Girish is a India based photographer. He is a self-taught professional photographer who loves to travel the world and shoot all the genres of photography. He is a full time IT Consultant and part time professional cameraman on the weekends.

Currently, he is working as a SAP Technical consultant with Accenture India and alongside nurtures his passion for photography by taking up photography assignments for photographing people, editorials, industrial projects and commercial work.

In this interview, Girish talks about his passion and personal life as a photographer.

Tell us something about yourself.

My name is Girish and I’m a self taught photographer who loves to travel the world. Pune is what I call home. I love shooting everything. For me, it’s about happiness, hope, love, pain, life, style, and real. I’m friendly and warm. I started photography a short while ago, I’m self taught. I have a strong bond with my style and fight fiercely to keep it and perfect it. I shoot people and emotion. I shoot weddings and love. I shoot buildings and lines. I shoot industrial projects and commercial work. I do editorials. I shoot fashion and nightlife. I shoot the world the way I see it when I travel. I am, A PHOTOGRAPHER, and I don’t desire to be called a certain kind of photographer.

Where are you based?

I am based in Pune and I operate in Pune and Mumbai (India).

You started as an IT professional and worked with some big names in the IT industry. How did you transition to photography?

I am working as a SAP Technical consultant with Accenture India. My photography journey started during my college days when I used to trek and keep traveling. I used a point and shoot camera to do photography back then. My hobby later turned into a profession lately in 2007 when I purchased a Nikon DSLR. Since then I have never stopped clicking.

How would you describe your photographic style and how it has developed over the years?

I don’t have any particular photographic style. I shoot everything — right from landscapes, insects, macros to portraits, festivals, weddings etc. And for me everyday is a new learning.

What was your first camera, and what equipment do you shoot with these days?

My first camera was Olympus C760 (point and shoot), which I still own. Then I used a Nikon D60. Currently I use Nikon D7000 and a couple of lenses like Nikkor 18-55mm, Nikkor 50mm f/1.8, Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8, Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR1, Nikkor 70-300mm MF lens, Nikkor Teleconvertor 2.0x, Raynox DCR-150 & 250 (macro adapters) & some lights.

At what point did you realize that you should take up photography assignments?

In 2008, one of my photographs was shortlisted by Late Mr. Gautam Rajyadhaksha for the Sakal Reflections Exhibition and this is how I got inspired to take it up professionally.

Tell us about your first break as a commercial photographer (who was your first client and how did you get your first assignment).

My first commercial assignment was a folio shoot for two of my office colleagues who had been trying to get into modelling. My clients approached me after looking at my work on my Flickr & Facebook galleries.

Generally how do you get photography assignments?

Normally I get most of my assignments through my Facebook page (URL: https://www.facebook.com/GirishS.Photography).

What has been the biggest challenge with the commercial side of photography?

The biggest challenge what I see in commercial photography is convincing the client. There is so much of competition that the client wants the work be done in low budget.

What kind of marketing do you do for promoting your photography?

I am very weak at marketing. I normally promote my photography through my Facebook page, Flickr pro account & 500px plus account.

What has changed in the time you have been shooting commercial work? For better and worse?

I don’t think anything has changed. Only the expectations of the clients have changed.

What kind of investment and revenue generation is there in the field of commercial photography?

Equipment is the big investment that one has to put in for commercial photography. Second is the softwares and tools that you use for post processing.

You are working almost all genres like people, landscapes, macros, etc. Which is your favorite genre and why?

My personal passion is for portraits.

I’m very inspired by your it photography. For somebody wanting to get into this area of photography what are your suggestions?

Getting into portraits is easy and at the same time it is difficult. You need to do your homework very well and understand your subject.

What are you thoughts about getting a formal education in photography? Would you recommend against it?

Photography cannot be learned. It is an art that someone carries within. Formal education will not help in any way.

If you could go on assignment anywhere in the world to shoot whatever you wanted; where and what would it be, and why?

India of course. All around India, to experience various cultures and visit heritage sites. You won’t find so many variations and so many things in any other country else than India.

Before you start a commercial shoot, how do you prepare yourself?

Before any commercial assignment, I sit with my team and the model and understand what is the requirement of the assignment and how we gonna execute it. This way the model is also comfortable during the shoot.

Where do you look at yourself 5 years from now.

Traveling around with my camera, shooting for calendars, fashion events, models.

Who is your inspiration?

