Sometimes I think of myself as a photographer masquerading as an engineer.  Other times, I see myself as an engineer masquerading as a photographer because, yes, I can geek out that much over anything that’s rooted in engineering, science and math (Space-time continuum? Talk dirty to me, baby!).  And perhaps, other photographers find that they, too, wear many hats.

Try this one on:  Photographer as potential terrorist?

Huh?  Really?  Apparently, there seems to be a recent movement that has placed photographers shooting in public areas under greater scrutiny.  LENS, a New York Times blog, details the story of a Manhattan designer rudely interrogated by NYPD for snapping photos of the Javits Center (Article Here).  He’s not alone.  From reading the blog comments, many other photographers – in New York and around the world – have been similarly bullied.

Have you seen the Seattle Public Library, Grand Central Station, any monument in Washington DC, or anything designed by Santiago Calatrava?  They are works of art.  These and countless other civic projects beg to be applauded, not just for their engineering (geeky) wonder, but for their ambitious design and attention to detail.  Are we to turn a blind eye to these visual marvels in the name of national security?  How absurd!

I can geek out about as much about the load bearing structures as much as I can love the design and textures used.  So, police, I understand that you’re doing your job and I thank you for that, but sometimes, we are just geeky photographers that just enjoy visual beauty.  So protect our communities and ask us your questions, but please be open and don’t bully us.

In “Did the Web Kill the Art of Photography”, I mused that “we were at one time (or still are?) terrible photographers.”  So how do you graduate to higher levels of photography? Easy, you shoot photos every chance you get, develop your skills, try new techniques, and perfect your eye.

Here’s the caveat.  You have to shoot the photos YOU want to shoot and the photos YOU enjoy shooting.  Don’t let others dictate what you should enjoy shooting or what photos they think would bring the most success.  Accept constructive criticism, but be mindful of who is giving you that criticism.  Do they have relevant experience? Do you respect their opinion?  The criticism of your art/design professor or mentor should hold more value than the casual comment of your ex or college roommate who majored in managerial accounting.

What if you don’t know what you want to shoot?  What if you’re having a difficult time honing in on your particular interests and all you can say for sure is that you’re a photographer, and you like to shoot, um, photos?  Discovering what inspires you involves a bit of legwork.  Do your research. Pay close attention to all the images you encounter and save them if you can.  You know that aunt of yours who hasn’t thrown out a single possession since 1972?  Channel that pack-rat energy and become an image collector of sorts.  Then, study them.  Analyze them.  Try to figure out how a photo was lit.  If it was a magazine shoot, there might be behind-the-scenes videos on the web.  Observe the process and take notes.  Don’t straight up copy what you see, but draw out what vibes/moods are being communicated in the image.

Some photographers and art directors like pinning images on a wall or board.  Recently, I’ve been going through old magazines and tearing out images that I find appealing or create a mood that I enjoy.  Recently, I’ve been doing some house cleaning and recycling some old magazines over the past 5 years. The photo below is a wall of some tear sheets in my apartment.

This is a great exercise for visual stimulation.  And, since I tend to find most of my inspiration on the web, I save all electronic images into different folders on my computer, separated into categories like style, sports, couples, fashion, etc. for future reference.  The more you evaluate what makes an image speak to you, the more refined your visual palette will become.  Pretty soon, you’ll know exactly what YOU want out of your photography.

And, remember to specialize!  So when you land an assignment, you’ll get a subject/shot that you’ll enjoy shooting.

Recently, I’ve been trying to make a concerted effort to splash around in the networking pool to help promote my brand.  Author and public speaker, Seth Godin says, “…that marketers tell stories. We tell them to clients, prospects, bosses, suppliers, partners and voters. If the stories resonate and spread and seduce, then we succeed.”

