We Would Like to Thank You For a Perfect Seminar Weekend!
Shoot The Centerfold March 22-23, 2014 Seminar/Workshop
Our Biggest, Boldest Photography Seminar/Workshop ever.
The master photography seminar/workshop is a two-day Master Class immersive tutorial for the beginner, intermediate or professional photographer who is looking to take their photography to the next level. You’ll have an opportunity to photograph Playboy Playmates and top fashion models.
Tickets Purchased after Jan, 31: $1295.00
Portofolio Review by Gary Cole: $249.95
Seminar Workshop Desposit Only: $300.00
Download Program Schedule
Shoot The Centerfold Miami Seminar/Workshop hours – 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
How does Shoot The Centerfold chooses its models for the seminars?
How do we choose models for our seminars? They must not only have the right look, but they must also have the experience necessary to work with everything from a novice photographer to a full-fledged professional. Our models must not only maximize the shooting experience, they must also have a grasp of the business side of modeling as well. STC’s beliefs and direction are to provide a wide selection of models to demonstrate the concept of having the model fit the assignment. We go trough an extensive search when selecting models, as this is one of the most important part of your photoshoot if models are the subject that you are photographing.
If you’ve turned to STC for assistance in your photography, then you’ve mostly come to the conclusion that shooting for fun only goes so far. Eventually, all photographers who take their work seriously will start wondering how to turn a hobby into a paying job. This is where STC’s experience comes in and speaks for itself and the choices we make when choosing the models. Glamour models, centerfolds, swimsuit and lingerie models are sexy and fun to shoot because they are their own product. The attraction to this type of photography is a sexuality and seductiveness that will always turn heads. The images will impress viewers, even if they’re not in the photo industry and everyone will notice your photos. Well, almost everyone. What about commercial clients and fashion houses?
There’s a difference when shooting fashion models as opposed to glamour, and not just in poses or lighting. There’s a saying that a fashion model knows how to present the clothes she’s wearing and become secondary to the overall image. Her appearance and attitude are a reflection of the client or designer, not her own. People in the fashion biz say that models are just fancy clothes hangers, and they’re pretty much spot on. The make-up, hair, accessories, attire, swimsuit or lingerie is the primary element in the image, with everything else taking a backseat to the product. As fussy as clients are with models, you can’t imagine how meticulous they also are with the photographers they use to shoot their million-dollar gap gains or their catalogs. This is where the BIG bucks come in! Are you ready to learn on the tasks of dazzling the billion-dollar industries and bringing home that fat paycheck?
So far, we have merged two different philosophies, each with different directions and make impressions on two divergent, yet complimentary worlds. Sure, there’s a “Glam” category, but the main focus for STC is to teach you the best of both worlds and start making money with your camera. As much fun and cool our Miami seminar weekend will be, we will also be offering instruction and guidance that goes beyond shooting, lighting and posing. We will be exploring the business side of photography, evaluating career readiness and how to customize your skills in preparation for that awesome day when that major client comes knocking at your door.
And this, my friends, is how we choose our models. Stay tuned, there is much more to come!
(Additional model selection announcements as we get closer to seminar dates!)
FAMED PLAYBOY ART DIRECTOR TO PARTICIPATE IN STC’S MARCH 22-23 SEMINAR IN MIAMI
Shoot The Centerfold has scored a tremendous coup for our March 22-23rd seminar. Tom Staebler, legendary Art Director of Playboy Magazine for over 30 years, will attend our March 22-23rd seminar and participate in our first ever round table discussion and critique.
Tom is one of the most important art directors ever in magazine publishing, first working under Playboy’s founding Art Director Art Paul and then taking full command of Playboy’s graphic look and feel in 1979. Not only has Tom won numerous awards for art direction and magazine design, worked with artists and photographers from Andy Warhol, Peter Max and Salvadore Dali, he is also an award-winning photographer in his own right.
Tom retired from his Playboy position a few years back. However, he continues to be involved in art direction and photography. Tom can help you gain insight into what today’s art directors are seeking and expecting in photographers and photography.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet and learn from one of the great talents in magazine art direction. It’s an opportunity that none of you should miss. If you haven’t signed up for the seminar already, do it soon. Space is limited and there may never be another gathering of art and photography talent that STC has assembled for this seminar.
