This book is the cumulative result of my personal search, networking with other professionals, and first-hand experiences. It is my passion, and I am so excited to share that passion with you.
This book has covered many aspects of photography, but in no way can the information contained herein replace your own research and education. You must take the necessary time to educate yourself about the principles discussed in this book, and also devote time to your craft as a photographer. One of the best ways to improve your skill is to get out and start shooting. Practicing on family members and friends is an easy way to test different settings and styles you may be eager to master. Getting started can be difficult, since you have so much to worry about, but you should always make honing your craft and skills as a photographer a priority. Expect to fall a few times before standing strong and yielding results. Your talent and hard work as a photographer will ultimately pay off and you'll begin to see your dreams come to fruition.
Never allow yourself to be complacent and imagine that you know everything. Collaborate and take suggestions, gather feedback and listen to constructive criticism. You may have a degree or have professional experience behind you, but never stop learning. There are always new techniques, advancements in technology, and courses that can improve how you shoot as a professional. It's great to hear the compliments and wonderful reactions from friends, family and clients. Just remember that what you do is ever evolving, and you'll have to adapt your business to changing trends.
If you struggle, ask for help from other professionals. We all share the same passion and love for photography. There are plenty of online forums and Facebook groups you can join to learn more or to ask for assistance. Networking is one of the best options available to further educate yourself on photography and other services you may want to offer in the future.
There's no such thing as overnight success, so don't get discouraged. It will take work, a lot of work. Photography should be a passion and not feel forced.
It's beneficial to start off with a full-time job while you build your business. Your day job may not be something you love, but it will provide you that much-needed stability and allow you to channel the enthusiasm and creativity that come from looking forward to taking photos into your full-time job, making it a more positive experience for reasons other than the fact that you're not struggling to pay your bills.
Sometimes the big breaks come from unexpected areas. Some of my best clients came from a freelance website and provided me with a lot of great work. Even with that, I still hear “no” plenty of times. Every time you are rejected or turned down for a job, it just gets you one step closer to success. Many famous artists, authors, photographers, and musicians have been turned down countless times in the past. Just because someone doesn't like or need your work at that particular moment doesn't mean that it's unworthy. As a matter of fact, now that they're aware of you, the “no” could simply mean “not right now.” They may think of you later on. Even if they don't, embracing the difference between success and failure will carry you far.
Believe in yourself and your business, even when things get difficult. I'm very lucky to have so many dedicated professionals on my team. Each and every one of them provides a distinct and unique talent for MTI Photography. Without them, I would be nowhere. I would personally like send a special thank you to my editors on this book. I can't thank Jessica Champion (strategic communications consultant), Kaytalin Platt (senior associate designer, photographer, and videographer, and Cheryl Baisden (senior copywriter) enough for their exceptional work on editing this book. I would also like to thank Kaytalin Platt, managing partner at Modern Moth Media, for design, and laying out my publication in digital and print format.
Modern Moth Media, LLP:
Andrew Ludewig and Kaytalin Platt are managing partners at Modern Moth Media, a web/design firm that they formed together. Modern Moth brings together a team of freelance designers with a passion for collaboration and hard work. We want to use our skills to help you grow and achieve your goals, in whatever endeavor you have chosen to explore.
Our team members boast a combined twenty years of experience in various aspects of marketing, media production, design, brand-building, photography, and much more. We are a start-up that is ever growing and continuously evolving. Our transformation benefits our clients, as our pool of creativity and knowledge is vast and resourceful.
Modern Moth is comprised of individuals who know each other and believe in one another. We know the strengths and capabilities of the other, and bring those skills together as a unified force.