There are various people who have been my inspiration like Andrea Klarin, Richard Warren, Sue Bryce, Tarun Khiwal, Atul Kasbekar, Nicolaas De Bruin, Ashok Salian & Prabhuda Dasgupta.

A website or blog you visit often.

Flickr.com, 500px.com are the sites that I visit everyday.

What other hobbies do you pursue other than photography?

I love to travel, trek & listen music.

What type of camera, lenses and lighting equipment do you use?

Nikon D60 for a standby, Nikon D7000 and couple of lenses like Nikkor 18-55mm, Nikkor 50mm f/1.8, Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8, Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR1 , Nikkor 70-300mm MF lens, Nikkor Teleconvertor 2.0x, Raynox DCR-150 & 250 (macro adapters) & some lights.

What has been the most exciting photography assignment.

The ones which I decide within seconds and shoot have been the most exciting ones. One of them is a folio shoot done for a model called Roshani Jain; album name Krasivaya (you can find it on my facebook page). I called up Roshani early morning and went on a drive and shot with whatever clothes she was carrying.

Another one is a recent shoot with Isha Phatak, which was again planned at the last minute. (You can check the pictures on my Facebook Page, album name — Just Clicks)

Does the camera and equipment really matters or is it the artistic side of photography that weighs more?

Obviously, the artistic side.

What’s the best part of being a photographer?

The best part of being a fashion photographer is that the women listen to the photographer. (Laughs ..) I just feel like an ordinary guy when I am with my camera.

Can you present one / two favorite images of yours? What do you like about them?

The following two images are my favorite shots. The first one is my favorite for the obvious reason that this image was shortlisted by Mr Gautam Rajyadhaksha and was displayed in the exhibition.

The second one is special to me because when I planned the Rajasthan Trip, I had already visualized this frame in my mind. And after waiting for a long time, the right time did come and I got what I wanted. It was like a dream come true.

What your post-processing workflow is like? Which editing tool do you find yourself using the most?

I normally process my images in Lightroom 4. I mostly do light corrections. Other tool is Photoshop and Portraiture & Exposure is what I use sometimes for the extra effects.

What has been the happiest moment in your photography life?

The happiest moments in my photography life are when my photographs are sold and printed as cover pages of books.

What advice do you have for photography enthusiasts who want to go professional and take it as a full time job?

It’s a tough path. One should be willing to do their homework everyday and work hard. Decide what you want to click and learn from your bad photos.

How can our readers connect with you?

They can connect with me through my Facebook page here: GirishS.Photography. Or can drop me a mail at: girish.suryawanshi@gmail.com.

With thanks to Girish Suryawanshi for taking the time for this interview.

Crash Taylor is a Nottingham based Wedding Photographer. His unique style of capturing the moments has brought him several laurels and recognitions. He was voted as one of the top 10 UK’s winter wedding photographers by Professional Photography Magazine in 2009. He took to photography as a passion and is actively engaged in bringing a difference with his photographs. And guess what, he loves to interview other wedding photographers as a part of inspiration for becoming a better photographer. Recently we had an opportunity to interview him and know more about his secrets — how he started with photography and how he excels at what he does. Let’s check out the tricks of the trade of one of the finest wedding photographers here.

So why photography and why wedding photography?

Photography and film-making is my passion. I love being able to create and now being able to shoot stills and motion with the same camera is awesome!

Can you please describe your style?

I get asked this all the time and I just shoot what I visualize in my head. I guess what’s going on in my head is my style.

What kind of a qualification background did you need to be where you are now?

I have a business and criminology background but I have always carried a camera with me.

What is the best part of being a wedding photographer?

The best part of being a wedding photographer is the money! Just kidding, what I enjoy most is telling the story of the day through my images.

What kind of equipment (body/lens/lights) do you carry on a wedding shoot?

Very basic equipment. Two Canon 5D Mark II’s, a Canon 70-200mm 2.8 L IS, a Canon 16-35mm 2.8 L II, 4 speedlites, a lot of reflectors and a video light.

What kind of challenges did you come across while honing your skills, getting initial projects and establishing your career?

I haven’t had any challenges as of today. I believe having a business and marketing background helps. Pressing the shutter button is something we don’t do often enough.

Please tell us about your most exciting assignment.

I have had a few assignments in Spain and France which were beautiful.