Two days packed with inspirational Master Classes, in-depth Seminar demonstrations, Q & A’s and invaluable networking opportunities.
A highly advanced professional seminar lecture and on-set demonstration at such a reasonable price, making it a great value for all attendees.
See the difference in using a real Playboy Playmate and an international top agency model.
Step outside your comfort zone and learn to utilize a world-class studio environment and see how professional pictorials are made.
Learn what editors, clients and the photo industry are looking for. Understand how to become self-sufficient and in demand.
Learn to utilize a fully implemented studio setting and workflow that makes editors ask for more.
Be sure to sign up for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity never offered before in this kind of a seminar / workshop environment.
See legendary Shoot The Centerfold photographers reveal their signature lighting techniques and demonstration for beginner, intermediate and advanced industry professional photographers.
Have your portfolio critiqued by Gary Cole, longtime Director of Photography at Playboy magazine.
This seminar / workshop is about business, marketing and how to make money with your images. And most importantly, learn to deliver photography that editors cannot ignore.
Why learn from anybody else when you can learn for the best!
Introducing the Studio sets for the March 22-23, 2014 seminar / workshop
During my photography career, I had the privilege to see some of the world’s most amazing places, from the magical Arctic Islands, the incredible Kalahari Desert, the enchanting Greek islands, and all the way to exciting Asian countries.
So why did we choose Miami Beach for the next Shoot the Centerfold seminar/workshop? The reason is that we did not want to choose a location solely for its beauty, but also for its “real world” experience. It was important to select a locale that industry professionals actually use in many of their most valuable shoots seen worldwide. It’s always important for me to mix theory with practicality; that’s the Shoot the Centerfold’s way. We strive to bring a superior professional atmosphere to an excellent learning experience for those who want a taste of the real thing.
This year, we have chosen Miami’s Photopia Studio as our location for the seminar/workshop. Photopia is one of the best, if not the best, studio in town. Many of the top magazine spreads and campaigns are born there, along with some of the music industry’s top videos – everything from Pitbull to Enrique Iglesias.
The magic city will be on fire during this year’s Winter Music Conference, which will provide a truly unique backdrop to our seminar. I hope you will join us for this truly unique experience and good times.
Jarmo Pohjaniemi
Become a part of history in the making
Join STC’s master photographer Ales Bravnicar during the March seminar for a live shoot of an actual pictorial that will be published in an upcoming issue of a major national magazine. This is truly a unique experience that has never been offered until now.
Perhaps the one thing STC attendees desire most is the chance to see an actual photoshoot, live, up-close and personal. While many video tutorials exist online, available for purchase, or from a local photographer hosting workshops, nothing compares to being in the presence of a major work in progress that will be seen by millions of readers and watching the interaction between photographer and model unfolding as it happens.
Watching a true master at work can be compared to attending a music concert where you can experience the artistic process the way its creator intended before being transformed and manipulated by the editing and publishing process. It is true art in its purest form.
Even more valuable is the opportunity to question Ales himself after the shoot and receive direct answers to your questions.
Never in the history of tutorial photography has this educational experience ever been available and at such close range in such a personal, career-changing experience.
This is your best chance to witness the behind-the-scenes process of a professional pictorial while it is photographed, all in a classroom situation from its set-up, to the posing and style changes, right through to its release in the glossy pages of a national magazine. (Due to Copyright Law, the name of the publication cannot be revealed, but we feel confident you can fill in the blanks…)
“Playboy Covers by Ales Bravnicar” Covers used with permission from Playboy Slovenia – www.playboy.si
Meet the Masters
Jarmo Pohjaniemi
Jarmo has over 30 years of extensive experience in both the world of fashion and Playboy. His ability to teach and pass on his passion, vision and business sense are some of the most valuable assets to Shoot The Centerfold and are invaluable to any photographer who wants to get to the next level of their career. During the STC seminar and workshop, you will be given complete access to work methods and advice on how to plan setups in order to create stunning imagery for magazine layouts, advertisements and the unique look of Playboy’s centerfold, which has been long idolized in photography as the pinnacle in glamour photography. Jarmo will also discuss practical approaches to solve the countless photographic challenges a working photographer faces every day.
