I Want to be a Photographer - Orange Road #2

Here's another tip from long time professional photographer Al Wright at Raintree Studios in Alameda, CA:

Here's an idea to get a new photog started that will not only help them, but will help and honor others as well. There are several sites online that honor men and women in the military and their families for their contribution to and sacrifice for our country. Some of these organizations look for local photographers who are willing to provide a simple portrait session and a desk size print or a small collection of 4x6 proof-quality prints at no charge to a family that has a member serving in the military. Some of these organizations request that the individual is a professional photographer as evidenced by sample portraits that they would submit to them, and by their web site. Why would someone do this? First, they would do this because they want to honor and thank the men and women in the military for their service. After that, it will give them experience in photographing children and families, and if they give the family one 5x7 print, they will probably want to purchase more for grandma and grand dad.

A new photog may need to improve their photography skills before some of these organizations will agree to recommend them to their military families, but they can certainly do this on their own as well. This past Easter, I offered military families with a loved one currently serving overseas a complimentary mini portrait session and one 5x7 print. I intend to make the same offer for Mother's Day, Father's Day, and Christmas. I advertised my offer on my Facebook page and asked my friends to share my offer on their pages as well. I also have joined a parents' group on Yahoo for parents in my city.

An aspiring photog can do the same thing for families of cancer survivors, families that are part of the "Make A Wish" foundation, or families that are part of "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep" (families that have a new born infant that tragically will not survive more than a couple of days). Good luck!

Al Wright - Raintree Studios

Al Wright has been a professional photographer since 1970. He credits his father, an avid home movie maker and photography buff, with kindling his first interest in photography. His idols are the still photographers that created all the wonderful publicity stills of the stars during the Golden Age of movies- the Twenties, Thirties, and Forties.

Al feels his strength lies in communicating with his clients, to discover what they want, and then helping them plan their portrait so it is truly a reflection of them. He likes the challenge of working with children, and especially likes the parents' reactions to the completed portraits, when they tell him "No one has ever been able to capture my child like this!"

Al is dedicated to giving something back to the community that has been so good to him- you'll find him working with business, service, and school groups around town, and donating his time and talent to various fundraisers for worthwhile organizations.

His Tip to aspiring Photographers (Orange Road #1):

"I occasionally teach an Introduction to Photography course to high school students as an after-school career exploration program. During the last session when we are talking about a career in photography I ask them (and now I will ask you as well) "What are you passionate about? Are you passionate about children? Or cars? Or food, or nature, or breast cancer awareness, or soccer?" Whatever it is that you are passionate about (in addition to photography, I hope), I will bet you that there is a magazine, a newsletter, a documentary-in-the-making, a website, or a nonprofit organization that needs good photos, and there are at least a million people that are also interested in that same subject, and want to see images of it. Some of them are so crazy about the same thing you are passionate about that they will purchase your photos. You can search in online for images of your passion, and you will find page after page of images, and when you click on an image, generally it will show you the web page or advertisement or the context in which the photo was used. This search will show you what kind of photos are being used, how they are used, and who might be interested in using your photos."

This is where to start. Al has offered another great idea that I am going to share later in the month, but for now, think about what you love and are passionate about. Start searching for how images are being used and where you might submit your photographs for sale.

Al has a studio in downtown Alameda, CA. You can reach him and his photos on Facebook.