Lessons

Lesson Info

3:15 pm - Your Life Inspires Your Work

So wear going to do a bit of a close out first by going over a little more information first and I think I should president for this I want to put this keynote and talk about other ways to learn photography I heard some of the questions the other day about oh if I can't be an assistant right now if I'm older uh how can I learn everything you've learned and there are other ways besides being an assistant like a a digital technician, the person is working at the computer and taking all of them just in you learn because you wanna sit also seeing everything happened as well uh digital tech is a person who was using smart who was an assistant but is now working at the computer managing all of thousands coming in so you're on the set and you're part of the crew now there's also the hair, the makeup, the wardrobe stylist they're privy to all this that happens as well and can get you inside this industry um there's the set design of the person who makes the set we get shot I want to sit now an...

d we turn this the's walls into a karaoke e studio being a set designer teaches you about being in the industry and then there's the producer produces, there are a great way to learn the industry inside and out because they're doing everything and coordinating everything on big budget shoots, so being a producer or working in a production office will teach you about the industry as well. I want to make sure I didn't go leave that part out because there a lot of different fields you can be involved in to be in the photo industry and part of the team. Let's talk about secrets for success as a photographer were all the secrets to making you successful? One is to have a great web site you been shooting all these images, getting your test together, you need to have a great web site so that's, very simple and clean is what you're looking to have, not a lot of bells and whistles definitely not music on your website definitely not music on your website if you're trying to fashion beauty that will kill it right away, because as soon as a potential client goes to your website and they see your website popped up on their desktop and the music comes on their blown away and like no, we don't want that. So if you want work in this industry, take music off your website. These people are very busy there, coming into your sight to see the images they don't care about all this other stuff, they just wanna get the images and get them fast and then move on and then do your research if you want to have success in this business, do your research go through magazines, go through blog's, go through a pinterest whatever you need to do but do research and find out what your theme is. Find out what you love about photography or fashion or beauty and learn how to become a photographer who has tons to pull from when you're on the spot and you need to do a shot. This is your ammunition to help you as throughout your career to become a better photographer. I have years and years and years of tear sheets have polled now I got up interests and make my own tearsheets universally remember noah online and then have great music because music as you guys just witnessed makes a big difference and even like we're doing the shoot where it's karaoke e what's great about that and experiencing what it is to be in a karaoke e bar people go to another place when you take them back to the point time even though that song we play now are or older songs it worked because the classic songs and it works on a photo shoot too, just like it does in a karaoke bar music is a big deal make you a list together, make your ipod lists, get your abuse from triple scoop music but have music when you shoot and direct the course of the day through your music have different music for the morning when the doing hair and makeup in the back and then had to music we start to shoot then different music for lunch and dinner music again we talked shit again when you want to change the mood of the room the music will help you learn the law of opposites learn the law of opposites that makes a big difference it would change the way you shoot because now you're thinking about not only getting that shot pull back shot but getting the clothes three quarter shot so now you're thinking about back light foot light three quarter full body action still quiet loud and putting it together as you shoot it makes you stronger as photographer and telling the story that image by self is beautiful but merged together then you have a strong strong spread learn the law of opposites still action tight shot full body that's the law of opposites if you have to me is like the one on the left or the one on the right by each other they fight each other these are working to help each other one images right at you the other one shows the implied action one image is quiet the other one shows the action used the law of opposites in every way it could be even for beauty and have fun with it the law of opposites will make your work look better and you'll shoot different because that you're shooting you're trying todo elements to make that work and you're giving your client more options so when they go to it and put the edge together this speech together they have all this to work with if you don't like the light in your hard time trying to end it and then trying to crop to make that work if you shoot it first they're happier and it's better for you as well he start thinking differently as you show your work the law of opposites people always respond to seeing a strong powerful image the law of opposites in any game literally as you shoot this is what you're trying to have and create spreads left page right page that is strong on your website and your portfolio everywhere clients see this and they recognize this language and when she learned how to speak this language you get more work test often test often you're sharpening your skills shoot stuff for you he is an old test I did e eons ago with tyra we got together we shut this test we both use it as our holiday card he's a more test that we did together was playing around this although one day gets doing different ideas different hairstyles having fun throughout the day same day yes us testing things that are clean and simple and timeless having fun but we're testing shooting our ideas, my ideas, her ideas making things happen, things like the jobs and then shoot what you love what do you love? She said that you love can that video play in the back? Can that play all right? When you do things that you love, it changes everything and sometimes having a break from your day job. Being the fashion photographer be photographer makes you a better photographer being out away from business, being away on holiday and shooting something for you without a client asking you for something you're not working on your portfolio, you