The Chichester Photographer

SUMMER HOLIDAY PORTRAIT OFFER

2011-07-25T10:36:00.000-07:00

SUMMER HOLIDAY PORTRAIT OFFER
DIGITAL COLLECTIONS LESS THAN HALF PRICE!

Book a Portrait session with a DVD of all images for £200 instead of £450

The Digital Collection gives you the opportunity to print and share you images with family and friends. Great for making canvasses and albums for you or your loved ones.

This offer is strictly limited so call 01243 786319 or email to book your session.

To see examples of our work visit our new website

Tobias Key

The Chichester Photographer

New Website for Portrait Photography

2011-04-05T07:48:00.000-07:00

IMAGES - COPYRIGHT TOBIAS KEY PHOTOGRAPHY

I've been hard at work in the past few weeks setting up the content for my new portrait website www.chichesterportraitphotographer.co.uk

Have a look and tell me what you think.

Portraits

2011-03-16T05:28:00.000-07:00

ALL IMAGES COPYRIGHT TOBIAS KEY PHOTOGRAPHY

I've been doing a bit of experimenting this week as I prepare for the wedding season to begin next month. I don't get much opportunity for studio work even though I enjoy it, so it's nice to set some lights and play around for a few hours.

The Rose

2011-02-04T04:26:00.000-08:00

IMAGES - COPYRIGHT TOBIAS KEY PHOTOGRAPHY

I just had the pleasure of working with The Rose a small fashion label based in West Sussex. The Rose produces beautiful tweed jackets.

You can visit the website http://www.smellingofroses.co.uk/

No Weapon is Obsolete

2011-01-28T10:53:00.000-08:00

I shot this image last week using a 5x4" view camera. Something that would have been instantly recognisable to a photographer 100 years ago. OK, I used film instead of glass plates, but the process hasn't really drastically changed in all that time. You still need to put a cloth over your head to see the image on the ground glass and the image on the ground glass is upside down and back to front. The camera is not quick to set up and there are a number of stages you have to go through to get the camera ready for shooting. You have to focus under the dark cloth with a magnifier, set the aperture and shutter speed manually, cock the shutter, close the shutter, insert the film holder and remove the dark slide before , at last, you can fire the shutter and hear the clockwork mechanism quietly click the shutter open.

That's a lot to remember when you're directing a model as well.

But it does the photographer's brain good

Children's Portraiture - a difficult assignment!

2011-01-24T13:00:00.000-08:00

COPYRIGHT TOBIAS KEY PHOTOGRAPHY

Children's portraiture; a rollercoaster of emotions! Highlights from a recent shoot with Francesca and George.
Toby
www.tobiaskey.com

Snow Wedding!

2010-12-16T06:32:00.000-08:00

Shot at Weybridge Registry Office.

ALL IMAGES - COPYRIGHT TOBIAS KEY

Alexander House Hotel, West Sussex

2010-12-15T04:28:00.000-08:00

Another from my series of wedding highlights by wedding venue. These are from the Alexander House Hotel West Sussex

All images copyright Tobias Key

Wedding Venues: Upwaltham Barns Near Chichester, West Sussex

2010-12-13T01:43:00.000-08:00

I'm just posting a few wedding highlights but for a change I thought I'd group them by venue. These images are all from Upwaltham Barns, a venue about five miles outside Chichester on the way to Petworth.

ALL IMAGES - COPYRIGHT TOBIAS KEY PHOTOGRAPHY

All images copyright Tobias Key

Wedding Highlights: Buxted Park Hotel

2010-12-06T05:31:00.000-08:00

All images copyright Tobias Key

Buxted Park, East Sussex is a four star Hotel in 312 Acres of grounds near Uckfield. It's a great venue for photography with beautiful grounds and pillared colonnades in case the weather isn't perfect.

I've always found it to be lovely relaxed venue with very nice staff.

If you'd like to see more examples of my work go here

Contact me

Summer Wedding Highlights

2010-09-21T07:35:00.000-07:00

All images copyright Tobias Key

With September nearly done, the most hectic part of the wedding season is pretty much over. Time to look back on some of my favourite images of the past few months. These images were taken at the Alexander House Hotel near Crawley West, Sussex.

Gold Award for Tobias Key Photography

2010-06-08T05:54:00.000-07:00

Now, I'm not normally one for competitions unless of course I win something in which case my viewpoint alters somewhat! I've just received a Gold Award in Bridal Portraiture from the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers and would like to thank both Gisele the beautiful bride and make up artist Sophia Ann Price www.sophiapricemakeup.co.uk It's always a thrill to get a little recognition from your peers.

For those of you not familiar with Bridal Portrait Sessions they are separate bridal shoots photographed after the wedding, so that we can spend plenty of time getting the perfect shot without upsetting the wedding guests! They can also be great if it rained on your wedding day or like Gisele, you didn't have a professional phootgrapher on the day.

Bridal portrait shoots can booked at any time, they don't have to be part of a wedding package and are an ideal opportunity to let your creative side run wild - I always work closely with clients when deciding what the theme of our shoot will be. Prices are worked on a per shoot basis but expect to pay from £350 inclusive. For more information email me at tobias@tobiaskey.com for an information pack.

Toby.

Summer Promotion - birthday portraits

2010-05-31T12:41:00.000-07:00

The perfect birthday present - a portrait sitting on location.

Toby will come to your home create beautiful portraits in under an hour. The portraits can either be created in our portable home studio or shot in a favourite place in your house or garden. He will edit and retouch the photos and post an online gallery for you to view and purchase. He aims to provide 15 - 20 images for you to choose from.

Toby is available for mid week photoshoots at a fee of £50 which will include a mounted print. This fee is valid from June-August 2010 and available within a 10 mile radius of Chichester city centre. We can also supply extra photos, canvasses or framed prints and our prices are very reasonable. Visit our website at Tobias Key Photography

Summer Promotion - beach portraits

2010-05-29T07:23:00.000-07:00

Do you have a favorite place that brings back happy family memories, or know of a stunning location that would make a perfect setting for a family portrait? Then why not book award winning photographer, Tobias Key, and experience a photoshoot like no other; capturing your children playing at the beach or for the perfect birthday portrait.

