Edit: Tonight!



In the past, I've done a couple small presentations of some of my shots to some local camera clubs and things, but never anything very formal, long, or with much of an audience.

That just changed. I just finished nailing down the date/time of a "Landscape Photography Talk" that I'll be giving to the Triangle chapter of the Carolina Nature Photographers Association on April 3rd, 2008 @ 7:00 PM. My audience will be 50+ professional and advanced amateur nature photographers and I'm expected to speak for around an hour.

So yeah, I'm really excited since I've never done anything like it, but at the same time, I'm a bit nervous since these people actually know what they're doing, most are 40+, and I'm supposed to be the expert teaching them landscape photography technique. Overall, I'm definitely more excited than nervous though, I enjoy public speaking especially when the subject is something I'm confident in. This will give me a great opportunity to get my name out there as well.

Anyways, just wanted to share and if you're in the Triangle area, feel free to come out and listen. You don't have to be a member nor pay anything to come to the meeting.

Where's the triangle area?
and that sounds awesome, you getting paid for this?

Just imagine them in their underwear.

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

Where's the triangle area?
and that sounds awesome, you getting paid for this?

Its the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area of North Carolina.

As for payment, free dinner and gas money. But last time I did a talk like this (much smaller, less formal) I netted a few hundred bucks in sold prints afterwards and that was without even making my website very obvious or handing out business cards. I plan to do that a bit better this time around.

Originally Posted by thechickencow

Just imagine them in their underwear.

I can rock the public speaking part... that's no problem. Its just the acting like an expert to a bunch of pros that will be fun...

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

Where's the triangle area?
and that sounds awesome, you getting paid for this?

The Triangle is Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill, NC. The Research Triangle Park (RTP) is in the middle, and is the technological hub of NC (IBM, SAS, GlaxoSmithKline, etc.). Doh! Scott beat me to it!

Scott--that's awesome! I would be nervous, too, but all you have to do is tell them honestly what you do--you just have to figure out how to explain it to someone else. They are looking to you to teach technique because you obviously have it and have a great eye for landscapes. Some of that is teachable, most of it is not. So you can just explain the nuts and bolts of technique, and try to explain the creative side. No one can duplicate the creative side, but they can try with the sound technique I"m sure you will teach/talk about.

M

sounds awesome, good luck!

Thanks, guys.

And Mark, it'll be in Chapel Hill as well... so if you're free, feel free to come by.

Yeah, I like public speaking too. The crazy part was I used to dread it, but now I see it as a challenge to do better every time and I've really improved a ton.

Originally Posted by Stime187

Thanks, guys.

And Mark, it'll be in Chapel Hill as well... so if you're free, feel free to come by.

My calendar is already marked. Just let me know where.

M

I wouldn't worry about your audience being pros or experts even, you have a product that can back your skill up. No one can argue with that. You'll do fine.

Agreed with Ted.
Your only problem as far as I could guess would be in the speaking/explaining. Not that you can't, and you've said you're comfortable speaking so you'll be fine. You clearly know what you're doing, you just have to explain it now.

Yeah, I have a pretty good idea of what I'm going to do.

I'll probably start out and talk a bit about myself personally, then show 20 or 25 shots and talk about each one individually (how I took it, what I was thinking, my stories, and basic details) and then show a slide of a straight out of camera shot and the finished result to give them an idea of how little processing I do. I'd like for them to understand that the computer simply enhances, it doesn't create what isn't there.

We'll see... I'll use this thread ot bounce ideas as I go. Thanks for all the input/support.

- Scott

Thats awesome, GL Scott im sure they will all be wowed by your photos!

I like the slideshow idea, thats pretty good to show since some of your shots are pretty cool looking and most people dont' capture light like that.

I wish I could go...

Originally Posted by thechickencow

I like the slideshow idea, thats pretty good to show since some of your shots are pretty cool looking and most people dont' capture light like that.

Yeah, I think a slideshow and laser pointer will be perfect. I figure there will be alot of grad. ND discussion and I'll need to point out where I placed it.

make sure you bring them with you too... Maybe even get them to buy one cheap one to pass around so they don't get yours dirty. You know, and expense.

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

make sure you bring them with you too... Maybe even get them to buy one cheap one to pass around so they don't get yours dirty. You know, and expense.