get shooting because you love to shoot, it makes a huge difference. There we are. So here I am, out in the tundra, taking pictures of polar bears ah world away from fashion and beauty, but I'm a photographer. I love the process of shooting, but that inspired this fashion story after I came back, I want you to that felt like polar bears in the in the arctic, and it was great for me is just a wonderful time, but it was inspired by me being away and photographing polar bears on holiday, enjoying my time and then coming back and putting that into the work your life inspires your work, your life inspires your work, so you're in the heart situation, you got to figure out what to do. You draw or your life experience and you put that into your work and it makes you stand out from everybody else who has the same camera that you have and both had a light and do this and do that but you can't copy your life experience that's what makes you all stand out as photographers putting your life experience into the work and then you get this you find your inspiration I showed a lot of beauty so here I am shooting polar bears and I find myself moving in to the tight beauty shot of a polar bear and I love the shot about they shoot them doing all kind of stuff but that's the shot that I identify with and I love that shot it's my favorite shot from that vacation you find yourself in the process of living your life which is why it's so important as a photographer to get out and have a full life get away from your computer monitor at times and get out and have a full life will make you a better photographer if you go out have a great holiday go out and shoot stuff just for you forgetting about making money or trying to make money shoot something just for you that you love that's in you become better and you find out why you love photography here three things that would enhance your life three things to enhance your life no matter where you are in any country this one had your life the people you meet whether it be on line in person the people you meet change your life you've all come here today you've all made us online today we're coming to your life to enhance your life in some way the people you meet the places you go you want to come here to be a part of this experience not just learn but be a part of the entire experience behind the scenes on the set everything is giving you an enhancement in your life because you leave you take this with you forever the places you go and the books you read the books you read the people you meet the places you go the book she read these things change your life and enhance your life forever that said for business I have a favorite book on to you guys about I said it before I said in the very beginning well, this is a different one. The selling the invisible by harry beckwith this is another great great book if you want to fashion and beauty I suggest reading this book it's not about the fashion business or the beauty business as a matter of fact it's not about photography at all selling the invisible because in essence you're really doing that they have how you for your work but they're keeping you for more than that if you want a long term client it's not just about your photography if you want a long term client ten years, fifteen years arm or it's not just about the photography they can hire anybody forget a great picture why do they keep you claim back over and over and over again we can hire anybody every year they're playing a million new photographer's an industry why do they keep hiring you read this book failed selling the invisible by harry beck whip for growth for growth as a photographer how to win friends and influence people we start this off by talking about this book and I think it's appropriate to mention it at the very end as well how to win friends and influence people it's not a brand new book has been around for ever but the inflation in this book will change your career as a matter fact, it will help give you a career by dale carnegie how win friends and influence people and for the journey because we're all on this journey together to grow and get better everybody in this room everybody online all striving to get better that's why we're out here watching creative live and learn together I'm learning to and for the journey the alchemists shows you that you have a plan in life sometimes, but life takes over take punitive direction this helps you see the process, the creative process, the alchemists. So please read these books, shoot what you love and have a great time being a photographer and then of course, always dream big always dream big. I've enjoyed this so much being a few guys this week and sharing my my knowledge hopefully you got something from this and I've learned a lot I've had my life enhanced by being around you guys and by sharing how you feel online. Thank you very much for your comments for let me come into your life for a couple of days and and share my knowledge I didn't really enjoy this, so that's it let's bring everybody back in, bring him on out. Yeah, good. Okay, so you're all here now in the house and we've had a great time having all the ladies here with us model's photographers have you guys work together? I think it's just been a great time and having your direction as well and being a superstar diva, hopefully not you know I won't take that personally. You wonder apple, thank the last siri's of images was so amazing I enjoyed watching everybody know the models and photographers and seeing you guys working together was just wonderful I like to hear how you guys all feel about that whole situation not only the last shoot but all the chutes throughout this week and we start ladies first lady hey um at first I mean it was a deer and advice like I had no idea what I was doing um but I was really excited so just trying to take everything in the first day and then moving throughout the week it just slowly got a little bit comfortable more comfortable with people around me still trying to take in all the advice that possibly can but mean overall it's been it's been really challenging and tests here er confidence levels I guess but I've learned so much and it just makes me want to learn more and get out there and so it's been so great thank you so much and I stop you for once like a canyon evergreen stand up today is her birthday so thank you great job thank you so much. Um I would like to say so coming into this workshop I know I've seen some of you guys have been watching creative live I'm not a screen to modeling, but I definitely learned a lot. There was a lot of things that I still wasn't aware of even though I've had the opportunity to participate in different photo shoots in the area and some shows so there was a lot of things that you're gonna and matthew you guys really helped with I thought that I kind of knew what testing was, but after