Am I a Photographer?

It’s a lot easier to become a lawyer or a electrician than it is to become a photographer. Lawyers get a degree and take a test. Electricians serve as an apprentice, then pass a test. What do photographers do? There are no rules.

It takes a license to be a doctor or even a barber. We just buy a camera.

There is a clear dividing line between being a plumber or not. If I try to fix the bathroom faucet, I may get out my wrench, but my wife does not call me a plumber. For good reason. But a friend with a Nikon D80 and a 300mm lens this week reminded me that she is often assumed to be a “professional photographer” because she has a “professional looking” (I presume that means big) camera.

The evidence of the problem can be plainly seen. As we troll the pages of Model Mayhem or Flickr we see many examples of so-called glamour photos that should never have been taken. They are often of models who should never be in front of a camera in poses that should never be shot. These, usually nude, photos are then posted on MM, OMP, Flickr or somesuch and showered with praise, usually by males whose own portfolio contains a lot of similar images.

But back to my point: When should we call ourselves a photographer? When have we crossed that line from just owning a camera?

It may be a gray area, but I think we cross that point when we transition from taking a snapshot principally to record a memory or an experience to creating an image for the sake of the image itself. Sure the quality of some photographers’ pictures will be a lot better than others. I don’t think I take bad photos … but I am humbled by the portraits of Yousuf Karsh, the glamour of Arny Freytag, and almost anyone whose photos appear in National Geographic!

That said, I’m still aghast at the number of people, usually male, whose portfolio resembles a trophy case of girls they “got nekkid.” I know there are some people who just want to get girls out of their clothes and others who genuinely think their shots are worthwhile. For me, I cringe when I look at some of my shots from the past and am grateful that there is not a photographers’ version of the try-out episodes of American Idol. (Isn’t there a any family member with the courage to tell some of these guys they can’t sing????)

All this has inspired me to remove nude shots from my MM and OMP pages. It has also inspired me to continue to do better work to capture the beauty (and sometimes humor) that is out there.

Getting a Start in Glamour Photography

Glamour photography is where most of my efforts are centered these days. So, when the topic of my photos comes up in conversation the third most frequent question I hear is, "just how do I get started in glamour photography?"

(For the record, the more frequent questions are [#2] "And your wife puts up with this" and [#1] "Can I hold your lights for you any time?")

Since my previous post was on the topic of Rolando Gomez, let me start there. Rolando is probably the best known conductor of glamour workshops around the USA. His blogs and websites are numerous. It is a tribute to his marketing efforts that he lands so high on just about every Google search.

Indeed, when I wanted to make a serious transition into glamour a few years ago, a Rolando workshop was a big help. Seeing real lights and getting advice from a genuine glamour photographer was a tremendous leg-up. The photo of Kayti was taken at the very first Rolando workshop I attended -- BUT it was not taken using any of the lights and set-ups pre-positioned by Rolando. And that gets me to my first point: You are not going to do well at glamour if you do not already have photo talents and understand basic photographic principles and your equipment.

Point number two is that there are glamour workshops versus glamour workshops. Some focus on genuine instruction. Some are merely an opportunity to take pictures (of dubious quality) of "nekkid wimmen." Others are some sort of combination of the two. Decide which you want up front and choose your workshop provider carefully.

Some other points to check out before investing your money:

* How much is the workshop and how much do you have to pay up front?

* What assurance do you have that the workshop sponsor will refund your money if (when) the workshop is cancelled. Lots of workshops get cancelled.

* Are there add on fees ("voluntary" or involuntary)? Some workshops are a set price with no add-ons. Others start piling on the "voluntary" fees once you get there. Frequently add-on fees are tips for the make-up artist and/or a charge for a model release. But I have also been hit up for fees to the gardener and maid, plus meals for the models.

Before you send off your money, talk to past workshop attendees. Learn what you are signing up for and what you can expect to get out of your investment in both time and money.

Once I learned the thrill of nailing a really great glamour shot, I was hooked. That might happen to you too! Or, maybe, you can just get crappy shots of nekkid wimmen.

Photo: Kayti Currington

Photo Workshop Review: Rolando Gomez - Arny Freytag Private Instruction

I have seen only one other blog on the subject of Photo Workshops. In that case the blogger was not much a fan of glamour workshops -- but I am a bit more positive on the subject as workshops can be a great place to network and exchange ideas. But admittedly, there are two types of glamour workshop attendees: the GWCs versus those who are serious about their work.

Several months ago Rolando Gomez approached me to ask if I would be interested in private instruction with Arny Freytag in the Playboy Studio West facilities in Santa Monica. He quoted me a price that was rather substantial. Since I try to fall in that latter category of those serious about my work, I said yes immediately, hoping that exposure to one of the true gurus of glamour photography would give my photography a needed leg up.

Finally, last week the day arrived for the shoot. My wife, our model, and I arrived at the studios just a little early last Saturday morning. Rolando was already there. All too soon the day was over, far surpassing my expectations.

I was admittedly intimidated in front of Arny. Unnecessarily.

Arny turned out to be extremely helpful, open, and a genuinely nice person with extraordinary knowledge of his field. My concerns that he and his team would be put off by me as a stranger in their midst was completely wrong. The makeup artist, the stylist, his IT specialist, photographic assistant, intern, and Arny, himself, rolled out the red carpet.

During the day we shot on three sets. Arny and his team went over the lighting, posing, and set design. Arny was insightful. Indeed, what I took away from Studio West has radically changed my approach to studio shooting.

There were some additional pluses. My wife, Alison, who has become quite proficient at photographic makeup, used the opportunity to observe and learn from both the makeup artist and stylist. Both of us came away enlightened – albeit, for the price of one.

Finally, the third member of our team – our model, Eleya Maureen. We had worked with her before and were impressed with her professionalism. Eleya arrived in LA in time to celebrate my birthday with Alison and me at In-n-Out with candles on my 4x4 cheeseburger. We not only had our extraordinary day at Studio West, we shot at a beach in Ventura County. Plus Eleya and Alison made two shopping trips to the L.A. Fashion District.

Despite some recent misgivings about dealings with Rolando, I am glad to say that in this case, he hit a home run. For my part, I don’t expect that instantly I will be a clone of Arny or can reproduce Playboy centerfold quality. But I am now working to incorporate many aspects of what I have learned into my own photography. (And, Arny, if you are reading this, I’ve ordered sandbags.)

The picture of Eleya above was taken in our Studio West session.