Network, Network, Networking…….

One of the biggest things I have learned so far is that you better network. Without networking you are pretty much out on your own with no help what’s so ever. If you network then you have peers to ask questions, talk too, and hopefully work with. You might be just starting out and not knowing where to secure some work. If you network with people they will know they type of shots and quality of work that you do. If your work is up to there standards and they know of up coming jobs they may ask you if you want an opportunity to do the job.  Personally I have joined many Facebook groups and also a camera club just for the simple reason of networking. Some of the Facebook groups I joined are strictly my home area alone. Sometimes the people in the group put together meet ups to go out and shoot. During these meet ups you get to chat with peers and see what type of work they do. I have met photographers that shoot for magazines, some that do product photography, sports and others that are strictly Fine Art.

The Sports photographer has asked me to shoot with him many times so far. Sometimes it has been a paid shoot and a few it has been a volunteer opportunity. I have done both, while I rather get paid and who wouldn’t. Its also good to shoot a volunteer shoot every so often so that you can for one give back, and then also add to your portfolio. My first time shooting with the sports photographer it was a volunteer shoot. We had to shoot a race that a church was hosting. Now he knows my capabilities and he calls me when he see things come up. He also emails me other events that he can’t make because he’s shooting at other places. I hope that some day the magazine photographer knows of an opening and helps secure me a position shooting that type of stuff also. I probably wouldn’t have any of these jobs if I wasn’t putting myself out there and hanging out with other peers.

You might not know many people yourself right now but search for groups you can join in your area. Another good place to find that is meetup.com they have tones of different photography groups you can join. Once you have met some new friends make sure you hang out and do some shooting. This way they get to see your style and you also get to see theirs. I try to shoot something every week. I also try to invite peers to join me. It makes the shoot less boring and then you have someone to talk with during and after your done.

TBT

Thursday Ambassador


Works Cited

Photo Credit
Virtual Social Media. Web. 4 Sept. 2114.

5 Ways to Get Out of Your Photography Funk

Much like writer's block, photographers can face the dilemma of having no idea what to shoot next. Maybe you live in a small town where you think nothing really happens, have a full-time job that makes it hard to get out and shoot during the day, or maybe you're a parent who feels that all you've shot recently are your kids because they are with you all the time. Whatever the case, you need a boost of inspiration to get out of that rut!

1. Finding people who share your passion for photography is a great start to getting out of your photographic funk. Check out the post about connecting with other photographers for ideas on local groups to join and forums to follow. Being part of something like a Meetup group can get you out shooting things you never would have thought of on your own!

2. Working with a new subject for portraits can re-inspire your love for lighting and bring out new emotions in your images. For classes that focus on the human form you are required to seek out different models for each project, so why not start utilizing Model Mayhem now and put out the call on social networks for people who thrive in front of a camera? Being a pretty shy person myself, I know it can be intimidating, but in order to run a business you're going to encounter all kinds of people, so getting over your fears now will help you succeed in the long run.

Tip 5: Take on a personal project!

3. Attending a party? Check with the hosts to see if they would like you to bring your gear. This can give you practice in event photography and amp up your enthusiasm. Make sure that you don't only play the role of photographer, though, because you are first and foremost a guest! The hosts will appreciate your documentation of their efforts, but they also want you to have fun (and may not realize that for many of us, taking pictures is the most fun of all!).

4. A great way to find out what's going on in your area is to check out community bulletin boards, both physical and virtual. It can be surprisingly fun to shoot something like a 5k run/walk or a town fair. Even a farmer's market offers a host of interesting subject matter (just be sure to ask before you start shooting someone's wares). If there's any sort of event going on, there's something for you to shoot.

5. Taking on a personal project can greatly improve your schoolwork. Picking a weekly theme will get you to look at the world around you differently, even on a simple walk with your dog. Sometimes these projects can start as personal but become something you explore further in class. For example, I wanted to revisit childhood memories as a way to create images for my parents. I ended up exploring this idea for class and was able to receive feedback on editing and effectiveness of my compositions to make a much better project than I would have had on my own.

Being a photography student is about challenging yourself and getting out of your comfort zone to become a better photographer. Don't limit yourself to what's easy: explore new locations with other photographers, work with new people, and bring your camera EVERYWHERE because you never know where you will find inspiration. If you have more tips on getting out of a photographic funk, leave them in the comments!

Increasing your portfolio without breaking the bank or paying out of pocket.

Good Morning and Happy Sunday Everyone! Today I wanted to talk about a great experience that I had last weekend. I recently joined a group called the Philadelphia Glamour Photography Group on Meetup.com. I joined at a time when they were just about to have their huge meet up that they have every year at Riddley Creek State Park, in Media, PA. The meet up was on a Sunday, close to 160 Models, Photographer's and MUA's showed up.  This whole thing was new to me, I was a bit overwhelmed as I didn't know any of the member's yet, but I did go with a friend, her boyfriend and her kids. That made it a bit easier when they arrived. Other than being overwhelmed, I was really taken back, by how inviting, accepting and friendly everyone was. They had a small ceremony for one of the members that  had recently passed and had planted a tree in his honor. This was very moving, being able to be a part of this was truly amazing.

Now on to my point... Many of us want to increase our portfolio, but you don't want to have to pay a model or you may not have the money. This meet up was free to everyone involved. The MUA's were paid for their work, understandable as they need to replace their makeup. Models brought many different outfits and then it was like a feeding frenzy. Models changing outfits, changing locations several times during the day. All with over a 60 or so different photographers asking them to do different things. Every model will get copies of their photographs, usually in digital form. (I'm assuming), but this was an opportunity to really expand your portfolio with several different models with different looks and not breaking your bank or paying out of pocket. There are many other groups that do similar meetups, some charge depending on the event, but I suggest that you take a look at this option and find  a group in your area or even start one of your own. So get out of your comfort zone and start taking a chance!  I did and I will never regret it.

Below are some of the photos I took during this meet up.

  Photos taken by Wayne Salat of Flash Mob Photography Network

  Photos taken by Wayne Salat of Flash Mob Photography Network

  

                                                      

   Photos taken by Wayne Salat of Flash Mob Photography Network

                                                              

Photos taken by Wayne Salat of Flash Mob Photography Network

Enjoy Your Sunday and Photograph Something Everyday!

Sunday Ambassador~ Wayne