Tips for a photographer: how to start working abroad. Photo session abroad with a professional photographer

Dima and I have been wanting to do an interview for a hundred years. “Let’s meet at two o’clock!” I tell him and I’m late. For an hour. We talk for 180 minutes, I constantly check the recorder because it seems that everything he says is valuable. And now, returning from another trip, I realize that I have lost the audio recording. I’m afraid to confess to him, I delay the moment, I finally confess and get the answer - “Sad.” One word, spoken with his inherent humility, tears you apart from the inside. All. I give up. I'm crying.

That evening I find the entry on my desktop. It turns out that she hid it from herself.

Take a deep breath and start reading. Inside, it’s not the most familiar, so maybe someone won’t like it, someone will give up, and someone will decide to get to know Dima. He knows a lot and shares his experience with everyone for free, no matter where or what time zone he is in.

Good photographer, bad photographer

As soon as people buy cameras, they begin to think that they automatically become photographers. They are not shy about taking money, calmly naming the cost per hour, giving away cheap photos and even promoting themselves on them. Those who want to add to their photo album do not particularly understand photography and this is where jokes, or rather realities of life, in the form of bluish, greenish, yellow faces are born. The customer likes it - and that’s fine.

Those who shoot well are most often not promoted. Why? Because it takes a lot of time to create a professional image. You either shoot or create an image. There are only a few people who manage to do everything.

Abroad, for example, there is a clear division among professions; in our country, at best, the “promoter” is the wife, and then the photographer is lucky if she is advanced in all these Internet matters. A female photographer - this also happens, but it’s harder to imagine a man sitting at a computer promoting such a wife.

I hide my photos from VKontakte users

My photographs can be called practicing skills, training for the future creation of art (I hope I will grow into it). This is practice, nothing more. Deep down, I consider myself a free artist who continues to experiment with form and line. This does not make me want to sell myself to the masses. And there is no understanding of how it is possible to take money from people for photography.

I hide my photos from VKontakte users. The logic is quite strange, I agree. On the one hand, I would like to take interesting orders, on the other hand, I’m afraid that it will start: “shoot a wedding for us,” “we want a child by the fireplace, littered with toys,” “in this dress with a giraffe, so that the person is askew.”

As soon as you start explaining to people that decorations are not needed to reveal a person’s character, that all these fireplaces, columns and wallpaper with vignettes spoil everything, they immediately look blank. The second moment of misunderstanding arises when you name the cost of the photographs and explain that for an hour of work you will not give 200 photographs, but maybe only 3 or 4. Everything ends approximately the same: “Oh, no, we have a neighbor with a DSLR, she takes pictures."

I don't want to ask for money for my work

The status of photography is now very low. Spend hours talking about what makes up the value of a job? For what? Although, soon, I feel, I will come to the idea that it is necessary to give master classes on this issue. To say in plain text what should be valued in the work of a photo artist and that going overboard with paints is not at all “I’m an artist, that’s how I see it,” but bad manners or, worse, blindness.

In principle, I am even ready to conduct such master classes for free and would even be willing to travel around our region to meet amateur photographers and exchange experiences. I am a mobile person, although I am a family person, but in many ways I am adventurous. Without professional communication internal mechanism rusts, and full communication with the computer through which I watch various webinars or recordings of meetings does not happen.

I don't want to ask for money for my work. A person who is eager to receive quality does not pay, he thanks. I would like the amount of gratitude to be worthy, and not “remove 1,500 items for 5,000 rubles.”

Now the process of exchanging “necessities” looks like? - The customer wants to get what everyone else has. That is, a violation of the composition, banal interiors, pink faces. If he didn’t withdraw as he wanted, he wouldn’t pay. Or it will be disgraceful that you yourself give him more money.

Reportage photography? we have? Are you joking?

Reportage photography - understand, this is not what every boy in the yard does. Click and that's it. I like the photographs of Grigory Pinkhasov, Sergei Maksimishin, and the international photo agency Magnum. This is an incredible skill - when one skillfully captured moment can tell more than a two-page description of a journalist about it. In our city and district they don’t film like that.

Wedding vendors at least somehow compete with each other in terms of wages - reporters usually sit without money. For most news agencies, a photo of a passer-by taken on mobile phone, will be more important. Because we have a trend towards “naturalness”. Reportage photography is also natural, only it is smart and requires a lot of experience from the photographer.