Toby will come to your home create beautiful portraits in under an hour. The portraits can either be created in our portable home studio or shot in a favourite place in your house or garden. He will edit and retouch the photos and post an online gallery for you to view and purchase. He aims to provide 15 - 20 images for you to choose from.

Toby is available for mid week photoshoots at a fee of £50 which will include a mounted print. This fee is valid from June-August 2010 and available within a 10 mile radius of Chichester city centre. We can also supply extra photos, canvasses or framed prints and our prices are very reasonable. Visit our website at Tobias Key Photography

Snow Wedding!

2010-01-26T03:27:00.001-08:00

Not often you get to cover weddings in this kind of weather, the drive there was treacherous, the pavements in hilly Cuckfield were a total nightmare and I got stuck in the car park so was a bit late getting home. But the magical images make it worth it.

2009-09-24T06:23:00.001-07:00

I just got one of these and I'd thought I'd share my experiences, in case anyone is in the market for a new 50mm.

Over the past month or so my Canon 50 1.4 started having issues the focussing ring was sticking at one point and low light focussing was frankly a joke. Because these lenses have an inherently weak focussing system due to their design (They are canon's only micromotor USM lens) I decided that even though I'd get this lens repaired I needed to get a replacement that would stand up to heavy use as the 50mm is what I shoot the majority of my wedding work on, it would also mean I'd have two lenses that covered my most important focal length.

This is where things got interesting. In an ideal world I'd like Canon to make an F2L fifty. I don't need a faster lens than this, it would be easy to design and probably sharper than anything else Canon has to offer. Canon though, make the 50 1.2L, which by nature of its design has a substantial focus shift though the 1.2 to F4 at close ranges. Well I shoot a lot of work at F2 to F4 so this lens seemed tailor made to make my life a misery, and £1200 seemed a high price to pay for such torture. I looked at the independant options. I was very tempted by the Zeiss 50 1.4 but it's manual focus only and I don't fancy follow focussing in dark chuches by hand, I may still buy one though for outdoor work. By default then the only 'serious' 50mm was Sigma's. I got mine from my local dealer and it's certainly appears well made. The only problem was that the lens front focussed, I could adjust this with the microadjustment on my 5D mark II and the lens performed beautifully on that body. It seems sharper than the Canon 50 1.4 but more than that it's out of focus areas wash out very quickly to a creamy blur. So much in fact that the lens feels like a longer focal length with less depth of field.

The only drawback with the lens is that focus was not accurate on my classic 5D and that camera has no way of adjusting the lens, so yesterday I had to send the body and lens to Sigma for calibration, and pray it comes back in time for my next wedding.

I read a lot of reports slamming the focussing issues with this lens, but if it is only a simple calibration issue I don't see what the problem is. At the end of the day I've got L quality glass for £370 plus the shipping to Sigma and if the issues end there I'm happy.

To put this into further perspective I tested my Canon 50mm and found it to be backfocussing by a similar margin. I'd been using that lens for years like that only avoiding 1.4 and manual focussing at F2. I never tested it as rigourously as I did the Sigma because I hadn't read a lot of internet moaning, and the issue never ruined a job. Maybe I'm getting fussy in my old age

2009-07-06T10:17:00.000-07:00

Ballet School Portraits shot last week, how these little girls managed to jump around I do not know - I was sweating rather a lot it had to be said!

2009-06-19T06:12:00.000-07:00

From a wedding I shot at Upwaltham Barns last month, I love it when people crack up during formal portraits, you get to see more of who they really are.

Toby

2009-05-27T04:17:00.001-07:00

From a portrait session last month. To book your session contact me through my website www.tobiaskey.com

Sussex Wedding Photographer

2009-05-21T06:45:00.000-07:00

The Wedding season has begun in earnest this month so I just thought I'd post some of my latest work. These are from a wedding I shot at Buxted Park Hotel earlier in the month. Thankfully the weather for wedding photography is much better than last year!

2009-04-20T02:06:00.000-07:00

Spring Portraits

I just did a couple of nice sittings last week. It's great to be able to shoot outside comfortably again!

Spring the Best time of Year for portraits on the beach

2009-03-19T03:44:00.000-07:00

Now that it is getting a bit warmer, it's the perfect time for your portrait session on the beach. It's not too busy the light is great, and it's not too cold anymore. I still have some availability for April and with the school holidays coming it's the perfect time for a beautiful portrait. Visit my website for more details and contact information.

Toby

Pallant House Gallery, Chichester

2009-02-08T05:42:00.000-08:00

I will be at the first Rare Brand Market taking place at the Pallant House Gallery on Monday 9 February from 10 am to 7 pm. Come along to say hello and view my recent work including portrait portfolios, fine art prints and wedding albums. I am offering free mini portrait sessions in the old part of the Gallery throughout the day and 25% discounts on future photoshoots at a location of your choice.

The Rare Brand Market is an inspirational marketplace designed to celebrate the best ideas not found on the high street. Fabulous brands for the home + garden, gifts, accessories, children's goodies, food and travel.

It is your perfect chance to combine art, shopping and a tasty cappuccino. Entrance fee is £3 will include entrance to the gallery.

Toby
Tobias Key Photography
Tobias is an award winning portrait photographer and Associate of the SWPP /BPPA

http://www.therarebrandmarket.co.uk/

Website Updated

2008-11-01T04:35:00.000-07:00

I've just spent all of yesterday updating all the portrait galleries at my website . Both galleries have over 20 new images selected from the shoots I completed over the summer. So if you've not visited for a while take a look there's lots of new things to see.

Celeste Childrenswear.

2008-10-31T05:45:00.000-07:00

Tobias Key Photography was recently asked to photograph the beautiful Winter collection for local children's wear shop Celeste Children. It was fun but certainly a challenge photographing all those children and outfits! Celeste is located in the Boardwalk Arcade at the top of Northgate in Chichester you can visit their website at www.celestechildren.com

Christmas Gift Ideas - Mini Portrait Sessions - Gift Vouchers

2008-10-21T05:52:00.000-07:00

Mini Portrait Session £50 including 2 x A4 prints

It's that time of year again, and I'm sure many of you are already wracking your brains trying to decide what to get your loved ones. Well what grandparent could resist a beautiful portrait of their grandchildren? At Tobias Key photography we are offering a special Christmas mini portrait session package, available to clients within 20 miles of Chichester.

