Comments on: testing and shooting for the portfolio

By: Bill Rhodes

Bill Rhodes — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:27:26 +0000

Jim, another great post. Very compelling stuff you do.
Thanks.

By: Jim Talkington

Jim Talkington — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 01:02:54 +0000

You’re right about the “halo effect”, Matthew, it’s great to show the client what you’re really capable of. And you’re a mountain biker, right? I’ve seen the racing pics on your Flickr stream and remember you mentioning them. It looks like we could get a prophotolife team together.

As for the stripper comment, that could lead right into a comment on the retouchers. But I’m going to resist.

Craig, thanks for the mention of McNally’s book. I wish we all lived closer so we could start a physical photography library…there are too many books I want to read! As for Julio, she works in retail, setting up displays at night. Hey, and what kind of mountain bike do you ride? A Marin Rift Zone here.

By: Craig Lee

Craig Lee — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:35:33 +0000

Going to try this again. The site errored out last time I tried to comment here.

I saw the photos just after you put them up on Flickr last night and though that you would use them in today’s post. They are quite striking.

I always interest to learn what the thought process is behind a shot as well. I think that is why I like McNally’s The Moment It Clicks book so much. Plus, the insight into how things have changed was interesting. What does your friend do now?

By: Steve Wilson

Steve Wilson — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 20:20:03 +0000

You’re showing your age by saying the ‘necklace and purse were stripped into the shot’….I remember when I went to work in printing and someone mentioned the ’strippers’ that worked in our prepress area.

Imagine my disappointment when I found out what they really did!

By: Matthew Botos

Matthew Botos — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:03:08 +0000

Neat concept! I suppose practical setups giving way to cheaper post-production is progress of a sort, though it is a shame to lose the artisan/craftsman touch.

That said, showing off that touch should have a halo effect. Even if clients aren’t interested in that high-end niche, it should really convince them that you can knock simpler projects out of the park.

By: Jim Talkington

Jim Talkington — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:22:33 +0000

Yep, time marches on and we just have to adapt as our industry changes. It’s happening to all industries across the board, everything is becoming digitized.

I remember hearing that there were something like 2000 U.S. shoe manufacturers at the turn of the 20th century. More recently it’s in the double digits. Manufacturing is outsourced overseas but, just as importantly, there’s ease of distribution. Things can be delivered anywhere. Now, with the ease of digital file delivery, photos are easier to come by.

Plus, commercial photography has been greatly simplified. We used to do sets for more things. Now the buzzword is “simple”. Shooting things clean on white saves advertisers money and looks better used small on a web page. These are all things that are shrinking production crews.

By: Noah Hutson

Noah Hutson — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 10:51:14 +0000

Great post Jim. I really do enjoy getting a peak at your thought process behind some of these images. I’ve heard a lot about how certain jobs have been eaten up by digital, but I’d never thought so many “support” jobs like clothing stylists had succumbed to the mouse click of Photoshop. I suppose there was a time when people thought it sad that assistants who could coat glass plate negatives were disappearing too. Time does march on!