Awhile back we ran a post for everyone to share their photography blog and had an amazing response with over 100 photographers sharing their blogs. I went through every single blog and was very impressed with some of the amazing work out there. Since there is such a diverse group of photographers that read this site it was great to see a mix of new work, there were wedding, portrait, landscape, pet photography, you name it. Now I want to see your portfolio website. It can be a full fledged website or your Flickr stream, wherever you showcase your portfolio. And I encourage you to take a few minutes to stop by some of the sites and check out some new work, sometimes viewing work in a totally different photo specialty can be inspiring for your own work.

All you have to do is leave us a comment below!

Our photographer spotlight this week is another amazing photographer that I was introduced through Twitter. It’s amazing how many great photographers I have met on twitter and some really good relationships formed also. One day I hope I can meet all of you in person, there really is a strong community of creative people on twitter and some other networks. Someone send me over a link to some of Troy Paiva’s images and I was amazed! His work is so interesting and thought provoking. Lots of his work is urban nightscapes and the juxtaposition of a broken down car in the junkyard against the night sky and lit up with gelled lights really creates a surreal scene. Some of the cars feel alive again, I can almost hear them speaking. Here is a little more on Troy Paiva and his work:

Troy Paiva, aka: lostamerica.com, ghost towner, urban explorer, night photographer and light painter.

Travelers Motel

I’ve been an artist my whole life and a commercial artist most of my working life. In 1989 I was looking for a new medium to create art as I was working in tightly art-directed job. My brother, a photography student at the time, introduced me to light painting and night photography and I immediately saw it as a way of creatively documenting the abandoned places I’ve always been drawn to.

I’m a surrealist and always have been, Light painting during time exposures at night in abandoned places are the most surreal experiences I’ve ever had. It’s intoxicating and thrilling. And it’s intensely satisfying as an artist.

Could you describe the process of creating a light painted image from start to finish?
First I size up the image by eye to figure out composition and run through the lighting concept. I set up the camera/tripod, set focus and other camera settings and lock open the shutter and repeat the lighting scheme I did in the run through. When the exposure ends I use the camera preview to asses the image. Is the composition good? Horizon? Edges? How did the lighting go? Sometimes I nail it on the first shot, but frequently I don’t. I’ll adjust the position of the camera or change my lighting and reshoot. Sometimes I’ll do up to 8 shots before I’m satisfied. Sometimes I’ll have one exposure with a good right half and bad left, and another with a good left and bad right and I’ll just combine them in post.

The reason I love what I do ….
It’s all about the locations and subjects for me; I just love junkyards and abandoned places. Always have. I enjoy the hands on, physical process involved with my technique as well. I love doing this because it’s a challenge.

Who do you get your inspiration from …
I draw inspiration from everything around me, not just photography. Artists in every medium, from films to painters to writers to musicians. It all affects me.

Your photography specialty …

All I do is shoot junk at night and light paint it. That is all I do.

Who is your photo idol …

Storm Thorgerson? Roger Deakins? Misrach? Frank? Too many more to mention, though I am more interested in the art than the person that made it.+

Favorite photography product …

The Stinger Streamlight.

Favorite movie …
I’m gonna have a hard time stopping at 10. The Big Lebowski, Vanishing Point, Bringing Up Baby, Pulp Fiction, Dr. Strangelove, Fight Club, North By Northwest, Blade Runner, To Have and Have Not, Taxi Driver. Really, I could go all day.

Last rental you watched …
My wife and I are currently blasting through the third season of Six Feet Under. We missed this show on first broadcast.

What superhero would you be …
I don’t care, so long as I don’t have to wear a cape in The Incredbles.

If I am typically craving something it is ….
3 full moons a month.

What is your most fav photo you have recently taken …

The Weather Channel

I did this 2 minute exposure last full moon, while teaching my workshop at the Pearsonville Junkyard. I’ve spent 25 nights, taking 450 finished images, in this gigantic junkyard and this was the first time I’d noticed this TV in this car. It’s the location that just keeps on giving!