The fate of a Russian photographer

Now I’ll tell you a terrible thing. A photographer in the region has one path if he wants to develop and, ultimately, earn decent money, and it has nothing to do with the region. We must go, we must go. Abroad. And further away. Those who constantly grow and remain in place gain fame - you can count them on your fingers. They fanatically sit in their free three hours a week from processing a ton of family and corporate personnel (this is if they have orders) and look at the monitor, studying other people's brilliant personnel. The rest of the time they choose between wedding photography - not always loved, but profitable, and hunger, living “for the sake of art,” counting the number of “thank yous” that need to be received in order to purchase a new lens.

If you want to shoot fashion, you need to go first to Moscow, and then to Europe, to New York. There's a fashion street there. You can even bring a chair to the master, if necessary, just to work with those who know how to shoot. Please note that for Russian gloss, most photo projects are shot either by invited people from abroad or by people living there. I am a patriot, but we are talking about gaining experience, and we have little of it. And the country had difficulties in every decade, and our intelligentsia was not always loved, and priority tasks others were asked: to build a factory - yes, but to learn the art of photography - there is no time.

Our level is the Middle Ages. Please understand correctly, this is a purely personal opinion that emerged while studying the history of the development of photography in Europe and America. Abroad, this is the norm when, in order to decorate a wall in your company, you go to the nearest (!) photo gallery and buy a photo.

There are also situations when famous guests are coming to your company, but you don’t have money for photography. Then you go to the same nearest gallery and rent the one you like. You understand? - Art is rented! For a week, two - as needed. Visitors will definitely appreciate this.
Now tell me - is this possible for us now?

Dreaming is not harmful. What if it comes true?

IN Lately we talk about the urban environment. That, they say, every resident needs to come up with a project to improve it and work with all services together. Of course, the question immediately arises: what role can the photographer play in this matter?

When Vladimir Seleznev came to us, we examined in detail visual means, of which there are a huge number. Reading that they exist is one thing, but seeing them is quite another. Observation is generally a prerequisite in work. The more a photographer can see, the better for himself, the formation of the author's style. You first need to do a lot, compare, analyze, and only then do you begin to notice something about something.

For two days we studied color, light, shape, object, plane, reflection. On the third day there was practice. I remember walking pouring rain, we wandered through the streets with a camera, a stream flowed from the camera, we filmed. I remember what happened in the end forever. He even seemed happy to his wife because of the successful shots.

And it would be right to bring photographers who specialize in urban environments to cities and let them roam the streets. Let them look for urban metaphors they create the photographic soul of the city, and then place the photographs in circulation albums as decoration. Usually, those who live in one place for a long time lose their perception of the mystery and mystery of the surrounding space, so it is precisely non-residents who need to be invited to such projects. True, no one needs this now either. And if it were, I would gladly drive through the same Ugra.

How and how much do photographers get paid?

There is such a funny saying: “Do you need something to do with your child? Take up photography and he won’t have time for anything else.”

That’s right - photography takes a lot of effort, but the work is not always appreciated appropriately. And it's a shame. Photographers can be roughly divided into three types. Some people get paid for their time. There are many such photographers in every city - they are not particularly selective in their orders, for the most part they are artisans. There are photographers who come and take pictures and no one really cares what he took. They paid for the name! It costs $20,000 to shoot, and the output is 3 frames, and it’s shot by a whole team.

The third type of photographer is the creators of fine art - they are paid for prints. Their photographs hang in the most expensive offices
world, they are worth millions. The work exists in one copy. For example, "Rhine II" for a long time was one of the most expensive photos, its creator is the German Andreas Gursky. Moreover, now he is far from old age.

Photoshop as a story “is there life on Mars?”

For us, the first type of photographers, the creative range is not great. Something in which you can succeed and at the same time not sell your soul to the Devil - a portrait, an object. But to take a classic portrait, you need to be an excellent psychologist, and to photograph objects, you need to understand the light better than yourself. To exhibit and see the light is like miracles. Objects do not tend to forgive mistakes. Especially if they are chrome.

To illuminate, for example, a fork, you need a two-meter octobox. Then the glare will cover the entire object. Photoshop? 3D? You can use them, but then it will no longer be a photograph.

The story about Photoshop is actually like the story “is there life on Mars?” To learn how to use it correctly, you need to be an artist. Be able to draw shadows, reflections, reflexes, highlights... - and all this in order to draw a chair with the same light as in real life.

