"To photographers starting out: "Shoot what you LOVE! Find what you're passionate about and shoot that as often as possible. There is nothing wrong with working on the paid gigs, but only show the type of work on your website and portfolio that ultimately you'd love to shoot. You'll be surprised when people start hiring you to shoot exactly that!" Kicking off her career as the Hy Sheanin Scholarship winner at WPPI was literally the beginning of her professional career and as the expression goes, the rest is history. She's been featured in story after story in virtually every major photographic magazine. Her client list is already a "Who's Who" in fashion and lifestyle. But as impressive as Dixie's work is, bringing a "fresh look to fashion photography", her most amazing quality is humility and just how easy she is to work with. Oh yeah, and let's not forget her passion for how much she simply loves shooting! She needs to be on your radar. Check out her website, it's just a click away. Images copyright Dixie Dixon. All rights reserved.
0 Comments
My apologies if this sounds like an infomercial, but two weeks ago SmugMug announced the launch of a new project, SmugMug Films. Their tag line is "Inspire, Celebrate, Share" and that's exactly what they're doing. As promised their first video launched on January 13 and it's outstanding. This has absolutely nothing to do with SmugMug's product line, but an indulgence in their passion for the craft. The plan currently is to release a new video every two weeks and after the first one with Benjamin Von Wong, I couldn't be more excited to see the next film in the series. But there's a side bar I mention in the new podcast today with Chris MacAskill, CEO of SmugMug and Anton Lorimer, director and producer of SmugMug Films. The profile of the artist in each short film is the inspiration, but pay attention to the way Anton tells the story. We're on the dawn of some incredible technology and whether you call it mixed media, fusion or hybrid makes no difference. Each of you have the ability to offer your clients something new. But, telling a story in video is completely different from still images and you're going to need to know how to do it right if you're going to grow your business. Watch the introduction video about the series and then the first release, Ben Von Wong's profile. How would you tell your story? How would you tell the story of a client, be it a wedding or a day in the life shoot of a family? Could you tell any story in under two minutes? If what Einstein said is true, then consider this first film in the series a preview of what's coming. We're in for one incredible ride! “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions.” Albert Einstein Photo credit: screen captures from SmugMug Film's Introduction video
"What advice would I give a new photographer just starting out? If you're just starting out you need to understand that photography is a commitment, especially if you're getting into wedding photography. Not to sound like too much of a cliche, but be prepared to make mistakes and more importantly learn from them. Challenge yourself and think outside the box. Don't be like everyone else. This will move you forward." JP is part of an amazing team, growing up in the industry and shooting with his father, Joe. He's an outstanding photographer, but what's most impressive is the way he adds the word "fun" to the relationship with his clients. Just look at the expressions in any Elario album and you can't help but smile! Check out the Elario website and put JP on your radar by reading his blog! Images copyright J.P. Elario. All rights reserved.
What advice would I give new photographers? My advice to new photographers is not to get hung up on equipment to the detriment of vision. Don’t be equipment poor. Buy the least expensive gear from a brand you like and be sure to look at used and refurbished models to save money. When you need specialized gear, rent it. Use your camera to make a new picture every day. Make it a self-assignment and post images on a (free) Tumblr blog for the world to see. Embrace the concept of testing; don’t practice on your clients. Follow the Boy Scout’s motto of “Be Prepared” so when you walk into that assignment for a new client you’ve got the basics down and are prepared to handle all of the surprises you won’t see coming. Part of being prepared is educating yourself. Read photography magazines and books, read blogs and attend seminars to improve your technical skills and expose yourself to other ways of seeing. Lastly and more importantly, find a mentor, an older photographer who attended ‘the school of hard knocks’ and when you’re more experienced remember to pass on what you’ve learned on to a new photographer. You've got to love a guy who has a blog with the tag line, "Saving the World, One Pixel at a Time". Check out Joe's blog and get him in your RSS feed. His posts are always loaded with great content and just to stay on top of what Joe's doing, follow him on twitter too! Images copyright Joe Farace. All rights reserved.
