pornography. Emails threaten to expose the recorded footage online unless substantial ransoms are paid using untraceable Bitcoin Accounts. The Scam, which has adopted the name of “Sextortion” has been widely reported to National Crime agencies and Law Enforcement  across the world including the FBI and the National Crime Agency to name just two. The Sextortion Blackmail Scam really is nothing new. It’s really a new take on the extortion theme where the criminal convinces the victim into sending naked videos or images before the criminal began blackmailing the victim. The new trending scam takes things to a new level, relying on the elements of shame, guilt and self doubt of the victim,  through a campaign of financially-motivated Sextortion. It’s believed that over 13,000 complaints were made relating to Sextortion Blackmail Scams during the month of July 2018 alone.

Step 1 – The victim receives an email

The emails often appear to have been sent from the recipients own email address and includes content such as usernames, passwords, personal information and other details that seek to bolster the hackers credibility and to immediately shock the recipient into believing that the email is genuine. The Sextortion Blackmail scam brings together a big mix of social engineering and extortion claiming to have hacked your computer’s webcam and recorded your sexual activities while you allegedly watched pornography. The email will often state that  RAT Malware has been opened when you clicked on your website of choice. A (RAT) is a A remote access Trojan malware program that includes a back door for administrative control over the target computer. RATs are usually downloaded invisibly with a user-requested program such as a game or as an email attachment. The email will claim the Malware was downloaded and did a number of things simultaneously. The Virus cloned your whole contact list and social media details. Whilst this was happening in the background, the virus recorded a video of your computer screen along with footage from your webcam. You’ll probably notice that the alleged date of the incident remains very calm. Using terminology such as “A few months Ago…” to place a timescale on when the alleged video was captured. This is deliberately used a s a tactic to confuse the victim, particularly if they have been viewing adult information regularly and making it impossible to pinpoint exactly whay evidence they may or may not have intercepted.

Step 2 – The Sting

It states that you sexual act will be distributed electronically on social media and to all of your business and personal contacts including friends, family and work colleagues, unless of course, you pay a substantial ransom using untraceable bitcoin currency (BTC.) The ransom demand will be time limited, generally offering between 48 and 72 hours for the victim to pay the ransom. The ransom demand varies considerably from email to email but it’s not uncommon to expect in the region of  $200 USD to $4,000 USD.

The emails will contain a number of themes but will essentially carry the same message of which a few examples are listed below;

Sample 1

I am aware one of your passphrase: password. Lets get directly to point. Not a single person has compensated me to investigate about you. You do not know me and you are probably wondering why you’re getting this e mail?actually, I actually installed a software on the adult vids (sex sites) site and you know what, you visited this web site to have fun (you know what I mean). When you were viewing videos, your internet browser initiated working as a Remote control Desktop that has a key logger which provided me access to your display screen and also web cam. Right after that, my software program collected your complete contacts from your Messenger, FB, and email . After that I created a double-screen video. 1st part shows the video you were viewing (you’ve got a good taste haha . . .), and 2nd part shows the view of your webcam, and its u. You do have only 2 alternatives. We are going to understand these types of choices in aspects: 1st solution is to disregard this message. In this case, I am going to send your actual video clip to just about all of your contacts and thus you can easily imagine about the disgrace you feel. Not to mention should you be in a relationship, just how it will eventually affect? Number two choice will be to pay me $3000. We will think of it as a donation. As a consequence, I most certainly will without delay eliminate your videotape. You will keep going on your daily life like this never happened and you will not hear back again from me. You’ll make the payment through Bitcoin (if you do not know this, search for “how to buy bitcoin” in Google).

Sample 2

ATTN: <email address> THIS IS NOT A JOKE – I AM DEAD SERIOUS!

