(Lengthy) Inquiry for working pros

Hi all - hope everyone is having a great morning! Sorry for the

lengthy inquiry. It is for those who make their living (or most of

it) from nature photography. To get to the question, I think it will

help to explain a little first:

 

I'm preparing for a very long (nearly a year) road trip: S. Florida

to California, up to Seattle, over to Yellowstone, down to New Mexico

and then back over to California again. I'll basically be stopping

everywhere and anywhere in between. The purpose of the trip, aside

from relocation to California, is to paint and photograph and hike. I

will be alone 90% of the time.

 

Changing channels: I have done very little marketing and self-

promotion since my first photos in '99. But since this road trip idea

has evolved, I have slowly convinced myself that I want to

aggressively market both my paintings and photographs when I get

settled, wherever that may be.

 

I've been reading photography forums for five years now and I

understand the work and drive involved in making a go of nature

photography. I'm up to the task and hope to have a lot of quality

images to work with.

 

The question is this, what advice would you give someone about to

embark on this kind of journey, with these kinds of aspirations? I

don't mean location hotspots, but the whole photographic process. For

example, what critical tools should I be sure to have, what mistakes

should I try to avoid, are there certain folks I should be contacting

as I travel, etc. I'll be in some places to which I won't likely

return, and will surely face many once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

Professional correspondance from the road will be impractical at best.

 

Many thanks for your time and any advice you can offer.

 

Gloria

Good grief, I just realized my post sounds like its posed to working pros ONLY. Pardon me I'm a little scattered this morning ... very sorry.

 

Of course I welcome ALL advice.

Either shoot slides or take the high end digital Canon. A 10D or 20D will not cut it. Keep

in mind that E-6 processing is getting very scarce as the shift to digital barrels along.

 

Get wild animal reports wherever you go hiking alone and be fully prepared to defend

yourself against bears and wild cats. Buy DeLorme map books as you go or on Amazon

before you leave and study them as well as all other resources about your planned path.

 

Know what's already in the marketplace, by searching Corbis/Getty/most of the RF sites

and the major nature/travel/landscape agencies that are left before you go. Allow at least

a month of careful searching and note taking to do this.

 

Concentrate on developing a completely unique and distinctive visual style before you go.

 

Determine what your market goal is and find out what it wants and shoot that as well as

what your heart leads to you. Remember that all the time people are what stock agencies

want.

 

Learn everything about being in business before you leave your paying job.

 

Join the Stockphoto list for a couple months - go to yahoo groups for it. Check out

Editorial Photoraphers' web site thoroughly. Register you images as you go along with the

Copyright office.

 

Have about $100K to support you and your business plan before you leave. The more the

better. The first $20K of that will buy the equipment you need to get started.

 

Take a course in Maine or Santa Fe as part of your travels.

 

Get and stay in good physical condition.

 

Get business cards printed and give them out everywhere you go, especially to gallery

owners. Collect all of theirs as well and research their needs as you get to places where

you can get on the web.

 

Keep an extensive and careful journal of your trip.

 

Specialize as soon as you locate a market niche that isn't full already!

 

And, of course, the usual - use a tripod and shoot at the sweet light times.

Thank you Emily, so much, for those little bits of GOLD. Already I'm learning....

 

It may help if I added that I will be using a 4x5 and video. I'll take a little Elan7 too, but the majority of the scenic work will be done with the 4x5 (for which I will have a backup).

A theme perhaps??

 

Remember reading about a person who took portraits of every mayor in every town, village or hamlet he passed. With the interviews that turned into a great photobook.

Gloria, Seek out the less photographed areas It will be easier to sell imagines of places that everyone can't ID instantly.

 

I would make sure if you were going to go all that ways that you don't over look the parts of Nature not best served by a 4X5 the small world and the animal world.

 

It would be kind of silly to be standing in a wildflower filled meadow at 6am with a 4X5 and wide angle watching a pair of Bull Elk battle to the death with no suitable camera. Or to photograph a whole field of tiny flowers without being able to shoot the details of a single flower.