To view more of Troy’s work check out these websites:
website: http://www.lostamerica.com/
flickr stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lostamerica/
workshops: http://www.lostamerica.com/workshop.html

Thunderbirds Are Go!

Exit Row

Time Slide

Impossible City Overlook

Our artist spotlight this week is a photographer who specializes in boudoir images.
Leah has some amazing images and lots of great info about boudoir photography!

How did you get started with boudoir?
It’s all thanks to a good friend. She wanted to do a boudoir session and at the time I was already doing wedding photography. I said no a couple times but finally game in. The rest is history!

What do you love most about boudoir?
That’s simple, changing the way a women can look at herself. We are shown everyday that if we aren’t a size 2 we aren’t sexy. However, we are. We all have something that is sexy about us, something that makes us completely unique and beautiful and everyday I get to help my clients realize that.

Is boudoir your main focus? I see on your site you have a wedding gallery coming soon?
I actually started off as a wedding and portrait photographer. I definitely have been focusing more on boudoir within the past year and was planning on going 100% boudoir. However, I am moving to Portland and figured it would be good to get my feet wet in both, get situated and develop a clientele and then decide what moves I want to make.

What are a few tips you would give someone wanting to start out in boudoir?
The most important thing in my eyes is to have a clear marketing plan for your business. One of the things a lot of people can get caught up in is the need to advertise on every website, blog, magazine, billboard or what not out there. I have learned that for me, my best advertising has been the least expensive like carrying around mini albums in my purses, chatting people up in nice clubs, offering your services to fashion shows, women’s expos, etc. Make a clear marketing plan and use your money wisely! Tip #2: Be comfortable with your clients. They are in a situation they aren’t use to and it’s very important to keep them comfortable, relaxed and having a ton of fun. For me, I rarely stop talking during my shoots and it’s go-go-go. I love to keep it high energy and fun for the both of us! if you’re nervous, it’ll show and then she’ll just be more nervous!

You seem to travel a lot for boudoir, how did that get started?
Honestly, lots of luck. I was approached by a couple girls from theknot asking if I was interested in doing a boudoir session in Providence. At that time I had just starting shooting boudoir locally so wasn’t too sure but jumped in feet first. From there, the word of mouth began and I was in 10 different cities within 3 months. Luck was very good to me at that point in my life. However, I know when there is a market for something and I jumped right on that. I started putting dates on my blog for cities all over the US and everything was selling out within days. I then narrowed down my travels to focus on Chicago and NYC where I travel on a monthly, sometimes weekly basis for sessions.

Who are you …
I’m a quirky, independent, spontaneous red headed girl with a zest for life. I put every single piece of who I am into my work and believe passion will take me anywhere. I love to travel, be active and be around people of all walks of life. I was born a small town girl who adores the city life and overall have been extremely blessed to have found what I love doing at 24.

the reason I love what I do ….
I love that I am able to have my clients come in, get sexy and give them something that they won’t forget. They might come in not feeling so sexy but I love that when they leave, they do! Being able to show someone how amazing and gorgeous they are is a very satisfying feeling.

who do you get your inspiration from …
For me, it’s always very random. The obvious things are magazines, blogs, fashion. However, today I checked into the Hotel Monaco in Portland and instantly was flooded with ideas for a shoot. The striped wallpaper, the damask wallpaper, the curtains, headbaord, the curves in the furniture. So for me, it’s everywhere and in places you would never expect it to be!

favorite photography product …
Canon 35 1.4L, my must have for a boudoir session.

what is your most fav photo you have recently taken …
This was my first couples session and I did it in NYC this past January. This couple has such passion and love for each other and I really love that about them. This can be an ackward situation (for all) when you have someone taking pictures of you in your lingerie with your significant other. However, the session was amazing and I loved the results. Sometimes being scared really pushes you to do some awesome work!

do you plan out your shoots before, what is the normal flow of a session?
All my clients get a questionnaire beforehand. I want to know what outfits they are bringing, what hair and makeup they are thinking of with each outfit. I want to know their overall vision for a shoot, what they are comfortable with etc.

