Portrait Lighting Worshop

Back by popular demand, we have scheduled yet another Portrait Lighting Workshop here at DVFX Studios. This Hands-On workshop is designed for the beginner to intermediate photographer and geared towards enhancing your skills at taking Portraits in a studio environment. Seating is limited so reserve your spot today. For additional information, email us at info@dvfxstudios.com or call 305.235.5734.

Photography….. A Way of Life…

For those of you who want to become a photographer or are thinking about becoming one, let me just say that this is a profession where you have to give it your all and then some, and if I had to sum it all up I’d have to say that it’s more of “A Way of Life” than anything else. As a kid my original goal was to be an artist and took up photography as a means of documenting things to draw, paint or sculpt. I never really thought of it as a means of expressing my creativity yet over the years I found myself taking more pictures than I actually used for reference material and thus began my journey towards becoming a photographer. Of course as with most people mine was not a straight shot from point A to point B, as I got side tracked many a time along the way one of which being, spending the better part of my life in law enforcement, and while it is an entirely different “Way of Life”, there are great similarities between the two professions, Passion being one of them.

One day a few years ago, I came across a video of a guy who I had never heard of before, Chase Jarvis and he was giving this presentation at a Photoshelter Town Hall Event in New York City. Needless to say, I was so motivated that by the time I was done watching the video, I was well on my way to making what was perhaps the biggest career change of my life. And a few months later after weighing out, the pros and cons and deciding I could live with the risk factor, I took that leap of faith, and chose a new career.

You see when I chose to do this full-time, I wasn’t worried so much about how I was going to do it or that there would be some obstacles along the way, as much as I did so knowing full well and perhaps the most difficult one of all would lie within me. As a photographer, you and your work are interchangeable. That is to say that in order for you to be noticed you need to put yourself out there, you need to market yourself and your work. People need to get to know you and thus become interested in your work. But I come from a different world, a world were personal information is shared on a need to know basis only and everything is kept tightly secured behind that imaginary wall we all have, and that’s the ways it’s done. Even to this day, I still have that allegiance to my former life and still struggle to live between the two, but this is what I wanted to do, so I did it. Now as with most things in life, I can tell you that it is not going to be easy it’s hard work and there will times when you will get discouraged, doubtful, angry, frustrated, confused etc… etc…, but if this is what you truly want to do, then do it. Of course there is always a certain amount of risk when you embark on a new venture but that’s just part of the experience. For example, earlier in this article I told you that my path had not been a straight one and it hasn’t.

I had to change my entire way of thinking and go from a very reserved, tight-lipped individual to a more outgoing, open one. Not Easy! Sometimes I still wonder if I can do it…. There will be times when you will wonder why you are doing this, things are not going well, those are times when you got to push harder and look for that light at the end of the tunnel, faint as it may be, it is always there. Don’t worry about the “what if it’s an on-coming train,” just focus on the light and if it does turn out to be a train, then step out of the way and keep on going. Learn from your mistakes and make the best of it, the experiences you gain along the way will serve you well. I remember when things were real bad and every month there was something new to contend with, it got so that I got to know the guy who came by to shut off my power on a first name basis. For a while there I kept thinking, wow this really sucks…… and then I looked at it from a different perspective, even in something as bad as someone coming to shut off my power, there was something positive, I had made a new friend. Of course these aren’t the things you want everyone to know because the ideal thing is to be able to tell everyone how great you’re doing, and how you’re so busy that you hardly have time for anything. My point is that you have to believe in yourself and keep pushing forward no matter what; it’s not how you fall or how hard or how far you fall, but how you get back up that matters.

If I had one piece of advice to give to a new aspiring photographer it would be, “to be persistent and passionate about your work.” You really got to want it and more importantly, be willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen.  With that said, there are a few other things that you need to do to further your transition from novice to an experienced photographer. You need to know your equipment, how it works, it’s limitations, what works for what and what’s out on the market and of course practice, practice practice, shoot anything and everything, shoot every day. The other thing you need is knowledge. Study and learn the craft both from the technical side as well as the business side. Personally, I’ve always been more of a hands on kind of guy, and not much for sitting in class but I do study the works of others and learn from what they do and how they do it. Take what they do digest it, tweak it and develop your own style. For me, learning new things is key, and it doesn’t matter who I learn from pro or novice, so long as I learn. Find someone who inspires you and follow their work. For me it’s guys like Chase Jarvis, Joe McNally, Zach Arias, Carlos Baez, and David Honl, to name a few. All of these guys are at the top of their game and although I don’t know any of them personally, they have all had a significant influence in my work. These are the guys that set the bar for me, whether or not I ever make it to their level is not the point, the point is that I strive to do so, and that’s what you need to do, keep moving forward. I can assure you that if you were to ask any of them what makes them do what they do, you would find that the one thing they all have in common, is Passion, a love for what they do, and that’s what it’s all about. You have to love it!

