It began with an email inquiry from a new client in Calgary whose Houston headquarters had expressed interest in obtaining photographs of their field sites north of Calgary to boost their marketing and in-house collateral. They had suggested another Calgary photographer, however, my initial contact was intrigued by my style and experience in this area of photography.
Well, I quoted for the contract, the Houston executives and their London, England design team viewed my portfolio, and the wheels began to determinedly move forward. Soon we had an excellent drone operator, Rockyview Aerials on board who we regularly collaborate with (still photographers need to leave the drone operations to the drone photographers and vice-versa!)
The next phase required an ongoing email exchange of ideas, planning and preparation, conference calls, and yes, we concurrently planned a 1-day corporate session…. as well, much excellent logistical planning with field workers and then the patient wait for the perfect, winter, weather which can always be found with our wonderful chinook inspired climate that finally came through for us in late January. Yup, the stars aligned, as they had through the whole process.
I was never too concerned about the weather, my first of perhaps a hundred industrial shoots occurred a few decades back 75 kilometres south of the Beaufort Sea on the Mackenzie Delta, photographing a rig site and a dog team in -45 C temperature, for 8 hours with a gorgeous cobalt blue sky, ice crystal infused air and stunning subjects for my camera. I obtained some of my best images – ever. Although, just as I completed the shoot as my second camera’s electronics also froze….the northern lights decided to put on a stunning display. Sigh.
In any event, with an excellent, committed client, great communication, superb planning on everyone’s part, indeed, a winter, industrial, outside photo shoot can always be accomplished with fabulous results.
