Newsletter January 2010 See Previous newsletters here.
Hiya All
I always enjoy our monthly workshops and January's was no exception with the very lovely Victoria being our model. The two sessions followed the same styles, but each session brought a different prop. The workshops are not just an opportunity to learn as a lot of photographers that come are experienced and see it as an opportunity to meet other photographers and to shoot models they otherwise might not get the chance.
John Askey brought along a fantastic Native Indian Headdress on the first session and Steve brought along a Viennese mask for the second which gave us all the opportunity to try differing things. Both sessions simply flew by everyone taking it in turns to take some really great pictures.
As promised we moved through a selection of lighting arrangements and costumes
The standard is fantastic and | have placed some pictures from the shoot on separate page here
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Our next session is with the gorgeous Playboy Model Lucy Zara who will be here on Sunday February 7th and there will be the usual 2 x 2 hour sessions. At the moment I have 6 places available in total. You can see and book and pay to confirm your place on the events page. Click here You will find all the details and Lucy will be working up to Playboy . I guarantee all attendees will have pictures to enhance any portfolio.
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I’ve been surfing on the net for years now, in fact I’m so old my grandchildren think my first PC was probably steam driven, it wasn’t of course. All the coal mines had been shut so we couldn’t get up a head of steam. Seriously my first PC was a lump of black plastic with a rubber keyboard called a ZX81 and what a marvel it was with a memory of 1k. Not one meg or gig just a single miserly k.
Cameras with film, changeable backs as well as lenses, oh and don't forget Polaroid! Then of course phones that just made phone calls and were fixed to the spot. The new year got me thinking just how much things have changed over the years and being a photographer the changes in this industry have been huge. It really really wasn't long ago that Sports Illustrated accepted a digital picture taken with a digital camera for its centre spread. Since then of course everything has gone digital and brought high quality picture taking into the hands of everyone. With cameras that electronically control shake and tone, and colour its hard to take a bad picture.
So to be a professional photographer now you need to be an extra step ahead and.... No hang on! I know the argument that some amateurs take great professional quality pictures who are not professional because they do something else for a living, however the pressure is not on them to earn a living from their camera. So for professionals the need to find something different and stay ahead of the game is of paramount importance.
One of my regular studio users emailed me last week to ask how to turn professional and I answered with what I felt was full answer, but since then I've thought about it a lot and seriously there is a great deal to turning pro. So I thought over the coming months in the newsletters I would explore this subject and see exactly what is required to earn a living taking glamour pictures. I've read a great deal on the web and can honestly say speaking as a person who genuinely earns a living at this game it's mostly written by people who do not have a clue. People that like to think they know all about it, but obviously do not have a clue.
So next newsletter I will append part one of what is involved in becoming a professional glamour photographer. That is of course if I remember! There seems to be far more occasions of late when I find myself standing in the spare bedroom wondering why I am there, then having to descend the stairs and wait until I remember. When I do of course it entails a re-ascent of the stairs to collect, or carry out whatever the chore I had originally planned. :)
OK and finally for this latest news. If you are a regular reader you will remember there has been 2 attempts for Pixel 8 Studio to provide a shooting glamour holiday. The first planned was sadly dropped due to a death in the family and the second a country house shoot didn't get started due to lack of interest.
I saw yesterday a weekend shoot workshop prices at 990 euros. Yes that is weekend workshop at 990 euros. So I was planning to revisit the shooting holiday again as I must be honest I am very keen indeed. It would be a week in either Portugal or Spain, the last week in October. 4 models and a full structured week of shooting projects and learning. I can confirm that Ashley and Sammy B are both confirmed as models for the event.
Full details are here. Shooting Holiday Workshop!
Until I see you here, or until next time
Paul
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