Comments on: “So You’re a Photographer, Quick… Tell Me What You Do” http://www.lighting-essentials.com/%e2%80%9cso-you%e2%80%99re-a-photographer-quick%e2%80%a6-tell-me-what-you-do%e2%80%9d/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=%25e2%2580%259cso-you%25e2%2580%2599re-a-photographer-quick%25e2%2580%25a6-tell-me-what-you-do%25e2%2580%259d Ideas, Inspiration, Information and Discussions for Emerging Commercial Photographers Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:18:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Emergency Lights For Vehicles http://www.lighting-essentials.com/%e2%80%9cso-you%e2%80%99re-a-photographer-quick%e2%80%a6-tell-me-what-you-do%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-22631 Emergency Lights For Vehicles Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:27:26 +0000 http://www.lighting-essentials.com/?p=3166#comment-22631 <strong>Emergency Lights For Vehicles...</strong> [...]“So You’re a Photographer, Quick… Tell Me What You Do” | LIGHTING ESSENTIALS For Photographers[...]... Emergency Lights For Vehicles…

[...]“So You’re a Photographer, Quick… Tell Me What You Do” | LIGHTING ESSENTIALS For Photographers[...]…

]]> By: Everything you need for home fitness http://www.lighting-essentials.com/%e2%80%9cso-you%e2%80%99re-a-photographer-quick%e2%80%a6-tell-me-what-you-do%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-22614 Everything you need for home fitness Sun, 20 Nov 2011 14:57:03 +0000 http://www.lighting-essentials.com/?p=3166#comment-22614 <strong>Everything you need for home fitness...</strong> [...]“So You’re a Photographer, Quick… Tell Me What You Do” | LIGHTING ESSENTIALS For Photographers[...]... Everything you need for home fitness…

[...]“So You’re a Photographer, Quick… Tell Me What You Do” | LIGHTING ESSENTIALS For Photographers[...]…

]]> By: 7 osi layers http://www.lighting-essentials.com/%e2%80%9cso-you%e2%80%99re-a-photographer-quick%e2%80%a6-tell-me-what-you-do%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-22411 7 osi layers Wed, 19 Oct 2011 06:14:18 +0000 http://www.lighting-essentials.com/?p=3166#comment-22411 <strong>7 osi layers...</strong> [...]“So You’re a Photographer, Quick… Tell Me What You Do” | LIGHTING ESSENTIALS For Photographers[...]... 7 osi layers…

[...]“So You’re a Photographer, Quick… Tell Me What You Do” | LIGHTING ESSENTIALS For Photographers[...]…

]]> By: Patrick Mc Donnell http://www.lighting-essentials.com/%e2%80%9cso-you%e2%80%99re-a-photographer-quick%e2%80%a6-tell-me-what-you-do%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-22038 Patrick Mc Donnell Wed, 27 Apr 2011 23:11:47 +0000 http://www.lighting-essentials.com/?p=3166#comment-22038 Words of wisdom as always! Thanks also for the link to Laurie Meehan-Elmer's fine work...as an amateur photographer with no desire to take more from my photography than pleasure I really enjoy your work in words as well as images...Laurie Meehan-Elmer's work will continue to be part of my 'immersion' in great image making along with yours and a select number of others! Words of wisdom as always! Thanks also for the link to Laurie Meehan-Elmer’s fine work…as an amateur photographer with no desire to take more from my photography than pleasure I really enjoy your work in words as well as images…Laurie Meehan-Elmer’s work will continue to be part of my ‘immersion’ in great image making along with yours and a select number of others!

]]> By: 52 – A Project For Photographers: Assignments, Discussions, Critiques and Portfolio Building. Assignment Number 1 | LIGHTING ESSENTIALS For Photographers http://www.lighting-essentials.com/%e2%80%9cso-you%e2%80%99re-a-photographer-quick%e2%80%a6-tell-me-what-you-do%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-21604 52 – A Project For Photographers: Assignments, Discussions, Critiques and Portfolio Building. Assignment Number 1 | LIGHTING ESSENTIALS For Photographers Mon, 03 Jan 2011 16:48:46 +0000 http://www.lighting-essentials.com/?p=3166#comment-21604 [...] posts here at LE for you to consider: “It’s All About Me…” “So You’re a Photographer…” “Enough [...] [...] posts here at LE for you to consider: “It’s All About Me…” “So You’re a Photographer…” “Enough [...]

]]> By: Enough Negativity: Ten Things to Positively Affect Your Photography | LIGHTING ESSENTIALS For Photographers http://www.lighting-essentials.com/%e2%80%9cso-you%e2%80%99re-a-photographer-quick%e2%80%a6-tell-me-what-you-do%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-20571 Enough Negativity: Ten Things to Positively Affect Your Photography | LIGHTING ESSENTIALS For Photographers Sun, 25 Jul 2010 22:01:46 +0000 http://www.lighting-essentials.com/?p=3166#comment-20571 [...] should have your mission statement, marketing tools and drop-offs and leave behinds ready as you begin this process, so we are going [...] [...] should have your mission statement, marketing tools and drop-offs and leave behinds ready as you begin this process, so we are going [...]

