Every year, Tempest Photography processes 8.1 million images, many of which are its famous UK-wide school photos.
Although best known for its outstanding education-sector photography, Tempest Photography excels behind the camera across several industries. Its 450 full-time photographers capture moments that people across the nation treasure, from graduations to military passing-out parades.
These are Tempest Photography’s seven outstanding services.
1. School Photography
Families often keep school photos forever. These shots document each stage of a child’s educational journey and are sure to bring back countless memories.
Tempest offers four school photography services:
Portraits
Tempest Photography’s most popular service, portraits capture individual children in every school year. With plenty of framing and composition expertise, the company’s photographers take exceptional photos.
However, their skills expand beyond photography itself. They are also experienced in helping children relax on camera, even on a busy day when hundreds of children are having their photos taken.
Children can have their photos taken alone or with siblings. Either way, the Tempest photographer will take two styles of photograph. One will feature a traditional pose, and the other will be a cropped shot, offering a more contemporary angle.
When it comes to Year 6 children, Tempest also offers Primary Leavers Friendship Photographs. Friend groups pose against a colourful brick background designed to complement all school uniform colours. They can even use fun props. Their Tempest photographer will capture informal photos of the friends before they move on to secondary school.
Tempest captures an average of 200,000 school portraits every autumn term.
Small-Group Photos
Many of the most special memories are as part of a team or group. Capturing these memories, Tempest’s small-group photography is for sports teams, classes, friendship groups, and clubs.
Tempest Photography offers:
- Traditional group photos: These classic shots chart class groups and sports teams over the years. A Tempest photographer positions each child in the shot to balance the image and make sure every smile is visible.
- Vista photos: These long, landscape photos are a fun alternative to the traditional group shot. A Tempest photographer takes several images of group members against a plain black or white backdrop. Tempest then combines the group images in its lab, producing a fun, modern group shot.
- Studio group photos: These timeless images feature a small group against a white background. Both simple and modern, the photos have a relaxed style.
- In-the-frame photos: This strike-a-pose memento sees group members pose individually. Tempest then combines the individual shots against a brick-wall background in its lab.
- Primary leavers photos: Whether formal or informal, these shots capture groups of children as they leave primary school ready for the next stage of their educational journeys.
Whether small-group photos feature classic poses or a more contemporary style, a Tempest photographer will ensure that every group member is clearly visible.
Large-Group Photos
Tempest offers a huge amount of expertise when it comes to photographing large groups of up to 1,200 individuals. If there are more than 1,200 people to be included, Tempest can work some lab magic to accommodate this. The highest number of pupils Tempest has ever captured in one shot is 2,238.
Over the last 20 years, the company’s photographers have captured over 25,500 large-group photographs. These photographers are experienced in managing health and safety while arranging large volumes of people. They use Tempest’s specially manufactured aluminium staging for photos of this scale. This staging is:
- Insured and fully compliant with health and safety regulations.
- Often inspected by an independent structural engineer.
- Designed to protect playing fields and artificial surfaces with even weight distribution and solid tread fronts.
What’s more, schools receive a free copy of each group image to display on-site.
Independent School Photos
Tempest works with several independent schools
that have different requirements for their photo events. A project co-ordinator plots every detail of the event to ensure it runs smoothly in line with the school’s needs.
Tempest offers small-group, large-group, and portrait photography at independent schools. Many of these schools make the most of their impressive buildings and grounds, which serve as iconic backdrops for the shots.
Beyond the photos, Tempest also offers custom-printed mounts featuring pupils’ names and the school crest.
2. Early Years Photography
Beyond primary and secondary school photography, Tempest’s early years photographers visit nurseries and preschools, collaborating with staff to ensure photo events run smoothly.
Tempest photographers spend more time with younger children than they do older children, helping them feel as relaxed as possible. Many of Tempest’s early years photographers are also parents themselves. They’re used to making sure the photo experience is fun and stress-free.
Tempest Photography offers portraits, mini graduation portraits, and group shots in early years settings.
Portraits
Children can have their portrait photos taken alone or with siblings. After the photo session, parents can choose from several shots showcasing their child’s personality.
Group Shots
When it comes to early years group shots, Tempest offers class photos and vistas. For class photos, a Tempest photographer composes the children outside or inside. They ensure each child is equally visible for the photos.
For vistas, a Tempest photographer captures mini groups of children against a white or black background with fun props. Tempest then combines the shots into a long, landscape image. This type of shot is perfect for commemorating a special event like a mini graduation, nativity play, or charity day.
3. Graduation Photography
Graduations are some of the most notable events in education, making them prime moments to capture on camera. Tempest Photography supports more than 100 British universities and colleges with graduation photography and other related services. Some of these universities and colleges include Imperial College London, Cardiff University, and The University of Southampton.
Tempest assigns a dedicated account manager to each university and college. This individual ensures that Tempest accommodates each of the institution’s specific requirements.