I like to break stereotypes

Let's start with the fact that a photographer most often has some other hobbies. Talented man cannot concentrate all his talent on one thing. Anyone who wants to argue, argue, but I know a lot of examples when masters of photography coexisted in several forms at once.

I love sound, acoustics. Visualization and sound overlap in many ways, so I don’t feel like I’m doing something opposite. I once bought all sorts of speakers, then I started making them myself, now I have nowhere to put them at home. Warehouse, homemade and homemade again. My mother-in-law, my wife, me...

I also rarely photograph girls, puppies and redheads with hemp, such absolute trends for liking. What I photograph is understood by quite a few people, usually those who have visual experience. A person who has tried real brewed coffee at least once will not return to the fake one, and the likelihood that “Hands Up” will be listened to by those who do not know Mozart is very high.

Now I shoot with a small camera and I can prove to everyone that it’s not about size (just like in the song). - You can shoot with anything. If you are a photographer, of course.

You can learn photography at home, but you can learn to earn money abroad

In 2011 I bought a used Nikon 3100 with manual settings. Back then everyone bought Canon. They were very interesting to study and I became interested. And so it went.
You can learn how to set up a camera in a week, but you can’t see the light or the plot. I don’t think that even now I see everything very well, there is room for improvement.

I am constantly learning, but learning does not mean sitting in front of the Master and taking lessons from him. You can look at the photos yourself and analyze the angle, light, emotions. You can grow anywhere; you don’t need to go abroad to do this. But if you want to earn (!) “like them” - you have to. It’s a question of developing handwriting and that’s all.
When I’m not filming or processing, I turn on some master class or creative meeting, any other educational video and watch. Or listening. Or it goes as a background.

From the latter, I began to conduct master classes for those who are interested in photography and whose thirst is difficult to quench with regular training in photography schools. In our photography schools I don’t even understand what they teach now. If you want to succeed as a photographer, then you need to devote everything you have to studying photography. free time. At least for the first ten years.

Abroad, on vacation, black and white photography, reportage style of shooting with elements of production.

Together with our website, you will be able to find your grateful customers everywhere, even on vacation. And all you need for this is your trusty camera and the ability to access the Internet in a timely manner. Let's imagine that in the summer you decide to go somewhere to the seashore, hoping to relax. Even here you can easily find people who will pay you for your black and white photographs. Don't believe me? Let's look at one case. Let's say you decide to visit one of the large amusement parks, or, more likely, a water park. You rested to your heart's content and then walked over to the bar. A group of young people is already sitting next to you. They are talking animatedly about something and having fun. If according to them appearance you can say that they have money, then you should turn them into your clients. You approach them and offer to photograph them, citing either the fact that you saw how well the light falls in this place, or that you love live photographs, and young people will look just great in your photographs. You yourself will be surprised that there are practically no refusals in this case, especially if there are girls in the company. All people love to have their photograph taken, especially if it is free and does not require anything from them. You can easily and naturally do several interesting photos, and then you distribute business cards to everyone in the company with the address of our website, your nickname and the date of the shooting, using this information they will be able to find their photos. Photographing in places like water parks or beaches is very profitable, because people usually come there to have an active time and do not take cameras or other equipment. And there are many advantages to photographing companies - at least one of them will definitely go to the site to look at the photo, and can even order several copies for their friends, because such photos will be much better than boring staged photo sessions. After you have photographed what you think are a sufficient number of people, all you have to do is upload the photos to our website by going to your profile and indicating the location and time of the shooting. Each of your photos will be protected with special watermarks so that no one can use them without purchasing them. On this photographer's work will be completed - and all you have to do is continue your rest and expect a reward. It is worth noting that, despite the fairly high prices on our website, most visitors buy at least a few pieces for themselves, because they will not be able to find photographs of this level and plan anywhere else. If you are a talented photographer, then you really should work with us, especially since you are only required to take photographs - we do the printing and distribution of photographs ourselves.

The most basic question is how to find clients for such a shoot?

Go where these clients already exist. In other words, find agencies organizing celebrations in Spain, Italy, the Czech Republic (the list goes on).

There are quite a lot of such agencies. But local photographers in these countries are not very good, and often charge much more. So they will take you with pleasure. Another option is to find organizers of foreign celebrations. They now do a lot of weddings in Cyprus and Greece.

Try both options. Do not refuse free or conditionally free shooting (that is, only for payment of accommodation, travel and meals). For the first one or two weddings, your task is to create a portfolio of foreign photography for yourself, so that future clients can see - yes, he really shoots abroad.

