Well hello again boys and girls

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AliB

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Not been around much recently, had a bit of a time out but boy have I been busy :)

Shot a lot of weddings last year, bookings healthy going into next year, gave up the day job (at last!) and got messy building..........a studio :lol:

3,500 square feet of gorgeousness, a few jobs still to do. Heating system was delivered today so we can keep warm in the winter (helps) and the IT is still to come, off out tomorrow to spend more pennies. (hardly any left!)

So watch this space because I have plans, lots of plans.

Here is what 80 litres of white emulsion, and 10 weeks of building and an empty bank account looks like ;)

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to.....

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The rest of the gear is now in so started shooting last week, website next and products on the walls and I'm good to go............right who needs a portrait doing near Stockport?............
 
Welcome back Ali, and good luck with the studio.
 
Thats some studio :), bigger than my house and garden put together! Good luck and I hope your business prospers, you deserve it with the amount of work you've put into it :thumbs:
 
Nice studio, I'd actually be quite happy to live in a place like this...always did like that warehouse/industrial look.

Good luck
 
Awesome & best of luck with in your new studio, can I ask how your are going to heat it please ? I'm just about to take on a studio (not photography related) but cannot decide how to heat it

Cheers
Baz :)
 
Brilliant, how exciting. I hope it goes well :-)
 
-Baz- said:
Awesome & best of luck with in your new studio, can I ask how your are going to heat it please ? I'm just about to take on a studio (not photography related) but cannot decide how to heat it

Cheers
Baz :)
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ahhh now Baz that's a question and a half :) As you know heating a space like this is going to be expensive however you choose to do it. sooooooo.

I'm using a mixture of convection (4 electric radiators) in reception and in the boudoir area. The rest of it I have gone for Infra Red. These are plain white panels attached to the ceiling that emit IR at a wavelength that is not going to interfere with any of the kit but it warms what it hits. If you are under one of these panels you will feel warm but the air is not heated. Now here is the clever bit, in my place it hits the concrete floor and that turns the whole floor into a radiant heat source, kind of like having under floor heating and of course heat rises so it does actually warm the air.

The downside is the £4,000 to install it all, the upside is that compared to a gas or electical system it will pay for itself in just over 2 years.

You need to do some sums though, you need to know your floor area, ceiling height and air volume, then you can calculate the KW energy needed to heat it to a certain temperature. I had the help of the manufacturer to do this. I'm using a company called Eco Heating for the consultancy on it.

Hope that helps.
 
Absolutely fantastic Ali! The studio looks chuffing brilliant!
 
I managed to take it down from 3,500 sq ft to 2,400 sq ft but that gives me an office, a changing room, a purpose built viewing room and a work room with storage room off it. One thing I have learned over the years is how messy studios can become so all the products/goods in/out and album building can go into the work room. Leaves my office as an efficient working space. The viewing room is set out like a lounge with a big leather L shaped sofa, a fireplace and a screen on the wall. Using proselect for the viewing room so the images go on the screen at the exact size the client is looking for and it even has the frames included so the client can see the exact product they are buying :) Takes that leap of imagination out of it.
Off to look at IT today, website quotes coming in so get that sorted ASAP, I have some cool products for purchasing online too. Then business cards/stationery and I can start work instead of decorating!
 
AliB said:
ahhh now Baz that's a question and a half :) As you know heating a space like this is going to be expensive however you choose to do it. sooooooo.

I'm using a mixture of convection (4 electric radiators) in reception and in the boudoir area. The rest of it I have gone for Infra Red. These are plain white panels attached to the ceiling that emit IR at a wavelength that is not going to interfere with any of the kit but it warms what it hits. If you are under one of these panels you will feel warm but the air is not heated. Now here is the clever bit, in my place it hits the concrete floor and that turns the whole floor into a radiant heat source, kind of like having under floor heating and of course heat rises so it does actually warm the air.

