Author: janikphoto

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Am I confused?!?

Maybe I’m just not a good enough photographer to tell a good photo from a very dull, average one, but the sample shots in this video just seem very blah and bland to me:  

Usually, I’ll find some killer tutorials on these MAC Group blogs (MAC owns Pocket Wizard, Mamiya, Tenba, Profoto, etc), but this guy just doesn’t seem to cut it.  His idea is good, but his execution seems to fall way short of its potential.  I bet this technique could be used with dramatic effect.  It just wasn’t here…
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Video…

I’ll be doing a bit more video documentary work in the future, with the next event happening this weekend.  I’ll be sure to post a link when it is up.  I’m excited to be branching out some.  I love still photography, but find video to be a very dynamic form of communication.  Keep your eyes peeled, and I’d love feedback on each new video link!

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Everyone’s a photographer…

Just a quick thought…  I hear a lot of complaining these days about the profession of photography.  Technology has made it easier for amateurs to get decent pictures.  It has become so easy that many pros are worried about their client base disappearing.  “If my client can take the image, why should they pay me?”  

Here’s the deal, in a nutshell.  Sure, more people are able to take great pictures on their own.  More marketing departments are buying a good digital camera and shooting their own PR events.  More families are shooting their own children and making portraits for family and friends.  More newspapers, magazines, and buyers of stock images are turning to Flickr for free content.  So what?!?  
Did restaurants start crying foul when the TV dinner was invented?  If they did, they were short-sighted.  I can cook at home, and often do.  But guess what…  I also eat out.  There are certain times that I want something I just can’t make at home.  There are certain times that I could’ve made my meal at home, but just didn’t want to.  There are certain times when the occasion is special enough that I WANT to eat at an expensive restaurant.  
People will continue paying for professional pictures, even though technology is closing the gap between the pro and the amateur.  There will still be plenty of jobs out there for us.  We might have to point out the reason why we are different/better than the do-it-yourself picture, but that ties in with my previous blog post.  Get proactive.  Go out and SHOW people why you are worth the money.
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A simple phrase to live by…

I’ve been saying this lately, and I’ve been hearing others say it, too.  It applies to your photography business, but it also applies to any business and to life in general:  

Be Proactive, Not Reactive  
I’ll leave it at that for now.  It’s up to you to figure out what it means.  If you can apply this to your business, you will see an increase in sales.  I’ve applied it to Janik Photography and have gained a couple new clients just this month alone.  
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Have you ever checked out www.shootsmarter.com before?  You should.  The advice is decent and plentiful. It applies to a wide variety of photo subjects.  And it’s free.  I’ll admit that much of it is common knowledge for a veteran shooter, but even I find good info there…

www.shootsmarter.com

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How hard is it?!?

So, I recently did all the album artwork and all the promotions artwork for Rhett Miller’s upcoming album.  I didn’t specifically put in my contract that all photos must have MY name on it, and not the label or promotions company.  Many labels will do it if you just ask.  I should’ve…  

As you can see by the story above, new promo pics are being used, but my name is not.  At least it will show up in the album itself.  Speaking of which, I was in a Denton book and music store called Recycled Records, CD’s, and Books yesterday.  By chance, I ran across one of the first albums I ever did photos for.  I think it was the second one ever, put out in 1997 by some Christian metal band named Spittin’ Jonah.  
I glanced through it and noticed they never bothered to put a photo credit in the liner notes.  It is standard practice to put all credits in the album’s liner notes…  photos, any illustrations, art direction, recording, production, mastering, etc…  Oh well.  Those things happen I guess.  
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Would you like cheese with that?!?

Why are there so many cheesy backgrounds out there?  It’s like Olan Mills (or Glamour Shots, depending on which one you hate more) exploded all over the place…  I saw an advertisement for $99 muslin backgrounds, so I clicked on it:  

The ad had a nice, basic background in the shot, but that’s not what I found when I went to the website.  I was bombarded with page after page of cheesy, stupid looking backgrounds.  Who buys these things?  Who uses them?  What kind of client would want them???  
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Hasselblad for free?!?

Oh, if only I lived near a Calumet store…  They have a chance to “test drive” the new Hasselblad H3DII for a couple days.  They do have an option for shipping a demo to you, but I’m not sure I need to have them ship a $20k camera to me right now.  Besides, I’m not in a position to buy one of these beauties at the moment, so I’d feel bad “borrowing” a demo without any serious intention of purchasing one.  But, man!!!  How cool would it be to sport around town with one of those for the weekend?!?  

You can view the special off here:  
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Sewer video…

Sounds gross?  Well, I was asked to shoot a video assignment about a group of “explorers” that trek through the Dallas storm drains.  See the video here:  

Though Janik Photography is 99% still photography, there will be the occasional video pop up now and then.  And who knows?  With the video capabilities of the new Canon 5D MarkII, video may become a regular thing for me.  Of course, it will still be a few months before I even own the MarkII, so I’m getting a little ahead of myself there…  
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The Disney Trifecta?!?

As far as performers go, I don’t think any three stars could make a better trifecta than Justin, Britney, and Christina.  The three have been battling it out on the charts for years, and each has moved to the top spot at one point or another.  Their post-Disney careers have been interesting, to say the least.  

I’ve photographed most all of the pop idols from the Nineties and the current decade, including Jessica Simpson, Nick Lachey, Mandy Moore, N’Sync, and on and on and on.  As far as the pop idol trifecta goes, I’ve shot Justin and I’ve shot Christina.  However, Britney has always eluded me.  
She’s back in town this next week.  Will this be my big chance to finally compete my collection?  Will I develop some sort of super powers after I do so??  Will the world stop turning and a beam of light extend down from heaven???  OK, maybe not…