Just returned from Photoshop World in Las Vegas, this is the 3rd year in a row I have gone. I get a lot of questions on workshops asking ways to learn new technique and creativity. How about spending 3-4 days with some of the best photographers and photoshop gurus in the business? Every year I learn some great new techniques, and get inspired to try new creative ideas in my shooting.
Here are a few of the ideas from this year’s conference that stuck with me.
1. “80 percent of my portfolio images come from personal shooting.” I have long preached this, and it was great to hear other pros saying the same thing. You have to get out and shoot, even if you don’t have an assignment, whenever you can. I’ve found that shooting on my personal time is more important in developing my style than shooting on assignment. You have to continue to experiment and explore your creativity to develop your visual acuity. If you don’t shoot personal projects, your creative progression slows down.
2. It’s all about the light. It was really fun to hear a landscape shooter, a fine art shooter, a sports shooter and a portrait shooter all focus in on how they see light and use it to their advantage in their photography. What was interesting is how each of the shooters approached lighting differently to get the results they wanted in their images. This reaffirmed that lighting is key is determining your photographic style, and you never stop learning new lighting techniques.
3. Social Media is growing rapidly. We’ve all heard how Facebook is so popular, but it was interesting to learn how major companies are not directing you to their corporate website, they are directing you to their Facebook page. This is what America turns on in the morning like TV, and having a presence there is more important than ever if you want find new leads.
4. New gear. I’ll admit I love walking around and checking out the new gear. One item that caught my attention this year was a Lastolite bracket that will hold 4 speedlights and allows mounting a Pocket Wizard transmitter on the bracket. The best part is the bracket ships with a splitter cord allowing you link up 4 flashes to one receiver. Very cool!