Personally, I would not mind if there was a basic certification to regulate the industry. The fact is there has been an increased interest from photographers, hobbyists and business owners to integrate into their offering. With the advent of gps in the “drones” it has become easier to fly. But stuff happens, how many pilots will know how to safely react and land without injuring anyone or damaging property? And if you’re flying without FAA knowledge or permission will your insurance still cover you?
I just wish the FAA would do their job and let us get back to ours.
Category Archives: career
To Tour or not to Tour…
That is the question……
This is the good and bad of being stuck on a tour bus. Patti Zwink and I went to Cuba. We decided we wanted to see Cuba before it was “Americanized” and for a first trip a tour would be the best way to see the country. Over the next few day’s I’ll share what we saw, a mere glimpse. This is from the first day of being in country.
Images shot with an iPhone 6+ and a Nikon D810 with a 24-70 lens.
Is Diversity Good for the Career?
I just spent the week going thru my Hawaii archives….and I came across a folder from a trip back home a couple years ago. Not sure where it is exactly, sometimes I just drive. As a documentary photographer I’m drawn to places like this, to get a glimpse into our past. I think then I’m partially a historian.
But in my day to day life I promote myself as a architectural and corporate photographer. Can I do both? Not if I want the big boys to take me serious. This was a concept I struggled with mighty in the past. I was trained as a photojournalist. As such you had to learned to be good in several specialties. The more diverse, the more value you were to the editorial brand. I took pride in being able to venture into unknown situations and produce, it’s what we did.
As a “commercial” photographer the more you specialize, the more value you bring to the table, the more you can charge. The perception is that your image as a specialist will bring more value to their product, brand and reputation. It isn’t always who is the best image maker, who is perceived as such.
In my financial portfolio, I diversify, as a business owner I’m an Architectural Photographer (and don’t tell anyone, a darn good documentary, travel and corporate one also).
My work: http://www.zwink.com My editorial archives: http://www.bigstudioz.com
Are you an unsuspecting Mentor?
The following is a blog on the Asmp.org site by my good friend, Kevin Lock who I’ve known a long time. His blog post was part of a series about other photographers that had an effect on their careers and lives. Here’s Kevin’s story.
Fellow photographer. Mentor. Friend.
Posted: 15 Oct 2014 09:01 PM PDT
[by Kevin Lock]
I met my mentor in college and didn’t even know it.
While attending San Diego State, I took my first ‘paying’ photographic job at the Daily Aztec. After only being on staff for a few weeks I attended a slide show presentation on Somalia, presented by a photojournalist whom had begun the rocky transition from newspaper photographer to freelance. After the presentation I ran down the photographer and interviewed him for an hour or so. I had no idea at the time how profoundly this photographer would affect my career and how quickly. I had just picked up my second job. Assistant.
Over the years my relationship with this photographer grew. My photographic career metamorphosed. He introduced me to his fellow photographers which led to new jobs, I mastered the art of being his gopher, dark room technician, second shooter, digital retoucher, studio manager, problem solver, occasional house sitter, and in time, business partner. This ever evolving relationship has taken us on photographic adventures across the country and to a few international destinations.
It was with his encouragement that I joined the ASMP in 2003. I attended a few board meetings and then he pushed me to run for president of my local chapter. After 2 years as president and as I approach my final year on the national board, I can’t help but think how differently things would be for me today had a photographer not taken interest in my journey and taken the time to help me succeed over the years.
Joel Zwink, I thank you for your guidance, encouragement, and your friendship.
Kevin Lock is a current director of the ASMP. While Kevin and Joel joined the ASMP at different times, they both continue to give back to their community by being photographers, helping photographers in San Diego and in a town near you.
Techy/Credits: Photo of Kevin Lock by Joel Zwink
Kevin’s website: http://www.kevinlockphotography.com
My sites: http://www.zwink.com – http://www.bigstudioz.com
So What’s your hurry pt2?
One of my regular gigs (hate that word) is shooting commercial real estate. It doesn’t excite me but I’m good at it, my clients appreciate my ability to make their multi-million dollar listing look good. I do hope it helps them sell quicker. But this not about them. It’s about opportunity, photo ops.
Earlier in my career when working out of town I’d do the project and then head back home. Why the hurry? All these locations offered opportunity, the chance to improve my skills, to learn about the area I was in, to go home with a story. So, as one of my mentors preached to me I slowed down. Now after a shoot I like to explore. Maybe I find something, maybe I don’t. Then I look one last time at my project. The change in the light and shadows has often made better images.
I like to shoot, whether for my client or myself.
Techy stuff: all image with the Apple iPhone 6+. Processed in Snapseed.
Above Location: Battery Spencer. From 1897 until 1943, Battery Spencer was a cold, isolated, and vital military outpost protecting the Golden Gate Bridge and SF. Several buildings and placements for the large cannons that used to stand guard on the hill remain. It offers one of the best views of the bridge and SF but when we went it was fogged in….. we’ll just have to go back.
A New View from Above
I have done a lot of aerials for clients the last several years. But as clients tightened their budgets the number of aerial assignments drastically decreased. As an alternative we invested in a DJI Phantom Vision + and are in the early stages of testing. They are several potential issue ranging from the paranoid uninformed public, insurance and future FAA regulations. The plus side is being able to achieve lower level views than from a $650 per hour helicopter, work within tighter budgets and product creative imagery. The times are changing but change can be fun.
More of my work is at: www.zwink.com
Do you belong?
