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News
The end is nigh!
Unfortunately the economic climate has not treated Freelancers like myself very well, and there are too many of us trying to compete for far too little work.
After the most disastrous year I could have imagined, I had to take a long hard look at my situation, and decided that I could not carry on trying to survive with little/no income every month especially with the ever-rising cost of living, and the costs involved in running the company. As a result I have been looking to get back into permanent work, and I am glad to say that I have been lucky enough to secure a position with a company that will utilise my IT skills again.
So it is with deep regret that I have therefore decided to close the business down in its current form, as it is just not viable to keep spending more money keeping the business running, than I am actually taking in.
We are currently in the process of closing the company, and have removed our local-call 0845 number which was an additional business cost when there are no calls!
All contact to the company will now have to be via our contact page/email or skype; going forward.
When I was made redundant a few years ago, and took the plunge into the wild world of Freelancing; I entered with open eyes, and willing spirit, eager to make something of myself and prove that i could do it. There have been a few laughs and tears along the way, but on the whole it has been a great experience.
However, as they say, all good things must come to an end, and an exciting new beginning is awaiting me back in the world of corporate IT.
To all of the customers that used our services in the past, I would like to say: THANK YOU!
It was a pleasure working with you all, and your custom was extremely welcome. From the feedback that I received from you, it appeared that everyone thought we provided a first class service, and was happy with the work that we produced. That is enough to make me feel happy that this endeavour was actually worth while!
So in the words of the late Douglas Adams; "So long, and thanks for all the fish!"
After the most disastrous year I could have imagined, I had to take a long hard look at my situation, and decided that I could not carry on trying to survive with little/no income every month especially with the ever-rising cost of living, and the costs involved in running the company. As a result I have been looking to get back into permanent work, and I am glad to say that I have been lucky enough to secure a position with a company that will utilise my IT skills again.
So it is with deep regret that I have therefore decided to close the business down in its current form, as it is just not viable to keep spending more money keeping the business running, than I am actually taking in.
We are currently in the process of closing the company, and have removed our local-call 0845 number which was an additional business cost when there are no calls!
All contact to the company will now have to be via our contact page/email or skype; going forward.
When I was made redundant a few years ago, and took the plunge into the wild world of Freelancing; I entered with open eyes, and willing spirit, eager to make something of myself and prove that i could do it. There have been a few laughs and tears along the way, but on the whole it has been a great experience.
However, as they say, all good things must come to an end, and an exciting new beginning is awaiting me back in the world of corporate IT.
To all of the customers that used our services in the past, I would like to say: THANK YOU!
It was a pleasure working with you all, and your custom was extremely welcome. From the feedback that I received from you, it appeared that everyone thought we provided a first class service, and was happy with the work that we produced. That is enough to make me feel happy that this endeavour was actually worth while!
So in the words of the late Douglas Adams; "So long, and thanks for all the fish!"
Netmovers discount no longer available.
We regret that today (11-Feb-2011) with immediate effect; we have withdrawn the 10% discount that we made available for all netmovers.co.uk customers on all of our products and services.
The discount was in place due to an advertising arrangement that we had with netmovers.co.uk, which in a year of advertising with them, has yielded us without a single enquiry, and very few people actually linking to our website from the advertisement (5 x "referrals" in the last 5 months according to Google Analytics® ). We have therefore re-evaluated our advertising expenditure with this company, and have decided not to renew, and in-turn remove the discount that was originally made available to their customers.
We apologise for any inconvenience that this may have caused.
We are always happy to discuss discounting products with our customers, so please ask us what we can do for you!
The discount was in place due to an advertising arrangement that we had with netmovers.co.uk, which in a year of advertising with them, has yielded us without a single enquiry, and very few people actually linking to our website from the advertisement (5 x "referrals" in the last 5 months according to Google Analytics® ). We have therefore re-evaluated our advertising expenditure with this company, and have decided not to renew, and in-turn remove the discount that was originally made available to their customers.
We apologise for any inconvenience that this may have caused.
We are always happy to discuss discounting products with our customers, so please ask us what we can do for you!
