How to turn a wetsuit into a website marketing tool.

It was a huge compliment recently when a client travelled in excess of 200 miles to come to our studio for a photo shoot. Even more complimentary given the fact that they came to us on a word of mouth recommendation from a current client in the UK.

The Brief on this shoot, however, was a challenge to say the least. We needed to turn unusual products into positive marketing collateral. And for an online medium only.

North-West based firm Northern Diver needed a full range of product shots for their new specialist dry and wetsuits, for promotion on their website.

In effect, we needed to turn their newly-launched suits into powerful marketing tools.

Not easy, given that most dry and wetsuits are black and shooting them well needs stringent and unique studio conditions. We shot the suits on a clean white background to retain the sharp look of the products. To maintain continuity throughout, we worked with the existing shots on the Northern Diver website

Bearing in mind the fact that Northern Diver has a prominent reputation as one of the world's elite wet and drysuit manufacturers, and diving equipment manufacturers.

They are now established as the most innovative, competitive and reliable names around – thus, our photographic website work was of paramount importance for their overall marketing mix, given that the company utilises its online shopping facility heavily. Given that they have no retail outlets, the website is hugely important.

Northern Diver were reassured by the following additional promises to clients:
• Images are delivered processed and ready to go
• Clients are involved in the art direction process
• Years of industry experience

We were able to add value and highlight the suits in the client’s required medium – online. Our photo shoot helped to turn these static products into positive marketing.

Is your photographer adding this kind of value to your products?

Not all photographers are cut from the same Cloth - new fashion magazine shoot

Cloth magazine is a recent addition to the newsstands, and it has been an absolute pleasure to be involved, and help develop an idea from the beginning – this is the second shoot Amango has completed for the editorial team at Cloth Magazine.

Cloth is unusual, in that the editorial focus is on vintage and customising; breathing new life into once loved clothes. Green, it would appear, is the new black!

The last shoot for Cloth was all about lace and stencils, lace collars and customised denim, straight from the catwalk of Dolce & Gabbana.

The first part of the shoot was in the studio, shooting the new pieces, including:
• ruff collar t-shirts
• lace-fringed clutch bag
• lace collar jacket

The second part of the shoot was on location with street art, covering:
• stencil art silhouette on a skirt
• ideas from the high street, with a ribbon bow cardigan

It was great to be working with Harriet de Winton and Ros Marshall again on the editorial team.

Their background is within theatre and television drama as costume designer and wardrobe mistress, so we were in good hands. We were fortunate enough to have Debbie the make-up artist from the set of Bristol-based hit drama series Skins, on hand to style hair and groom the models.

All together, a fantastic shoot, and once more proving that when it comes to Amango, not all fashion photographers are cut from the same Cloth! We will be working with the Cloth editorial team soon, having found a superb location for their next shoot in a fortnight.

Watch this space for the results – it promises to be a visual extravaganza.

Introduction to modelling course – but you’ve got to be quick!

I recently became involved with The International Academy of Modelling (IAM), the brainchild of Clare Wilson from Gingersnap Models. Clare, essentially, teaches aspiring models how to succeed in the fashion industry. No mean feat, given the competition levels.

The course comprehensively covers all elements of modelling - from catwalk skills to photographic shoots, hair and make-up, to acting for camera in television commercials.

Last month was a free taster day, which gave a good insight into the structure of the course, and it was a pleasure to be involved and help out.

The taster day included a short photo shoot with me, where the students learnt posing techniques with guidance from me behind the camera, and Clare giving encouraging instructions from the side.

The models were discovering essential behind-the-scenes knowledge, as well as out front and camera-ready tips. It was also a great confidence-builder for them.

Students were given the opportunity to build up their portfolios, as well as gaining confidence in front of and around the camera. All essential starting points.

But if you want to get involved, you’ve got to be quick! The next course starts Tuesday 20^th April at Filton College in Bristol. Click here for the website

Amango gains prestigious RPS inclusion for Exhibition

It’s with great pleasure that we can announce our inclusion for entrants in the upcoming and prestigious Royal Photographic Society’s (RPS) annual and 153rd International Print Exhibition.

The event, which attracts global interest, has received our submissions for consideration this year, and we’re waiting with baited breath for the response.

The annual exhibition is a significant event in the industry, with selected work being toured across the world by the RPS after an initial exhibition in London in July.

The Society has been running the Exhibition event since it set up in 1853, so the pedigree and quality of the entrants will be high.

We’re really pleased to have been given the opportunity to potentially be a part of this, and to hopefully have some of the Amango portfolio to be viewed across the world in various galleries. An excellent showcasing of our work internationally - hopefully.

We’ll keep you posted on how our submission proceeds, and here’s a sample of the photographic work we’re including in this year’s entry. Keep your fingers crossed!