The downside is the £4,000 to install it all, the upside is that compared to a gas or electical system it will pay for itself in just over 2 years.

You need to do some sums though, you need to know your floor area, ceiling height and air volume, then you can calculate the KW energy needed to heat it to a certain temperature. I had the help of the manufacturer to do this. I'm using a company called Eco Heating for the consultancy on it.

Hope that helps.
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ah yes I know the ir panels a friend has them in his place toasty if under not if your are not, great idea using the concrete as an up draft for the heat, my place has a very high ceiling which I think will be the bigger problem, thanks for the info much appreciated :)

Take it easy
Baz
 
its nice to have you back posting Ali, though I didnt think you liked us anymore!

studio looks big!
 
Hi Ali :wave: I bet your regretting coming back already ;)
 
lol not a bit of it, you can't keep the old bird down!

Off out tomorrow on the wedding trail and another Saturday, you would think the cold would put them off but no, they are tough Brides round here :)

Back in the studio on Monday, the IR panels should be delivered Monday and I've just ordered the PC with shed loads of......well, everything you can stick in a PC really :)

The IT was another challenge all together, a laptop in the viewing room running proselect, needs to access the images in a database. So the database software is going on a SSD in the PC and the images will be on 2TB Hd's in the case but I have 2x 2TB drives....mirrored to another 2 2TB drives as backups. There is also a static IP so I can dial in from home and work on it.......now if I take my laptop to bed, could I do that without getting up and can someone bring me coffee ;)
 
Best of luck with it, always like to see someone going for something

Can't help wondering why you decided to bother letting us know though, strange one.
 
Funnily enough Dod if you care to check my posting history I have posted regularly just not frequently. 22/10 29/09 24/09 22/08 18/08 26/07 18/07 13/07.............

and I have to ask if you would ask such a question of other members? Funnily enough I do think EG has a few studios now, ever bothered to ask him the same question? Thought not.

My studio will be used mostly for family portraiture with a little bit of commercial work too. On the odd occasion I am not doing that or shooting weddings there will be some time in the calendar to allow others to use it for training. As and when that part of it is rolled out and IF we wish to advertise here we will, of course let you lovely Mods know. Until then I'll ask to to keep your sarcasm to yourself.

And you wonder why I'm not overly keen on posting here, hardly welcoming are you?
 
I wished you luck but seem to have touched a nerve.

We'll always welcome those who want to be here and share their experience. Some just seem to change their persona when it suits them.
 
I've just come across this thread and well tbh I think we're a little upset....nay confused after you quite clearly insulted the whole membership on the forum and then stated you couldn't be bothered with us anymore. Like we just weren't good enough for you.

You're very welcome on here, as are all photographers. It just seems unfair of you to say those sort of things off the forum like that then carry on posting as though nothing has happened. Seems a bit of a u-turn, don't you think?

As you probably know I take slants against the forum quite personally, and often to heart too....hence my disappointment.

That aside, I'm personally glad you're moving ahead with your business. It always makes me happy when someone grows within the industry :)
 
Come off it Dod, I'm not running training courses (yet) I may do in the future and I recommended Gary as he is completely independant of me (for now) If that changes you guys will know about it. I am not trying to circumvent any rules, I have not broken any rules and I really don't like the insinuation that after nearly 8,000 posts over a number of years you seem to think that I am undergoing some sort of personality change now.

There are plenty of people on here using their business links as sigs on their posts. Am I doing that? No I am not. I have no need to try to circumvent advertising rules so please desist with the snide insinuations and insults. I thought you were above that.

Marcel, some time out was very much needed. I walked away because I didn't like where I was so I stepped back. It was the right thing to do and I thought that it might be nice to come back and perhaps be more engouraging to others. Perhaps not.
 
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its not so much the selfpromotion as the lead up to it, you said some pretty low stuff about us, dip in now and again when it suited keeping a low profile, then suddenly a fanfare and lots of posts when you have your new venture. I can understand, and even share, the excitement, but you have to admit, looking at it from our side of the fence, that it looks like a publicity drive.
 
