I would have posted a heads-up on this earlier if I had known he was going to go as long as he did, but he said towards the end that the video should be going up on YouTube later today so it may be possible for you to see the recorded version. There will probably be info available on B&H's FaceBook wall.
Zack Arias broadcast a Q&A session on Ustream today, sponsored by B&H. I found it pretty interesting and very open and direct as is Zack's usual style.
Here are a few of the points I remember and found interesting:
- He is making a partial move to medium format. His reasons are to make him slow down, think more about what he is doing, and re-ignite his creativity. DSLRs have become too automatic for him.
- He is currently favoring the Hasselblad SWC with film, although it sounds like he will probably be investing in digital MF sometime down the road once he sells off some of his current equipment.
- Has been shooting both Nikon and Canon. Favors Canon for video and for clients who need high mega-pixels. Favors Nikon for when focus is a requirement.
- In addition to MF, he is finding his iPhone with InstaGram to be a help in stoking his creative fire also.
- He is trying to re-simplify his business and approach. Recommends KISS.
- Recommends door-to-door over Craigslist, if necessary for people starting out. Craigslist is crazy with some new photogs updating their ads/offers as frequently as every hour.
- As part of his KISS recommendation for newbies, he recommends not being too concerned about branding. He said he is about 7 years into the business (with photography training before that) and only in this last year has he begun to understand where he wants to focus and what a consistent brand might be for him. (I'm not sure that advice is good for everyone but it was interesting).
He and his wife are doing a free Creative Live broadcast for three days at the end of the month (Apr 29 - May 1) similar to the recent seminars by Bambi Cantrell and J*. They will be covering a variety of topics including camera & lighting basics, creativity, business, and life/work balance. Should be interesting.
Door-to-door?? Seems like just putting the word out in your personal network and then working from referrals would be more effective. I can't imagine going around knocking on doors asking people if they would like to book a portrait session?!
DigMeTX wrote:
Door-to-door?? Seems like just putting the word out in your personal network and then working from referrals would be more effective. I can't imagine going around knocking on doors asking people if they would like to book a portrait session?!
bc
I think he said it with a little exaggeration but he mentioned it in terms of pursuing businesses for head shots, ads, and so on. He was stressing two points in particular:
- Craiglist is like casting a huge net in the middle of the ocean hoping to catch 2 fish, but there are hundreds, if not thousands, of other photogs in the same place casting the same net. It is probably better to cast a smaller net in more protected/specialized waters.
- Hustle and networking is important. A good portion of his time and his studio partner's time is spent on this. Placing an ad and waiting for calls is not enough.
Zack is not a wedding photographer per se, although he does shoot them occasionally. He is primarily editorial with some specialization in the music industry (bands and such).
I want to go door to door as well. I will dress up as a 1950's door to door salesman with a briefcase full of albums and other promo materials and a really kickin sale's pitch.
Sergio Mottola wrote:
i'm gonna go door to door just because. sounds fun.
It could actually be a fun little project... Door to door just asking if you can make one image of whoever it is that opens the door. I'm thinking that could be a pretty sweet experience.
ckhagen wrote:
It could actually be a fun little project... Door to door just asking if you can make one image of whoever it is that opens the door. I'm thinking that could be a pretty sweet experience.
Can you imagine if some stranger knocked on your door one night asking if they could take your picture. I don't know what kind of neighborhood you live in, but that's a good way to get the police called on you here in Atlanta.
deepbluejh wrote:
Can you imagine if some stranger knocked on your door one night asking if they could take your picture. I don't know what kind of neighborhood you live in, but that's a good way to get the police called on you here in Atlanta.
It's all about the experience Whatever that happens to be...
deepbluejh wrote:
Can you imagine if some stranger knocked on your door one night asking if they could take your picture. I don't know what kind of neighborhood you live in, but that's a good way to get the police called on you here in Atlanta.
I think in the right neighborhood at daytime with professional looking equipment and a business card you could make it happen. Sure you'd have some people with good sense who'd turn you down but people in general are so vain that many would agree to it. I'm going to start this trend. I'm going to call it "Invasive street photography" because that sounds more compelling than "front door photography" and less threatening than "home invasion photography".
but that's a good way to get the police called on you here in Atlanta. Haha that's funny, but I bet Zack isn't marketing to the high-crime areas of Atlanta.
This reminds me of a video the joke video lightenupandshoot guys did with a pizza delivery guy/photographer taking pics of the customers he delivered pizza to.
Am I the only one old enough to remember door to door photographers?Word would get out in the neighborhood that he was making his way down the street, and by the time he got to our house my Mom had the 5 of us dressed in ugly matching shirts with our hair more or less combed. A couple weeks later the pictures arrived in the mail in one of those big yellowish envelopes.
No Suzi; you are not!
I do not know Zach or know much about him; but did know his brother Mitch, from my time in Atlanta. Mitch was a very sublime personality, owning a wicked sense of humor.
Whatever that happens to be...