Ray Allen Photo Shoot

Some shoot are more fun than others and working with NBA star Ray Allen was a just a great day. He has an amazing charm and personality and was willing to do anything I wanted for a great shot.

To light this image I used one of my favorite lighting tools, the Profoto Magnum Reflector. Here is a sneak peak from the shoot.

Ray Allen Photo Shoot with Profoto Magnum Reflector from Matthew Jordan Smith on Vimeo.

Managing Business-BR vs AR

In the future I believe we will view our lives in a "Before Recession" manner and "After Recession", or BR /AR. As photographers we must be aware of every aspect of business outside of photography. Yes, it would be great to only concentrate our efforts on being creative but photograph is a business If a fortune 500 company has a bad quarter they make adjustments. As photographers we must do the same thing. The banks have made adjustments, and all the old rules no longer apply, so look at your business practices and make adjustments accordingly.

A week ago I concluded the Ohio Creative Experience Seminar. Thank you to all the participants and sponsors who showed up. We had a wonderful experience together and I am looking forward to Dallas. I've received many emails asking about the other cities that were on the tour but we've had to make adjustments and will only be doing one more city. Dallas, Texas will be the last stop in the states for the Creative Experience Seminar tour. Details to come soon.

While in Ohio I was fortunate to land a TV interview on the morning show. I brought the Sony camera to the set to show the exact camera that was being raffled off that evening. The interview was fun and it helped expose the seminar to the masses in ways I could never have done before. Thanks again "Good Company Show"!

What's happening in the world of photography? This week we are bidding on two big advertising assignments. Both are all consuming and require hours of thought and discussion with my team. In this case my team is my agent team and producer team. Also look for new updates on the website soon!

Always Dream Big

Always Dream Big

Saying Thank You

I just read a friends blog and I have to share it here. Please read "Customer Service" by Skip Cohen. It's also an amazing photography blog as well and worth a read each day. Skip blog's each morning at 5:30am and has not missed a day since he started.

It's Friday morning and I can't believe how fast time passes by. The week started with a TV interview on the morning show in Akron. It was fun and reminded me of doing press for my first book. The interviewer wanted to talk about celebrity of course, but I managed to swing the subject around to my purpose for being in Ohio, the Creative Experience photo seminar and before the segment was over people were signing up. The power of TV is still the best way to reach the masses and we'll work on doing more segments for upcoming seminars.

I am still on a high from Ohio and the students from the class are as well I think. Here are a few comments left from the seminar.

1. Thank you Matthew for a wonderful experience. I appreciate your knowledge and work.

2. Thank you for sharing everything with such passion! I'm sorry I had to jet out early but it was incredible to go directly from the seminar to a job where I could put so much you talked about into immediate action. It was so fun to hear the client say "wow!" over and over as the images were displayed on the LCD screen. Can't wait to share some of the images with you!!

3. Matthew, it was so great to meet you and attend the seminar. I am sorry that I could not stay for the second day but perhaps you might see me again in Dallas! :-)! Thank you for being so willing to share your knowledge and experiences with us. As a pharmacist, I love your description of photographers as "Photo alchemist"! Thank you again and I will stay in touch!

4. Matthew I don’t know what to do first - spend time singing the praises of the seminar or address the time you took to personally meet, talk, interact and share with anyone before, during and after the event.

Your work clearly speaks for itself!
The seminar??, I got so much out of it that I’m having trouble sleeping! BUT, the 10 minutes you spent talking to me after traveling, presenting, giving your undivided attention to everyone that wanted it, dealing with the breaking down of that nights event and I’m sure thinking about the full day ahead of you that would arrive all too quickly (it must have been 11pm and you were going strong) AFTER all of that you talked to me, looked me in the eye, firmly shook my hand and made me feel like we were the only ones in the room and were lifelong friends! THAT’S that magic! That’s what makes you who you are and why your works looks like it looks and you have clients for life! I’m proud to have meet you.

Always Dream Big!

HELP

I'm sitting in the airport on my way back to Los Angeles after two amazing days with my students at the Ohio seminar.

As a young photographer I yearned for help in building my career and the things I wanted to learn back then helped me in putting this seminar together. Thank you all for coming out and allowing me to share my life lessons. I'm here to help you excel as a photographer. Remember the lesson of opposites and always dream big!

Travel home safely everyone! I'm looking forward to showing the world our 'BIG SURPRISE"!

Always Dream Big!

The Morning Show

Today is the first day of the Ohio Creative Experience Photo Seminar. It's 7:00am now and I'm on my way to be interviewed for the local morning show in Cleveland. The interview for

"Good Company Show" will air live today. If you are in the Ohio area please tune in and wish me luck!