Publicity drive for what Matty? Lead up? One thread and a recommendation for a friend is now a lead up? I also recommend SimonTALM to clients of mine and have recommended him for work here before, am I now not allowed to do that because Simon had been a big help to me in getting the studio done?

I am already a member of the RPS, MPA and several other groups where I know the people concerned and I honestly don't need to sell anything here.

As I said, three times already IF I wanted to advertise I would let you guys know, there are many on here who have training and products in their sigs, is that not trying to get round the rules because it sure looks like it to me. At worst it's increasing their SEO yet you seem happy with that. One thread with a before and after pic is hardly a fanfare and I have not made lots of posts in the last few days, in fact the only reason my post count is going up is because I am having to defend myself against the three of you now! How does that look to new members guys, three of you coming in now, any more? And as for keeping a low profile, yes I have, I have said I was keeping out of here deliberately.

It's not exactly encouraging me TO advertise when we have a programme worked out and decide to go live with it now is it? Look at it from my side for once. I had some good news to share, I have worked my backside off for ten weeks building it and I still have some friends on here and things like the heating solutions might actually be a lot of help to someone. In fact it was a member here who put me onto it in the first place. So I thought (erroneously) that it would be nice to pop in and let others see that it IS possible to do something like this, to keep going when you have the self doubt that you will ever get it finished.

And look on the bright side, it's not a wedding thread ;)

But having explained three times now that I have no intention of trying to get round any rules, I am not offering anything at all and when I do I would abide by the rules. It seems to be falling on deaf ears. Now when it comes to advertsing, please explain why I would decide to spend that money here again?

I've not broken any rules and yet I now have three Mods all commenting on this thread. All of this could have been done by PM yet you (collectively) choose not to.

One thread and I find myself having to defend myself for something I have not done and never intended to.
 
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It's not the advertising Ali, it's the fact that you quite happily slagged the forum and it's membership off, then here you are posting a 'here is your old pal Ali' thread. If you hadn't have insulted members of the forum, you wouldn't be defending yourself,
 
One minute it is the non existant advertising, the next it's not Matty.

I'm defending myself because I have been accused of trying to get round the rules on advertising. I'm not and I have defended that position.

As I say there are members on here who have links in their sigs to businesses offering training yet you are happy to let that slide. I post one image of a studio where I made no mention at all of any commercial venture and recommended a friend (who happens to be very good) to someone I thought could have benefited and was actually asking for that exact information.

So if I'm going to be accused by a Mod of trying to get round the rules, damn right I'm going to defend myself.
 
matty said:
It's not the advertising Ali
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AliB said:
One minute it is the non existant advertising, the next it's not Matty.

I'm defending myself because I have been accused of trying to get round the rules on advertising. I'm not and I have defended that position.

As I say there are members on here who have links in their sigs to businesses offering training yet you are happy to let that slide. I post one image of a studio where I made no mention at all of any commercial venture and recommended a friend (who happens to be very good) to someone I thought could have benefited and was actually asking for that exact information.

So if I'm going to be accused by a Mod of trying to get round the rules, damn right I'm going to defend myself.
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I'll repeat what he said

It's not the advertising Ali

It's the slagging off of the forum and its members, then coming back posting as though nothing has happened.
 
Really........ this thread should be in private. It has no benefit to any member except to show that there is a wolf pack attitude. It is doing no favours to anyone concerned.

Im truly shocked that ANY mod would vent a personal attack in the public domain on their own site! Where is the mind the doors button ??

Phil.
 
phil8139 said:
Really........ this thread should be in private. It has no benefit to any member except to show that there is a wolf pack attitude. It is doing no favours to anyone concerned.

Im truly shocked that ANY mod would vent a personal attack in the public domain on their own site! Where is the mind the doors button ??

Phil.
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I think there is more to this than meets the eye Phil.No axe to grind with either side, but best left to them to sort out I think.
 
