Congratulations, you've got the job!

Negotiating and Pricing are easily the hardest parts of photography. Way harder than shooting a nice picture! And the sad fact is that it takes so much energy and dedication...and experience...learning how to do it that it sometimes overtakes everything about the project. They want this, I want that...it's automatic opposition; many times being the first exposure to each other. Of course you want to do the job, and you'd probably do it for free...if you could, but you have to make a living so you can feed your kids and keep taking pictures. And frankly, it's hard to make a living in photography right now. But you can't do it for free and you must settle for a negotiated price for your services.

I could go on and on about how to negotiate, but there are plenty of excellent books out there that can help you much better than I. What this post is really about is not letting the money get in the way of doing a good job once the price is settled. Good or bad money, you chose (or not) to do the job. And once the job is accepted it's up to you to make it happen. It's time to let go of all the pre-shoot negotiations and bad feelings and kick ass. I've heard of photographers that let their reps do all of the money talk and prefer to know nothing about the budget during the shoot (unless it's restrictive of course). They do this because a lousy budget can make you make decisions based on hard feelings and not sound financial choices. When you carry hard feelings into a shoot you tend to not put as much energy into it and you settle for less than stellar because the pay is less than stellar. I recently had a job that required me to take a second try. The second try paid no more money...but it really wasn't the client's fault. It wasn't mine either...it was just "a thing". I could have easily said, "sorry, Charlie, I showed up and shot the empty parking lot, pay me." And the client probably would have paid me. However, not only would this have set a terrible tone for future shoots, it really backfires on me. I would have missed an opportunity to make great work. And that's really why I'm here, to do good work.

Now, I'm not saying to do anything for free. That's missing the point. The point is that once you accept a job, it's up to you to deliver the best shot you can. If you aren't satisfied with the end project, no matter what the obstacles, then you have just cheated yourself. It's the same mentality a rodeo clown must have. The bull doesn't care how much the clown is getting paid. The clown has to do just as good a job at $1/hr as he does at $100.

Leaving on a jet plane.

San Antonio - check
Wichita, KS - Check
Boston - check
Providence, RI - Check
Cape Cod - check
Portland, OR - check

Two months, 6+ different cities. I've never spent so much time on a plane in my life and I'm glad to have things settle down. I'm actually going to get to put my suitcases up for a while! Most of this work was done for another photographer whom I've been helping for years, however, I have spent a little on my own work. But not nearly enough. I'm extremely jealous of those guys that shoot all the time. I look around at all the young photographers that are really making good work and get frustrated. Dave Shafer, a wonderful photographer that I consider a mentor, once told me that I can't compare myself to other photographers in regards to where we are in our career. He reminded me that even though we are after the same goal, we didn't all start in the same place. Some are trust fund babies with family in the biz. Others start with absolutely nothing. I'm somewhere in the middle. The moral is that while it can seem like a competition sometimes, if you are doing it for competition and not because it makes you happy...it's going to be a long journey. And never forget that those that shine the brightest often burn out the fastest. Keep your light steady and it will shine the way (oh goodness that was cheesy).

This week I'll be taking care of my babies and squeezing in an editorial job for D magazine. Maybe getting to work on my family for a while will be pretty rewarding. While making good pictures and earning a good living are important to my family's financial health, it doesn't do any good if it sacrifices my family bonding.

A Girl Walks Into a Bar

I met the good folks over a D Magazine a few weeks ago when they judged a local ASMP member contest. Luckily, they really liked my work and gave me a shot. My assignment was to shoot a favorite hangout of mine, Adair's Saloon. I've been there many times so it was a great assignment, like shooting an old friend. They wanted a shot that gives the vibe of the kind of honky tonk where you'll meet dirty hippies, long hairs, punks, frat boys, cowboys and freaks...all on the same night. This assignment, however seemingly easy, provided a great lesson. I went in to shoot on a Monday night, which historically was pretty good. But it was during the Ranger's world series playoff and no one was in the bar! I got a few good pics but felt I was really missing the meat of the story because no people were in the pics. I felt like I'd failed my first assignment with D before I even turned it in and discussed the situation with my good pal and phenomenal photographer friend, Dave Shafer. He gave me some advice that going back for a reshoot was not a sign of weakness but rather a sign of maturity. He was right. Even though the budget did not provide for it, I went back and shot more on a busier night. They loved the pics so much they asked for 5 options (normally they choose 1 image to run). In the end they chose a pic I shot on the first night for the feature and a smaller shot from the second night for a filler. But that doesn't really matter much to me. I felt better getting the shots I knew I could get no matter what they chose to use...and you have to be able to make yourself happy too. That's the real lesson.

