FARLAP PHOTOGRAPHY

Dates for the calendar

2012-01-24T05:20:00.000-08:00

The weather has been so foul this week that the Dartmoor based jobs have had to be postponed for a week, which is rather annoying. However being office bound for a few days has allowed me to catch up with a few things (tax return being one of them.....yuk!) and grab some screen shots of Farlap photos that have featured in Farmers Guardian.
We now have the full confirmation list for the 2013 calendars, so if your dog was a model, Ill be able to tell you if he or she is going to be featuring. Some of them are on the covers so will be getting some very exciting exposure across the world. I should take delivery of the calendars later in the year and will of course make sure you all get copies.

weve got it covered again!

2012-01-20T13:40:00.000-08:00

January has seen several front covers for Farlap......these are the two latest ones.

The long and winding trail.......

2012-01-19T09:50:00.000-08:00

Its been a busy week with 2 days Trail hunting and not to mention the sheep!
It was nice to catch up with the Old Berkley Beaglers again this year, as I missed their annual sojourn last season. They havent aged a bit!!
A couple of new events have been booked this week, making it look like an exciting summer for Farlap.....oh.....and the exciting news I mentioned a few weeks ago.....well it will have to wait just a few more days....but I promise it will be out soon!

Sheepshank Redemption

2012-01-16T08:45:00.000-08:00

Having had two conversations of late, one where an editor without apology or good reason, decides to cut the day rate by 20% , take a job away from me, and yet still wants more for their money, and another where a picture editor calls me to tell me the rate has gone up and they have 3 jobs waiting for me, then I guess the choice is a simple one to make! Hence this week Ive been enjoying a lot of sheep photography!
Its been a great week for getting the summers work plan arranged, and my planned change of priorities over the last 12 months, seems to have paid off. Ive managed to gain some useful events in my calendar as well as getting shed of the ones that I didnt enjoy too much. We are also glad to learn that Kitti, our Hungarian photography undergraduate student will be working with us again all summer.

Sydenham photos now ready

2012-01-08T11:46:00.000-08:00

To view Sydenham Estate Shoot photos please use this link http://www.farlap-photography.com/section151915.html

Just how much can you cram into one week?

2012-01-08T01:46:00.000-08:00

It certainly is turning into one of those weeks! The list of commissions so far
1 driven game shoot
1 days hunting (the trail variety of course)
1 day with a south african flock of sheep for a feature
1 day in a laboratory for a feature
1 days rough shooting
1 day on a beef farm for a featureI shall hopefully get the Sydenham photos live this weekend, meanwhile heres "Ferret" telling one of his fishing tales!

Boared in the forest

2012-01-06T11:34:00.000-08:00

Another commission to Germany last week, gave me a great opportunity to add a number of new hunting breeds to my portfolio, and get some exciting action hunting photos.

Happy NEW Year!

2012-01-05T09:41:00.001-08:00

At this time of the year it seems appropriate to thank all those clients, editors, picture buyers and loyal friends who have supported us over 2011. The new year certainly looks exciting for us with a slightly different angle of approach for some of the aspects of event photography we have traditionally been involved with, and adding alot more editorial work into our portfolio is the way forward for the forseeable. The year has started well with an editorial commission in Germany, on a wild boar shoot, from which we have just returned, and it was good to arrive home and see the first front cover of 2012 waiting for us. (see right).
The year has got off to a flying start, with two pheasant shoots this week plus two days out hunting for a commissioned piece, so we look forward to catching up with everyone in 2012, and you can rest assured that your loyalty to "Farlap" has been noted, appreciated and will be appropriately repaid in the near future.

Who's pinched our snow?

2011-12-19T13:11:00.000-08:00

I had a commission this week to get a photo of a labrador working inthe snow for a magazine.....all fine, except there was no snow! Just more and more rain. I persuaded the magazine to go with a labrador working in....well yes, the rain! Luckily the pix were great and the editor was thrilled!
Our big news will have to wait just a couple more weeks til we are live, and then all will be revealed.......meanwhile Im busy with two driven game shoots this week, and then planning a boar shoot at the end of the month in Germany (where apparently its also raining!!)
We have had some nice images published again this week, with the cover of The Shooting Gazette being a particular favourite of mine.

So Much Happening

2011-12-08T14:26:00.000-08:00

I dont think ive ever had QUITE so much happen,all in one week in terms of news. Firstly the biggest news for Farlap, is still under wraps but the moment everything is signed sealed and delivered I will let on. On another note, we have been busy this week preparing images for a very large new client. By tonight we had sent out over 100 images for their new range of calendars, so we really look forward to a long and successful partnership.
We had a very busy show on Saturday with Exonian C.S. at the weekend, and it was great to get so many new dogs into the studio and meet new owners.
The most unusual job this week was locating an affenpinscher for an Israeli publishing company, but of course we managed it, and they were delighted.
Finally, despite the rain, we have managed two private calendar shoots, so all in all its been a rather exciting week.