There is still time to register and if you put in the code for Good Company (GC) you can get a 15% discount for tonight's seminar or for the full seminar which includes both tonight and tomorrow.

After Ohio the seminar schedule will change to only one more city. Dallas, Texas will be the last city for the Creative Experience Tour taking place in October.

Ohio discount code: GC

Always Dream Big

25% off Today Only_Ohio Seminar

Today is the only change to purchase tickets for the Creative Experience Photo Seminar in Akron, Ohio for 25% off.

To register go to: 25% off-FRIDAY ONLY

discount code: BEACON

For more information on the Ohio Creative Experience Seminar go to: DETAILS

Great giveaways include a Sony A550 camera and 5 -xrite color checker passports

Always dream big and see you in Akron!

Twitter Winner

Congratulations going out to the first winner of the Twitter Contest. The first winner of the Profoto Twitter Contest is Christopher Blank. The second winner will be announced this Friday and there is still time to enter. For details and to enter go to OHIO TWITTER CONTEST

For more information on the photo seminar go to: SEMINAR DETAILS

To Register go to: OHIO SEMINAR

The seminar is a two part event with the first event taking place on July 19th, 2010 in Akron, Ohio from 7:00pm - 10:00pm

What will you learn by going to this seminar?

JULY 19th

1) How to find and use your creative vision

2) Focus on lighting - learn how to see and use your lights to get the best images ever

3) Promotion and marketing- new ways to market your images (all the rules have changed)

4) The secrets to creating great photographs

JULY 20th

1) The morning starts off with revealing the secret segment of the seminar. Past seminar attendee's have burst in tears, screams and stunned silence when the secret is revealed.

2) Putting creative vision to work. Individual attention to creating your creative vision and how to use it to fit your photography

3) Individual lessons on lighting and detailed instruction on how to test your lights. Each student will have a chance to take part in the lighting test with Profoto D1 Strobes

4) In class shoot with a model based on the theme given to each student upon registration

5) Detailed instruction on story telling

6) Promotion and marketing in depth discussion

and much much more!

Register now at: OHIO SEMINAR

Always Dream Big

JEANS

Behind the scenes of the ReUse Jeans Look Book Shoot

ReUse Jeans Look Book Photo Shoot from Matthew Jordan Smith on Vimeo.

Always Dream Big

Old School vs New School- Professional Photographer Article

A good friend has a great article in Professional Photographer this month. Please check it out when you can as he discusses his tips on shooting manuel with on camera strobe and more. Scott is a great photographer with an amazing soul. The article starts on page 70 and if full of useful information. Scott and I did the Kyoto, Japan seminar together and had a great time so please check out this article. You'll be glad you did.

Always Dream Big

Lesson's in Marketing

If you've read this blog in the last few months then you're aware of my efforts to promote my photo seminar, Your Creative Experience. The lesson's I've learned doing the tour can help us all in our efforts to gain work in photography.

Social Media is a term we have all become accustom to hearing, and some think it's the future of marketing and promotion. Until recently I was one of them, but experience has shown me social media alone (or anything online) is not enough to generate interest in your work or projects. I've read some great books on marketing in the last six months and all seem to consider social media as the Holy Grail, but anything online must be backed up with a tangible form. I don't know what the future holds but for right now don't stop promoting your work in tangible forms.

For Ohio I have increased my marketing efforts by becoming my own publicist. There are also a lot of great books on doing this as well. These efforts have landed newspaper articles in the local papers and even a TV interview on the morning show in Cleveland, Ohio. Getting the word out about our projects and our work is key to being and staying successful. Think of marketing your photography the same way fortune 500 companies do. Market and promote your work in every way, in all media known to man.

Always Dream Big

The Ohio Seminar takes place this Monday and Tuesday. For more details CLICK HERE.

To Register CLICK HERE

Always Dream Big

Great Photo Blog

I simply love this photo blog, "Marketing Essentials International". Marketing is more important than ever these days so the more information we have the better.

Always Dream Big!

Morning Talk Show

I am so excited! I just received a call to do a morning talk show in Ohio for my seminar program. For those in the Ohio area please tune in to "Good Company Show" Monday morning, July 19th.

Always Dream Big

Sign up for the Ohio Seminar: CLICK HERE

For more details and to sign up: CLICK HERE

Creative Experience Photo Seminar from Matthew Jordan Smith on Vimeo.

ALWAYS DREAM BIG

GIVING AWAY SECRETS !

Creative Experience Photo Seminar from Matthew Jordan Smith on Vimeo.

