NEWS
Good Employment Charter Awards Event
Behind the scenes of one of the most inspiring events of the year at Whitworth Hall on April 27th stood the awesome SAZ MEDIA team, taking on the challenge of creating film and photography content for the Good Employment Charter Awards evening.
Our team had the privilege of covering the event with a combination of photography and videography, capturing the excitement and energy of the evening, ensuring that every moment was documented as it unfolded. From stunning shots of the guests and the awards being presented to the beautiful decor, we captured it all. Our team worked together seamlessly, ensuring that we were in the right place at the right time to document all the key moments of the event.
As we worked, we could feel the anticipation building, and we knew that we were in for a truly special evening. It was an incredible sight to see so many organisations being recognised for their hard work and dedication, and we were inspired by the passion and enthusiasm of the attendees who were committed to making a difference in their workplaces.
But it wasn't just about capturing the technical aspects of the event. As we worked, we were able to connect with the attendees on a personal level, capturing their excitement and energy for the event and a great opportunity for our team to able to showcase their skills, talents and our films we created with the finalists, which were presented on the big screen at the event.
We’re grateful to the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter for choosing us to be their video partners. We look forward to many more opportunities like this in the future, where we can showcase our skills and continue to grow as a team.
Read down below to discover the valuable insights and experiences shared by our team members as they reflect on their time working with the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter. From creating films to covering the event, capturing moments of action at the Withworth Hall, our team members approached their work with dedication and professionalism.
The SAZ MEDIA Team
Jake Cunningham
(Camera Trainee)
“As a part of the team, I was excited to take on the challenge of photographing a large-scale event with numerous guests at the Good Employment Charter Awards event. The experience proved to be a valuable opportunity for me to enhance my photography skills and techniques. I learned how to expertly capture the fast-paced and crowded environment of the event while mastering low-light settings, all while ensuring I provided effective assistance to our talented cameraman, Phil.
Furthermore, I had the pleasure of working alongside our entire team members, this allowed us to strengthen our connections and allowed us to work more effectively together."
Tolu Sholanke
(Photographer & Workshop Facilitator)
“As a participant in this project, I had the privilege of arriving at the Whitworth Hall early to capture some behind-the-scenes photos of the event space before the main event. The moment I stepped inside the hall, I was amazed by the large-scale of the hall with its long, wide dimensions and seemingly endless ceiling, a perfect venue chosen by the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter. Everything had been perfectly prepared by their team for the event.
Using my keen eye for detail and lighting, I experimented with different lenses and angles to capture the perfect shots. Some of the shots that stood out for me were the stunning view of the hammer beam ceiling and the illuminated organ pipes behind the stage, which truly accentuated the venue's remarkable beauty.
As the day progressed, I decided to stay longer than I had originally planned, eager to use my 35mm in a different room adjacent to the hall where the attendees were meeting and having drinks before the dinner. I enjoyed taking lots of candid shots of people in this area, and I used my 35mm throughout. I was pleased with the results and felt that I had learned some valuable lessons that will serve me well in future projects. From now on, I'll always have my 35mm camera with me!”
Simra T.
(Digital Marketing Officer)
“Working on this project for the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter was an incredible privilege. I gained valuable insights into the dedication of the organisations committed to improving workplace culture for their employees.
It was a pleasure to meet the GMGEC team that is behind such incredible work in person at the event venue, and I was able to witness first-hand the amazing attention to detail that the GMGEC team exhibited in organising the event.
Working alongside our entire team, learning from our Executive Director, Sara Auty and seeing us all come together with great enthusiasm was a truly amazing experience. I am grateful to be a part of this movement and to play a small role in spreading the great work that GMGEC is doing.”
Thank you for reading today's blog. We appreciate your readership and hope you found it insightful. To stay up-to-date on the latest news and insights, don't forget to sign up to our newsletter.
Stay tuned for our next blog where we'll be showcasing the stunning photography we captured at the Good Employment Awards event.
If you have any questions or queries, please don't hesitate to reach out to our team. Contact us and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
SAZ MEDIA
Wow what an amazing Launch Party!
A huge thank you to everyone who came to the SAZ MEDIA launch party at Merseyway Workshop. As you can see from the images it was a huge success and has inspired us to party more often!
We kicked off the event with a warm welcome to everyone, then presented the inspiring launch of www.wifilm.eu which is funded partly by Erasmus. This platform will inspire and educate women on roles in the film industry, as we know film is a male dominated career so it’s been really amazing to see that initiatives such as the WIFI project are still being constructed. We look forward to sharing the finished platform with you circa September 2022 where you will have access to a range of resources for free!
