Bespoke one-to-one smartphone photography workshop – Seaham, County Durham

We were contacted by Dawn, from Seaham Sea Glass Designs, to run a bespoke one-to-one smartphone photography workshop. Dawn spends a lot of time on Seaham beach collecting sea glass for her jewellery and art designs and so she was keen to learn how to compose photos of the beautiful sea glass she finds in situ with their natural surroundings.

Seaham beach is just a 30 minute drive from Durham and has become famous for its sea glass. These vibrant and colourful ‘stones’ were originally man-made glass, which, over many years, have been weathered and rounded into these unique objects. The reason that Seaham beach is home to so much sea glass is its location, which is near the old Victorian bottle works. The works discarded their unwanted glass into the sea which, over time, formed into the sea glass that washes up with the tides. 

It was a moody, but bright, atmosphere on Seaham beach when we visited, giving us the opportunity to really use the sky as a backdrop for our shots. We spent time composing close-ups, focal shots of the sea glass and dramatic landscape shots of the arced beach, playing with the exposure levels on Dawn’s smartphone camera to heighten the sea glass colours.

After spending some time combing for some sea glass to take home, we ended our session learning about the editing tools and effective final touches that the free Snapseed app could achieve for her smartphone images.

If you have a particular smartphone photography skill you would like to learn for yourself or for your business, please do get in touch and we can create a safari tailored to you. 

For bespoke smartphone workshops in County Durham and Newcastle, you can contact Becky at becky@jetblacksquares.com

For bespoke workshops in London, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire, please contact Jet at jet@jetblacksquares.com

If you would like to give a one-to-one smartphone workshop as a gift this Christmas, why not purchase a gift voucher which can be redeemed at any time over the coming year. 

Enterprise Nation and TSB Bank Female Start Up of the Year Award

We have some very exciting news here at Jet Black Squares. Jet is a semi finalist in the Enterprise Nation and TSB Bank Female Start Up of the Year Award and we would so appreciate your vote.

If you have followed Jet’s journey, been on a safari, listened to a talk or presentation or just been inspired to pick up your smartphone camera we would really appreciate your vote. After being chosen from 100s of exceptional businesswomen to get this far, if she now gets enough votes, the top 3 will go to Bristol on 24th October to pitch their business at the Festival of Female Entrepreneurs to a panel of judges. No pressure eh!! The direct link to vote is https://www.enterprisenation.com/female-start-up-of-the.../.

As always, thank you for your support. Voting closes 5pm on Friday 8th October.

My first Instagram Troll

So, today was a first. I had my first Instagram troll.

I have been very lucky in not having to deal with any on-line abuse/negativity up until now, but today a ‘lovely’ photographer decided to call me out. Why am I telling you this? Well, firstly because I am still astounded that a photographer - someone who is a creative - who is also a small business - has decided that they felt the need to try and devalue my business.

Secondly, because I wanted you to see how I handled this person. They didn’t break me. They did, however, make me question - for about 2 seconds - whether what I was offering was of value. Those 2 seconds passed very, very quickly, and I realised that yes, I am offering a service that is valued. It also coincided with some amazing testimonials from clients that made me smile, and 3 bookings, so yeah, I must be doing something right.

I have been suffering from Imposter Syndrome lately, as Nicola, my lovely PR lady will testify to. She will send me through fantastic opportunities for major media names, and I have replied saying “That sounds amazing, but do I deserve to be amongst those great business people? Am I really good enough to sit alongside the business greats that have gone before me? Do I actually do a ‘proper’ job?” She has firmly slapped me back down to earth saying that yes, I do, and to get a grip. I bloody love Nicola!!!

So, how did I deal with the photographer who was aghast that I actually charged for my editing masterclasses!!!

I played along. I told him the facts - that a lot of people don’t want to ‘figure it out themselves’ (me included), that I want a bit of hand-holding to show me what to do, then had a bit of fun. When he stated that “it was his job to point out [that it was so easy a child could do it] to people” I gave him a thumbs up. Friends and past clients soon came to my defence - which I am eternally grateful for - asking him if he actually charged for his work, and why on earth did he feel the need to comment as he did!!! I could have deleted his comments and blocked him, but you know what. I think it’s good. It’s good that I showed everyone how I handled a tricky situation. it’s good that I actually had the opportunity to put my side forward as to why what I offer is important, and it was rather fabulous as all his comments made me more visible for the algorithm, thus me booking 3 clients off the back of it!!!

So, what have I learnt from Mr Angry? Firstly, let’s cut him some slack. He may be having a really shit day. His business has probably just collapsed, and is pretty pissed off that someone is making money from offering something that he didn’t think of. Secondly, not everyone is going to like what you do - and that is OK. It’s a big wide world out there. You can’t please everyone. And lastly, stay professional. I could have kicked off, but I have no idea what is going on in his world at the moment. I have no idea what prompted him to reply as he did. And he may be in a very dark place.

So, if anyone would like to learn how to edit their photos on their phone - so easy a child could do it - then please let me know. My 1:1 Zoom editing classes have proved a hit with those who would like to be guided through how to use the app, and to elevate their photography from OK to fabulous.