Connect with photographers who specialize in weddings in other countries

Ask to speak with one of them first. Be persistent - don’t expect that out of 5 people, all 5 will immediately say “yes” to you. Ask questions directly: “Can I go with you? Can I take a picture with you?” Agree to the role of assistant - assistant, shoot for free. The main thing is that you have a portfolio from filming “abroad”

Don’t be afraid that you “don’t know special places” suitable for shooting

If clients have already chosen a country, then they almost certainly know where they want to do it. Maybe this is not their first trip. Ask to show photos of their previous visit to the country, the places that they themselves like.

You shouldn’t think that local photographers are a priori better than you, since they “know the places.” You have such a wonderful “head start” in front of them, because their look is “blurred”, and yours is fresh.

The main goal for you on these first wedding orders is a portfolio with foreign views and the feeling that, having already tried it, you really want to photograph weddings in other countries and beyond.

A wedding or portrait photo shoot abroad is a bright romantic adventure. It allows you to combine strong emotions from being in beautiful places with lasting memories from viewing photographs. After all, beautiful photography can revive the strongest positive emotions of your holiday. Many aspiring photographers dream of expanding their portfolio with photography from abroad. Which will give their presentation expressive shots and increase their professional status. But there are numerous features of working outside of home country, ignorance of which can seriously hinder both the customers and the photographer from achieving their plans with dignity.

1. In a number of countries, there is a ban on the work of a visiting professional photographer. In fact, the police have every right to detain the photographer right at the shoot, put him in prison until the circumstances are clarified, permanently seize the equipment, impose a huge fine and deport him from the country. This is due to the fact that the legislation of some countries considers photography to be an expensive professional activity that takes place on their territory and is not subject to taxes. Which means it is criminal. There are quite a few such episodes described on the Internet and on forums of photographers and brides. Such excesses occur especially often in Thailand and Cuba, as well as in a number of other countries.
2. Constant flights, travel, and luggage increase the risk of equipment damage. These extreme factors also include unpredictable working conditions - dampness, sea air, sand, wind. The risk of equipment damage increases significantly compared to working in a familiar environment.
3. Theft is another risk factor that is very common during long journeys and hotel stays. Moreover, the possibility of stealing in civilized European countries no less than in Asia and even in Muslim countries.
4. Full technical autonomy on the road. To guarantee the customer 100% operability of the equipment throughout the trip, being away from the ability to quickly decide technical problems, you have to take duplicate sets of the main elements of the system - cameras, lenses, flashes, consumables. This is a factor that many photographers do not think about, hoping that everything will be fine and not thinking about the risks.
5. Safety of materials. A good photographer shoots a lot, which means he will need a huge amount of memory. A great photographer is different from good topics, which always makes backups - duplicates the shooting onto several physical media - flash drives, hard drives, cloud storage. Only this approach can guarantee the safety of the footage under any circumstances. What does it mean? This means that a photographer working abroad will need a laptop, several hard drives, constant Internet access and plenty of time.
6. Stress and busy schedule. Customers, as a rule, do not have a very good idea of ​​the “kitchen” of a good professional photographer. Let's look behind the dark door and figure out what a simple two-hour photo shoot is for a high-class professional photographer:

• Preparing for shooting, familiarizing yourself with locations on the Internet, thinking through a plan, selecting approximate posing, general idea, technical solutions- about 1 hour of preparation, if without a preliminary visit to the site.
• Technical training- checking the kit, removing dust from matrices and optics, checking equipment, batteries for cameras and flashes, assembling the bag. From half an hour to 1 hour.
• The road to the shooting location. Half an hour or an hour.
• Two-hour photo session. 2 hours.
• Road to the hotel. Half an hour or an hour.
• Resetting all footage from two cameras (300-800 frames), organizing, renaming. About half an hour.
• Preliminary selection of all material, removal of unnecessary duplicates, assignment of ratings. About 2 hours.
• Converting all material from working RAW format to regular Jpeg with easy color correction. 2-3 hours.
• Creating a backup - duplicate copies to an external drive and/or cloud storage. From half an hour to 1 hour.
• Final selection of the best shots of the photo shoot. At least 1 hour.
• Color correction, photo processing. At least 2-3 hours.
• Creating a Slideshow, printing, Internet versions, preparing the kit for delivery. At least 1 hour.