Google Places Now Fixed!
Wow! The Google machine is getting faster - it is only 3 days since reporting the problem with google and they have sorted it out, and we are no longer appearing as a B&B in web searches (hurrah!).
Thanks google - that's going to save a lot of late night phone calls!
However with the response that we were getting from that little mistake, if someone is looking to invest in a business in the Greenford (North/West London) area, then a B&B looks like it could be quite lucrative - just be prepared for some late night phone calls though!
Thanks google - that's going to save a lot of late night phone calls!
However with the response that we were getting from that little mistake, if someone is looking to invest in a business in the Greenford (North/West London) area, then a B&B looks like it could be quite lucrative - just be prepared for some late night phone calls though!
Google Places Woes
Google we have a problem!
Having recently signed up with Google Places (the new name for what was Google Local), we have started to receive some very strange phone calls from people asking us if they can book a room!
It appears that Google have somehow listed the business as a Bed & Breakfast! I've logged in and checked the business categories and we are listed in the correct categories, and B&B isn't in that list! However, if you do a specific search, there we are on Google listed as a B&B!
Over the weekend we have received 3 calls (two of which were after 11pm... with one nearer 12am!), including one from someone who became quite argumentative and wouldn't believe us when we told him we were not a Bed & Breakfast!
Sorry fella, we're not! Honestly!
We have reported this to Google, but knowing how fast they can be in resolving issues like this, it could take several weeks for it to get put right.
In the meantime, may I just reiterate:
WE ARE NOT A BED & BREAKFAST!
Thank you.
Having recently signed up with Google Places (the new name for what was Google Local), we have started to receive some very strange phone calls from people asking us if they can book a room!
It appears that Google have somehow listed the business as a Bed & Breakfast! I've logged in and checked the business categories and we are listed in the correct categories, and B&B isn't in that list! However, if you do a specific search, there we are on Google listed as a B&B!
Over the weekend we have received 3 calls (two of which were after 11pm... with one nearer 12am!), including one from someone who became quite argumentative and wouldn't believe us when we told him we were not a Bed & Breakfast!
Sorry fella, we're not! Honestly!
We have reported this to Google, but knowing how fast they can be in resolving issues like this, it could take several weeks for it to get put right.
In the meantime, may I just reiterate:
WE ARE NOT A BED & BREAKFAST!
Thank you.
Something for nothing!
Always on the lookout for new areas in which to find work, I have recently signed up to http://www.peopleperhour.com/.
This site allows freelancers in many different fields of work, to bid for jobs that are posted online by companies and individuals.
For instance a company may want a new Logo and branding for their marketing, and can post their exact requirements on line, with either an expected budget, or fixed fee for the work, plus a deadline for the work to be completed, and freelance graphic designers can bid to do the work.
However, after viewing many of the jobs that are posted on there, it is disheartening to see that people are expecting work to be carried out to a professional standard by freelance professionals for less than minimum wage!
One recently advertised job was for a professional videographer ("with professional video camera") to video a boat trip that was going to last at least 6 hours down the Thames, and supply an edited version of the video back for a fixed fee of £70!
To edit together 6 hours of footage, would take a day (minimum), so essentially they wanted someone to work for 2 x days for £70! If you say that the person worked for 7 hours each day, that would work out at £5 an hour!
Probably the most insulting job I saw on the site was posted by a Veterinary Surgeon who was looking for a bespoke PHP MySQL system to be created for his practise, that would include: a Point Of Sale system, including barcoding, database entries for customers and pets, invoicing system, stock control system, appointment system, customer and veterinary staff logins as the site would also be external facing to allow customers to be able to book appointments, needed to be accessed from two different sites, payment handling etc... etc...
His budget for all of this work? £80-£100!
And he hadn't made a mistake! This charmer also stated in a comment to someone who actually queried the budget that he "didn't want to be paying for someone's coffee breaks"!
A few disgruntled PHP professionals commented on his budget, and many stated that to do a job (and do it properly) with that many detailed requirements would take in the region of 20-30 days work. Therefore in the worst case scenario of 30 days, working 7 hours per day his budget maximum of £100 would work out at 47p per hour for the freelancer! Let's put that in context - that's 12 times less than minimum wage!
He was then asked how much he would charge to fix a broken leg on a dog, and how long that would take. Funnily enough he didn't reply to that posting!
In my opinion I believe to have quoted a budget figure like that, for that amount of work is totally insulting to a professional freelancer, and totally under-values the work of freelancers in general. OK he might not have had a clue of how long it may have taken, but he must certainly have had a rough idea of what off the shelf Veterinary software with the same capabilities would have cost, so why did he think he could attempt to get a freelancer to create a completely bespoke system for such a derisory sum?
Due to the recession and economic climate, everyone is trying to ensure that we get the best value for money that we can get at the moment. But if you want professional services, provided by professional people, you have to have a reasonable budget, and be realistic about it!
Unfortunately it seems the "something for nothing" culture is pervasive on that website, so I doubt very much if I will be getting any work via that website in the near future!
This site allows freelancers in many different fields of work, to bid for jobs that are posted online by companies and individuals.
For instance a company may want a new Logo and branding for their marketing, and can post their exact requirements on line, with either an expected budget, or fixed fee for the work, plus a deadline for the work to be completed, and freelance graphic designers can bid to do the work.
However, after viewing many of the jobs that are posted on there, it is disheartening to see that people are expecting work to be carried out to a professional standard by freelance professionals for less than minimum wage!
One recently advertised job was for a professional videographer ("with professional video camera") to video a boat trip that was going to last at least 6 hours down the Thames, and supply an edited version of the video back for a fixed fee of £70!
To edit together 6 hours of footage, would take a day (minimum), so essentially they wanted someone to work for 2 x days for £70! If you say that the person worked for 7 hours each day, that would work out at £5 an hour!
Probably the most insulting job I saw on the site was posted by a Veterinary Surgeon who was looking for a bespoke PHP MySQL system to be created for his practise, that would include: a Point Of Sale system, including barcoding, database entries for customers and pets, invoicing system, stock control system, appointment system, customer and veterinary staff logins as the site would also be external facing to allow customers to be able to book appointments, needed to be accessed from two different sites, payment handling etc... etc...
His budget for all of this work? £80-£100!
And he hadn't made a mistake! This charmer also stated in a comment to someone who actually queried the budget that he "didn't want to be paying for someone's coffee breaks"!
A few disgruntled PHP professionals commented on his budget, and many stated that to do a job (and do it properly) with that many detailed requirements would take in the region of 20-30 days work. Therefore in the worst case scenario of 30 days, working 7 hours per day his budget maximum of £100 would work out at 47p per hour for the freelancer! Let's put that in context - that's 12 times less than minimum wage!
He was then asked how much he would charge to fix a broken leg on a dog, and how long that would take. Funnily enough he didn't reply to that posting!
In my opinion I believe to have quoted a budget figure like that, for that amount of work is totally insulting to a professional freelancer, and totally under-values the work of freelancers in general. OK he might not have had a clue of how long it may have taken, but he must certainly have had a rough idea of what off the shelf Veterinary software with the same capabilities would have cost, so why did he think he could attempt to get a freelancer to create a completely bespoke system for such a derisory sum?
Due to the recession and economic climate, everyone is trying to ensure that we get the best value for money that we can get at the moment. But if you want professional services, provided by professional people, you have to have a reasonable budget, and be realistic about it!
Unfortunately it seems the "something for nothing" culture is pervasive on that website, so I doubt very much if I will be getting any work via that website in the near future!
Customer Satisfaction Survey
20/03/10 11:30 Filed in: News
As a company that is totally focused on our Customer Service, we have decided that we will now request that our customers complete a Customer Satisfaction Survey for us, on completion of our work.
This will allow us to see what we are doing right, and also show us where we may be going wrong, so that we can fix it!
We have made this an extremely easy process by having a webpage with the relevant questions, and customers will be sent a link via email to complete the form.