Tempest’s graduation photography options include the following.
Individual And Family Portraits
Graduates can book solo photos and/or family shots throughout the day in Tempest’s pop-up studios at the graduation venue. They can choose from more than 60 products spanning from combination packs to contemporary frames. Tempest prints proofs instantly on-site, making it easy to choose favourites.
Presentation Ceremony Photos
Tempest will photograph graduates as they accept their awards onstage. Graduates can purchase these images immediately after the ceremony as an 8×6 print in a card mount with the university crest. Tempest is the biggest operator offering this service and the only one to routinely offer presentation ceremony photos.
Group Photos
Tempest can also schedule faculty or department photos, either on graduation day or during term time. A Tempest photographer will either take these photos on university steps or the company’s state-of-the-art staging.
Tempest Photography’s Gowning and Ticketing Services
Tempest’s graduation services extend beyond photography
. The company serves as a one-stop shop for universities seeking photography, gowning, and ticketing services.
The company’s gowning service:
- Eliminates queues: Tempest fits all hats and gowns with a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip. On-site scanners and the company’s cloud-based online database make it easy to scan hats and gowns in and out.
- Ensures the perfect fit: Tempest hats feature Velcro attachments, and the gowns feature discreet optional front fastenings. This makes it easy to fit hats and gowns and minimises queuing in gowning and photography areas.
- Includes staff gowning: Tempest provides all staff attending graduation ceremonies with gowns from the universities they graduated from. This includes international institutions and is free of charge.
- Uses a secure data-management system: Institutions can log into the gown-ordering system to see how many gowns have been rented and by whom. They can also see any commission generated.
- Makes online ordering easy: Graduates can easily order their hats, gowns, photography, and ceremony tickets online.
Gowning aside, Tempest Photography also offers
a seamless ticketing system. Graduates and their loved ones can register for the ceremony and book tickets through this system, automating the booking process.
The ticketing system is flexible, allowing universities to adapt it with optional features to meet their needs. The software behind the system uses each university’s student data to enable institution-specific functionality.
The ticketing system is accessible through standard web browsers. A member of Tempest’s development team arranges the initial configuration on-site at the university in question. From here, university staff have unlimited access to upload data, make changes, and run reports.
4. Military And Uniformed Services Photography
Tempest Photography has provided the British Military and Uniformed Services sector with photo services for over two decades.
The company’s experienced photographers have captured military personnel at passing-out parades, Regimental Sergeant Majors’ conventions, and international exercises and deployments. They’ve also photographed the staff and residents of Buckingham Palace.
Tempest’s military photography services include the following.
Military Portraits
Passing-out parades are the usual occasion for military studio photography, an ideal time for cadets and their families to celebrate. Tempest sets up studios in communal venues within easy reach of the Parade Square and at bigger parades.
A Tempest photographer then takes classic portrait shots of cadets in uniform. These photos are available to purchase in combination packs, traditional presentations, and contemporary frames.
Location Photography
Tempest photographers visit military training locations to take group and individual shots. These photos capture significant training moments and milestones.
Group Photography
Tempest also provides its high-specification staging to compose military personnel for group shots.
5. Travel Photography
Tempest Travel Photography often joins cruise ship crews to capture guests’ special holiday memories. Tempest supports eight liners from the Cunard and P&O Cruises fleets, offering portrait shots, private photo shoots, and studio experiences.
6. Yearbooks And Hoodies
Prints might be the most classic way to keep photos, but Tempest Photography’s yearbook and hoodie mementos are popular too. Tempest’s sister companies, personalised hoodie leader Moxie and the UK’s largest yearbook company AllYearbooks, allow customers to enjoy an even broader range of keepsakes.
7. Visual Marketing
Exceptional photography is a cornerstone of high-impact visual marketing. Tempest Photography lends its expertise to Jolt Media, its visual and branding agency. Jolt Media teams Tempest’s photography offerings with other creative services, including website design, videography, and visual mapping.
The agency tells its clients’ stories in an engaging and interactive way. It has supported several schools and universities, helping them connect with and inspire their audiences.
About Tempest Photography
Almost one century has passed since Horace Tempest founded Tempest Photography. In the years since, the company has made its mark as a UK leader in photographic excellence.
Tempest Photography’s digital laboratory sits in Cornwall’s peaceful village of Lelant. Europe’s most advanced photographic lab, the company has invested £10 million in it since 2005.
Meanwhile, the company’s highly trained photographers live from corner to corner across the UK. They photograph at schools, universities, and other venues local to them. Many are even alumni of the schools and universities that they photograph at.
Whether it’s a school photo, a graduation photo, or a photo from another event, Tempest Photography’s eProofing system provides instant access to digital images. After viewing the proofs, customers can order their favourite images online. They will find a photo range with options to suit all budgets. Photos are available in both colour and black and white.
Tempest has a reputation for delighting its customers time and time again. On average, 85% return the year after their purchase.