Bernie Raffe talk at the convention

[Richard_Jones]

As a relatively new professional photographer I found this years convention incredibly useful and inspiring. I starting a family portrait business last year having remained a keen amateur after completing a photogaphy degree over a decade before.
I saw many talks over the 5 days by some of the big names in the business which were very inspiring, seeing how far you could take your photography. However, it was the talk by Bernie Raffe which I found most practical and so incredibly useful.
Rather than well practiced talk about the big names he had trained with or photogaphed it was a straight forward pratical lesson about how to succeed from someone who had quit his 9-5 job 7 years before and turned a room in his home into a studio. Full of useful tips like how to photograph groups of 20 in a studio only big enough for groups of 6 through to how to get the shy kids to do what you need.
I spoke to Bernie a few weeks after the talk and he gave me the opportunity to go and work with him at a wedding as this is an area I am looking to turn too.

I think it was great idea by the SWPP to have these more practical insights into the everyday working photographer and I hope they have more like them at the next convention.

Big thank you to Bernie for your time and your words of advice.

[Iain]

Full of useful tips like how to photograph groups of 20 in a studio only big enough for groups of 6 ...

Yes, Bernie's talk was really good.   I especially liked the fact that the 20 people weren't even in the studio at the same time as one another!

Iain.

[Bernie Raffe]

Hi Richard and Iain,

Thanks for your kind comments, and really pleased that you enjoyed my talk.

Looks like i'm going to be talking again in 2011 too.

Cheers,
Bernie

[Peachy]

Bernie is one of the most sharing, generous people I know. I knew his talk would be great. Only wish I could have been there.

[Bernie Raffe]

Bernie is one of the most sharing, generous people I know. I knew his talk would be great. Only wish I could have been there

Aww... shucks!!