The Barter System



    I just recently jumped into the world of stock photography. At this point in my career, my budget for hiring models is around thirty two cents. I don't have to tell you what kind of model you can hire for that kind of cash.
    I need all kinds of models, not just ones that are 5'11" and weigh 115lbs, but all kinds of people. So the problem is how do I get someone to take time from there busy schedule and pose for pictures that they have no need for.  Here is where the barter system comes into play. I offer to take photos of whatever people want if they will pose for whatever I want and it's been working very well. All it cost me is a little time, and they get some images that they probably would have never hired someone to take.
    We have a family friend, Becky, who is very attractive and could be used for all types of stock images. She wanted some shots shooting her M4. A little trading and we both get what we want. She probably would pose for me with no compensation, but I wouldn't feel right about that. So we spent an hour in my cow pasture to get the shots she wants and now she is going to be a nurse for me. As a bonus, I plan on submitting the above image to a few magazines.  Oh by the way, I am looking for a chef!

Beauty is where you find it.

    I haven't been shooting a lot lately. The big layoffs here really hurt my senior photography business, and I work quite a bit of overtime at my "real job". Luckily I met Heather. She is a gorgeous young lady that will help me out anytime I need a little practice. The first time that I photographed her, she was really nervous. I tried to make her feel at ease with my witty humor.....but I don't think that helped. The next time we shot, it was for real. I used her to get some medical images that I wanted for my stock portfolio. She pulled her hair back in a ponytail, put on a scrub top and she was a  nurse. She did really good. She looked so convincing, I think she should apply to Nursing School.
   Yesterday, we just shot for the fun of it. I wanted to get her some images just for her. Some that she would like and that she could share with her family. She has the most beautiful smile and the whitest teeth that I have ever seen. Hey maybe I should shoot her for a toothpaste add.....

Always trying something

Sorry I haven't been as faithful to my blog as I should be, or not at all lately. No excuses..... Anyway, I have been looking at some homemade light tents, or boxes on the wonderful internet for a few weeks. Three weeks ago, I went and purchased all the supplies that I thought I would need to build one. I think I have less the 10 dollars invested. Lately a few of my stock images have been selling and it has motivated me to get on the ball and get some more images up on my agency's web page. istockphoto.com, go buy some of my stuff. LOL. I have been wanting to get more into products and food photography, that stuff seems to sell and lately I have had some problems lining up models for portrait type images. So here is my first attempt with my homemade light tent. I like the way it turned out. Let me know what you think. Oh yeah, I don't wear this stuff, it's my wife's. I am an Old Spice man.

Another First

I tried something new again! I am living on the edge! Food photography. I have been wanting to try it for awhile, but just really never did it. When I got home from work a the other day, I drug out a couple of softboxes, my Alien Bees (that I don't know how I ever did without), some wine, and bread and went at it. I think the results turned out OK. As a matter of fact, I liked them enough that I submitted 6 images to my stock agency. I did do things a little different than most people. Instead of using a white paper background and trying to light it evenly, I used a softbox and just dialed up the power until I got what I wanted. I did this before with a model and it worked real well so I figured why not try it with wine. Anyhoo, things turned out and I kinda liked doing it. My next victim will be a monster hamburger with all the fixings!

My First Contest!

Well I finally did it. I entered a contest. Shutterbug magazine has a facebook page (like who don't) and they have a monthly contest. The winner gets their image on Shutterbug's facebook cover for the month, and a brand new Corvette! Just kidding about the Vette.  Being a procrastinator by nature, I waited until the last day to enter my image. Guess what! I won! Man, my winning average is at 100%. I have a perfect record as far as contest go. I must never enter another one. If I don't win, it would cut my average in half. 
The image I chose is one of my favorites. The model is also one of my favorites. If you have ever read my blog before, you have been seeing this pic as my header for quite awhile. There is a reason for that. I LOVE IT! I love it for several reasons. One, Melinda Mann is one of the best models that I have ever worked with. She is beautiful, she moves well, and she is just a lot of fun. Two, my wonderful wife was with me that day. She was waste deep in 72 degree spring water holding a light and her teeth were chattering. I love it when she is uncomfortable. (that comment is my way of checking to see if she really reads my blog) And three, I really love shooting in and around water. After entering a contest, who knows what I may try next. Maybe a workshop. I have always wanted to put on a workshop. Maybe using flash and natural light together, or how to get beautiful models to hang out with a pot bellied middle age guy. There are tons of subjects I could teach on. LOL! I just better not wait until the day before it starts to begin setting everything up. 

Trying something new!

I submitted some images to Shutterstock today. I have been wanting to do that for awhile but just hadn't gotten around to it. They will review them and if they accept 7 of the 10 I sent, I am in. If not, try again in a month. Man I hope they accept them. Some of my best images were not allowed because........I DIDN'T HAVE THE MODEL SIGN A RELEASE WHEN I TOOK THE PICS!!!!!!!! How many times have I preached about model releases, and yet here it comes and bites me square in the butt again. Keep releases with you and have the model sign them before you take your camera out of the bag. PERIOD. That's what I am doing from now on. I promise. I did submit some pretty good ones though. Like this image of my daughter and her dog. If you don't like this image, something is wrong with you and don't ever talk to me again.....just kidding.

Take me out to the BALLGAME! Burrrrhh, it's cold.

We made it out to Palatka yesterday for a baseball game, but it felt more like football weather to me. I shot a little, not as much as usual. It did feel good to get my hands back on the camera and I must admit that I was a little rusty. I did meet a fellow photographer there and we swapped some information and he even let me use his teleconverter. Gotta get one of those real soon, especially for surfing pics. Camera people just seem to be a nicer bunch. I have never met another photographer that is a butthole. I am sure there is one somewhere, but I haven't met him yet. Anyway, this guys name is Charlie Fee and his work is awesome.

I'm Back!

Wow! What a weird six months this has been! To make a long story short, I got laid off at the end of the shuttle program and was out of work for a couple of months. My plan was to pursue photography as a full time vocation, but with the economy the way it is, it was a little scary. Along came a job offer from Boeing in South Carolina and they wanted me to start right away. I moved up there leaving my family here in Florida. I worked so many hours that I never took my camera out of the bag. After 4 months of separation, I landed a job back here in Florida. Thank God! Well I plan to take the camera out of the bag today. I am going to a college baseball game to watch family friend play (you remember the cage fighter). I will post some pics from the game soon. Until then, I will leave you with one of the first images I took when I started taking my photography serious. I like to call it "Aim High".