SkipCohenUniversity
  • Home
  • SCU Blog
  • Our Podcasts
  • About Us

the SCU Blog

Got an Interest in Commercial Photography?

2/25/2019

0 Comments

 
Intro by Skip Cohen
​
Welcome back to a new "Insight," content-rich posts to help you build a stronger business, and be more diversified in your photographic specialty.  At some point in many photographer's careers, there's an interest in commercial work. This article out of the PhotoShelter archives by Deborah Block has a lot of solid information and insight into getting more established with commercial clients. 

I also like it because she put it together in an interview format and the questions she's asked commercial photographer Jason Thompson are the same many of you might ask. Check out more of Jason's work with a click to his website. The complete interview about working with Patagonia is on the PhotoShelter website, but I wanted to share three of the six questions he asked. 

 
PhotoShelter never slows down in their efforts to help you not only present your work the very best way but in helping you turn 2019 into your best year yet!  
Picture
The Garhwal Himalayas of India. Chamonix, France. The Republic of Georgia. ​These are all just a few examples of places photographer Jason Thompson is lucky enough to travel for work, shooting for brands like Patagonia. His early love for the mountains and the outdoors, plus his love for photography, put Jason down the path to combining these passions — and making a living while doing it. Says Jason of his photography, “I want my work to inspire others.”

We caught up with Jason to hear how he started shooting for brands like Patagonia, plus get his best business tips for adventure photographers hoping to follow his footsteps.
Picture
Anne Gilbert Chase, Expedition in the Garhwal Himalayas of India. Photo by Jason Thompson
1. Tell us how you ended up shooting for brands like Patagonia. Did you pitch them? Or how did they discover you initially? 


​I grew up looking at Patagonia catalogs and knew that I wanted to make images that were good enough to be published someday. I submitted sheets of slides back in the day. I admit I’m embarrassed now by the pictures I submitted. But fast forward some years and I guess my work had improved enough for Patagonia to take notice.
​
Picture
Traveling and skiing in Peru outside of Huaraz in the Cordillera Blanca. Photo by Jason Thompson
2. Tell us about your most recent assignment for Patagonia. What was the vision and direction for the shoot? And what is the collaboration process typically like? 


In my experience so far, the creative direction for different projects for Patagonia has been pretty wide open and free range. But to an extent, of course. Obviously there are some shots that need to happen to feature certain products, but direction is loose. It’s very oriented towards making sure the shots are original and authentic. And authenticity can’t be directed.
​
For the last couple of years, the trips I’ve been involved with were to shoot their High Alpine Kit. We went on two major expeditions to Alaska and India. Both trips had the same creative direction — to document our climbing objectives. This journalistic approach includes not only photographing the rad summit, but also the in between moments of traveling. It’s my job to visually document the whole experience that helps bring the story to life.
Picture
Adam Fabrikant and Tyler Jones traversing along the boarder of Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Jason Thompson
3. For commercial shoots on location, what are some challenges you can run into? How do you prepare? 


I stand by the 6 P’s: Proper Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance.

​You know, I do very few “commercial” shoots in the traditional sense where there are 20 people on location and you’re working alongside hair and makeup stylists. Instead, I’ve been more involved with collaborations around shorter film projects.

When shooting for brands, regardless if I’m shooting alone or working with others on a project, I believe that doing your homework and envisioning how things may play out is key. You need to be prepared for what you think might happen, while also having a plan B and C. This kind of preparation will help to have things run as smooth as possible. There will be challenges that I can’t control, but I do what I can to “control the controllables.”
Click to read more...

Picture
Start your 14 Day Free trial of Photoshelter plus 20% off a Standard or Pro Account for a year.
Use the coupon code PhotoFocus20

​
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    Scan or Click on the QR Code
    Picture
    Click to visit Platypod.com

      Sign Up for Our Newsletter!

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter

    Our Partners

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    "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
    Beyond Technique
    Business
    Customer Service
    EDU10
    Excire
    F64 Lunch Bunch
    Faculty
    Fast Food Friday
    Guest Post
    Humor And Sarcasm
    In The News
    Lessons Learned
    Lighting
    Luminar
    Lumix
    Marketing
    Mark's Corner
    Mind Your Own Business
    Miscellaneous
    Motivational
    One Step At A Time
    Photodex
    PhotoShelter
    PhotoTexting
    Platypod
    Podcasts
    Profoto
    Sales
    Search
    Skylum
    Social Media
    Sunday Morning Reflections
    Tamron
    Tamron Recipes
    Technique
    Throwback Thursday
    Wedding Photography
    Westcott
    Why?

Categories​

Business
Marketing
Technique
Sales
Fast Food Fridays
​

Podcasts

Tamron Recipes 
Beyond Technique
Why?
Mind Your Own Business
Pro Photographer Journey

 Partners

Tamron
PhotoTexting

​Lumix

Marathon Press
​Platypod
©  2019 Skip Cohen University
  • Home
  • SCU Blog
  • Our Podcasts
  • About Us