We also discussed up and coming workshops, volunteering and a community darkroom!
It was fantastic to see people from all over the Stockport community come to enjoy themselves together.
A huge thank you to Ailsa McPhee who led the dancing, Ailsa is an inspiration to us all and we can't thank her enough for the great music and entertainment.
Could this be a regular thing, last Friday of the month? Let us know if you’d like to attend.
Enjoy the pictures, Sara & Team :)
News and Updates
As always, it’s been a very busy time here at SAZ MEDIA! Here are some of the things we’ve been up to.
We captured Cornerstone Place in action, supporting the charity sector through affordable buildings. Stepping Stone Projects is supporting homeless people get back on their feet and Andy Burnham Greater Manchester Combined Authority came to show his support for the combined effort. A great day meeting some really caring and passionate people.
We also filmed and photographed Smart Works’ event to raise money to enable them to continue to support women into work. They raised an incredible £11,000 in 6 hours! They do some amazing work helping unemployed women back into jobs.
Coming up…
Get your party hats on because we are having a welcome party at our new place of residence Merseyway Workshop! Come on down this Friday 8th July from 6pm-9pm. There will be food, drinks and workshops galore!
And finally, this week we will be filming Communities in Control with GMCVO, which is a week of showcasing the ways in which Greater Manchester is working to enable a more inclusive economy with VSCEs. Look out for the film which will be released very soon!
Got a question or query? Contact us here
SAZ MEDIA x
What's New?
For the last couple of months we have had our Youth Culture exhibition up at Merseyway Workshop, showcasing the amazing work done by the young people who have attended our workshops.
Well, it is now time to take it down, and we will be doing so tomorrow. In it’s place, however, will be something brand new and exciting curated the creatives at Merseyway Workshop - so watch this space!
And of course, as we have recently moved in we will still have some photos showcased at Merseyway Workshop too!
We have also been busy up in Bolton at Project Inc helping the students create some digital masterpieces!
Here are some photos they have taken for Phase 1 of their projects - we can’t wait to see their final pieces, which will be displayed in their very own mini-museum.
Remember to keep an eye on our instagram and our events calendar for news and workshop dates. There’s lots happening this summer and you don’t want to miss out!
SAZ MEDIA x
We’re moving!
Yep, that’s right, we’re moving!
On the 31st May 2022 we shut the doors of our studio in Houldsworth Mill, our home for the past 12 months, for good.
And while we’re sorry to say goodbye, we’re also super excited to say hello to our new home at Merseyway Workshop, where we held our Youth Culture Exhibition in April.
Here we will be joining a great team of artists, creatives and workshop organisers, which of course compliments SAZ MEDIA perfectly!
We can’t wait to get in there and get stuck in, and once again be right in the action, in the bustling heart of Stockport centre.
Our new address will be Unit 6, Deanery Way, Merseyway Stockport. Pop in when you’re free!
Do be sure to get in touch with any questions or creative media needs!
SAZ MEDIA x
What's New?
good News!
After a super successful project delivered at Offerton Community centre over 7 weeks, SAZ MEDIA and Stockport Children's Services, Youth Workers and Youth Offending team are putting together plans to deliver a similar youth lead project to support young people in Stockport reach their full potential. We look forward to developing this programme and giving more young people the opportunity to learn photography and media related skills, amongst tackling social issues, gaining confidence and new perspectives.
Join us at Stockport Methodist Circuit for free portraits, food, henna, music and more!
From 1pm-5pm Saturday 7th May.
Please note, the event is strictly ladies only.
Studio Shots
Last Friday we had the pleasure of having Tina from Forward into the studio to take some photos. Tina is the founder of Forward, an LGBT+ dedicated safe-space based in Stockport.
Last chance to visit our studio for beautiful family portraits, child portraits, pet portraits or even a treat day for yourself to get that beautiful portrait experience you've always wanted. Visit our professional studio in Reddish for a fun and friendly experience where we will create a something you'll love.
Book in with us via the link here.
Fancy a workshop?
Did you know we also provide workshops for our commercial clients too? Our workshops can be a great ice-breaker for employees, a great way to get employee and volunteer-created content, a fun new social experience or just to increase skills.
This week we are delivering a photography workshop to Renew, helping to up-skill their employees in e-commerce photography so they can generate more sales. Fancy trying us out? See our brochure and enquire today.
Film
Speaking of Renew, have you seen the new films we made to promote their amazing recycling initiative? Renew have opened up shops all over Greater Manchester selling upcycled furniture and other reclaimed goods, giving them another chance at life! We visited them, and this is what we found…
Do be sure to get in touch, we’ll be happy to help with any of your questions or creative media needs!