I have been a member of ASMP ever since I opened my own photography business. It gave me a sense of community, I belonged. When you have your own business, it is you against the world. Whether you survive or prosper is up to you and only you. But does it need to be that way? When you belong to a group you immediately improve your chance to be successful. Groups like ASMP or APA have education, business and advocacy programs.
Meet people that share a common link. Network and you might find new opportunities at the least you will meet people you can talk ideas or point you in a right direction.
Asmp has over 7,000 members and growing. As our industry has evolved, so has Asmp. The local chapter has a wide range of programming. I know, I’m the new Program Chair along with Matt Janecek. Come take a look. Our next meeting is at San Diego City College and features internationally renown photographer Vincent Versace.
If you like what you see then join us, and “Belong”.
My work is displayed at www.zwink.com, Interested in Asmp visit www.asmp.org or locally www.asmp-sd.org
WELCOME BACK…..for now
We have migrated the blog over to a new location. We will probably change the theme again to be more in line with our old one soon. The blogging will continue though. Thanks for visiting, tell your friends and please come back.
Why you don’t work for Free
- This portrait of “Monty” was one promotion he used to raise funds for the CAF. (We did a trade, the shoot was not a freebie.)
I used to have the contract for San Diego State Athletics. I provided all the photography for them including game coverage. Being a state university the contract was on a bid basis. Although I was awarded the contract I was told by the then SID (sports information director) it would be in my best interest to find a working relationship with the previous photographer. After a couple strenuous, stressful years in that arrangement I finally had my golden parachute. The San Diego Padres were looking for a change. My new partner, former SI photographer Andy Hayt and myself were chosen to run their new photo operation. For six years it was a well run operation. We were well paid, made strong imagery and operated with sound business principals. Our images had value to our client.
Often I’m told by younger, inexperienced photographers that they are working for free in exchange for the exposure. How is exposure going to pay your rent, to pay for your cameras and computers? Listen hard, this practice has been going on for a long time. Ask yourself if the people asking for free imagery are working for free? I don’t think so. Their skills have value and they get paid for it. If you have the skills, your work has value. Get paid. You can only work for free so long before your credit card payment for the camera you bought is due.
Btw, another talented photographer later temporarily got the SDSU contract. The other photographer I had worked with previously went back and offered to work for free as a volunteer. He didn’t offer to work with their current paid photographer, his approach was to replace him. They jumped at the free offer and my friend lost out. He lost income and State is accepting a lesser quality product. Don’t condone photographers that lowball, that work for free, even if they are “giving back to the university”. They diminish the value of our work and create one more potential client that views photography as a low priced commodity. These are not your friends.
“IF YOU LOSE A POTENTIAL JOB, HOPE IT’S BECAUSE THEY PREFERRED THEIR WORK OVER YOURS, NOT BECAUSE THEY WERE CHEAPER”
My work is featured at: www.zwink.com and www.bigstudioz.com
I used to shoot Sports…..
I used to be a sports photographer. Then reality set in….. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
I grew up in a small Kansas farm town, Macksville, and I loved sports. I don’t ever remember sports not being a part of my life. My two oldest brothers excelled in whatever they did. My next oldest brother Mark was a pretty good pitcher, my sister, Debbie, was just as talented as my older siblings and my youngest brother was probably the best of us all. The only problem was he was ten years younger than me. I only learned his exploits from Mark’s writings in the local newspaper. But what about me? I was short changed in the talent department. As hard as I worked and studied sports, the reality was I didn’t “have” it. But boy it sure took me a long time to accept it.
I played on the high school team and then was the backup place kicker on the Mesa College football team. Looking back I think it was only because Coach Smorin didn’t cut those that wanted to be there. I wanted it bad. So I stayed. During the offseason I was in the first car accident of my life and as a result had to quit playing. That was one of the best events that ever happened.
During the offseason I had gotten married and my sister-in-law, Carole had loaned me her 35mm Yashica to play with. I was quickly hooked and soon photographing sports for the school paper at Mesa College which allow me to stay in touch with my team mates. An obsession to learn followed and within four years I was working in the newspaper realm, covering news and the sports I loved.
After eight years as a staff photographer at the San Diego Union Tribune I started my own business and became immersed in the sports photography profession. I worked for the wire services, trading card companies, San Diego State University and then got my dream job. Along with a former Sports Illustrated photographer we started an in-house full service photography department for the owner of the San Diego Padres. It was a sports photographer’s ideal job. We were on the inside documenting the team and the franchise, the players and the owners. We were given access that few photographer ever are given.
During the six year stint we lived a great life. I photographed hundreds of games and saw a rare insight into what some people call the Greatest Game. The Padres had a good team and even better marketing. Their quest to expand their brand took us to Mexico several times, once to play the Mets, to Hawaii to play the St. Louis Cardinals and then the winning began. We went to the playoff and then the World Series. I saw Tony Gwynn at his prime, I saw him injured and I saw him retire. On his final game he personally gave me an autographed bat which I have to this day.
But times change. Due to internal politics I was not renewed. And to add insult to injury I was replaced by the mailroom clerk…. the timing was terrible. They waited until ten days prior to spring training which precluded me from working with another company.
Losing that contract was the best event that happened. I’m now an architectural photographer. I miss sports but I love my new challenge. But that’s another story. Check out my website, www.zwink.com
About the photo: This was a portrait of Ken Caminiti done for the Padres Magazine. Camy was one of the most intense, dedicated hard working people I ever met. He loved baseball. Padre fans loved him.