Recently I got to photograph a marriage in the family (I’m not a pro). I shot a few thousand photographs (of which a majority were not keepers). While every photograph cannot be a keeper, I feel guilty of my success rate. What would you say about shooting at a frame-rate like that? It seems to be warranted by the kind of results required.

I get very hyper when I’m shooting so I do take a lot of photos. I make sure I get the safe shot and another one to be safe :-) and then I play. I start climbing trees, rolling around on the grass, jumping in swimming pools, lakes, seas whatever it takes to get something different.

How do you work with backlit scenes? Do you use artificial light?

I prefer to overexpose the background so my subject is metered properly. I love dreamy overexposed backgrounds. Natural light rocks.

From a beginner’s perspective, there are so many sliders, controls, effects available in a post-processing software. What makes a wedding photograph different from a portrait? What do you aim for during post-processing and how do you achieve it?

First of all, you need to know your camera inside and out. Period! Post production is all about making an already awesome image into something more visually awesome! Don’t forget that. Some wedding photographs are portraits but that is where it stops. A wedding photographer has to be able to capture moments, if he/she doesn’t they are out of business tomorrow.

Sometimes things do not work out as planned. Has it happened it to you? Please share your tips to be prepared just for times like these.

Things usually never go as planned. If you are a true professional image-maker, you will make beautiful visuals for your clients no matter what arises.

Tell us how can aspiring photographer get started with wedding photography. Also, how do they pitch their services when they are still struggling to build a portfolio?

I definitely believe in assisting someone first. I assisted a brilliant wedding photographer in Spain for a year, which prepared me for the solo game. Pitching your services when you don’t have a good portfolio is hard. You just have to keep shooting until you are proud of it.

What are some of the books you recommend?

I’m an avid photography book collector and some I can recommend for people starting out is:
Scott Kelby’s Digital Photography Boxed Set: v. 1, 2 & 3
Books are very personal to each photographer. I do however recommend you read a good photography magazine each month to keep up with the scene.

How do you market your services? What role does a website play in promoting your business and making it accessible around the world?

My website and blogs are my shop window. They better be good because there is a lot of talent out there. Constantly experiment and work your ass off and things will happen.

Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?

I see myself racing cars with my son. I see good things!

What is that one thing you’d want to change about your photography?

Absolutely nothing, it’s my adventure. When I press the shutter it’s for me.

Which software do you use and recommend?

I use Lightroom and Photoshop but there is a lot of good software out there.

Any set of actions or presets that you use frequently or cannot live without?

I love Nik, Yervant actions, Jeff Ascough Actions, Marcus Bell Actions, Red Leaf Actions, Totally Rad Actions. I have them all but most of the time a curves layer adjustment is all you need.

Can you please describe your photography workflow for our readers?

Photography workflow is Lightroom only and maybe I will take a few into Photoshop for my personal enjoyment.

Please tell us about other photographers whose work you admire.

Helmut, Bailey, Rankin, Albert Watson, Robert Frank, Stephen Shore, Eggleston, Bruce Davidson and so many others.

What do you do when you are not photographing?

Playing with my son and cleaning my M3.

How can our readers contact you?

You can visit Crash Taylor’s website and blog to get in touch with Crash Taylor.

Here are some of the other photographs from Crash.

Brian Smith is an American photographer best known for his celebrity portrait photography. He started off as a sports photographer, took to journalism and then he quickly made his way to be a world renowned celebrity photographer. Anna Hathway, Tony Bennett, David Hyde Pierce, Richard Branson are just the few names Brian has worked with. At the age of 25 he won the Pulitzer Prize for his photographs of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games and later in 1988 his photograph of Greg Louganis brought him laurels – it won first prize in the Sports category of the World Press Photo and was featured in Photo District News as a memorable sports photograph. He’s been a part of Pictures of the Year competitions and today at APN we have got a wonderful opportunity to know more about him; as a photographer and as a person.

How did you get started with photography?

My break into the business came shooting for the local newspaper when I was in high school. I was on the high school swim team and I started taking a camera with me and shooting the races. The sports editor at the local newspaper had to shoot his own photos, so at one of the meets I worked up the nerve to show him the photos I had shot the week before and he hired me on the spot.

You won a Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. What was that one thing that made your photographs stand out?

