I know the word "networking" gets bandied about a lot. I used to roll my eyes and put in the same category as "politically correct" and "multi-tasking" but in reality it's where business is today. Once upon a time a photographer could rely on the quality of his images and word of mouth. Maybe a bit of advertising in the Yellow Pages and the odd display in the local mall. Next minute, along comes the internet and screws it all up. Suddenly you have to be on Facebook, Twitter and this that and the other. As a photographer you have a major head start at this. First, you have cool images to show people. To View More >>

My daughter is two, going on three, and fiercely, frustratingly independent. If you're a parent you'll recognize this. She'll spin around and around trying to get both arms up one sleeve of her top. You just have to sit back and wait until she either succeeds, or crashes and burns in a big heap on the ground in tears. If she owned a computer she'd be throwing it out the window, and we all know how she feels. Where I am going with this is, please call us before you feel like doing the same. Someone phoned recently and said, "I've wasted a week trying to make this work". But if the phone call had To View More >>

This post isn't a judgment on the underprivileged, or a suggestion that we all move into gated communities. It is about how to succeed. Who you surround yourself with, according to psychologists, affects how successful you’ll be. The same’s true for who you emulate or seek advice from. If you want a happy family, check out someone who has one. If you want to be wealthy, ask a rich person – not a financial advisor (not the same), and not a poor person either. Unless of course you want a list of what not to do. The internet delivers to us the best and the worst of all advice. I can’t count To View More >>

We love beautiful things, and we absolutely admire the people who make them, so here are two links for you. The first shows the making of a limited edition Leica M9-P, made in collaboration with Hermès. As the video says, no wonder it's so damned expensive. That's OK. As one of the commenters says, we'll just stand quietly behind the velvet rope and watch. The second is Signé Chanel, Loïc Prigent's seven year-old TV series about the creation of Chanel's Fall/Winter 2004-2005 collection. I wish I could show you some video, but I can't. Which is a pity, because if you value craftsmanship, it's To View More >>

I know how to type, have a good grasp of English, know how to spell – but that doesn’t mean I could or would or should try to write the next John Grisham. Having a pen doesn’t make me a writer. Having a camera doesn’t make me a photographer. Having a computer doesn’t make me a designer… To be a designer takes talent, knowledge and practice. You need to understand balance, beauty, symmetry, asymmetry, flow, pace, shape, unity and contrast. Being a great visual story teller requires all those qualities. It also requires the understanding that that’s what you’re doing - telling a To View More >>

And no, this is not a scam. For those not in the know, I'm based at the Queenberry lab. They put up with me here as long as I sit quietly in the corner. It's a bit crowded as Philip Laing is sitting in the same corner. Anyway, I'm not allowed to speak so I get to listen to what's going on regarding some of the issues that our printers face. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but the terms and conditions of most album companies are a bit like the signs you used to see in china shops around New Zealand – "if you break it, you buy it". In other words, if you send us a crappy file, don't blame us if we To View More >>

OK we're celeb junkies here, just like the rest of the world. We love it when we see famous people in our albums as they're being made, especially when they're Kiwis. Today we had a double treat as we despatched two beautiful sets of albums to Auckland photographer and Queensberry client, Emma Bass. I wanted to tell you all about them, but Ian won't let me. He reckons what's sauce for the gander is sauce for the goose, too, and it's true that, because we have a confidentiality policy, he's missed seeing some very exciting albums. So all I can say is that both weddings were absolutely stunning, To View More >>

This is the most fun first dance I have seen in a while! It'll make you want to listen to Big Band swing for the rest of the afternoon:) If only I could convince my husband to try dance lessons... I can dream! Enjoy, Anna To View More >>

Apparently it takes 3.5 seconds for a person to to assess another person when they first meet face to face. We've all done it and in some cases I still remember those 3.5 seconds. The love at first sight affect. :) But what if those first few seconds aren't face to face, but face to website? Couples (ie Brides) can be ruthlessly efficient when it comes to their wedding plans, which is why we all need a love-at-first-sight site that's up to handling a bride in full hunting mode. I've watched my wife in action. She will allow a site 3.5 seconds to grab her attention before she moves on. And I am To View More >>

Our IT support team are moving our phone server this Thursday the 10th of May New Zealand Time, so all Queensberry phone lines will be offline between 2pm and 6pm NZST. If you do have an emergency during that time, we will have extra support on email for those few hours so you won't be left in the lurch. All the best from everyone at Queensberry To View More >>