I think it was about two years ago, maybe a little less I met a photographer by the name of Michael Green. FJ Westcott had called while I was in Colombia and asked if we would like to be featured in the Westcott Catalogue with some images. I remember asking Amber about the cover and she told me that Michael Green had shot it and that it was amazing!

The catalogues went to print and the cover looked great. I met up with the Westcott gang at Photoshop World and who happens to be there...you guessed it Mr. Michael Green himself. I met Michael the same time I met Eric Eggly. We talked about photography and you could tell, thiese guys loves what they do, those are the photographers I want to be around. They told me about the workshops they where planning and how they wanted to be focused on the creativity behind photography more than anything. I thought it was refreshing and something that was long overdue.

The time went on and here we are almost two years later and they are just announcing the workshops. That's right folks, this thing has taken two years to design, perfect and create, so if you are interested in what I think is going to be one of the best workshops available go check them out at http://creativesunleashedworkshops.com/.

Sorry, I got off track for a second, but definitely check out the workshops, you will not be dissappointed. In any case back to Michael Green

I can honestly say that there are some people you just don't like from the second you meet them and some that you have an instant connection. Michael was the latter. Super cool dude with an even cooler love for photography. He's a laid back dude, always with a smile, joking around and just gives off good vibes. I'm really emphasizing the fact that Michael gives off good energy as an intro to his article because one of his quotes that sticks in my head is "many times it's not the talent or the marketing...it's the person that gets the job". Think about that as you're reading his article called:

The 4 P's

Hey everyone, and welcome to Unknown Photographer.net!
Just a little background info about me...My name is Michael Green, I am a commercial photographer currently living in the St. Louis area, but I work nationally or internationally, pretty much wherever my work takes me. I do freelance work, shoot for corporate clients, and teach and mentor at workshops and seminars. So when Andy explained his vision for this site to me, I liked the concept right away. I get it. He wants new content for you. Fresh ideas. Something new and useful to YOU, not just the same info you've seen over and over. This got me thinking about the main things that photographers have been asking me, either directly or indirectly. So what is it that you all really want to know? Not what gear to buy, not which brand is better, not the difference between Rembrandt or Beauty lighting, or how to achieve the perfect fill. What do all of you really want to know?

How do I make it as a successful photographer?

That's it. That's the big question. So some would have you believe you should just become a technical master and you will just make it. When you know everything about photography, posing, and lighting, that somehow you will just magically

Be the best at your craft and everyone will love you for it. Well, I don't fully agree with that... I'd like to talk about some other things that maybe will give you some insight to yourself, and help move you closer to your own personal answer. 

I want to give you a look at some of the things that I believe are some keys to being a successful photographer. These are not all, or the only answers, but with much reflection and thought to the subject I continually find myself coming back to them. The 4 Ps. Personality, Portfolio, Practice, and Perspective.

1. PERSONALITY

Who you think you are isn't always the you that others actually see. Here are a few thoughts to consider. Are you approachable? Do your customers and perspective clients enjoy working with you? Could you consider the people you work for, and the people you work with friends? When people meet you do they enjoy you right away or do you take some getting used to? Do you really come across as professional, or do they see arrogance instead? Sometimes being confident and being smug can be easily confused. Don’t be that guy… we all hate that guy. Are you grateful for the opportunity to work with them? Do you show it? Is that how they see it, or is that how you “think” they see it? Your personality is usually the first thing they see. They either like you, or they don’t. It’s that simple. If they do, they want you for the job, if not, they may still hire you on merit or to fill the spot, but you haven’t created a bond for the next job, or planted the seed for the next opportunity. The more opportunities there are for you out there, the better off you are. I truly believe that if and when you can start answering these questions on a positive note, not only can you benefit professionally from it; I think your life as a whole will be more enjoyable for you. Nuff said.

