SHOOT THE CENTERFOLD – 2012 Top Ten list:
SHOOT THE CENTERFOLD – 2012 Top Ten list:
1. Commitment.
Being committed to yourself and your work is the number one cornerstone for all photographers. You can’t become successful without it.
2. Getting serious.
Getting serious, or at least somewhat serious, is an indication of willingness to do greater things in your life. It’s pretty much like relationships; you can have a serious bond or a casual one…see which one lasts longer.
3. Individuality.
Are we like sheep, traveling in herds, looking over our shoulders and too scared to explore? Find yourself and discover time-saving methods that work. Individuality will get you noticed, don’t blend in. Be different, not a commodity!
4. Need for gear.
Face it – lots of us are guilty of this. Photographers have an invasive belief that more gear and a top-of-the-line camera will produce better images. Having the most toys sure helps, but it does not in any way, shape or form guarantee you’ll get the shot you need. Some of the most beautiful images ever created have been captured with a simple camera and natural light. Know your camera, its strengths and its limitations. Start small and grow big. Invest in knowledge. Wisdom and education lasts a lifetime, equipment does not!
5. Overcoming your fear.
Failure looms in everyone’s mind. Nobody wants to be put on the spot or fail at any task. It’s like being in a front of a big crowd and trying to speak; your words seem to become very small and meaningless. Or, the next week’s pictorial needs to be nothing short of stellar but a performance-hungry editor keeps invading your nightmares. This is very common for lots of people at all levels of photography and more often than not, fear holds us back from great opportunities. To overcome your fear, you need to make sure that your preparedness, production and planning is done right.
As simple as it may seem, your desire to succeed must be bigger than your fear of failure. You need confidence, and this is exactly what we give you at Shoot The Centerfold seminars and workshops. This way, you leave no room for guessing or shooting from the hip, as many like to try (and fail). Practice makes a master and experience creates wisdom. Don’t fear the future, make the future and be fearless. If you wish to discuss matters further, we are here to help. Send us an e-mail at: info@shootthecenterfold.com. We are here to help you to succeed!
6. Understanding today’s industry needs.
Clearly, there are thousands of photographers at a multitude of levels in the industry. All a photographer needs is to have a fair shot at success, regardless what anyone says. The photographic industry has changed quite a bit in the last ten years. All the sudden, “Bob’s Portrait Atelier” may seem a little outdated, but not old-fashioned. Oh, and he doesn’t do video!
This has almost become the norm in the profession. Today’s clients now want you to deliver “behind the scenes” footage along with the photos as well, especially when in fashion and others are following. This clearly does not apply to everyone; headshot and portrait photographers will carry on with classic looks without the video …for now, anyway.
The industry needs from magazine and web perspectives are quite different. They need to market their products and compete with shrinking publishing businesses that demands multiple media formats before you can even considered for your next assignment. Today’s photographers, who wish to be in business and compete with mainstream, need to wear several hats or hire a crew that includes a videographer.
7. Learn what editors want.
This can be an interesting discussion, which we can carry on until we drop. But there are a few topics worth discussing, including;
“What exactly is the editor looking for?” Clearly, not an easy task to complete, but with a little thinking and a step backwards, it should give you a good starting idea or two. Editors are always looking for something new that can help sell their articles, magazines or products.
“We already have a photographer.” For example, Johnny Quickshot shoots a series of pictures that are just as good as last month’s stellar pictorial on pages 69-74. However, Johnny does not understand why the editor does not accept his submission and publish them instead of the other photographer the editor already has been working with for some time. He even argues with the boss and thinks that the editor is crazy for not using his work – it’s just as good, right?
Well, the truth is, why would an editor publish a pictorial or use a photographer that looks exactly the same as his staff photographer’s work? You need to deliver something fresh, new and different in order to impress editors, not copying what has already been done.
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but in this case you might as well trade in your camera for a Xerox machine. Your images might be good, but are they as marketable as the originals? There is also the budget issue, but that’s another story. There are so many ways to impress an editor and more can be learned at the Shoot The Centerfold seminar / workshop on Jan 27-29, 2012 in MIami, Florida.
8. Finding that right model.
Models are a dime a dozen, or are they? It does seem that way when you look at modeling websites like ModelMayhem, OMP and countless others that crop up on a daily basis. So, why is it so hard to find the right model, or at least one who’s willing to work for you? It’s because you are no longer making an impression on your inner circle.
You need to impress the industry professionals who make the decisions of what gets published and what does not! In Arny’s & Jarmo’s case, this would be Mr. Hefner. Then, there are also fashion models, which is another topic in itself. Height requirements, age, a specific look for the season, and list goes on and on. In the end, trying to find the right model is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Finding the perfect model can be a tedious task, but the search keeps going in hopes of a new muse being discovered and willing to share our creative vision.
9. Photographers’ etiquette.
Photography is all about taking pictures isn’t it? Actually, photography can be just as much about how you behave as the images you take. If you are working for someone and rude or cause problems for any reason, you can lose your opportunity to take photos (if you aren’t thrown out immediately).
Photography is much like a “choose your own adventure” book. Each choice you make leads to a chain event of other circumstances. A large part of photography is knowing what choice to make in a given situation. For example, if you are in a bad mood at the start of your shoot and your model senses this, you’re not going to get the best performance from the model (or from yourself). “Your attitude determines your altitude,” and they say that you can “catch more with honey than with vinegar.”
10. Stop guessing, start knowing.
Explore all fields, facets and disciplines of photography. Don’t just focus on one area or style. You can learn from other styles and use the wisdom to better your own. For example, working as a photojournalist will help you to think quickly on your feet and learn how to deal with fast-changing lighting situations. You can then apply this knowledge when working on location with your model where time is valuable.
New Year resolution.
Explore all fields, facets and disciplines of photography. Don’t just focus on one area or style. You can learn from other styles and use the wisdom to better your own. For example, working as a photojournalist will help you to think quickly on your feet and learn how to deal with fast-changing lighting situations. You can then apply this knowledge when working on location with your model where time is valuable.
www.ShootTheCenterfold.com
