Social skill is key to event photography success
Mike Walen is a self-taught professional photographer whose business success has been entirely driven by word-of-mouth endorsement.
Now KeyImagery, Mike’s Hamilton-based firm, has become a Momentum Waikato Partner business.
With a knack for the social side of snapping people, Mike really enjoys event photography.
“Three quarters of what I do is about being able to socialise with people, I’m not scared of approaching them to ask if I can take their photo,” says Mike.
“Nothing I love more than going along and mingling.”
Events are the “bread and butter” for KeyImagery, which takes Mike to civic, school and sports gatherings across the central North Island. He’s also been the photographer-of-record at international marathons overseas.
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
Craigs Workplace Giving for Christmas in Waikato focused on front line
It has been a delight for us to again coordinate the annual Christmas-time Workplace Giving by Craigs Investment Partners' Hamilton branch.
We've now passed on $13,100 in grants of various sizes from Craigs and its staff to the five Waikato community organisations they have chosen this year, namely Cambridge Lifeskills, Cambridge Tree Trust, Hamilton Land Search & Rescue, Paws 4 Life (who provided the photo below) and Waikato Women's Refuge - Te Whakaruruhau.
Quinton de Bruin, Investment Adviser at Craigs says: “We’re really proud of our Workplace Giving program here at Craigs.”
“Employees opt in to donate from their monthly pay cheque, building up funds over the year which we then donate to charities in need at Christmas time.
“Craigs also matches employee donations dollar for dollar, up to $500 per person per annum, so it’s a great way to be able to make a meaningful impact in our local community,” says Quinton.
We say well played Craigs Investment Partners!
Poll: Would you ever buy a total doer upper?
Housing stock is starting to move on the Coromandel Peninsula, including a dilapidated place one block back from Whitianga's Buffalo Beach that sold to a Hamilton bargain hunter for $500,000.
Real estate companies are starting to see more deals go, however, prices have stabilised with high supply levels still outstripping demand.
Would you ever buy a total doer upper? Tell us your reasons in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).
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0% Yes
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40% Maybe
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60% No