Firefly Photography

06/10/2024

Important Announcement: Studio closure and changes in availability - https://mailchi.mp/61ffafa64a04/studio-closure-10144564

Sadly, the time has come to end this chapter of my life and move on to the next challenge.
To every client who has graced my studio - thank you.
It's the interaction with you that has made me love my work as much as I do.

15/07/2024

I've been watching the development of Midjourney and ChatGPT with some excitement. The ability to use a tool to collate ideas, help with research and expand my own imagination has been an interesting journey.

So I had an idea today - would A.I. be able to comb through my reviews and come up with some usable insights?

And so I made the following request of ChatGPT:

"What are the most common pieces of feedback given to Firefly Photography in New Zealand"

And this is what I got:

Firefly Photography in New Zealand receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from its clients. The most commonly mentioned points include:

1. Professionalism and Organization: Clients consistently praise the professionalism and organizational skills of Rory Laubscher, the principal photographer. The entire process, from booking to the photo shoot and delivery, is described as smooth and efficient.

2. Comfort and Ease: Many clients highlight how comfortable and at ease they felt during the photo shoot. Rory's ability to make clients feel relaxed and provide clear instructions is frequently mentioned. This contributes to the high quality of the final images.

3. Quality of Photos: The quality of the photographs is a significant point of praise. Clients are highly satisfied with the final results, often noting that the images exceeded their expectations. The attention to detail in both the shooting and retouching processes is highly appreciated.

4. Customer Service: The after-sales service also receives positive feedback. Clients appreciate the prompt and helpful communication, as well as the delivery of images in both print and web resolution formats via Dropbox.

5. Positive Experience: The overall experience with Firefly Photography is described as enjoyable and fun. Clients often mention that they had a few laughs during the shoot, which helped in creating natural and engaging photos.

These consistent themes in the reviews indicate a high level of client satisfaction and a strong reputation for Firefly Photography in New Zealand.

It took me less than 2 minutes to narrow down the prompt, but what I got was information that I can use, and that I feel accurately sums up the sentiments expressed in the 160-odd 5 star reviews I've received on Google.

So where does A.I. fit into your business?

04/04/2024

Friday begins for me with a preparatory meeting no with a new client. I’m over-the-moon excited about this one - I’ve wanted to build a relationship with a cinema for ages. Looking forward to the shoot next Friday.

17/03/2024

Hard to believe it’s been a year already. About to get started on a full day of Event Photography for Bluebird and PepsiCo NZ.

15/01/2024

It's a bit of a milestone day today, with my 100th invoice sent to my biggest client. Thank you Brosnan for your continued faith in my work. We've been together since 2017 and I remain grateful for every person I've met and every conversation I've had with your staff over the years.
It's humbling to look back on all the images and realise how my approach and style has changed - I'm definitely a big believer in the notion that 90% of getting things right is simply about making an honest connection with my subject.
Thank you for helping me polish that skill and noting that as one of the big reasons why we're still working together after all these years.

"From the very beginning of our partnership, Rory Laubscher has exceeded our expectations. His unique blend of professionalism, respect, and enjoyment has made every photoshoot session a positive and uplifting experience for our employees. The ability to make subjects feel comfortable and at ease during the photography process is a rare talent, and Rory possesses it in abundance: it has always been clear that he takes the responsibility of getting the best results for each person he photographs seriously."

27/11/2023

"A technical instrument cannot make a creative decision."
That was the mantra that we as photographers always relied on - in short, your tools are just tools. And tools in creative hands will always yield better results than if used by the uninspired.
I think that landscape is changing.
Below is an example of how AI is changing the game.
The top image is the original, the bottom image has been expanded and EVERY extra pixel has been created by AI with no prompting as to what it should look like. (I opted to alter the colour-tone).
Things are changing, and in HUGE ways.
90% of my work still involves people, and thankfully I don't think AI has reached the point where it can generate emotive/believable likenesses of real people. YET.
The challenge for me right now is trying to predict where this might go (and how these new possibilities can open be used to better serve my clients).
I think that in the future, the integration will the creative part, not so much the image itself.
We shall see...

21/11/2023

A rare sight of late. Heading into the city on the ferry for an assignment. I’m not sure why, but I love this way of getting into the city.

28/07/2023

Exciting News!
Thrilled to share that I had the incredible opportunity to do a photoshoot with members of the Tall Blacks and one of their amazing sponsors!
Standing side by side with these talented athletes is always humbling - talk about having subjects that you look up to :) (Pun definitely intended).
I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to both the Tall Blacks and Nuzest for trusting me with this opportunity. It's an honor to be part of such a remarkable collaboration!

16/05/2023

I’ve always been a fan of Brandon Stanton and Humans of New York. Every so often he’ll interview someone whose story just demands attention. It’s been a while since I’ve read one as wise as this one.

“I used to say: ‘I like to watch TikTok, or YouTube.’ But I don’t really like to describe myself that way anymore. Because if you think about it, that’s not really something you do. It’s just something that pulls you in. It made me feel connected. Like, I know this person. But I really didn’t know them at all. And I’d sit at home getting sucked into this endless void of whatever I was watching. Windows closed, AC on. My dad would say: ‘Go outside and do something, it builds character.’ Most of the time he’d only say it because he wanted me to take out the trash, or go on an errand with him. So for a long time I didn’t think it meant anything. But it really does, if you think about it. Because every time you do something, it adds to who you are. You learn from life. Recently I joined a group called The Veggie Nuggets. There’s seven of us: me, my friends, a couple neighbors. We made a mural. We made a garden over by 69th and the bridge. We lobbied a little bit at the capital for climate change, because it’s kinda a disaster. I had to develop a certain mindset when I did those things. I had to affirm to something. I had to be motivated. And that’s a real thing-- motivation. It’s a trait. And now it’s part of my character.”

15/05/2023

News from the Studio - https://mailchi.mp/76782f270de3/news-from-the-studio-9343245
It's been a whirlwind 2023 so far with new clients, new services and new technologies to get to grips with.
Find out more in this month's newsletter.

14/05/2023

If nothing else, 2023 will be known as the year where AI generated imagery and text became hot topics. Like it or hate it, it's here to stay and it's going to shake things up for everyone working in the visual arts. Already I've seen a lot of AI generated imagery used as thumbnails for Youtube videos (and that's just one application).
As a headshot photographer I don't feel overly threatened, yet.
Hopefully it'll be a good long while before AI turns photographers into dinosaurs.

*Image created in MidJourney.

09/05/2023

Client feedback can make your day, or in this case, your entire week.
I am blessed with a number of regular clients, all of whom I resonate with on some level.
I love working with genuine people, and the people I have met at Reconnect Family Services are some of the most genuinely "good" people I've ever worked with.