 

Personally I would have in my Kit for the trip yu describe

 

2-3 Identical 35mm bodies (personally I would take Canon T-90's or F-1N's (your shooting nature not sports so Manual focus will do just fine)

 

20mm f2.8

 

24mm f2.0

 

35mm f2.0

 

50mm f1.4

 

90mm f2.5 Tokina Macro

 

80-200mm f4.0L

 

300mm f2.8L

 

400mm f4.5

 

2X-B

 

2X-A

 

1.4-X

 

FD-15 FD-25 FD-50 extension tubes

 

A full set of filters

 

Macro flash setup (based on Lepps Cross Polarized lighting system

 

A good long glass tripod and suitable head.

 

A P&S digital like a G6 or better yet a Pro 1 for all the crap you will see along the way.

I would like to second Emily's point about using people. Editors like people and bright colors, and I'm afraid cliche scenes. You have already achieved great respect on this board for the quality of your pictures and your information. If you are going for publications, you might look at those publications with an eye toward how their selections would be different from what you like to do for yourself and then shoot for both.

Gloria

 

Gain your freedom by securing a few millions and then become the artist that is in you. Whereever the muse takes you, go along and be critical of your work, see what others do, but do your own musings. If you run into a dry spell, do not fret but use up a bit of your cash and know that all artists fall fallow once in a while.

 

But do go out every day and picture stuff. practice even if uninspired and go on working, even if it does not seem fruitful.

Practise your art!

 

Fame will follow you, but maybe only after death.

 

And keep those hands on the 2 million $s that support you.

 

If no 2 million handy, you will just have to do what other artists do: chew all corn cobs twice and feel hunger and do just as above.

 

Finding a clientele/gallery is the death of creativity. Die if you must. of hunger rather than of lack of vision. This is the preferred way to go for an artist without 2 million..

 

Maybe nature photography (with its standard, cliche, deja vue calendar scenes all taken) is not, NOT! the place to be for anyone with artistic talent/aspirations. You decide and see what can be done on this overgrazed field, if you really want to even try ... I doubt anyone can be very successful here. Too narrow a niche. Remember your muse that wants to be free!

 

But if you have no aspirations towards art, by all means, carve at the clientele coal mine, day in, day out, for your share of the nature calendar/book market of dust collectors. With daily un-satisfaction guaranteed. Not everyone wants to work as hard as Salgado on him/herself.

 

I can understand that, but do not like to hear it much from people who are capable of the human growth road, i.e., potential artists as you are. Good luck and do not listen too much to anybody but your own soul. I will shut up then

 

Frank

I applaud your decision to use LF, but be sure to become proficient with

all aspects of it (from using the camera to film management) before you leave.

Also, be sure not to neglect your 35mm system because you have LF. If you are going into business, you will find that the quantity of different images you have is important. It's nearly impossible to achieve the productivity of 35mm with LF. Get a high-end digital camera (11MP+) to complement your LF, rather than your Elan. The productivity of those is considerably better than 35mm (esp. considered that 35mm has to be scanned these days), the image quality is significantly better, and over one year of continuous use, you should easily recoup the costs in film/processing savings. There are many images that you might not feel like wasting film on, but which would be marketable. For example, on a same spot of a trail, you might see a female hiker, a family, an elderly couple, a young man, then a better looking young man, etc.. Would you take a picture of each of them on film ?

There are many fine images that you won't be able to get in 4x5 for a variety of reasons (believe me, I've been using LF for more than a decade) for which you will be glad to have a better capture than 35mm slide. There are many images that you can't get at 100ASA, etc... If my experience is an indication, the only equipment mistake I regret was not to buy a 1Ds three years ago and wait for the 1Ds2.

 

<a href = "http://www.terragalleria.com/">Terra Galleria Photography</a>

Quang-Tuan Luong, I really like your web site a lot. Beautiful photography and an excellent navigation setup. Will bookmark, visit again, and leave some comments. Nice work! (and you've been around! :) -Greg-

I don't think anyone can tell you how to do this. It's tough and treacherous. I can think of drawbacks and pitfalls to every bit of advice offered so far. This journey of yours will require a tremendous investment of time and capital. It seems to me that everyone who succeeds finds a unique path. Life is an adventure and each of us has a destiny. Sieze the day as they say.

 

It sounds like you are headed my way. I'll keep an eye out for a woman with a viewfinder camera. Good luck.

Gloria, I want to wish you the best luck in your journey and the whole project. I think you are very competent and skilled nature photographer. Do you already know what will you do with such images? A book, selling prints? Or this is exactly the question?

 

I believe you could contact a curator for exposing your work after the trip and a publisher for the possibility of a book. I think such journeys become nice books.