We'll come to your home create beautiful portraits for you to give to your loved ones in under an hour. The portraits can either be created in our portable home studio or shot in a favourite place in your house or garden. We'll edit and retouch the photos and post an online gallery for you to view them a few days later. We aim to provide 15 - 20 images for you to choose from. You then pick the prints you want and we'll send them to you ASAP. We can also supply extra photos, canvasses or framed prints and our prices are very reasonable. To look at our extensive portfolios go to www.tobiaskey.com

If you would like to buy a portrait session for someone else we're offering gift certificates for the same £50 mini sessions or if you prefer create a package of your choice to give to your loved ones.

Mario Acerboni Albums

2008-10-13T07:39:00.000-07:00

Here's a video showing you an example of our Mario Acerboni Reporto album, which is part of our deluxe wedding package. This album hand bound in black leather with white pages. It has 15 pages (30 sides) and can fit up to 6 pictures per page. The largest prints it can take are 11" x 14" whilst the album itself measures up at a hefty 15" x 18". Also available in smaller sizes.

www.tobiaskey.com

Products for the '09 Wedding Season - Coffee Table Books

2008-10-13T07:07:00.000-07:00

As Brides look in earnest for their wedding photographers, this is the first video in a series showing the products we have on offer for the '09 wedding season. First up our deluxe coffee table book.

www.tobiaskey.com

What to Look for in a Wedding Photographer

2008-10-11T01:40:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year where couples start planning their wedding in earnest so I'd just like to give you my thoughts on what you should look for in a wedding photographer.

Assessing the ability of the photographer.

You may think this is as easy as looking at a few photographs but there are a few things you have to look out for. The first and most easy thing to be fooled by is images that are Bridal or Wedding photographs but have not been shot at an actual wedding. Many photographers offer bridal sessions where photos of the bride are groom are taken on a separate day. This is a fairly common practice in the U.S. and becoming more popular over here. Bridal sessions are an excellent way of ensuring the best photographs of you in your wedding dress but they are shot without the time or technical constraints of a wedding day. The are an excellent guide to how talented and creative a photographer is but those same images may not be achievable on an actual wedding day. If you would like pictures that look like you have just stepped out of the pages of Vogue then by all means book a separate session for them, but be aware when you are looking at portfolios that not all wedding images are shot at actual weddings.

There are also many courses around that will help a photographer build a portfolio by providing models and beautiful locations. They may even give help with lighting and exposure. Of course a photographer is getting training and help that is a good thing, what he learns on those courses will improve the job he does for all of his clients. But again these shots are not taken under the conditions of a real wedding.

It is always prudent to ask a photographer the circumstances under which he produced certain photos - it will give you an insight into his working methods and help you make an informed choice. Better still, ask to see albums or web galleries from actual weddings the photographer has attended. They will give you a much better idea of what you can realistically expect that photographer to achieve on your wedding day. It may also be a good idea to ask the photographer if he has any shots from a rainy day wedding to see how he copes when the chips are down and things are not easy.

Does his style fit in with you wedding plans?

The current vogue is for reportage weddings - that is for the photographer to be as unobtrusive as possible whilst recording your special day. The reality is that most wedding shoots are a compromise between true reportage and a judicious amount of posed pictures. Many photographers describe themselves as reportage wedding photographers without having any training in the skill of documentary photography (I have a postgrad in photojournalism in case you were wondering!). I think that wedding photography falls into two camps. Observational photography where you work passively and watch what unfolds and a more organisational approach by photographers who arrange what they see in front of them to create the picture they want. Both approaches can produce excellent pictures, indeed in many ways a more proactive photographer is a safer choice as he will step in to ensure the quality of the pictures remain high. The trade off is that the more setting up a photographer does the more he intrudes on your wedding day. It is here that communication and planning is vital. As a couple you should always make clear what you want your photographer to do and give clear timetables for a photographer to do any posed shots. Most photographers have a way of working that they are most comfortable with. It is up to the couple to ensure that they communicate what they want so everybody knows where they stand.

Editing and Retouching.

Believe it or not, I would guess that most photographers spend more time editing and retouching images than shooting them. Generally speaking digital files tend to need the photographer to do more work on them than they did when they could simply drop their films off at a lab. If a photographer offers bargain prices for wedding coverage you can bet that it he will do much less post production work than his more expensive counterpart. Most photographers will quote a a minimum number of photographs that they will on average shoot at a wedding. It is also worth enquiring how much post production they do as well. Cropping, colour correction and minor retouching may not be included in cheaper packages, so always find out how your images will be presented.

Dress Sense and Personality.

Unlike most of the people you'll hire for your wedding day a wedding photographer is going to be around you and your guests for the whole day. I think it's vital to imagine the photographer as a guest at your wedding and decide whether he fits in to your wedding party. Personality and social skills are important for a wedding photographer, and a good chemistry between him, yourselves and your guests will give you the best chance of excellent photos. Your wedding photography should be a good fun and reflect the joy of the day.

Proper dress is also vitally important. I think a wedding photographer should always dress in a suit and tie to fit in with proceedings. Most do but some don't - if this is something that would bother you, make sure you ask how a photographer intends to dress on the day.

Products and Packages.

Most photographers will offer various packages including DVD's coffee table books and albums. Be sure to check what is included in each package but also check what price extras are. Often photographers who advertise low initial costs will encourage you to pile on expensive extras later - often ending up more expensive than you thought. Ensure you have a set price for items like overtime and extra pages. Also remember that if you like a photographers work but prefer a certain type of album he doesn't list he may be able source it for you - that way you'd get both the album and the photographer you prefer.

Pricing

Like most photographers I've done lots of research into the pricing of my competitors. Generally speaking I've found that once you are past a certain threshold price is not really an indicator of quality. Don't be fooled into thinking that just because one photographer is more expensive than another they are necessarily better. Pricing can come down to things like overheads, how well established they are - they may even keep prices high to limit how many weddings they want to shoot in a year. Generally, I would trust the quality of the work you see as well as any qualifications that they have, before using price as a guide.

www.tobiaskey.com

HP Scanjet G4050 Review part 3: Conclusions

2008-09-23T10:17:00.001-07:00

I've had my Scanjet G4050 for a couple of months now, so after 60 days what are my conclusions?