Byron Newman
Byron shot many memorable pictorials for the magazine and also, being a London resident, contributed widely to the european and international editions of the magazine. A master of constant lighting, using HMI and tungsten, these techniques became his signature and set his work apart. His work has been published worldwide and in diverse publications including portfolios in Photo and the Sunday Times. He has shot publicity stills for major motion pictures including a Bond film, and has taken portraits of the stars such as Kevin Costner, Helen Mirren and Hugh Grant; also Rock personalities: David Bowie, Sid Vicious, Iggy Pop, Pete Townsend and many more besides. Four books of his work have been published in the USA, Japan, the UK and France. Over the long time span of his career he has managed to work in most genres, including advertising campaigns for Bally shoes, Graff Diamonds and Twinings Tea. Byron loves to inspire the latent talent in others with an emphasis of unconventional yet simple lighting set ups, composition, styling and conceptualising. His techniques form a unique solution to photographic situations and will help you to develop a style that is recognisably your own.
Ales Bravnicar
Ales Bravnicar is one of Europe’s most sought after fashion and commercial photographers, whose work has been published in almost all international Playboy editions worldwide, including US Playboy. Ales has 50-plus international Playmates and over 100 celebrity pictorials under his belt. He specializes in creative studio and location photography for corporate, advertising, and editorial clients like Max Factor, Elle, Elle Decor, Playboy, Cosmopolitan, Maxim, Adria Airways, Union & Laško Breweries, Sava-Goodyear, Hermes Softlab, Modna Jana, SKB-Societe Generale, Luna, Ytong, Trimo, Droga Kolinska, Eva, and Nancy Beachwear. Considered one of the most well-traveled photographer with visits to over 80 countries, he also shoots promotional campaigns for clients such as Peugeot, Opel, Fiat, Sony Ericsson, Frey Wille, SiMobil-Vodafone and Vichy.
BBC News website published his photographs from Algeria in 2007 and National Geographic Traveler regularly showcases his work. Ales Bravnicar also gives lectures on photography. In 2008, Canon Adria entrusted him the role of a spokesperson for their state-of-the-art digital photographic equipment.
He participated in numerous group and solo exhibitions and exhibited at both Month of Design and Month of Photography. His series of photographs entitled “Androgynous” was awarded first prize at Slovenia Press Photo Awards 2010 (best story) and he recently exhibited his selected work at Mall Galleries and HoSt Gallery (Summershow08) in London, Kalman Krane in Brighton and at VII Gallery during New York Photo Festival. He lives and works in Ljubljana, Slovenia and is represented by Galerija Fotografija.
Ric Moore
Ric Moore is a photographic powerhouse, shooting everything from advertising and editorial to fashion and glamour. You may have seen his images in Playboy’s Biker Babes, Employee of the Month, Latin Ladies, Special Editions, Playmates, and Girls of Hawaiian Tropic (just to name a few). In addition to photographing the world’s most beautiful women, multi-billion dollar companies have Ric on their go-to list because they know he can their products look just as sexy as a centerfold. Ric’s forte is an ability use his photographic knowledge and experience to turn any lighting situation to his advantage. He will demonstrate outdoor lighting situations, how to work under pressure, and overcome some of the most challenging situations in today’s photography. Ric can best be described as a master of both studio and location lighting. His approach to minimal studio lighting gives him the ability to work with everything from a multi-light studio set-up to a one- to three-light system including the use of reflectors.
Our master photographers have shown an unparalleled degree of creativity, personal expression and style, revealing their personal unique style, technique and vision, and challenging them to deliver content that will entertain, intrigue and propel participants in their careers.
You will be given complete access to work methods and best-practices in how to plan setups in creating stunning imagery for magazine layouts, advertisements, fashion and for the unique look of centerfold, which has been the long idolized photography in the world’s best selling men’s magazine “Playboy.” As well as discuss practical approaches to solve the countless photographic challenges we face every day.