I need a little help from Dave Barry to set the stage.... “As you get older; you've probably noticed that you tend to forget things. You'll be talking with somebody at a party, and you'll know that you know this person, but no matter how hard you try, you can't remember his or her name. This can be very embarrassing, especially if he or she turns out to be your spouse.” I’m not quite that bad, but this week at IUSA I couldn’t help but notice the number of times somebody said hello and as we walked away, I’d quietly say to Sheila, “I have no idea who that was!” According to my good buddy Scott Bourne, I’m older than dirt and should be a better photographer, considering I studied under Matthew Brady! LOL I don’t honestly feel older, although I have noticed that I creak for ten minutes when I get up in the morning. And, according to Sheila, I have yet to develop any serious maturity! Here’s the thing, yes, I’m getting older, but I figured out that I’ve been going to an average of four conventions a year since 1987. Throw in a few dozen Hasselblad University road shows from the 90’s, workshops, association meetings, advisory boards and presentations and I’ve met literally thousands of photographers, their spouses and managers in this industry. The challenge is the same thing I had when I bought my new computer – I need more memory…I’ve got a Drobo 5 D at home that I wish I could just plug into my brain! Julieanne Kost used a great line when it came to getting involved in a new project years ago, “Skip, I’m just out of bandwidth!” So, to any of you who, this week at the convention, who felt slighted because you didn’t get as big a welcome as you should have– my apologies. It certainly wasn’t intentional. but I’ve got an idea for the next convention. For anybody you meet over 50, especially somebody who’s a speaker or exhibitor meeting a lot of people every year – just give us a hint and your name with where you might have met before. It’ll save you from feeling snubbed and us old farts from spending days after a convention trying to remember who we just talked to. "Middle age is having a choice between two temptations and choosing the one that'll get you home earlier!" Dan Bennett Welcome to my world!
Illustration credit: © freshidea - Fotolia.com
"What advice would I give new photographers just starting out? Be interested and engage in the people and the world around you. That is where you'll find the stories that are yours to tell. It feeds the soul. Connect and build relationships with the people you photograph, your pictures will be better."
As one of the country's leading photojournalists and a Pulitzer Prize winner, Deanne's images always tell a story. Check out this new series she's producing over at Think Tank, where she is a co-founder and watch the short video below! Regardless of your photographic specialty, Deanne is somebody you should be following. Her website and more images are just a click away. Follow her on Twitter. Check out her Facebook page. You'll also find her on Linkedin and keep tabs on her latest images on Instagram.
Images copyright Deanne Fitzmaurice. All rights reserved.
Remember all those seventh grade English classes you hated? Well, here's where they pay off with the use of more descriptive explanations of your passion for photography and the services you offer.
Wandering through a few different websites, I've found most photographer's descriptions of their various services underwhelming. Photographers, for whatever reason, hate to use adjectives, but you're in good company, I've found a few manufacturers who were just as bad! Think about the last time you walked down an aisle at a trade show. Exhibitors who had exciting displays got your attention, but every now and then you'd see a booth that was nothing more than a static display with a couple of people in business attire, looking more like they were auditioning for Night of the Living Dead than interested in talking with you. Well, many of you have websites and brochures not much different. You've got to be excited about your business if you want your potential clients to be excited too! I don't profess to be an English teacher, but I do know something exciting when I see it. So many of you describe your services and promotions like a can of soda that's been left open for the night. It's got color and flavor, but absolutely no fizz, it's flat! Here's a great example: Over the years I've watched the way Vicki Taufer markets her business. I've talked a lot about her in various blog posts as well. She doesn't just sell wallets she sells Art Wallets. Unique portrait sessions are called Limited Editions. Instead of just doing Big Prints she does V Imagery and on location sessions are called Real Life. Years ago Ricardo Montalban was a spokesperson for Chrysler and the Chrysler Cordoba had "rich Corinthian leather". None of us knew what Corinthian leather was, except that it must have been incredible! Even in simple products today, like moisturizers, we've got shea butter in hundreds of lotions...okay gang, what exactly is shea butter and when did it come into our lives? It wouldn’t be a big deal if they just called it a moisturizer or a secret ingredient. Here's a challenge for everybody. Take the time during the