If last week was a slow down then this week was a crawl. While it is a shortened week technically with Canada Day and all, it’s basically felt like I’m on holidays or something. This job is going to make me hate summer.
The lack of work didn’t mean it was all beer and laziness however; I did get back on track with book layouts and promo stuff, which is good news. Hopefully I can figure out some shoots for fun in the next few weeks but this will suffice for now. Basically my designer Jake and I have been firing 20,000 word emails back and forth (he’s in Calgary now so things are complicated) all week as ideas pop into our heads. It’s probably “unprofessional” and unorganized as hell, but I like working like this, it’s just a really great experience to think out loud (or think onto a keyboard in this case) with other creative folks. I feel like even with photographers who are friends, we don’t really get that opportunity very much because everyone’s always hiding their ideas for one reason or another.
For some of the actual printing work with my promos, a blog reader introduced me to letterpressernator Tanya at Snap and Tumble. Again, it’s been really inspiring seeing some of the ideas she’s come up with and her work is awesome too, which also has me excited to move forward.
Right now my biggest obstacle is money. As I’m sure most of you know, this stuff ain’t cheap. Not to mention I’m also trying to redo my book at the same time, so finding a balance is even tougher. Technically, I could probably get most of this done right now but with no work on the horizon and my experiences last summer, I’m very hesitant. Perhaps this is the wrong attitude to have with it, but I do like to eat.
Until next week, be sure to add the latest issue of MoneySense magazine to your summer reading list, here’s a couple shots that I’ve got in it from the “Rich At Any Age” feature:
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First off, I have a question. What’s the best way to approach an art director (junior?) about working on a creative together? I have a loose concept in mind and would like to take it to the next level. Is it normal for AD’s to do creatives to add to their book? I would think so. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I could approach this?
There hasn’t been a lot of excitement around here as of late. Example: I am rearranging my office today. Have those that do the hiring starting their summer vacations? I’m plugging away on Canada Day, knowing full well that there is a party in the park down the street from me. I’ll just put in a few more hours. I’m working today to take tomorrow off, as we are heading to the Okanagan for the weekend to meet up with my parents- sandy beaches, lakes, wine, family and probably a few photos.
I mentioned my headshot job last week. It has come and gone and all the files processed. Originally it was to be twenty people squeezed into a two-hour time slot. It turned out to be THIRTY-NINE! …squeezed into a two and half hour time slot. Bang, bang, bang, switch, bang, bang, bang, switch…and so it goes.
I don’t own an iPhone (yet) but realize how many people in our industry do. Thank god liveBooks recently came through with iPhone versions for their sites. Initially, due to liveBooks sites containing Flash, you were only able to see a very average looking HTML site. Things have come around quite a bit. I wouldn’t say it’s perfect, but it’s much better. There are a few customizable options that I spent some time tinkering around with. Are you on your iPhone right now?
Check out the latest issue of Report on Business Magazine for a portrait I took of John Furlong, CEO of VANOC. Initially I was told I would have an hour with him. It turned out to be 15 minutes. All was good though. Jokingly, he left me with these words: “ If you make me look like a geek, I will hunt you down”
Thanks to Kevin Lanthier, of Cake Imagery, for snagging the iPhone pics (see, he has one).
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The Year in the Life Project follows two junior shooters through their weekly adventures, trying to make a go of it, in the world of commercial photography.