When they come in for their shoot I always grab them something to drink and over that we’ll talk about the session, do the model release, go over their payments and any other paper work. Then from there we go into makeup (if it’s not done beforehand) or we start doing their outfits. Once outfits are picked out and ordered we start shooting! i average around 20 minutes an outfit but that depends also on their time. After the session I usually will upload their images and show them a couple edited right away. If not, they’re up within a couple days

what do you prefer for lighting a boudoir session?
I prefer all natural light and if I use OCF, I prefer that to look very natural as well. I have been leaning towards moodier images lately though to spice things up a bit but even then if you know your light, it can be done just as well with natural as it can with artificial.

after the session how does your client view the images?
I narrow down their images to a manageable amount and then I do everything online. I do my booking, proofing, ordering all online. I want to keep it as simple as I can for my clients. In the future I might try to do some in house ordering and see how that goes.

Do they normally buy books, prints? whats the most common item and way of
presentation your clients like to take home from the session?
My largest seller is an 8X8 flush-mount album. After that I also sell a lot of 11×14 calenders which are amazing because the images are so large. Every client who also orders an album gets them wrapped in the fabulous wraps by Gracie Designs. I love a good presentation to go with their gorgeous albums!

favorite movie …
Lately it’s been The Hangover. Does it ever get old?

last rental you watched …
2011….rented, never watched. Very typical of me!

where can you be found on days off …
I am a travel junkie. I am very known for deciding the day before I am going to go somewhere so if I have a couple days I will head somewhere. Speaking of, I’m working on this on my flight. If I’m home I really just love spending time out on my patio. It’s very relaxing and the first place I go if I need a couple minutes of relaxation.

what superhero would you be …
Is there any superhero that has the power to fly AND have a venti macchiatos appear instantly? Because if so, I want to be them!

if I am typically craving something it is ….
Sushi or a good conversation. Bonus points if they happen at the same time!

View more of her work below and online here:
Leah Stafford
http://intimateboudoirbyleah.com/

We have had some amazing photographers in our Photographers Spotlight lately! From commercial to fashion to weddings and everything in between we have really been able to connect with some inspiring photographers out there and showcase their work and give you a look into who they are. This week I just wanted to give a quick recap of some of our recent spotlights just in case you missed any. You can always go to the Photographers Spotlight category and view all of our articles but here are a few that are not to be missed:

If you have a photographer who inspires you and you would like us to consider them for a future spotlight please let us know! Just leave a comment below or use the contact page at the top of the website.

When I first saw this weeks photographer of the week’s website what first caught my attention was the feeling in all of his images. Going through his different websites all of his work has such a peaceful and serene feel to it, his landscapes really draw you in to the work and make you take a deep breath and soak it in. He really captures the natural beauty that surrounds us, and also does some great lifestyle and wedding work. His lifestyle work is just like his landscape images, very natural, fresh and peaceful. The shots just make you want to smile. Aside from being a photographer Shawn is also a musician and has some really good royalty free music you can buy from his website. For his latest music and images view his blog at: http://shawnreeder.net Check our his work below and be inspired!

Who are you … I am a lover of life, always aspiring to more fully manifest my creative pursuits in the art of life.

the reason I love what I do …. I love being able to share with others a vision of beauty to inspire and to uplift. Whether through the intimate work of my wedding commissions, or through my personal work in photography, music, and film making; I hope people’s appreciation of my art leads to a deeper appreciation of the love within themselves that we all find when we truly see the beauty in life.

