I know, I know you don’t really want to learn this, but you either start working your way through SEO fro Dummies, pay someone to do it for you…or you’re going to have to learn what to do yourself.

As a wedding photographer we need a shop, maybe not a bricks and mortar shop or a physical studio but most definately a ‘virtual shop’ or to you and I a website.

So step one, we need a name, it would appear that the majority us photographer types are quite unimaginative when it comes to picking our website names…we tend to just buy our names and stick ‘photography’ on the end. [personally I didn't even bother with the photography bit on the end!]

Tip 1, Google is most definitely your friend, there are so many tools out there to help you, some free, some are very expensive !
Use Google and search… If you live in Birmingham…and you are a “Birmingham wedding photographer” search for that…who’s at the top of the list, what are their URL’s ?

Now surely you have checked? Is birminghamweddingphotographer.com birminghamweddingphotographer.co.uk or any variants still available, you never know ! If it is buy it, buy it now !!!

You can search for your new domain here via 1 and 1…
 

Tip 1a Check the .co domain surprisingly there are still many domains available, that you would think had gone already.

So if I were a Manchester wedding photographer (which I am!) then I would definitely want to own manchesterweddingphotographer.{co, .co.uk, .com, .net, .org, or .info}

Why?

Well, Google is going all ‘local’ so it’s so much easier to get ranked for ‘local’ keywords…and if you have the keywords in the domain itself….well it certainly makes the SEO work a lot easier !

Go back to Google again…are there any websites ranked on the first page with ‘town’weddingphotographer as the domain name, I bet there is !

Put your coffee down and go get yours… if you are in the UK stick with .co.uk .com .co .net .org or .info

SEO for Photographers !

I know outsource ! Unfortunately, this is a chicken and egg situation, to outsource you need money, to get the money you need to get the work…so you’re oint o have to learn a bit yourself.

So here’s a few ‘free’ tips that will help you on your way.

Do’s

• Get a website, get a WordPress website. Why? Because you don’t need to be a super geek to update it. { websitesinaday.co.uk }
• Update your website regularly (every other day if you can)
• Blog love. What? Find other photographers website’s and give them some love, ie comments, theses are good, instant backlinks to your website.
• Google places, get on it, get on it now !

Don’ts

• Don’t pay for advertising, there are so many wedding blogs/directories with so many advertisers, yours will be lost.

This is a three day course, one day of wedding photography training at our studio in Rochdale, followed by a “Real Wedding”, then on the third day we evaluate the shots you have taken and go through any queries you have from the wedding day !

Where: The wedding will be in the Greater Manchester area.

When: Date dependant on weddings booked.

Cost: £399

Any images that you take at the wedding will be yours to use on your own website. For portfolio use only.
 

Book now, only 15 places left for 2012.

A lot of photographers get the photography bug, once they have children, and rightly so ! There’s nothing better than taking photo’s of your own Children and then hanging them on your wall. I know I have two ! {Children that is !} Though I must admit my family photo’s do get a little negleted by me and my Wife takes on the roll of family photographer…

This course is a one day course, at a time to suit you and your family.

Where: This course can eitehr be in our studio or in a local park.

When: On a day/evening to suit yourselves.

Cost: £99

Book your workshop today.

{Photographers notes: the inset shot above was shot inside a sports arena after Joshua had finished his Jiu Jitsu grading. This was setup and shot in less than 2 minutes}

Lights, flags, cookies, snoots, gels and all different weird and wonderful names ! After this one day course you will be able to have the confidence to hire any studio, set up the lights, decide whether to use a soft box or a beauty dish…

This one day workshop is aimed is for anyone who wants to learn how to use a studio/studio lights.

When:
This is one of our bespoke courses, please email us a few alternative dates when you are free and we will get you booked in.

Where:
At our studio in Rochdale, Red Brick Studio. Directions here.

Cost:
The Studio lighting course is £169.00 for the full day and includes 3 hours shooting with a local model.

Book now, all payments are secure and protected via paypal.

Anyone interested in photography, if you would prefer 1 on 1 teaching then this is for you, a whole day uninterrupted.

The course content can be whatever you want to learn, we will structure the course to suit your requirements.

This is a one day course, by a one day course that means a full day ! Not 6 hours with a 2 hour lunch break. You will get a full 8 hours of instruction ! We start the day in the studio at Rochdale and then head off outdoors, depending on what type of photography interests you.