next month, after all it's the slow season, and look at your website and your promotional material. My bet is you could use a few good adjectives here and there, just to create a little excitement in the way you describe your products, your services and probably even yourself! Look at your website too - does it have fizz or is it a little flat? With the convention season, now in full swing, make it a point to attend some marketing programs. Don't just go to the programs with the hottest icons - odds are you need help in your marketing efforts just as much as your photography. What you're really doing is building your brand. You can choose to present it like a commodity item at Kmart or you can go for the designer label. Just remember, as you work to make your brand more dynamic, it's not just about using great adjectives and writing creative copy. You need to deliver great products and services too. Make sure you can walk the talk! Warren Buffet couldn't have put it in simpler terms: "Your premium brand had better be delivering something special, or it's not going to get the business." Illustration Credit: © Adrian Hillman - Fotolia.com What advice would I give a photographer just starting out? I truly believe there are three elements one must consider when starting out as a serious photographer. It is vital that an education of the craft should be highly considered. Education is ongoing. If you can learn something new from each convention or program you attend or simply from thumbing through magazines, wonderful!! I also stress to my attendees in my programs, “when you are ready to learn, your teacher will appear.” What this means is that if one is truly serious about photography, locating the ideal mentor is important. By doing so, your mentor will teach you his/her style of photography as well as enhancing your strengths and correcting your weaknesses. My mentors were Rocky Gunn and Al Gilbert. They both were the “masters” of lighting and posing. Over time, they both taught me these two important aspects in order to make the subjects not look good but great. The second element is posing and lighting. Again, these are two skills that cannot be mastered overnight, but through time, practice, more practice, and lots of practice. These are skills that must be patiently understood so your subjects will look timeless in your photographs. The final element is passion. You must love what you do. Once you realize that you love what you do, photography is not work but passion and joy! Hanson's advice couldn't be more dead-on. Just passion for the craft without attention to building your skill set and building relationships with some great teachers isn't enough. Hanson is a prime example of a great photographer who worked hard to become one of the very best artists in the world as well as one of the most passionate. Follow Hanson's work in his website galleries and stay on top of his workshop schedule as well, with a click on the link below. Images copyright Hanson Fong. All rights reserved.
What advice would I give photographers just starting out? LEARN YOUR CRAFT! There is no magical pill in photography or heck, in life, besides hard work. Sure you can pick up a camera and make decent images today as the cameras are so powerful. However, the camera still does not make the image, you do. Learn your craft, learn lighting, learn posing, do not allow the blinders of ego driven self-pity hinder your craft. Learn from the older photographers. You may not always agree with their approach, BUT they understand the harder part of photography, how to run a successful business. Youth have a wonderful sense of freedom in this art so share that with the older generation and receive their knowledge in return. When working together, the art of being a professional grows and carries on for the next generation. Finally (as mentioned a little above) don’t take only photography classes, take business classes. ANYONE can be a photographer, it is not hard to do. Join PPA, to many young photographers the PPA is like life insurance to an 18 year old. They see no gain in joining, only the cost of the membership. It is not until that 18 year old gets older and has friends start dying around him/her they realize the value of life Insurance. Same as young photographers, until they get clients who sue them, do they see the value of the PPA. Don’t mess up and then search for help from PPA. Join early – make lasting relationships which assist you in the learning process your entire life. The most successful photographers I know are often average shooters, but amazing business people. There is a big difference between being in the Business of Photography and the Photography business. Only the first one will allow you to be successful in the long run. Mike Fulton is a key member of the team at TriCoast Photography and they need to be on your radar. Look for their workshops and programs. Follow them on Facebook too. If you see them teaching at a convention you're about to attend make it a point to grab a front row seat! Images copyright TriCoast Photography. All rights reserved.
Last April I published a post that my buddy, Scott Bourne wrote a long time ago. I ran across it this morning when trying to think about today's post.