 

I had a friend of mine who went biking half the Chile's extension to the south until Terra del Fuego. He had a site on-line with news from their expedition when they were still on the trip, galleries, sponsors and everything. I think it's nice to have that coverage but you pointed that it would be impractical.

 

Well, once again the best luck in the world.

Cant stress enough the importance of some form of database program to store information. I made mine using Filemaker Pro. With a few clicks of buttons I can find my filed images, information about them, who has them, who has used them, how much they paid me for them....and more much much more.

 

Taking the images is one thing, but keeping track of them, where you took them, and even info about how you felt, what the weather was, the names of people you met (maybe photographed), their addresses, releases for use etc can all be stored.

 

It might seem a drudge to set up, but once done it will prove invaluable, and its infinite flexibility makes storing anything (and finding it again) easy.

 

Mine works nicely on a 12 inch Mac laptop, which runs in my van off a voltage inverter (which also charges my camera and flash batteries) and gives me a good mobile office.

 

A book I did recently on remote islands needed lots of info - I set up a special file for this, holding island names, map refs, ferrymen who would take me, phone numbers, expenses for each trip, rolls of film used, mileage, expenses etc etc. I can tell you easily what total miles the job required, and a pile of daily stuff I recorded. Invaluable.

 

Add some good luck and you're on your way!

 

www.john-macpherson-photography.com

Gloria--

 

Jim Brandenburg started as a photographer for a small town in Minnesota. That paid his bills, got his name out there, and kept his photo skills sharp. It was also the way he could work full time in an out state area. This is the kind of creative approach you might consider.

 

Kent in SD

Occasionally people post political statements in this forum. That is a guaranteed way to start flame wars. I would like to remind everybody not to do that. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.

 

Those statements posted here earlier have been deleted.

Wow, lots of positive energy from you folks. Thanks so much!

 

Ake: GREAT idea about a theme. That's going to be a lot of fun to think about. THANK YOU.

 

Mark: That's some bag of tricks. Many thanks for the suggestions. This will be printed and referred to when looking at lenses. I know a guy who said he'd *give* me his 300mm LF lens (!).

 

M. Huber: You are far too kind. Good ideas and, thank you :-)

 

Frank: Thank you for your post and I'm glad you sugar-coated it as usual :) I understand what you're saying and I will give it considerable thought. I appreciate your sharing your insight with me. (Don't put me six feet under just yet, okay?)

 

Quang-Tuan: Thanks for your reply. I don't mean to be argumentative, especially when I asked for your help, but I'm dead-set against digital. I'll have a mini-digital video but I don't want to get involved with the whole digital scene right now. If that hurts my opportunities, I can accept that. And, I agree with Greg, your work is stunning.

 

Marcio: Many thanks for your kind comments. I'm not sure what I want to do with all of them, but I want to do some exhibits, shows and fun things like that. I will be visiting a lot of art galleries.

 

John: I used to design databases for a living so I can get ready for the filing and organization of my files in a jiffy. Thanks very much for that!

 

Kent, as always, thank you :)

 

Sweet dreams everyone, and thanks again!

 

Gloria

Local knowledge can be very valuable. Park rangers can be a great source. If there is a college nearby with a photography department try contacting them. If you have some idea of your schedule you could line up some meetings with folks in advance.

 

David

Gloria, I respect whatever esthetic or emotional reasons you don't want to use digital, and wouldn't argue with you on that. On the other hand, in my opinion, from a business point of view, this is not a smart decision, but apparently you are aware of that.

First - I wouldn't be so public about traveling alone - especially once you're on the road. As a woman by yourself traveling, never mention you are alone and when talking with strangers about going from place to place,speak in "we" whenever possible. This is all for safety because you just never know what freak thing can occur - God forbid.

 

Secondly - if you want to start marketing, try it on the road. If you have a cell number and an e-mail address, start making up cards and brochures for yourself. I try to always have them, because I can't tell you how many times I've handed them out while striking up conversations with lots of folks that you will run into.

 

Keep a pad and pen at the ready for all creative ideas.

