I suppose this is the beginning too... Strap in it's going to be a long one!

Welcome to my new blog, I promise I won't turn into another @fruitsandroutes and I also hope I keep up to date with this when I get back to University too. As I think it should provide a good insight into what I do for a job whilst I am at University and the unique and interesting things I get involved in. For the most part projects I work on can get lost in my whole work flow never to be seen again. So this blog should last as a memory and hopefully you reading this can have a little bit of an insight too. Even just maybe you might even think of getting me to work with you if you like what you read and see...

For now since exams I have been busy doing more reading which has been my goal for the second half of this year, to try and improve my scientific writing for my Physics Degree. I'm not known for being able to produce a coherent report or grammatically either, but this is me putting it out there for all to know, to give it a second go. What I have also been doing however is getting a first edit in of the Edinburgh University Sports Ball Video together with fellow member of the media team, Jack Cox. For both of us this has been an interesting project to work on as neither of us have that much experience working with video, with my professional background being purely photography (I've dabbled in video but I've never been happy with the results of my work, so have always stuck to photography). However I am glad to say that what I have produced with Jack I am incredibly proud of and can't thank Jack enough for putting in the hard work too, it really is a piece of work that I am happy to put my name against. Saying that there has been some huge learning curves, but we have got there in the end, and it was all done with only 3 working legs between us (I FELL OF MY BIKE... AGAIN...). I can't wait to be able to release the video with all of the final touches but for now we must wait, but if you're at Sports Ball on the 23rd of January be sure to be paying attention when it's played on the big screen (it was me!!!).

Back to the photography work however, which at the end of the day is where I feel most comfortable with and is where I feel that I have progressed the most. This year I have been doing much less nightclub work to try and focus on my studies but the work I have been doing in nightclubs has been great. I picked up a new contract with Horizon Events at the start of the academic year and since then we have created a new brand at ATIK Edinburgh called Electric.Cube. Which I have been over the moon with this year as the events have gone way better than I could have ever expected and the people at Horizon are some of the best people I have met during my time at Edinburgh. And next Semester is set to be even bigger and better than last year, with world class DJ's flying over and some of the best acts performing at our event, it is sure to be a good time.

A Wedding...?!?

I also shot my first wedding this year with Stefan Hoggan and Damian Ragu at the City Chambers in Edinburgh. Which was a delightful intimate reception just off the Royal Mile, which made it a perfect venue to get some picture afterwards. As such I had a great walk around the rest of the city with the newly married couple, and I was thrilled with how the photos turned out and Stefan loved them too. We also encountered a lot of tourists that took a fancy to the pair dressed in their kilts with more than one occasion I turned into a photographer for the tourists too. At least they got their photos with a Scottish person in a kilt... I'll share a few of the images below so that you can see for yourself!

Balls

I have also been busy doing balls in the run up to exams, which was stressful, but I pulled it all off. And I have to say if I look back on the quality of photos that I provide to my clients I have for Balls, especially for the Business Society (that I have done their Winter Ball now for 3 years!) I am shocked at how far I have come. Back in 2017 I didn't really know what I was doing properly, and for the most part it worked but if I was to submit photos of that quality to people now I'd feel embarrassed. However I guess that is all to do with improving and hey-ho don't think any of us like looking back on ourselves in the past, but it is such a good thing to look back on how far you've came (slight ego boost there...).

This year so far I did the photography for; the Business Ball which was at The George, Edinburgh - The Edinburgh University Wine Society at the Balmoral, Edinburgh - Edinburgh University Sports Union Presidents Dinner at The Dome, Edinburgh. So it has been fairly quiet this year, but it has been enough to keep me on my toes and I am excited what next semester may bring.

What I'm looking at for 2020

So 2019 has probably been my busiest year yet, and I'm so grateful for everyone that puts their trust in my work that I produce especially the Horizon folk that have put so much confidence in my work. I never properly feel like I can show the people that like the work I do how grateful I am for their support but just know, thank you from me, and I promise not to let any of you down! This year so far has also seen me being some pretty cool places and doing jobs that I could have never have dreamed of when I started doing photography in 2017. I was in Zante (Greece) in the summer, and then I was working with the best silent disco in Edinburgh Guru Dudu also in the summer. I had the chance to use the latest and greatest cameras from Olympus as they invited me to Knockhill for the BTTC in September (Follow this link to look at the album) and I have also been to some of the best events in Edinburgh, all whilst doing a Physics Degree. It has honestly been amazing! But it should also be said that it hasn't also came with it's low points too as nothing is perfect, but I have came along out the end of it having been with the best clients and friends.

So looking ahead for 2020 I want to continue Dan Smith Photography where it started and continue to grow and work on new and exciting projects. As I have been vocal on my social media I'm super keen to get involved in more Motorsports and Sports Photography as it is where my true passion lies. And I would love to work with more brands and athletes in that field of photography, as I love looking at the life of the sports people and capturing the best moments (as cliched as that sounds). I have been inspired by the Edinburgh based photographer Scott Mitchell since I started photography and since meeting him a couple of years ago now, I'd love to follow in the footsteps of how his career led. Who knows really where the future could go, especially once I've graduated (Oh... and I'm also in talks with a F1 team at the moment for a summer placement working with the Aerodynamics and Strategy department (not photography related...))

Dan.