Furnley House Foundation Summer Ball 2024

Leicester Event Photographer Summer Ball

Leicestershire Charity Photographer

A few weeks ago it was the Furnley House Foundations summer ball 2024

Furnley House Foundation

Having done numerous work for FH now, they asked if i’d be interested in photographing ther summer ball. It was a YES from me. Furnley House is an amazing company, and some of my great friends work there.. Their foundation is a registered chairty, they raise money to give to other charities in need.

The ball took place at Winstanley House, with many familiar faces in attendance.

Photo kit wise I pretty much stayed on one camera with a 28-75mm zoom lens and on camera flash. I did occasionally use my 135mm lens for some of the shots of the presenter on stage.

Here are a few shots from the evening. If you are holding a similar event and would like it capturing so you can look back in years to come, please get in touch. There photos are an excellent reminder and keepsake of your event. They can also be used in future marketing in print and social media. Guests can have access to the photo gallery and download digital files as well. Optional print products are also available from the online gallery.

Corporate headshots for the whole firm

Leicestershire Law Firm Event & Headshots

Some of you may know I’m a keen runner, and one of the guys I run with (Matt Green) introduced me to Leicester Law Firm Johnson Astills. They have recently moved into the Matiolli Woods building in the city center.

They are looking for updated portraits of all the key staff who deal with the clients. As they are a pretty large firm (40+) they was going to take 2 days get everyone done. They are also a growing company, so a retainer has been put in place for me to go in and photograph the new staff shortly after they have started with the firm.

There were very specific requirements for portraits, my usual high resolution large files and also 300x400mm 72dpi no larger than 1mb for at the request of their web designers. And also cutouts on a transparent background so the person can appear over an existing image on the website. It was a wills extra time, but absolutely no trouble for me. 

Just before the first portrait session, Johnson Astills also asked if I could shoot a short event they were holding in the Sky Lounge at Matiolli Woods. This would be for partners and clients to attend. It was a really nice event with some quality catering. 

Here are a few photos from the open event and the portrait sessions.

Miele Brent Cross

Miele Brent Cross opening event photography

London Event Photographer

Another client I’ve been working a lot for in the last 12 months is Miele, the German appliance brand. Their products have always fascinated me, as the price is high, but I’ve not had the chance to see them up close. Summer 2022 I was asked to video the Experience Centre’s at Touchwood Solihull, Abingdon in Oxford, Bluewater in Kent, Edinburgh and Central London.

Video wise it was pretty straight forward, a tour of the store, and some close up shots of each appliance in action.

Fast forward to March 2023 and a new store was being planned for the Brent Cross Shopping Centre in London. The site next to the Apple Store had become available, and Miele was the perfect fit.

Fast forward to September and the shop fit out was complete and the store was opened to the public.

I was booked this time as an event photographer to capture the opening of the store, the chefs in action using the appliances, the cutting of the ribbon etc. I was also asked to take wide shots of the store empty, and a few creative shots showing a busy store use motion blur of the pubic.

I arrived at Brent Cross on the Wednesday, Grand Opening. I pretty much got to work straight away and finished at 12. From there I had a look around the shopping centre, got some lunch and edited 10 photos… Did I not mention that Miele wanted edits on the day to publish on their social media??!

There I was removing fire exit signs in photoshop and editing in general like a mad man!

Edits were Air Dropped to the marketing team before I left, and they were on LinkedIn before I got to my Air B&B in Edgware!!

Teamwork makes the dreamwork!

Day 2, I arrived at 7:30am to photograph the empty store and capture headshots of the new staff members.

10:30am I was all done and on my way back home.

All in all a brilliant few days working for this amazing company.

Here are the edits used on Miele social media announcing the new store.

London Corporate Headshots

London Corporate Headshots

Leicester Portrait Photographer Location Headshots

For the last 6yrs I’ve been photographing the wonderful people of Mars Petcare UK. I’ve been to Melton, Nottingham, Bury St Edmond’s, Battersea Park amongst others. Previous work has mainly been events, the odd portrait at said event and a few warehouse/factory jobs for internal marketing.

Earlier this year I was asked to photograph their Global Sustainability Summit. This was the first face to face meeting of the global leaders where they were discussing all aspects of planet, food and crop sustainability. I actually found it fascinating! It was also nice to grab a quick chat with none other than Frank Mars, a truly dedicated man… and the 21st richest person in the world! Quite surprising that he was still using an iPhone 10, in 2023.

Part of this summit was to capture a professional portrait of each delegate, for the email signature, Linkedin profile and other marketing.

Now, with this taking place in a Sofitel in London, and I’d be travelling there by train, tube and foot.. my kit had to be scaled down size and weight wise. But I had to get the same (or at least similar) to my previous work. A new collapsible softbox was purchased, along with a small lightweight light stand, and a carbon fibre tripod.

