- Electrify Pyrotechnics

Pyromusicals - fireworks displays set to music.

Top Tips for Firework Photography

20 June 2022

It’s not easy to take photos of fireworks, but with a bit of planning and some luck you will get great results. I’ve been practising for years, and have had my work featured in the Guardian and on CNN.

Here are my top firework photography tips for beginners.

Preparation is everything in this game.

The best camera is one which gives you as much control as possible. Your phone might do a good job, but you’ll be relying on luck. If you can use a camera which lets you adjust the exposure manually you will be in control.

You will almost certainly need to use as wide an angle as possible You can zoom in on parts of the display if you want – but it is harder to get the framing right.

If possible, visit the firing site in advance – and certainly get out there before the display itself. Find out where the fireworks will be, where the crowd is going to stand, and where you need to be in order to get the best pictures. Be upwind of the display if you can – the smoke will blow away from you. You probably need to be further away from the display than you think – but try it.

Ask the firework display operators how high the fireworks will go, how long the display will last, and if there are any special effects to catch.

Take some trial photos (in the dark if possible) to check the framing and exposure. Turn off the flash and the autofocus (if you can)

If you don’t think you can get all the fireworks in your picture how about another angle – people’s faces lit up by the fireworks, something happening in the crowd, an abstract of the smoke blowing across the sky.

Keep a steady head

You will definitely take better photos if you have a tripod as the slightest movement of the camera just makes a blur. Stay as still as you can during the photo (even holding your breath helps). Use a remote control to release the shutter if you can.

Keep a steady head, too. Keep an eye (and an ear) out for things happening around you.

Shoot, check, adjust, repeat

The biggest fireworks make a “thud” as they leave the ground giving you two or three seconds before they explode in the sky. Many of them will burst in the same place – so find one and wait for the next. Shoot, check, adjust, repeat

Work fast. Take loads of photos and remember – one good shot may be all that you are after.

If you would like any more information about any of Electrify Pyrotechnics firework displays, head over to the wedding fireworks, party fireworks or the fireworks homepage. Or why not give us a call on 01332 650770, or you can find additional contact information here.

Images courtesy of: Rob Watling, F4 photography, Screen Photography, Marcus Holdsworth Phtography & Ryan Maudsley Photography.

Rob Watling is an amateur photographer who has worked on wide variety of firework displays for a number of firework display companies over the last 15 years. Rob currently combines his love of all things ‘fireworks’ with his photography whilst working as a pyrotechnician for Electrify Pyrotechnics Ltd

Secret school fundraising offer

7 September 2017

Calling all teachers – be your schools’ fundraising hero!

If you’re reading this then hopefully you are a teacher, headteacher, PTA member or a parent active in school fundraising. If you are, then we can reveal a one-time offer that will allow you to easily raise funds for your school and be a fundraising hero! This offer has become available solely due to the dates that certain days of the year fall in 2017!

Intrigued? Then read on and all will become clear…

Fundraising problems:

Fundraising is a headache, it takes a huge amount of effort (entertainment, marketing, different suppliers, health and safety, risk assessments – the list goes on). What we can offer reduces the amount of effort you need to put in to hold the fundraising event, as we do the majority of the work!
Keeping people at your fundraising event and spending – our offer will allow you to easily attract people to your event and keep them there spending for as long as you want!
Cost – the cost of holding an event can be expensive with little return. We have a discount offer to blow you away – keep reading!
In order to grow the event year after year takes an increase in effort with not necessarily the same growth in funds raised. Our offer is proven to grow and current customers have seen attendance and revenues grow year on year.
If you hold your event at the same dates as other schools then you’re already competing for attendance. This is where our offer delivers…it’s time to explain.

Bonfire night falls on a Monday this year, which means that most of our customers want a display on the Friday or Saturday, however like most firework companies we have our stock, staff and vans ready from much earlier in the week and so can offer a much reduced rate for a Bonfire night fireworks event…

Our existing school clients started off small, made a good profit in year 1 however have grown year on year
We carry £10 million public liability insurance, and do risk assessments and organise the display set up and clear up
Attendance tends to be high as people are looking for firework displays to go to at that time of year, and are more likely to attend their own schools display if it doesn’t clash with a large public event. A small entrance fee will make a big difference to your fundraising efforts
You can blow them away with our amazing professional displays. Recently we held a display at a school who had previously done fireworks themselves – they were blown away by the difference between a professional display and their hand-fired retail bought fireworks. Their crowds have grown year on year ever since.
Your customers come with money and spend at stalls until the fireworks are done. This allows you to put on additional stalls to raise further funds:
- Competition stalls (hook a duck, basketball throwing)
- Hot food stalls
- small fair ride pitches
Ever see glow sticks and flashing toys at firework displays? That’s because kids buy them by the bucket-load, and we can provide them for you at a low cost giving you an extra revenue stream on the night
Prices for our firework display include VAT, so many organisations can claim that back, making it even cheaper to hold the event

Our Bonfire night displays start at £1800 including VAT however due to the date that Bonfire night falls and availability on other nights in the week we can now offer:

Tuesday 30th Oct – Thursday 1st Nov – £1250 incl VAT Quote offer ref BONWEEK

Sunday 4th & Monday 5th November – £1500 incl VAT Quote offer ref BONSUN

“I organise a fireworks night as a fundraiser at my children’s school and everyone always says it is truly the best display they have seen, our crowds have trebled over the last 3 years as has our profit. Value for money with the most fantastic service…… everything is taken care of so all you need to do is sell tickets! Could not recommend enough”

Jane Lee – Forestdale Primary School PTA

So in terms of fundraising, the sky really is the limit this Bonfire Night. So why not be a fundraising hero and see how Electrify Pyrotechnics can help your organisation to exceed its’ fundraising target in 2017.

Our first staff meeting and everyone’s safety

28 February 2017

Well, as we commence our first season together as a newly formed company, what better time to talk about staff engagement and the importance of safety. Last Saturday saw all of our amazing firers come together for the first time as Electrify to discuss the year ahead.

Fireworks are amazing things, they are beautiful, powerful and add so much to events, however in the wrong hands they can be extremely dangerous. That’s why, amongst all the fun and socialising we broach those serious subjects. The safety of Electrify’s staff and that of our customers and their guests is the most important thing. It is more important than any other element of the display, and all of our staff know that everybody’s safety comes above all else. Right through from storing fireworks, planning the display, transporting pyro to lifting heavy equipment to firing and clearing up afterwards – safety and reducing the risk of accidents needs to be on everyone’s mind. All of our firers have a wealth of experience when it comes to firing displays, some have been doing so for decades. However regardless of tenure, whether a staff member has done 1000 shows or this is their first, safety is everyone’s responsibility.

That’s why amongst talking about some of the amazing new fireworks we’re getting this year, and looking at some pretty impressive lighting and sound equipment, we dedicate the largest portion of the day to keeping everyone safe and ensuring we deliver a safe display to all our customers. We are building upon years of experience, however we never stop looking at ways to make things better. This is the first of several meetings this year with safety at the forefront, and it will be for every year that we operate. Here’s to another safe year and a whole host of awesome shows.

PS – next on the purchase list is a projector screen