We are looking forward to receiving this extremely valuable feedback from our customers, and using this data to improve our business and services to you.
This will allow us to see what we are doing right, and also show us where we may be going wrong, so that we can fix it!
We have made this an extremely easy process by having a webpage with the relevant questions, and customers will be sent a link via email to complete the form.
We are looking forward to receiving this extremely valuable feedback from our customers, and using this data to improve our business and services to you.
Virtual Video
08/03/10 18:07 Filed in: News
At long last we have an example Virtual Video here.
We have branded this for Peter Rolfe Estate Agents in Hayes, Middlesex, UK, as we have created it from pictures taken for them a few weeks ago, for a new property they are selling, and that we were fortunate to photograph for them.
We believe that this example proves how versatile this product can be as an extremely low-cost marketing solution!
We have branded this for Peter Rolfe Estate Agents in Hayes, Middlesex, UK, as we have created it from pictures taken for them a few weeks ago, for a new property they are selling, and that we were fortunate to photograph for them.
We believe that this example proves how versatile this product can be as an extremely low-cost marketing solution!
Peter Rolfe Estate Agents, Hayes, Middlesex
27/02/10 13:02 Filed in: News
We had a really great photography commission from Peter Rolfe Estate Agents (http://www.peter-rolfe.com) based in Hayes, Middlesex, on Monday this week.
As well as taking photographs of the property (a beautiful detached house based in Uxbridge, Middlesex - link will be included here soon), we were also asked to pop into their very light and modern office, to meet the team, and take some team photographs. They are a really great bunch of professionals that have some fabulous properties on their website.
We look forward to working with the team at Peter Rolfe again in the future, and thank them for their custom!
As well as taking photographs of the property (a beautiful detached house based in Uxbridge, Middlesex - link will be included here soon), we were also asked to pop into their very light and modern office, to meet the team, and take some team photographs. They are a really great bunch of professionals that have some fabulous properties on their website.
We look forward to working with the team at Peter Rolfe again in the future, and thank them for their custom!
photographers.co.uk
18/02/10 15:19 Filed in: News
It seems like February is the month to hit the advertising budget, and attempt to draw in some new customers!
So we have just signed up to the photographers directory on www.photographers.co.uk
For those who have never used this site before, it is very cool indeed!
Photographers can join the "directory" of photographers, allowing people to find them using searches specified on their speciality or their area.
Photographic type jobs can also be posted, so for instance a company that requires a picture of each member of their staff, for a set budget, or photographers looking for models, can place an advertisement on the site, and wait for the emails to come rolling in!
We are currently keeping a close eye on our google analytics to see how many hits we are receiving from each of the sites that we have signed up to recently, so only time will tell, but its all interesting stuff to monitor, and to discover the most cost-effective route of advertising, and leads to actual customers!
So we have just signed up to the photographers directory on www.photographers.co.uk
For those who have never used this site before, it is very cool indeed!
Photographers can join the "directory" of photographers, allowing people to find them using searches specified on their speciality or their area.
Photographic type jobs can also be posted, so for instance a company that requires a picture of each member of their staff, for a set budget, or photographers looking for models, can place an advertisement on the site, and wait for the emails to come rolling in!
We are currently keeping a close eye on our google analytics to see how many hits we are receiving from each of the sites that we have signed up to recently, so only time will tell, but its all interesting stuff to monitor, and to discover the most cost-effective route of advertising, and leads to actual customers!
Photographers Rights 2
There are now several high-profile campaings being run concerning the current legislation that is abusing photographers rights.
These draconian laws and misinterpretation of the laws are causing anyone with a camera to be targeted, including foreign tourists; as was reported recently concerning an Austrian Father and Son, who were stopped from taking a photograph of Walthamstow Bus Station!
The Metropolitan Police have issues new guidelines to their officers; http://www.met.police.uk/about/photography.htm but over-zealous officers may still interpret these in anyway they see fit.