who do you get your inspiration from … The list of people that inspire me is long as I’ve had the good fortune to meet so many amazing people from so many different walks of life. But most recently I will say I am completely inspired by Jacqueline Nassar (http://jaxnassar.com), a guitar playing singer songwriter who also plays drums, bass, and keys as well out of Clarksdale, Mississippi. I saw her perform at a blues club one night when I was down there for the Rebirth Retreat (http://rebirthworkshops.com). I was so blown away by her, that the next day I had to go find her and hear her story and create some portraits with her (http://shawnreeder.net/blog.php?bid=115).

your photography specialty … I specialize in photography for people who love the outdoors.

who is your photo idol(s) … Galen Rowell, Ansel Adams

favorite photography product … Lately, its been the Spider Holster (http://www.spiderholster.com/). I absolutely love it.

favorite movie … Lord of The Rings

last rental you watched … Garden State

where can you be found on days off … Hopefully outside somewhere in the mountains.

what superhero would you be … Spiderman for sure.

if I am typically craving something it is …. Being outside.

what is your most fav photo you have recently taken … The first image below.

Here are some of his images, you can view his portfolio online at http://shawnreeder.com
You can also purchase his fine art landscapes here: http://www.shawnreederphotography.com/

For more of his work check our his website here:
http://shawnreeder.com

This week our Photographers spotlight is going to focus on a studio instead of just one photographer and how the studio owner successfully setup a sister company for associates to shoot additional weddings. Tracy Autem is the main photographer for Tracy Autem Photography and also runs a sister company Lightly Photography that has 2 associate photographers. Here are some thoughts on her business and how she works her sister company.

How did you get started with weddings?

After graduating from college with a degree in art photography and not sure how to make money I was teaching high school. Like many art schools my college had frowned on commercial work and I had sworn I’d never be a wedding photographer. After a year of not picking up a camera for anything other than snap shots I HAD to shoot again and took a risk and took a wedding for a co-workers daughter. I loved it! It took me awhile to learn the rules and then better yet to break them and make what I do my own but sharing in someones day just won my heart right away. If you make plans guaranteed you find your self doing something else like this!

What is the main style and focus of your business?

We have two companies, one for myself and one for the associates because we do target different markets. Our style is a fusion of the artistic backgrounds we all have and photojournalism. Our focus in business is take images that make us squeal, that is the best part of any shoot.

How did you first get the idea to have associates and how did the process start?

Jared Baughman had come to speak at our local Pictage User Group and spoke a bit about it and that is what started me thinking about it. I had a highly qualified second shooter who I knew could shoot weddings on their own so we just went from there. It was a slow start and there were some misteps along the way but we learned and did a better job when adding our second associate. Both of my associates took smaller weddings at first to build their confidence as they already had the ability but standing up and being in charge at a wedding is another skill set.

How do you handle inquiries, do your associates have a different style that
you try and match to the first time the bride calls in?

All inquires come to me and I hand them out to the photographer that is available and in the brides budget. If a bride is coming in from a referral of a past client it always goes to that photographer if they are available. Our styles are very similar but when I call a bride and chat with her I usually get a feel for which one of my girls she will get along with best. It is more about a personality match.

Do your associates meet with clients at the first meeting, or are you the face of the studio?

My associates meet with clients as I think that the bride needs to like and get to know who will actually be their photographer. I have heard bad things from brides that went with other studio’s where they met a salesman or main photographer and then actually had some one they never met show up to a session or their wedding. Like I said before it is all about the personality match as much for us as the bride.

What about sales after the wedding (albums, etc…) does your studio manager handle all of that for the studio?

The studio manager and myself handle all the after wedding sales and the associates reap the benefit with commission on sales such as albums, gallery wraps and parent books.

How has having associates changed your business?

I love my girls and being a team has made my business stronger. It allows me to bounce ideas off them, get feedback and receive honest critique. It has made me a better photographer and forced me to be more educated about running a business. I don’t miss the days of being a one woman show, we are a family and our brides benefit.

Where do you see your sister studio going in the future?

