My most current video covers the topic of water aerobics. Sound exciting? Well, believe it or not, it was!
Burger surprise…
It was kind of funny getting this door hanger on the front door of my house the other week. I pulled it off the handle of my front door to see what kind of deals were being offered me, and I spotted a hamburger. My hamburger. Well, not mine, as in one that I cooked or ate. No, it was my photo. See it below:
OK, so it’s not a photograph that will wind up in the MOMA or The Louvre. However, it was still fun/funny to see it hanging on my front door. And by the way, the food at 1st & 10 looked and smelled amazing! I plan on going sometime soon to see just how great it tastes… maybe I’ll even take my coupon in there!
Warped Tour 2009…
My coverage of the Warped Tour 2009 in Dallas, TX:
It was hot and humid, but fun…
Art you a pro photog?
At what point do you get to call yourself a professional photographer? Is it when you decide that you WANT to be one? When you buy your first semi-decent camera? When you get your first paying gig? When you have enough gigs to be considered a part-time or weekend pro? When you quit your “other” job and are only taking photo gigs? When you can actually support yourself with your camera and only your camera???
Seriously, what do you think? A lot of people call themselves a photographer – as in professional photographer. They don’t say it’s their hobby. They state “I’m a photographer!” like it is their life, their soul, their sustenance… their everything.
You wouldn’t want a weekend warrior doctor trying to save your life, or hobbyist lawyer jumping in and exclaiming, “I’ll take the case!”, so why is the photography industry so much different? I was talking with the wife about it, and I think it is simple: You only need a pack of ten dollar business cards and a camera that looks halfway professional to feel like the real deal.
It’s like cooking. Someone can make a satisfying meal for their family, be an armchair quarterback while watching Top Chef, then suddenly they think that becoming a professional chef is the way to go! They just need a stove, pot, knife, and spatula. Now they are ready to serve the royal family!
So, what do you think makes a professional photographer? Is there a line that can be drawn in the sand? Where can you look to differentiate between pros and hobbyists? I’m not trying to be elitist or exclusive here. I want people to achieve their dreams… their goals. That’s one reason why I offer so much info on this blog. It’s geared towards people trying to make it in the industry. A seasoned pro doesn’t need to read a blog on how to invoice clients. He’s been doing that just fine for years.
No, I’m not trying to be negative. It was just an interesting point that was brought to my attention. People think they are a professional photographer at all skill and experience levels. What point is the real, defining moment that makes a pro?
Everything is running smooth…
I’m very happy that everything is running smooth at the moment. I like easy days. That’s not to say I’m not busy – because I am… I’m just not dealing with drama. No broken gear, no complicated shooting schedules, no mess.
I just booked a couple new shoots for the month, and my new powermac seems to be plugging along just fine. All very good news!
Carter Albrecht video…
My video from the Carter Albrecht CD release show is finally up. View it here:
I try to keep all my video pieces pretty simple, partly because my style is stripped and simple, and partly because I’m still learning all the bells and whistles in Final Cut Pro. However, I think this is my most complex video to date, just because the audio transitions are more advanced – with flowing fades and other little tricks, as opposed to just cutting and pasting things together.
Vibe is no more…
Want to shoot for one of the nation’s premier magazines for Rap and Hip Hop? Forget about it. Vibe is apparently shutting down:
And let’s not even discuss the newspaper industry. USA Today is supposedly cutting more jobs this month. The Tribune Company, the parent company of The Star Tribune, is now officially bankrupt. The company that owns the Philadelphia Inquirer is bankrupt. As a matter of fact, a whole string of newspapers are shutting down or scaling way back. I just gave up on reporting it, because there were just too many every month.
This doesn’t mean there isn’t any newspaper or magazine work out there. Last month I shot a few thousand dollars worth of print publication assignments. And I’m only hired by a handful of publications. Considering there are thousands of newspapers and magazines around the world, there is still a decent living to be made as a freelance photojournalist and editorial shooter.
Plus, you don’t have to be strictly a newspaper or magazine shooter. I supplement my monthly income with a wedding every month, corporate/event shooting, and other misc photo gigs (like music album covers, bridal shoots, etc). If you diversify like that, you’ll make sure to stay afloat and pay all your bills.