I didnt Inhale

After violating the “No Smoking” rule inside the race grounds, Robby Gordon’s response to the reporters was “I may have smoked, but I did not inhale.”

Sorry about the cheesy line, but it was the first thing I thought of.  Canon 50D, Canon 100-400 Lens at 400mm 1/2000 of a second.

Nothing Photography

Taking a picture of nothing is a hard concept to wrap your head around.  Everything is something even if you’re staring into the dark, it is still something.  Obviously the easiest idea is to take a pitch-black image and say ok, its nothing, but to capture something that no one really would consider taking a picture of, a metaphorical nothing.  Canon 50D, Sigma 70-200mm f2.8, cropped down in a 4:5 ratio and white balance adjusted.

Week 10 EOC Networking

Networking has been primarily responsible for the business I have been doing and have scheduled up to this point.  I have a solid foot-hold with a number of different resources right now from the entertainment editor for the Associated Press to the Head of Media Relations at the Thomas and Mack center.  These people have become not just clients, but friends in the since that we get along well, and keep each other in the loop as to what we are working on, and what is available.  It also helps having friends with connections, as I am working on the finishing touches for Euphoria Institute to photograph all of their graduations, twice a year for each school, with 3 schools in town.  I am currently doing charity work for the Las Vegas Dachshund and Doberman Rescue which is giving me residual contacts with the people that adopt the dogs as well as those business that work with the rescue.  I have a marketing campaign launching next week that is aimed at the parents of children who play sports for the city and local organizations to provide action shots of their children while they play.  I offer all of my new clients a 25% discount for their first shoot, but I make sure that the invoice shows my regular price and an explanation of why they are getting a discount.  This has helped me ease the uncertainty of some of my clients who are un-familiar with working with me and allows me to justify my cost after working with them. 

40 Under 40 in Las Vegas

I am afraid that I have a little bit of a disadvantage at this one over my fellow classmates as I only have 8 years left until the dreaded 40 comes around.  However, what I lack in time left, I feel I have more than made up for in time well spent during the last couple of years.  I have solid contacts with the Associated Press and Getty Images.  I am building a relationship with a top executive at the Tropicana and have a good solid contact and friend in the Media Relations Office at the Thomas and Mack Center.  I also have just gotten an invite to the Michael Jordan Golf Tournament being sponsored by the Aria and I have a solid connect with the Las Vegas Wranglers Hockey team and Media relations for the Las Vegas 51's baseball team. I do not see myself owning a studio or doing fashion and portraiture to that respect, but I do have marketing in the works to target parents of children who play sports and am working on sealing a contract with Euphoria Institute to photograph all of their Graduations with residual sales from individual photos. My current business plan and budget projection is modest and shows me netting very little in the next year.  By the time I am 40 I believe it is feasible to say that I will be netting 75,000 a year provided I continue at the pace I am going. I hope to have an office manager at that point to handle the mundane tasks so I can focus on building relationships with my clients and I plan to print everything I sell on site so I can turn a larger profit from my business.   

EOC Week 8: Is She fair game?

In the terms of Photojournalism there is often times when the agency goes too far.  A person is generally considered fair game if they actively seek the spotlight and public settings.  If the person you are reporting on is not someone who is in the spotlight, and the story is not informative and news worthy, then it should be left alone.  Those who promote themselves actively and are always around a camera, have very little room to complain about someone taking their picture.  In the same since, there are those who are actors and actresses who make a living on screen, but prefer to be left alone when off of screen and their wishes should be respected so long as they are not calling attention to themselves.

Copyright Process for Photographers

The copyright process for photographers is relatively simple.  The moment that the image is put into creation form, ie. recorded by the camera, the image is copyrightable.  To copyright an image, the first and most important part of the process is to establish your ownership of the photograph by putting the copyright symbol, your name or DBA name, and the date.  Doing this will ensure you the instant power of protection awarded by the United States Government. The next step is nearly as important and is the registration of your work with the Copyright office either electronically or using form VA, submitting a sample of the work/s, and the accompanying fee. This is an important step when having works that are published to protect your rights.  Once you have your image copyrighted you move into a situation where you are checking up with your clients and running searches through the internet for the use of your images outside of the scope of the rights.  At this point you are able to file a Cease and Desist letter to the violator and if need be take further action to reclaim any lost revenue.

Where are you and where are you going?

Financially where are you and where are you going is a great question.  I have spent many years struggling just to maintain my basic way life.  I have never been good with money and have always been a spender.  Perhaps it was my life experience with being homeless and my idealism that things can always be worse.  If I have money available, I will either give some to the person on the corner because I know where that person is at, or I will get something I want because I have been without and know right now I have more than I could ever need. My wife, being a saver, tries hard to put money away but our lifestyle often finds us juggling bills just to make it from paycheck to paycheck.  I currently work more hours in one week than even I can keep up with but see little return.  I am confident that soon I will be able to start putting away money for my retirement but I have a large amount equipment to get before I can fully appreciate the extra money that I would otherwise put into savings.