My story is that I’m an aerospace engineer turned photographer, but I often wonder if that’s enough to leave a lasting impression.  Will my story stick with my audience?  Have I made interesting conversation that sparks curiosity?  If not, how can I put a seductive spin on my story without coming off as grandiose or a down-right liar?  And after all that effort, will they like me?  Sounds like the questions I ask myself when I’m on a first date!  To think of it, networking is a lot like dating.  You never know who you’ll meet and how that person could change your life unless you give it chance.  I should take my own advice when it comes to dating. I’ve been single for how long now!?!  Sorry, that’s irrelevant.

A lot of people find networking to be very uncomfortable, especially if you don’t have the gift of gab or a natural instinct to socialize.  But, if you’re in the business of promoting your business, then gird your loins and learn to put yourself out there.  It will be awkward at first, but the more you do it, the more you’ll get the hang of it (again, like dating!).  Here’s a tip: If social situations are really unbearable for you, ease your way into the networking scene by bringing a friend who has a knack for approaching strangers with confidence and grace.  And if your friend is attractive, that helps too.  And don’t forget to dress appropriately.  You don’t want to make a first impression with a potential client in your gym clothes or PJs (unless, of course, they’re that kind of client).

In my networking experience, I’ve found that people like to talk…a lot.  So if you’re brave enough to step out from behind your camera and start networking, ask questions.  Have them tell you their story.  That way, all you have to do is listen, and people will actually remember you for being interested in what they have to say.  And who knows?  Maybe after all that listening, you’ll find that you’re able to share your perspectives sans nervous stuttering.

So, what’s your deal?  Do you have an interesting journey into photography?  I’m all ears.

Admittedly, we were at one time (or still are?) terrible photographers.  Yes, I understand that “terrible” is a relative term, but every photographer went through that awkward period of learning how to use cameras, how to read and see the light, how to use angles to our advantage and create great photos (and yes, “great” is relative too).  But, terrible learning stage aside, I’m noticing more and more crappy work out there, which brings me to this: Did the Web Kill the Art of Photography?

Is it just me or did Web 2.0 give birth to a ghastly crappy-photography-being-touted-as-art phenomenon?

We live in a visual society and with the Internet disseminating hordes of media in text, photos, and videos, I sometimes wonder if our capacity for deep thought and subsequently brilliant photos has been stunted.  Because after all, especially today, media is super reflexive, meaning that when we see/hear/feel something, we want to spit it back out and try to pawn it off as our own.  It’s becoming increasingly difficult to be original, these days, and we may just be trying to re-invent the same mediocre photo over and over again.

In a couple of recent Wall Street Journal (WSJ) articles called “Does the Internet Make You Smarter?” and “Does the Internet Make You Dumber?“, they explored the impact that the web has on modern society.  I’d like to explore how the web is affecting photography.

In the “Smarter?” article, they compared the information boom to 16th-century rise of movable type and how “Gutenberg’s press spread through Europe, the Bible was translated into local languages, enabling direct encounters with the text; this was accompanied by a flood of contemporary literature, most of it mediocre.”  So what about today’s photography?  We have access to a lot more photos today than ever before, and the means to create photos is so widely accessible.  Does that mean that many of us are creating mediocre work?    The “Smarter?” article continues to say, “The issue is whether there are any ideas so good today that they will survive into the future.”  So will today’s photos go down in history as being great?

While many or most of today’s photos will not be considered great, I think the Internet has pushed photography a step further.  We’ve been granted global access to a wealth of really amazing and really crappy photos; it’s up to us to be able to make an educated comparison and pick out what we feel is best and what will have the most impact.

Moreover, it is widely accepted that competition spurs innovation. So the competition created by the “new” photos on the web has given birth to a generation of would-be photographers who may or may not be great competition.  (Check out this article for more on competition … Here)

“Increased freedom to create means increased freedom to create throwaway material, as well as freedom to indulge in the experimentation that eventually makes the good new stuff possible.”…See…some good stuff can come out of it, says the “Smarter?” article.  But “throwaway material” is another way of saying crappy photos will also be a result.

Conversely, in the “Dumber?” article, “…a growing body of scientific evidence suggests that the Net, with its constant distractions and interruptions, is also turning us into scattered and superficial thinkers.”

