The coolest job ever!

Literally! I stood still for 2 hours photographing the Scandinavian Challenge Ski Tournament at Ski Dubai. They have a constant -2C which I could feel I definitively did not dress warm enough. The first 45 minutes I was fine then my fingers and toes went numb. Not a great feeling. It It was definitively the shortest ski slope I had ever seen it took the winner 19.22 sec to get down so the window of opportunity to photograph was a quick one. :-) It was the winner that also received my git voucher for a Free Family Photo Shoot!
After the tournament myself and a few of the audience went up the ski lift without skis it was a sit lift so no problem there and had a nice warm hot chocolate at the top cafe. I can recommend going to ski Dubai just for the experience even if you are not a skier. Me being from Sweden I am used to snow and cold or at least should be.... I was very impressed by the quality of the snow it felt and looked just like ‘real’ snow I guess it has to do with the temperature being at a constant. I thought it might go very icy like fake snow does in the Swedish ski resorts but I guess that is due to the changing temperatures.
It was a great event even though a cold one with a great after ski party at the Grandeur Hotel afterwards.  For more info check out their Facebook Group:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/home.php?sk=group_143110569081030

Tomorrow and the next coming days I am off to Photograph a few European Tour Professionals (golf players) at Emirated Golf Club which will be great fun.

http://www.dubaidesertclassic.com/index.aspx

Macro Photography of Lilies

For those of you that have not used a macro lens or tried to photograph an image close up I can tell you a simple secret. You get sharper images if you take the lens off its auto focus and focus the lens yourself.

August 2 years ago I bought my first prime lens a Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM. I invested in this lens because I love taking macro photography and felt that it was missing in my photography arsenal. I had previously borrowed one from a friend and the images I came home with were to me at the time amazing. I also did a portrait shoot with it and it was great for that as well maybe not for children but for grownups that will actually do what you tell them to do :-) you can use it as a great portrait lens as well. I purchased it whilst on holiday in New York so I had the chance to walk into the famous http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ store. It was amazing, though it was smaller than I expected. My hubby got bored with me quickly and headed elsewhere. I spent a whole morning there it was great to be able to speak with sales staff that knew what they were talking about sadly I found that is not always the case in photography stores. Maybe that is just here in the Middle East? I have been to a few in Sweden and the staff then always seems to be very knowledgeable.
Now when I have just moved back to Dubai I have had a lot of time on my hands while I am in limbo of not having all my gear at hand so can’t start to work too intently just yet. (my container will arrive in about 22 days I have been told) I so wish it would be tomorrow. Anyway I have taken that time off to photograph some lovely lilies with my macro lens. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/194451-USA/Canon_4657A006_100mm_f_2_8_USM_Macro.html

If you have the opportunity to borrow a lens that you are interested in purchasing I recommend it so that you know what you are buying since it is an investment for you and if you are like me you don’t like to waste money on gear that you do not need or perform as you expected. You can also rent camera equipment check with your local supplier. Or join a local photography group where maybe one of your fellow photography friends have the gear you are looking into. Here in Dubai the monthly meeting for the local photography enthusiasts are meeting tomorrow evening. Check out http://www.uae-photo.com/ for more information.
Happy shooting everyone.

A 12 month Photography Package

Hi,
 I am at the moment in the midst of putting together different Photography packages towards different target audiences/markets.
What do you guys think of this one for instance?
A 12 month Photography package.
1. the first one is a Maternity Photography shoot around 7-8 month pregnant.
2. second one Newborn Photography shoot either days or a few weeks old baby.
3. third one when the child is 6 months old.
4. the fourth one when the child turns 1 year old.
You then get the child's whole first year documented.

You get individual photographs as well as the opportunity to get a collage of photogrpahs.
The Collage you can order after the whole session is finished (after 12 months) it will be a collection of a few of the photographs to make one large photograph= collage. Choose from 4, 5, 6 or 8 photographs together and choose final Photograph size.
What do you guys think of this idea?
If you are interested to do a photo shoot like this please do not hesitate to contact me.
I will add this option to my website as soon as my computer has arrived to Dubai from Egypt. :-)
It is scheduled to arrive end of February... if everything goes according to plan. In the mean time I have time to come up with a few more tailored packages.

If you have any suggestions please feel free to let me know I appreciate all feedback.

Have a great weekend where ever you are!
Helen

It's Avon Calling!

Hi,
It is so good to be back in Dubai again.
Today I have been helping a friend of mine with photographing some of her facial products made by Avon that she is selling, from their ANew series. I have personally tired them for a few days now and I must admit I am very impressed they make my skin feel very smooth. Ok enough with the sales pitch :-)
Here are two shots from today's shoot.

If you are however interested to buy any of these products or see what else they have available you can do so through this link. www.youravon.com/mnishikawa

hum... maybe I should ask for some commision.... :-)

It is a bit easier these days when you can order online and not have to wait like you did in the old days for your Avon representative to knock on your door.

It's Avon calling!



Child Portraiture.

I have taken portrait photographs of a little 1.5 year old boy, almost to the day a year ago I took his first portraits together with his mum and dad.
http://shippeyphotography.blogspot.com/2010/01/portrait-photo-shoot-at.html
It is great when you get to see children grow from photography session to the next as well as repeat clients of course.
Since I am moving my Photography business to Dubai in less than a week I already now know that I wont come back and photograph this boy next year in Taba Heights but I am not saying I won't photograph the family again... never say never it would not surprise me at all if I met them again somewhere lese in the world. Once you start traveling I find that the world just gets smaller and smaller. Don't you?
Here are a few images from this years photo session.

Is your website SEO Optimized?

The other day I listened to a SEO chat with one of the SEO gurus for Photographers, Zach Prez and I realized that my website can be better optimized for Google and other search engines. One of the thinks he mentioned that I need to change myself is; For you to have a good chance to score well with search engines each page you have should have at least 300 words since search engines can't see images only read text. It is when they read what is on your website that gives them an indication what your website is all about. Oops I better get writing on some cleaver text for my website I believe I have too little text. Maybe a good thing I am working on a new web design anyway so that I can incorporate this straight away.

Zach Prez did mention that your text about what is included in your photography sessions such as price what the client gets etc. is very useful information since almost every word is then a good keyword for what your site is about.
To listen to the interview with Zach Prez go to the link below its quite useful it is great that he actually have targeted Photographers and not just all companies even though SEO works similarly it is nice to get more in depth advise towards your own niche. He has also written a few books but I have not read any of them myself yet so cant give you a review. If you have read any of his books please let me know what you think of them.
Good luck.
http://www.frederickvan.com/zach-prez-photographers-seo