Hi perv, The last time you visited a pornographic website with teens, you downloaded and installed software I developed. My program has turned on your camera and recorded the process of your masturbation. My software has also downloaded all your email contact lists and a list of your friends on Facebook. I have both the ‘<name>.mp4’ with your masturbation as well as a file with all your contacts on my hard drive. You are very perverted! If you want me to delete both the files and keep the secret, you must send me Bitcoin payment. I give you 72 hours for payment. If you don’t know how to send Bitcoins, visit Google. Send 2.000 USD to this Bitcoin address immediately: 3QBCunubfjup2DCFDpUzX2exurv7wws2Nv (copy and paste) 1 BTC = 3,580 USD right now, so send exactly 0.564369 BTC to the address provided above. Do not try to cheat me! As soon as you open this Email I will know you opened it. This Bitcoin address is linked to you only, so I will know if you sent the correct amount. When you pay in full, I will remove the files and deactivate my program. If you don’t send the payment, I will send your masturbation video to ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES from your contact list I hacked. Here are the payment details again: Send 0.564369 BTC to this Bitcoin address: 3QBCunubfjup2DCFDpUzX2exurv7wws2Nv You саn visit police but nobody will help you. I know what I am doing. I don’t live in your country and I know how to stay anonymous. Don’t try to deceive me – I will know it immediately – my spy ware is recording all the websites you visit and all keys you press. If you do – I will send this ugly recording to everyone you know, including your family. Don’t cheat me! Don’t forget the shame and if you ignore this message your life will be ruined. I am waiting for your Bitcoin payment. If you need more time to buy and send 0.564369 BTC, open your notepad and write ’48h plz’. I will consider giving you another 48 hours before I release the vid. Anonymous Hacker

Sample 3

Hello there! There is nothing hidden that is not shown – you`ll see what I mean in just a moment. Recently you were browsing a website that has pornographic content and yes, I saw you masturbating. It is not my duty to teach you what to do or how to do it I want you to pay me to keep this thing private You`ll have to take care of this finance-related issue. Before you question yourself how did that happened, I`ll tell you How did I get it? While you were browsing porn sites yousoraya@eff.org accidentally installed the malware I used to hack the website So consequently I`ve hacked your computer I`ve got all your names and passwords, access to your email, messengers and other things. If you want to know my secret, I used keylogger. When I got ahold of your desktop I immediately installed keylogger on your system. There was one other program involved, I’m not gonna tell you which but it gave me access to your webcam so I recorded all the things you did in front of the computer. Guess what I filmed? You masturbating. I am sure your friends and family will be delighted to see you do your dirty business, a long time will pass before you can get clean of all this mess. Okay, here is what you should do (if you do exactly what I ask, I will delete that embarrassing video and let you be). You must send 650 us dollars To my bitcoin wallet 1FXTXQEWFaPukDUWcMYnbgae1FpPtYNyA6. That`s it, it`s all you have to do. Don`t waste your time replying to this email I`m not gonna read it but the system will notify me when you make the payment. After you read this message, you have 24 hours to make the payment. You can reply to this email in case you need more time (48 hours max) to collect the money. I hope you understand everything I`ve mentioned. Sorry for my English, it isn’t particularly popular in my country P.S. I`am expecting to see the money on my account within 24 hours

Sample 4

Hi, victim.I write yоu becаusе I put а mаlware оn the wеb раge with porn whiсh yоu hаve visitеd.My virus grаbbed all your рersonal infо аnd turnеd on yоur сamеrа which сaрtured the рroсеss оf your onаnism. Just aftеr that the soft savеd yоur соntaсt list.I will dеlеte thе сompromising video and infо if you pаy me 999 USD in bitcoin. This is address fоr рaymеnt : 1K2jNTLdbHEwaALQWKMeGoKLWD67Cb6q8BI give yоu 30 hоurs aftеr you ореn my mеssаge for making the trаnsactiоn.As sоon аs yоu reаd the mеssаgе I’ll see it right awаy.It is nоt necessary tо tell mе thаt you hаve sеnt money to me. This address is соnneсtеd tо yоu, my systеm will dеlete еverything automаtically aftеr trаnsfer соnfirmаtiоn.If yоu nееd 48 h just reрly оn this letter with +.Yоu сan visit thе pоlicе stаtion but nobоdy cаn hеlp yоu.If you try to dеceive mе , I’ll sеe it right аway !I dont live in yоur соuntry. So they саn nоt track my lосаtiоn evеn for 9 months. Goodbyе. Dоnt fоrget аbоut thе shame and tо ignore, Yоur life can be ruined.

