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by Greg Preston Published 01/10/2010
Stroll the luxurious grounds with the eye of an architectural photographer, and go back at the time of day that the light in your venue is perfect. Not only will this give you 'resort' images that will help you capture a future well-paying gig, but also it will give you the experience you will need to get your foot in the door.
Here's another hint: find out the name of someone in marketing at that resort, and send a couple of expertly printed shots to them. Include a little note about the wonderful time you had, and that being a photographer you couldn't help capturing a few of the gorgeous details. This kind of personal marketing has reaped new jobs for us in the past.
Next, if you don't have a blog, start one. Talk about your latest photo adventure, and include those resort shots. The blog should be linked to your portfolio site, and vice-versa. You are your biggest advocate, and your job in the next year or two should be to get potential art directors to look at your work. You want to be on the first page of any search engine.
When you get to the place where you are getting a bit of experience shooting for resorts, I'd like to fill you in on a few of the hurdles that commonly come up in this world I live in, and possibly solutions around them. Knowing these things will add expertise to your communication when planning a shoot. Here are some of the truths I've learned in 20 plus years:
1. Almost all management wants to complete photography venues in 20 minutes. I am here to tell you that any staged shot worth doing will take a minimum of two hours, if not more.
2. Management, to save money, wants to use their boyfriend or cute hostess in the shot instead of hiring professional models. Not only does this rarely work out, but lay people don't have the wardrobe or acting ability for close-up work.
There are 0 days to get ready for The Society of Photographers Convention and Trade Show at The Novotel London West, Hammersmith ...
which starts on Thursday 1st January 1970