Dive In, Let Go.
So I was driving down to a shoot yesterday, and I was worried. It was a big production: apparel designer, three models, hair, make up, and the location was a fancy house about three hours away. Due to some last minute changes, I was unable to scout the location ahead of time (the original house fell through, and the new one was arranged too close to the shoot date for me to get over there). The designer had secured a makeup artist, who had canceled 9:30pm the evening before the shoot with a family emergency. Fortunately we were able to get a replacement makeup artist…but it was a close call.
So, needless to say, I was a little stressed. So many unknowns to deal with here. No way I could plan for every eventuality, because there were too many variables. I started thinking about other shoots that had had last minute problems, or big unknowns or unresolved production issues. I thought of myself as having pulled those shoots “out of the fire” so to speak. I was giving luck more credit than I gave myself.
And then I got to thinking: this is what commercial photography is all about. While planning makes a shoot go smoother, sometimes you can’t tie up every loose end ahead of time. It’s what you make of a situation that is the real skill. Sometimes a shoot will just go to heck and there’s nothing you can do about it. But the ones where you make something out of nothing, or keep it from becoming a disaster…that’s the defining quality of a good commercial shooter.
I came to the realization that, more often than not, I’m going to range from mildly anxious to scared out of my wits before any major shoot. And there’s no getting around that. Part of my job is to embrace that chaos, and forge something out of it. I need to just dive in, and let go. The better I am at what I do, the more likely I’ll be able to manage that chaos and turn it into something beautiful.
So from now on, when I get those pre-shoot jitters, I’m just going to tell myself: that’s my job. To dive on in. And that’s what I did yesterday. And it came out alright!
My fashion/commercial site: www.onethousandumbrellas.com
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Chrysler 300, Dean Martin and I
Well this is non-photo-related and a bit weird and disturbing.
Back in 1999, when I was a musician making electronic dance music under the name The Rip Off Artist (among other names), I had a little track released that, while never a ‘hit’, got used on a few movie soundtracks and such. It was a remix of an old lounge tune called “Sway”. I took versions by Dean Martin and Julie London and did a mash up of the two (before “mash up” was even a term), and it was released on a compilation of lounge remixes called Electro Lounge.
So tonight my wife turned off the TV. As she did, I heard this little snippet of music…and yelled “wait!!!!” I turned the TV back on, and there’s my friggin’ remix, being used for the current Chrysler 300 commercial.
Sigh. And it was a flat fee buyout. I made my money back in 1999, and it has continued to make Universal money ever since. 
It’s weird being dragged back into my ‘other life’, even for a brief moment.
Adapt or Die.
I see a common sentiment among many photographers. Most recently I noticed it in the comments to a blog post at A Photo Editor. The basic complaint, which is repeated over and over, is that either a) clients are demanding more return for less money, b) competitors are offering more for less, or c) some unholy union where a) and b) have gotten together and didn’t invite anyone else to the party.
The solution offered is usually…
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10 Business Lessons Learned From the Lemonade Stand
Last Saturday, my six year old son Nick became an entrepreneur.
He wanted to set up a lemonade stand. My wife, who has happily professed not to have a single entrepreneurial bone in her body, insisted that I tackle this project with him. Working with him on this project reminded me of some very grown-up problems people have with running their own business, and I thought I’d share them here.
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One Year of Blogging!
I’ve just realized I’ve been blogging for one year now. Happy anniversary to me! Woot, woot.
Fb, Tw, OMGMIS!
Sorry if this is dull. I’m just catching up with all the myriad ways to waste time interact via social media.
I’ve been on Facebook for awhile now.
And now on Twitter: matthainesphoto
Actually I’ve been signed up for twitter for almost a year, and didn’t use it. Didn’t even remember I had an account! My tweets (ugh) will be photo related only. No lunch-menu updates or youtube links to dancing cats. I promise.
OMGMIS! (“Oh my God Make It Stop!”)
Still recovering from my vacation. Got that part 2 of the last fashion blog coming shortly though. Actual paying work must take precedence, but it’s coming.
Portrait Dos and Don’ts – Professional Level
From an agency test shoot yesterday (more on that next week). That’s me on the left.
Dos and Don’ts for nice portraits:
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Judge.
For those in the area, just wanted to let you know I will be the guest judge at the Ventura County Camera Club this Wednesday. Stop by!
My New Site: VenturaModels.com
Just a quick post to mention my new website, venturamodels.com. Now that my fashion/commercial side is taking off, it seemed appropriate to create a new website aimed at a different set of clients. The new site has a similar look—note the similarlity of the two logos, and layouts. But venturamodels.com is aimed at models, actors, musicians and other entertainment professionals, so that I can provide them portfolio and promotional images. With a pricing and product structure that is geared toward professionals, rather than family portraits. And most importantly, I want to serve Ventura and Santa Barbara counties with the same ‘big city’ quality, but with a ‘small town’ attention to service.
Sorry, that sounds so “mission statement”. Don’t know how else to say it though. Those who have worked with me know that making my clients happy is super important.
The blog will stay here, even though it has as much fashion content as it does family-portrait and general content. I don’t need two blogs!
So please feel free to hop on over and check it out. I’m sure it will evolve rapidly over the next few months.
Best of Class
A very quick blog post. Just a little thing, but it’s something worth bragging blogging about. Last night the Channel Islands Professional Photographers Association held their quarterly print competition. I won “Best of Class” in the Fashion/Editorial category with this image of Kristin below. Big prizes? Fame and fortune to be mine? No, but I got a pretty red ribbon.
