Tag Archives: event photography

Buzz Christmas Ball Show Photography

By splaine | Published December 20, 2012

Check out the sideshow from the Buzz Christmas Ball produced by Jim Roach of JJR Productions at the Place theater This show, presented with the crew from WGIR- Rock 101 radios morning crew – The Morning Buzz, and features a line-up of incredible talent.

To view the sideshow click here

I am a live action and on location photography expert The photography I created of this live event is used in the digital public relations and promotions for this annual show. One of the primary services of TEST of TIME PHOTOGRAPHY is corporate photojournalism – consider me your in-house media creator. For more information about using live action and event photography for your business communications contact me at info@testoftimephoto.com

Posted in Live event photography, Photography for sale, Public relations photography | Also tagged Business Photography, commercial photography services, Dan Splaine photographer, editorial photography, JJR Productions, location photography, New Hampshire, photography for social media, press kit photography, public relations photography, Test of Time photography Comments Off

Big crowd turns out for the President in Nashua, NH

By splaine | Published October 28, 2012

Yesterday our President came to town!

President Obama dropped in on the citizens of Nashua, NH on Saturday (Oct. 27, 2012) as part of the last leg of his re-election campaign. In my opinion, having the leader of the free world stopping into town is a big deal and for me a chance to capture a little history with my camera.

The folks in Nashua really turned out and despite long lines and many hours of waiting, they kept the smiles on their faces. The fact that so many people decided to take part makes me hopeful about the state of our body politic. It was a small demonstration against apathy, and I will take it as a positive sign.

James Taylor provided a warm-up act for the main show and he did not disappoint. He played a selection of his hits and really sounded great. It was a nice distraction and provided some relive for the thousands of folks patiently standing en-mass on the lawn of the Elm Street School campus.

I was able to share this experience in the company of two of my sisters, which is rare get together for us, which made for a more important occasion. The event brought to mind, all the political /campaign events we have witnessed together in New Hampshire over the last forty or so years. From the days of Nixon to today we have had a front row seat to the American political process.

Just another good day in New Hampshire.

Posted in Live event photography | Also tagged Dan Splaine photographer, editorial photography, James Taylor, Nashua, New Hampshire, photojournalism, politicians, politics, President Obama, press photos, Test of Time photography Comments Off

RIP Senator Specter

By splaine | Published October 15, 2012

Senator Arlen Specter during hearings on Capital Hill ©2006 Daniel J. Splaine - All Rights reserved

Senator Arlen Specter during hearings on Capital Hill. This image is from my archive of client work. Many of my photography assignements involved creating editorial images for public policy clients. ©2006 Daniel J. Splaine – All Rights reserved

The news of the death of Senator Arlen Specter yesterday was noteworthy for a few reasons. First and foremost the nation has lost a long serving and capable public servant. His death also marks the end of another era in American political life. The senate he served in was once a place of civility and high-minded pursuit of effective public policy. Today it is all about dogma and disparagement Moderate northeastern Republicans like Specter, offered a counter balance to more extreme right and in my opinion we all benefited from that middle road.

Specter was tough and pragmatic, with a political career that began with the Warren Commission and ended with the Tea Party. In my photography career I was able to photograph and observe the senator in action on a couple of occasions. What I recall most from watching in the Senate hearing room was his intensity and his no-nonsense approach. We would be well served as a nation if we had more like him. Agree with him or not, the man always earned respect. RIP sir.

Posted in Corporate Assignment Photography | Also tagged Arlen Specter, Dan Splaine photographer, editorial photography, history, media campaign, photojournalism, politics, public relations photography Comments Off

Location Photography Services for Business

By splaine | Published August 30, 2012

The mark of a professional photographer is the ability to create original, high quality images regardless of the shooting conditions.

One of the hallmarks of my photographic career is an uncanny ability to shoot in any type of location, in any type of conditions and to consistently produce high quality photography. Adaptability as a photographer was I skill learned when I started out as an Army photographer. Anticipate, adapt, overcome is the mantra of an infantryman and the way Uncle Sam trained me how to approach each assignment. The goal was always get the image regardless of conditions and that is how I still work today.