I did lighting and set  up tests with this new equipment to make sure it was all up to the job, and it was. One thing I didn’t scale down was my studio light, I kept the faithful 300w strobe.

Travelling for the job was a struggle, even having a member of the design team with me to carry a lighting bag.. the camera backpack, tripod and softbox still weighed me down with the various tube stations and 15 min walk to the hotel.

The setup went well, we chose a dark purple wall in the hotel corridor. Same as all my headshot sessions, the clients can see the shots in real time on my laptop. this made the session run to time, and everyone picked their favourite image to be edited.

3 hours later and we were on the train on the way home.

What do you think of the images taken during the session?

#Photographer #LeicesterPhotographer #LondonPhotographer #PortraitPhotographer #HeadshotPhotogrpaher

Leicester Charity Photographer

Leicester Charity Event Photographer

Charity work by a Leicester Photographer

Charity work is a big part of my life, and definitely part of my companies corporate social responsibility.

For the last 5 years I’ve been heavily involved with two charities, LAMP and Menphys.

LAMP is an advocacy service, they help people struggling with mental health issues navigate the  complex issues and get their life back.

Bing a charity LAMP needs funding, and that’s where myself and others step in. So far with LAMP I’ve climbed Ben Nevis, marshalled at a Leicester 10k running event, ran a 10k, helped set up and partake in the now annual 5k campaign during national mental health week and am also part of ‘Team LAMP 23’.

This year we had local Labour MP Jonathan Ashworth run with us, he was also kind enough to be interviewed (if you can call it that!) by me after the run.. and of course i vlogged it here https://youtu.be/uJvpG8ky-vM

Team Lamp is myself, Greg Hollingsworth and Dave Green.  Dave is an ex trustee of LAMP and Greg is an ambassador. Together we set the challenge of running a Parkrun alphabet, in 2023. We sold each letter off to a corporate sponsor and also set up a just giving page for donations. Our target is £10k, which we are well on the way to achieving.

Greg deals with most of the money, Dave does the organising and social media posts. My contribution is a weekly vlog of the run, and anything else that we get up to!.

This was a real challenge for me, as I know it’s hard to believe, I’m not a natural in front of the camera!

Looking back at vlog 1, I couldn’t wait to stop recording and get it over. I walked out fo sight of most people as I was a little shy and almost embarrassed at the thought of recording myself in public!

Now I almost crave it, and I definitely miss recording when we have a week off.

As of writing this, we have completed 22 runs, with just 4 remaining… and the last 2 are going to be amazing as they are international!

Here is a link to the vlog playlist on YouTube

Doing this also led me to try open water swimming with Charlotte Miles from Cross Productions who also hiked Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike with myself and a group of other fundraisers.

Here is a link to those videos. Pete & Charlotte

Charlotte did a training run with me, then I did an open water swim, then we combined a run and a swim. It was so good, just a bit cold! And if you want a good laugh, I’m in a wetsuit!

I also support Menphys, a local charity that runs sport programs for disabled children. I hiked Scalfell Pike for Menphys, and did Ben Nevis for both LAMP and Menphys. Menphys have and amazing business sports club, which i’m a member of, and I also photograph each event at a discounted rate.

Below is a photo gallery containing a selection of images from all of my charity work and events that I’ve been involved in.

#LeicesterPhotographer

#photographer

#eventphotographer

#charity

#mentalhealth

#mentalhealthawareness

Labout MP Jonathan Ashworth joins me for a charity run

Ben Nevis Summit

Corporate Headshots

I first met Dan & Colette in June 2021. They had headshots in their kitchen diner ;-) Two lovely people who were obviously doing well in the world of finance. It was a nice surprise to get an email in Feb 2023 asking for more headshots, for a total of 8 employees. I arrived at the new offices and it was obvious to see the exciting growth this company has had in the last couple of years. 

I set up my fully mobile studio equipment in the boardroom and got to work, here are the results. Check out the little video too!

Business Portraits Leicester

Leicestershire Headshots & Portraits

Brilliant Business Portraits East Midlands

I had an email enquiry recently from the fine folks at Cresco, https://crescospreaders.com/ they were having a website refresh and wanted staff portraits with the accompanying short bio on each person.

We had a phone call consultation about the shots and decided to use a green background with a slight gradient, so it tied in with their branding colours. They have a great space to set up my mobile studio, a little more was appreciated as to create the gradient an extra light was required, but I’m sure you’ll agree the final shots look brilliant. It was also decided that I’d shoot half body portraits as opposed to tight headshots.

Mobile Studio on Location for amazing portraits and headshots in Leicestershire and the East Midlands

Everyone took direction well and we got the desired friendly & approachable results Cresco wanted to portray.