 

While you are out and about, stop into galleries and such and see what they are selling and start practicing selling yourself. Practice your self marketing, your personal salesmanship on the road. Smile, shake hands, ask questions, look folks in the eye, talk to them - be engaging. Grab as much info from these folks as possible. Bring a long a small portfolio as a backup - you never know - you might strike up some buisness. You could hand them a promotional piece. A big key to this is branding yourself, practice now, practice always, practice on the road. Don't 'want' to be a pro - be a pro - carry yourself as such - you'll believe it and so will others. Get some of the kinks out now, so when you finally get settled you'll have more than a year on the road and lots of good photo's, you'll also have picked up some business smarts as well.

Wow, you have gotten some great advice. Not to discourage you further, but to succeed commercially as a nature photographer OR as a painter seems a daunting prospect, but to succeed at BOTH at the same time seems exponentially daunting. I wonder if you might concentrate on one or the other during this one-year period? Focus on one, keep the other for a hobby. (Why do I think you won't like this idea?)

I'm not a professional photographer, only a part-time serious one, work gets in the way, but when you get to the Northwest, let folks know what your interests are because many individual and group may be able to help you find good spots. If you drive up the Oregon Coast, there are several excellent guide books on the coast for features, photography, etc (recent one by Barbee). The Washington Coast is totally different to get photographs, too few roads (most of the coast is Tribal, State, or Federal property).

 

I agree with the often photographed idea, all too often visiting photographers to the NP's here just follow the roads and stop at the visitors centers, scenic overlooks or pullouts, shoot and drive on. I see all too many in the summer with only a few days to get "great" photographs. Only a handful of area professional photographers (eg. Pat O'Hara) actually hike into the backcountry to get the rest of the photographs. It is one of my post-retirement plans to produce a photography guide to Mt. Rainier NP (really it hasn't been done specifically on this NP in over 50 years).

 

There are some great photo essay book on the Northwest to get ideas of many not so easy to find areas, just find any good bookstore for the regional photography books (eg. Powells in Portland, Unversity of Washington Bookstore in Seattle).

 

Good luck. Scott.

Here are a few references from photographers on selling their work.

 

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/briots_view.shtml

 

In particular:

 

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/selling.shtml

 

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/selling-questions.shtml

 

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/art-shows.shtml

 

Speaking of selling at art shows, there were threads here not too long ago. Try your luck searching the archive.

 

Dan Heller used to have an article at his site about his experience of getting into the business. It was frank and in detail. But I can't locate it any more. Instead, he is selling books about it!!! Maybe he figured out selling books is more profitable. Or, as they say about any professional, "Those who can't do teach, and those who can't teach write." <g>

 

http://www.danheller.com/bizfaq.html

 

Best of luck.

I can't thank you guys enough. Brian, that sounds like some excellent advice all around. The advice about being professional got me very excited. Thank you so much. And thanks for your concern about my being a woman. I've already decided to use "we" on the road. This is what makes me most nervous about the trip.

 

Gary: There will be places where I will focus more on painting, such as southern Utah and Yellowstone. I can't really say which I will do more during the course of the year. As far as being successful in business at both, I'm no stranger to hard work. I once worked 14-16 hours a day, for eight months straight (took Sundays off). It was nuts but I loved it and was most productive. I taught myself to paint in oil between the hours of 2-6AM over the course of about five months. I can do this :-)

 

Scott, many thanks for the tips on finding locations! Sounds like great advice. I will photograph the icons and pretty stuff for sure, but I also intend to do a lot of hiking, knowing me, in the opposite direction of the crowds. Best of luck to you with the guide!

 

Thanks again folks, you guys are just awesome,

Gloria

I cannot add much to the above except to offer safety tips. "Critical Tools": Many of

your locations may not have a good cellular service, but don't skimp on this as it may

save your life. Get weather savvy when heading into new climates. A couple locations

you may visit are desolate, so pack survival gear. The photographic gear is worthless

when you are stranded or lost. Pilots file flight plans for good reasons. You may want

to notify friends or relatives of your proposed itineraries so that if you fail to report

in, they can start to worry. Some RV parks have digital connections, maybe plan to hit

a few on the way. Vehicle? Motorclub?<p>

FWIW: My niece hiked the Appalachian Trail alone, 1 year, and infrequently called

home. Her folks were frantic most of the time!

Yes, she did have an accident & injuries while alone. Fortunately, a group happened

along and helped her to safety. Later the "dashing young lad" who found her followed

up and about 7 years later they are now married and having adventures up in the

Northwest Territory. True!

Oh man! Why can't that kind of romantic thing happen to me??? What a great story... Thanks Jeff, for the story and the advice.