Standing out is actually a great way to put it. I was part of a three-photographer team covering the Olympics for The Orange County Register, while our competition locked up the newspaper pool rights for the games and the 28 credentials that came with that. So there was really no way the three of us could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with all of them in all the places they’d be. It’s one of those classic David -vs- Golliath situations where it’s so much more fun to be David. While they had to be in all the expected positions like the finish line – we couldn’t possibly be in all those places which left us free to do what we did best – improvise. Simply pick the spots your gut told you might pay off or shoot with a risky lens like a 300/f2 when everyone else is playing it safe with a 135 – or climbing to the very top row of the grand stands for a shot that literally anyone with a ticket could have shot. Call it swinging for the fences. Call it high-risk, high-reward – but when it pays off it pays off BIG. There is a lot to be said for standing away from the pack…

Gymnast Tim Daggett

What are the ingredients for success with photography?

Work harder. Think more. Love life.
Getting better a better shot than the next guy quite often simply comes down to working harder. Do your prep, scout, study what you’re shooting. Think – don’t just shoot away. Pay attention to what you’re doing and try to anticipate what is about to happen or what elements you can bring together for the best shot. Finally enjoy what you’re doing. If you’re not having a great time most of the time you have a camera in your hand you’re missing out. It’s amazing how much better your pictures will be when you have fun.

How would you describe your photographic style and how it has developed over the years?

My style isn’t based on a certain look – in fact I usually create a different look for each project. Hopefully the one thing that ties my work together is that I try to reveal some side of the subject that you may not have seen or an element of the unexpected. It’s tough coming up with something totally new when shooting a celebrity who’s been photographed hundreds of times, but it’s amazing what even a small unexpected twist will do to make the process a bit more enjoyable for them.

Who is your all-time favorite celebrity to work with?

Wow, that is a tough question. Different shoots have been memorable for some many different reasons – so I never try to rank them – just to enjoy each for what it was. That said…Anne Hathaway and Richard Branson would be at the top of any list I would put together. It’s really tough to top Anne Hathaway’s eyes. Anne is absolutely lovely in every way, but man those eyes are simply incredible. Branson would take home the trophy for Most Cooperative for putting on a spacesuit and getting in a boat at 5am Christmas Eve morning so that we could photograph him on a sandbar just off his private Caribbean Island for Time Magazine. There are so many others I really should list that they belong in a book which is why I decided to put them all together in “Secrets of Great Portrait Photography: Photographs of the Famous and Infamous” coming this fall from New Riders.

Actress Anne Hathaway

You are famous for sports as well as celebrity photography. One requires you to act quickly and the other goes with proper lights and poses. How do you excel in both the fields?

It’s different in the sense that when shooting portraits, you’re more of a director than an observer, yet it’s similar in the sense that many of the things that make you a good sports photographer like the ability to anticipate and react to what’s about to unfold also makes you a better portrait photographer. The key is to recognize the differences and similarities and figure out how one skill set can help you in another situation.

What do you love to photograph the most; breathtaking action or posed portraits?

The term “breathtaking action” kind of stacks the deck a bit – what I will say is that the best days of each are really hard to beat. I started out shooting action but made the transition to portraiture when I found that what I really loved were the times I got to spend time one-on-one with an athlete getting a chance to dig a bit below the surface and connect with what makes them tick. It’s pretty hard to make that commotion when you’re shooting them with a 600mm lens.

1098 Olympic Backstroke Start

What is your favorite studio set-up?

Get the key light positioned first and fill only if needed. Getting the key light right is really… pardon the expression… the key. That’s always where I start and where some people go wrong with filling bad light instead of moving or aiming the light where it looks best and sometimes this comes down to just a few inches or a few degrees. When you’ve got the key right and you still want to open the shadow – then is the time to fill. Same can be said for kickers and accent lights. Light with a purpose – have a reason for every light you use.

A quick one here: Natural Available Light or Studio Lighting?

Most of what I shoot is blending artificial light with ambient on location. Some people refer to strobe or HMI as studio lighting, but since I normally use them on location I prefer the term artificial light. I don’t have the luxury of unlimited time on many of my shoots – so I can very rarely wait for the light to get good. I learned to control light very early in my newspaper career. It’s amazing how quickly you figure that out when you have to shoot portraits outdoors on color transparency at high noon – it’s kind of like getting thrown into the deep end of the pool. You learn to swim real quickly or you drown. Since moving on to magazines and advertising, my lights have gotten bigger, but the principles are the same.