I see Lightly Photography continuing to grow and being a place for other talented photographers who don’t want to learn quickbooks, deal with sales tax and all the legal stuff. I definitely see one of my associates stepping up in the future and taking more of a management role if we do grow in numbers. I hope my Sarah’s (currently both my associate’s are named Sarah!) stay with me a long time and that we can continue to all benefit from this system.

Additional advice from Tracy:

My advice to those that are interested in doing an associate program with in their studio is to ask them selves why. Do you want to make more money? If that is the only reason don’t do it. It is allot of work and you must have the patience to teach, desire to see them succeed, professionalism and business know how to make it legal and so much more. I have a heart for education and that is what makes it work for me above all else. Seeing these two women grow as photographers has given me so much satisfaction. That has been worth more to me personally than the extra income they bring in.

Check out more of Tracy’s work online at: tracyautem.com or her sister company at: lightlyphoto.com

Here is some of their work for you to enjoy!

Our photographer spotlight this week is another photographer I just happened to stumble upon online. His work really caught my eye with the interesting digital compositions he puts together. Combining different shots and textures in photoshop he creates some very cool pieces of art. There is so much detail in his work that your eye really wants to examine every bit of the image and explore this other world he has created. Take a look at some of his shots and be inspired!

Who are you …

I am a photographer and translator living and working in the North of Portugal.

the reason I love what I do ….

Every morning I get out of bed and feel that I have to create something. Anything. It doesn’t always have to be an image. Self-expression is key, as is the act of sharing. Seth Godin refers to art as the gift that cannot be repaid, and I have to agree with him. I love to share ideas, especially powerful ideas that change the way you think and see the world. Art has the power to change perception and I consider myself an “artoholic.”

who do you get your inspiration from …

Ray Bradbury wrote a wonderful book, Zen in the Art of Writing: Releasing the Creative Genius Within You
where he tells you to ‘let your head explode’ if you want to engage in creative work. He tells you to rifle through your childhood memories, to draw from that age of enchantment when the world was filled with mystery and novelty. That said, there are a number of things that inspire me. Film is a powerful source of visual stimuli. I find Terry Gilliam’s work extremely rich — his collaboration with Monty Python’s Flying Circus as well as the movies he directed later. One can’t deny the formative impact of surrealism. I was exposed to it at a very tender age. To this day, Magritte is one of my favorite painters. Ernst Fuchs and H.R. Giger, also. The list goes on and on.

your photography specialty …

Surrealist collage. I would call it a fixation more than a specialty.

who is your photo idol(s) …

To name but a few: Jan Saudek, Sebastiao Salgado, Mary Ellen Mark, Edward Weston and Joel-Peter Witkin. All of them geniuses. Saudek because, to my mind, he revolutionized the nude, and had the courage to work and think freely under a communist dictatorship. Salgado has taken the most startling, dramatic, haunting pictures of children ever: Exodus Children is a masterpiece. Mary Ellen Mark had a unique eye for portraits. Weston on account of that pepper he shot in 1930. Witkin because he’s Witkin. There will never be another master of the surreal macabre quite like him.

favorite photography product …

Product, let’s see. Do lenses count? Then it would be my Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5. I’ve taken tons of pictures with that lens. It’s more than enough reason to stick with Nikon cameras. My 35mm f/1.8 comes a close second, though.

favorite movie …

Definitely “The Seventh Seal” by Ingmar Bergman.

last rental you watched …

“The Corporation,” written by Joel Bakan, directed by Mark Achbar and Jennifer Abbott.

where can you be found on days off …

Who knows. When I do take time off, I like to travel. I have a mind to hit Stockholm and Copenhagen this summer. I flew over Denmark last year. Gorgeous country. I must go see it. You know what would make a fabulous day off? Seeing planet Earth from space.

what superhero would you be …

Powdered Toast Man, from the Ren & Stimpy cartoon. He can get away with anything and still be called a hero. Why, he blew up the Earth so little Joey could watch TV. And he is made of toast. What’s not to like?

if I am typically craving something it is ….

