Archive for the ‘Business / Tools’ Category
You are currently browsing the archives for the Business / Tools category.
24
Jan
2011
“So… did your mailers work?”
I’ve noticed a trend among the tip-top commercial photographers… minus a handful (Joey L, Nick Saglimbeni, Chase Jarvis, Zack Arias), most have a polished straight-laced persona that is unwavering no matter how big a gig they get, or what awards/feature they’re offered. Will I get jaded after I land my 50th job with Reebok or Atlantic Records? Hopefully I can tell you one day, but the answer to that will most certainly be HELL NO! Back to the question in the title, maybe this will answer the quizzing inquisitors; I’m featured in this months PDN magazine!!! (can you sense the excitement?!?) No, this doesn’t mean I instantly got 20 jobs the next day from the mailers, but YES I got a lot of replies from them, and that builds a solid bridge to future jobs.
As far as I’m concerned PDN is one of the most respected photography magazines in the states, so you could imagine how big my eyes got when I got an email from one of their editors. My little ‘ol mailer penetrated New York’s 6″ steel plated photography editors’ walls. After a morning chat on the phone, Jacqueline wrote a very flattering article. I can’t wait to put my upcoming 2011 work in my next planned mailer (and yes I already have it planned out!).
6
Jan
2011
mini feature: Advanced Photoshop Magazine
After my first feature in Advanced Photoshop Magazine I was on cloud 9… is it possible to go any higher? Clint, welcome to cloud 9 and a half. I was asked by editor Adam Smith to submit a picture and a few words on how I use Photoshop to create effects and final edits at the end of my projects. Of course I responded right away. The top 40 tips are actually very useful to read, I highly recommend any Photoshop nerd to pick this issue up.
“Without the help of Photoshop, many of my images would simply be impossible to create. I take the most optimal exposure of the subject and background then combine them in order to achieve a hyperrealistic look. I primarily use the Pen tool to finely clip out objects – then combine the multiple images together for a final piece. In the end, I add universal texture, lighting effects and match the colours to tie everything together.”
And here is the image I chose to feature. Ashley Knights Jr. ripping up the 2nd street tunnel in downtown LA.
29
Dec
2010
Update + My new alter-ego: Davis Visuals
A LOT has changed for me in the past few months. First and foremost, I’ve moved from photo-mecca Los Angeles to my home state of South Carolina. Why? You can read here. Secondly, I’ve received a boatload of attention from my promotional mailer. More than I had ever dreamed. Photo idols Zack Arias, Chase Jarvis gave it a big thumbs up. aphotoeditor.com, petapixel.com, noplasticsleeves.com, Moo.com and PDN Magazine did a feature on the mailer as well. And most importantly I got some very solid job offers lined up for 2011! Thank you so much for the support!!!!
After making the switch from Art Director to full-time freelance photographer, I knew it was a matter of time before I started a lifestyle photography website. I love all types of photography, and I get asked all the time to do (relatively) simple shoots for family members, kids, portraits, weddings, etc. Considering Derrick Rose, floating desert girls, and blingtastic rap artists don’t really belong on the same portfolio as playful kids, families and newlyweds, I started a new website just for that. After countless hours of thinking of a name, designing a logo, making a twitter/facebook page, tweaking a blog, I finally launched www.davisvisuals.com. Most of the work featured is naturally lite, with a few excpetions. A very stark contrast to the massively lite and photoshopped work featured on my commercial portfolio clintdavis.net. Any day I’m behind the camera is a good day, and this is just another way to have more good days! Here’s a screenshot of the new website. Click and browse around and see if you like my softer, sweeter, more gentle alter ego 
17
Nov
2010
2010 Printed Portfolio
So now that I pretty much spilled the beans with my promotional mailer, I figure why not undress my printed portfolio for the camera as well. I played this one by the books, and kept it super swanky and classy. I’m not trying to CHOKEHOLD the interviewee’s attention like the mailers, but rather tickle the eyeballs. The entire portfolio is designed around 11×14″ prints supplied from WHCC. Outstanding printer, very very very highly recommended.
Got lucky and found this snazzy Prat Preference messenger bag to loop around my shoulder. Just the right size for my portfolio.
Open the flap and out comes the goods, a black aluminum Pina Zangaro 11×14 presentation box from fastportfolio.
Plain black just isn’t my style, fire up the engraving machine engraver guy.
Behold, the prints, neatly stacked inside the presentation box. I opted to have loose prints for passing around. I find the 11×14″ size isn’t TOO big to flip through, yet not TOO small to discriminate the quality of a high-resolution image. I decided on white borders considering the number of fingers that touch the prints.
Everything spread out and exposed, it feels so invigorating. At the bottom of the stack is an 11×14″ collage of images for the interviewee to hang on to. A mini poster of my blood sweat and cheers. Teeny tiny iPhone at the bottom for scale.