Richard Branson

Pre-planning, fixing appointments, make-up, etc, it really takes a lot to shoot celebrities. And what about post-processing?

Most of the time involved in a celebrity shoot is spent before or after. If you do your prep right, the shoot itself can be a breeze. Then you exhale a bit and you’re back to work in post. I prefer to do my own post-processing. Not because there aren’t people you can hire who can do it well, there are, but to me post isn’t an after-thought, it’s a vital part of the creative process.

Do you post-process your images heavily or use it for subtle touch-ups?

When it comes to retouching, I have a pretty light hand. I like to liken good retouching to giving your subject a pixel spa visit. You want them to look like they just came from a two week spa visit. If they look like they just came from Michael Jackson’s plastic surgeon – you went too far!

Can you give our readers some advise how they can improve their skills to take photos?

Learn to be comfortable working and relating to the people you photograph. If you’re not comfortable interacting with the people you photograph, you can get better at it by simply assigning yourself to go out and photograph portraits of strangers. Introducing yourself, explaining why you’d like to photograph them, putting them at ease and finding a way to capture their personality of a stranger you meet on the street is pretty much the same process I go through every time I photograph a celebrity for the first time.

How can our readers contact you in case of queries?

Well, they can follow me on Twitter or see work on my website Brian Smith Pictures. They can also connect with me on Facebook.

Nudist Golf Photographer For Sports Illustrated

With thanks to Brian for taking the time for this interview.

Jim Jordan is one of the renowned celebrity photographer. Jim started his career as a make-up & hair artist and eventually picked up photography as passion. His passion for photography served him well with an opportunity to shoot for J Crew. This opportunity paved way for Jim to take up editorial / fashion / celebrity photography as a serious profession. The quality of his work and client’s satisfaction added to his fame and today his name is associated with leading fashion magazines like Vogue and Elle. We got a chance to interview Jim Jordan and know him as a successful photographer. In this interview, Jim speaks of his passion for photography, interesting aspects of being a fashion photographer and his aspirations for helping everyone interested in taking up photography as  a career.
Tell us a little bit about yourself?
I was born and raised in Southern California. I love to surf, skateboard and swim. I have had a passion for beauty for as long as I can remember and have traveled the world not only as a photographer, but as a hair and makeup artist as well.
How did you get started with photography?
I have always loved making things beautiful. When I was in the 9th grade, I had a girlfriend who was discovered by a man to become a model. This man signed her with modeling agencies around the world and sent her to Europe to pursue a modeling career. The whole process fascinated me. I thought this man had the coolest job in the world and started learning about model scouting. For fun, I began skateboarding around LA looking for potential models that I could make over and send in to meet agencies. At that time, I had a neighbor who was a photographer and I would bring my prospective models to his house so he could photograph them for me. After discovering tons of great models and sending them to different agencies, several of the modeling agencies contacted me and told me that I had a great eye and offered me a commission on the models that I sent to them. After doing this for a while, my neighbor who photographed my models for me decided to purchase a new camera and gave me the camera he had been using to photograph my models. I began taking photos of the models I discovered and made over, and saved the images in a black box that I hid away from the world.
I ended up dropping out of high school and jumped on a plane to Europe, hoping to start my career in the fashion industry doing hair and makeup. I connected with some great people and began traveling as a celebrity hair and makeup artist, working with the biggest actors, supermodels and photographers in the world. I did hair and makeup for Cindy Crawford, Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, Farrah Fawcett, to name a few and worked with photographers such as Herb Ritts, Douglas Kirkland, Peter Lindbergh, Steve Meisel, Patrick Demarchelier, etc. These photographers really inspired me, and I continued shooting models I found and kept hiding the images away in my black box.
How did you come to take up photography as a career?
One day, I was on the set doing hair for one of my clients named Emily, who was the owner of J Crew. She told me that she heard her models talking about how I was an amazing photographer, and told me that she wanted to see some of my images. I was really uneasy about showing anyone my images because I was afraid of being judged or criticized, but I somehow gained the courage to show her the photos in my black box. She ended up loving them and told me she wanted me to start shooting for J Crew. And that is when my passion for photography turned into my career.
What was your first big break?
Once I was given the opportunity to shoot for J Crew and put myself out there as a photographer, more big jobs kept coming my way. Shortly after I started shooting for J Crew, I got an agent and began shooting for Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, Warner Brothers, American Express, BMW, Macy’s, Brooks Brothers, and several other clients.
What is it you like the most about being a photographer?
Honestly, I love it all. From the amazing people I get to work with, to my sponsors, to the beautiful locations I get to travel to and from, photography is my passion and I enjoy every aspect of it.
What do you feel is the most challenging thing about photographing celebrities?
The most challenging aspect of photographing celebrities is probably dealing with schedule changes. It is pretty typical for celebrities to have to reschedule photo shoots at the last minute. This can be a lot of trouble if it is a highly produced shoot with a lot of people involved.
Shooting celebrities can also be really fast paced. I go into my celebrity shoots knowing that I will not have much time with them, so I prepare a storyboard of concepts I would like to capture and then shoot as quickly as I can.
How would you describe your photographic style and how it has developed over the years?
I often test out new concepts, but my style has always been very clean, airy and bright.
What were some real turning points in your career?
Aside from the turning points I mentioned, such as quitting high school and moving to Europe, then moving back to NY and connecting with the owner of J Crew, my only other real turning points have been new connections and friends I have made along the way.

