Coolhat Photography
How we can help you with Photography
At Coolhat Photography we take photographs that tell the story you want, this might be Sporting, Corporate, Portrait, Social, Reportage or simply creating a record or archive of an event, wedding, prom, celebration or awards ceremony.
It will be clear from this website that my first love is sailing, that is why so many of my shots are of boats of all sizes - this is not an apology but I like to do what I enjoy, otherwise what is the point - there must always be fun!
My LinkedIn profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/coolhatpaul/ shows a lifetime of involvement with emergent and innovative technologies at a very senior level. As a freelance photographer with wide experience across many sectors, photographing in all genres, styles and sectors, with corporate video and aerial photography being used as additional tools where or if required.
At the start of each project I study the client's brief and establish the required delivery medium, then I review the location and the subject to before choosing the best lens to get the composition required to deliver the brief.
I then consider how best to light the subject using an optional mix of ambient, continuous, strobe or flash lighting and finally ensure the subject is in sharp focus.
Once all these checks are done I review all aspects again from various angles before I'm ready to click the button.
A few years ago, during a family trip with David Steen one of the great international portrait photographers, he told me to take 5 shots of the subject from different angles thereby ensuring the camera gets the best chance to get the best shot - he was right! I should say this is not easy when bobbing up and down on a RIB when photographing a yacht racing in 20 knots of wind!
Once the images are captured, back at my edit suite, I will typically take a few minutes to ingest, crop, manipulate and colour correct the images before publishing for the client to review.
With over 50 years of practice and experience in the corporate world my lifelong passion for photography hasn't changed but the equipment certainly has. As I result I have now fully replaced my kit and use the latest digital equipment with a wide selection of camera bodies, lenses and lights to ensure I have the necessary resource to capture the best images, so I am afraid the old Box Brownie has been relegated to the garage, but the ebonised antique Gandolfi Master tripod remains in the kit!
Sailing
As is obvious from my website my first passion is sailing. I can't beat being out on the water as part of a Race Management Team with my camera. Over 25 years as a qualified Race Officer, Level 3 Safety Boat driver & Race Mark Layer I have a very good understanding of the sport so know where to position my camera to get the best image. There will be times I am on the Committee Boat, as part of the team always clicking the camera between raising and lowering the flags, or possibly on the Course driving a Safety RIB or I may be on a powerful motor cruiser able to speed around the course to capture the best images. I am now proud to be a member of the Yachting Journalists' Association.
Weddings
I must say I don't do many weddings but, I take pictures, nice pictures that I am proud of. As a result I do not follow the convention of charging high prices just because it is a wedding. Every customer gets the same professional respect and approach, I compose, frame and capture a clean, sharp and memorable image. Digital photography gives me options where needed. For several years I have been CAA qualified to fly a drone, which I will do subject to conditions and permissions. I follow the conventions of what pictures should be taken not regimented like some I have seen but hopefully in a relaxed and friendly manner, as it shows in the photograph!
Portraits
The impact of Social Media and the use of websites makes it essential to present an image of yourself or your business that is accurate. A good headshot will help present the image you need. The right shot, lit in the right way at the best angle in a good location will pay dividends.
Portraits are not only of people, they can be of animals, objects, property or anything you can control for the picture. The alternative is called Documentary or Street Photography, which is always my favoured style as it adds life and action to the photograph.
Video
With over 30 years experience in making videos for corporate and social customers, including many hundreds of hours filming conferences, special interests, time lapse, training programmes and countless promotional videos for websites to name just a few styles.
The rapid growth of Streaming using "Zoom" has made everyone a filmmaker.
Talk to me before deciding you NEED a video, I will make one for you if that is really what you need, but there may be options that tell your story and offer better value in today's market.