Well what can I say. The visit just reinforced my feelings about the whole business of photographic studios. A very workmanlike place, just as I had expected,. and the images produced were at best excellent from what we were shown.
I cannot express my pleasure at seeing a master in his own environment. Adrian was like a breath of fresh air, and very easy with his comments. I would imagine he is a joy to work with, once you really got to know how he works. The little nuggets of information passed over could easily have been missed. As he described it was a jobbing studio, but I am sure he was being very modest about his talents.
I realise that there is 40+ years of experience going into the studio, and I would not have a hope in hell of getting anywhere near to the quality that Adrian can achieve.
The earlier group who went on Wednesday had a longer and more informative visit, which unfortunately for those of us who have to work for a living have missed out on. It would have been nice to see some action, even a demonstration of the lighting techniques. I am sure that may have been possible to see the effect of this when we were there, perhaps I should have asked!
I personally got a lot out of the visit, but unfortunately, and sadly, it only reinforced my belief that with my current abilities and time commitments and experience and cost and age and expense and contacts and lack of structure on the current course is preventing me from pursuing my passion to create the images I feel I can do.
But I did hear the mantra yet again of if the work does not suit or you have an awkward client or you can't cover you costs then do not do the work, in addition to clients always wanting to get more for less! This I have heard from many quarters in this profession, and I think you have to be very strong to exist, and Adrian has achieved this, even if in quiet periods he has done other things.
But this is a business first, and photography second (but the quality counts beyond the ordinary), and that is the biggest disappointment for the current course, and to be introduced to environment we were in, is that the importance of business has not been placed at a higher importance level, bearing in mind the expertise available.
It is with much regret that I will have pull out of the current course, as I received no assurance on the day that the structure of the course would improve in that direction. Having worked in private companies on a very business like environment then I am disappointed that progress has been so slow in this direction, only highlighted by the visit today.
But please keep in touch as I will continue to update this blog.
Hi Eric, firstly, your photography is very good and is improving all the time.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, although I did go on Saturday, from what I have heard, and what you have said above, the studio that you visited on Saturday is one that has been established for a number of years, where Adrian and his team have built up their experience over those years and possibly even before. To build up that level of experience takes years and 100% commitment to what they are doing. We on the other hand are looking to enter the business, and although we are building up experience in our various fields of photography, we are still working in our own day to day jobs (to which we rely on to pay for our everyday needs).
You will get there, be patient.
Hi Eric,
ReplyDeleteOkay I will prepare the paperwork to withdraw you from the course, as regards the course I think you will find that it now has links with the Chamber of Commerce and they have provided a variety of 'live client' jobs to help everyone understand where they fit in the commercial world to run alongside the course
Also they have a potential linked audience of 5,000 businesses which will also link into what we are doing. Plus a talk about business initiatives and incentives to go alongside the recent studio visit will be happening very soon.
If you had been attending the classes you would of been part of that.
Plus the links with the studio which will allow for a more rich and varied course moving forward. Also the Image Bank we are putting together in the new year which will allow a viable commercial avenue for client work.
Also I have worked with Adrian for 6 years and known him for 20 years and the link has taken alot of time and effort to put together, so its a shame you cant be part of that, and of course I shall be making strides to improve the course as it evidently 'lacks in structure'.
many thanks,
Steve
Firstly, the time and financial pressure is undeniable. It is sad to lose you from the course, but I hope we will continue to discuss ideas and projects together.
ReplyDeleteI think that Adrian's set-up is close to nirvana, but there are plenty of opportunities to do work - even if intermittently - in different ways. It is nice to have a huge studio, hasselblad, dozens of lights and as assitant, but there is also a niche for the smaller operator, providing a quality of service and output that lies somewhere between Adrian's glossy magazine point and the troll with the compact.