1. The bundled software is very poor at scanning black and white film. I found the scanning software that came with the G4050 hopeless for scanning black and white film, which is most of what I need a scanner for. If if it wasn't for the fact I already had vuescan installed on my computer I would have taken the scanner back and got my money back. The software blocks up shadows, doesn't support 16 bit greyscales (essential for me), and is clunky to use.

Take a look at the examples at the top of the blog. The first scan is taken with vuescan scanning to a raw file. There is plenty of dynamic range and subtle tones, the shadow detail is good. The example below it is a 256 greyscale scan using HP's own software. Shadow detail has dissappeared in the hair and eyes, there is posterization in the shadows and the film grain has been seemingly processed out. Trust me this is no fit up, it is impossible to adjust the HP scan to get any detail out of the shadows - it just isn't there.This was the type of result that had me checking I still had the receipt for the scanner. I find it incredible that what is essentially a very good piece of equipment can be hamstrung by its own software. Didn't HP test this scanner with black and white film?

Colour scanning is quick and easy and surprisingly colour accurate. If all you wanted to do was scan transparencies then this scanner is to my mind superior to my previous Epson 4990. The web sized example above is from a 6x7 transparency shot on Fuji astia 100 colours are absolutely spot on compared to the original. It's even more amazing that HP can this part so right and monochrome so wrong.

When you use this scanner with Vuescan it's like a different machine. Produces black and white results near identical to my now dead Epson 4990, and was a lot cheaper. Like most flatbeds at this level the files need sharpening quite a lot for larger prints, but if I want to produce a large print, I get a drum scan or imacon scan , the 4050 is really only for 10 x 8 and smaller prints, contact sheets, editing and web use so this is fine for me. If you use this to produce and archive of digital contact sheets for your film work it would soon pay for itself in saved contact sheet fees from labs.

All in all the software is the Achilles heel of the G4050 and is not really up to the diverse tasks that an advanced amateur or professional might demand of it. Buying a copy of Vuescan solves his problem, but I still find it amazing that so many scanners are let down by the software that came with it.

Purchasing Vuescan for $40 drastically improves the performance of the G4050, and is something I would definitely budget for when buying this machine. In fact I would probably recommend it whatever scanner you were buying. Its ability to scan to a RAW file is worth the price on its own.

http://www.tobiaskey.com/

Sometimes it's better to be lucky ...

2008-09-16T06:54:00.001-07:00

Another day another wedding in terrible rain. I was shooting a wedding in Langrish House near Petersfield in Hampshire, driving conditions were terrible and a month's rain was forecast to fall in the next few days. When I arrived the marquee was filling up with water and and the rain seemed destined to pour down all day. I walked round the venue with the groom Paul discussing the options we might have for photos. None of them looked that good. Although Langrish is a large house (now a hotel), most of the rooms were small, and the bad weather was making the house very dark. I had back up plans but none of them compared to shooting in the beautiful rolling South Downs. The service went a ahead as planned and I did my shots as per normal. Then, just after the ceremony was over a miracle a break in the weather. I worked fast, switching from one group shot to another as fast as possible and then just I finished the final group, the rain returned and we all rushed inside. Just goes to show how important luck can be.

Wet Weddings!

2008-09-09T02:54:00.000-07:00

As I'm sure you all know the weather in Sussex has been appalling for the last six weeks, as it has been for most of the rest of the country. So how do you cope and how does the photographer cope on your wedding day?

I think the the most important thing is to capture your wedding day as it is not as how you might have imagined it to be. As a trained photojournalist, I'm used to having to deal with difficult conditions, bad light and reacting fast when the chips are down. I don't rely on posed pictures and can work in very low light, often without flash. In other words, I can keep shooting in conditions that others may find impossible and still deliver the goods. It is also where a reportage wedding photographer has many advantages over a traditional wedding photographer. As I spend so much time shooting the bride and groom getting ready and shooting the service, I can put together a beautiful record of your day even without any posed photos. If a photographer relies too heavily on working outside you have to wonder what the plan B is.

Wedding & Portrait website at Tobias Key Photography.
Enquiries, please call 07962 816 481

Website woes!!

2008-08-31T14:58:00.000-07:00

Sunday 31st August

Sometime this morning www.tobiaskey.com went down due to a hardware problem with the server. We hope to have it back up again by Monday morning. www.tobiaskeycommercial.com is still working and if you need to contact me urgently you can use the contact form on that site which is on a different server. Note also that any emails sent to tobias (at) tobiaskey.com during this time will have bounced so you may have to resend them. You can use tobias.key(at)virgin.net if you need to contact me urgently.

Sorry for any inconvenience

Toby

Welcome to the Tobias Key Photography Blog

2008-08-23T08:40:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our Blog. Throughout the year, we post wedding, portrait and editorial images, together with the latest news and information.

Tel: 01243 673839
Mob: 07962 816 481
www.tobiaskey.co.uk
Wedding & Portrait website link

www.tobiaskeycommercial.com
Editorial & Commercial website link

Sussex wedding photographer: 10% discount

2008-08-23T08:05:00.000-07:00

Chichester Wedding Photographer News:

Tobias Key ABPPA is offering couples a 10% discount for Winter Weddings in November and December 2008.

Offer ends 14 December. Please contact Tobias for further details.

Sussex wedding photographer: midweek discount

2008-08-23T07:08:00.000-07:00

If you are planning a weekday wedding or civil partnership (Monday to Thursday) then Tobias Key Photography is offering couples a 20% discount on 4 hr or 8 hr packages.

"I specialise in classic black and white reportage photography and my service includes a hi-res DVD with copyright licence."

To enquire please contact us via our website or call 07962 816481.

Chichester Observer Wedding Faryre - 5 October 2008

2008-08-22T09:47:00.000-07:00

Sussex wedding photographer, Tobias of Tobias Key Photography is an award winning portrait and fashion photographer who has recently launched a reportage style photography wedding service. Tobias will be attending the Chichester Observer Wedding Fayre at Chichester College on Sunday 5th October 2008, 10am to 4pm.

If you are planning a wedding in Surrey, Sussex or Hampshire, Tobias would be delighted to meet you. Choosing a wedding photographer is one of the most important decisions you will make when planning your wedding day. Before deciding on your photographer it is important to to view the quality of their work in person.

All aspects of creating your perfect wedding will be on display - chauffeurs, bridal dress shops, tailors, florists, stylists - including a fashion show, enabling you to see how the dress and accessories really look when walking down the aisle.