Bring what with me? Maybe I'm just being slow...

a Grad ND filter just in case you have a few clueless people there.

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

a Grad ND filter just in case you have a few clueless people there.

Oh! Good call, I'll probably have my new setup by then for the 5D, so I might can take an old one...

Yeah, you might can take an old one.

Originally Posted by Stime187

Oh! Good call, I'll probably have my new setup by then for the 5D, so I might can take an old one...

I'm a clueless person, you're getting a 5d by then?

Originally Posted by tardypizza

Originally Posted by Stime187

Oh! Good call, I'll probably have my new setup by then for the 5D, so I might can take an old one...

I'm a clueless person, you're getting a 5d by then?

I have a lot stuff I can sell... I just sold my 70-200 f/2.8, got some motorcycle parts, and I can sell my 30D. So, potentially I might have one. The real question is if I buy a 5D before then, can I make enough money before the summer to go out west and pay for a spot climbing Rainier in July.

So, yeah, I might have it. Just need to really think about what I can afford. If I decide to just get a real job next semester (pretty likely, REI or similar), I should be able to pull it off.

I wish you good luck then, and I expect that you might have it before you know it.

Originally Posted by tardypizza

I wish you good luck then, and I expect that you might have it before you know it.

Also, as predicted in the Time to Vote thread, I've sold several prints lately (Christmas time) and that's certainly going to help as any print I sell, I try to put that money completely away for the 5D.

On second thought, I'm not sure the world is ready for Scott with a 5d. I retract my blessing of good luck.

Originally Posted by tardypizza

On second thought, I'm not sure the world is ready for Scott with a 5d. I retract my blessing of good luck.

Thanks, Ted. But really, it'll be the same shots just the ability to print them BIG. I hate having to turn down 20x30 orders because the quality (for me personally) isn't good enough to sell at that size. Bigger prints bring in much bigger profits for sure.

20x30 is definitely big.

agreed, def bring prints to sell man, whore yourself to the masses with 5D in mind..

Thanks, guys.

Originally Posted by thechickencow

20x30 is definitely big.

Indeed. I've only had requests for that size a handful of times... but when you can sell a 20x30 for a couple hundred bucks, it hurts when you have to say no.

Originally Posted by anotherD80

Major congrats, Scott. That'll rock. Definitely bring prints. You'll make major $$ that night.

While I'd love to, I probably won't since I'm trying to associate myself with being a professional (as much as possible) by doing this and I really can't imagine a pro going to talk at a camera club and bringing prints to sell. Hopefully business cards, mentioning my website during the talk, and having it in the presentation will be enough to generate some sales.

Originally Posted by Stime187

While I'd love to, I really can't imagine a pro going to talk at a camera club and bringing prints to sell.

You'd be crazy not too... But don't bring them to sell. Bring them to show how kick ass the shots look printed in person. Bring a few, no more than 5, all different, and all matted and framed in nice gallery frames (black frame, arctic white mat, black core). Tell them they are NOT for sale if anyone asks as they are for display purposes... Then if someone corners you at the end you can sell them, but stress to anyone that asks that they're only there as a display and that you might be able to figure out something later...

The reasoning behind this is you need to sell these people the fact you're a kick ass photographer. They will be blown away by your slideshow, but when the lights go on and the projector goes off there won't be anything to look at. This won't be too bad after the show as you will have already made an impact, but when people are showing up, especially when they see a 21 year old "kid" you need to already have them thinking "Damn, how is he so good so young!?", not "Whose this your whippersnapper, and why should I listen to him?". You'll get a lot better reception if you know their socks off on the way in the door. Framed prints are a sure way to do it.

You'll have enough sales by the end of the night to buy a 5D.

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

Originally Posted by Stime187

While I'd love to, I really can't imagine a pro going to talk at a camera club and bringing prints to sell.

You'd be crazy not too... But don't bring them to sell. Bring them to show how kick ass the shots look printed in person. Bring a few, no more than 5, all different, and all matted and framed in nice gallery frames (black frame, arctic white mat, black core). Tell them they are NOT for sale if anyone asks as they are for display purposes... Then if someone corners you at the end you can sell them, but stress to anyone that asks that they're only there as a display and that you might be able to figure out something later...

