London Marathon 2015

I am very pleased and proud to be running the 2015 Virgin London Marathon on behalf of the Folkestone Rainbow Centre.

Having worked with them in the past to photograph their Winter Shelter project, I was very impressed with their commitment and compassion for the homeless in our area, and with the homeless being very much in the news at the moment, I felt the Rainbow Centre's "Crisis Drop In" would be an perfect cause to run for.

 The Rainbow Centre's crisis drop in service runs throughout the year and offers support to individuals who are going through times of crisis and difficulty. They help people who are struggling with homelessness, are in danger of losing their accommodation or have welfare issues that need to be resolved. In addition to a warm welcome and the offer of a cup of tea or coffee, support is offered on a number of levels including directing people to specialist organisations offering support for finding accommodation.

 In 2014, the Rainbow Centre's Crisis Drop In supported 593 different individuals, an increase of 27% on 2013. With more funds, they will be able to provide even more help this year.

 For those who are homeless, the Rainbow Centre offers a shower room and a laundry with washing and drying machines. Everyone deserves the dignity of feeling clean. The Rainbow Centre also offers assistance with completing official forms, signposting people to various organisations for appropriate help as well as providing an emergency food bag and basic toiletries for those in a crisis, particularly for people who are homeless or have no income.

 I will be raising money in a number of amusing, entertaining and embarrassing ways (all suggestions will be considered) so please give generously and thank you so much for your support.

Visit my page here - http://www.justgiving.com/LukeYatesVLM2015

PRESS RELEASE - Way Ahead Photography is on the move!

I have been promising a big announcement since I started my yearly look back in photos on Facebook, and here it is...

Although Way Ahead Photography will continue to run as my photography business, as of 1st February 2015, I shall no longer be working out of the shop at 149 Hythe High Street,

There are several reasons for this, and I wanted to convey those in my own words so that there is no confusion as to what I am doing.

Firstly - the majority of my work is on location elsewhere, which means I have very little time to sit in a "shop" - something that many people have noticed and remarked on - "you're never there!" Product photos, magazine shoots, weddings, commercial images. None of these are done in the studio.

The second reason is a change in direction in my business model. As I mentioned a few months ago, I was struck by something a close friend said, about there being 2 kinds of people on this earth.  There are "Here I am" people and "There you are!" people.

I think in the age we live in, a "there you are" business model is far more appropriate. Going to customers and giving them what they need is the Way Ahead - and since I've been doing home shoot portraits instead of insisting people bring their families/small children to the studio, I've seen a remarkable improvement, in terms of the photos I get, and how much fun everyone has at the shoot, myself included.

And finally, if I am not using the studio to contribute to the income of my business, I feel the money could be used more effectively elsewhere.

Leaving the studio results in less expense (keeping my costs nice and low for my customers) and better photos. It's a no-brainer, you might say.

I am so thankful for the building I have been using these past 4 year. It has been brilliant for raising awareness of Way Ahead, it has been a cocoon for me that has allowed me to grow and change into the photographer I am now, and it makes a pretty great place to hang out with my friends and clients!

But in the end, it's just a room, and it's just a tool, and the past few months have convinced me that it is no longer essential to my business, or my photography.

I would like to honour my landlord, Alan who has given me an amazing start to my business, and has always been considerate, and diligent, dealing with blocked drains, flooded floors and even managed to impart some of his substantial business acumen over a few sneaky coffees!

I would like to thank my fellow Hythe traders, who have been family to me these past few years, and who have helped me in countless ways. I will continue to check in with you, and support you whenever I can with my photography work.

And I would like to thank everyone who has supported me and my photography thus far, and who I hope will continue to do so in this new season.

All the best for 2015!

Luke

Cyber Busking?

I've decided that one way to raise money would be to let people pick songs for me to cover on the acoustic guitar. Simply go to http://localgiving.com/lukeyates and make a donation and let me know what song you'd like me to have a crack at.

Nothing is off limits - but bear in mind I'm not the world's best singer... I will do my utmost to entertain and amuse tho...

As a textbook example of this - have a look at today's offering. Enjoy ;)

It's Official... I'm running a Marathon!

(originally posted on Facebook)

Right the physio thinks she can get me to the finish line, I'm feeling characteristically stubborn, so let's do this... time to make it official.