Please visit our website or scroll down this blog to get an idea of our style.

Sussex Photographer: summer highlights

2008-08-21T10:05:00.000-07:00

Award winning portrait photographer Tobias Key can be commissioned for a photoshoot at a location of your choice. Tobias is a Chichester based photographer, serving clients in Sussex and Hampshire. There are many great locations in Sussex and Hampshire. If you know of a great location for a family portrait and would like to book a date then please contact Tobias to arrange your day. To follow this link to view more of our portrait galleries.

Chichester Photographer: Summer highlights

2008-08-21T09:54:00.001-07:00

Another highlight from a recent photoshoot at West Wittering beach. If you would like to commission us for a family portrait then please call Tobias to arrange a date and discuss a fun location for your shoot. Mobile: 07962 816481. View more galleries

Chichester Photographer - Summer Highlights

2008-08-14T06:01:00.000-07:00

Chichester portrait and wedding photographer, Tobias Key, has been busy on location this summer with local families. Tobias can be commissed for portraiture at a location of your choice in Sussex and Hampshire. Here are some highlights from a recent shoot. More to come this week. Please visit our portrait website to view our galleries and/or contact Toby on 01243 673839 to enquire about availability.

Chichester Wedding Photographer Tobias Key

2008-08-09T02:27:00.000-07:00

The summer is here and the wedding season is in full swing. Sussex wedding photographer Tobias Key of Tobias Key Photography previews some reportage wedding images shot over the last month.

Visit our website on the link above to get a feel for our style of photography. Call Tobias on 07962 816481 to arrange a consultation and to view his portfolio.

Tobias is an accredited photographer and an Associate member of the SWPP - Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers - qualified with over 10 years experience - guaranteeing you great results.

Sussex wedding photography

2008-08-08T06:14:00.000-07:00

Sussex wedding photographer, Tobias of Tobias Key Photography is an award winning portrait and fashion photographer who has recently launched a reportage wedding service for clients in Sussex and Hampshire.

"Since relocating my portrait photography business to Chichester, many couples have approached me to cover their wedding. My style is suited to those couples who prefer a relaxed approach - my aim is to produce a unique photo essay in classic black & white or cutting edge colour.

Sussex bridemaids synchronise bouquets

2008-08-08T06:10:00.000-07:00

Fun shot of bridemaids at a recent wedding covered by award winning photographer, Tobias of Tobias Key Photography

Contact Tobias on 07962 816481 - please call to enquire.

Chichester photographer - Summer highlights

2008-08-01T12:14:00.000-07:00

Chichester photographer, Tobias of Tobias Key Photography shows highlights from a summer sitting on location in West Sussex. Please visit our website to view our recent commissions.

Chichester photographer: Editorial photography

2008-07-17T05:59:00.000-07:00

Chichester photographer - editorial shoot in West Wittering.
Tobias Key of Tobias Key Photography discusses his latest work:

July '08 - Chichester and Brighton photographer Tobias Key

I had great fun shooting a portfolio update for Leah Hibbert of Oxygen Models. We used various locations around Chichester and the Witterings, and took advantage of the great weather we've had over the last few days. To contact me for your own portfolio update visit
Tobias Key Photography

Chichester photographer - summer package offer

2008-07-08T02:33:00.000-07:00

Summer Package is Here!

Summer is (allegedly) with us and the kids are on holiday, so Tobias Key Photography is offering a special photography package deal. Just book a session Monday to Friday and you'll get a photo sitting in a location of your choice*, two A4 prints on fine art paper, and six 7 x 5 prints for the all inclusive price of £200 that's a saving of £85 on the normal price.

To book just visit our portrait website or call 07962 816481 for more details.

*within 25 miles of Chichester otherwise a small mileage charge will apply.

Wedding Photographer Sussex launch for 2008

2008-07-01T09:32:00.000-07:00

Award winning Sussex photographer, Tobias of Tobias Key Photography launches his new reportage wedding photography service to clients in Sussex and Hampshire.

Thank you to those couples who have already booked my services for their Summer Weddings in Sussex - I look forward to working on location in Bosham, Arundel, Chichester and Brighton.

The initial service I provide is aimed at couples who prefer the flexibility to produce their own album from print-ready digital files.

I am also linking up with a professional make-up artist and we are offering a bridal photography session where we'd do some very nice shots of you on location before the wedding day. This is a great way of getting some really nice photos and taking some of the pressure off yourself for the actual wedding day.

wedding website link

HP Scanjet G4050 Review part 1: First Impressions

2008-06-27T03:36:00.000-07:00

Tobias Key of tobiaskey.com, Chichester and Sussex portrait photographer reviews:

What's in the box:

Film holders for mounted 35mm transparencies, 35mm negative strips and a combined 120/4x5 holder. The holders are on a par with the Epson holders for the 4990, in other words adequate but nothing special. The 120 holders can't hold negative strips completely flat and I doubt the 4x5 could either, again not unusual at this price bracket.

The Software installed without a hitch (I'm using Vista). The most unusual thing I found was that there is no icon to operate the scanner from your desktop, instead you have to press one of four buttons on the top of the machine depending on what you want to do.

I didn't like the scanning software. It's very clunky and only offers 8 bit greyscale scans. I already had a copy of hamrick's excellent vuescan so I quickly started using this instead. Vuescan transforms this scanner's usabilty and produces much better scans. I honestly don't think I could recommend this scanner if I had only used it with HP's own software. In fact, I think I would have taken in straight back to the shop, the HP software does not offer the enthusiast anything like enough control and has a horrible user interface. If you want to buy this scanner for scanning black and white negatives, budget for a third party software package like vuescan or silverfast if you want to get decent results.

Next: some scanning examples

Review: HP Scanjet G4050 Introduction

2008-06-27T02:39:00.000-07:00

Scan made with HP G4050

Chichester photographer, Tobias of Tobias key Photography review his latest scanner:

So after a few years service my Epson 4990 scanner died and I was forced into another scanner purchase, for scanning my 120 black and white negatives. For someone like myself, a scanner purchase is a thorny issue. One of the downfalls of mainstream film use was the time and expense involved in getting a negative into digital format. Now, a long time after the horse has bolted, there are a good range of affordable flat bed scanners that claim to do that job at previously unheard of prices, like the sub £200 Epson 4490 and HP G4050 up to the far more sophisticated Epson V750 at over £500.