We want to give our clients a personal and professional experience that they might not find in other design firms, one that helps them evolve as masters of their own business or non-profit identity.
www.modernmothmedia.com
25 Hours Consulting, LLC:
Jessica Champion is an author and the owner of 25 Hours Consulting. A former corporate marketing professional by day and freelance artist and entrepreneur by night, she always dreamed of building her own company to help others utilizing her vision. With a background in the arts, Jessica was less than passionate about the corporate world. Although she enjoyed the creative positions she held and always took her work seriously, she rarely felt like she fit in or made a real difference. She often found herself frustrated and questioning the purpose of her work, or whom it was benefiting. During times of transition, Jessica would daydream of starting her own company, thinking “there has to be something else out there for me.”
That's how 25 Hours was born. Jessica believes that the feeling of not having enough time is universal. In an era where so many professionals are striking out on their own or just taking on more responsibilities to provide for their families, almost everyone could use a hand managing not only their day-to-day responsibilities, but aspects of their business that might not come naturally to them. From blogging and content marketing, to organizational tips and that little something extra, creative insights and a fresh perspective are what she hopes to provide.
Jessica's passion is helping others bring their dreams to life through creativity, and she has devoted years to linguistic integrity and best practices in content marketing in order to make that happen for businesses of all sizes. 25 Hours Consulting helps businesses stand in the spotlight by increasing their visibility, perfecting their message, and generating awareness and exposure in a creative way, with distinctive precision. They market around the clock, 25/7, to grow your business.
www.25hoursconsulting.com
Copper Owl Press:
Kaytalin Platt is the owner of Copper Owl Press and also a managing partner at Modern Moth Media, LLP. Copper Owl Press got its start in 2011 as publication design company specializing in cover art for indie authors. It was founded with a passion for the written word and good design, a combination that can lead to bestsellers. As more and more authors turn away from the big five publishing houses and towards micro and indie publishing, publication design services are in ever-increasing demand.
Copper Owl understands that making the leap to self-publishing or a micro publisher can be extremely daunting. Who do you trust? What do you do? Where do you start? Copper Owl has a wealth of knowledge for those seeking guidance in the realm of publication and publication design. They have worked alongside indie authors and small presses for a number of years. Not only do they provide design services, but they also offer consulting services to help guide you in the next steps of becoming an author.
Your one-stop-shop for publication design services, Copper Owl offers a full-service designer to walk you through everything needed to jump start your writing career. Aside from publication design services, Copper Owl also provides web design, marketing collateral and social media marketing strategies.
Copper Owl is a growing company, expanding and reaching new heights each year. Within the next two years, Copper Owl will expand into micro publishing, creating more opportunities for not only those who want to self-publish, but also those who want to work with a micro publisher.
www.copperowlpress.com
Cheryl Baisden:
Cheryl Baisden is a former newspaper reporter and editor who has written more than 100 articles on New Jersey history, travel, and personalities. She is also the author of Camden, South Jersey Farming, and Seabrook Farms in the Images of America series.
My Team:
I would also like to thank all of my additional team members, including (at the time of this publishing) Erin Fairmount (senior associate photographer), Paul Mays (IT director and senior associate videographer), Caroline Bennett (senior motion graphics/capture artist), Stephen Grancell (Associate Cinematographer and Video Editor), Bonnie Wireback (associate photographer), Cecilia Grace (portrait photographer), Jaclyn DiGiorgio (Associate Photographer), Danielle Eisenstock (assistant), Stephanie Barone (assistant photographer), Amelia Diaz (marketing assistant), Kristen Champion (associate assistant), and Sabrina Cimerol (assistant).
Each of these professionals has made such a large impact on my business that I cannot thank them enough. I'm beyond grateful that these people have bestowed their interest, professionalism, and dedication upon MTI Photography. They are some of the best friends and colleagues that I could ever ask for. Operating my business and being able to work with these folks is a dream come true.
Finally...
Continue on the path of your choosing and never let anyone discourage you. You can do anything you put your mind to. With your passion for photography and hard work, success will find you.
Thank you for taking the time to read my book and allow me to share with you my love of photography, and my journey. For more information about any of the content, please feel free to contact me through my website at
www.mtiphotography.com, and be sure to like us on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/mtiphotography.