Here's a link to the article.

adair's

Bean Town Gumbo

So it's been quite a while since I posted anything. I apologize to those nice enough to follow. However, a lot has been going on. The months of Aug and Sept were pretty non existant work wise...hense the lack of posts. Nothing new to say. However, I've been so busy since October started that I'm just now slowing down. I shot a full week in San Antonio, then went to Kansas for a week with Tadd Myers, whom I've been working with on his American Craftsman project and just got back from a week long stint in Boston/Providence. Sprinkle in some local assisting jobs and two gigs for D magazine and you can understand why I haven't had time to posts much. Speaking of D magazine, I met Todd Johnson via the ASMP Dallas contest I won and you can see what I shot in the current (and next month's) edition of the feature "A Girl Walks Into a Bar". Since I haven't posted recently...I thought I'd post a bunch of pics I took with my iPhone in Boston.

I've always had an appreciation for street photography because it's really not relevant for 20 years...at which point things have changed enough for us to appreciate the subject matter.

Mind your own business

Full disclosure: I am not a superhero impenetrable to fears and insecurities.

This business of photography has a way spurring those feelings in the soft spots and making them bubble over the brim (metaphors anyone?). It also has the ability to fill your head with hubris to the extent you have no choice but to enlarge said head. It's a constant wave of feelings, like being in a glass case of emotion. Having just spent the longest stretch of financially unproductive months since I ventured into this business, things may be looking up. I say "may" because a few opportunities have come up that might translate to...wait for it...work! It's that teasing up and down cycle that really puts the wear and tear on the ol' melon.

What are these opportunities you may ask? Well, let's start with the good news. I recently entered and won "best in show" for the Dallas chapter of the American Society of Media Professionals...or ASMP. Not only did I win, 3 images were selected to be part of the show...a show in which only 30 entries total were selected. Out of the 150+ entries, all of mine were selected! Now, there was no trophy or prize money for the win, but there was the opportunity to get my work in front of people that have the ability to pay me money to photograph people for them. And three of those people (so far) have asked me to come in and show them more work...portfolio showings. Portfolio showings are in themselves "wins" in that it is often difficult to get people to look at your work only because there are so many out there vying for the same opportunity. Art buyers typically are inundated with request and have to be choosy sticking to meeting with those photographers that they believe have potential to do good work with them. So, as it is now, I'm busy refining my portfolio, combing my hair and getting dressed to impress. And when that's over, I'll get ready for another dip :)

Sometimes I think the successful photographers are not necessarily the best, but the ones with the mental capacity to stick out the roller coaster and voluntarily get back on everyday.

Where'd I put my camera?

Some photographers are never caught without a camera. They take the camera everywhere; shooting all the time. I'm not one of those photographers. In fact, I probably don't shoot near enough to even call myself a photographer. Maybe. And while I like having a vision to execute, I also like the visceral approach of taking an interesting subject somewhere interesting and seeing what happens. I think the majority of commercial photographers never take this approach preferring to have a layout in front of them. Which is fine, but I think that I get a lot of happy accidents by letting things 'just flow'.

This is my friend Matt "the Cat" Hillyer of the band 1100 Springs. One day he called me and wanted some pics and I was happy to have a partner that understood the value of seeing what happens when you don't have any preset rules. Perhaps because he's a musician, or maybe he just trusts me? Anyway, we got in the car and started driving until we found a small town square. In this town square we found an old telephone booth and a vintage car restorer that happened to be a fan of Matt's band. He was more than obliging to let us use his cars for the shots. This would have never happened in a million years had we designed the shoot. This is the kind of happy accident that only happens when you let things be and are open to seeing what happens.