Old Gouda. A magnificent cheese. Worth the trip to Holland, I promise you.

what is your most fav photo you have recently taken …

I entered an abandoned house a few weeks ago and took a number of pictures. Somebody had broken in and they’d had a party in the living room. There were all these bottles of cheap brandy and second-rate vodka on a table. The kitchen was completely wrecked, the bedrooms were turned upside-down, a true picture of desolation. You know how some places feel haunted? That was one of them. You felt that you were walking into shadows cast across time rather than space. Taking pictures there was a sobering experience. It made me consider how transient life is, and how important it is to be remembered fondly.

When I came out into daylight I had 90 pictures to work with. I pared down the lot until I was left with four strong ones that, when arranged together, seem to form a call-and-response pattern in terms of light and geometry. I call that series of four, “It’s after the end of the world and they forgot to tell you.”

Here are some more of his artwork, you can also view his website at http://www.m-evolve.com or his Flickr site at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/m-evolve/

Our spotlight this week is on a commercial photographer who really impressed me with not only his lighting skills but also creative story lines in his work. Toky is a commercial and fashion photographer from Los Angeles and although he has only been shooting professionally for 3 years I am sure you will all be inspired by his work. No matter what type of photography you do lighting is always key to great images and going through some of his work the lighting is really solid. Also the creativity of his work is awesome. Really unique images and great storytelling always make for good images. Enjoy some of his work and be inspired!

Who are you …

I am Toky. Born in Mexico to Guatemalan and Salvadorian parents. I’ve lived in the USA for 10 years. I’m 32 years old. I started photo school in 2003 and been a working photographer since 2007.

the reason I love what I do ….

Because it comes so natural to me. It’s effortless and people happen to pay me to do what I love the most… how can you not love that!?

who do you get your inspiration from …

Everything and everyone. I think the realm of art is a living exchange of energy. I love to tell “one-frame” stories, so I tend to draw inspiration from movies and cinematic expressions of art.

your photography specialty …

The living.

who is your photo idol(s) …

I love Rankin and Matthew Rolston’s light is impeccable.

favorite photography product …

Photek Umbrellas.

favorite movie …

City Of Angels.

last rental you watched …

Precious.

where can you be found on days off …

Days off? what is that?

what superhero would you be …

I would love to be one of “The Incredibles”

if I am typically craving something it is ….

CHOCOLATE!

what is your most fav photo you have recently taken …

My favorite recent photo is a still shot from a Music Video I directed with “atoms” floating in the air.
(this is a link to the video: http://vimeo.com/9791564)

Here are some of his images showing a mix of his work:

Check out his website for more images here: www.tokyphotography.com
and leave a comment for Toky in the comments below!

I “met” this weeks photographers spotlight like I have met a lot of recent photographers lately online through a forum (my online host for events, pictage has a forum where there is a collection of many great photographers). The main thing that really stuck out about his work from the start was how real the work felt. There was a very fresh feel to the work and his images made me feel like I was there at the wedding experiencing the moments right along the bride and groom. I hope you all enjoy learning a little about Kevin and seeing some of his work below:

Who are you …
I am extremely passionate in everything I do and enjoy life, color, emotion and exploration.

the reason I love what I do ….
I really love what I do because I get to meet some amazing people and document important moments in their life. It is such a great honor and thrill for me to tell a story with my camera.

who do you get your inspiration from …
I feel that I get my inspiration from life around me. My friends, family, loved ones, the outdoors, my clients – I feel each and everyone of them contribute in a way to what I do and who I am.

your photography specialty …
My main specialty is wedding and event photography – really focusing on the moments and emotion that happen throughout the day/event. On the side I also enjoy travel photography and editorial/commercial assignments.

who is your photo idol(s) …
There are so many amazing photographers out there – I am in constant awe of the work I come across. I’m relatively new but when I started shooting weddings, I really followed [and still do] Joe Buissink, Dennis Reggie and Ben Chrisman.