The talks are further illustrated by examples of their best work, as well as an insight into how they were produced and photographed, location realities and budget considerations. There will be a continuous dialogue between the master photographers and the participants with discussions, Q&A sessions and a mutual sharing of experiences and view points.
A SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF YOU WHO ARE ATTENDING THE UPCOMING STC SEMINAR IN MIAMI ON MARCH 22-23.
We’re going to be trying something a little different at this next STC seminar, something that we hope will prove valuable to all attendees. It is a round table discussion during which I will chair the STC group of master photographers as we critique work and/or business plans of five designated photographers.
If you will be attending, please consider submitting a minimum of ten images and/or a description of your business plan/photography ambitions to us. We will select five photographers to review during our 90-minute round table critique.
Thin-skinned personalities need not apply as the discussion will be candid and practical. All seminar attendees will be invited to participate in this free-wheeling conversation. The point is to make each attendee more aware of the realities of the marketplace, the importance of focusing on a business plan that makes sense based on each photographer’s talent and situation.
I know from my past experiences with the STC community how dedicated all of you are to improving your skills and your opportunities for success as photographers. So submit your images and ideas and leave your egos at the door.
~Gary Cole
About Gary Cole, the Shoot The Centerfold Editor
Gary Cole
Gary Cole has been the Director of Photography for Playboy Enterprises, Inc. for over 30 years. During that time, he has managed the acquisition of all photography for Playboy and supervised photographers and production staff, studios, film and digital labs and photo archives. He has established and maintained relationships with leading photographers from around the world while managing an $8-million annual budget. Gary has extensive experience in approaching celebrity TV and film talent and negotiating agreements, as well as being involved in all creative aspects of Playboy Magazine. Gary has twice been included in American Photo’s list of the 100 Most Important People in Photography.
He’s worked with most of the world’s foremost glamour and fashion photographers including Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton, Herb Ritts and countless others. He has also produced fashion and glamour shootings with hundreds – perhaps thousands – of models and celebrities, including Cindy Crawford, Elle Macpherson, Stephanie Seymour, Raquel Welch, Farrah Fawcett and countless others. This is your opportunity to learn the business side from the very best and the brightest.
Photography is so much more than just a camera and taking pictures.”
One of the most overlooked areas in photography is the business aspect of running your own studio. Photographers, being artists for the most part, are not usually blessed with a core of business and financial wisdom necessary to establish and maintain a profitable net income.
At Shoot The Centerfold, we know from experience how important it is to understand photographers’ rights, how to sell an image, secure publication rights and everything else of which you should be aware. Buying a new camera does not instantly make you a photographer, nor does it mean that money will start rolling in, it just means you’re the owner of a camera.
Unless you have skills, experience and the knowledge of how to sell and secure your image rights, your photography will be nothing more than an expensive hobby. Gary Cole have done exactly this for Playboy for a 30 plus years. His experience reaches into every aspect of publishing, contracts and how to make money with your images. Take this unique opportunity to learn from the best in the business so you can learn how to make a profit.
Here are a few tips on how to prepare for your private portfolio review
1. Select your best images
When selecting images for your portfolio review, be sure to choose eight to ten of your best images that show a variety of different styles. All the images should be from different photoshoots that exemplify your range of experience from studio to location. The images do not need to be nude, but they can be if you feel strongly about them. Select images that do not have excessive Photoshop manipulation. We are evaluating your photography, not your Photoshop skills. Make certain the print size or viewing area of your image is no smaller than 5”x7” – an iPad, Kindle Fire, or other e-reader would be ideal. Please, no laptop images.
2. Make long story short
Every photographer has a story to tell and we welcome them all. However, as good as you are in photojournalism, landscape photography, weddings, or even pet portraits, we are here to evaluate fashion and glamour photography. Please limit your selections to pertinent subject matter. Let your images do the talking, but feel free to ask questions. If you don’t, the answer will always be “no.”
3. Listen & learn
A Chinese proverb states, “A single day’s conversation with a wise man is better than a year of studying alone.”