My corporate photography assignment and editorial shoots involve photography at locations around the world. The range of shooting conditions run the gamut from primitive to regal, depending on the client. The job is and always has been for me to produce photography that illustrates the clients communication objective. If I’m standing butt deep in mud or hanging of a rooftop ledge it really does not matter, I will do what it takes to get the photo. An adventurous spirit helps but the skills and technique that my long experience behind the camera ensures that I always hit the mark.

This approach works for photography in the corporate setting equally well. Sometimes clients can’t get to the studio or remote employees are gathering in one location for a brief amount of time. No problem, I bring my fully mobile studio ability to the client location. Sometimes in an industrial photography assignment access to a difficult or sensitive settings is limited. I can get in and get out rapidly, working with the conditions as they exist to get the photos the client needs.

I have more that thirty years experience adapting to conditions and locations, producing original and effective visual communication with my photography. If you have a difficult location, a once in a lifetime event or you operate in an extreme conditions please get in touch. I will welcome you challenging conditions and of course create the photography that shows you and your organization at their best.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Photographer and photo educator Dan Splaine has more than thirty years experience producing photography for public relations, marketing and editorial clients. His company TEST of TIME PHOTOGRAPHY based in Nashua, NH provides commercial photography services in studio and at client locations all over the world. He presents a program of digital photography workshops and photography tours for adults throughout New England

Posted in Business Photography, Commercial Photography, Corporate Assignment Photography, Live event photography, Portrait Photography, Public relations photography, Travel Photography | Also tagged Business Photography, business portraits, commercial photography services, corporate photography, Dan Splaine photographer, editorial photography, head shots, location photography, mobile photo studio, on location photography, photography for social media, photojournalism, Portrait photography, press kit photography, press photos, public relations, public relations photography, Test of Time photography Comments Off

Photos equal engagement

By splaine | Published June 29, 2012

Social media marketing research is only confirming what I have known all along – if you want to get attention use photography.

Photography, especially well produced professional photography has always been an attention getter for business communications. Good images always attract eyeballs. In social media marketing photography makes your message stand out and increases your engagement.

If you goal is to gather as many likes, comments and shares of your posts the best tool you have is photography. Build your, brand, amplify your message and increase your engagement rate with your online audience by including photography with all of your posts.

What kind of photos work best?

Photography builds engagement with your social media audience. This random photo from my archives most likely caught your attention and may have motivated you to read my post. Contact me at info@testoftimephoto.com for more information on my commercial photo services and how you can use my photography in your business communications.

The quality of the images you use will impact your rate of engagement. Certainly a snapshot from your cell phone will be better than a simple text post but an original high quality photograph is more effective. Include images that will grab the viewer’s attention, that feature your products and services and that tell your narrative. Technical flaws distract viewers and leave a negative impression.

Consider the value of investing in the services of a professional photographer to produce your image archive. A professional headshot for your online profiles is an essential first step in your online marketing and personal branding. Event photography, product shots, and promotional photography will look its best when done by a pro and not as a DYI project. If your goal is to build your audience, use original and interesting photography created by a pro. The old cliché’ “A picture is worth a thousand words” rings true today. It also worth many likes, clicks and increased Edgerank.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Photographer and photo educator Dan Splaine has more than thirty years experience producing photography for public relations, marketing and editorial clients. His company TEST of TIME PHOTOGRAPHY based in Nashua, NH provides commercial photography services in studio and at client locations all over the world. He presents a program of digital photography workshops and photography tours for adults throughout New England.