What work of yours are you most proud of?
I take pride in all of my work. I probably take the most pride in my work as a director, though. I love shooting movements and telling stories through motion film.
What kind of equipment do you prefer to use and why?
Having the best and most reliable equipment is really important to me. In terms of cameras, I prefer to use Canon and Hasselblad. I also like to use Phase One camera backs when I am trying to get really crisp and clear shots. For lighting, I like to use California Sunbounce and Broncolor equipment. I also like to use Profoto lights in studio with my Pocket Wizard transceivers. I use my reliable, high-speed Lexar memory cards to capture my images and download them with my Lexar card readers. I am always sure to bring a portable Drobo backup system on set with me and fill it with my incredibly reliable 3TB Seagate hard drives, to ensure I do not run out of room. I use Wacom Intuos4 tablets to sort and edit my images and I carry all of my equipment around in my durable Tamrac camera bags.
What motivates you, or gets you going? What do you use for inspiration?
I love having music on the set with me. It brings energy, sets the tone and really gets me in a good place to shoot. I also get a lot of motivation from my team who always stands behind my vision.
Are there any downsides to being a commercial photographer?
I absolutely love working as a commercial photographer and am yet to find a downside.
What programs/software do you use for editing and conversions?
I use Media Pro by Phase One to keep all of my images organized in catalogs and to sort through all of them. I mainly use Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator for editing. I upload all of my images to my LiveBooks Scaler website, which fits my images to every viewer’s screen, regardless of the size of the monitor.

What are the ingredients for success with photography, especially as an editorial photographer?
Believing in yourself and in your work is the number one ingredient for success. Being organized in your business is also very important. I use software called Daylite by Marketcircle to stay organized. I maintain over 10,000 contacts using this database and can customize it to fit my exact needs. Many of the contacts I enter into my database are potential client contacts that I find by using an incredible online database called Adbase by Agency Access. Adbase has the contact information for art buyers, art directors, creative directors and more for some of the biggest companies and advertising agencies. As an editorial photographer, I use Adbase to get in touch with the correct contacts for the different magazines I shoot for.
It seems that you love to travel a lot. What is your favorite location for on-site photography?
I love shooting in Hawaii and St. Barts in the Caribbean. I also enjoy shooting on the different islands in Thailand.
Can you give our readers some advice how they can improve their skills to take photos?
The best advice I can give to any aspiring photographer is to believe in yourself! Do not listen to the voices in your head telling you that you are not good enough and embrace your god-given potential so that you can truly discover yourself as a photographer.
What else do you do other than photography?
I am currently in the process of building an online photography school. The idea behind the school is to help the people who want to learn about the business of photography but do not have funds to attend photography schools / institutes such as Brooks Institute, etc. I am also running my own production company called White Cross Productions as well as a model management company where I scout, manage and work as an agent to many models and actors.
Other than engaging myself in photography, I do a lot of charity and volunteer work for organizations such as The Dream Center, Homeless Karaoke, PETA, etc.

How can our readers contact you in case of queries?
Well, you can be in touch with me on Twitter and my website is Jim Jordan Photography. You can also connect with me on Facebook and ModelMayhem.com.
Thanks so much for taking the time for this interview.
Thanks for asking me.

