The Art of Photography

Last week, my wife and I were in New Orleans for a business/pleasure trip. I had fully intended to find a model to work with while we were in town. I had visions of a cool fashion editorial with NOLA as the backdrop, but with getting the photography business going and everything leading up to our trip, it just didn't happen. So I was "forced" to be a street photographer for the week. My goal was to capture images that would give people a sense of what it was like to be there; an image that would temporarily transport them to the French Quarter and evoke some sort of feeling or emotion. To me, this is the art of photography. 

I managed to get several images that had an impact on me. Of all the photos I created, this is the ONE that I keep coming back to. I actually think it is quite beautiful. Weird? Yeah, maybe so...but I am really drawn to it. This is Bourbon Street in the French Quarter. I would venture to say that more than half of the people on this street are at various stages of intoxication. It is party central. It is a sensory overload. The street is buzzing (literally). You hear music, laughter, yelling, begging, barking...it's a noisy place. You smell food and alcohol and occasionally get a whiff of pot and sometimes vomit (unfortunately). But the street has a personality all of it's own. 

So what is it about this image? Well there is the crowd in living color, coming and going. They are not focussed on us, so there is no focus on them. The focus is on the silver mime. If you stare at him long enough the others really start to fade away. We are just left with this him; the silver mime giving us a resounding F/U. Why do I like this guy so much? Maybe we have all felt that way before. It certainly would sum up my attitude as an angry, rebellious teenager. But, we have all felt this way in certain situations as adults. Maybe we couldn't quite express it this way without getting fired, or starting a fight, or getting arrested. C'mon now...be honest, you have felt this way before. So maybe we are drawn to the silver mime because he is saying it for us. Right there, out in the open, for all the world to see. Of all the people coming and going in this image, he is the only one that sees us and the one thing he wants to say is "F/U"!

It makes me laugh. I hope you can see the humor in it as well. There are more images to come from our trip to NOLA, so stay tuned and follow the blog. 

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One Reason Why They Don't Call You Back

Why aren't your potential job candidates or clients calling you back? In the IT Staffing Industry, candidates and clients alike, get 5, 10, 20 calls/emails/messages or more from Recruiters and Salespeople every week.  For 25 years in the Sales and Recruiting business, my job literally depended on getting them to call me back rather than calling my competition.

It used to be based solely on how effective I was at leaving a compelling message or email that was unique and differentiated me from the rest of the pack. This was my first impression and I needed to make sure it was solid. But as Social Media has become more integrated with business, the "Profile Pic" has become another determining factor in getting a call back.

Think about it. We all form opinions of people from the very first time we see them. It may seem shallow or superficial, but "it is what it is." Maybe it is human nature, but nevertheless, we all do it. Now go back to that client or candidate that is getting bombarded with voice mails/emails. If you are successful in peaking their interest, they are going to "google" you to see if you are legit. What will they see? Have you ever googled yourself? Try it! What does the image(s) say about you? You may be surprised.

The social media standard in Business is LinkedIn. This is where the profile pic plays the most significant role for Recruiting and Sales. Usually, your LinkedIn profile pic is one of the first images someone will see? What does that photo say about you? Does the client or candidate see someone that they could trust with their career or business challenge? If not, will they call you back?

To get a sense of what I am talk about, try searching for the title, "Recruiter," in LinkedIn and scroll through the images to see what you get. Usually, what you will find is one of the following types of photos:

• No Photo - The first thing I think when I see someone with no photo is, "fake profile." There is a very low probability that people will cal you back if you do not have a photo.
• "Facebook" Photo - Some people treat LinkedIn as Facebook and you will see anything from wedding photos, pictures of their kids, flowers, doppelgängers, etc...even the "look how cool I am in my Jeep" pictures. 
• The Selfie - You've seen this before. Sitting in front of the computer or taken with their phone. Either way, it is best to keep selfies on Facebook and Instagram, not LinkedIn.
• The Cropped Photo - This is a group shot, but you crop everyone else out because you like how you look. For example, the photo of you and your buddies at the bar, but you crop them out. There is a hand on your shoulder and your eyes are glazed over because you are drunk, but somehow you think this would make a good profile pic for business. 
• The Mug Shot - This is when someone at work has a camera and tells you to stand against the wall and smile. It is a step up from the others, but not the best representation of YOU.
• The Professional Headshot - This is ideal. Yes, there is a cost associated with it. But, you are investing in yourself. Are you worth investing in? This is your "brand." And a professional headshot photographer can help you achieve the look and image that best represents your brand. 

If you see the value in getting a professional headshot for your career, brand, etc. there are a few suggestions I have when selecting a photographer:

1. View their work. Go to their website to see samples of their Headshot work. Look at their work on other social media platforms and determine if you like what you see. Is the quality of the image what you would want it to be and are they capturing a genuine expression from their clients?
2. Read their testimonials, recommendations, referrals from others that have shot with them. What are they saying about them? 
3. Call or meet with them. It is important to feel comfortable with the photographer. Do they put you at ease and are they able to direct you when you are in front of the camera to capture your unique personality.
4. Budget - look at the average cost for a professional headshot in your area and determine how much you are willing to invest in your personal brand. The old adage is usually true, "you get what you pay for."

So take a good look at your digital image, your personal brand, and be honest with yourself. Based on that image, would you call that person back to talk about your career? If there is any question, consider investing in yourself with a professional headshot. It may make a world of difference in your career. 

My Journey Into Self-Employment as a Full-Time Photographer

Two weeks ago, Friday, April 15th, I took a leap of faith and left the job and industry that I had thrived in for the past 25 years to pursue my passion for photography. So far, it has been liberating and I am so excited to see where this journey takes me. I’d like to invite you to follow me as I share my experiences here in my blog. 

I will share the ups and downs of my photography/life experiences, tips for aspiring photographers and models, opinions, commonsense, nonsense, future plans, and Behind-the-Scenes (BTS) from our photo shoots. My hope is that you will find my posts inspirational, educational, and entertaining. So I figured I would start my first blog off by answering a few common questions that I have been getting.

It's funny how many people have asked me over the past two weeks, "what time are you waking up in the morning, now that you are retired?" Well, there are two answers to that question. 1) I get up at 5:00am, just like I have done over the past several years to start working on my photography. The only difference now is that I don't stop at 6:30am to get ready and go to my "day job." Photography IS now my day job ...and my night job, and everything in between job. 2) I never said I was retiring! I have just made a career change. A big one! In fact, I am certain that I will work harder now than ever before. 

Another question I have been getting is why "JDUB" Photography. Well, Google "John Williams Photography" sometime. That's what I did and I discovered hundreds of Photographers out there that have my name...surprising, right? So I needed a unique brand for my business. I decided to use my nickname, "JDUB" which, by the way, is the abbreviated version of my initials, "J.W." So now Google, "JDUB Photography" and what do you find? ME (I hope). 

That's all for now, but stay tuned for future posts.