Industrial and Event Photography
Company Profile
CJB Photography's founder, Chris Bridgewater sold his first commissioned photographs in the 1970's. As a qualified mechanical and industrial engineer his background gives him a valuable insight into industrial and commercial event photography, enabling him to see situations from the client's point of view.
His previous experience of working as a Works Manager enables him to fully appreciate the disruption that can be caused by a photographer on site. This experience allows him to relate to both management and the operators on the shop floor, with the result that he gets full co-operation from both, thus enabling him to complete the industrial photography project with minimum fuss.
There has been a huge change in the photographic industry over the last few years. Everyone now has their own camera, all capable of an adequate photograph, but the true professional comes into his own when a specialist service is needed, and this is the time to call in CJB Photography.
Although we have kept abreast with up to date cameras and equipment, going fully digital in 2002, we have remained traditional in approach, with the old fashioned values of quality and service.
On Site Photographic Prints Service
We were the first photographers in the Midlands to offer on-site photographic print services by using our unique Mobile Digital Darkroom and we stand and fall by the quality of the last photograph we take. Long after people have forgotten the day itself, they will still be looking at our photographs!
We have built a large team around us, who work on freelance basis, upon whom we can call as necessary, each offering their own special strengths.
We have photographed many hundreds of weddings, and encountered all sorts of problems outside our control, be it cars breaking down, dresses coming apart, horses bolting, (complete with cart!) and cakes collapsing, to name but a few, but still managed to give the couples the quality and coverage they expected.
Creative Industrial, Corporate and Themed Events Photography from CJB Photography of Hagley Hall Mews in the West Midlands.
CJB Photography Magazine Article
Printed in the Black Country Chamber Magazine, 2006
Would you entrust your financial details to a trainee member of sales staff? Or your legal matters to your accountant? I think not - it would never enter your head to do so. You would want a professional, so why do you leave your company image to an amateur?
With the advent of digital cameras, more and more companies are doing just that. Just because you have spent £300 on a digital camera, it will not make you into a professional photographer with the experience and equipment to show your product or process in good light.
Very rarely does the small flash on the camera give the best results. The best lighting is when the flash unit(s) are away from the camera, and by separating the flash and camera, you can get some creative effects which will enhance the picture.
So, how are companies wasting money?
I get senior managers and company proprietors telling me that they "do it all in-house - it is not costing us anything." They are all intelligent people, but they have been brainwashed into thinking that it is the camera that makes the photograph, not the person behind the camera.
Quite often it is the MD himself who take the pictures with his own digital camera. How much is his time worth - £100 per hour?
He has to arrange the shot, take the picture, download it into the computer, and burn to disc. He then sends it to... ALL this time has to be paid for. You also have to take into account the loss of the work he would have done. Has he missed that large order because he was too preoccupied with taking the picture that took far longer than he expected? What price can you put on that?
What Would A Professional Do?
The picture arrives at the offices of the design/print/website company. They look at it and realise that it does now show the company in good light. As the MD insists he is not going to pay a professional photographer, the designer has to "tidy up" the picture as best he can.
This is an additional cost that has to be paid over and above the initial quotation. Silk purses and sows' ears: rubbish in, rubbish out, these sayings all apply here.
A bad photo can be improved but it will never be a good photograph. Many agencies do not charge for this service so they are losing money.
The company consequently uses a sub-standard picture in its promotion. The (prospective) customers could well think the company was in financial difficulties due to this poor presentation, and place the order with a company (perhaps much smaller) whose presentation looks much more professional.
There is only one first impression. A prospective customer will contact the most professional looking supplier first. This might be a back-street operation, who has invested in better material, that does not have your quality or distribution, but the customer does not know that, they can only go with what they see.
None of the above can be quantified, of course, because there is no control model/device against which to base any decisions, and the costs are hidden in the general overheads.
How can you say it is not costing you anything? It is actually costing you a fortune!
Our mobile digital darkroom produces high quality photographic prints on site at your event. more info
Find out about our school prom photography service. more info
Call us on:
01562 884 531 or use our Contact Form
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