ProProgram Social Show and Tell

On Sunday, photo students from our ProProgram met for a meal at a restaurant and descended on the studio for a “show and tell.”

We meet regularly above and beyond the regular elements of their course work to exchange and share ideas, successes and challenges. Many present current projects and work. And I answered questions that support the student’s development.

We covered:
• backdrop systems – studio and on-location
• available light vs studio lit assignment shooting
• negotiating contracts
• licensing imagery – things to consider

The afternoon went quickly and information quickly got soaked up. One of the toughest elements in a photography startup isn’t the photography but the business aspects. There is a lot to learn technically in photography but, equally as important, is understanding how to negotiate an agreement – understanding licensing, sales and other issues.

I spoke with one photo graduate who kept reaching new heights, feeling too comfortable and then setting sights on greater goals. He reminded me of the story of Jonathan Livingstone Seagull – a little common bird who progressed to great things.

The ProProgram

I based the ProProgram on what I wish I had access to when I started. In my early years I, erm, floundered more than I should have, both technically and from a business perspective. The Program is designed to help students achieve their goals from many difefrent perspectives, whether it’s just to improve photo skills dramatically or prepare for a business in photography!

ProProgrammers learning photo skills

“Listen to your customers!”

That’s a good principle of business.

So we decided to develop a short survey ask our readers what they thought of our workshops, safaris, seminars, classes, etc:

• Have you ever taken a course with us?
• What is your biggest frustration in photography?
• What kind of classes interest you?
• Are our classes too expensive, just right, or a ridiculously good deal?
• etc…

Teaching a photo class in Ottawa

This week on the photo blog takes some juggling…

• Follow-up, admin and proposals

Many people think a photographer’s main job is photography. Every week I spend a large amount of time emailing, phoning and writing proposals for work I hope to get…

• Exposed! Photo Newsletter

We write the Exposed! photo newsletter every month, sometimes early, sometimes late. Our last one came out very early February, so it’s been six weeks since we sent some fun. This week we are pulling it together. Coming out next week. Focus and depth of field… This week we are hoping to send a survey. Stay tuned.

• Stock shoot

Two full days of work. They’ll be big days for a government client. Targeted stock for client’s promotional use. Targeted stock? I produce stock imagery using specific people, scenarios, locations to meet specific needs within the organization. I do this kind of work for private schools, small businesses, professionals, government. Fun.

• Working Creatives

Five years ago I started a networking group for full time, working, creative people. There are over 180 people on the list. Usually 10-30 people meet as often as we can to discuss all kinds of items specific to working creatives. This week the group meets to discuss copyright.

• Open Doors at the studio

It’s a busy week already so Open Doors at our photo studio will take a break until March 28th and April 4th. Come and visit. Stay tuned – we’ll be showing work, presenting ideas, offering critique… something to be determined. We keep the dates posted on the home page of Ottawa Studio Works or the workshops page.

• Workshops

No teaching this week. But we’re excited about new, upcoming workshops, classes and safaris.

• Watershed

The Watershed Exhibit continues to make headway – meetings and development continue this week.

Stay tuned…

Juggling the fun!

I’ve often said my job is a pack mule.

I lug a lot of equipment. Whether it’s teaching photo classes or creating photos for clients there is a lot of equipment to move. Sometimes I have an assistant but often I am moving equipment by myself.

Today on the way to a custom hockey photo workshop I weighed my camera bag. It was just over 20 pounds (approx 10 kg). That’s a fair bit! Each photographer chooses different equipment for different purposes. So for today’s blog post I started thinking about what I pack for different scenarios.

What goes in the bag?

1. Today’s workshop… I usually shoot a little of the workshop in action and want to be able to show different equipment options for shooting different scenarios. I also bring some extra gear in case a student has a malfunction – it’s nice to be able to lend something in need. So I brought:

• Two DSLR bodies, 80-200/f2.8, four small primes: 14/2.8, 24/2.8, 50/1.4, 85/1.4, memory, batteries, water, Clif bar, teaching aids, student notes, etc. in a hefty over the shoulder bag. It came to slightly over 10kg or 20 pounds.

2. A commercial shoot… Depends on what the shoot is but it’s reasonable to suggest:

• Laptop, two DSLR bodies, 80-200 f2.8 zoom, prime lenses, memory, batteries, chargers, studio gear, tripod, back drop gear, water, lunch. Could come to 50 or 100 kg (100-200 + pounds)

3. In the field art shoot… For a Watershed type shoot I might bring:

• 4×5 Graflex film camera plus two lenses, Pentax 67 film camera plus three lenses, 35mm panoramic camera, film, batteries, food, water, small bag of extra clothes (down jacket, etc.), tripod. It all goes in a backpack style camera bag, tripod bag and small duffle bag. Possibly 15kg (30 pounds). I feel like a pack mule hiking or biking into a location.

4. Vacation photos… We recently went away for a week’s vacation (see attached photo) and I was “asked to provide” some family photos. I was on holiday… and I did not want to lug equipment. I brought:

• One DSLR, 3 small prime lenses, an extra battery and a couple of memory cards all in a small over the shoulder bag. Probably came in at 5kg or 10 pounds, tops.

Family Portraits - bath time

What you bring depends on what your goals are. The more complex the shoot, the more equipment there is to haul. I often evaluate the haul after the shoot and ask:

• Did I use everything? 
• Could  I have brought less?
• Did I need more?

Photo Studio Open Hours

Ottawa Studio Works will be opening doors to the public again next week:

Monday, January 23rd; 6-8pm.
Tuesday, January 31st; 6-8pm.

Come by to see the artwork, ask about workshops or enquire about hiring a photographer.

Ottawa photo studio

Photo Newsletter Video Feedback

Last week we posted our first video through our Exposed! photo newsletter. It was called Rise and Tilt, featuring a way to get a cleaner background in your photos.

The video happened because a colleague – cartoonist and videographer Paul Mason – had been urging me to do a video for over a year. I procrastinated and he persisted.

Late last year we pulled it together and launched the first video. The response was great. Web stats spiked. Comments came in:

“Great stuff Harry! I burst laughing when I saw your “fight” with the cardboard TV. Very funny!”

Readership was up and I had way more fun producing the video than solely writing the newsletter. We have a second related newsletter lined up – look for it in the next few months.

Big thanks go out to Jess and Joel for acting, Ian Tamblyn for supplying the music and  Paul Mason for persisting! And thanks to you for reading/watching!

Paul Mason