How Can I Help?

Hello,

Over the last month whilst getting my studio ready to open I have been speaking to a few photographers either on-line in FB a group I admin or in person at events I have run, and it has got my brain cogs turning... ok ok brain cog.

Over the last few weeks I have answered various questions about various photography topics and it's given me the pay it back/offer a helping hand bug again .  I enjoy helping people, teaching and learning myself from the whole experience.  We all have room to grow and learn... always. 

So my question to you all is... How Can I Help? 

What is it that makes you want to put the camera down and walk away or feel like you are a beginner again. Is it off camera flash, portraits, working with light or something more fundamental like exposure and photography basics. 

I am working on some content ideas for the blog, YouTube and also workshops.  2015 will be the year that my Lets Get T his Lit  workshop will launch and my #ShopTalk events will continue, as will my critique videos but I want to do more.

It's rewarding helping others and teaching. I enjoy it a lot and have recently realised that it is going to be a part of my photography and studio business going forwards even if I never really thought it would.  Also I want you to know it's not about jumping on the everyone is doing workshops bandwagon either... if I did not feel like I had something to offer, some value I would not be doing it. 

Below is a list of things that photography brings and some options on delivery of a solution. It's by no means a comprehensive list but let it act as a base guide.

What do you struggle with..?

1. Photography Fundamentals - Exposure, Metering, Your Camera/lens/gear. The nuts and bolts of it all.  << This is where it all starts and many skip a lot of this. 
2. Light be that off camera flash or natural light. 
3. Modifiers of light (reflectors, soft box, beauty dish, scrim, flag, gobo, strip box, grids... this list goes on)
4. Composition.
5. How to make that photo in your head happen. 
6. Posing and subject direction (portrait photography)
7. Working in a studio.
8. Working on location. 
9. Building your portfolio. 

The list could go on and would easily hit 20+ but I need some feedback from you.  This feedback will help me narrow down what people are looking for.  

Now I will of course be putting up some video tutorials but I have wrestled with starting from scratch.. the bottom step and climbing up from that starting point or keeping it to portraits and lighting but one thing I do know is this, I have spoken to a number of people who subscribe to this or that channel, watch this platform or that platform and...they still have holes in the foundations and that makes things fall down.

The internet is a great resource for photography info but you have to do your home work and know what that bag of gear will or will not do and for some it takes a workshop, others a book and some videos on YouTube/download or may be a one to one session. 

What would you prefer?

1. A full day or more workshop. (Usually 8 people)
2. Videos on Youtube.
3. A higher production value video download on a certain subject.
4. A one to one or smaller group session. (2-3 people)

This is open to all who feel I can help them.  If you already know your stuff then why are you reading this? :)

A lot to think about for us all I know. 

I look forward to your feedback. Please add it to the comments below so I can track it more easily. 

Rick

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The Studio: Part 1 of ?

As of 10am Monday I am now the renter of four walls and a false ceiling.  The journey begins.

You have no idea how much I have thought about this space… a space.  Should I go ahead, can I make it work and about 5000 other questions. 

That said I now have a space, now it’s not a studio space yet and that’s what this blog series will be about.

Over the next month or two I will be getting the space ready for use and I will be sharing the progress via this blog and social media, I have ideas for the space but some of them will have to wait…for now it’s all about making it functional and seeing how the first 12 months go.

Below is the rough floor plan and a few stills of the space as it is right now (a mess). It needs some work.

·         Cleaning

·         Painting

·         Better Lighting

·         Storage Unit Building

·         Floor Laying

·         Background brackets Installing

To name but a few. 

You will see a lot of stuff that needs to be remove in the images below, the land lord is getting that done for me but I am keeping some of the desks and furniture. 

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Yeah that little person is supposed to be me, thanks Mark. :)

I will take you all on a guided tour of the space as it is at the start and discuss my plans at some point this week.

Also in future progress posts I will get in to gear and all that stuff, what I think I need and what I can get by without for now. 

P.S If any knows of a dark blue leather or fake leather 2 seater sofa for sale give me a shout please.

More soon.

Rick

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Head Shots & Portraits for a CV

Today we can have many reasons for requiring a head shot or portrait and one of those is for your CV.

The images below are from a recent session with Tori and the brief was for head shots as well as full length portraits for her CV. Tori was looking for new work in the Airline industry as a Flight Attendant and that industry requires images to go along with your CV. 

For these images I kept the background clean and simple, that way the images are about the person which is what the CV is selling. No need for a portrait in front of a plane.

We shot a few different looks during the session, changing up the outfit and hair as well as the background to give Tori options.

It’s common for people to be nervous about having their headshot or portrait taken, especially if it’s not a regular experience for them. To counter this I will have some music on in the studio and spend the first 10-15 minutes talking, once we start shooting there is no pressure to get great shots from the gate (see what I did) as both the subject and myself need to warm up and ease in to the shoot.

It helps to keep the set nice and simple to help move things along as well.

Tori did a great job and I wish her all the best in her job hunt.

If you are looking for updated head shots or portraits maybe for your own CV get in touch and we can discuss your requirements.

Rick

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The reason I have been quiet...

Some of you who know me in person are aware of this already and have given words of encouragement and advice.  Thank you and sorry I am such a PITA at times.

For those who don't or who have read some seemingly strange posts on-line this is why.

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Now it's not 100% yet as I have some stuff to figure out and a few people to talk to still. The downside is the noise in my head which consists of static mixed with a crap load of what if's and fear...

What if it fails?, what if I fail?, is the space right?, can I shoot worth a dam and make the space work, is it worth the risk.

I am a self-confessed over thinker with this stuff. 

Where does this self doubt come from? Hell I have no idea but I need to bury it for more reasons than that dam space above.

Recently I wrote a post and have it set for a scheduled release in July 2015, I really want to press publish now and follow what's in that post but ... if I pull the trigger on this studio I will have to kill that post. #mysteriousmuch :)

The last 2 weeks in my brain have consisted of ...

You can do this, go for it. What's the worst that can happen after all life is full of risks right?... to are you effin crazy what if you suck or fail, what if you can't get people through the door., really you want to do this in 2015 when the economy is still on it's ass!?. 

Yet something feels right about it.  I can't put my finger on it, and am not able to put it in to words right now.  May be sometimes you need to think with your heart and not your head... F**K I don't know. 

I have ideas for such a space beyond using it to shoot portraits in.  Those ideas have the potential to work and to help the local community and others in the photography industry. 

Can someone please come and slap me and tell me to make a freaking decision already. I will expand on this post further once the beginning of March comes round.  Until then I will try to quiet the noise in my head.

May be it's as simple as taking that step off the edge and seeing what happens. 

Rick

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