SBD Dauntless
captured D4s / 70-200f2.8
The business of photography is a huge roller coaster ride. This is in part because it’s a marriage of our creative talents with those needing those talents to tell a story or sell a product. This means there are human beings involved and as soon as you add that to the mix, the roller coaster ride begins. Case in point, delivering to a client what they actually need compared to what they think they want. When it comes to a photograph or series of photographs, this can be a challenge where being a mindreader doesn’t always help. It actually requires acute listening skills and combining that with current trends with our spirit to visually communicate to come up with the perfect final result.
A simple example would be working with a photo buyer and in listening to what they are saying, even though they say they want horizontal format images, you add in the submission a couple of perfect vertical format images (or vise a versa) because that’s what the layout needs. Nine times out of ten, the switch in format was exactly what they needed. I’ve done that with entire subject matter for an article as well. The magazine is looking for an article on the Wildcat to speak about a particular battle. I deliver that text/photo package and add one on the SBD Dauntless which is a better fit. The Wildcat piece is postponed and the SBD article used in its place.
The business of photography always starts with the photograph but it by no means ends with it. Being informed, up with current news and trends with an open mind and heart sells more images then a couple of pretty sunsets. Knowledge coupled with passion are powerful business tools!