The British Journal of Photography has its own campaign running presently, which has the backing of many other photographic organisations (such as the Bureau of Freelance Photgraphers and UKlandscape), and uses the "Not A Crime" slogan. They are encouraging photographers, both amateur and professional to take self-portraits of themselves with a "Not A Crime" or "I Am Not A Terrorist" caption and post them to their campaign website; http://www.not-a-crime.com
There is also an independent campaign http://www.PhotographerNotaTerrorist.org which is also encouraging photographers to take self-portraits with "I'm a Photographer Not a Terrorist" captions, and to post via their website.
They organised a flash-mob campaign on Saturday 12th September 2009 at Canary Wharf in London - a spot notorious for photographers to be stopped by the Canary Wharf Security services. Approx. 60 photographers turned up with cameras in hand, and all took some interesting photographs, whilst the Security who were outnumbered, looked on in dismay.
There's more information on: http://www.PhotographerNotaTerrorist.org/events
They have also created a very handy "Stop and Search Bust Card" that any photographer should print out, and carry with them, which cleary states what rights you have as a photographer in a public place, and also what Police Powers may be used against you.
I have added my own picture to show my support, to both of the above campaigns.
"How Photographers Are Perceived In The Eyes Of The Police and Government"
Please give these campaigns your support, before Britain becomes a complete no-photography zone!
Latest News!
22/09/09 16:30 Filed in: News
NEW WEBSITE AND PRODUCT DOWNSIZING!
Welcome to the new version of the website! We hope that you like the new design, and find that navigating the site is a lot easier than our previous website.
We recently looked at the products we were offering, and decided that some of them may have been a little confusing to those who visited our website. So we have now simplified the website and our business, to try and focus on our core products and services; Virtual Tours, Digital Photography, Virtual Brochures, and Virtual Videos.
As a result, some of our previous products and services are no longer generally available as of 1st September 2009.
Website Design - Although we design and maintain our own website, there are an awful lot of fantastic website designers out there, and to try and keep on top of all of the new technologies that are constantly being released, would not allow us to focus fully on our core photographic services in the way that we would like to.
Scripting Services - We previoulsy offered UNIX/Linux and OpenVMS scripting, which were our "geeky" products, and to be perfectly honest, were not generating much business for us, which is why we decided to ditch them so we could concentrate more on all of the other cool and fun stuff that we offer!
We are hoping that this new streamlined approach provides you with a better experience on the site, and provides the necessary information that you need concerning our services.
NEW PRODUCT!
As you may have seen, although we have removed some products, we have introduced a new product; VIRTUAL VIDEOS.
Virtual Videos are a really cool product whereby we edit together still photographs, video, music, and captions, into motion videos, that can be inserted easily onto websites.
A very cost effective and low-cost alternative to Virtual Tours, they provide effective marketing for your business, and can help get your message across to your customers with ease.
REFERRAL SCHEME!
As of 1st September 2009 we are now operating a Referral Scheme.
How does this work?
1) You have to be one of our existing customers.
2) You refer someone to us, who purchases one of our products or services.
3) For introducing us to a new customer, we give you a Marks & Spencer Voucher (value of which is determined from the product or service package they purchase from us).
4) The customer you refer to us, will also receive a 10% introductory discount on our list prices, for the total package of products they purchase from us (first purchase only!).
See our Referral Scheme page for more information.
Welcome to the new version of the website! We hope that you like the new design, and find that navigating the site is a lot easier than our previous website.
We recently looked at the products we were offering, and decided that some of them may have been a little confusing to those who visited our website. So we have now simplified the website and our business, to try and focus on our core products and services; Virtual Tours, Digital Photography, Virtual Brochures, and Virtual Videos.
As a result, some of our previous products and services are no longer generally available as of 1st September 2009.
Website Design - Although we design and maintain our own website, there are an awful lot of fantastic website designers out there, and to try and keep on top of all of the new technologies that are constantly being released, would not allow us to focus fully on our core photographic services in the way that we would like to.
Scripting Services - We previoulsy offered UNIX/Linux and OpenVMS scripting, which were our "geeky" products, and to be perfectly honest, were not generating much business for us, which is why we decided to ditch them so we could concentrate more on all of the other cool and fun stuff that we offer!
We are hoping that this new streamlined approach provides you with a better experience on the site, and provides the necessary information that you need concerning our services.
NEW PRODUCT!
As you may have seen, although we have removed some products, we have introduced a new product; VIRTUAL VIDEOS.
Virtual Videos are a really cool product whereby we edit together still photographs, video, music, and captions, into motion videos, that can be inserted easily onto websites.
A very cost effective and low-cost alternative to Virtual Tours, they provide effective marketing for your business, and can help get your message across to your customers with ease.
REFERRAL SCHEME!
As of 1st September 2009 we are now operating a Referral Scheme.
How does this work?
1) You have to be one of our existing customers.
2) You refer someone to us, who purchases one of our products or services.
3) For introducing us to a new customer, we give you a Marks & Spencer Voucher (value of which is determined from the product or service package they purchase from us).
4) The customer you refer to us, will also receive a 10% introductory discount on our list prices, for the total package of products they purchase from us (first purchase only!).
See our Referral Scheme page for more information.
British Photographic Council
06/07/09 11:40 Filed in: News
The BFP “Market Newsletter” has reported that a new organisation has recently been created called the British Photographic Council.
The BPC is an umbrella body, representing many of the British photographic organisations such as; Bureau of Freelance Photographers (BFP), National Union of Journalists (NUJ), British Association of Picture Libraries and Agencies (BAPLA), Association of Photographers (AoP), British Press Photographers Association (BPPA), Editorial Photographers United Kingdom (EPUK), Chartered Institute of Journalists (CIoJ), and various others.
This new organisation is designed to protect the rights and interests of photographers, and those involved in representing them, and distributing their works.
Areas of interest include issues such as copyright legislation, licensing agreements, orphan works, and the rights of photographers to undertake their work without hindrance or harassment - the latter being an issue which is uppermost in importance to all photographers these days.
The BPC is an umbrella body, representing many of the British photographic organisations such as; Bureau of Freelance Photographers (BFP), National Union of Journalists (NUJ), British Association of Picture Libraries and Agencies (BAPLA), Association of Photographers (AoP), British Press Photographers Association (BPPA), Editorial Photographers United Kingdom (EPUK), Chartered Institute of Journalists (CIoJ), and various others.
This new organisation is designed to protect the rights and interests of photographers, and those involved in representing them, and distributing their works.
Areas of interest include issues such as copyright legislation, licensing agreements, orphan works, and the rights of photographers to undertake their work without hindrance or harassment - the latter being an issue which is uppermost in importance to all photographers these days.
Bureau of Freelance Photographers
28/05/09 11:19 Filed in: News
We have now joined the Bureau of Freelance Photographers (BFP).
Joining this well established institution will provide us with more exposure to the requirements of the industry, and will hopefully generate some more work our way!
The BFP has been instrumental in protecting Photographer’s rights over many years, and has campaigned tirelessly in opposing some of the newer laws that have been introduced under anti-terror legislation.
With incidents of Photographer’s having their camera’s unlawfully confiscated by Police officers, under anti-terrorism laws, the BFP has produced some guidelines on how Photographer’s should react when approached by the authorities in these situations (including how to retain their cameras!).
It is incredible to think that in these times, when we can appear on government surveillance cameras hundreds of times per day, that an innocent Photographer going about their business and trying to earn a crust, can be treated as a threat to national security!
Joining this well established institution will provide us with more exposure to the requirements of the industry, and will hopefully generate some more work our way!
The BFP has been instrumental in protecting Photographer’s rights over many years, and has campaigned tirelessly in opposing some of the newer laws that have been introduced under anti-terror legislation.
With incidents of Photographer’s having their camera’s unlawfully confiscated by Police officers, under anti-terrorism laws, the BFP has produced some guidelines on how Photographer’s should react when approached by the authorities in these situations (including how to retain their cameras!).
It is incredible to think that in these times, when we can appear on government surveillance cameras hundreds of times per day, that an innocent Photographer going about their business and trying to earn a crust, can be treated as a threat to national security!
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