The next date for this workshop is:

Bespoke courses are booked on a date to suit you, please email first with the dates you are free.

The cost of the workshop is £250 payable via paypal, if you do not have paypal account you can still pay using a debit or credit card via the paypal site.
{meals are not provided, copius amounts of tea and coffee however are. To get the most out of the day I suggest a packed lunch!]

Who this course/workshop is for:

You are probably an experienced amateur photographer, wanting to turn professional. Then this is the next step up. Ideally you will have a good general grounding in what your camera can and can’t do

This is a one day course, by a one day course that means a full day ! Not 6 hours with a 2 hour lunch break. You will get a full 8 hours of instruction !  The aim of this workshop is to get you on the next rung up. We start the day in the studio at Rochdale and then head off outdoors, depending on what type of photography interests you.

• We Start off in the studio/classroom where you will learn how to take control of your camera for predictable results every time
• Learn how to control the camera and start taking the shots that you want, not what the camera does.
• Practical work, this is not theory day, you will be hands on all day and will need your camera !
• Maximum of 4 students per day

The next date for this workshop is:

Saturday 14th January 2012.
[mid week courses are also available, depending on the date you require, please email the date you would prefer]

The cost of the workshop is £99 payable via paypal, if you do not have paypal account you can still pay using a debit or credit card via the paypal site.
{meals are not provided, copius amounts of tea and coffee however are. To get the most out of the day I suggest a packed lunch!]

Who this course/workshop is for:

You are probably an amateur photographer, or maybe just do this as a hobby and want to get that little bit more from you camera. Then this is the next step up. Ideally you will have your own digital SLR and want to get the most out of it.

This is a one day course, by a one day course that means a full day ! Not 6 hours with a 2 hour lunch break. You will get a full 8 hours of instruction !  The aim of this workshop is to get you on the next rung up. We start the day in the studio at Rochdale and then head off outdoors, depending on what type of photography interests you.

• We Start off in the studio/classroom where you will learn how to take control of your camera for predictable results every time
• Learn how to control the camera and start taking the shots that you want, not what the camera does.
• Practical work, this is not theory day, you will be hands on all day and will need your camera !
• Maximum of 4 students per day

The next date for this workshop is:

Saturday 7th January 2012.
[mid week courses are also available, depending on the date you require, please email the date you would prefer]

The cost of the workshop is £99 payable via paypal, if you do not have paypal account you can still pay using a debit or credit card via the paypal site.
{meals are not provided, copius amounts of tea and coffee however are. To get the most out of the day I suggest a packed lunch!]

Who this course/workshop is for:

This workshop is designed for all new photographers, young or old ! Have you been bitten by the bug and want to take your photography further. Then this course is for you. Ideally you will have either a digital SLR camera, bridge camera or possibly a compact camera. We can also hire you a camera should you like to get the feel for a digital SLR, before buying one.

This is a one day course, by a one day course that means a full day ! Not 6 hours with a 2 hour lunch break. You will get a full 8 hours of instruction !  The aim of this workshop is to get you on the next rung up. We start the day in the studio at Rochdale and then head off outdoors, depending on what type of photography interests you.

• We Start off in the studio/classroom where you will learn how to take control of your camera for predictable results every time
• Learn how to control the camera and start taking the shots that you want, not what the camera does.
• Practical work, this is not theory day, you will be hands on all day and will need your camera !
• Maximum of 4 students per day

The next date for this workshop is:

Sunday 8th January 2012.

[mid week courses are also available, depending on the date you require, please email the date you would prefer]

The cost of the workshop is £99 payable via paypal, if you do not have paypal account you can still pay using a debit or credit card via the paypal site.
{meals are not provided, copius amounts of tea and coffee however are. To get the most out of the day I suggest a packed lunch!]

Weddings and light !

Wedding photography is tricky, you need to know your equipement inside out, have multiple back ups, and be prepared for any type of lighting conditions.

In this one day workshop, we will cover small speedlight flash use both on and off camera, reflectors, studio lights, mixing ambient and flash, geling flash to suit the environment and the all important ‘group’ lighting.

Where: At our Rochdale studio.

When: By appointment, please email over dates you would like.

Cost: £149.00