Hey Paul, excellent photography you have. This portrait photograph at the top of your page, how did you light the side of his face as to no have a shadow grill across his face. I just don't get where that light source is coming from. You've traveled to some really cool places, great job.
Valdudes, first thanks for checking out my images. Honestly, I wanted the cool effect of the light falling across his face in shadows but was having a problem with him moving so I just moved the light source closer to the sculpture to avoid the lines. The more specular the light is the more the shadows come out. When I had the shadows the light source was about 30 ft away.
Recently I finished up a project for a nonprofit event I work with every year. This is one of many groups I work with throughout the year. No, I am not trying to earn my wings and halo or prove I am better but I am saying it doesn't hurt you in the long run either.
When I first relocated to College Station, I was unknown to many in the area. I had left a newspaper to follow my wife here and was new to the freelance market. Life had been so easy at a newspaper where my assignments sat in a box waiting for me every morning. Now I had to drum up clients and get a steady flow of incoming work.
The ideas would come from my wife who worked in the advertising department for the local paper. Nonprofit groups would need photos taken for ads and she would pass it along to me for consideration. Before I knew it my schedule was getting filled with these jobs and no money was coming from it. I thought well hell, If I am not getting paid, I am gonna have some fun and do what I want with these projects. My first series involved Special Olympic kids in conjunction with a charity golf tournament. The norm for these pics was a group of kids surrounding the person responsible for the event. BORING!
I changed it up and all of a sudden I am genius. The ads are well received and blown up to poster size and displayed everywhere. My work here is done or so I thought. Suddenly people knew my name and work started coming.
Thats it, I did my duty and now I have work to show from that endeavor. I couldn't walk away from the nonprofit work that easily though. The kids were fun, probably the best athletes I ever shot. Also, I could do whatever I wanted and it was ok. I could stretch my creative wings and try new things.
Now I shoot for many organizations which has led to many contacts I work with as well. My last frame, three sisters in the kitchen, came from a shoot with Voices for Children. I have always liked the Heart Gallery idea, a large database of children waiting to be adopted photographed by professional photogs. I added my own spin and asked the kids what they wanted to be when they grew up. Perspective parents now see a sisters who are passionate about cooking and want to be chefs some day.
I like what I do and have made many new friends as well. I get to be creative and my work is seen by many in ads, on the web and in posters. I have picked up many clients along the way which helps when I wasn't known in the area. For everyone who shoots nonstop for themselves, try shooting for a cause.
Good work man and great inspiration for thinking you'll just have some fun and be creative even if you're not getting paid. I get all mad if I don't get paid. But really that is a great way to give back to the community is donating your talents. Anyone can help pick up trash or build a house but not everyone has a special talent to donate like that.
What works well in CS should work just as well in Charleston, eh? You should have no problems getting your name known when you relocate. Your work speaks for itself. Networking is the first rule in the Big Book of Freelance. 99% of my jobs come from word-of-mouth referrals!