 

Step 3 – The Request for Payment

The whole Sextortion Blackmail Scam situation is pretty terrifying,, especially if the extortion revolves around your work computer. In light that the worlds most influential pornographic site receives 75 Million Hits Per Day it’s not unrealistic to make an assumption that mass email campaigns will at some point, reach some of the demographic that makes up these astonishing numbers. The hackers are literally fishing for active people who may just be susceptible enough to part with large amounts of cash in an attempt to hide their activities. The generic Sextortion Blackmail Scam emails are cleverly constructed, There are numerous examples available detailing variations of the same scam, but they all have  underlying similarity that play in favour of the person receiving the threat;

*The email actually gives no credible indication that the hacker is in possession of any of your personal data. You’re not mentioned by name despite the fact the Hacker has allegedly cloned your whole address book and knows all of your personal information.

*When exactly did you visit the adult site. If the Hacker has painstakingly taken the time to target you, your hardware, your computer screen and cameras, then why haven’t they sent you evidence of this?

*Has the Hacker sent you any visual proof of the alleged self-abuse? With this kind of phishing scam (and let’s not confuse it with other forms of genuine Sextortion Blackmail, which can and has serious consequences,) the answer will generally be No. The Criminals behind these scams are playing on words and don’t want you to request proof, because the chances are, there is none available.

*The Hacker will demand payment into a Bitcoin account but they won’t give you details on the process of how to pay or how to set up a Bitcoin Wallet. Why? The answer to this is that the more research the Sextortion Blackmail Scam encourages the victim to undertake, the greater the doubt it places in the victims mind that the email is genuine.

Data Breaches

The truth is, that data breaches are common place and sensitive information and passwords have been intercepted in vast numbers. You only need to look at the Aadhaar Data Breach affecting 1.1 Billion people in India over six months including Aadhaar numbers, names, email and physical addresses, phone numbers, and photos. Why not check out the Top 10 Data Breachers of 2018.  Scammers are likely to directly obtain this information or purchase it through the dark web for mass email campaigns. Using the Have i been pwned? website will give you some kind of indication if your email details have compromised.

For this type of Sextortion Blackmail Scam, it should really only work if a number of factors are in place including;

a) The recipient has a webcam or camera on their device. In 2019, this is a distinct possibility with smart phones, PC’s, Laptops, TV’s or Tablets all with the potential to house cameras.

b) The recipient has been viewing adult content online – In 2016, a survey published in Archives of Sexual Behavior, stated that 16.1% of men watched pornography at work on their smartphone or tablet and 5.4% watched it on a work computer. As much as we may not like the idea, the statics fuel hackers to try and extort victims.

c)The recipient actually communicates with the hacker and pays the extortionate ransom demands.

You may have landed on this page because you’ve received a Sextortion email. You may have

WHAT SHOULD I DO?

You may be reading this because you’ve personally received a Sextortion Blackmail Scam Email either at work or at home. Don’t worry. You certainly won’t be alone. Should you bite the bullet and pay for your extorter’s silence. In our opinion, the answer is a resounding “NO.” Do not pay under any circumstances. The whole premise of this extortion scam, relies purely on the statistics that a tiny number of victims will actually respond out of a batch of potentially thousands, maybe even millions of mass distributed emails. There is an expectation that the majority of these emails will not be answered, in fact, most will probably drop into the Spam or Junk Folders of potential victims only to be read days or weeks after the deadline for payment has passed by. Hackers rely on engagement with victims at which point, they will move to the next stage of the extortion. Without engagement, it’s impossible of the criminals to turn on the pressure of those petrified people whose world’s have literally been turned upside down with fear.

SHOULD I PAY THE RANSOM?

If you’ve ever had an animal and you feed it every day, eventually, it will keep coming back to its’ source of food. The same principle applies to Sextortion Blackmail Scams. Pay once and you’re showing that you either have the money to pay and risk the extortioners coming back time and time again. You should not pay the ransom. Firstly, you will never see your money again. Bitcoin transactions are pseudo-anonymous, which means they can be tracked, however, Bitcoin Mixing, Tor- Onion Router, Logless VPN’s, New Address for Transactions and JoinMarket are a few ways that criminals avoid their identities being linked to their Bitcoin Wallets. In reality, once you send cash to the Hackers Bitcoin Address, your money is gone. Losing your money gives the criminals scope to continue sending demands to potential victims.