Weekly Fun and games

2011-12-01T08:09:00.000-08:00

its been all fun and games here this week......it started with a job for Farmers Guardian in Somerset, in somewhat muddy conditions, then it was off to a goat breeder to photograph stock for yearbooks and ads (that was quite challenging!) The next day was interviewing a second photographer/front of house for the seasonal run of black tie formal events we are covering soon......she turned up with a face full of iron mongery and tattooes everywhere you looked and was most definitely not the image we want to portray! What a waste of my day and hers....at least she turend up for the interview though, unlike the other two candidates who clearly couldnt be bothered. After that debacle I managed to fit in a quick job with the foxhounds, and then I then spent a solid two days editing for the 2013 lurcher calendar.....the biggest challenge was editing down several hundred to a shortlist of 40, but got there in the end!
Weve had some eclectic sales this week, with The Field using one of my falconry images and The Mail using a couple of dog images for their website, plus a magazine in the USA buying a rather cute lamb photo. The weeks not over yet as we are now getting ready for Exonian Canine Society open show on Saturday, where I will also be doing a calendar shoot so if anyone wants to come along with their dog for this, please let me know.

Woodcock Wonder

2011-11-26T09:57:00.000-08:00

Last night I had the pleasure of going on a "woodcock count" for a magazine article Ive been commissioned for. Amazing to get so close to these incredible birds, without them feeling threatened, and it was quite a challenge in terms of photography!
Today was a woodcock shoot, and once again I marvelled at their flight and manoverability, and enjoyed watching some lovely young dogs who are coming on so well at the start of their gundog careers. Heres Travis, on a blind retrieve.

Feeling Independant!

2011-11-24T06:10:00.000-08:00

An interesting week , with too much paperwork and not enough snapping, but hey-ho, thats business life I guess. Having spent 2 days on the phone dealing with faulty broadband, and then another day with a faulty credit card terminal, I was glad to finally get out and and take some photos today! It doesnt help my "bon Amie"when people phone me, complaining they couldnt get an answer when they rung at 9.30pm on a Sunday evening.......Jeeeez, how dare I not answer the phone to customers on a sunday night!
Having spent most of the morning trying to get to grips with the new compliance laws for companies that accept payment by credit card, and getting the business certified to meet the new rules, I was pleased to have a few hours out in the field!
Had two interesting sales this week, one of pheasant rearing, to the The Independant newspaper, who were running an article about pheasants, and another, of a lamb, to a publisher in the USA for their latest childrens book.

Taking stock

2011-11-18T14:41:00.000-08:00

A busy few days sorting out our image library......I only got as far as "E" for English Springer, so clearly theres a lot more work left to do!!
Over a period of weeks and months I listened (or watched?) an amateur photographer harping on and on, on an online hunting forum, about how cr*p a particular publication was and how they wouldnt work for them even though they asked many times, blah blah.....now it seems they are the new flavour of the month, with images all over the inside pages, and the cover, like theres no tomorrow! Amazing transformation....makes you wonder what kind of person can be so two faced....certainly not one that Id want to work empl0y!!

More MOOR

2011-11-16T07:15:00.000-08:00

Today was Grinnacombe Moor, and it wasnt quite as foggy as Dartmoor! I hope the field had a great day in such a stunning location. Images for the Lamerton 2011-12 season will now start to be available for viewing by LFH subscribers. Please visit http://www.farlap-photography.com/section151915.html
I was asked today to be part of an online answer forum on "business planning" and I shall be interested to see how that pans out,especially as over the last few weeks Ive had no less than three new local "photography businesses" pointed out to me, and the only "plan" I can see them making is working through MY website and then copying prettymuch everything I seem to be doing. Im sure I should be flattered, but Im not. I just see spineless amateurs with no real business sense, either trying to copy me (and presumably poach my clients and contacts) or just being a minor irritation and making life even harder for other specialist photographers such as myself, who ARE professionals and fully insured and experienced etc.

Some MOOR murky weather!

2011-11-15T10:57:00.000-08:00

Well apart from the fog, I had a cracking day out with the Dartmoor Hunt today. Getting right out in to the heart of the moor with the hounds today was a real pleasure, and as the weather was less than perfect, I shall be out again with this great pack, to add more photos to the album, very soon.

My first Day of the Season

2011-11-12T10:23:00.000-08:00

Today was my first day out with the woodcock shoot this season, and we were blessed with a warm sunny day, and some nice birds after the moon a few days earlier. Im looking forward to lots mroe days with the Whiteleigh Shoot this season, lets hope the weather stays as dry on the other days!

Playing Chicken!

2011-11-10T10:31:00.000-08:00

I have managed to dodge the rain showers and complete a job for a rare breed farmer, producing images for their website and for their information literature. It was a fun two days lying in the mud, stalking chickens and ducks........not to mention the problem with the geese! This is my favourite shot, and it was an unbelievably late brood for this proud mum.
Last night I was shown the new website of an amateur photographer, now posing as a pro, and putting themselves out to the great event-going public as a horse/dog /event photographer. Never fails to amaze me how these people want to turn pro, yet they accept their images being used in major publications for free, and get all emotional with excitement, telling all their mates theyare now a PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER just because they got a by-line. BY-LINES DO NOT PAY THE BILLS AND THEY MAKE YOU CHEAP AND USED. When will these weekend warriors get the message I wonder??? Infact it makes you wonder how they even pay their public liability insurance and get their equipment PAT tested, when they are just giving away their work.

More Calendar girls

2011-11-08T04:26:00.000-08:00

Just loved these pictures from the weekend photo shoot.....think at least one of them will make a fab calendar image.