The sound of my voice freaks me out!

When Agency Access asked me to do a podcast about my experience with the campaign manager pro program, my brain heard interview... not voice recording.  Alas, it didn't turn out too bad and I even sound like I know what I am talking about most of the time!  check it out HERE if you dare, it's only 4 minutes.

It's Contest season! Are they good and necessary or just revenue builders? The answer is Yes.

I have always thought that entering contests was very important, a relatively cheap and easy way to get your work in front of people who hire photographers.  But it can get expensive FAST, just look at the first awards Due for the ADC, $100 for a single image.  ouch.  My contest budget has typically been $600/year and in the past couple years I have tried to rain that in.  Sorry ADC, it's not me, it's you.  They certainly have the best design and Ads for their contests but even as a professional I think it is too much.

Extended Deadline = January 20th

Single image = $100

Series = $150

Interactive = $250/300

www.adcawards.org

Deadline = January 25th

Single images = $45

Series = $55

Video = yes

www.pdnphotoannual.com

Deadline = January 27th

Single image = $35

Series = $95

Video upload as 10 still images = $95

www.ai-ap.com/cfe/

Deadline = March 16th

Single image = $35

Series = $70

Video = 80/160

www.commarts.com/competitions/photography

Early Bird Deadline = April 30th

Single image = $35

Series = $60

Each additional category = $25

Deadline = May 2012

Details not yet available

www.graphis.com

Deadline in March/May?

www.newyorkphotoawards.com

Time for a Snack?

The above shots are published in Spirit Magazine.  The Cheese Balls image is from my stop motion video, "BALLS!"

Food Photography on PDN

Jennifer Kilberg is a consultant I work with, she has an article on PDN's Photoserve about Food Photograpy, see the whole thing Here.

Be Safe & Have a Happy Holiday Season

Every year I try to decide what to use as a holiday card, this year I knew the minute I took the shot. This comes from the gift guide I did for Fast Company this fall.  See Fast Co Holiday post.  The question is not only what image to use but who to send it to. With email and Facebook here to serve us, it is easy to reach many people.  In the past I have sent thousands of printed pieces as well as thousands of emails.  But in an effort to make it a bit more personal I am printing out about 50 and mailing them to my existing clients.  I am also posting it here and therefore it will be on my Facebook page.  I will stick with this plan for next year as well I think.

It has been a wonderful year and I am very grateful to all my clients, business partners, family and friends.

Thank you.  

Whisky Advocate for the Holidays

Whisky Advocate Magazine

I shot this with Art Director John Thompson in a New Jersey warehouse. I got to see my entire studio on a pallet lifted and carted around by forklift... not something you see every day. I hadn't counted on the temperature being so cool but that makes sense of course.  Also, not too many restaurants in the warehouse districts... next time we will brown bag it!  A special thank you to the photo editor, Sarina Finkelstein.

I wasn't aware Whisky needed and advocate, ha ha.  A "new" magazine by the publisher of Cigar Aficionado and Wine Spectator, Whisky Advocate was a publication in a different form called Malt Advocate. When M Shanken purchased the publication they rightly changed the name. One big consideration... Whiskey or Whisky? There must have been a few meetings about that one. 

Whisky (Scottish English and British English) or whiskey (Irish English and American English)