]]> By: Ed Z http://www.lighting-essentials.com/%e2%80%9cso-you%e2%80%99re-a-photographer-quick%e2%80%a6-tell-me-what-you-do%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-19348 Ed Z Fri, 02 Apr 2010 17:02:05 +0000 http://www.lighting-essentials.com/?p=3166#comment-19348 Seems I am late to the party... I've actually been thinking about my "elevator pitch" a lot recently as I network more and more, and am stymied by the "Uh, I'm a photographer" answer to "what do you do?" Mine should go something along the lines of: "I use my background in psychology, painting, and technology to create portraits that are technically dramatic and personally intimate and evocative" I'm still struggling with the exact phrasing... Seems I am late to the party… I’ve actually been thinking about my “elevator pitch” a lot recently as I network more and more, and am stymied by the “Uh, I’m a photographer” answer to “what do you do?”

Mine should go something along the lines of:

“I use my background in psychology, painting, and technology to create portraits that are technically dramatic and personally intimate and evocative”

I’m still struggling with the exact phrasing…

]]> By: Nicholas Fulford http://www.lighting-essentials.com/%e2%80%9cso-you%e2%80%99re-a-photographer-quick%e2%80%a6-tell-me-what-you-do%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-19067 Nicholas Fulford Wed, 24 Mar 2010 02:48:38 +0000 http://www.lighting-essentials.com/?p=3166#comment-19067 I am going to give your situation a go. Now I did think about my answer for about 20 seconds, so maybe I blew the envelope, but here it is, extemporized, off the tongue from my gut: "I am an artist. I try to capture some essential aspect of being human in my art. I aim to create a work that has meaning, that is evocative, powerful and real. I know that requires taking chances, being vulnerable and risking failure. My successes speak for themselves, but to know that you will need to see that for yourself: Here is my card." I am going to give your situation a go. Now I did think about my answer for about 20 seconds, so maybe I blew the envelope, but here it is, extemporized, off the tongue from my gut:

“I am an artist. I try to capture some essential aspect of being human in my art. I aim to create a work that has meaning, that is evocative, powerful and real. I know that requires taking chances, being vulnerable and risking failure. My successes speak for themselves, but to know that you will need to see that for yourself: Here is my card.”

]]> By: Daron Shade http://www.lighting-essentials.com/%e2%80%9cso-you%e2%80%99re-a-photographer-quick%e2%80%a6-tell-me-what-you-do%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-19034 Daron Shade Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:11:02 +0000 http://www.lighting-essentials.com/?p=3166#comment-19034 Very nice article -- I'd like to add my $.02 I think it is very hard for a generalist to say something compelling about our work. Those of us in a small market don't often "shoot food" - we may love shooting food and have a portfolio ready to present to that client, but also shoot corporate headshots and fashion and cars and whatever pays the bills. My advice is to know who your target audience should be - For example, I only want to work for discerning clients that "get" my personal style of dramatic lighting and depth-realism that sets me apart from any other photographer. That's what I talk about. If the person I'm speaking to glazes over in the first five seconds and their ears close, I know I'm talking to the wrong audience. If they seem at all interested, I hand them my card with a hot photo on the front and watch their reaction. Virtually everyone's eyes light up and they say they'll go to my site. I then let them talk so I know if there may be a fit, get a card and follow up if there's any potential in the relationship. You have to understand yourself, it's the only way you can speak confidently about who you are and what you do.... Very nice article — I’d like to add my $.02

I think it is very hard for a generalist to say something compelling about our work. Those of us in a small market don’t often “shoot food” – we may love shooting food and have a portfolio ready to present to that client, but also shoot corporate headshots and fashion and cars and whatever pays the bills.

My advice is to know who your target audience should be – For example, I only want to work for discerning clients that “get” my personal style of dramatic lighting and depth-realism that sets me apart from any other photographer. That’s what I talk about. If the person I’m speaking to glazes over in the first five seconds and their ears close, I know I’m talking to the wrong audience. If they seem at all interested, I hand them my card with a hot photo on the front and watch their reaction. Virtually everyone’s eyes light up and they say they’ll go to my site. I then let them talk so I know if there may be a fit, get a card and follow up if there’s any potential in the relationship.

You have to understand yourself, it’s the only way you can speak confidently about who you are and what you do….

]]> By: Steve Manhart http://www.lighting-essentials.com/%e2%80%9cso-you%e2%80%99re-a-photographer-quick%e2%80%a6-tell-me-what-you-do%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-19033 Steve Manhart Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:44:09 +0000 http://www.lighting-essentials.com/?p=3166#comment-19033 Wow this is so true! It applies in so many areas beyond photography. I spent 25 years in the semiconductor and disk storage business and I learned my elevator speech to where I could say it in my sleep. Now that I am capturing peoples moods, desires and passions I find myself struggling for the right speech. I am sure I will someday get the right words....hopefully before I run into that Art Director! Wow this is so true! It applies in so many areas beyond photography. I spent 25 years in the semiconductor and disk storage business and I learned my elevator speech to where I could say it in my sleep. Now that I am capturing peoples moods, desires and passions I find myself struggling for the right speech. I am sure I will someday get the right words….hopefully before I run into that Art Director!

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