I decided to buy a scanner at the cheaper end of the market to proof negatives for drum scanning. I felt that if I was to ever want make a big enlargement of a particular negative I'd either have a wet print made or get a drum scan. To my logic getting a V75o was pointless as I'd never be confident in using a consumer flatbed for a large canvas or exhibition print, my flat bed would really be little more than an alternative to contact sheets and 7x5's. And it is with this in mind that I'm reviewing the G5040.

Next: Installation and First Impressions

Award Winning Images by Sussex Photographer Tobias Key

2008-05-08T02:25:00.000-07:00

Chichester portrait photographer wins awards

I'm pleased to announce I've just won two gold awards in the SWPP image competition. The winning images were location fashion photography shot in the Chichester area. More examples from this series can be seen in the editorial section of my website www.tobiaskey.com

Editorial Portfolio

2008-04-12T02:50:00.000-07:00

Sussex Photographer Tobias Key is updating his commercial and editorial portfolios for 2008. The series above is shot with model Leah Hibbert of MOT models.

Keep checking in to http://www.tobiaskey.com/ to see this fresh new work.

Picture of the Week

2008-03-31T07:56:00.000-07:00

This image is from a recent model and fashion shoot in London.

Tobias Key is a portrait photographer based in Chichester. He can be commissioned for editorial and commercial assignments. Please visit our website at www.tobiaskey.com

The Bluebells are coming!

2008-03-28T02:46:00.000-07:00

Beautiful displays of bluebells will soon be appearing all over the south. If you would like a family or child portrait with this beautiful backdrop then call Tobias at Tobias Key Photography to book a photography session in Sussex or Hampshire.

http://www.tobiaskey.com/

BFD Front Cover - Portrait of Francesca

2008-03-17T01:02:00.000-07:00

These are highlights with my girl, Francesca, aged 4, in the ruins of an 11th century Norman priory in West Sussex. Images were shot on medium format film. The top portrait is the current front cover of The Big Family Directory (The BFD).

The BFD is a FREE family phone book containing free telephone listings and relevant advertising. It is compiled from a parent's perrsonal perspective and includes everything they can find that would be useful for families with children of all ages.

Amongst their many listings are helplines, toddler groups, childcare and schools, places to visit, party services, leisure and even some time out ideas for grown-ups!

Write to - The Big Family Directory, PO Box 544, Chichester, PO19 9DB

Tobias Key is a Sussex Portrait Photographer based in Chichester. To visit my website and view my recent galleries, please follow the link below.

http://www.tobiaskey.com/

Brithday fun in the Garden

2008-03-16T10:12:00.000-07:00

Here are just some of the highlights from a fun photo sitting.

http://www.tobiaskey.com

More fun in the garden

2008-03-15T01:20:00.000-07:00

Toddlers just love mucking around in the garden. A great way to photograph children. At play, in their own surroundings. Book an 'on location' photoshoot with Tobias Key Photography over the Easter holidays. Great new portrait packages are available for family photography sittings. Look at my latest commissions on my portrait gallery online.

http://www.tobiaskey.com

The Cost of Photography

2008-02-14T01:40:00.000-08:00

Why are Professional Photographers so expensive?

(This article has been very well received by the photography community, and is now referred to by many Photography websites across the country)

In this digital age where everyone has digital cameras, scanners and home "photo printers", when people upload their photos to a local drug store website and pick them up a few hours later, we hear this all the time - How in the world do Professional Photographers charge $55 for an 8x10 when they cost just $1.50 at the drug store?

Here's why.
Simply put, you're not just paying for the actual photograph, you're paying for time and expertise. First, let's look at the actual time involved. If you don't read this entire page, at least read this first part.

For a two hour portrait session:
- one hour of travel to and from the session- two hours of shooting- 30 minutes of setup, preparation, talking to the client etc.- 30 minutes to load the photos onto a computer (2 - 4 Gb of data)

- 30 minutes to back up the files on an external drive

- 3 - 4 hours of Photoshop time including cropping, contrast, color, sharpening, saving a copy for print and a copy for the internet and backing up the edited photographs

- 2 - 3 hours to talk to the client, answer questions, receive their order and payment, order their prints, receive and verify prints, package prints, schedule shipment and drop package off at Fed Ex.

- For local customers, we also print a set of all of their photos, and meet them at our studio to review the photos and place their order. Meeting and travel time averages 2 hours.

You can see how one two hour session easily turns into more than ten hours of work from start to finish. So when you see a Photographer charging a $200 session fee for a two hour photo shoot, you are not paying them $100 / hour.

For an eight hour wedding:

- I won't bore you with the details, but an eight hour wedding typically amounts to at least two to three full 40 hour work weeks worth of time. Again, if they are charging you $4,000 for an eight hour wedding, you are not paying them $500 / hour.

Now for the expertise.
Shooting professional photography is a skill, acquired through years of experience. Even though a quality camera now costs under $2,000 taking professional portraits involves much more than a nice camera.

Most Professional Photographers take years to go from buying their first decent camera to making money with their photography. In addition to learning how to use the camera itself, there is a mountain of other equipment involved, as well as numerous software programs used to edit and print photographs, run a website etc.
And let's not forget that you actually have to have people skills, be able to communicate, make people comfortable in front of the camera - and posing people to make them look their best in a photograph is a skill all by itself.
Think of it this way - the next time you pay $X to get your hair done, a pair of scissors only costs $1.50. But you gladly pay a lot more to hire a Professional.

What about the cheap studios at the mall?
Please don't compare us to the chain store studios. But if you must, consider all of the time and work that we put into our photographs, compared to what they do. Good luck getting a two hour photo shoot at a chain store. Not to mention they won't come to the beach! And of course, look at our work compared to theirs. You get what you pay for.
The truth is, most of the mall and chain store studios lose money. In fact, in 2007 Wal-Mart closed 500 of their portrait studios because of the financial drain they were putting on the company. What the chain stores bet on is that you'll come in for some quick and cheap photos, and while you're there, you'll also spend $200 on other things. They don't have to make money, they are just there to get you in the door.

