Heading To The Wall Street Journal

It's been a little on the busy side the last few weeks.  Tax season is creeping up on us.  Booking new events, family portraits, seniors, and a few weddings.  It's been a great year thus far and we're still in January. 

Speaking of a great year, I just found out from Dave Hansen, at Hansen Foods, he's going to be featured in The Wall Street Journal.  His interview will talk about what it takes to run a successful small business and how little features like personal attention, quality products, and customer service help to ensure a share of the market.  What does any of this have to do with Forbear Photos you  might wonder?  Well, the editor of The Wall Street Journal liked the photographs of Dave we did, and asked if they could run them with the interview.  I'm not sure if the interview and photographs will be available to view on the web, but we'll post a link if it becomes available.  Until then, have another look at the photographs and make sure if you live or visit Hart, you stop in and see Dave and the crew.

Want to see Dave larger than life?  Take a drive down Polk road heading toward Silver Lake.  Both of these photographs were made into billboards.

Giving Back and Giving Thanks

“Reserving judgments is a matter of infinite hope.”  F. Scott Fitzgerald

A few weeks ago I received a phone call from the Shelby High School Aspire program director, asking if I might be willing to come to the school to photograph students and their families.  The school was hosting a family fun night and wanted to give something back to the families of participating students.  One of the biggest concerns for the director was the fact they could offer nothing in the way of compensation.  

I’ll be honest here, for several months I’ve been touched by so many photographers and their willingness to give back, that I really wanted to my part and use my skills for the underserved.  I was touched by photographers like David DuChemin, Jeremy Cowart, Piper Mackay, and various others in the field doing wonderful work for NGO’s and NPO’s.  I also know that many of these photographers cannot do the work they do without clients supporting them with paid projects.  That is where all of our past and present clients come into the picture (pardon the pun).  Without you, Rebecca and I would never have earned enough money to buy the gear, purchase educational materials, and have the confidence to take on such a job.  Without you, families that seldom have a chance to be photographed together, especially by professionals, would not know the joy of holding and framing a printed photograph.  It’s the memories we make for you, that allow us to give back to the community.  Your financial support and willingness to allow us in your homes and families lives through the last year have greatly contributed to the success of this opportunity.  Please take a moment to view the smiling faces you helped. 

We cannot begin to thank you for your financial, but most importantly your emotional support.   We hope that in sharing your joy and special occasions, we can continue to share joy with others.

Thank You,

Travis   

Photography 101

The word photograph literally means recording light.  By that rationale every image be it digital or film is a photograph.  Ok, I'm fine with that.  In fact, I think the new digital age is an amazing and wonderful thing to have happen in my lifetime.  It's the first time in the history of photography that anyone can make photographs.  What used to be a club with a members only status, is now a public frenzy.  The rate of new photographers to those leaving the business is 10 to 1.  This is a double edged sword for many.  It means the market is tougher to generate income, get noticed, and sometimes just keep your head above water.  It's a great time for clients as well. 

With a limitless amount of photographers to choose from, it's a great way to find  deals on family, senior, wedding, or any other type of photograph need you may have.   Herein lies the rub (for all you Shakespeare fans).  I hear photographers being hired for amounts that literally equal $1.57 an hour by the end.  We've been there too.  When you are first starting out you have to prove to a client you have what it takes to meet and then go beyond the expectations of said client.   To do this, it takes hard work, dedication, and continuing education.   If you want quality, you hire a professional.  When you want a good deal you run the gauntlet and hope the photographer you hired can come through. 

One of the best ways to hire a photographer is to spend a few minutes looking at their body of work.  Does the work fit your need?  Is it trendy, consistent, or both?  One of the biggest questions to ask yourself:  does the photographer understand light?  The photographs below are examples of light use. 

This pair of images shows the difference between a proper exposure according to the camera and an adjusted image that utilizes strobe lighting with proper exposure.  A professional photographer should be able to use both natural light and know when a strobe will enhance an image.

This is an example of a nighttime exposure with strobe side lighting.  Please note the dramatic elements of side lighting versus the typical front flash.  Next time you are watching a television show or movie that utilizes nighttime tones watch what type of lighting they use.  You can learn a lot about lighting watching the masters at work, not just the storyline.

This example is a classical side lighting technique used by landscape and natural light photographers.  Does the photographer know how to do this if necessary?  Ask.  It's ok to ask a photographer questions.  A true professional will not stumble or talk about success with other methods.  A real professional knows when to step down from a job they know they cannot do. 

Before you hire a photographer, do yourself a favor.  Look at the work the photographer produces, take a few minutes to ask questions, and don't price shop, one of the biggest complaints clients have is that they went with a cheaper photographer instead of the one they wanted.  Most of the occasions you're hiring a professional for, happen once.    

Creativity, Is More Than Pushing a Button

The word creativity gets thrown around these days like a baseball in the backyard.  It seems like everywhere you turn someone is suddenly creative, or at least can buy a book or watch a video and POOF you're magically creative.   Creativity, is something you are born with, some are born with very little, and others have so much it drives them crazy.  Whatever the case may be, creative expression takes time, practice, and a heck of a lot of hard work to become mediocre at best.  One figure that gets tossed around is the 10,000 hour one.  That is, it takes 10,000 hours to master a task.  It's a rough figure, but it works.  The problem of course is, when and how do you count.  As photographers, we measure our time in fractions of seconds:  1/100, 1/400, 1/10, and so on.  That would take a long time to master photography.  Add in Photoshop, light/ flash control settings, learning to read natural light, making digital files print ready, and the list goes on and on. 

It's amazing to hear people say all we do is push a button, the camera does all the work.  When camera manufacturers have dial settings like: Ansel Adams, Chase Jarvis, David Ziser, or any other great photographer right at your finger tips, then yes it will only be a button push.  Until that happens take a moment to see it's more than just a push of a button.  Below is a set of images.  The first is a straight out of camera photograph.  The second, is a photoshopped version with creative twists.  The third, and final photograph, is a print ready version.  They say the proof is in the print.  Well, in this case, it will have to stand as the proof is on the screen.