HOW DO I DEAL WITH THIS?

There are a number of steps that could help to eradicate this type of email plaguing you in the future and to keep you safer online.

*Don’t communicate with the Criminals emailing you. Avoid the feeding the animals. Once you start, you’ll never be free of them. Your details are likely to be shared and you may start a depressing chain of events that will take a long while to break.

*Changing your password is a must. You ma very well recognise the passwords used in your emails but these are likely to have been obtained from historical data breaches. If an attacker had genuinely intercepted your password, then there are many more lucrative means of  clearing out your bank account or causing financial deprivation using online fraud.

*Remain calm. The people operating these scams continue to practice because believe it or not, victims actually pay the ransom. It may seem difficult to comprehend but the Sextortion Blackmails Scams work. They use psychological damage to drum up fear in potential victims and once this is in place, it becomes difficult to rationalise the situation. Anxiety, fear, and emotion are all used as triggers to extort money.

*Cover your webcam. If it means sticking a piece of gaffer tape or a plaster over it, then at least you’ve taken positive steps to keep yourself safe. The whole taping over of your webcam and microphone was brought into the public domain when Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg posted an image of himself and his own Macbook Webcam was clearly shown as having been taped up. If you’re worried about the cosmetics of doing this, then take a look online and you’ll fins hundreds of webcam covers available at very affordable prices.

*Don’t open any attachments that may be linked to the emails under any circumstances. You may have panicked when you first saw this email, but remaining rational and not making foolish mistakes from the offset will be very beneficial. If you feel better retaining the evidence of the email, then that’s fine, particularly if the extortion differs from the type of scam we are discussing here. If the email address is not your own email, then block the sender straight away.

If you search the internet for this very subject, you will find numerous examples posted in comment sections by victims, targets and worried business owners and staff. We’ve left the comments section open, so please feel free to document your experiences and offer advice as to how you dealt with this type of Scam.

If you are based in the UK, the Action Fraud website will offer further assistance on this subject. 

Festival Video Production. Forest Live

Video Production Norwich

Festival Video Production

Festival video production is about engaging those customers who have attended your concert or festival and setting the scene for future years. Contrary to public belief, it’s not about grabbing a few minutes of headline acts during their set. After all, unless the artist is booked again for the next year, this type of footage has a pretty limited life span. High quality Festival Video Production highlights the atmosphere and fun but also helps to promote future festivals. Video is proven to be the highest form of engagement currently on social media and forms an awesome marketing tool for engaging growth on social media platforms. It’s also a great way to direct people to your business and website.

The concept of Festival Video Production isn’t new, especially with thousands of people uploading smart phone videos of their festival experiences, but high quality Festival Video Production takes your event to the next level. We’ve been working closely with Forestry Commission over the past five years and in 2018, undertook the first promotional Concert Video Production of Forest Live 2018.

Forest Live Concerts

Forest Live is an independent programme organised by the Forestry Commission, bringing you music without commercial branding or sponsorship. Income generated from ticket sales is spent on improving the local forests for both people and wildlife. With everything required for a great night out, including full catering and bar facilities, the concerts are renowned for their relaxed atmosphere.

How does it work?

Or team has a lots of experience in the area of Video Production. Our process starts with planning your video. It’s important that we gain an insight of exactly how you’d like your production to look. We could shoot a huge amount of content of your festival or concert, but a little knowledge of your vision is an important first step before we film. Your ideas will also allow to work with you to ascertain the level of access we require on-site and to allow for all Health & Safety Assessments to be completed long before we arrive to start work.

Once we’ve shot your awesome Festival Video, we begin the process of editing in our studio. We would usually deliver a teaser trailer, that would fit perfectly on social media sites, grabbing the attention of your audience and directing them to the site where you main video would be hosted.

Forest Live Festival Video Production

Our Festival Video Production for Forestry Commission and Forest Live was shot over four days with an emphasis on a number of key areas that make Forest Live Concerts unique;

*Forest Live Concerts are held in the most beautiful of Forests and are organised by Forestry Commission. The Concerts are hidden gems in the festival calendar. The BBC actually took great pleasure in announcing that Kasabian had played an Event ‘in an actual Forest’ 

*The concerts are a ‘Family orientated’ series of Events that encourage everybody from toddlers to grandparents to attend.

