I've found the best carry case for my speedlights.
So I've been at this full time photography thing for almost a year. Have I posted to my blog faithfully? No. Have I taken photographs every single day? No. Did I win any awards? No. Did my family eat? Most of the time. Am I enjoying myself? YES.
So where do I go from here? Let's start with a couple things I've learned.
1. The best way to carry a speedlight. (see above image) The travel-everywhere light that is indispensable to a modern day photographer is the speedlight. Also just called a flash, they do so much more than they used to. I seem to have three of them with me on shoots and have found that I would prefer to have a separate carrying case and stumbled upon this solution. I hope you've noticed the appropriate beer brand of Shiner being used to carry my "shiners" to the job site.
2. The best way to get through your first year of being a pro. (see above image) I kid, I kid. Drinking is not one of my favorite past times (Those who know me realize I'd much rather have a Dr. Pepper than a beer). The point of this is really to follow your creative thinking. I don't really know where this image came from...well, that is only half true. It just hit me that my lights (can I coin the term "shiner" to mean speedlight?)...shiners...fit so well into this nice carrying case and I started to visualize what I imagined to be a clever play on words. Here's where you need to pay attention. I then set aside a time to create. Gathered the things I would need to make the image, including box, shiners and some beer (that happens to not be Shiner brand...devious...) and time to work through getting the images necessary for a final shot. I need to practice this more and more. If you're starting out and there comes a time when the jobs aren't coming in...then get to creating what you want. Make a plan. Work the plan. Keeping creative juices flowing will help you grow.
3. You don't need all the gear in the world. Don't pay attention to the gear behind the curtain...I certainly fall prey to the same "G.A.S." (gear acquisition syndrome...dunno who started it...) as the next guy, but I have sold off almost all of my Nikon gear and focused solely on Fujifilm for my photography. Borrow stuff from friends, rent things occasionally and if you are going to buy something, save up the cash to do so and look for it used. Some gear just looks awesome and you talk yourself into "the need" because of an upcoming shoot. I've done that multiple times. Some of that gear I finally sold off for half of what I paid for it. Commit to using what you already have and stretching it to its limit, not your own. We all tend to think that the gear is what makes us the pro. It's the other way around. $5 foam core panels reflect light just as nice as a $40 reflector that you're gonna leave on the roof of your car when you leave the job. Start with what you have and grow from there.
4. Don't narrow your focus...yet. This one has been killing me. I've heard it both ways. Narrow you focus. Find your Niche...nicht...nitch...I can never pronounce it right. Find your specialty. Yes, you will find your specialty, and you need to be prepared to tell people (potential clients) what you do and don't do with confidence. Don't expect to know what it is right away! If you're starting out just shoot as much as you can. Get out and do stuff. Just keep paying attention to what you enjoy and don't enjoy. Take an inventory of the jobs you do. Buy some 3x5 cards and a card box and then fill out a card for each job or self assignment that you tackle. Go back through after a job is done and write out briefly what you liked about the shoot, the subject, the event, the lighting, the gear...and if you write down your mileage and expenses and money made you'll be on your way to actually being able to fill out your taxes on time too. It doesn't take that much time to learn from your own experience, it just takes awareness and doing it. Remember that niches come and go, and there are lots of photographers who switch their focus during their careers. The higher degree of specialty you manage to acquire as a skill the more money you can make (as long as there is a need for that skill).
5. Build a system. Take notes. Find a work flow that you can repeat. I'm still working on these things. Find some trustworthy photographers who will help you, mentor you. Don't keep secrets when it comes to your photography. Help someone else. Become a part of a community. Share your craft. It will feel good.
Finally, create. It's not easy to be a photographer in today's world. Everyone carries a device that records images and video in astounding quality in their pocket everyday. What makes your work better than theirs? Having a better filter to choose from? No. So you're not working high end jobs that come with their own art director. That's your role for now. You get the freedom to explore and follow your own vision. Get out there and do it. TW
Three images used to make the final image...