SAZ MEDIA x
What's new?
Adswood Workshop
On Friday we did a fun workshop at Adswood Youth Centre. In keeping with the theme of supporting young people to eat healthily, we made still life photos from fruit and vegetables we bought from Stockport Market, and cyanotype prints from flowers found in the garden. The young people were so engaged in learning how to manoeuvre a camera and in setting up their still life arrangements.
To see all of the photos, visit our Flickr here.
Youth Culture Exhibition
On Saturday we put on an exhibition at Merseyway Workshop, of the work of over 80 young people who have taken part in our workshops recently.
We carefully curated some of the pieces we felt best represented the themes explored, including: Identity, Community, Expression and Nature.
The exhibition was a hit, with delicious food provided by Sticky Fingers Stockport and a great turn out.
For anyone who missed it, don’t worry; a film showcasing the event will be available soon!
New Film
Have you seen our exciting new RBH Corporate Strategy film? We worked hard to bring their vision to life, and show what RBH are really all about.
Do be sure to get in touch, we’ll be happy to help with any of your questions or creative media needs!
SAZ MEDIA x
Weekly Update - Friday 18th March 2022
This week we have got lots done!
We have released our latest zine, using photos created by the young people at Offerton Community Centre. We launched this at their exhibition which was a huge hit and well attended by local counsellors and members of the community!
You can read about it here in this article written by One Stockport.
Have a flick through yourself below, and you can pick up your own copy at our Merseyway Workshop Exhibition on the 7th-9th April. To find out more about this event click here.
We’ve also been filming all over Greater Manchester, with some exciting new projects on the way. Check out our instagram page here to see exclusive behind the scenes footage from our adventures.
Next Saturday 26th March we will have a stall at Levenshulme Market where we’ll be selling beautiful framed prints made by the young people at our workshops, fun photoboxes (including our new zine) with handy hints and things to do inside, and much more!
We’d love to see you there, so come on down, get yourself some delicious food or drink and come have a natter!
And finally, have you or someone you know signed up to our next 18-30 workshop next Monday, the 21st March? We’ll be meeting at The Plaza, Stockport, to go on an adventure around Stockport Town Centre. We’ll be sharing how to take beautiful and interesting photos - and don’t worry about equipment, we’ll provide it all! If you do have your own camera though, feel free to bring it along. Book here now!
The Monday after we have our final 18-30 workshop hosted at our own studios in Houldsworth Mill where we will explore portrait photography. Book here now as spaces are limited!
We have also updated our showreel! It now contains more recent footage highlighting our past year. You can watch it here - see if you can spot yourself!
That’s all from us this week, but please do get in touch for all your creative media needs!
Events Coming Soon!
A very busy, very exciting month ahead this March!
First off is our Offerton Community Centre Exhibition on the 10th March.
Then on the 12th we have our first 18-30s day trip to Abney Hall Park and a walk down the River Mersey.
To book your tickets, click here
Following up on that, on the 14th we will have our first 18-30 workshop, creating some light paintings at SAZ MEDIA studios. To book on, click here
On the 21st we have our 18-30 outdoor photography workshop where we will meet at The Plaza and photograph Stockport’s lovely town centre. To book on, click here
Back at SAZ Studios we will be hosting the final 18-30 workshop doing portraits on the 28th March. For tickets, please click here
All our 18-30s workshops are very limited to 10 spaces each, so be quick to ensure your space!
All abilities welcome, and we will provide equipment needed. If you do have your own camera then feel free to bring it!
For local community centre workshops please visit our calendar here.
And that’s it - for now! We’re always thinking up new and exciting ideas of things we can do to give back to the community, so stay connected with us so you never miss a thing. The best way to do this is by signing up to our newsletter and following us on social media.
We are looking forward to seeing you!
The team @ SAZ MEDIA
TRACO UK Film Production
The Saz Media team recently travelled to Portsmouth to produce a film for TRACO UK - fellow participants of the Impact Hub King’s Cross Assets Programme run in partnership with Wates. TRACO UK are a Social Enterprise and furniture relocation and recycling company who focus on sustainability and providing employment opportunities for disadvantaged people. The film production is a celebration of TRACO UK’s social impact and business development during the Assets Programme.
We had a great time working with TRACO UK and look forward to further solidifying our new relationship, and those with our other Social Enterprise peers - all thanks to Wates, the Impact Hub and their Assets Programme.
Below are a selection of photographs taken during the film production. Subscribe to our Newsletter for further updates on film production, social impact and our involvement in the Assets Programme, or follow us on social media at:
