Simon Keitch Photography Blog

Corporate portrait clients are often surprised I’ve noticed; surprised that I arrive with a pile of equipment, surprised that I scout the entire location, surprised when I start moving the furniture (I put it back…), surprised that I take so many photos, and finally they’re surprised that the final images ‘look like they’re out of a magazine’. My experience working with high profile subjects on magazine assignments means that I’m used to working quickly while adapting to the creative and technical challenges of both the location and assignment demands, and all while never compromising on quality. I think that so many businesses are really missing out when it comes to having great images of their staff and even more so with small businesses as the owner often is the company; and with social media now being such a huge part of modern business it’s never been so important to have photos that make the most of that public presence. Please get in touch via my contact page to book a date or discuss your requirements in more detail.

The new April 2010 issue of Cycle Sport is now on sale and includes an article I shot for the magazine on location in Holland with Rabobank team rider Robert Gesink. There was a big train crash in Brussels a few days before we were due to head out to meet Gesink at his home in Holland not too far from the German border which nixed the original plan to catch the Eurostar out to Belgium and hire a car from there, so plan B was to drive out the whole way to avoid any possible issues with the train service that may of caused us to miss our very narrow window. Three long days of traveling across northern France, Belgium and Holland and back again on a road that I can only describe as consistent was made more bearable with the company of Cycle Sport staff writer Lionel Birnie and we kept ourselves entertained with some good conversation and dreams of a large glass of Leffe at that night’s hotel. The shoot was the usual affair with a limited location and time and we were in and out of Gesink’s home in a little over two hours including the interview but with some solid images and several different options in the can. As always there were many good photos that didn’t make it into the final article but the magazine did a great job with the layout which as always is best appreciated in print so be sure to pick up a copy from any good newsagent. The rest of the layout is below, along with some out takes that didn’t make the final cut.

Here are a few candid portraits of Machine Head guitarist Phil Demmel from an interview with him backstage at the Plymouth Pavilions stop of the Black Procession European tour. I shot a mixture of film and digital during the interview with Rocklouder but these are all film scans; the digital images look great but the square format and grainy black and white film stock (Ilford Delta 3200) suits the candid documentary style perfectly I think, and I’ve found myself choosing this super-high ISO film stock and going with the available ambient light a lot more recently.

Some live music photos from Machine Head’s recent headlining show at the Plymouth Pavilions on their Black Procession tour. No flash photography allowed, and the stage lighting was horrible hence the black and white conversions…

Here’s a few photos from the recent Bleeding Through show that I photographed at Plymouth Pavilions, supporting Machine Head on the Black Procession European tour. Bleeding Through were the only band on the bill that I was entirely unfamiliar with so I was very pleasantly surprised when they came out and put on what I thought was the best performance of the evening. If you have the chance to check them out live I recommend it; they put on a great show. More to come…