The Scoop with Sosastone

The Orphan Works Act of 2008

Here is a pre-drafted letter - if you oppose this legislation. 

http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/issues/alert/?alertid=11340136

THE BAD LOCATION fears...

Assignment - Shooting in the WORST location possible. 

Have you ever been on a job and realized - WHAT AM I GOING TO DO, this location is horrible!  I believe 9 times out of 10 - you will get a great shot because you are forced to find the perfect location or angle.  A client inspired this next assignment.  Come up with a shoot (product, person, whatever) and then find the worst location possible (little scouting) and try to make it a great shot.  Or better off - plan the shoot - but not the location.  Drive 5 miles south from your studio or home and where-ever you land - you land. 

BAD LOCATION EXAMPLE: the cliché hallway - shooting in a hallway can be a drag - but look at all the angle's and opportunities that are there for you.  The floor, the walls, the door frames, the reflection on the door knob, the entire hallway.   The goal of this exercise is to break through and use your creativity to make a bad situation GOOD. 
Shoot every possible angle - work the location as much as you can...you never know what might happen.  A WORST CASE scenario - blow the background out - and that might even be the SOLUTION to making it a fabulous shot.  Your bad location might include bad lighting - be prepared to make it work.  It's your job to solve the creative problem and make it a masterpiece.

Back from Ireland

I am back from Ireland.  I have never gone away and been so happy to be back home.  We had a wonderful time, and strangely enough the trip made me appreciate my life more.  I love it when that happens.

So while I was in Ireland I met a very talented painter who has taken a break from painting.  While there, she was asked to paint some new work and submit it for an exhibition.  So while thinking about my next blog, it came to me what I needed do.  Meeting her and hearing how she hasn't painted in a while and seeing how excited she was to get back to painting reminded me of my clients.  We all need a little inspiration or push and we all need a spark to get us on a new creative path.  So I hope with future blogs entries to inspire you to shoot something new.

So Here it goes...I am giving an assignment - if you choose to accept it.  I would LOVE to see any work that you do from these little assignments. 

ASSIGNMENT: Find your most PRIZED possession and shoot it or shoot something that relates to that possession or sets a feeling about that possession - you are an ARTISTS - anything goes.   Be sure to use your STYLE when creating that image. If you are a still life photographer - this is an easy one - shoot the object the way you see it.  If you are a lifestyle photographer, how would that POSSESSION be active in everyday life?  If you are an architectural photographer - how does that object relate to a structure?  If you are an advertising photographer, how would that possession be sold or how would it sell something? 

Think outside the box and be free of the "WHAT IF IT's NOT GOOD" - it might be or it might be GREAT...take a chance.

HAPPY SHOOTING!

A rencet ad I had to share...

This says ad says it all...

The Pink Elephant

Say what? 

That's what I am saying!

We all have something to say about this industry - good and bad.  Being a consultant I get to share my opinions ALL DAY LONG...and I am so thankful for that opportunity.  However when you say something - and I am sure you have all been there before - and someone hears something completely different, it can be quite frustrating.  But at the end of the day you can't control your audiences' filters, you can only be sure to be as clear as you can while trying to communicate clearly (with a few metaphors here and there).  It's no one's fault - it's just our human nature to take in what we do and then it's our choice to retain it and process it to the best of our ability.

So my advice when working with someone who you are paying to hear speak or paying to consult with - or even working with a client...I HIGHLY recommend stopping and making a mental note of their comment/information/direction and clarifying what you THOUGHT you heard...because sometimes what you filtered in and the person's message are not the same.

I was taught by my mentor - to ask the question - even if you are embarrassed...the lesson you will learn could be huge.

If I have ever said anything you questioned - I AM OPENING UP THE DOOR RIGHT NOW - ask me to clarify.  I hope other's will do the same.

Until my next blog - remember - what you hear isn't always what was said and what you say isn't always what someone will hear.  HAPPY COMMUNICATING!

ps. I AM OFF TO IRELAND FOR 2 weeks! 

A few lessons from readers...

Thanks Peter & Debbie...

FROM PETER TAYLOR: www.ptpix.com
2 quotes i picked up from the book Jonathan Livingston Seagull or illusions by Richard Bach, at least I think that is the book, are

"argue for your limitations, and sure enough they are yours"

and

"Every problem has a gift for you in its hands."

I try to keep these in mind when I am having some kind of trouble.

FROM DEBBIE ZIMELMAN: www.debzim.com  
I got this email from you yesterday, and then something happened to me today that fit perfectly with what you wrote here, so i had to share it with you.

For a while i have had the idea to do a photo story on Israelis who fought in the War of Independence, since we are coming up to Israel's 60 th birthday in a few months. I have been walking around thinking to myself how am I going to find people who fought in that war, let alone some that will let me photograph them.

This morning I went mountain biking with an older man from my spinning class. I figured he was about 70. A few months ago he  told me he bikes, and if i ever want to join him i should give him a call. So this morning we went out together and for the first time had a real conversation. It turns out that when he was 14 he helped fight in the war of independence, and has lots of friends who fought as well! And they all go to our gym! I was so surprised to have this person walk into my life and with a bunch of friends who are exactly what i had been dreaming of finding... right under my nose!