Scott MacQuarrie is an award-wining photojournalist and shoots events, editorial stuff, stock photos and commercial work for clients worldwide. He has been awarded CPP (Certified Professional Photographer) from the PPA. We got a chance to interview Scott over the weekend. In this interview, Scott speaks about his career as a photographer and shares his thoughts on photography as an art, science and also as a profession / business.

Tell us a little bit about yourself?
Hmmm, well as is often the case with me, the easy question has a complicated answer.I am 46 years old, based in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. I primarily shoot Editorial, Stock and commercial photography. I don’t really shoot portrait or weddings, but I may expand my business in that direction. I shot a wedding for the first time last year and it was much more enjoyable than I expected; it felt just like event photography.

I am a member of a variety of organizations. I am a member of the PPA (Professional Photographers of America), the PPOC (Professional Photographers of Canada), ASMP (American Society of Media Photographers), EP (Editorial Photographers), EP Canada, and EP UK. I am also a member of the Canadian Association of Journalists.

I was awarded a CPP (Certified Professional Photographer) from the PPA in 2008 and made a General Member of the ASMP in 2010. Several of my photographs have won national awards in Canada, but I have not entered a lot of competitions. I plan on entering some this year, as a part of an ongoing marketing strategy.

How long have you been a photographer?
As a professional, about 6 years. I’ve been involved with photography on and off since being a teenager, but strangely didn’t get serious about photography until the rise of digital cameras. I got involved with journalism and started writing articles for magazines, which is how I joined the Canadian Association of Journalists. I had a client asking me to support the articles with photos and I found I preferred to take pictures over writing articles. I still occasionally write article, but most of my writing is just on my blog now.

Did you go to school to study photography? Where?
I’m self taught, although I constantly attend seminars, workshops, and other training opportunities. I also have a large collection of books and training DVDs from a variety of photographers. One of the things I love about photography is that the learning process never ends and there are always several different ways of doing anything in photography.One of the reasons I consider professional membership so important to a professional photographer is the expanded training opportunities. It’s important to refine and expand your skill sets. It’s critical to understand the best practices in this business.

How would you describe your style?
Well, I shoot in a photo-journalistic style. Although I do take up post-production work, I try to keep my work in line with experience. In effect, to remain “truthful” and accurate to what happened. I know this opens up a whole debate about truth in photography, but I think it starts with the intent.I feel that at some point with post-production, the photograph ceases to be a photograph. It becomes a photo illustration. Although it’s still art and it’s still impressive and worthwhile, it’s no longer a photograph. It’s a photo illustration or at least an art of another form. I am impressed with a lot of the photo illustration work I see, but my own work doesn’t go there. I have a running argument with photo competitions that do not separate the photo illustrations from the photographs. They are different skill sets and deserve to be judged separately.

What type of cameras/lens do you shoot with?
I am a Canon shooter for my professional work. I shoot with full frame Canon bodies, 5D and 1DS, with a variety of lens from 14mm to 300mm. I think I have too many lenses, but have several more to buy. A mental conflict most photographers can understand.

I also have a collection of compact cameras and the ever present iPhone 4. I think Chase Jarvis is right and the best camera is the one that’s with you. I have a camera with me at all times.

If you had to choose one lens/and a camera which one would it be and why?
Hmmm, not sure if this is a reasonable question. I can shoot with any camera or any lens, as I create the photograph, not the camera. This is like asking if I would be prepared to give up some types of photography or compositions options. If I only have my iPhone with me, I shoot with that. In fact, I often just compose photographs in my head when I am traveling somewhere. In other words, I don’t need the camera to create photographs, its needed just to show them to other people.

“I can shoot with any camera or any lens, as I create the photograph, not the camera. This is like asking if I would be prepared to give up some types of photography or compositions options. If I only have my iPhone with me, I shoot with that. In fact, I often just compose photographs in my head when I am traveling somewhere. In other words, I don’t need the camera to create photographs, its needed just to show them to other people.”

Although I like Canon and I like that they make all of their own equipment (unlike some manufacturers). I’m always exploring new ways of capturing work. In fact, I’ve been considering Leica rangefinders and medium format for some time. If the stars and finances align, I may explore working with them as well.I think we, as photographers, fall into a trap regarding equipment. There are so many options out there and so much new technology out there that we get seduced and convinced that the latest camera, lens, or lighting will somehow transform our work. It’s fueled by the manufacturers and marketing, but it’s a false road. Sure, equipment can support further creative options and it’s a necessary part of the business, but it’s the photograph in your head that matters. If you can’t see photographically and compose photographically, it doesn’t matter what equipment you use. In the end, it’s your vision that matters and all the rest is just stuff to help you share it.

