Recruiting Angolans

This weekend just passed I spent some time taking photos at a business event run by a London based company called Elite International Careers. They specialise in international recruitment events and this one was specifically for companies working in Angola.

There is a law in Angola that companies must recruit one Angolan national for each foreign national they employ. For this reason, Elite IC runs events like this one to bring together Angolans in other places (like London in this case) so that they can talk to companies who would like them to come back to Angola for work. Many of the companies are large energy companies with huge workforces.

Over the course of the weekend event, candidates could meet prospective employers, participate in workshops, attend talks given by company representatives, and even have job interviews. Many candidates were offered jobs during the weekend, which is a great success story for Elite IC.

The workshops were a particular favourite of mine, with the participants split into teams. The first activity was to form a bobsleigh team that could move together as a unit from left to right whilst moving forward. The second involved being given half an hour to build a giraffe from just newspaper and sticky tape. The tallest (stable) giraffe was deemed the winner.

Here is a selection of my favourite shots from the weekend.

Busy November

Wow, it's been nearly three weeks since I last blogged, which is testament to the fact that I have been a busy boy!

This month I've taken photos of chocolates, paintings, charity events, jewellery, a business conference, a launch party for a mobile app, a couple of remembrance services, a hospital, a personal trainer, an American billionaire, numerous other individuals and a store opening. Phew! 

I'm going to blog a few individual pieces today so you can see some in more detail.

Personal Trainer Photography

This week I spent a couple of hours shooting a personal trainer, Haisam, who is about to set up a new business offering people an incredible body transformation service in just twelve weeks.

I've had personal training sessions with one of his friends down at Fitness First in Clapham Junction and that's how he found out about me. I think personal training on a regular basis is a brilliant way to get in shape but just having a few sessions every now and again is also great because it refreshes your workout regime.

Anyway, Haisam wanted some photos for his new website. The photos needed to portray him as being serious about what he does, because in order to successfully transform your body in just twelve weeks you need to take it pretty seriously. He didn't want the photos to just be like a topless model shoot so he wore gym gear which is enough for his amazing frame to be seen.

Here are a few of my favourite photos, so if you know any personal trainers in need of some new shots, tell them to get in touch for some quality photography. I help them look even better than they do already!

Nick and Jim The Truck

Nick bought Jim several years ago in 2007. Jim was a secure truck used for moving money around. But Nick had other plans for Jim. Nick dreamed of driving Jim around the world. But first, he had to modify Jim quite drastically.

Since he bought Jim, Nick has spent most of his time when he wasn't working full time transforming Jim into an amazing motor home. 

The original plan was to drive all the way to Australia, but that changed to a long road trip across the US of A. 

Jim has come an awful long way from what he was like in 2007. This was what he looked like back then... 

Jim The Truck in 2007

He's had a new coat of paint and a hec of a lot of modification. Inside is a double bed, kitchen, shower, dining table and a whole lot of electronics. 

If you're interested, you can read much more about the transformation Jim has undertaken at the hands of Nick on Nick's blog. 

Anyway, I'm very jealous of the trip that Nick and his new wife Naomi are soon to depart on. I wasn't going to miss an opportunity to take some photos of Nick and Jim whilst Jim was in East London getting an awning attached to his side at Cody Dock in Canning Town.

Today presented the perfect afternoon weather-wise for the kind of photos I wanted to take - moody, contrasty shots which show the industrial nature of the truck and what Nick has done to it.  

Here's a selection of my favourite shots for your viewing pleasure.