Friday, September 19, 2008

Acquiring a New Client

Throughout my short career (9 years now) I've continually been asked at various times how I've acquired my clients and new work, and I thought this question presented itself as a decent topic for the blog.  

First and foremost, as in many other businesses I would have to say that the "referral" has been a crucial element to my success so far... always be professional and never burn a bridge.

However, another method has been targeting the set of clients (magazines, corporations, or ad agencies) I would like to work for and tailoring a photographic presentation specific to their needs and interests.  In this case I'll be focusing my portfolio presentation on the Halls of Academia within the New York / Tri-State area.  

These institutions are like small corporations with talented in house design teams who often need fresh imagery specific to their University or College.  The assignments can call for large scale location or studio shoots as well as documentary / sports photography.

Over the next two weeks I'll keep you posted of my strategy, execution, presentation, and success (I never failed in school, except for Organic Chem, but that's a different story :).

BMW Advertisement - Summer 2008

The arts and entertainment magazine Flavorpill.com partnered with BMW Motors for a cross promotional web advertising campaign in five US cities for the launch of the new 1 Series Coupe.  I was commissioned to photograph the magic city of Miami, FL.  I was given complete freedom to communicate my impression of the Miami landscape...something that was totally liberating.  

My concept (without using photoshop) was to show how Miami has been engulfed within a major construction boom.  I've looked at the city as an ongoing development project for sometime... like a page from an urban planners notebook or a "living" scale model.  To visually convey this idea I utilized a series of architectural tilt-shift lenses and a shallow depth of field to create the "scale model" look I was going for.  

It was a terrific opportunity to look at the downtown area of Miami in a new light.  Both clients were both very pleased... always a good thing.




Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Times Square, Baby!

This is oldie, but I just found the clip.  I have to say that this was one of the highlights of my career..."The Big Picture" in Times Square.  The shot is of the 2007 NBA MVP Tony Parker and it was commissioned  by my client IWC Schaffhausen.  Tony is one of their brand ambassadors and was a real professional during the shoot.  We photographed him at the Bathhouse Studios in the lower east side of Manhattan, a really great place to shoot with an equally incredible staff.