You get to meet some really interesting people

I do some work with a great guy called Paul.......  Paul knows people, who know people....
So when he says "Hay Simon, how do you fancy being one of the main photographers on the Miss Manchester Beauty Pageant, they'll be lots of celebs there and you'll be taking photos of 35 model quality young ladies,  how do you fancy it.....?"

Well what can you say to that.......  "I'll clear my calendar....!!!!"

Now it's not the Celeb factor.....  It's not the Models.....  It's the fact that the best photographers in the World are not their on talent alone.....  They are their because they recognised opportunity when it passed them in the street and clung on to the coat tails until they could walk tall beside it....

These gigs are the type of things where you get maybe 20 seconds to get the shot because things happen once and then they are gone and if someone else gets the shot and you don't then thats it.......

I try to get the Client shots.....

Miss Manchester 2009

And I try to get the shots for me....

Charlotte.....  Contestant

The girls were great just giving all that you asked, some girls with a lot of experience in front of the camera and some with none.......

The thing is that these events are, for me as much what goes on behind the sense as what goes on in front of the people.  The real beauty is in seeing how people hold up under the pressure......  Just keep smilin'

F7 with slave flash at 45deg up and a direct flash

you also get to take stunning shots whilst they are waiting to find out who's the winner......

And then she wins and back stage you get to see the real reaction....

Miss Manchester 2011

Well done she was great on the night and not groomed to win......

Always get the photos the clients ask for but always capture the events action and re action....  

Kit......

Nikon D300s

Sigma 18-70mm f2.8

Two off camera flashes with stands

It's not about the camera.....  It's about the attitude....

Keep smilin'

Well Done Nichola