2. Portfolio

What are you putting out there to tell the public who you are? Are you confusing them with too much information, too many styles, can they tell right away who you are and what you do well? Obviously we aren’t just talking about look books anymore, and making sure they are beautifully bound leather, and the right slick styles, and sizes, that’s’ a manufacturers game and you are not here for me to sell you product. Nowadays our online portfolios are doing a lot of talking for us (most likely even more) and need to look just as professional. One big mistake that I see online when I peruse the never ending supply of unsuccessful galleries on mayhem, facebook, flicker, or a photogs own personal site is overkill. 20 images from the same shoot, the same unedited model, the same looks. My knee jerk instinct reaction is this. (And please pretend that we have known each other for several years now and I am only telling you this because I truly care about your well being, because I am going to be brutally honest here.) This is the first or second model you’ve worked with. You are unsure what you wanted from the shoot so you can’t pick a favorite and put up most of what you think kind of worked. You need to fill up your port and this is all you have so more is better than not enough. Also you couldn’t edit any of them because you put up way to many and would have to charge an arm and a leg to actually clean everything from the shoot, and would have no time to do so anyway. Lets go over some key thoughts on a portfolio. This is a compilation of your BEST work that tells the viewer who you are and what you can do. There is no room to be sentimental to a particular model or job, if the shot is great keep it, if not cut it no matter who they are. A really bad shot of a celebrity model is still a really bad shot. It makes them look bad, it makes you look bad, period. Next, use one or a few images at most from a shoot. Not five or six. We get it, you are really excited that you got to do it but you will lose our attention quick if we don’t see a variety of work. Keep in mind you should show your best work, not necessarily your latest. So often I see photographers remove their greatest pieces to make room for their newest and sometimes less stellar work. Don’t put it up there until it is ready, until you have worked it to it’s perfect state and you know you are happy with it. This is still your portfolio we are talking about, not just a place to throw up images to be viewed. And finally don’t confuse me with who you are as a photographer. If weddings and babies are your thing, blow my mind with that stuff but don’t mix in some architectural and a few product shots. If you want to be a utilitarian photographer my advice would be to create a separate whole identity and website for that specific purpose.

3. Practice

No professional anybody gets there without huge amounts of practice. Athletes do it, musicians do it, why should you be any different? You can’t get any better at photography if your camera sits in your bag for weeks on end while you ho-hum and kick rocks around, and wonder why the big job never seems to come walking to your doorstep. Somehow everyone else just has the luck and good stuff never happens to you right? No folks, It’s lots of practice that opens up the channels for good thing to come a knockin. First, you learn how to use your equipment, better your creative eye, figure out what doesn’t work so you know for next time. And second, you meet new people along the way, and broaden your network of go to clients, models, makeup artists , as well as even owners of locations you might like to use in the future. Here’s another thing to think about. I don’t want to say the worst time to be learning your equipment is on a shoot because honestly, you really are always learning. But you need to go into important shoots with confidence and the only way to get there is to know your equipment inside and out, what it can do, what it can’t. And you are only going to get there by using it over and over. Another important thing to practice is talking to your subjects, communication in a shoot can be the weak link that causes the entire thing to crumble if you don’t get your subject to trust you and your ability to get the shot. Practice your editing and post work. It would be nice gang, but you can’t learn photoshop through osmosis. You need to get in there and learn what works for you. Many times I have seen photographers destroy beautiful images because they don’t take the time or refuse to practice their skills at finishing the final image. It’s easy to sit back and wish you were better. But you can’t get your quality to where you want it to be without practice.

4. Perspective

This one I see get forgotten or not discussed very much but I think it falls deep into the heart of being successful. Quite simply, you create your own reality with the way you choose to see your customers, your contacts, your product, your ability, the quality of your work, and even your status in life. Let me say that in another way. I get paid for playing around. I show up on a job, I open up my box of toys, I play with them right in front of the client, then I go home and play some more, and for some reason someone hands me a check for it. That is the way I see my life. That is my perspective. Do you like what you do; do you truly enjoy it? I can tell you I am a pretty positive happy guy because of the way I choose to see things. And that is just the start of this; it goes deeper. Now my friends, peers, customers start to see who I am, and how I am, and the laws of attraction start kicking in. My perspective is now affecting their perspective of me. They enjoy working with me and having me around on jobs. They are comfortable and confident in my ability to get the job done well, and excited to see the final product. So what does this tell us, when you believe in yourself, others will believe in you? Sometimes your perspective could be the very thing that holds you back. Many times I hear photographers talk about how tough it is to make money from their customer base so they keep gouging their prices lower than they can afford to go. Just a thought, if your product is that good, raise your prices and go after a different customer. We can box ourselves in when we choose to see with a narrow perspective. Now lets look at perspective from… yep, going there… a different perspective. The way you see your images. Your own personal perspective is the difference maker when 30 people see the same object but you create your own final product. In most cases where some see a landscape, I see a background. Where some see documentation, I see a component. It’s just how I am wired. So be proud of your individuality as an artist and a creative thinker. And realize the value of your perspective.

So all 4 of these things are really a big deal to me and I attribute a lot of my success directly to them in so many ways. I believe that your own personal image that you are marketing to the public is a very big deal. And I think the question I will leave you with is this -

Who are you?

For more of Michael Greens work make sure you visit his website http://mjgphoto.net/

For more information on his workshop with Eric Eggly you can visit http://creativesunleashedworkshops.com/

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