I hereby declare the following:

Regardless of whether I walk with a limp forever afterwards , and even though my stretching exercises will probably frighten the old ladies of Brighton, on Sunday 6th April 2014 I *WILL* be running (and even hobbling/crawling) a Marathon, and I'd like YOU to visit my LocalGiving page and help me raise money for a cause I've become very attached to. Please.

Being a shameless individual, you can assume I will be open-minded to requests/dares/bets and anything however painful (but only to me) and embarrassing (probably mostly for my wife and kids) that might cause you to delve into your wallets

Please go to localgiving.com/lukeyates for more info about my run, and to donate!

Thank you you lovely bunch - you are fantastic! x

How we roll in the studio...

I do studio photo shoots a little different to most, so here's a run-through of how I do things at Way Ahead Photography...

Step 1: You come to the studio and have a brilliantly fun hour. No stuffy photographer (just a very chatty me!) no need to take off your shoes (it's not the Ritz after all)... we chat lots and take loads of photos and you get to see the photos as we go along, so you know how amazing you look!

Step 2: The proofs are sent to you digitally, so you can choose 30 images you like. This gives you a chance to be objective about the shots, with no interference from a pushy salesman (or "photographer" as they sometimes call themselves...). You already know what you are paying and what you are getting, so there are no hidden costs and no emotional blackmail!

Step 3: Once you have selected your photos, they are tidied up and sent to you hi-resolution with no watermarks (either digitally on on a CD) YOUR photos. Do what you like with them (even post them on Facebook and say how amazing the photographer was :) )

The outcome? You pay a piffling £99, have a huge smile on your face and are the proud owner of beautiful photos that will give you pleasure for many years.

You can come back to me for great quality prints/canvasses etc, which I ill do for you at a great price using my brilliant local suppliers and contacts, but you are equally welcome to shop around! They are YOUR photos, after all!

You can contact Way Ahead Photography on Facebook by messaging, or email luke@wayaheadphotography.com or phone 07956584178

New Website Goes Live!

I am very pleased to announce that I've been putting the quietness of January (sadly an occupational hazard!) to good use and have completely redesigned the Way Ahead Photography website!

I've been privileged to be involved in some amazing photo shoots in the past year or two, and I wanted to reflect this by updating the website with a whole bunch of new images.

I have tried to clean up the design of the new site so that it is all about the photos. Lots of lovely full screen images, and not a lot of waffle from me.

Because let's face it, all that trite "I am passionate" and "I am committed" stuff is really boring, and self-absorbed. I'd rather let my photos do the talking...

Also I've listened to my lovely customers who have made it clear that my main selling point, is me and how I do photography. So the new site proudly sports my name in nice friendly joined-up writing, placed carefully above Way Ahead Photography, which I think is significant. I want people to feel they are dealing with a personable human being at all times - not some faceless corporation!

I want to take the opportunity to say a huge thank to to all the amazing people I work for and with, and also to Steve Smith from Mantaur, a good mate and my web server guru!

Black Friday - Way Ahead Stylee...

PHOTOSHOOT COMPETITION

Today this limited edition art print by Way Ahead Photography is being auctioned by Bamfords in Derby as part of a Guinness record-attempt charity auction - for Annabel's Angels and some other excellent charities.

I've decided to run a competition a bit like the penny auction sites.

So here's what you have to do to try and win a FREE 1 Hour Photo shoot and 30 images on DVD at my studio.

1) Go here to the Justgiving page and donate a quid (or more if you want) for each guess you would like to make.

2) Send a message Way Ahead Photography on Facebook PRIVATELY, and have a guess what the picture will sell for. You can have as many guesses as you like, but please can you make a DONATION of at least £1 to Annabel's Angels for each guess!

3) Watch/listen to the auction live here (the photo I've donated is Lot 1728). Psst - I don't mind if you bid too

4) The CLOSEST ORIGINAL GUESS to what the picture actually goes for in auction wins the free shoot! "ORIGINAL" as in only one person must have guessed the amount that I deem the winner. There can be only one!!!

Please note my decision is final, and that you will need to be able to get to my studio in Hythe, Kent (UK!) to claim the prize!

GOOD LUCK AND THANK YOU X