We're officially in the slow season, although for many of us, with the barrage of trade shows and conventions, it's anything but slow. With each convention we've got a chance to grow as artists, communicators and friends. Our networks will expand with every convention. Our expertise will grow with each workshop or program we attend. Our style may change as we meet new people, look at new images and see the newest round of technical advances. Scott's words were directed towards what he might say at the time in terms of a commencement speech, but they're dead on for what we all need to be thinking about for 2014. “Be prepared for lots of hard work – sales and marketing should dominate your day – show the work every chance you get – network like crazy – shoot what you love – repeat.” But while that’s all good advice, there’s more I would say if I were speaking at a commencement. I’d talk about understanding the high degree of importance graduates should place in each and every relationship they engage in during their career. Whether it’s the mailman or the recent client, these relationships are really all that matters. I didn’t know this when I was young and it hurt me…both personally and professionally. So obsess over gear and f/stops if you must, but if you really want to succeed, pay attention to the people in your professional life. Build solid, long-term relationships with them. Care about them. Help them. Put them and their interests ahead of your own. You never know where that will lead. You might be dealing with that person 30 years later. They’ll remember how you valued (or didn’t) the relationship when you were young. And so will you. Illustration Credit: © mybaitshop - Fotolia.com "What advice would I give new photographers? It's a really easy one liner: If you would like to have a long lasting, fulfilling career as a creative professional, my advice is simple..........Sell ART not Pictures!" Looking for more of Jim's work? Check out his website and galleries in commercial, wedding, family and senior photography. There's a reason why he's won so many awards over the years in competition! Images copyright Jim Garner. All rights reserved. What advice would we have for new photographers? Well, it starts with one of our favorite quotes... Jack Trout, writer of the 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing, says that "Perception is not reality, it is the ONLY reality." Meaning, that once we have the skills to do the job, we need to act like any other successful business acts and come out charging! Be a force to be reckoned with, don't be afraid to compete right at the top and never let ANYONE tell you that you can't! Whether you're just starting out or you've been in business for years, Zach and Jody bring a fresh perspective on the way you'll learn to think through so many different issues about your business. What I enjoy the most is how diversified they are. They're an amazing team with the ability to help you expand your skill set in both business and technology. Take a trip to their website so you can stay on top of what they're doing next. And, check out their blog. It's always loaded with great content! Images copyright Zack and Jody Gray. All rights reserved.
All the information you need to get the most out of this year's ImagingUSA convention is on their website. Just click on the banner. I've written a lot about this over the years, but it's such a fun topic to write about. My hope is that it influences a few more of you to make the effort and get to the next convention, if you're not here in Phoenix. Every year I write dozens of posts that tie into one of the most important concepts in this industry, being involved. While you can slowly and painfully build a business in a vacuum, why would you want to? For me there's nothing that energizes me more than a good convention and the anticipation I'm feeling this morning is incredible. A great convention isn't just about technology and what I hope to learn over the next few days, it's about catching up to friends I haven't seen in a few months. It's about the fun of actually meeting friends I only know from social media, online or maybe over the phone. With each "new" friend comes another step forward in all of our efforts to make the industry stronger, learn from each other and raise the bar on the quality of our businesses. A great convention is like an energy field in a sci-fi movie. Put a few thousand people in a building, all with varying levels of passion for different aspects of imaging, and there are few things more exciting. And for some of you new photographers who have yet to attend your first convention...just remember the way I just described it and you'll see what I mean when you make it to your first event. For those of you in the US and a few from overseas who come to at least one convention in this country each year, if you're not here in Phoenix, don't worry about it. Just make it a point to get to the next big convention, WPPI in March. And if that's not in your plans, then check out your state convention, which you should always be attending, regardless. As I've written before, you can stand on the sidelines and watch the parade go by or you can make it a point to be in the parade! There's nothing like a great convention to get your creative juices flowing and instill an incredible amount of pride at the career path we've all chosen! See you at IUSA!
"What advice would I give new photographers and videographers? We live in a world that is getting increasingly cluttered with confusing messages. We must communicate… motivate… create."
