Exposure 2007

Joseph Franklin's beautiful image is one of the many photographs you'll see by LBCC students and alumni during the Exposure 2007 event in the East Village Arts District this month.

Small steps add up

I guess I'm still thinking about how we make the jump from amateurs to professionals. It can feel like an overwhelming task . . . to the point where we become immobilized. My suggestion is that you try to do one "outreach" each week - start now while you're a student. It doesn't seem like much, but at the end of a year you would have 52 points of possible success.

Here's a suggestion for your first week:

Russell Joslin is editor and publisher of SHOTS Magazine. This quarterly publication is dedicated to b&w photography and combines unusual imagery with interesting interviews. Right now they have a call for entries, and it's an open themed issue - so you might consider it. I met Russell a few years ago and was impressed by his love of photography and his interest in promoting newer artists. Here's a link to his website: http://www.shotsmag.com/ . Submissions are due May 1st.

Good luck,

Networking - aka "it's who you know"

One bit of advice most newcomers receive is on the importance of building a "network" to help promote their photography. Often they are left with the idea that it's "who you know" that will be the key to their success...and they don't know anyone. So, how does a newcomer create a set of people who know their work? One of the best ways can be portfolio reviews. These are often free and are offered by a wide range of groups and events.

At the end of this month there's a great opportunity to have your work reviewed by a professional at the SILVER CONFERENCE (see the sidebar for more info). Think of it like speed-dating for photographers. You generally get 20 minutes to present your work to a reviewer and often you can sign-up for more than one. This is a good start on the process of starting to have a "network".

Here are a few tips for success:

1. Bring approximately 15-20 pieces that are all from a related group of work. Too broad a selection makes it difficult to address your "vision".

2. Loose prints are often the best way to go because the reviewer can pull individual ones out to compare or discuss. These can be in a clamshell box or other simple container.

3. If you do oversized prints (larger than 16x20) it's a good idea to make a smaller set with maybe one full sized version you can have off to the side. I know one photographer who shows a small portfolio but has one full-sized image that has been cut into quarters and can be easily reassembled to give the impact of a larger image without the bulk.

4. If you're showing transparencies or other work that has special needs, speak with the organizer ahead of time to see if you can set-up ahead of time.

5. Practice a short introduction to yourself and your work, then shut up and let the reviewer do their thing. It's okay to mention a few items as they look through, but most reviewers need time to process their thoughts.

6. Bring a notepad and business cards. If it's more of a professional situation, bring "leave-behinds" also.

7. Be on time. Good luck.

March 18th, 2007

First day of blog. I have no idea how to create a blog...so it's going to be an experiment. I started out to revive an old newsletter when it occurred to me that it was time to think in new ways and so...we're blogging!

My goal is to create a space for student galleries, announcements of school and industry events, tips, trends and techniques...you name it.