Portrait and Music portfolio
A state of grace – Perceptions
I’m a big fan of your work, very animated.
The next photo is always the best one – and the way it should be. ‘the universal sense of quest, daring and growth.’ J Baldwin.
Sometimes I believe images should speak for themselves – other times that there is a story behind every image.
Pauline Keightley, Scottish Arts and Music Blogger: Portrait & Music photographer since 2007.
My photography is about creative & alternative style, natural light, composition and photo journalism. I aim to mix the old with the new and capture moods such as quiet moments of inner reflection. My work includes Celtic Connections, Edinburgh Festival, Scottish Ballet, Manchester Jazz Festival (MJF), major concerts and festivals & artist promotions. Traditional folk musicians, emerging contemporary talent and established major musicians such as Elton John & Fleetwood Mac. My images have been published in a range of press & media worldwide that include – Daily Mail, Financial Times, Scotsman, The List, The Sun, BBC, News Group Newspapers Limited.
I have a large archive of photos from Celtic Connections & Edinburgh festivals on my website – from 2007 to 2023. My photography focus is on the black and white image and on portraiture, music and street photography. I admire the photographers Mario Testino, Eve Arnold and David Bailey. Glasgow is BRILLIANT for it's number of cultural events and therefore is an excellent city for music & event photography. My Arts and music blog has over a million hits with interest worldwide. I lived ten years in America, grew up in Edinburgh to Irish parents and now live north of Glasgow. I am a photographer, blogger and former teacher. I am particularly interested in concise writing and to focus on accessing the most significant details.
My FACEBOOK Scottish Music & Arts has 800 followers, over 12 years of 50 albums. Images archive website to license for use. Contact - Scottish ARTS & MUSIC - https://www.facebook.com/scottishmusicblogs/
BLOGGER - I began blogging in 2007 mostly with music reviews. I expanded into the Scottish arts. Musicnotes, Poetrynotes, Songbooks, History & art. I grew up in Edinburgh and I live north of Glasgow (plus 10 years in America) which I hope gives me unique perspectives.
PKIMAGE MUSICFOOTNOTES, Scottish Arts & Music blog since 2007. http://www.musicfootnotes.com
*BIO* - I have always been studying art. In 2006 I took up a camera again and re-discovered developing a good eye for what works. I drew portraits all the time and was fascinated by line, beauty, shade, composition and faces. Years back I used a Pentax film camera which created quality results. Both art and film make for careful thought and observation of light and subject. When I took up my first serious camera in 2006 I realised my long held passion for portrait photography. I had taken some images with a small disposable camera at a gig in London in 2004 and discovered that photography was mostly about having a 'good eye' - while having good equipment is about having good tools! I started shooting music photography and I have been to many memorable gigs over recent decades, of famous, folk and new artists. There is a huge adrenlin rush at the bigger stages. I received good feedback for my photography and worked on developing my craft and skills. I took images of singer songwriter Emeli Sande in 2007, five years before her breakthrough in 2012 with 'Our Version of Events' when I was excited to take photos at her Royal Albert hall gig! My images were used for her promotions. Sande sang at the London Olympic Opening ceremony 2012. Also photo-shoots of authors Edinburgh International book festival.
My other love was music and playing Mozart or Joni Mitchell tunes on piano. I was fortunate in my twenties to enjoy Scotland’s heritage of traditional music with fiddle and guitar playing and unaccompanied singing at Sandy Bells bar and at folk festivals. I shoot at Celtic Connections, Edinburgh book festival (EIBF), Edinburgh Fringe, ballet, events and behind the scenes. Plus emerging artists now signed to major labels - Lau, Warpaint, James Blake, Django Django, Admiral Fallow, Metronomy, Head and Heart, Miles Kane, Low Anthem, more. Live album shoot Manchester Kirsty McGee and Mat Martin in 2008. My images have been used in print media worldwide and by major publications. I admire the photographers Mario Testino, Eve Arnold and David Bailey. Glasgow is BRILLIANT for it's number of cultural events and therefore is an excellent city for music & event photography. My writing is also very important for me.
Thanks to all those who taught me the joy of music - my first piano teacher, my father, my folk guitarist boyfriend back in my twenties, the Beatles, Joni, Mozart, and my children, and all the many artists who have inspired my photography! Also to all who have encouraged my photography with their kind feedback.
TESTIMONIALS: 'you use the light exceptionally well, full of life.’ 'You have a wonderfully observing and imaginative eye.' ''you're really very talented & have a great eye - it's a rare skill!' 'they are fab as always, you're truly amazing at your art'
"Pauline's photos have proved invaluable to the project I hired her for - they are dynamic and very much in line with the brief we gave her. Her work was efficient, and she was very professional as well as very personable. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her to any musician wanting excellent quality and highly useable live shots." Musician Mat Martin.
Photography is a truly ‘eye-opening’ and blessed experience: whether the blue-greys of a new day, the long glow of dusk, shared laughter, intense depth in a singer, or majestic mountains, and to capture those rare moments of quiet reflection, an inner sense if special connections. This being in touch is highly rewarding, makes you appreciate beauty and soul wherever you might find it. Music/ Portraits/ Events/