These are two shots that I thought were OK but were 2nds when I first looked at them, but I decided to take another look at the set in black and white after spending a morning looking at Jim Marshall. Maybe it's the black and white, maybe it's the time spent since I looked at them last...but they seem to really stick out to me now. Can't explain it, just letting it happen.

Don't get it right.

So I haven't blogged in a while and it's as frustrating to me as it to any of you whom read what I write. The reason? I think I'm a perfectionist to the point that if I can't do it right (read perfect) then I don't want to do it at all. It's great to want to do good work but it's more important to do just that...work. So today, instead of waiting until I have a great new pic to post, I'll just post without a pic to practice what I preach to others. Robert Rodriguez, the movie director, (in regards to getting good at making movies) says that you have to think this way: You have 20 bad movies in you. Go ahead and make those movies and get them out of the way so you can get to making the good stuff. And in film school the motto was, "Don't get it right, get it written!" So it shall be.

Chicago

Just got back from a great job in Chicago. There's a lot to love about Chicago. The "L", Lou's, The Cubs, the Sox, Second City, Millenium Park, etc. The whole town as a certain charm and old soul. There's so much history built on tradition and pride and I wonder if the locals see it like a tourist. Sometimes it's hard to see the great stuff in your own back yard.

Stress?

This is what my dog does when it's going to storm. She gets pretty stressed out and obliterates the toilet paper. Me, I just get a little irritable and obliterate some ice cream. What do you do when you get stressed?

Choices

Lots of competition now days.

Just got back from Hondo, TX. Got to work with Bob Randall, one of my favorite Chicago-an photographers, and above is my new friend, Mark Doddato. He's Bob's first assistant and all around good guy.

Show me the money?

So how important is money and what is it important for? I only ask because I never seem to have any. This money thing...is it a bandwagon I need to be on? But seriously, money so far in my career, has been a vehicle from one day to the next. And when you are struggling, it turns opportunities and photo shoots into currency to the next job. Not the way I ever wanted it to be. Many people have said they don't make art to make money, they make money so they can keep making art. I like this approach and finally my career is starting to take off enough that I can appreciate my jobs in a way that isn't just dollar signs. I think this always allows me to be more creative and satisfied with my work. So recently several big advances have been made and I'm finally feeling like I've arrived. Although I feel like I'm sneaking in the backdoor as opposed to the red carpet, I'm finally sitting at the big kid's table.

A boy scout is always prepared.

Lot's of people dream of success, but are they really prepared for it? I ask myself this question all the time. Am I ready when the big jobs come? Am I ready for the responsibility to be on me? Am I ready to fail...and get back up? Don't know if I'll ever know the answer til it comes, but I think I am. I recently shot an ad for Bugle Boy for a local studio I do work for and I also signed a deal with Red Bull to shoot some of their events and sponsored athletes. Seems things are starting to pick up. So maybe the question will be answered sooner rather than later. So far I haven't done any of my dream jobs, but I'm getting closer and the jobs I have done, I've been able to make them fun. I always try and get 'the shot' and them something that will make me happy.

And I'm preparing myself for whatever happens. Like the picture above. I took this in the 3 hour wait to get out of the Texas Motor Speedway parking lot. Look how prepared this gentleman is. Note the cooler he's reaching into from his sofa. Notice the subtle smoker welded to the back. And if anyone is confused about his affiliation...just note his adopted logos.

The power of Nice

Last year I was commissioned to shoot a CEO for a major publication. It was a low paying job, I had 5 minutes to shoot and the PR guy wouldn't let me shoot the shot I wanted. I settled for a pretty crappy (IMHO) shot. However, I held my cool and was nice to the PR guy because, after all, he was just doing his job. In fact, I used him as my stand-in and sent him a copy of it...just because. A funny thing happened after that. That same PR guy has hired me 4 times since for 10x the money the initial publication was hiring me for.

That's the power of nice.