Posted in Business Photography, Commercial Photography, Corporate Assignment Photography | Also tagged business development, Business Photography, business portraits, commercial photography services, Dan Splaine photographer, editorial photography, head shots, marketing, media campaign, online marketing, photography for social media, photojournalism, press kit photography, press photos, profile photos, public relations photography, Public Relations tips, social media engaement, social media public relations, Test of Time photography Comments Off

Great music in a great room – Ronnie Earl at the Blue Ocean Music hall

By splaine | Published June 25, 2012

On Friday night I had the distinct pleasure of photographing the RONNIE EARL and the BROADCASTERS show at the Blue Ocean Music Hall in Salisbury. The band and Ronnie’s performance was truly great. Amazing musicianship and a terrific demonstration of virtuoso guitar playing. This was my first experience with this band live and attending a music show at the Blue Ocean Music Hall at Salisbury Beach. I had been to a comedy show there in the past but I discovered this room really rocks as a music venue.

Photographing a concert is always fun and it plays to my strength as a “live action” specialist. The challenge of event photography is observing and capturing important moments in a meaningful way. Careful observation, patience and timing are the elements involved in these photographic situations. Fun and challenging photography combined with excellent music,. Who could ask for more in a night out.

Check out some more images from this show on the TEST of TIME PHOTOGRAPHY Facebook fan page . Take a moment to give us a “like”, it will be appreciated!

Posted in Commercial Photography, Live event photography | Also tagged Blue Ocean Music Hall, Blues, Blues guitarist, commercial photography services, concert photography, Dan Splaine photographer, editorial photography, entertainment, live action photo, photography for social media, photojournalism, press kit photography, press photos, Ronnie Earl, Salisbury Beach, social media public relations, Test of Time photography Comments Off

Street Photography Workshop at Chinese New Year Parade

By splaine | Published January 31, 2012

On Sunday I held a street photography workshop during the Chinese New Year Parade festivities in Boston’s Chinatown. Sixteen photographers joined me for a day of photo education and image making. The Lion Dancers and festivities made provided a unique subject to photograph and plenty of excitement.

Street photography is one of the oldest traditions in photography. As camera technology became smaller and more mobile (Moving from large format view cameras to smaller roll film cameras) photographers turned their cameras to the realities and moments they observed around them. The aim of this workshop was to immerse the participants into the urban environment and to have them practice this type of on the fly documentary photography. Despite the cold and crowds, they were able to make some remarkable images.

Check out the results on the group Flickr page.

This workshop is one of the program of digital photography workshops and photography tours that we offer at Test of Time Photography. Our objective its to build photographer skills and creative abilities so our students can create the images they imagine. This was a fun event and a great way to start of the year.

Posted in Digital Photo classes, Digital photography tips, Learn Photography, Photo workshops, Photographer tours, Travel Photography, Uncategorized | Also tagged adult education, Boston, Chinatown, Cninese New Year, Dan Splaine Photo educator, Dan Splaine photographer, digital photo how to, digital photo workshops, learning digital photography, NH photo class, photo how to, photographer tour, photography skill building, photography workshops, street photo workshops, stret photography, Test of Time photography, understanding photography Comments Off

NH Primary fun – “You’re no Jack Kennedy…”

By splaine | Published January 4, 2012

Game on in New Hampshire! Now that the Iowa caucus is over John Huntsman will not be the only primary candidate wandering the streets on New Hampshire seeking primary voters. This shot made on Monday when all the excitement was in the Midwest, the calm before the storm. Looking forward to a week full of political events and sightings.

Gov. Huntsman with wife in tow, passing in front of a bust of JFK which graces the Main Street in front of the city hall in Nashua, NH. The statue commemorates the spot that Kennedy started his campaign for president in 1960. The image reeks of irony for me and I can not but hear the voice of Lloyd Benson comment on VP Dan Quayle ” You’re no Jack Kennedy…”

The presidential primary, the national sport of the Granite State is truly one of my favorite things. Only six more days until the parade leaves town!

Posted in Live event photography, NH Primary | Also tagged candidate, candidate appearance, current events, Dan Splaine Photo educator, Dan Splaine photographer, editorial photography, election, Nashua, New Hampshire, New Hampshire primary, photojournalism, politicians, politics Comments Off

Public relations photography ROI

By splaine | Published August 30, 2011

An investment in professional public relations photography is a valuable venture for businesses. When an editor is sorting through the stack of press release submissions they are seeking obvious reasons to include or exclude stories for publication. Inclusion of high quality, professionally produced photography is the best way to distinguish your release and avoid the reject pile. Quality PR photography captures the editor’s attention and ultimately will capture their reader’s attention. In an era of reduced journalistic resources your high quality illustrations are even more welcome in the editorial inbox.

