My Life

2006-07-10T08:48:00.000-07:00

Mentoring
In all the years I have been a photographer, I have never ignored another photographers request for help or advice. I have often been asked by budding photographers to give them direction or critique their work or just help them in some way move forward. I have never felt threatened by anyone at any level. Why? Because I figured if I just continued doing what I do the best I can, I will always have clients and work. If I help someone else move into the world of professional photography even if they become a competitor, I just have to focus on my world and not worry about them.

I can't say that about other photographers. Recently I decided to contact a couple of local photographers who after seeing their websites, I determined they were certainly at a level where I could learn from them. I wanted advice or better yet, to assist them on a couple of assignments to see how they handle a project. Interesting, no matter how I worded my request, I never heard from them. This means I also lost respect for them as well. It would be one thing if they just replied that they would not accept my request for whatever reason, but they didn't even have the decency to reply. Not a word.

People like this often loose track of where they came from. They are so afraid of competition they will ignore everyone they think is a threat. What that does for me is makes me want to become a strong competitor and eventually, I will. There will be a time when our paths will cross and I will not be the least bit sorry for them. If they were on the other end of this and asked me for help, they would quickly get it.

Recently I had read a post on a forum on the PPA (Professional Photographer's of America) website where this new photographer asked a question regarding architectural interior lighting help. Now there are many photographers with a lot more time under their belt in this area than I, but I noticed she was in my area. I contacted her and told her to check out my website and if she were still interested, call me. She did. We met soon after for lunch where she brought her assignment with her for me to critique. Not only did I give her all the information I could to help her, but I offered to go on an assignment with her to assist and give advice when appropriate. I also offered to let her go on an assignment with me to see how I work.

This is someone who is competing with me in one sense but with a slightly different clientel. So what. I live by the adage that what goes around comes around. I helped boost this photographer's confidence level and made a friend. Good for me and good for her.

I am constantly searching for information that will help me become better at what I do and the best way is to see it done. It sticks with you to have someone that is at a higher level of acheivement show you how they do things. But it is sad to realize not everyone is so confident that they will allow another a view into their world.

No I am not the best. Far from it but I do okay and I strive everyday to become better. I will continue to grow and become more successful in this field of photography and will one day face those who ignored my request for help. And maybe not. The bottom line is that at no point no matter how great my success will I ever ignore another's request for help.

Remember to always be kind and generous and treat everyone as you would like to be treated. It goes a very long way.

2006-07-09T06:09:00.000-07:00

Aliens Are Coming!
I finally made the decision and ordered the Alien Bees lights. I have looked, searched and researched strobe lighting for months now. Back and forth I went trying to decide "should I buy" and "which brand".

I read blogs, newsgroups, photography forums, and talked to as many people as possible before I decided. Everything kept coming back to the Alien Bees. Now that I have ordered them, I am anxious for them to arrive. Tomorrow (Monday)!

I just picked up a new client that I will need these lights for. I will be shooting exteriors and interiors of a huge retirement center and during the walk-through, I saw several areas that these lights will certainly be useful.

I have a number of "hot lights" now including some wonderful Photoflex lights with softboxes but they are not easy to move around on a location shoot without an assistant. The Aliens are lightweight and easier for me to move by myself.

I came back from that client visit and walk-through to find a message on my office phone from another new potential client. What was equally exciting to me about that, was this was a direct result of my marketing push a few weeks ago. I developed a see-though binder with a really nice architectural photo in the window and inside I had an introductory letter along with a DVD slideshow of my architectural work. I had researched and found about a dozen target specific potential clients and sent these out. To help ensure they would even open them, I sent them all Priority Mail so when they arrived they looked important and everyone is curious like a kid at Christmas, about what is inside. So out of the few I sent out, and only two of those companies are in Florida, I already have a call. I am excited!

2006-06-22T16:14:00.000-07:00

Back From Orlando
I have been back a couple of days now. The shoot went pretty well. The property was a class A property with lots of nice visual features. My biggest issue was weather. This time of year here in Florida can be a challenge for those of us who shoot primarily on location and especially outdoors. So, I played the cloud dance a good part of the day. Where you come across a great shot but you have to wait for a cloud that is covering the sun to pass so you can get that shot. It can be so frustrating when it is a teeny little cloud that appears out of no where and moves agonizingly slow across the sun. And it's hot and humid to boot so there you stand afraid if you walk away you might get distracted and forget about this nice shot so you stay and wait.

I am also agonizing over whether or not I should invest in a Mamiya RZ67 or not. I really would like to have one. I shoot primarily digital now with my favorite Nikon D70 and I recently bought a very nice Calumet 4x5 with a 90 and 210 lens plus a lot of accessories. Now I would like to add a Mamiya RZ67 to the inventory. I had the Mamiya RB67 back in the 70s when I had my studio and loved shooting with that camera. Great quality. I am also looking into some relatively low wattage studio strobes for light fill light on some of the interiors I shoot. I don't want a bunch of really bulky gear, just some small lights that I can counce off the ceilings or walls to fill in when I have really bright windows or doorways overpowering a shot.

I just updated my website again for about the 10th time in a week. I just added a few shots to the Exhibition area is all. Also today I spent a fair amount of time on the PPA forum after I posted a question regarding Model Releases. We all have them, or should have, but the question is how to best protect yourself in case you get sued. I was pleasantly surprised at the number of responses to my post and how many others jumped in because they also wanted better clarification on the subject.

I have just learned also that there is a new deal in the works that could have me back involved with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. I hope so. Not for the money but for the opportunity to work with the tribe. I have spent some time with them on the Big Cypress reservation and that is just one of the best groups of people I have ever met. I really want to work with them and I have so many ideas that I would eventually like to do that would be fun and very informative too.

Well, the apartment business is slow so I am looking for other avenues to get more work here in Florida especially in the architectural area. I would love to become proficient enough to shoot an assignment for Architectural Digest. I would also love to have an assignment for Conde Nast Traveler or Ocean Drive or just about any of those magazines that deal in high quality images. If I were to get one of those assignments, it would mean that I finally acheived a level of quality that would fit with them. So there is my carrot.

Until later......

2006-06-18T17:17:00.000-07:00

My First Post

2006-06-18T11:26:00.000-07:00

I intend to use this blog to write about My Life as a professional photographer. To talk about the fun times, the tough times and all the challenges of running a small business and the art of photography that I love so much.

Photography is my passion and I don't care what the assignment is as long as I have a camera in my hand. Making a business out of it can be challenging at times but I wouldn't trade it for anything else just to have more secruity and a regular paycheck.

This morning, I am off to Orlando for another assignment shooting a very large apartment complex. The client wants great photos of the entire property inside and out for new marketing material including web. I have been shooting this type of subject matter for over a year and am getting pretty good at it. I understand the way these properties work and I have little secrets I use to make the photos special and not like the ones you see in the little Rental Guides at the grocery store.

It's a beautiful day here in Florida so I am off to Orlando!