Ups and Downs

So, a lot has been going on around here. Ups and downs, which makes the picture above all the more appropriate. First the bad news. Lost my second big job of the year. Well, I didn't lose it...it just went away. I was hired by a magazine to shoot the star of a big movie coming out in the summer for their cover. The star is unknown now, but in big movie directed by a big director at a big studio. The greatest part is that they chose me out of many other local photographers (most of them peers that have been working a long time) AND they chose me for my style. That's really what all photographers work for. We are set except for the scheduling and the movie studio's PR stepped in. They like to keep strict control of their stars and decided to have an L.A. guy that they have a relationship with shoot it. So the job went away. At least they WANTED me, which at this stage of my career is almost as important as money. That little bit of acceptance drives me to keep going. I'm not too upset as I knew before hand that the PR guys like to work this way, just got to figure out how to become the PR guy's "go to guy".

Also, got to shoot a really cool personal project. I met a little girl whose family raises wolf-dogs. We shot a pretty bad-ass series that will be on my site within the next month. Keep looking for it.

Leggo my ego!

A few years ago I'm watching a video called the "G3 Tour". It was a flashy audio assault by three of the most technically proficient guitarist to ever touch a fretboard, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani and Yngwie Malmsteen. These guys are fast! These guys know every scale...infact, Vai actually made up some new modes (music talk)! You ask any guitarist who the best whom ever lived and these 3 will always pop up in someone's list. At the end of the show they all three came out for a 3-man jam to really give the audience something to remember. What did they play? Neil Young's "Keep on Rockin' in the Free World". Huh? A song by perhaps the world's least proficient guitarist? They picked that song because sometimes simple is better...and because it rocked. The audience went wild. Three of the best guitarist in the world jam to a simple 3 chord progression. That's what I want my photography to be. Well crafted, but simple enough to stand the test of time. No matter what flash comes and goes, I want to make art that will communicate effectively in 30 years. That's me, that old song that you just can't turn down. Don't stop believing!

Not my style, part deux

Here's another image that's not in my portfolio. It's an ad for foreign drink that I really know nothing about. I have to give most of the credit to my brothers at Image Tap for making it come alive with photochop.

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.

Disappointment.

I was supposed to spend the day in Kindergarten with my 6 yr old daughter today. But when my 3 yr old came down with a stomach virus in the middle of the night, I knew that both of us would be severely disappointed as I would have to stay home and be Super Daddy. It was heartbreaking to see her drive off with tears in her eyes as she begged me to go. Everyone needs to learn to deal with disappointment, but I wonder how this will be processed in her little pscyche and how it might shape her later.

It really puts things in perspective. I've been disappointed many times, lately with missed opportunities, lost jobs, materialism, sluggish career...etc. I have to wonder how that compares to a 6 yr old's disappointment at her father, all the while I know that it doesn't. In 20 years I won't remember that job that went away or that celebrity I didn't get to meet. Now the only thing to do is try and make things right. Chucky Cheese, anyone?

San Francisco treats

Just got back from San Francisco assisting awesome photographer and friend Dave Shafer. Dave is one of the few photographers I know that still shoots 4x5 film as well as digital. It's always a great lesson working with Dave. We got to work along side Jeff Bednarz, a commercial film director. He's really cool too.

San Fran is beautiful but equally weird. For instance, we stopped in an Irish Pub for a few beers and was treated to a post op tranny sing a Johnny and June Cash duet...by himself/herself...both parts...in key. We stayed the whole time. It was great!

The next morning we got up around 5am to shoot the Golden Gate bridge.



Pictures just don't do it justice.

This here is a blog.

I take pictures, so pictures will be an intregal part of what I do here. Also, I love taking bloggy photos with my iPhone. Breaking a real camera out seems too close to work, but there is a fun challenge when looking for an image with an iPhone. I'll use the "CameraBag" app to process these images. I hope I keep this thing going.

The photos above were taken at the St. Jo rodeo in St. Jo, Texas last August. For some reason I take totally different photos with my iPhone than I would with a big pro camera. One day I'll figure out why.