Interview with model Shae Ryan

I have a new Featured Model Interview up with Shae Ryan, a beautiful 19 year old from Brisbane, Australia.  She'll be representing Australia in December in the Miss Teen World Supermodel Pageant.  Check out her interview at http://www.muskopf.org/how_to_model.htm

Quality and Perception

I was shooting portraits a few weeks ago at a park and had my big white 70-200 f/2.8 IS. We walked up on a wedding party that was shooting photos and their photog's gear didn't equal mine. I kind of giggled in a schoolyard singsong way "my lens is better than hiiis lens" to the client--just being silly. The client's face lit up. I saw members of the wedding party looking at me shooting pics of 2 kids with the big bazooka and they just kept staring.

When you get into terms like "quality" in an artistic business such as this, much of it comes from the perception of the client. If my client's perception of me was heightened in that moment, that's great. It increases confidence in how the final pics will turn out. 

When you actually shoot for money, lenses and cameras should be the cost of doing business. It's part of the perception of you as a professional. If you've got a silver Rebel with the kit lens, you're not seen that way.  I've seen photographers from huge studios taking photos with cameras and lenses that I would simply dismiss.  It's pretty obvious to me that the studios were keeping the costs down because they employed so many photographers and probably had huge investments in the QUANTITY of gear they had to buy, so the QUALITY suffered.  The sticking point there is that these outfits already had the contracts, so they weren't really out to impress anyone with their photos.  They were just trying to provide adequate quality (which, after seeing the photos, I personally question).

If you pick up your date in a beat up '77 Chevy Van with doors rusting off, you will be able to take her to dinner and a movie just as well as picking her up in a limo. It's not really about what's possible, or "good enough". It's about perception and what will lead to continued success.

Cleaning the Office

Who would've thought cleaning the office would take MORE than 3 days?  I've spent 34 hours on it so far--no joke!  I tore everything out, threw a bunch out, moved things I don't use often to the garage (2 bookshelves filled with books, binders, papers, and such).

It's amazing what accumulates.

I did manage to establish a new domain name, http://www.muskopfphotography.com  It's a parallel site to muskopf.org, but just sounds better.  I'll be making the title change in my business in the next few months, so I wanted to get that nailed down first.

I've got some really fun photo shoots coming up soon, and I'm really looking forward to them.  I also bought a new ringflash, which I can't wait to try out on a willing subject (my wife hates all flash, so the huge ringflash was evil incarnate to her).

I'm offering up prayers to the husband off Ann Anzalone, who's husband was hospitalized with some serious issues last weekend.  I wish both of them the best.

Busy Week

Wow!  I've had two senior sessions this week and a magazine shoot this coming Sunday.  I also completed a new painting, but don't have photos yet.   The election happened, so it's change we'll get, although the stock market seems to be doing the same thing--someone give Wall Street a nudge.

I'm really hoping that some leaves hang around so I can get outdoor shots for the next couple of senior portrait clients.  If you want to book a session with leaves, you'd better hurry up!