What i learned from this is its always important to talk to EVERYONE, you never know what you might find, start by looking close to home. Be open, don't write people off... maybe it wasn't a coincidence that he walked into my life today!  I still can't believe it!

Good with the Bad

First let me say thank you to everyone who sent me lessons.  They were so wonderful to read, and I learned so much.  I will pick a few and place them up.

So where have I been...On Friday my beloved iBook Pro went down...and with help from the Mac Doctor, Inc...it got back up and running for the weekend.  I was working on the Photographer's Survival Guide final manuscript (which will be released in April 09) with over 3 GB's of artwork.  On Sunday my hard drive took it's final spin and went to Computer Heaven (I am still in mourning...bare with me).  I am working on my back up laptop (thank goodness for those)...which reminds me of that cliché saying about lemons.  But it's true.  Today I had someone at the Mac Doctor sit with me for 2 hours and retrieve my manuscript from my hard drive (which was backed up, but became corrupt on my harddrive during a final melt down back up).  I also had a consult today, which was scheduled for weeks.  I had to cancel, and to have my client be so understanding reminded me again how lucky I was today to have such a wonderful support system - as Suzanne says KARMA POLICE.  With 2 hours of waiting to see if files can be retrieved and recreating a ton of work and of course unloading a ton on my co author - Suzanne Sease...I made it to FedEx and met the deadline (YAY).

So to my point...how flexible are you with life?  Are you willing to stop and help someone else?  Has someone else helped you recently while you were in a bind?  We are always focusing on getting that job done...but it's really not about getting the job done...but about the process and who helped you to get there.  I think the more you stop and see what life offers you - it will help you create better imagery and photographic experiences - and a better life in general.

THANK YOU to Suzanne (for just being you), Chris (for hi-res postings), Kat (for amazing content), Ben (aka Dan for recovery time), Mike (for understanding) and to Jedidiah (my husband - who coooked me dinner, did the laundry and went to the grocery store all in one day- what a man) and everyone who bent over backwards to help me today.  The good comes with the bad...you can select which one you focus on. 

One final lesson - Disk Warrior Disk Warrior Disk Warrior.  Need I say more?

ONE WHO GIVES ADVICE, SHOULD SEEK ADVICE and VICE VERSA

I was recently reminded of this lesson.  Sometimes we get in a static role and we need to step away from who we THINK WE ARE and see what else we can offer.  So today I am stopping and listening.  I want to hear what my blog readers have to say.  Tell me something that you know, educate me with something I may not know or something you think the readers should be reminded of.  Tell me a positive story that could inspire either me or a reader.   I believe you have something good to share that should be heard and I am ready.  Any and all things are acceptable and valid (i.e. new websites, tech tips, a new book, a job you were just awarded and why it was so successful, your "AH HA" moment...the skies the limit).

email me at: amanda@sosastone.com
please note your email subject as: lesson
please also note if you would prefer not to have your lesson shared with the group.  All lessons not pre-noted will be shared in my next blog.

Thanks in advance for sharing...

BRANDING

I can't stress the importance of consistent branding.  If you have a specific type treatment or logo, I highly recommend using that same type treatment on all promotional materials (i.e. promotions, portfolio shell and case, website, etc...). 

If it's time to rebrand or refresh your look, I highly recommend working with a designer.  I work closely with 2 designers:
Tamera Haney: tamera@hotheadcreative.biz
Nadine Stellavato Brown: nadine@chemistry-design.com - Brand Envy - http://www.brand-envy.com/

It's still not too late to take advantage of the NEW YEAR.

CONCEPT RULES

This past weekend I was surrounded by some of our industry's most creative minds, while judging an Addy competition.  While in debate over many submissions the conversation of  production value came up (for those that know me...it's one of my favorite topics).  My background is to look at a concept and a straight image and make sure it is executed accurately (meaning the production value is right on) - regardless of budget.  In this instance we had to take many factors into consideration.  With this came the definitive answer from the group "CONCEPT RULES".  I of course did not say this...as I am from the mind set that production makes the concept rule.  So my take away from this is while I know production is VERY IMPORTANT, in the mindset of a creative director, art director or a very open art buyer - CONCEPT does RULE.  A good image could be a good image (which I experienced this weekend) but if the concept is not there...it gets lost very easily.  Remember:  You are speaking to creative people who are constantly on the search for an amazing award winning concept and you have to be that person/photographer who can execute it (and hopefully understand it).

The mention of CA (communication arts) was also used often and was used a a grading scale. As I mentioned last week, the CA contest is coming up and it was another reminder for me to tell you again- how important CA is to the creative minds that you want to hire you. 

So CONCEPT RULES...what does that mean to you?  Does your portfolio or website show your CONCEPT VALUE (a new term I am going to use)?  Can you execute and understand a good concept? 

Food for thought...