I definitely agree with that statement.  In a photography sense, we click from “cool” photo to “cool” photo, seldom stopping to contemplate one, much like any visual art.  And people who juggle many tasks are less creative and less productive than those who do one thing at a time.

We’re becoming, in a word, shallower.  Everyone is consumed with the latest amazing, knarly, photoshop action or Lightroom/Aperture preset that you can apply to all of your photos at once without having to know a thing about exposure, light, shutter speed, aperture, or composition.

My opinion?  Use the web as a research tool, but try to unplug and strive to create truly original and great photos. Do not let all of this visual barrage of mediocre images kill your own creative vision.

In solitude, I come up with concepts.  But it’s in the pre-production meetings that things really come together.

Zen Habits says that the Number 2 habit of highly creative people is: participation.

Especially with photography, I can not do everything alone.  If I’m photographing a model, particularly a female one, I need specialists to help me out, such as with hair, make up, wardrobe.  Sure, I can probably pull off an ehhh…ok shoot, solo, but that would be a ton of work and super stressful.  And the photo shoot probably would not go nearly as smooth or turn out nearly as well.  I also have next to zero experience with hair and make up.  I’ve picked up a couple things here and there by watching, but rarely do I practice.

So to have a truly successful project, you need to enlist the help of your friends.  This marriage proposal is a prime example.  Try to count how many friends this guy employs….  Link Here.

When are you most creative? When do you feel inspired?  Do you feel like you’re consuming and regurgitating the same stuff that you’re seeing on TV/magazines?

Yes, I know. It’s tough to be truly original these days. With over 6 billion people on Earth, someone has to have roughly the same idea as you, right?

So how do you chance upon the opportunity to really create something amazing?

According to Zen Habits, “The No. 1 Habit of Highly Creative People” is solitude. They site that some of the greatest minds of our time found their most inspirational work while working alone. What you do in your personal time is your business. If you’re a geeky guy between the ages of 12 and 25, we all know what you do when you’re alone… (tinker with your gadgets and computers, of course).

Honestly, I’d have to agree with Zen Habits. I find that my most creative moments, moments of true inspiration, occur when I have a minimal amount of “noise” around me.

Why is this important? If you truly want to push your creative juices, you may need to unplug from your cell phone, TV, Facebook, Twitter and all the other things that tend to consume our lives. Many people have to have a little bit of noise in the background whether it’s music or TV, while others are always around people and are scared to be alone. If they have one moment of solitude, they feel the need to call up a friend or jump online, just so they don’t feel that loneliness. Are they creative? Some are. But, I think they can be much more.

When was the last time you ate by yourself? Enjoyed some music in your bedroom, alone?

Unplug, retreat and maybe something new and amazing can be conjured up.

Early on, when I was still shooting B&W film, I wanted to be like Ansel Adams and shoot nothing but beautiful landscapes.  Then I came to the realization that I lived downtown in a major city with very little cash, so it was nearly impossible for me to travel to exotic locations.  So being a landscape photographer was a no-go.  Then I turned my attention to sports photography, mostly because I wanted access to all the big games.  But then I ended up standing side-by-side with 20 other photographers with the same camera, the same gear,  and the same cotton-blend cargo shorts; not to mention that all the sports photographers boast the same amount of experience, if not decades more!  And BTW, sports photography is a lot harder than it looks.  It requires lots of planning and thorough analysis of the game/teams that you are planning on shooting.  So, then I wanted to be the “everything” photographer – the guy that can maneuver from fashion, to catalog, to product, to weddings, to everything under the sun without breaking a sweat.  In other words, I wanted to be the MacGyver of photographers.

But, the reality check for me was that people love MacGyver types in the world of secret agents and life-or-death scenarios…NOT photography. In the world of lens, light, and shutter speed, I was a generalist. And, I quickly found out that no one likes a generalist.

