Hopefully most who have requested it have by now received the first issue of PWC magazine.
You may notice some familiar names and faces in this first issue, including many members of this and other forums.
How did they get themselves into the magazine? Easy, they sent me a gallery of images they had. I now have a very good stock of window cleaners working, many of which I am saving for future issues.
However, I am always in need of some good quality images of window cleaners working.
Whether you use ladders, water-fed poles, cherry pickers, rope-access, cradles, fall arrest systems or whatever, send me your window cleaning pictures and if I can, I will use them.
Apart from the fact that it is nice to have your picture in a magazine, business opportunities can result. For example, I included a small picture of a window cleaner in some PWC teaser literature, and since then, even with the relatively small circulation that it had, he has been contacted about several specialist contracts.
I can promise that any pictures you send that get used will mention your name/ company name either in the caption or in an 'image credit'.
Here's some tips to let you know what I'm looking for:
Good Weather
==========
Outdoor pictures generally look better when taken in good weather. It doesn't necessarily need to be strong sunlight, but dull and cloudy weather doesn't usually make for a good photo. Blue sky in the background is good too. If its sunny, put your shades on, it will make you look cool. (And if you use poles they are pretty much required!)
Window Cleaning
============
It must be pretty obvious what activity is being performed! A good view of the squeegee in action, or the BOAB visible at the hip are always recognizable. If using poles, of course it will usually be pretty plain to see whats happening. With cherry pickers its sometimes hard to see from the ground, don't worry about that. If a MEWP raised up to a window, it is normally obvious that its for window cleaning.
Good Practice
==========
Please don't take photos of you doing something dangerous! Actually please don't do anything dangerous. 10 window cleaners dying every year is too much already!
Women wanted!
============
If you are a female window cleaner, (or if you know one), then you have an especially good chance of getting your picture in PWC. Window cleaning is a male dominated industry, but that's starting to change! With more of us using poles, the work is perhaps a little less physical, and I'm sure that this will mean it attracts more women (and about time too).
Interesting Buildings
===============
Got the contract for an unusual building? Thats a great opportinity to get snapping. Use pictures like that for your own marketing, and of course send them to me!
Even if its not a very interesting building, a large commercial site (like the one on the cover of PWC) also makes for a good photo.
Resolution
========
Digital images are best, hopefully of a resolution of 300dpi or better. But don't worry of your images are not that hi-res, they can be reproduced at a smaller size (thereby increasing the resolution). If you only have actual photos, then scans of them will be fine.
Copyright
=======
The pictures you send must be your own, and please confirm that you do have the right to give me permission to print them. If they inadvertantly include members of the public, buildings etc, this is not a problem. If taken in a public place (ie the street) then there are no issues about subjects.
Signs and street names can be digitally removed without difficulty. (The building on the front cover of PWC originally had a 4ft high name of the company along the top!)
So, don't be shy! Send me your gallery, and any I can use in PWC will be good publicity for your company.
email them to me at
design@professionalwindowcleaner.co.ukalternatively, burn them to a cd and post it to me at:
PWC
PO Box 2193
Bristol
BS99 7JD
Get snapping!
-Philip