How to Succeed in Hard Times

Happy Thanksgiving!  

I hope you've all had a wonderful time with friends and family and can unplug from work to enjoy the things that really matter in life.

I am back from Europe and have spent my Thanksgiving holiday reflecting on all the wonderful things that have happened during this year and where I was this time last year.  So much has changed from last year to now in my life but also in the world.  In the U.S. we are going through some hard economic times and if you listen to all the bad news it can have a negative effect on us.  I think it is fitting now more than ever to share a few books that have had a profound effect on my life and business.  If you've ever heard me speak then you know I always talk about my three favorite books, but today I'm going to add one that I never speak about in my photography workshops and seminars.  

Many photographers cut back when times get rough and I totally understand that, but one area that you can not cut back on is promotion.  When things get rough it is very important to promote your photography more.  We are very fortunate with the internet and that we can use this tool to promote our work.  There are many sources out there to help working photographers and one of my favorites is ADBASE.COM.  I use this site constantly to promote my work and reach art buyers and editors around the country.  However, before you can use this powerful tool you must first know how to use it and this is where my recommended reading comes into play.

My must read list of books are:

1:  How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

2)  Selling the Invisible by Harry Beckwith

3)  The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Each of these books will help you throughout your career is ways that you can not imagine.  How to win friends speak to how you need to treat your clients and the people around you.  Selling the invisible speaks to how you must market and promote yourself and so much more.  The Alchemist speaks to this journey that we are all on.  Very often we have a plan for how we'd like for our life and career to go but life has a different idea all together.  These books will change your life and enhance it in ways that you can not imagine.

My last recommended book is one only my good friends know about and I am know sharing it with you.  The subject of this book is one that I've read about for years and followed and I am sharing it with you now because of the times we are in and I believe you this knowledge can help to improve your life.  This book is Buffettology by Mary Buffett and David Clark.  I have read everything about Warren Buffett for years and the knowledge about this incredible individual can help us all prosper in the future.  

Always Dream Big!

Matthew Jordan Smith

Italy in Black and White

Nineteen years ago while working as a photo assistant I went to Italy for the first time.  I was the only photo assistant on the job and the only male in the crew.  The photographer I worked for at the time always booked me on the location jobs because she knew I could handle whatever happened on the road.  Looking back now it was great training but it was also the beginning of a love affair for travel.  

My first trip to Italy was intense with a hectic shooting schedule and little personal time but that's the nature of being a photo assistant.   At that time we shot in Milan, Venice and Lago Di Como (Lake Como).  On that trip I flew in love with Venice and Lake Come and knew I had to go back one day with someone I loved and spend time photographing Italy.  

I have ton's of camera's but the camera I decided to take on this trip was my new Sony A900.  I have been so impressed with this camera since it came out that decided to only take one body, and two lens.  Normally I take a film and digital camera with me but I wanted to cut down on weight this trip since I had my mate with me and no photo assistants to haul all my gear.  :-)

I didn't get to Lake Como this time but will on my next trip to Italy in 2009.   Venice however is an easy shot from Brescia and one of the most romantic cities in the world.  We stayed at a charming hotel on the Grand Canal that my intern found for me and enjoyed the beauty and splendor of Venezia.  

I've always thought that black and white images were more powerful at times than color and this trip seemed like the right fit for it.  I sometimes feel that color connects you to a certain time in history, but with B&W you are left with the pure image which can be hauntingly beautiful and romantic. These are some of my favorite images from Venezia.  Let me know your thoughts. 

Camera:  Sony A900

Lens:  1.4 50 mm

            1.4 35 mm

ISO:  160

Always Dream Big!

            50 

 

 were only in each location for a few hours each day.  The only down time I had was the rain day at Lake Como so I ventured off on a boat over to Switzerland and spent the day taking photographs.   I've loved travel photography ever since but have never shown any of those images yet.  Maybe now I'll put a travel book together or submit those images into my stock agency archives.

The other passion in my life after photography is travel.  I love it and I love that I can mix my two passions together.  The wonderful thing about photography and travel is that you are not only documenting your travels you are  

Opening Night in Brescia Italy

I'm back from Italy and the opening of my first photo exhibit at the Wave Gallery in Brescia.  Opening night was an incredible event filled with fashionable Italians from all walks of life.   I learned a few big lessons in regard to an international exhibit but I think that is all part of the process.  

I entered the gallery on opening night and was shocked to see that seven prints had sold from two separate collectors right away.  I also learned that a gallery in Japan would like to have my images as well so it looks like the next exhibit will be in March or April in Tokyo.  My girlfriend, being Japanese was elated to hear this news almost as much as me and  now we look forward putting this show together.  I showed a total of 27 images during the show.  

Being in Europe at this time was such a great experience in so many ways.  On the heels of Obama it seems all of Europe is happy and you see him on every cover in the news stands.  Experiencing my first opening in Europe with my girlfriend was also special and something we will never forget.  

Brescia is not used to seeing many tourist that look like me so I received a lot of attention walking around with my girl.  Brescia is an amazingly beautiful place filled with great food, wonderful atmosphere and fantastic galleries.  I was honored to have my first exhibit there and looking forward to where this will lead.

