We work with a range of PR companies, all with thrusting, dynamic and positive names ( in fact Thrusting, Dynamic and Positive sounds like the name of a PR company. Actually each individual word could have PR added to it and become a company’s title). These companies are normally based in big cities like London Glasgow and Edinburgh, some in all three. This is great for them because most of their clients are also in big cities.
Except when they are not. Sometimes the client is on Skye or wants to use our island charms to help their company, product etc. That can be a step into strange and alien land for big city PR folk.
That’s where we come in.
The PR agency and their client have an idea of what they want and how to make that happen but they don’t know how things work here. Everything is a little bit different here.
One major advantage of a local photographer is local knowledge. We have a Plan B, C or D ready to roll. A second, third or even fourth alternative venue up our sleeve. We know people who can save the day. When the poo heads fanward we are there to either move the fan or step in at the last moment with a bag to catch the poo.
It can be the little things like asking the client what phone network they are on. It’s very rural here with mountains and the like getting in the way of mobile signals. Certain areas favour certain networks. PR folk live on their phones. If the phone doesn’t work the PR person’s functionality suffers.
Knowing where does an excellent coffee or can cater for a large group for lunch. How to find the best location for a shoot that doesn’t take all day or sherpas to get to. Knowing when is best to catch a certain place or view looking at it’s most spectacular. All this and much more comes under the heading of local knowledge and it’s why having a local photographer can be a life or career saver.
Being able to answer questions like:
“Is it always like this?”
“When does it stop raining?”
and “Are the midges always this bad?”
with a cheery,
“Yes”
“Almost never”
and “Yes”
is always helpful.
Working with people who have a vision is great. For us it takes all the perspiration out of inspiration. All we have to do is turn the vison into reality which is way easier without coming up with an idea in the first place.
Sometimes just being positive, cheery and helpful when people are out of their comfort zone is enough to make a shoot become a pleasurable experience. Creative stuff should always be fun. Everything goes better when you have a smile on your face. Though sometimes walking about with a big idiot grin on your face spouting a don’t-worry-be-happy mantra when the shit has managed to conclusively interface with the fan can be at best disconcerting and at worse unhelpful. It’s a fine line…