3 posts tagged “photography”
I've been organizing a new meetup.com group for Tucson-area photographers. Our first meeting will be early next month. So far we have 11 members signed up, and about half have RSVPed that they'll be there. The other half have said maybe. So we may have about 6 people, or maybe 12, or perhaps just 2. I know there'll be at least two, because I'm going, and member Dave is hosting it at the church where he is pastor.
We don't really have an agenda for the first meeting, other than to decide what it is we want to do or be. We've kicked around some ideas - comment and critique sessions, lighting seminars, model shoots, photography hikes and more. I think there will be two constants at each monthly meeting: a C&C session and a photography challenge. Beyond that, we'll probably try something new at each meeting until we find stuff that we all like.
Most of the members have written to me saying that they're thrilled someone has finally stepped up to start this meetup. I've also heard a variety of interests and skill levels from the group. There are some fine art photographers, some very technical photographers, a very few commercial photographers, and a lot of hobbyists. It should be fun to get everyone together and mix it up.
Anyone out there in VOX-land have any experience with photography groups? Good or bad experiences you'd like to share? The only photography groups I've ever been part of have been iStock 'lypses. And that's a hell of a yardstick.
One of my plans for 2007 is to explore ways to make money with photography beyond my affiliation with iStock. Obviously there are some caveats; I can't violate my exclusivity agreement with iStock, and I can't quit my day job. One path I've begun walking is doing photography for my company. I work for a large manufacturer of equipment and reagents for the oncology pathology industry. High science stuff. Recently, I shot the two-day symposium that we hosted. That was a lot of fun, and there were some good shots to come from it.
Last week, the marketing department asked me to shoot some products as well. So now I've got that as an ongoing project here. The challenge with that is that our packaging is a plain white box with a white label on it. It's as vanilla as a package design can be. Marketing has plans to upgrade the packaging, to give it a little more visual impact. Until then, I'd planned to shoot it on a colored background. That didn't really fit with what Marketing had in mind, so yes, I shot white on white. Not what I'd intended, but I think it came out OK.
The second product shot at least had a blue box, so that has a little more appeal.
Marketing has also asked if I can do the headshots for corporate bigwigs and the board of directors. I said absolutely! I enjoy doing headshots and portraits, so I think that could be a lot of fun. Plus, to really do it right, I'd probably need one more Alien Bees light. :)
Look at me, ma, I'm VOXing. I'm not sure exactly how I'll use this blog space. It seems like as good a place as any to record my thoughts on stock photography in general and iStockphoto in particular. I'll start with that. If I veer into comic books, or my family life, my job, or my own navel, perhaps you'll all forgive me.
Many thanks to Donald Gruener for setting me up with the VOX invite. You're a scholar and a gentleman and a hell of a wine photographer.
Over at iStock, I'm currently celebrating the recent approval and high initial rating of this here photo. The model there is Kristina, who is absolutely a dream to work with. I plan to work with her some more in the coming months, hopefully as part of an upcoming iStock mini'lypse.
