I Shot a Man in Reno (or Philly)
I shoot them. I put them up against a wall, or just if they are standing in the middle of the sidewalk it doesn’t matter, I walk up and POP! I shoot them. Most times they never see it coming, they may never know what is about to happen. I think it’s better to surprise them. No time to worry or think about it, no time to worry, just a quick well aimed shot, done.
Often though they are the ones hiring me to do it; they want to know the person that will do it. I still try to surprise them though; I want them to be relaxed and not expecting it when it’s coming. Perhaps they are smiling, thinking nothing is going to happen, at least not yet. The surprise almost always makes it enjoyable, at least for me. The shock, the sudden flash when I pop one off at them, I love that surprise. It helps me remember the emotions they have at that last moment before…
It’s Also About Having Fun!
First my apologies for not posting recently but I have been busy shooting some great people. Why are they great? Because they embrace the idea of having fun throughout the shoot!
This past Monday was the most recent portrait shoot: a mother and daughter that just have a kind of chemistry that really comes through in the images. These two danced and relaxed and really played it up. I had so much fun shooting them that I want to do it again and again! Then even played “Patty Cake” together.
Memories Are Priceless
My Wife Amy
Just this past Tuesday I saw a post from another photographer that about knocked me out of my chair. In short it is a letter that the photographer had received from a former client to thank her for the years of memories that she captured for her family. The client had the note hand delivered as she was too sick to deliver it herself. You can read the article here and I encourage you to do so. Warning: have tissues nearby.
Welcome back. I will wait while you wipe the tears away. Now that you can read the screen again I will continue.
Past, Present, or Future?
This week every year we are inundated with blogs that either relive the last 12 months speculate about the bright positive future and hope we all have for the coming new year. I have been debating all week what to even write about. How can I have a great blog post that doesn’t mention something that will alienate some of you and exclude others for reasons of politics or religion or anything else? It seems to be the time of year where everyone is either self-righteous, preachy, or with the upcoming 2012 elections, political. There is one other category though that we sometimes hear about.
It’s About Giving Your All
Back in early October I wrote an article about seizing opportunity where ever it arises, in this case the beginning of Occupy Philadelphia, titled Opportunity in the Streets. I really didn’t know what business I might get out of that but I am happy to say that those images and thousands I took at the occupy encampment has led to other shoots and events that I was only able to get because I was there.
Through meeting people at Occupy I have gotten events, portrait shoots and a number of other gigs that have kept me very busy over the 56 days that the movement occupied Dilworth Plaza in from of City Hall in Philadelphia. So in a sense I guess I am indebted to the people there and the movement too. But how did a political demonstration/movement/evolution really give me chances to get work?
Virtual vs. Digital
For a while now there has been the discussion that digital photography is cheaper than film and therefore prices that photographers charge should be decreasing and not increasing. In fact the truth of the matter is that the cost for photography has declined dramatically but that has nothing to do with digital vs. film. The major cause of that is that many unknowledgeable people entering the market and not charging properly for their services. These new photographers will learn in time that they are in fact cutting themselves short and they are driving the market down to their own demise. I won’t get into a discussion of what to charge in this article. I will however go into a bit of the cost of digital photography.
In the film days there was the visible cost of film, developing, processing, chemicals, paper/media, enlargers, and various other equipment. Today much of that has been replaced by computers, software, multiple hard drives, internet connections, and we still have the cost of media and printers. Cameras have increased in price dramatically for professional level equipment. In fact if you actually do the math it is more expensive today than it was 15 years ago and that is taking inflation into consideration. Again the cost is not a topic for this article. If you want to compare the costs of digital to the cost of film Google it; there are thousands of articles out there.
Empowerment
So what is empowerment and what does it have to do with photography? Webster’s dictionary defines empowerment as;
- to give official authority or legal power to <empowered her attorney to act on her behalf>
- enable
- to promote the self-actualization or influence of <women’s movement has been inspiring and empowering women — Ron Hansen>
But what does it really mean to you and your everyday life? Continue reading
Do I Need A Professional?
Many times I don’t hear the question “Do I need a professional?” but I do know that many clients and potential clients ask the question, at least of themselves. The answer is, to be honest, not always. But if you want the quality that either creates memories or helps you achieve your goals, yes you probably do. Making the decision to hire a pro is actually rather easy to answer. The real question is how do you find the ‘right’ photographer for your project. Continue reading
To Retouch or Not to Retouch, THAT Is the Question
This morning I read an article by Beate Chelette, (http://PhotoBizCoach.com), titled “Advertising Under Fire for Doctored Images” asking photographers where they stand on the issue of retouching images and the ethics of doing so. Click the links above and read the story. It’s short; I will wait here for you.
Tap, tap, tap…. Oh you’re back. Sorry, I got distracted.
If you read the article you may have seen my response as well: “Some retouching is a good thing, too much, not so good.” I whole heartedly believe that and I live it with my work too. I am not opposed to doing whatever my client wants. If the client wants china doll skin, I can do that. However I prefer to keep the image looking real.
Why Harry Potter Is Actually a Photographer
My wife is a huge Harry Potter fan and hasn’t missed a single book or movie. She follows the info on the internet to get peaks into how close the movies will be like the books. She gets lost in the books and movies and she is a huge JK Rowling fan.
So in honor of my wife, JK Rowling and the last Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, I wanted to say that I think that Harry Potter is actually a photographer. Let me do a little comparison.
- Harry Potter goes into a situation only having a very general idea of what needs to be done. All he really knows is that the end result will be good.
- A Photographer goes into a shoot knowing only that he needs good results and has only a general idea of what the situation will be. (Especially true for wedding and event photogs)
- Harry brings out the best in people like Neville Longbottom.
- A Photographer needs to make everyone look their best.
- Harry finds beauty in the oddities like Luna Lovegood.
- A Photographer loves the joy in finding beauty in the oddest things.