Conclusion
We hope that those who have taken the time to read this page will have a better understanding of why professional photographs cost so much more than the ones that you get from your local drug store. copied here from : http://www.caughtonfilmphoto.com/costofphotography.html

Toby

http://www.tobiaskey.com

Tips for Photographing Children

2008-01-31T07:22:00.000-08:00

1. Get down to their level. Always try to photograph children from their level, the photos will look much better and the expressions will be more natural.

2. Make it fun. Instead of trying to make you kids pose for the camera, let them play , keeping them entertained will give you more opportunity to get some great pictures. Blowing bubbles is a great choice as it encourages kids to look up – avoid things like sand pits - young children will stare fixedly towards the ground.

3. Location, location, location. Think about where you want to take pictures. Going to the beach or countryside with your camera will give you a great setting and your kids will be having fun and that’s half the battle. If you are shooting at home pay attention to your background -avoid clutter as it will distract from your subject

4. Be Patient...then work quickly. In all likelihood you will not get a great photo the instant you lift your camera to your eye. Young children change from one moment to the next so be prepared to wait for your shots but when you feel good pictures are coming work fast varying your composition and taking lots of shots because the moment will be gone before you know it. It’s not unusual for the best shots from an hour photo session to come from two minutes of magic.

5. Get Close. For portraits, moving close isolates you subject from the background, and makes the most of the eyes, the most important feature in any portrait. Remember thought o use your camera on its telephoto setting to avoid distortion of the face.

6. Think about light. Lighting can make or break a photo. In harsh sunlight move your subject into the shade to avoid distracting shadows on the face and squinty eyes. If there is no shade turn you subject away from the sun and light the face with your on camera flash, if you don’t want to use flash get a friend to reflect light back into the face with a piece of white card or even a newspaper.

7. Choose your camera carefully. The best camera is the one you have with you. There’s no point buying a top of the line DSLR if you find it too heavy and it ends up gathering dust on a shelf. Children are unpredictable so you best pictures may come at any time. A small point and shoot you can keep in your glove box or bag is ideal for candids of your children.

8. Picture your child growing. Take a picture of your child in the same place every year to record them growing. Make sure you include a constant reference like a tree in your garden or the wall of your house, an annual family photo is also a great idea.

9. Place your subject off centre. Don’t simply place your subject in the centre of the frame experiment with composition – off centre composition can make a picture more interesting and dynamic. Remember to check that you camera has focused on what you want by focussing on the subject, locking the focus, and recomposing.

10. Have a game plan. One of the best ways to improve your photography is to look at as much photography as possible. Be inspired by the work of others and the come up with a plan to emulate it, or even improve it. This is far easier than trying to come up with ideas beforehand than it is to be creative on the spot. It also gives you an opportunity to bring any extra equipment or props you might need'

www.tobiaskey.com

Reportage Wedding Service for 2008 - details

2008-01-14T09:23:00.000-08:00

Tobias Key Photography is launching a wedding photography service for spring 2008!

Using my photojournalism background to capture true reportage images of your wedding day. I work unotbrusively without disturbing your celebrations to create beautiful wedding portraits... naturally.

I am currently portfolio building and offering my personalized service at a great discount. If you are planning a wedding in Sussex, then please visit my website at www.tobiaskey.co.uk and complete the form on the 'Contact Us' page for more details and to check availability.

Thank you to all those couples who have already commissioned Tobias Key Photography. I am almost completely booked for May 2008!

www.tobiaskey.co.uk

Portrait Gift Certificates for 2008

2008-01-03T09:29:00.000-08:00

Thanking all new portrait clients who have received a gift certificate for a photo sitting with Tobias Key Photography in 2008. I look forward to working with you!

My customized gift certificates in a presentation box have proved really popular this Christmas. Ideal as gifts for all occasions:

family portraits on location in Sussex, Hamsphire, Surrey and South London
maternity, newborn and baby portraits in the comfort of your own home
family events and celebrations, baby christenings, first birthday, 21st birthday, 60th, 80th and 100th birthday parties!
engagement portrait photography
bridal portrait photography

Photo gift certificates start at £75 for a midweek photoshoot of up to 2 hours which is ideal for a newborn, child, individual, couple or small family group. Each certificate is bespoke. You can add an A4 fine art print at £25 to your gift or even a large canvas!

http://www.tobiaskey.com/

Location Portrait of twin brothers - December 2007

2008-01-02T14:26:00.000-08:00

Portrait photography commission pf twin brothers on location in Sussex in the grounds of a stately home. Lots of fun. www.tobiaskey.co.uk

Natural Location Photoshoot - December 2007

2008-01-02T14:11:00.000-08:00

Infant Portrait photography sitting in Sussex on location at the beach. Have a sneak preview. Loads of beautiful images from this sitting. www.tobiaskey.co.uk

Actor Portrait on location - December 2007

2008-01-02T14:01:00.001-08:00

Award winning Chichester photographer, Tobias of Tobias Key Photography displays recent actor publicity photoshoot on location in West Sussex. Great conditions for a winter photoshoot.

www.tobiaskey.com

Natural light portrait at home - December 2007

2008-01-02T13:58:00.001-08:00

Introducing Dominic. Another fun portrait photography sitting at home and on location in Sussex. www.tobiaskey.co.uk

Portraits of children at the beach - December 2007

2008-01-02T13:55:00.001-08:00

Great brother and sister team! Children's portrait photography session in Sussex. www.tobiaskey.co.uk

Portrait at the beach - December 2007

2008-01-02T13:46:00.000-08:00

Toddler portrait photography session on the beach at West Wittering, West Sussex. www.tobiaskey.co.uk

Greetings for 2008

2008-01-01T09:05:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year from Tobias Key Photography. View my latest photography commissions at www.tobiaskey.com

Model Portfolios!

2007-11-05T06:49:00.000-08:00

Tobias Key Photography is now offering a model portfolio service. For a limited time only we'll be offering great introductory discounts so hurry if you want to take advantage of this offer.

September Competition Winner

2007-10-14T02:22:00.000-07:00

Introducing Izzy - winner of our photo shoot competition. If you would like to enter our monthly competition, use the contact form at www.tobiaskey.com to outline your idea for a portrait sitting along with your contact details. The winner gets a free portrait sitting and one A4 photograph. Good luck!

Portrait of Jess

2007-10-13T08:34:00.001-07:00

Family Location Portraits

2007-10-06T08:18:00.000-07:00

Thank you Virginia & family for last week's photo shoot. Here are a few of the many highlights.