As this is very true, we recommend you to bring a notepad and take notes for further studies. Also, while videotaping is prohibited, small digital voice recorders are acceptable. It is a rare opportunity to be able to meet and have your photos evaluated by editors of this high caliber. Gary and Jeff’s goal is to give you the benefit of their many years of experience in order to advance your photo and business skills.
Starting Your Own Photography Business and How to Make it Profitable
Most photographers that buy photo equipment, whether it be cameras, lenses, lights or other items for their work, think once they acquire what they need their future is secure. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work that way. Now that you’ve spent a sizable amount of money on equipment, you’ve got to figure out a way to dig yourself out of the financial hole you’ve made in your wallet. Unless you’ve already got a good list of clients, you’ve probably found out receiving a return on your investment isn’t as easy as you thought it’d be. Sound familiar?
Editors are familiar with photographers spending extravagant amounts of money on equipment , both in studios and location expenses. If you’re assuming we’ve heard some pretty good horror stories and more from the photographers who submit their images to us, you’d be correct.
So what does an editor look for in a photographer when they approach us in the hopes of getting published and receiving future assignments? Clearly, each case is different and the winners are those who have their business plan together and are able to swim with the sharks.
Any established photo editor wants to make sure that their working relationship with the photographer is efficient with no unpleasant surprises along the way. As Gary Cole puts it, “I cannot publish your excuses instead of your images.”
Every day, there are hurdles and obstacles for editors and photographers alike. By attending the seminar, you are preparing yourself to avoid the setbacks and learn how to run a photo business as it should. You have come to the right place because you will not find better mentor with the unique, expansive experience held by Gary Cole.
Evaluate and Develop Your Photography Business
- Have a plan. (A good one).
- Determine if photography business suits you.
- Get some experience. Come to Shoot The Centerfold seminars.
- Put together a bulletproof business plan.
- Fight inexperience with advice.
- Determine if you need financing.
- Put together your initial marketing plan.
- Build your company’s infrastructure early.
- Use the web for information as well.
- Make paying for your items or service convenient.
- Follow the money.
During sessions, you will also receive advice on:
- Decide on a Legal Structure for Your Business
- Choose a Name for Your Business
- Register Your Business Name
- Prepare Organizational Paperwork
- Taxes
STC Attendee Testimonials
Dr Dan
Since I signed up with the Shoot The Centerfold program, my photography career has taken a positive turn and I have not looked back ever since. I have multiple covers and editorial layouts in various magazines and periodicals, including three official Playboy Playmate shoots and a Playboy cover. Currently, I am in preproduction for a third and fourth Playboy layout. To a photographer, getting published is like winning a trophy in sports – it signifies the achievement of a goal. The STC program solidified my photographic knowledge and gave me insight on how to finesse the light to a marketable image that the editors demand. Thank you STC for helping me see the light!
Doug Hill
I have participated in a few other photography seminars during my career, including classes in college. Only STC has gotten me published and opened my eyes on how to better my photography beyond my wildest expectations. It’s not only a great learning experience and a chance to shoot beautiful pictures, but it’s also an educational system that I highly recommend to anyone who wishes to succeed in today’s photography business. The value STC offers is world class and second-to-none.
Steven Ruegnitz
Since my very first STC experience at their first program, I have come to realize the importance of lighting and connecting the right dots in the business of photography to maximize results. Shoot The Centerfold has given me exactly that and more. I am now a published photographer with a full-page advertisement in Playboy. My own style of photography has broadened to include fashion and styles I had never before attempted. STC has also been an invaluable networking resource, giving me all the right connection in the industry. As much as the direct learning of photography happens during the sessions, the people you meet during the program have proven to be invaluable sources of knowledge and inspiration well beyond anything I could have envisioned. I have yet to have a question that some member of the STC community has not been ready to help me answer. My attendance at the first session was simply a start to a new vision and journey of what my photography can become. In my over 40 years of shooting, I have never found any program that was such an inspiration and a game-changer in my life.