*An emphasis on a well structured, professional set of concerts, where staff are approachable, promoting a safe environment for every type of individual to attend.

Aerial Drone Filming

At Blanc Creative, we operate a licensed Drones to capture Aerial Footage of Festivals and Concerts. Festival Video Production using a Drone is not as expensive as you may think and from a creative aspect, drone footage allows a completely different aspect of your Event with spectacular birds eye views. There are lots of safety implications and restrictions flying at festivals and it’s really super important that you employ a Drone Operator who is licensed, has public liability and professional indemnity insurance and has a proven track record operating commercially. To read more about Licensed Drones, we have a great article that can be found by clicking here.  

 

To find out more about options for Concert and Festival Video Production, why not reach out today and speak with one of our team on Mob: 07871 364041 or email studio@blanc-creative.com

 

Thetford Forest Live Concerts 2018 from Blanc Creative on Vimeo.

Norwich Commercial Photography – Archer’s Butchers

Commercial Photography Norwich - Archer's Butchers

Norwich Commercial Photography – Archer’s Butchers

Commercial Photography Norwich - Archer's Butchers

Norwich is blessed with a host of amazing food businesses that pride themselves on the very best provenance, heritage and pure quality of produce. One of the greatest examples of this is Archer’s Butchers of Norwich, an Award winning Butchery established back in 1929. Archers Butchers is a fantastic shop incorporating a modern delicatessen and baguette takeaway combined with a modern butchery showcasing an extensive range of the county’s very best meat, poultry and game. Now in its third generation, James (Jamie) Archer has taken the business into 2018 but maintained traditional techniques and methods used by his father (Jimmy) and grandfathers (John Archer & Oliver Craske.)

Commercial Photography Norwich - Archer's Butchers

Commercial Photography Norwich - Archer's Butchers

Food Photography NorwichBeginners Butchery evening

Archer’s Butchers offers a very special set of events throughout the year, where customers can literally engage in a “hands-on” evening on the premises. The Beginners Butchery Evening is aimed at keen cooks and butchery enthusiasts with a rare chance to learn some basic butchery skills from the Archer’s Butchery Team who will leave you in awe with their skilled demonstrations throughout the evening. The three-hour class includes;

    • Basic knife skills under the supervision of our experienced butchers
    • Knowledge on the different cuts and what they are used for
    • How to de-bone and prepare
    • Simple curing processes
    • Sausage making
    • Cooking tips
    • Tasting & Wine to finish

You can find out more information about the Beginners Butchery Evening, by contacting Archer’s Directly via their online Contact Form

Norwich Commercial Photographer

Norwich Commercial Photographer

Food Photography NorwichCommercial Photography Norwich - Archer's Butchers

Butchery Photography

We had the pleasure of working alongside the Archer’s Team as they delivered one of the Beginners Butchery Evenings at the Plumstead Road Shop in Norwich. An intimate group of customers were given a memorable meat experience, that included a behind the scenes tour of Norwich’s premier Butchery, demonstrations of ‘nose to tail’ butchery and a rare opportunity to actually make the now famous Archers Sausage, a historical recipe that even today is a closely guarded secret. We were extremely pleased to have been asked to document the evening as it unfolded, with a documentary styled selection of Commercial Photography. It was a chance to shoot relaxed business photography in a working environment where customers and staff did not feel uncomfortable with the camera’s presence.

About Food Photography Norwich

Food Photography is a big deal. It’s more of a big deal than it’s ever been. I mean… 650 million Instagram Food Photographs can’t be wrong Marketing your products for brochures, menus or PR isn’t any less important than marketing for social media or online marketing, but the quality of your Professional Food Photography is invaluable.Websites for any food business are a MUST HAVE, particularly if you want to engage with customers, clients or even suppliers. It’s all about controlling your marketing message. We’re really at a point where Professional Food Photography is also a prerequisite for a winning online presence. So what is it exactly that makes Professional Food Photography, a worthwhile service to buy for your business… How can we Help? Click Here to find out more!