Self-assigned Projects

So I went to a seminar recently, and I will admit I went to get the latest dirt on Photoshop CS4 from the coolest adobe evangelist (IMO), Julieanne Kost. AND it worked... I purchased the upgrade immediately upon my return to the house. The reasons for that are for another post.. but the other person that spoke that evening was Matthew Jordan Smith. I went thinking.. "ah well.. fashion guy.. I guess he'll at least have good images to look at". It turned out to be the surprise of the evening! (No offense Julieanne... you were also great, but I expected that...) I realised that I don't actively search out inspiring people to meet and gain new ways of thinking from. Now pay attention here.. there's people that you gain INFO from... like reading the exif date on a digital image file.. but then there's ways of looking at things, ways of thinking and ways of approaching new hurdles. Matthew shared a few specific points with us, but this one really hit home: "Test like it's work" Meaning do your own personal shooting but don't treat it like your personal work.. treat it like it's your best $10,000 a day client and by doing so you will get yourself closer to getting those clients anf then some. Some of his "test" shots he took with then un-super model Tyra Banks, later sold for big $$ to international publication. They were shot with Tyra, his hair and makeup friends, and himself.. in his LIVING ROOM! (maybe not this exact shot).

You can see that shooting like you mean it is important. This concept had always been a little lost on me because I would always shoot for myself thinking.. it's just for myself so who cares?! Well hopefully you will start to see more of this concept in action here and you can take the ride with me along the winding road of photographic enlightenment (ok, some pun intended) I will touch more on this on my next post which will cover my other new person-to-watch Doug Sonders. (be ready to poop yourself be impressed)
What I'm also trying to say is.. keep your mind open, even to those who you think may not have anything to offer you..(maybe even ME!?!) sometimes you get surprised! Go visit Matthew's site here: mjs-exp.com and see his reading recommendations here on his blog : http://matthewjordansmith.blogspot.com/