Hotel recommendations for STC Miami Seminar Attendees
Here are some hotel/motel choices for STC March seminar attendees. One thing about Miami is that we will never run out hotels, in fact Miami has more of them than most of places in the world. They come in different shapes, sizes and personalities and for different wallets…
Rates from $89.00
For reservations call: (305) 751-8696
Located less than 0.8 miles from our seminar location. Motel Bianco is a boutique style property located in Miami’s Modern Design District and is surrounded by many great restaurants. Within 1 or 2 blocks of the hotel our customers can walk to places like Andiamo Brick Oven Pizza, Sushi Siam and many more.
5255 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33137 | See website
Rates from $94.00
For reservations call: (305) 531-2727
Located less than 6.6 miles from our seminar location. Guests love the hostel’s hipster style and friendly staff. Ping-Pong tables and an outdoor pool encourage fun, and free continental breakfast includes fresh fruit. The Broken Shaker reinvents classic cocktails with fresh herbs picked daily from the garden around the pool.
2727 Indian Creek Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33140 | See website
Rates from $139.99
For reservations call: (305) 751-0345
A complimentary breakfast is available. In addition to multilingual staff and a garden, Shalimar Motel features coffee/tea in the lobby. Complimentary wireless Internet access is available in public areas and an Internet point is located on site. Additional amenities at this Mid-century Modern hotel include a safe deposit box at the front desk, ATM/banking services, and a microwave in the lobby. This is a smoke-free property.
6200 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138 | See website
Rates from $259.00
For reservations call: (305) 371-4400
Located less than 4.2 miles from our seminar location. Guests love being so close to Bayside Marketplace, Miami’s waterfront promenade. Its many dining, drinking, and dancing options are across the street from the hotel. South Beach, Miami’s ever-vibrant hub of nightlife and beach lifestyle, is 5.5 miles east.
340 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132 | See website
Rates from $239.00
For reservations call: (305) 358-4555
Located less than 4.2 miles from our seminar location. This bayfront hotel is in the city’s financial and business center, 2 blocks from the Port of Miami and across from the Bayside Marketplace, Flagler Street shopping, and Bayfront Park. The Miami Convention Center and American Airlines Arena are less than a half-mile away. Families and couples will find this location especially ideal.
146 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132 | See website
Rates from $269.00
For reservations call: (305) 372-0313
Located less than 3.3 miles from our seminar location. Vibrant South Beach, with its Art Deco architecture and fast-paced nightlife, is also a 15-minute drive from DoubleTree. You can drive or take the trolley to American Airlines Arena for a Miami Heat basketball game in less than 15 minutes.
1717 N Bayshore Dr, Miami, FL 33132 | See website
Frequently Asked Questions
Past Attendees Have Included
Photographers of all areas, Cinematographers, Directors, Gaffers, Architectural Lighting Designers, Videographers, Camera Operators and Hollywood Special effects visualizers.
From The Following Countries
Argentina – Australia – Brazil – New Zeeland – Russia – Czech Republic – Hungary – Sweden – Denmark – Egypt – Finland – Italy – Kuwait – Lebanon – The Netherlands – Norway – France – Germany – Poland – Portugal – Romania – India – Spain – UK – US – Canada – Mexico – Venezuela – Costa Rica – Slovenia – Chile.
Map & Address
The Shoot The Centerfold Seminar/Workshop set for March 22-23 will be held at the Photopia Studios, one of the most popular studios among industry professionals in Florida.
Photopia Studios: 363 NE 61st St, Miami, FL 33137.
See more information about the studio here: www.photopiamiami.com
“Many of life’s failures are experienced by people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”
- Program is subject to change without notice.
- Refunds & Cancellations Enrollment is limited, therefore your commitment is important to us. If you must withdraw from a seminar, we provide this refund policy: A $25 administrative fee will be charged on all cancellations. If you cancel 30 days prior to the start of the seminar, we will retain 50% of the total seminar fee, unless we are able to fill your spot. If you cancel 15 days or less prior to the start date of the seminar, we will retain 100% of the seminar fee unless we are able to fill your spot. No refunds are given once the seminar begins.
© 2013 Copyright ShootTheCenterfold.com. All rights reserved