Have a look t a few of their shots below. Also, how amazing does their website look with the portraits on??!! https://crescospreaders.com/about-us/

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

---

So Cresco was shot in the morning, and it was time for GP3 Financial Solutions in the afternoon.

GP3 are based in Oadby and were referred to me by two other companies I’d completed headshots for. 

For their s shoot, GP3 requested a slightly off white background and a more close up headshot rather than a half body portrait. I set up in their board room and set to work. Once again, due to everyone taking direction well, and seeing their photos appear in real time on my laptop, we actually finished ahead of schedule. 

While i do not like to rush these sessions, I like to keep a pace during the shoot. It keeps the client/subject on their toes and not overthinking it too much. Also, If i finish ahead of time I’m out of the building and not taking anymore valuable time from the clients working day. Everyone wins.

Take a look at a few of the shots and a short BTS (behind the scenes) video clip below.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Pete Martin Photography behind the scenes. Portrait and Headshot photographer based in Leicestershire covering the East Midlands.

Leicestershire Charity Event Photographer

East Midlands Charity Event Photographer, Leicestershire Based

Menphys Charity Business Sports Club

I was introduced to the Leicestershire Charity Menphys via my good friend Chris Cain from Kazzoo IT, during Chris’s headshot session he mention a charity hike up Scafell Pike in aid of Menphys.

Menphys is s children’s charity working with disabled children based in South Wigston here in Leicestershire.

During the hike, I was introduced to a number of other businesses and Liam Deacy, the head fundraiser at Menphys. I recognised his face, but couldn’t place him.. After a slightly odd conversation in the car park it turns out his uncle is a singer and we were in the same band together in 1996-2001!

Menphys have an amazing business sports club, where for a nominal fee you can join and attend 4 meeting a year with a sporting personality. There is a 3 course dinner, a presentation by the sports person then some question and answer time. Right at the end there is a photo opportunity, which is where i come in!

I photograph the entire evening, but my favourite part is the meet and greet at the end of the night. I use a simple studio light set up against the Menphys backdrop to get a nice clean look. All of the edited photos are available via my private gallery and from Menphys the day after the event.

Here are a few images from the events i’ve shot for Menpys in 2022.

Leicester Portrait and Headshot Photographer

Leicester Portrait and Headshot Photographer

Location Headshots for Businesses

I love it when an email pops in from a contact I met a few years ago. Caroline Hunt owns Emerald Starfish recruitment, based in Market Harborough Leicestershire. Caroline had recently moved offices and taken on two new members of staff, so it was the perfect time to update the website with some fresh images. 

We did headshots in colour and black and white, and also did some environmental shot in the office and in the reception area.

Here are a few samples from the Emerald Starfish shoot.

Another nice surprise was an email from Northwood Estate agents. This was a new client for me, but a similar story to Emerald Starfish. Northwood was also recently moved office and taken on more new staff members. 

A date was set, but sadly I had to cancel!! 

Those who know me will know how much I hated to cancel and let people down. But I was ill, really ill… not COVID, but I’d burnt out. A GP advised me to rest, take more exercise, keep hydrated and generally take time off from my business to reset myself.

Northwood was re-arranged for the following week, and what a great shoot!

All staff members were ‘shot in the face’, two edits each provided in colour and black and white. I also did a couple of team shots while I was there.

There was a chap there who I recognised, but I could place him. Turns out his name is Elliot, and he used to live next to me 8yrs ago!! Small world!!

Here are a few photos from the Northwood shoot.

Party, portraits and another party!

Commercial Portrait & Event Photographer Leicester

Leicester Business Photographer

December 2019 I was asked to photography a works party and awards ceremony, the company was Industria Personel. Industria are a fantastic recruitment agency based in Leicester but with offices in Northampton, Manchester, Coventry, Uxbridge, Germany and Poland!

Fast forward to March 2022 and I get a call from Amanda from Industria about taking staff headshots of all of the senior recruiters in the UK offices in preparation for their new website.

After a few dates were passed around, the Leicester office was booked in. 24 people were photographed in a 2 hour session. A couple of weeks later Coventry was photographed, then Northampton, then Leicester again (as a few people were away and some people from the Birmingham office came over), then Uxbridge and finally Manchester. Phew!!

All in all over 50 people got ‘shot in the face’ by me, and we kept the look consistent in all the different locations.

Here are a few shots from all locations

Leicester Event Photography

Industria also celebrated their 20th year in Business, and I was asked to photograph the party at the Marriott Hotel here in Leicester. This was an incredible night, with lots of photos and stories from the early days of Michale Walker setting up the business. I honestly found that presentation about the company so interesting! The thing that really struck me was the culture, all of the staff genuinely enjoy working for Industria.

It just proved that if you have a great idea, determination and good people around you.. you can achieve anything. 

This year they hit the £50 Million Pound turnover, which is incredible, well done Industria! 

Here are a few photos from the party.