The reasoning behind this is you need to sell these people the fact you're a kick ass photographer. They will be blown away by your slideshow, but when the lights go on and the projector goes off there won't be anything to look at. This won't be too bad after the show as you will have already made an impact, but when people are showing up, especially when they see a 21 year old "kid" you need to already have them thinking "Damn, how is he so good so young!?", not "Whose this your whippersnapper, and why should I listen to him?". You'll get a lot better reception if you know their socks off on the way in the door. Framed prints are a sure way to do it.

You'll have enough sales by the end of the night to buy a 5D.

Hmm... that's a pretty good idea. I might just bring 4 or 5 matted/signed ones and yeah, just say repeatedly "These are not for sale." until someone shows me money or orders one.

Thanks, guys.

Didnt think of it that way Ben, good points. Scott do you have b-cards? bring those since they link to your site where... you sell prints.. so maybe you can get some print sales without being the sales guy at the meeting/ conference/ class.

Originally Posted by subimatt

Didnt think of it that way Ben, good points. Scott do you have b-cards? bring those since they link to your site where... you sell prints.. so maybe you can get some print sales without being the sales guy at the meeting/ conference/ class.

That was my original idea. I have some pretty nice, two-sided cards that I recently had made up. I plan on bringing a ton of those for sure, but I'm definitely thinking about Ben's idea.

If it helps influence you, I will second what Ben said. I think, especially with you being young and in school, that a strong first impression will really help you and set the tone for the evening. I think having some of your work matted and framed will help immensely with that. And I know it's another expense that you don't want now, but you have a little time, and I'd bet they pay for themselves within a week afterwards.

M

I'd bet he has framed options around his house right now....
He might just have to work on getting them into matching frames.

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

I'd bet he has framed options around his house right now....
He might just have to work on getting them into matching frames.

Everything I do is black framed, so that's no problem.

But to be honest, I really don't have much of my work framed/matted or even on my walls.

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

I'd bet he has framed options around his house right now....
He might just have to work on getting them into matching frames.

That's what I meant--really good, nice frames are the (relatively) expensive part of it all....

M

I might consider doing a few matted 12x18s instead as they would be a much cheaper option and way easier to carry in/out...

Originally Posted by anotherD80

I've never been to a photog's show where they weren't selling prints.

Well, it is a lecture/talk and not a show. And I'll be speaking to other photographers (some professionals) and not art buyers, so the rules are a little different I think.

But at any rate, I do think its a good idea to bring something in... postcards might be a better idea as they're cheap, have my name/website on them, and they're higher quality...

Originally Posted by Markitos

That's what I meant--really good, nice frames are the (relatively) expensive part of it all....

M

$20 for a 18" x 24" frame (which holds his 12x18s perfectly.
http://www.jerrysartarama.com/art-su.../0071538000000

Originally Posted by Stime187

I might consider doing a few matted 12x18s instead as they would be a much cheaper option and way easier to carry in/out...

Easier, maybe, but they would look incredible in a frame... You've see the DIY mat/frame thread...
FYI, those frame have plexiglass, so you can drop them or toss them around w/o worrying about them breaking... You just have to be careful not to scratch them.

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

$20 for a 18" x 24" frame (which holds his 12x18s perfectly.
http://www.jerrysartarama.com/art-su.../0071538000000

Damn. Thanks for the link.

Luckily, I have a few months to think about the rest of this stuff...

Yeah, it's not the highest quality frame in the world, but especially for going to a lecture like you're doing they are perfect. They're your basic black with plexi... Also you can take the plexi out for your show if you're worried about glare/reflections. It's what we use in our house though.

Stime, how are you planning to show off the 5 pics? I just thought of brining some tripods and mounting two pictures on each. Then people can circle around the set and see and hear each other going 'oh wow. Amazing. Look at this!'

Originally Posted by jjswee

Stime, how are you planning to show off the 5 pics? I just thought of brining some tripods and mounting two pictures on each. Then people can circle around the set and see and hear each other going 'oh wow. Amazing. Look at this!'

Well, the space is limited... I've been to a meeting over there, and I don't want to get too fancy. If I do it, I'll just bring a few matted ones and lay them on a table for people to walk around and look at before/after I'm done.