Not my style

(not iPhone photo)

I've been assisting a catalog fashion shooter a lot lately and I find it a really enjoyable atmosphere. After all, you are usually working with some really talented models that make the job really simple and there is very little lifting to be done. What could be better, especially on bra and panty day?

One of the fortes of my new photog friend is children. He is really good, and he gets paid to do it. Now children are not my style...or should I say "specialty". I love taking photos of children and really get along with them (more than most adults). But I don't have very many in my portfolio because I've been trained/convinced to develop a certain style and differentiate yourself with THAT style. So they style I've develop is what it is...and what it isn't is children (or at least children in catalogs). Don't get me wrong, having children myself, and they in turn having children friends...I shoot a lot of children, I just don't promote it. Here's the rub. When you are hungry and you see someone else making a go at it, you sometimes have an urge try and earn the same success by emulating what they are doing. The fallacy being that I could ever be successful trying to emulate someone else. I spoke with my buddy, photo-consultant Leslie Burns, and she reminded me that you have to shoot what is in YOUR head and develop your style...and eventually you'll find your audience. Not the other way around. Really wise words.

So if you read this blog and have an opinion on developing your own style, let me know. Furthermore, if you know how I can make money...let me in on that too. And if you are a paying client and you want me to shoot kids, I'm all over it! I'm a walking talking contradiction.

Star studded unEvents

Today I shot an event. I hate shooting events (I did it for a buddy that double-booked himself.). When you shoot an event you are the least important person in the room. Until after the event. Then possibly, you have something someone can use or something you can use against someone else. That's the only time people respect the event photographer.

You may see this as complaining, but it really just reinforces where I want my photography to go and why I do it. I do it to create something I see in my head. Not for the money (necessarily) and not for the sport of trying to capture someone as they shove wedding cake in their mouth. There are scenes I see and personalities, some true some created, that I want to show. A successful photographer friend of mine once said he takes pictures that make it audience really feel what the subject was feeling. I respect that, but have never thought of my photographs like that. I want viewers to ask, "what happened next."

The event I shot today was attended by several celebrities including Gabrielle Union, Chris Tucker and Spike Lee. I shot a few pics of them as they mingled but really had this empty gut feeling since wasn't going to be able to put them into one of my scenes. I feel like it was a missed opportunity. Maybe I should have handed them my card?

And so it goes.

Shot a job on Tuesday, assisted Wednesday, shooting today. There doesn't seem to be a clear cut point in which you quit assisting and start shooting. Although some assistants quit cold turkey, they probably don't have kids and mortgages. Oh, well...things will happen when they happen. That doesn't mean I can't push it along though.

There seems to be an mixed outlook on the future of photography though. I'm wide eyed with optimism but sometimes I work with people and at the end of the day I feel miserable about the situation. Yes, everyone is a photographer. Yes, they undercut (mostly based on ignorance). Yes clients don't understand that rates have to be high if you want there to be a photographer next time you need one. As it is most photographers are working out of their houses. What other business is there where you can't afford to have an office? And now I'm ranting? Truth is, it's the best job I ever had.