favorite photography product …
I like to keep it simple gear-wise but I’ve been really into my 16-35mm 2.8 lens lately. I love being able to capture a great wide view in a small room; plus its super fast and nice and sharp!

favorite movie …
Its funny, I haven’t seen many movies but of the ones that I have seen I like Apocalypse Now, The Ghostbusters and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.

last rental you watched …
I can’t remember the last movie I rented though I did watch Groundhog Day on TV recently. Hilarious!

where can you be found on days off …
On off days I can be found in the park playing frisbee, grabbing a burrito or going on a nice long hike in the woods.

what superhero would you be …
I would have to go with Superman – can fly and is pretty much invincible – can’t beat that!

if I am typically craving something it is ….
New York style pizza pie, Hot and Sour soup and a trip somewhere. Combine all 3 and that would be amazing!

what is your most fav photo you have recently taken …
One of my favorite phototgraphs from 2009 was from a wedding I photographed in New York City. After grabbing some group pictures on a dock we happened to stumble upon the red wall, took a couple quick frames and made our way back to the reception site. The thing I love most about this image is the amazing moment between the couple; it is so real, genuine and truly them.

Check out some of his images here:

View more of Kevin’s work at his website below or blog:

New wedding photography website!!!
www.kevintrimmer.com/weddings

Kevin Trimmer Photography
www.kevintrimmer.com
401.261.8723

Photography blog
www.kevintrimmer.com/blog

When I first heard about Mike Larson’s now famous “Camera Toss” I thought he was crazy. I couldn’t get past the fact of throwing my camera in the air and it wasn’t until hearing him speak about it did I really get it. It’s so much more than just a way to get peoples attention, it is something so unique that really makes people remember you and allows his studio to stand apart from the crowd. And if you ever get to listen to Mike speak sometime you will find out his Camera toss is really more than just something to catch people’s attention, its about a unique way to show his passion. It’s not a cheesy gimmick to get peoples attention but something he has fun with. I think we can all apply this concept to our business (and for those of us too scared to throw our cameras or if your like me too clumsy to catch it, just think of other ways you can be yourself with your clients and let your gaurd down) We all have unique ways of approaching our shoots and should embrace our true self. Focus on letting the real you that be what shines in your work. This “you” factor is what will draw clients to you.

Here is some info from Mike about his “Camera Toss” and some awesome photos.

“The first time I attempted a camera toss was during a portrait session in 2006. My initial goal was so that I could get a high angle shot in a tall vineyard that maximized the beautiful background and still got the couple. I was nervous at first, but thrilled with the results! As I experimented, I found that by spinning the camera, the lens stated facing down and would orbit like a satellite up in the air. The first time I did the camera toss at a wedding for a group of groomsmen, everyone became very animated and excited. I learned that this was much more than just a really unique way of capturing people with a cool angle, it was a conversation starter and a great way to break the ice and get people excited! More than a cool photo, it is an experience that they remember and share later and since it was completely revolutionary at weddings, it created a lot of buzz and has never stopped being talked about or requested. Thus by viral marketing, my name has spread and people have heard about “the guy who does a camera toss” among photographers. Since then I have done the photo toss around the world at weddings and on speaking tours and workshops and now I’ve had photographers from all over the world tell me about their clients raving about it, in Singapore, Indonesia, Germany, and many others. My record for the biggest group of people in the camera toss is 283 while I was doing a workshop in Manila in the Philippines. Here in the States, the largest group was Pictage’s company photo this last fall with 110 people. I was the first to do a camera toss in my sphere of the industry, but now photographers around the world are doing it and being first in their circles. I think thats awesome because now people are talking about them and what they do which is what we want as visual artists.

Just get out there and do things that the average photographer is not doing and you’ll stand out and rise to the top. Anybody can do it. The most important thing as a photographer is to have fun which has a contagious effect on your subjects. The more you have fun, the more your clients will have fun!”

Mike Larson Camera Toss from Mike Larson, Inc Studio on Vimeo.