Get fucked up this weekend

copyright JMG 2007

It's Labor Day. The LAST holiday of Summa.
Go get drunk and we'll continue on Tues. Until then, I leave you with more Fashion 101.
Here's one of the greatest living fashion photogs.
Meet David LaChappelle and take notes, cuz he's the fukin' best!

Part 1:



Part 2:

work that backdoor....yeah....

copyright JMG 2007
First let me start by saying this in the most vague and roundabout way possible: FUCK "EMAIL BLASTS"
You're eating. The phone goes off for the tenth fucking time...who's on the other end of the phone? The 100th person who wants you to buy some shit you don't want. You have all your hook-ups. If you want a mechanic/plumber or some shit, you ask your friends. Right. Though I'm sure these phone pests get SOME business, it's nowhere near as much as a business that gets good word of mouth.
NawatImean?
So what does this mean to you? "But random e-mail blasts work" you say. "All the other pro sites recommend it! I've read that editors look at every e-mail they get."
Bullshit, yo. They don't, at least in my opinion. I have never sent one out because statistically it doesn't make sense.
I'm not saying don't send out you portfolio, cuz that's just plain stupid advise. The purpose of this post is to let you in on a little secret that most photogs don't take the time to exploit.
And the word is...COLLABORATION

Yes. Work together.
It works like this. Start at home. Find a freelance writer wherever you are and get to work. Freelance writers are always....well...looking for something to write about.
Get the project started and about half way through, start putting the word out.
Once you have a dozen or so snaps and a few thousand words THEN you can hit up the pubs with a well thought out e-mail which includes a synopsis of the story accompanied by pics.
Will it work every time? No. Of course not. But if you work this strategy, especially on LOCAL mags, you may be surprised with what you find.

My experience with the above is this:
I was listening to a music podcast from England when a local hip-hop artist was interviewed. The next day, I sent a FB message to the journo who interviewed her, with a proposition of collabing on print story about the star. I lived in the same city as the star and could shoot her from here.
Though the writer was too busy she passed me over to a friend at a major London-based fashion mag who was really interested in not the artist, but an overall story about the city's music scene. The mag editor looked at my photos and was down with doing a story. I'm now shooting a second, more national story for them and my foot is DEF in the door.
It's a TOUGH bizzy out there, but check it, there are ways in. You just have to BE ORIGINAL in your thinking. Don't just send shit out and expect a call back.

But don't take my word for it. Let this douche bag spell it out for you. In the photo world, he gets the client, while the dudes at the desk are waiting to "hear back " from the e-mail blasts.

Fashion 101

copyright JMG 2007

Class is in session. welcome back to school.
Today, I'm going to introduce you to Herb Ritts. I'm willing to bet that you have no or little idea about this fashion photography giant.
He all most single-handedly MADE the super-model. He had class. He had awesome black and whites. He died.
Below is an interview with Charlie "I'm on a mission to interview everyone on earth" Rose.
Listen to the master, padua. Much to say about fashion photography, he has.

BE NICE!

I set up this blog to, I don't know, help out new photogs who are wondering how others "do it".
First, I'm a realist. I will call out what I see. I'm not a whiner, winger or crybaby. This is NOT A Bitter Photographer.
I'll have new pic with each post cuz I'm also merc as a muther fuck.
I also started this to see if I can keep it going long enough to look back next year and be like, holy shit, I did that?

Anyway, enough exposition.
My first lesson is this. BE NICE TO EVERYBODY YOU KNOW AT THIS PRESENT TIME.

I like the ladies. Esp. The ONE I have now. But I have always split amicably with my ex's. Why should you care? Because two months ago an ex hit me up and asked me to bid on a major media project for a major publishing house. I was the FIRST person she thought of.
Why? Cuz I treated her with respect when we were hanging out.
Just in case you're wondering, I got the job in the end though she had nothing to do with the final decision on the project, it was nice that she hit me up to enter into it in the first place. SO there's no conflict all you gripers out there. I got a lot of useful shit out of this project which I will share in the coming days, weeks whatev.

So again: DON'T BE A DICK. It might work for Tucker Max's 5 min, but it won't work for most.
Most of the big names out there like Patrick Demarchelier and Rakin are nice to people in general and it shows in their work. (I've read A LOT about both photogs and and that's the gist I get). Even in the blog world. Make enough asshole comments and people will remember your name and remember to scratch you off their lists.

"In life, only bastards and cream rise"- Harper.
Yes, in a business sense. In the real world, BE NICE.