Wow! What an incredible weekend. I worked on a secret job for a high profile client. Sometime I get assignments for clients where the work is simple for them and not for publication. This weekend was such an assignment. I am totally exhausted but happy the weekend was so productive. My weekend included a police escort for me and my crew, early morning golf with pop stars and CEO's, and the opportunity to really enjoy using the D1 profoto strobes with the air remote.

I don't know how to play golf but after this weekend I am going to start learning. The beauty of doing business while playing on a beautiful course was revealed to me this weekend and has opened my eyes yet again. While on the golf course my 3rd assistant was driving the cart with just us and he took the opportunity to ask me a few questions. As we spoke he said he couldn't believe I gave away so many of my secrets when I speak at my seminars. I told him it's important to share your knowledge because you get so much more back. At the end of the weekend my third assistant came to me and said, "I have learned so much this weekend." Their is no better feeling than opening the gates of knowledge to someone who is hungry to learn and succeed. A week from today I will do just that in Akron, Ohio. I invite all those in the midwest to come to my only seminar in the midwest on July 19 and 20 in Akron, Ohio. Dreaming big starts now! Have a great week everyone!

Register here- OHIO

For details and to register click here: SEMINAR DETAILS

OHIO TWITTER CONTEST

Contest ends 12 noon PST this Friday, July 16th

Click for details

How to Make Money as a Photographer

Wedding Photography

Fashion Photography

Portrait Photography

Travel Photography

Learn the secrets to success!

REGISTER NOW: YOUR CREATIVE EXPERIENCE

Creative Experience Photo Seminar from Matthew Jordan Smith on Vimeo.

REGISTER NOW_OHIO

Ohio Twitter Contest

Starting today and going until Friday, July 16th at noon PST we are running a contest to give away one free ticket for admission to both days of the Creative Experience Photo Seminar in Akron, Ohio.

To select the winner Matthew Jordan Smith will keep a record of each tweet in a database and then an random number generator is used to select the winner. Due to the volume of requests we receive, we cannot answer any questions about the contest on Twitter or via e-mail. Good luck!

Total Prize Value: $1100.00

Congrats to the past winner of the Los Angeles Creative Experience tour, wedding photographer, Sarah Dawson - Risucci.

After attending the seminar Sarah wrote the following:

"I will never look at photography the same again, you (Matthew) have changed the course of my life ".

Creative Experience Photo Seminar from Matthew Jordan Smith on Vimeo.

To enter just follow these three simple steps:

1. Follow Matthew Jordan Smith on Twitter

2. Follow Mac Group on Twitter

3. Tweet the following message:

Win a FREE ticket to the Ohio Creative Experience Photo Seminar by Matthew Jordan Smith http://bit.ly/dnDqoK

Here are the complete rules:

1) You must be 18 years or older to enter.

2) You must be following Matthew Jordan Smith on Twitter,http://twitter.com/Matthew_JordanS and Mac Grouphttp://www.twitter.com/macgroup

3) You must send out the above tweet EXACTLY as it appears - failure to do so will disqualify you - do not put the @ sign in front of Matthew_JordanS anywhere in the Tweet.

4) The prize will be awarded on Sunday at 12 Noon by Matthew Jordan Smith via Twitter and on the Joy of Photography Blog.

5) Winner is responsible for travel to and from the Creative Experience Photo Seminar and responsible for any applicable taxes.

REGISTER NOW: YOUR CREATIVE EXPERIENCE

How to Make a Living as a Photographer

More people are taking photographs today than at any point in our history. How will you stand out from the average person with a camera? Knowledge will always be the key to success.

Creative Experience Photo Seminar from Matthew Jordan Smith on Vimeo.

REGISTER NOW- OHIO

REGISTER TODAY for the Creative Experience Photo Seminar

Akron, Ohioi - July 19th-20th

Finding Creativity

At times it is hard to find your vision and create something special. However there are several things you can do to spark your creativity. The secret to finding your creative vision rests inside of you and once you learn how to ignite the flame it will burn forever.

To find your creative vision try and remember the very first images you shot. It should not be your first job, but your first images? What were they and what made you want to pursue photography more? The answer holds the key to your unique creative vision.

Always Dream Big

The Creative Experience Photo Seminar will be in Akron, Ohio July 19th and 20th.

Register now at: Your Creative Experience

OHIO CREATIVE EXPERIENCE

Iphone video is incredible

I am exhausted after the launch of the Creative Experience in Los Angeles this week on Monday and Tuesday, then all day casting in search of three models for a new jeans line. After finding seeing 50-60 models I decided on three and had the shoot today. It was a great shoot with great talent and energy the entire day.

During the shoot I heard about this video made on the new iphone and I just watched it for the first time. Really incredible! http://vimeo.com/12819723

Ohio here we come!

Always Dream Big