We all want specialists. A German car owner wouldn’t take his vehicle to a Toyota mechanic. Actually these days, even a Toyota owner wouldn’t take their car to a Toyota mechanic! Wink Wink Jab Jab (Insert live audience laughter sound bit here). The same goes for photography. You have to specialize. My good friend Jamie Conlan, who I’ve assisted a number of times, helped me to come to this realization as he went through a similar process himself a number of years ago.

I’m not going to lie, it’s a (painstaking) process and you’re not going to figure it out overnight. Sure we all want to hit the big time gigs, but you first have to determine what kind of photos you want to take. And that’s an internal exploration.

I’m still trying to figure it out myself, to a limited extent. I have much more clarity, now than when I first picked up a camera.

From a goal perspective, who do you want to shoot for? Or what kind of images will you enjoy and never grow weary of even when exposed to on a daily basis?  When the answers become apparent to you, start tailoring your portfolio to match your goals. It may take years, but the exploration will only make you stronger.

“I didn’t do it on purpose!” – a classic line delivered by children and adults alike.  It’s a perfect phrase for soothing mistakes and getting out of trouble, but from a business standpoint, avoid this mentality.  Sending an email blast?  Do it with purpose.  Calling attention to your work?  Gotta have a purpose.  Let your audience know that YES! What I am doing IS on purpose!

I talked about this the other week, but in case you’re not convinced, think of this:

How many times have you been up late at night, and you catch a fun little infomercial that goes something like this?

Act now, and not only will you get this great vegetable-slicer-mp3-player-lava-lamp combo, but we’ll throw in the second set for FREE!!! All for $19.95!!!.  But wait…for a limited time only, you’ll also get Big Papa’s Jammin’ Polka Hits Double Disc Set!!!  Call in the next 20 minutes to claim your extra bonus gift…this offer won’t last!!!

What did those advertisers just do there?  Yes, annoy the hell out of you…but what else?  They didn’t just say that their product was for sale, but they created a call to action and a sense of urgency to emphasize their message.  Other companies create similar calls to action, like the coupons you receive in the mail or the credit card company offers that all have expiration dates.

If big companies are utilizing this technique, why can’t photographers, graphic artists, and freelancers do the same thing? Remember, not only do you want your prospective clients to look at your work, you want them to look at your work and ACT!!! NOW!!!  BECAUSE CUTE KITTENS ON SLIDES WON’T PHOTOGRAPH THEMSELVES!!! (I love that video.)

Here are some easy things to do to create that essential sense of urgency:
*Special Offers Good for a Limited Time
*Complimentary Trial Period
*Discounts for New Clients

It may require a bit more effort and brainstorming on your part, but taking that extra step to add a clear purpose and a call-to-action to your marketing messages will make all the difference!

You just took a great photograph. You’re super proud of it so you post it on Facebook, send via email to your entire address book, upload it to your website, and if it’s a REALLY great photograph, you print it and put it into an actual hard-copy portfolio.  You’re a rock star now!  You’re super excited, and you want all your friends and colleagues to be super excited for you. In fact, they should be so excited that your inbox will overflow with emails, you’ll have comments on your FB post numbering in the triple digits, and your voicemail will begin to reject messages because your box is full.

Because, that’s what supportive people do, right?  They take everything important in your life and make it important in their life, too.  It doesn’t matter if they have their own lives happening at the same time. It doesn’t matter if they’re going through their own personal trials and triumphs, fighting off stress at work, balancing family life, soul-searching, or just trying to find some private time to unplug.  It doesn’t matter.  You took a REALLY REALLY great photograph.  This is a milestone for you, and all the people in your life who care about you should stop the world and give you the attention you deserve!!!

Did you check your inbox? No new messages?  Facebook kinda slow?  What just happened? Why isn’t anyone responding?

No one is responding because you didn’t ask for a response.  Take a step back for a second and look at what you’ve done to your photograph. Yes, you made it available for the world to see, but was there a call to action?  Was there a direct, explicit request for feedback or follow up?  More importantly, did you give your audience a purpose for looking at your work?