More on Italy to come!

Italy Photo Exhibit

Many years ago when I worked as a photo assistant, a photographer named Chuck Baker told me that if I ever made it in my career I should always have personal projects and turn them into books and exhibits.  I never forgot those words and I've worked on my personal projects ever since.  In the coming weeks I will share how I got my first book deal and how I went about it, but today I want to share a big moment with you.  This week I leave for Italy to have my first international photo exhibit in Brescia, Italy at the Wave Gallery.

Last year  I was telling my personal assistant how I wanted my latest personal project to be more than just a book.  I expressed my dream for having my work in an exhibit in major galleries around the globe.  I still want the project as a book because the bo0k would help the exhibit and vise versa.  It's interesting how things happen but once you put them out into the universe.  In December a magazine contacted me to do an interview.  The magazine was Zoom Magazine out of Milan, Italy.   I'd first fallen in love with the magazine years ago while in art school and was flattered they contacted me.  We did the interview and I sent images to support the interview.  A few weeks later the magazine called to say they wanted to use one of my images for the cover and that all the editors loved my story.  Long story short the magazine came out during the first part of this year and I purchased everyone I could.  Two months later I am contacted by the Wave Gallery and Thursday, the 20th of November I have my first international exhibit.  

There are 35 images in the exhibit total and all are two meters in length.  This is the first time I am showing images from my current personal project.  There has been a teaser on my website but the best images will be in the book and exhibit.  The project has taken more than two years to complete but it was probably the most fun I've ever had with a camera in my hands.  

There is no photoshop in these images just a lot of love and ton's of direction with my subjects. For the project I photographed 100 people ranging from celebrities to the girl next door and I hope you can all see it soon in a book store or gallery near you.

Dream Big!  You never know what can happen!

The Joy of Giving Back

I believe we all have unique gifts and at times should use those gifts in an unselfish manner.  For the last seven years I have donated my time to an Aids organization by photographing people in the Aids fight.

Today,  I photographed Cookie Johnson, the wife of Magic Johnson.  The organization didn't have funds for renting a studio but needed to have her photographed and interviewed.  I told them they could use my place to do everything.  

At 8:30 my assistants showed up to prepare and 30 min. later a makeup artist from MAC along with a video crew arrived.   When Mrs. Johnson arrived I sent my assistant down to greet her and bring her up to start hair and makeup.  Once she was ready I picked out the outfits for her to wear for the video portion and for the still.

The video crew interviewed her first and then she was all mine.  We started by doing a simple beauty shot using only one light.  I have always loved the beauty dish and that was my "weapon of choice" to borrow a phrase from my mentor and hero Gordon Parks.   I picked the music to put Mrs. Johnson in the right mood and then we started working.  This was my third time photographing her so now we are very comfortable around each other  and in no time I had a lot of great shots.   

The second look was also shot using just the beauty dish, but I added a grid to make the light more concentrated and moody.  The entire shoot including the video interview took about three hours and then we just sat around talking for another hour or so.  It was a great day!

Lighting:  Profoto Acute 2400 pack

Beauty Dish

Shot at F16 @ 125

Beauty situation:  

Meter reading:  16.7

Shot:  F16.3 @ 125

2nd situation:

Meter reading:  F8.0

Shot:  F.9.0 @ 1/60

T.E.A.M.

Years ago when I was doing my first book, Sepia Dreams I interviewed Olympic gold medalist, Dominique Dawes.  During the interview she explained as a young kid she used her dad's shaving cream to put the following phrase on her bathroom mirror.

T = Together

E = Each

A = Achieves

M = More

The same holds true for professional photographers.  You can't do it alone.  All my shoots require  tons of pre-production.  My crew consists of agents, personal assistant, photo assistants, interns, set builders, scouts, etc.  The following shoot is one example of the work that goes into making what seems like a simple job come together.   This shoot was for my good client, Jenny Craig with Queen Latifah.   We normally shoot the ad's on the same day as the TV commercial which makes for a very interesting and long day.  Both crews have to share her and often the TV spots determine the location.  

This particular shoot I had to shoot in the backyard of the house where TV was filming.  The problem was I could get Dana, (Queen Latifah) at any time during the day or evening, but I had to keep my lighting consistent.  We decided to build an outdoor studio which is much harder than it sounds, trust me.  First we had to build a floor, and then the studio set on top of it.  

At the end of the day my entire crew was exhausted but no one wanted to go home because the energy was so great on the set.  All the hard work before the job paid off.  We had the right music, the perfect crew and great clients and subject.  Dana, was amazing as always and this day I even photographed her with her mother and aunt.  I'll have to send her a few images for Christmas!

Camera:  Hasselblad H2

Back:  P30 Plus

Lighting gear:  Profoto Packs 

Main Light:  Tiny Para 220 umbrella  :-)

Music:  MJS Queen Latifah mix

Assistants:  Gary and Robert

Personal Assistant:  Dushyanthi,

Interns:  Hiromi, Ramona, Fredrick

Agent:  LVA Represents NYC 347 599-0492