I have no axe either, but a conversation like this serves no purpose in the public domain. The mods are quick to jump in and close threads when a member is being attacked, rightfully so, but seem to be happy mounting their own attack without any recourse.

So if we report the post as has been advised in the past, it lands on the desk of the offenders :shrug:

I have no problem with the mods wanting to clear the air in something that may have been said, but to 'gang' up in public shows no clear leadership, control or self regulation. We all have days we need to vent off, but here is neither the time or place.

Phil.
 
Didn't know the history - must have missed that, but I read the initial post as someone excited about their new venture.
BUT - it is the mods site. They pay for it, run it and we are here by their invitation and have agreed to abide by their rules and decisions and as such, for the unpaid effort they put in I guess occasionally they feel the need to defend their baby.
I guess if we don't like it there are other photo forums, but I always find this a very useful and informative forum to be on, with very few and minor spates compared to others.
 
Ok, I have re read the posts again and seem to have overplayed the 'attack' position. Yes the mods are defending their baby, but it still smacks of the 'wolf pack' mentality that shames some topics on this forum. I still stand by my feelings that this should be covered behind closed doors. Airing your dirty laundry in public was a thing of the past.

Phil.
 
Noted Phil, but as you say, we defend our baby, which is what we are doing. It's worth noting though that the slagging off of the forum and its members was done in public.

Im sick of people slagging us off but using us when it suits their needs. I dont care what people say about me personally but when the forum and its members get stick I dont like it and don't see why we should put up with it.

Yes we should have done it behind closed doors but we didn't, i Apologise for that but i dont apologise for not putting up with some of the crap we get.
 
Fair play Matty, and thanks for responding. I encourage everyone to protect what they believe in so my issue was not about that, Im also sure that this wont be the first time someone has slagged off TP nor the last, personally Im more than happy with all it's offerings - good and bad.

The bottom line here is that as Mods you are expected to uphold a certain amount of authority, leadership and common sense, it lacked abysmally here and that is a shame. As mods you do lots of good work and I understand the passion for it, that doesn't need an apology. Ganging up does, I feel you have apologised to the wrong member here. Lets get back on track and move on.

Phil.
 
Phil

I appreciate your concern and input in this thread, but with the greatest respect you don't know the full story behind the situation or indeed the full level of the upset caused. There hasn't been any wolf pack behaviour, to be such it would have been an organised assault. What you have seen is a collective of people who care about this forum passionately voicing their dismay, while they maybe moderators and even the owners of TP, they are still members first and foremost and I commend their desire to protect the forum. I also whole heartedly applaud the fact that they have had the common decency to keep their views within a thread and not throw slurs all around the internet via social networking sites.
 
Brian,
Of course I don't know the full story nor the impact it has had upon the forum moderators. This is why I said I understand the passion shown by them. It is quite clear from the posts that there were 3 seperate mods posting their feelings regarding Alib's postings in the forum, this comes across as pack behaviour regardless of whether it was organised or not. In respect of the moderators being members first and foremost, they still have responsibilites in the positions they hold, it is this lack of responsibilty that I was questioning. I, among many others on here, have the utmost respect for what this forum stands for, along with the way in which it is run. Never-the-less, as individuals, we all have a different take on the varied levels of what is tolerable, moral and respectful.
I applaud the fact that you all have the best interests of the forum uppermost in your minds, and to let the standards slip by the feelings of those in charge, opens the gates for the less desirable mumblings of the few who abuse this place.
As for the remark of keeping it on the forum and not on social network sites, I missed the initial 'rant' that sparked this debate and really dont feel the need to search out anymore bad mouthing on any media outlet.

Thanks for the response, remember we are all looking to the same end, a friendly place to come and hang out.

Phil.
 
Phil, I do agree with your sentiment, and you're absolutely right...that's why we're all here.

The reason I decided to reply to this in public is because I thought it right that the members should also see why we are defensive of our forum. :)
 
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