This is an exciting and rewarding time to be a photographer because everyday new technologies emerge that makes what we do so much cooler. It’s also very different from the old days when very few photographers were willing to share their knowledge and experiences with other photographers much less someone just starting out. We live in an age where everyone, or at least almost everyone is willing to share information, and knowledge is power, the power to make it, if you so choose to do so. There are workshops, and schools, and courses galore, some free some not, and if you can’t afford them, then there’s always the internet, and guys like David Hobby at Strobist, Mark Wallace at Snap Factory, Jim Talkington at Pro Photo Life or Darren Rowse at The Digital Photography School where you can watch and learn from their on-line tutorials, the abundance of information to be had is endless.

So here’s where I tell you that although things may be slow and coming, this business has its peaks and valleys and I still get up every day, pick up my camera and shoot something, weather I’m getting paid or not, it’s what I do and have no regrets. So if you have decided that being a photographer is what you really want to do, do it!

If you liked this article, please share it on del.icio.us or on Digg and by all means feel free to leave your comments, thanks……..

Choosing the Right Photographer for the Job….

In these times of a slow economy, more and more people find themselves looking to save as much of their money as possible and often end up compromising quality for quantity. With the advancement of technology and sophisticated circuitry, anyone with a mid-range digital camera and a couple of lenses can take some great pictures, and in some cases market themselves as photographers for hire but, there’s more to being a photographer for hire than just having a camera and taking good pictures.

The professional photographer spends years developing his/her craft, studying, practicing and developing a style and the ability to consistently deliver a quality product. This of course only comes through long hard hours of work, repetition and dedication and most often, trial and error. Not that you have to spend years of studying and sacrifice to be a professional photographer, as there is always the exception to the rule, but for the most part it will take some time before someone just starting out can call themselves a pro, in other words everyone has to pay their dues. This is not to say that there is no room for amateurs in photography because everyone has to start somewhere, just not at the top. In short, there is no substitute for experience, and the pro knows the difference between success and disaster.

In most cases, people start looking for a photographer when they have an important event or happening in their life, and as such want to document and preserve that moment in time. Here is where you should think about what you want and how you want it done. Now I realize that money is most always an issue and naturally you want to get the most for your buck, but buyer beware, as the old adage of “You get what you pay for,” couldn’t be truer here. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Ask the photographer about their experience, how long have they been in the business, what are their rates, cancellation policies, contracts; ask them to see a sample of their work and above all be honest and straight forward about your expectations, because the true professional will expect and act in turn. Make sure that you are satisfied with his/her services before you sign on the dotted line and feel free to get other quotes, after all, this is your show and no one will be offended if you shop around. You have every right to do so and go with what’s best for you, but don’t say, “Well I have a guy who will shoot the wedding for $500.00.” after you have just told the photographer that you’re planning an elaborate 3 hour wedding with 800 guests and an eight-hour reception, because he/she will most likely say, well then you should get them to do it. Remember photographers have to eat too and if price is an issue negotiate the terms. Just know that while you may save a lot of money by using the “500 Dollar Guy,” you could very well end up with nothing to show for it. Now I realize that this may sound a little far-fetched but you would be surprised at the lengths some people are willing to go to, to get a good deal. Sometimes if a particular photographer’s services are outside your budget, tell them and he/she may refer you to someone else who is reputable and reliable.

In short do your homework, find what works for you and go with it, but remember that if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

DVFX Studios and CHARA Events Team Up…..

DVFX Studios and CHARA Events have teamed up to produce, “Body Language: A Modeling Workshop.” The workshop is designed for up and coming models, who are looking for tips and photos for their portfolio and budding modeling career. The workshop will be hosted at DVFX Studios, located at 13900 SW 139th Court in Miami, Florida, with a number of industry professionals, including agents from a local modeling agency, make-up artists, wardrobe consultants, and seasoned models will be on hand to provide insight and tips on the do’s and don’ts of the modeling industry.  In addition, participants will find themselves in front of the camera, applying their newly acquired skills.

The knowledge and experience that CHARA Events, a full service special event planning and marketing company with a fashion emphasis and projects that include fashion shows, weddings, art shows,  and non-profit events., brings to the table is sure to make this workshop, the first in a series, a grand success. Although still in the planning stages, stay tuned for updates here and on the CHARA Events Blog for the latest on the dates and how to enroll for “Body Language: A Modeling Workshop.”

The Real Easy

This past week-end I had an opportunity to work with The Real Easy, a local Indie Style band with a fresh and together sound. This is the second of a series of shoots with the band that by all accounts, has a promising career a head of them. For more on the The Real Easy and listen to some of their music, visit them at http://www.myspace.com/therealeasy and be sure to catch the Band’s up-coming interview with Char at Chara Events.