listening to what you guys have to say, I realized that I didn't and I've been working so much with my body from the type of sheets that I had been doing that we're not really getting me work, so I'm really excited now that you guys have both cleared it up and with this workshop and I'll be able to put everything that I learned in to play and hopefully we'll be able to continue to grow so thank you so very much uh this I'm almost speechless I could almost start crying because I'm so so grateful um I'm very I'm very new to modeling and when I came here I didn't realize that I would be so humbled and um so I would didn't realize how much I would learn from the two of you and watching you wantto teach each of the girls gave me some insight and then watching you teach your students really also gave me insight and um I had always been very shy in front of the camera and sorry for the first time in my life I feel confident in front of the camera yeah, the five days to be crying creative life land the last five days I will never forget you guys have changed my career and I will be forever grateful you're making me cry I definitely I really like them and I can say that in life I'm I look at people closely I look at their hearts and these two people have amazing hearts not only just to give all of us their time and knowledge but I saw them offset and they're amazing people and I think that's why they're so successful in life is because they know how to care for people and they know how to have a good heart and that's what's going to last through the years nothing else but your heart is going to matter and they have that and that's so important and I just appreciate you putting in so much time to all of us I mean we're new models and you know the industry may not see our value but you do and you taught us so much to add more value to us and I really appreciate it I think that another thing about the photographers guys were awesome I am I the criticism that they gave ticket but yes for awesome anyways, I would suggest one thing is that if I word to be starting off with photographer if you and the model just want to a theme park or something, you'd have a texan before you do the photo shoot on this like, you know that connection before but definitely you guys just it amazing through the last three days that you're here so great job thank you so much for allowing me to be here this week. It's so cool, even just washing the four of you grow this week I have loved that wash you blossom, it's just it's just a wonderful thing to see that first shoot to the last u it's been wonderful for me and what you do your thing e mean coming in, I had this curriculum in this course and how he's going to teach it and I really was in a way, I was kind of afraid of sharing too much of the industry because there is a mystique to it, especially in fashion then, you know, and it came from a show when it wasn't, you know wasn't so huge to where it is now wasn't overproduced, so it was a little more authentic, so I think I've got a great shot in the industry and I took what I got from that show and turned it into what was suitable for me and, you know, I've had a lot of pitfalls, I've had a lot of rejection, I've had amazing triumphs, I've had opportunities were some of the most incredible photographers artists and also, um, you know, and it is about confidence, like you said, especially as women coming and we have so many insecurities already and to be picked apart because of our weight our hide our eye color hair color that length of our hair and then to also be confident in front of a camera um it can be it could be destroying at times if you're not strong and you're not secure with yourself, so I think you guys really came in brave I mean, just to be able to throw on whatever clothing item we gave you are, you know, changing your hair and trying to find a way to feel confident, comfortable and having people pick you apart you know, been there done that and on hundreds of occasions well, it's great for viewers to see to that these models aren't told that they're amazing all day long and that they're fabulous and that there, you know, it really is it really takes a lot of courage, you know, and learning into up until learn from what you learned to actually put it into play because some girls don't listen and they end up keep being doing the same mistakes over and over again where they become so arrogant and they use there looks that where they don't listen to maybe what agencies air telling them to change the photographers and those girls don't last so it's a very great on the photo side it was the week been like for you guys being here working with these models, working with a great top model what's experience for you from the first shoot to the last it's been it's been a really learning experience for me. Um, working we use a lot of fun working with the always a lot of fun. And, you know, when you all critique me earlier, that was hard, but it was great. I liked it would like to see more of that. That was that was awesome. Um, I've watched you all all week. Uh, I watched the two days before I got here. Um and it was neat watching you all grow that fast also. So that was really cool. Um, shoots put this in those positions without any warning that was cool. Um, really made you think, and I got you out of your comfort zone and, uh, taught me that I've got a lot to learn, you know, it's not all going all the time, it's not just, uh, pushing a button and setting up some lights. You know, you're dealing with people, and making a connection with them is a lot more important than I realized before. True, we'll see the pictures in the magazines. They think photography is easy, that mullings easy this week. You know, neither one are easy, I don't know, maybe as an artist sometimes. Well I always have discussions with especially with my young photographer friends were testing their parents don't really they want them to be doctors or lawyers or maybe there's times when you know you hit a spot in modeling and you need to take a break in your parents and maybe you should be doing something more legitimate or maybe you should be trying something in the real world and that when you hear that it's kind of like really that's the last thing you want to hear but just great that you know and there it's just a room full of artists coming together wanting to perfect their craft and these girls are really authentic and that they it's not about their face or their the way they look that that they really want to grow and become better at this craft and yeah, I was really surprised by the way they am responded it's great well it's been amazing experience for all of us to come here and grow like you're saying exactly we all grew I feel in a senior only through the three days I haven't seen that two previous days before this but I mean it's such a different thing if