What is your tool of choice when it comes to post-processing (and library/catalog management)? Any favorite plugins?
Although I have Photoshop and pay the Photoshop upgrade tax when it’s due, it is no longer as critical to my work as Lightroom. I use Abode Lightroom for over 90% of my post production work and find myself using Photoshop less and less.I am at the point where I could probably function without Photoshop, but not without Lightroom. I have been a Lightroom user since version 1.1 and it’s now critical to my business. My laptop is setup to take over if my desktop fails, both of which have Lightroom installed and ready to go. Having Lightroom is almost as critical as having a camera.

Can you present one/two favorite images of yours? What do you like about them? (Share the story behind them?)
Well, my favorite image is the one I am about to take, so it’s hard to share that. In fact, I think it’s my job to try. Nonetheless, I have a couple of them which I like.First, is the Barber shot, which was just accepted into the PPOC National Salon (A national contest for PPOC members). This was shot in the Eastern State Penitentiary, which is now a historical site. This is an impressive and forbidding building that was once one of the toughest prisons in the country until it closed in the 70s. I loved shooting there and have sold work from that shoot for everything from advertising to the newsletter of the AARP.

The second is from a wedding I shot last year. I planned where I wanted to shoot the bride after the ceremony in the hopes of capturing some great light outdoors. I managed at the end of the shoot to pull off Rembrandt lighting with just available light. There is no flash or reflectors in this shot at all, just myself, the bride, my camera, and sunlight. This shot has convinced me to explore more portrait and wedding photography.

I’ve always avoided wedding photography, but also tried to follow the advice of shooting what you are not comfortable shooting. In this case, it’s taking my work down a whole new area.

Who’s your idol?
I have no idols really, but I respect the work of quite a few photographers. I’m impressed with Magnum photographers in general, but Robert Capa and Henri Cartier-Bresson stand out. Chase Jarvis, Micheal Grecco, Joe McNally, Steve McCurry, and many others have all influenced me. I list Chase Jarvis and Micheal Grecco first because each of them devoted time to personally discuss some photography issues with me and passed along the belief in sharing the photographic knowledge as much as possible.

I think I mentioned this earlier, but one of the most important values of professional membership is being able to attend conferences with the opportunity to meet and discuss photography with some of the best shooters in the world. I’ve been really lucky in that. Some of these people have devoted the time to share their knowledge with me. I’ve also reached that point with my work that people are asking for my advice sometimes, which creates an opportunity for me to give back. I’m really honored when people ask for my advice or my opinion. It’s not an ego thing, but a case to repay the debt I owe to people who answered my questions in the past. I treat every question as a compliment and an honor.

How important is a website for your business?
Critical. It is the most visible form of my business and I don’t think a professional photographer can operate without one today. I know many shooters who are giving up their dedicated studios, but none who would consider giving up their website. The internet has created a tremendous opportunity to reach your clients and potential clients directly.

I have been using my website in the past as an offshoot or to supplement my portfolio, but now I am in the process of exploring the opportunities for selling directly to clients from there. I have begun to consider my website as my store front, my communication medium, and my home base on the Internet.I also have an extensive presence on social networking sites, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, ModelMeyham and others. I think these are also important, both to maintain contacts with other photographers and to get feedback on your own work. I shot a picture last night while walking the dog and had feedback on it before I got home. Enabling that kind of communication is magical.

I think that Internet has changed photography as much as digital photography – and it’s not done yet.

What else do you enjoy in life other than photography?
Well, I am an avid motorcyclist with a preference for long trips and I love to travel in general. I have gone through several nomadic periods in my life and still enjoy seeing the world. I just love visiting historical sites, museums and art galleries. I am fascinated by technology in general, which is probably why the rise of digital photography triggered so much in me. I really feel photography has become both an art and a science, where we can capture memories and transmit emotions.It is truly a great and challenging time to be a photographer.

How can our readers contact you in case of queries?
Well, my email address is scott@zwcx.com and my website is www.zwcx.com. I’m also on Facebook, LinkedIn and a variety of other social networks. I love hearing from people and have an almost infinite capacity for email. I also love getting honest feedback on my work.

Thanks so much for taking the time for this interview.

Thanks for asking me.