I really dig shooting for a layout.  Show me an add comp and I’ll create the perfect image to fill it.  A layout along with a good relationship with the art director(s) just makes it plain easy to do my job.  But in these days of tiny budgets and granny’s garbage stock there are just not as many opportunities to shoot FOR a specific project.  It seems clients, in my realm, these days would rather build an add around an existing image rather than have an original image created.

So with budgets dropping and the opportunities dwindling I, and I’m guessing many other photographers, are left with the more frustrating assignment of creating images for clients who aren’t quite sure what they want or where they’re going to run them.  Not that much fun really, and it’s all about having fun.

My remedy for these mild headaches again points to my personal work.  When I go out and shoot something without an assignment, I create one for myself.  Sometimes I’ll even sketch out a layout.  This gives me the opportunity to shoot for a layout….in a way.  I consider it good practice, I continue to enjoy my profession and most importantly I continue to grow as a photographer.

My latest (job) was for my friend’s ski clothing accessories company.  I chose to shoot for a web banner format.

A personal photo created for a web banner format layout.

Tags: free time goods, goggles, hats, personal work, ski clothing, skis, web banner

This entry was posted on Monday, May 24th, 2010 at 11:26 am and is filed under photo stuff. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.