you I showed the two of you I think the first first shoot comparing to the last one that means first of all yes the connection would be learning about is there already and then you know to all the wonderful tips from photography from matthew and of course of course like even listening the way you're giving tips to models it gives us also inside tow how models feeling how they should be acting it's like a great thing for us to learn as well? So it's complete boehner's toe have you're really over here of all your experience and you know like you were saying earlier it's so naturally to you to do it but you still provided wealth of information for us which I never thought how useful that could be to have apart from meeting you yes it's great to learn from your swell and of course photographically matthew this is I've said a few times I mean you're a wonderful teacher that's why I really wanted to be here in person I saw your workshop last year and is this wonderful way to learn and also you letting us into your personal project to see that side of photography it's wonderful and great meeting everyone including creative life guys the show is around so well over here it's it's great experience and of course this guy I mean, I feel we got to know each other really well, these are amazing it's being a great experience and I feel like I'm family like finally I know it's so long and I've been following created web and I'm so great I'm right like, my god, I don't I feel like I not jobs it's uh and everyone and people so nice and I'm so glad to have this program because I learned so much just working this program workshops and it's being great great journey for me that's a photograph that we have done so many things like cameron, a photo shop I have to be a detective. What happened is a really hard it's a it's, a personal growth germany and and I hope and wanting mobil's like you guys I what? Stone mine the first day and and then like seeing you today I feel like you could grow up so much and I'm so proud of your thighs and way gonna grow as a photographer and become a that the director and hopefully we all success and keep going this creative live pics parents and thank you so much for my feet not fear like inviting us being part of this amazing magical moments thank you. Thank you, thank you. They well, I tried. Tio I'm very grateful for this opportunity, uh, to be invited into to meet creative live, to be here took to learn from from you, matthew as well you wantto models uh my my colleagues here, uh, it's been just incredible three days for me and I look at it definitely as a milestone experience and you know my relatively short experience of photography and pursuing this and the past three days uh sure is you just can't like roller coaster of emotions and feelings and you wanting to wanting to do well but just that the people around the people that we got to learn from uh it's been just very, very encouraging tio two feeling to see that potential on on both sides for for what has been a photographer's for you you know, his budding models I just just just thinking that the potential you in this room I got I look forward to just seeing you sing all four of you out there in all sorts of media parent commercial who knows? And I hope hopefully and I'll be able to teach to join you in that process you will so uh been very grateful bless thank you. This has been wonderful in so many ways and good hereby share the experience and that last shoot for me watching all of you work in on both sides of photographers and the models I can explain how how amazing that was to see you guys pull images seeing the models not posing, seeing you guys not just shooting but creating it's just a wonderful experience to see you guys get it where all clicks together thank you for opening up and being able to share together and learned together that's been just incredible for me and also watching you, dear do your thing and teach them and bring them up along the way, a wonderful experience. Thank you. It was, yeah, um, I had a great experience in the sense that, like I said, coming here, I wasn't sure how much I wanted to share, and I also don't want to shatter anyone's streams, and I don't want to be an agent, and I don't want to answer like, where do you see me commercial print? So many girls get so caught up in that or so and so told me my ears were pointed, will I ever do this? You know, I'm not here for that. I for me, it's more of a becoming comfortable in front of the camera, learning that you can seduce the camera and and use it as your alter ego, you know, I'm the very shy person and every day, like, I mean, I'm fine, I'm bubbly, but when it comes to sensuality, sexuality, I kind of I say that for my moments with the photographer and the camera, um, you know, I'm not and out released central person, I don't walk out trying to track that kind of attention, so in a way, I kind of let that release that in front of the camera or if I'm feeling in a like a moody mood that's a time for me to can those bad blues I can't like bring that to the camera instead of drinking or whatever like I feel like it's a release emotionally, the energies are released and that you girls were so eager to learn because I've worked with tons and tons of mentored models, and they look up to you and it's either, you know, really warm and receptive or they don't want to hear and they feel they know everything and they don't want your advice and they look at you like you're some dinosaur fossil on, you know, they're eighteen and you're like, you know, way to all to be giving them advice, and you don't know what you're talking about on ben, you look at their pictures and you're like, ok, you have, like, two pictures in your book, like, you know, the fact that you were receptive and wanting to listen, um and learn right away and, um and I could tell that you authentically listening and that's awesome has just been a mentor teacher it's a great feeling really is I mean, I just want to let all of you know, this has been spectacular for us as well, can I? She's already gearing up on me, I'm a great friends here, lots of facebook buddies and you're going to be friends. I just can't and I started out of students, have run as well, and these workshops have changed our life as well, especially meeting people like you coming in, and you guys change our lives, too. So I just so do you and it's that you know, you know, that you used to get our lives. So I just want all of you guys to know that all of us here, behind the scenes as well you guys changed our lives and you add to our lives as well. So creative life has really added immensely. I know I can see the tears in your eyes. Stop, stop. So, with that being said, I just want to give a huge round of applause to everyone in this room, everyone watching at home. Thank you so much to matthew jordan smith, and you wanna thank you.