Every now and then an artist comers along with a bio that's simply fun to share. And, since Rich has been involved in so many different SCU projects, and is also responsible for all the great support the industry receives from Photofocus.com it seems appropriate to tell you a little more about him. When Rich was seven, he was grounded for using magnets to rearrange the picture tube on the family’s 13-inch color TV (it works but don’t try it). He has since gone on to many more interesting adventures. After a decade of working in the graphic design and video industry, he set off to found his own group, RHED Pixel. His goal was to harness the new generation of digital video tools to bring high-quality media production to a broad audience. In 1999, Richard Harrington Video opened its doors, offering video production, multimedia, and consulting services to a wide range of clients. The company was rebranded RHED Pixel (after Richard Harrington Electronic Design and Pixels, the digital building blocks) a short time later. He has written and co-authored over 40 books. On the top of the list of favorite things to do, besides traveling and lecturing...teaching his kids the joys of science fiction and comic books. If it involves pop culture, you can bet Rich is plugged in. Gadgets and gizmos? He's your guy. He's a phenomenal teacher, writer, presenter and artist. He's also a great guy to grab dinner with, but definitely order extra fries! Eagles Day 1 from RHED Pixel on Vimeo. One of the mini-benefits of traveling and spending time with friends, especially from a blogger's point of view, is a whole new crop of kitchen magnet wisdom. Sheila and I headed to Phoenix a few days before IUSA to catch up to Michele Celentano and her family. I had something in the pipeline for a post this morning, but then I walked by the refrigerator. "Don't be pushed by your problems, be led by your dreams." Proverb That quote just hit me hard, because I see so many of you struggling with your problems. Struggle long enough and those problems become baggage that starts to bury your dreams. Look, I'm older than most of you and according to my good buddy, Scott Bourne, I'm older than everybody. But, I've made it a point, with a lot of help from Sheila, Scott and a whole bunch of good friends, to never let go of my dreams. No matter how big the challenges are, your dreams are who you are and as essential to your growth and survival as your heart pumping away, all day every day. Don't let anybody crush your dreams! While that's stupid and too simplistic for me to even say, when you start to feel the pressure then it's time to bring in those people closest to you in your network. It's time to find that one best friend who listens more than talks, doesn't pass judgement and simply appreciates you because you're you. There's one more quote from Michele's fridge that deserves its own moment this morning... "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams..." Eleanor Roosevelt Next month I'll be celebrating 44 years in the photographic industry. I've seen fads come and go, managers, companies and concepts change, but the one consistent common denominator has always been being inspired by good friends who help me stay focused and keep me energized to chase my dreams.
Welcome to Michele's kitchen!
What advice would I give a new photographer? Well, I'd like to pass along the best advice I ever received when I was just starting out. The source was John Loengard, a brilliant photographer and author, who was the picture editor for Life Magazine. I had just shown him my nascent portfolio, and he'd said some nice things. But I was confused. Should I shoot pictures like the ones I saw in magazines and ads, or should I shoot some ideas I had in my head, or what? I just wanted to be a success; I wanted my pictures to be in the magazines and ads.
He said, "Well, if you shoot pictures like the ones you see, you'll probably do just fine. You'll get work, and get busy, and have a good career, and in ten years I won't know which work is yours." He paused, and raised his exceptionally bushy eyebrows. "But if you shoot what you can't help but shoot, well, those will be your best pictures, because they come naturally to you. And people will respond to them because they're your best pictures, and hire you to shoot more of them. And since you can't help but shoot 'em anyway, they'll come real easily and you won't have to second-guess your clients, and you'll produce more of your best work, and so on. This process will repeat itself, and in ten years, you'll see in hindsight that you will have developed a style. And I'll be able to identify which pictures are yours." You can't aim for a style; you can only see it in hindsight. If you try to develop it, then it's probably a technique, not a style. A technique is something someone else could do and come up with a reasonably similar result. But a style is like your fingerprints, like your DNA. It's uniquely yours. It's probably already there. You just have to shoot a lot of pictures to give it a chance to show up. So that's my advice. That, and this: Be nice to people. People you shoot, people you work with, your clients, your assistants, everyone. And work hard. And never blow off an assignment. Every assignment is an opportunity to make the picture of your life. You just never know. So show up every time with your full game.
In May of 2009, after years of knowing each other, but never getting any quality time together, I had the honor to work with Gregory for three solid weeks doing live portfolio reviews of the graduating class of Hallmark Institute. It was an amazing experience and the start of a friendship I cherish.
Gregory is a phenomenal artist, teacher and author. His book, "50 Portraits" is stunning and reflects his unmatched passion for capturing the human spirit. If he's on the platform of any workshop or convention you're headed to, run don't walk to grab a seat. You'll never be disappointed! If you want to see more of his work, check out his website or better yet, just buy his book! It's the perfect addition to every photographer's library and is in stock at Amazon right now. Just click on the book cover on the left to see more of his images!
Images copyright Gregory Heisler. All rights reserved.
