Thank you so much for taking the time to have a look around my website. I totally understand how hard it is to choose and commit to a photographer – let alone prepare for a session and show up on the day! So, you probably have questions right!? OK, let me go through some of the most commonly asked ones for you.
I’m based near Loulé on the beautiful Algarve coast. This central location allows me to get anywhere in the Algarve, within an hour.
I am also able to reach Lisbon or Seville in just over 2 hours and I'm just 20 minutes from the international Airport in Faro. Please be aware that travel outside of the Algarve will incur additional travel costs which can be discussed during our booking conversations.
We are lucky to have over 300 days of sun each year in the algarve, and of the remaining 65 it is rare to have weather bad enough to prevent playing (or photography). but if the weather prevents play, then I am more than happy to reschedule if needed or possible.
I tend to be aware of what the weather forecast is at all times, so will email you a few days in advance of your round if I think we may need to postpone. Sessions on cloudy days will go ahead as scheduled particularly if you have a sought-after weekend appointment, as these tend to get booked up many weeks in advance! You would be surprised at how beautifully soft the light is on overcast days, which can make for really gorgeous photographs.
The quick answer is wear whatever you like (dress code compliant of course), but remember that we may well produce an image that could hang of your wall for years. Us golfers are famous for our understated outfits, and whilst bright colours can make for striking images, it might be best to consider something a little more subdued.
Without doubt the best photographic conditions are found late Autumn to early spring when the sun is lower in the sky and produces a lovely warm light and can often be dramatic especially early morning or late afternoon. Overcast days can often provide some of the best light conditions.
Contrary to common beliefs, the summer season is generally the most difficult to photograph. The harsh summer sun produce very contrasty light which can be unflattering and complicated to edit. This can be eased somewhat by shooting very early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
Every course in the Algarve has something unique to offer as a photographic backdrop. In a lot of my best images, you probably couldn't identify the course in the background. The most important elements are the players but if you have an idea for a specific image from a favourite location , we can certainly make that happen.
The short answer is sorry, no.
A RAW file is designed to capture as much detail as possible ready for editing, therefore the RAW images are unfinished and will not reflect how I would present my work. I take huge pride in my work and will only give you beautifully edited, finished photographs that look their very best. For that reason the RAW, unedited images are not available for purchase or otherwise. Only I know how the images are designed to look - and my editing process is as much a part of my artistic skill as the way I take the photograph.
Golf naturally lends itself to colour. The green of the course mixed the blue of the water and sky are often a vibrant backdrop that is usually a shame to lose, but there are certainly times where an image would look great in Black & White.
The images are captured as colour files, but these can be converted to beautifully rich Black & White photographs, so both options are available.
During the editing process, I may suggest an image that would look great in Black & White, but if you spot an image you would like converted in your customer portal I will gladly take a look.
This is a very complicated issue and one that I will go through in full detail during the booking process.
The customer will receive the rights to produce unlimited personal use prints of any images purchased from a booking. These images can be printed and shared as many times as you want to friends, family, social media or even in your clubhouse. They cannot be sold or (more importanly) edited in any way.
The photographer retains ownership of all the images taken on the day. The location of where the image was taken determines the full rights, but generally the photographer can use the images however they wish. This includes to promote their business on social media or advertising materials or to sell as art to third parties.
In reality I will only be interested in sharing or using images that I think will show my skills in the best light, and I will always ask a client for permission to use any image in this way. My business relies on word of mouth and will never do anything to risk that trust.
My clients come from all over the world. Although this makes for fascinating conversation, it does make it impractical to sell physical products such as framed prints or coffee table books distributed from Portugal. To minimise potential cost and damaged product we have 2 solutions.
1. Digital files of your purchased images from your booking will be sent to you. These files can be used to post on your chosen social media platform, or to use a local photography printer to produce prints. This allows you to print the images to your exact size requirements and printers will usually be able to provide a framing service. As per the FAQ above, as many copies as you wish. I am always available provide assistance in this if needed.
2. If you would prefer to order your products direct from me, I have teamed up with a trusted professional distributor with locations around the globe. This reduces delivery costs and time while providing a convenient way to source your perfect format.
If you are located in the Algarve area, I am more than happy to suggest a local trusted printer if preferred.
For those geeks among you, I use Canon DSLR's and Mirrorless DSLR's with sensor sizes in excess of 30MPX. I will always have a minimum of 2 camera bodies with me on the day. One with a wide-angle lens to capture the players in their environment, and one with a longer lens to isolate specific details.
I edit the images using a combination of Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. The final edited images can have a file size that exceeds 100MB.
The quality of the images produced is sufficient to make very large prints if required. The important factor is the distance the imaged will be viewed from.
insert something about 300dpi sizes like "I can print 300dpi up to x by y size and 240 dpi to x by y. ps remove the styling on the paragraph.
Remember that 20 years ago, images for Billboard adverts were taken on cameras with 12 megapixels or less. They look great from a distance but will look very pixelated when viewed close up.