Meet the twins

2007-09-26T13:15:00.000-07:00

Introducing twin sisters (one year old) from Brighton and highlights of their family photo sitting on location at home and favourite park.

Newborn Portrait - Baby Eva

2007-09-20T08:06:00.000-07:00

Portrait sittings for newborns are best shot at home using natural light. I can work around feeding times. As you can see nap times make beautiful portraits. A midweek photoshoot is £75. 'Bump and Baby' package is £150 and includes two A4 sized fine art prints (a saving of £100 if purchased separately). To reserve your preferred date or schedule me for a forthcoming arrival then send an email via my portrait website www.tobiaskey.com

Brothers

2007-09-19T11:42:00.001-07:00

Some highlights from a recent portrait sitting with two little boys from Hampshire.

Toby returns from holiday in France

2007-09-07T08:02:00.000-07:00

Just returned from a family holiday in France. Whilst there George celebrated his 2nd birthday in September and Francesca celebrated turning 4 years old!

I will spend the next week or so contacting current clients and processing orders.

Spotlight Portrait

2007-08-21T07:47:00.000-07:00

Spotlight headshot portraits for Nellie, 11 years old.

Big Family Directory

2007-08-21T07:38:00.000-07:00

The Cover Stars: Lucy and Danielle

The BFD is packed full of local information for families in Chichester, Littlehampton and surrounding areas.

80th Birthday Portrait

2007-08-21T04:55:00.000-07:00

Celebrations for Eileen's 80th birthday in West Sussex.

August Competition Winner

2007-08-21T04:39:00.001-07:00

Congratulation on your new arrival! Nicola & James, Chichester, received a complimentary photo sitting at their home to celebrate the birth of their new baby girl, Izzy, a sister for Ollie.

Enter our monthly competition to win a portrait sitting. Email us your winning idea for your ideal photoshoot.

Mummy Must Have

2007-08-11T09:59:00.000-07:00

I recently did a commission taking website images for www.mummymusthave.co.uk

Monic Joint, the founder of the "Mummy Must Have" range of parent and baby products is a family bonding advocate. Monic's experiences of caring for children and her solutions for infant sleep difficulties, crying, colic and breastfeeding provided the inspiration for her parent and infant products and book on bonding with children. Follow the link above to find out more, enter the latest competition and shop online.

Summer Wedding

2007-08-11T06:18:00.003-07:00

Congratulations Kate & Justyn!

Fine Art Portrait

2007-08-10T00:55:00.000-07:00

We love the peaceful and relaxed mood of this portrait. Shot on medium format film.

18th months old

2007-08-09T12:10:00.001-07:00

Portrait of George in new dungarees. What a cheeky face!

Family location Shoot

2007-08-09T12:00:00.000-07:00

Highlight of a recent location shoot at the beach. Images are shot on medium format film.

Raffle Prize Photo Shoot

2007-08-09T02:58:00.000-07:00

Here are some highlights from a shoot taken in the grounds at Chichester Cathedral.

July Competion Winner - First Photos!

2007-07-26T02:57:00.001-07:00

Here is a selection of images from July's free portrait session, won by Mari Simpson of Nyewood. If you would like to enter August's competition, use the contact form at www.tobiaskey.com to outline your idea for a portrait sitting along with your contact details. The winner gets a free portrait sitting and one A4 photograph.

Commercial & Fine Art Website

2007-07-22T04:49:00.000-07:00

My new Commercial and Fine Art Website is nearing completion. Galleries will be constantly updated as images from current commissions are uploaded.

Take a look at recent commissions.

PORTRAIT RAFFLE PRIZE FOR SCHOOL FAIR

2007-07-21T06:06:00.000-07:00

"Thank you from the Friends of Central School, Chichester for supporting our Summer Fair on 22 June 2007. Your generous donation of a raffle prize helped us to raise £1600, which will be spent on improvements to the school library and playground."

I have now been in touch with the winning family and this shoot will take place on 2 August.

July Portrait Competition

2007-07-05T10:01:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to Mari and family who will receive a complimentary photoshoot in July.

Mari's perfect photoshoot idea is an early evening shoot in her garden in summer where the light seems amazing and the South Downs below are full of corn and children can hide in them.

For a chance to win a photoshoot in August - please send us an email with your idea for a perfect photoshoot to tobias@tobiaskey.com. Don't forget to mention where you found our website.

Thank you and Good luck.

June 07 Featured Baby Photoshoot

2007-06-27T09:48:00.000-07:00

Have glimpse of the beautiful baby who appears in our featured gallery.

Discount Card

2007-06-19T03:30:00.001-07:00

To claim a 25% discount on our Sitting Fee - you will receive the above card when you shop at any of our link partners listed below:

www.mummymusthave.co.uk

www.celestechildren.co.uk

www.beachhse.co.uk

www.babytalk-online.co.uk

Gift Certificates

2007-06-17T06:10:00.000-07:00

We design personalised gift certificates for family portraits. Ideal as a christening, newborn or first birthday gift.

Payment can be made in advance by Paypal or cheque. The gift certificate is then sent to you in a gift box ready to be presented to your loved ones.

Baby Hampshire

2007-06-17T05:32:00.000-07:00

Advertisement in summer edition of Baby Hamsphire, ABC Sussex and Big Family Directory.

May 07 Featured Photoshoot

2007-06-17T03:15:00.001-07:00

Here are some of the highlights from a recent photoshoot on a rainy day in Scotland.

New Premium Fine Art Service

2007-04-21T05:10:00.000-07:00

From late April, Tobias Key photography will be offering a new film based fine art service. All images will be shot on 6 x 7 format for quality that betters all 35mm format digital cameras currently available. For those of you who aren't photography geeks, this means that this service is especially suited to those of you wanting to commission large scale prints and canvasses. It also offers a more classic and flattering tonality than digital and gives all your images a timeless quality that means they will look great many years from now - a true long term investment in your memories. We will also be offering more product discounts with this service which means if you think you'll want to make a large order, this service could actually save you money over our standard service.

Welcome to the Tobias Key photography blog

2007-03-24T14:07:00.000-07:00

This is the Tobias Key Photography blog. Stay tuned for our website launch and special offers coming soon.

This is me with my children, Francesca and George in Battersea Park January 2007 before relocating to West Sussex.