A short time ago I published a post showing a series of "great images". In Advanced Wedding Photographers I had asked the members to share what they considered their strongest images... "Take a look at your best images for the past year and show us your favorite. Pick out that one image that would get you hired..." I thought I would get a lot of classic solid portraiture. Advanced Wedding Photographers is a closed group with just under 500 members, all very talented artists. I want to share a few more images today, because each time more are posted, I'm reminded that the definition of a "great image" isn't always about photographic technique, but timing. At the time of my original request, I had forgotten about images that simply capture emotion. I forgot about moments that show a little of the soul of the photographer as well as the subjects. I also forgot about humor as a marketing tool. A big thanks to these artists for sharing some of their favorites, along with the reasons why. Each image is a reminder that you need to know the rules before you can break them. It's also a great reminder that every client sees something different in a "great" image - there's something in each photograph here that got a client to stop and look at it just a little longer.
It's also a great reminder that a wedding photographer's job is about storytelling and timing, just as much as it is about composition and exposure. Sometimes, as my old buddy, Dean Collins, used to say, "Beauty is in the eyes of the checkbook holder!" What advice would I give photographers just starting out? First, find photographers whose work you admire & work for them. Avoid working with people whose work you don't see yourself doing eventually. Second, do as little "rent" photography as possible. Strive to concentrate only on the type of work that you want to do. Third, while it is tempting to find sustainable work anywhere you can in other fields, do whatever you can to work directly with photography. Interested in checking out more of Lou's work, keep tabs on his website and his blog. He's always got something new going on and you'll find three great videos of Lou in action in the Video Library here at SCU, including one from his 1980's appearance on the old World of Photography TV series. Images copyright Lou Jones. All rights reserved.
What advice would a I give a new photographer coming into the industry? Becoming a really great professional takes real dedication and an ever deepening love of the craft. Education and direction from qualified and accomplished instructors is one of the very best ways to help you reach your goals in photography. You’ll need to practice, practice, practice and yet remain “teachable”, willing to accept constructive criticism no matter how good you think you already are. You’ll advance much more quickly if you remain open minded, and your eyes may just be opened too! Photography can be so exciting and it’s easy to be influenced by the comments of your Facebook fans who love your work. My advice is to enjoy the journey, but remember that advancing the art, the science and the business of professional photography never really ends. So, don’t just be waiting for the next great shot. Expand your skills and sharpen those photographic chops and go make that next great image. Tim Kelly definitely needs to be in your network and his advice couldn't me more on target. You'll find more of his stunning work on his website at http://www.timkellyportraits.com. Images copyright Tim Kelly. All rights reserved.
What advice would I give photographers just starting out? Understand the boundaries and limitations of human vision. It’s no small task, but it’ll have an impact on more than just your photography. Human visual perception creates a completely different view of the world compared to a camera. Have you ever taken a picture and later explained to people “the picture doesn’t do it justice, you just had to be there”? Understanding this difference and bridging the gap can be a recipe for success. When exploring a landscape with your eyes, you only look at one thing at a time. You might look at a thousand things in the scene, but you’ll never see it all. Your mind pieces together a memory of the scene and fills in the gaps; Twigs, clutter, and uninteresting elements are quickly forgotten. A photograph captures the scene completely differently, revealing every flaw and distraction that you hadn’t noticed. This is true for nearly all genres of photography. Training your eye to see beyond the obvious is essential. It can also be valuable to step beyond the limits of what we can see to create curious and thought-provoking work. Extremely wide angles, long exposures and macro photography all offer views of the world that we cannot see with our own eyes. There is a certain sense of wonder and fascination in the world that a camera can capture but which you cannot see. I couldn't be more proud of the diversity of the SCU faculty. Each member of the team has a different level and area of expertise, but there's a common denominator, their passion for the craft! You can check out more of Don's images on his site, follow him on Twitter and check out what's going on over at Google+. Interested in Don's new book? Check out his guest post on the SCU site. Images copyright Don Komarechka. All rights reserved.
|
Our Partners"Why?"Check out "Why?" one of the most popular features on the SCU Blog. It's a very simple concept - one image, one artist and one short sound bite. Each artist shares what makes the image one of their most favorite. We're over 100 artists featured since the project started. Click on the link above and you can scroll through all of the episodes to date.
Categories
All
|