With everyone being so busy these days, doing more with less time and making the most of any opportunity, you have to really give people an incentive to halt what they’re doing and give you a bit of undivided attention.  Sometimes the reason is simple: They need a photographer and you’re one of the potential candidates.  But, if they’re not looking for a photographer or uninterested in photography, then what?  Why should they give your photograph more than a mere glance?  CREATE a reason why people should see your work.

To get someone’s attention, even those closest to you, you have to ask for it.  You have to personally go “door-to-door” and give them a reason to look at your work. Because, without a reason, why would anyone care? Without a reason, people will not stop their lives for you.  Time is a rare commodity these days.  If you expect someone to give you their time, the least you could do is give them a reason for their time.  Don’t just display your work and assume people will voluntarily provide feedback.  Ask for the feedback and let them know that their feedback carries weight.

Oftentimes, after a photo shoot, I will send out a proof gallery to friends and colleagues whose opinions I respect.  Some will never respond.  But some will reply back with detailed emails as to why the images work or don’t work.  When I get such feedback, I make sure to respond and let them know that I really appreciate their efforts.  I don’t just say “thanks.”  I let them know that their words matter and that I’m a stronger, more educated photographer because of their suggestions.  I tell them that it allows me to think on different levels.  Because it does.  And when I show them my appreciation, guess what happens?  Without even knowing it, I’ve given them the reason they needed.

Last week, through my experience with a vendor, we came to the realization that, in the professional real world, if you don’t bring your “A” game, you can go ahead and tattoo a big fat, “FAIL” on your business’s forehead.  So, what can you do to ensure satisfied clients? Here are some DO‘s to keep your “A” game arsenal fully-loaded:

* DO find a subcontractor/friend/cousin-who-owes-you-a-BIG-favor to help you complete a project if you’ve bitten off more than you can chew.  Sure, we all get overly ambitious at times, but if you made the mistake of bidding on a project that’s a little over your head, ‘fess up (at least to your ego) and SOS for assistance.  The worst thing you can do is to leave your client hanging by not getting the work done.  A little caveat: Make sure your contract allows for you to delegate work.  You don’t want to further anger your client by breaking a legal provision that may require you to disclose any intention to use subcontractors.

* DO make your billing terms clear.  Very clear.  Crystal Pepsi clear (whatever happened to that, by the way?). Whether billing by the hour or on a project-basis, state it in your contract.  Don’t confuse your client by “mixing and matching.”  It’s not a fashion show.  Just remember, by bidding on a project as a lump sum, you are inherently saying that you are willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done for the specified amount of money.  If you misjudge how much time and effort it will actually take to complete a project (Sure, Mr. Sabino! I can build you a time-traveling rocket ship with Italian leather interior by next Wednesday!), suck up the cost and chalk it up to experience.  OR, if you have a really good relationship with your client (because your client is your mom), tell them right away that the project will require more time than expected and may incur more cost than previously estimated.  Don’t leave them in the dark until the deadline.

* DO communicate!  A LOT! Early in the project, I gave my vendor-from-the-dark-side some mockups to serve as visual reference for what I was expecting. When the vendor presented the final product to me, it wasn’t even remotely close to what I had wanted.  I, with a stunned look on my face and quickening pulse, said, “You’re kidding me, right?  This looks nothing like the mockups I sent to you 3 months ago.”  The vendor says, “Oh, we didn’t know you wanted [the product] to look like the mock-ups.”  W.T.F.  If you’re unsure about what your client wants, ask.  If you’re still unsure, ask again.  Present several options and ask your client to sign-off on the one that they like.  If you have written approval from your client, at least you’ll be saving face and not cluing your client in to the fact that you really didn’t know the definition of “mockup.”

* Finally, DO DO DO meet your deadlines!  This is the quintessential mark of professionalism.  Deliver your final product at the exact date and time that you said you would deliver.

Earn the respect and trust of your clients by always bringing your “A” game, and it won’t be long before your business is writing its Valedictorian speech!