[twocol_one]Technology And Education It's really important to study your industry and stay up to date in all the local trends in fashion, hair, makeup, and nails.This is one of the reasons I attend fashion week every season. It gives me a chance to see what my peers have been creating for the past six months. And in those moments I get a glimpse of what is going to be the future. The future is based on what all these talented fashion designers have put their blood sweat and tears into for the past six months. I personally tend to stay in the present moment and think to the future. Though, I must say that history repeats itself in the fashion world. We see designers getting inspiration from different past eras, but for me I don't spend too much time looking back. Basically, I'm looking for what's coming ahead. But it's great to find inspiration in everything you can. So looking back at fashion history may inspire you. Check out Avedon or Irving Penn's work. You may ask yourself: "why do I need to study these sorts of things? Isn't this the role is of a fashion stylist?" My response is that as a photographer you will be creating vision boards, collaborating on projects, moodboards, pitching stylists, art directors, and magazine editors, and you will get a better response if you know what's trending. Our culture is pretty obsessed with technology these days. It's exciting because technology is constantly evolving. [/twocol_one] [twocol_one_last]If there are tools out there that can make your life and job easier as a photographer or improve the quality of your work then it's important to know about them. For instance: I started off shooting film before the digital revolution and when digital cameras first came out I jumped right away and adapted to the new technology where lots of my peers were a bit afraid or even opposed it, because they called themselves film purists. But I found that I had an advantage because the service I could offer, as well as the speed of delivering images was, no question, superior. Be Innovative! Nowadays I have fallen in love with medium format cameras. I used to shoot with DSLR digital cameras. Medium format feels closer to film, and it has a certain depth and beauty. I don't think a photographer should expect that technology will make them a better artist, necessarily. It is a tool. Photography goes back to the fundamentals: light and composition tell a story. So it doesn't matter which camera you use. Hammer that nail. Sometimes I use a $75 Holga camera, that I have to tape shut, so light doesn't ruin the film. Right now I'm pretty obsessed with using the Capture One App. I can be doing a shoot with a Phase One IQ250 medium format camera and my images wirelessly pop up on an IPad so an art director can walk around the photo set and see the images instantly. That is fricking awesome! [/twocol_one_last]
[twocol_one]Staying Up To Date I don't know if It's possible be always up to date on everything, but I attend a lot of industry events and seminars. I give talks on photography and lighting. So, part of my job is to be up to date and know what's available. Industry events are a great way to meet your peers. Quite a while ago I stopped the mindset about competing with photographers and I adapted the mindset of sharing and collaborating. It makes the industry more exciting, and it make my job more fun. I think that is the future. [/twocol_one] [twocol_one_last]Magazines, Books, And Web Resources I love to read. Omg. I go through two books a week minimum and if I can't stop to grab a print book I put on an audio book while I working. Right now I'm obsessed with philosophy, especially about "the law of attraction," setting goals, having a strong vision, and being a creator by using your imagination. I think people should stop limiting themselves and think outside of the box. Read rich dad poor dad, trump, greatest salesman in the world. Try to suspend your current reality and know that your future can be shaped by daily thoughts and beliefs. As far as fashion magazines go my favorite one is Gentlewoman, it's groundbreaking and dynamic. It always features strong interesting women and it is very inspiring. Their articles are very clever. I recently communicated with Penny the Editor in Chief of Gentlewoman. She's an amazing woman. The Business of Fashion is a great website and so is PDN ( and my blog too, lol )! No Plastic Sleeves is awesome. Make sure to check out models.com news feed often. Today I went to a Creative Mornings in DUMBO Brooklyn. You should check it out in whichever city you're in. I go to the NYC chapter and it's a free event on Friday mornings. Get your tickets fast though. There was a waiting list of 400 this week in nyc. They host different creative speakers (designers, photographer, art directors) whom talk about their creative process.[/twocol_one_last]
[twocol_one]Daily Routine I get up very early and I start every day with 15 minutes of visualization before I ever check my email or iPhone. I take the time to visualize what I want to create. I use my imagination to take myself though a scenario I wish to create. I visualize I already have what I want. Then I will do a meditation, yoga, and eat a healthy breakfast before I ever get on the computer. After all of this, it's time for the business day to start, and that begins with a pow wow with my team. We discuss three parts of the day. First, are big projects that we want to accomplish over time. Second, is people that we are waiting on/reach out to. Third, and last, we discuss the top priorities for the day. We picked up this method for focusing one's day from Brennan Dunn. Then when there's not a shoot that day, the time is filled with brainstorming ideas for creative projects and shoots, retouching images from past shoots, setting up meetings, Meeting people, writing, book projects (in fact I completed a book called A Guide To Beauty And Fashion Lighting), Emails, planning trips, and always making estimates. If I don't have a late night industry event I try to get to bed early, like 11pm, and get some quality sleep, to be ready for the next big day.[/twocol_one] [twocol_one_last]