Headshots and business portraits are great for informational and identity articles and are standard equipment for any entrepreneur. The photographs that best serve your public relations are dynamic and illustrative. Good public relations photography tells your story, the images you provide must grab the viewer’s attention. Good PR photographs lead the audience to your articles and messaging.

An investment in the services of a professional photographer to produce your public relation images will increase your publication rates. Photographs with technical flaws and formatting errors will be rejected out of hand. Creative photographs with an interesting point of view are the editorial standard to meet. A professional photographer has the technical skill and creative talent to create the type of illustration that editor’s desire. Present your company in the best possible way and hire a pro to increase the return in investment on your public relations.

Public relations photography is a catalyst for editorial attention but is only part of an effective press release program. Having a compelling story, one that is actually “newsworthy”, that is well written and relevant is a basic requirement. High quality photography and a good story work hand in hand. Good photographs run big and more column inches will be provided especially with compelling content. The other component to consider is that your press release distribution is targeted to the correct editorial channel. Know the audience of the publication and make sure your package matches their editorial style and identity.

You can also gain good ROI on your public relations photography investment by using it in more than press release. Use the photography on social media platforms and company websites. A qualified professional photographer has the capacity to optimize your digital photo files for search adding to their online value. The need for high quality illustration on websites is infinite and distribution of photography can easily be accomplished. Having an archive of images of key employees, product shots and feature photos pre-produced will allow you respond to media opportunities as they rise.

As we move from the traditional print dominated media milieu to the era of social media public relations the value of quality photography increases. In the past a newspaper or magazine had a very limited “shelf-life” of weeks or only days. When your press release package i published online the article and images have nearly a perpetual existence as searchable content. Take advantage of the powerful multimedia tools available and include images in all of your press campaigns!

About the Author: Dan Splaine is a professional photographer and photography educator operating a commercial photography studio in New Hampshire. Splaine is a location and “live action” specialist with extensive experience producing imagery for public relations productions. Noted for his environmental portraiture and ability to capture events as they occur his photographic craft was honed in over thirty years of experience. He has photographed in dozens of countries and has thousands of his images published.

Posted in Business Photography, Public relations photography | Also tagged Business Photography, commercial photography services, Dan Splaine photographer, editorial photography, environmental portraits, head shots, live action photography, photojournalism, PR photography, PR photos, press kit photography, press photos, press release, press release photography, public relations, public relations photography, Public Relations tips, social media public relations, Test of Time photography Comments Off

The scrum begins- NH PRIMARY has a slow start

By splaine | Published June 1, 2011

The national sport of the State of New Hampshire is of course the much beloved, first in the nation, presidential primary. Having had the privileged of growing up in Nashua, I have been watching the parade of politicians stomping across the granite state since the early 1970′s. (We are a state of astute political handicappers and I think the rest of the nation does not quite get what a service we provide to the body politic). For myself, a political junkie and a photographer the primary campaigns are pure joy and source of great imagery.

This time around the parade has not really begun. Given President Obama’s unchallenged status among the Democratic party and the Republican pool of candidates unwilling and reluctant to jump in things are pretty quiet on the NH stump. At this point in a typical election year we would have candidates and their minions as thick as black flies roaming the state.

The Memorial Day appearance of Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann in Dover was my first chance of this election cycle to photograph a candidate on the hunt for votes. Despite her undeclared status and Sarah Palin’s tour competing for media attention a fair amount of media turned out. Half the fun of the primary show is the media scrum that follows the candidates and of course jumping in to get the images I want to make. My mass and height give me some advantage in the mix and a certain immunity to elbows and nudges.

Bachmanns’s presentation was unremarkable by design-she is keeping her powder dry for her upcoming Iowa announcement. As modest as the event was it excited my taste for things to come, the political theater of the New Hampshire primary. Bring on the parade!