Research, Planning and Development
Lesson 4 from: Turning Personal Projects Into a CareerMatthew Jordan Smith
Research, Planning and Development
Lesson 4 from: Turning Personal Projects Into a CareerMatthew Jordan Smith
Lessons
9:00 am - Why Do I Need a Personal Project?
34:25 2Q&A
25:04 310:30 am - How to Create Your Personal Project
27:38 4Research, Planning and Development
10:00 5Skype Call: Jeremy Cowart
10:23 6What Does a Photograph Do to a Person?
37:08 712:00 pm - Drew Temple of Sony
14:50 8Shoot: Future Presidents
45:51Lesson Info
Research, Planning and Development
There's also research that goes into it so I got also research where I'm going to go so it's not just going out blindly and going state to state I do research to find out where I should go I want to go to hope arkansas so I find out places that resonate with past presidents with people with the country the highlight and show america also cause the backdrop of this book is america which is why I was that you know south dakota why in d c I find places that means something to the country so also for you what will you a project be? I think earlier we asked a question he was asking about doesn't need to be a book no, it could be anything you want it to be so what do you want your party to be? Will it be a book will be exhibit or something else but you decide that to me anything you want to be look for products that are similar. When I started doing this book I went out to find other books out there that may be close to what I'm doing I want to see if there's anything in the market like it t...
o use that for inspiration to see how they looked, how I make it different better besides the book what that will that be the land of the book? What will that be also I'm a photographer so I've hired a designer to design my book I've hired a copywriter I want to get the best people involved in making the product look the best it can be learned from asking other who's had they done their personal projects so you've always you've been hearing me talk about how I've done my personal projects but there are other photographers out there who are amazing photographers who all have great projects that have helped the career boost the career and also give them a voice and sharing how they feel so I want to talk to a photographer and have him say how he feels about personal projects we're gonna hear it not just from me but from other great photographers there's also the planning stage which is also very important how long would it take for you to complete your book or your project for exhibit whatever it is I'm very bad about saying how long it would take me to do it I felt we could do this in six months two years later I think I think maybe all are guilty for doing that it is a matter how long it takes you keep doing it until it's finished matthew have a quick question of that that came from I think it was from beth olds and creative they said how do you know when you're finished? Oh that's a great question how do you know when you're finished you'll feel it in your soul and who says it has to finish when you we have enough for book, maybe lives on one, maybe you do a book, you finished the book and a tv show pushes you about trying to push into a tv show. Who knows who knows it's a book, maybe could be a book that can be a show, maybe khun b where's the next thing is going to come out, it never has to end is a matter of fact, my big project, I'm doing them now shooting in china. I hope it never ends. Who says it has to end? So sorry, matthew, I just wanted to give give the question, rob, thank you, perhaps, or perhaps is do that was actually karen j montalvo montavo, who asked that question, but best question was kind of similar, so I'm just going to ask it now she's in portland and beth, would you suggest making an end goal for your project? Many projects I do seem to fade out because there isn't an end goal toe work towards what would you suggest for projects with no definite end point, which is interesting about the motivational factor, since that is, since we also acknowledge that projects don't necessarily need they don't have to have in but it's good to have a point of completion where I feel always complete I was sepia dreams when I got to forty people I couldn't finish it at that point to me in my heart I felt it was a complete and fifty to me felt completion with this book project. Now I'm doing more than fifty, but you decide when you want to end the project, so make sure you have an inset for sure and finish a project and then go on and then go on thank you, ladies both for those questions of both great both great. So how you financed your project now in the old days you had to go to friends, family, save your money of and get it done that way today is different now they're they're putting out there that can help you like like kickstarter and indigo and we go through those later on as well that can help you in funding your creative projects how you show your party when you finish it, how you share with the world what's your idea for getting it out there we do by yourself will you employ friends to help you get out there? The world's changed again there are a lot of ways to get your projects out there that want it weren't around when I did see your dreams so what about releases earlier before so when I shoot I have of course my camera I have my releases and I have a slate for my clients to write down how they feel about being the president so this is my bag as I travel around the country and not much else my camera lenses releases slate and my life they care around and use a pro photo light that take everywhere as I go around the country and you'll see later on development of your project how you develop it you had the idea you're writing it down and you that first flash of inspiration how do you develop your project? Write it all down every part of it as you see it, imagine what will be the in project before it's even done imagine what that looks like so you have a clear idea of what it is because as you're shooting, it will come to you and ask you always that this isn't that oh, I think being this way, you need to have your idea of what it will be because you'll get other people saying what they think it should be but this is your project was it to you and also when you book is finished or your project and you're doing press, they will ask you questions, so get it out there nasa you know clearly what your project is as a matter of fact even dream about where you see yourself imagine yourself on a late night show doing interview talking about your project visualize what it looks like anything can come true put it out they're think about it dream about it and it can happen form your team again you can't do it by yourself photographers want to do anything by themselves I don't know why that is but we all think we got to do everything shoot retouch uh hair and makeup you know everything are giving away that control it is it is hard but you want to hear your parting better get a team can help you even ideas get a team after you've done those first ten pictures then share your party of other friends so I can show them what you're doing and I can help you make it better first keep it to yourself and shoot ten images so you show it and I just say it we can show them what you're doing that you have an idea that you bring it to life and now you need help to finish it you need their ideas to help you now put out to the world now you have a body of work that you're doing you know, just thinking about doing a project and saying, oh yeah I had this idea I want to do this you're showing that you can do it anybody can have the idea we can. They make it come to life. Can they do it? Can you do it? Do those first ten images, then tell your friends, get you involved in it, goes off them for for advice, reach out to others who have been successful doing what you want to do, reach out to others and ask for advice here, their stories, their ups and downs.
Ratings and Reviews
a Creativelive Student
Excellent, got great ideas about pursuing a personal project. One thing about Kickstarter, do your research..my experience has been that you really will do better if you have a following, if you have a plan for marketing your idea and getting the word out before your kickstarter starts (think launch) and think about getting partners that can help either with getting the word out or contribute financially. As for the following, I follow a Youtuber artist, funny guy, who was looking for $35,000 to upgrade his broken down, tiny garage studio. At the end of his launch day he had raised over $100,000 (he was gobsmacked). What he did with the extra was actually tear down the garage and build a new one, but better equipment, and did other things to make his channel better.
a Creativelive Student
Inspirational class. Worth listening to just to get yourself moving on your next project. I've sent emails setting up shoots for my next project since starting to listen to the class.