Photo Book Review
Making Things Work-
by Erick Lirios–
There are many issues about photography that need to be covered beyond the usual. For one thing, photography isn’t really about just talent. It’s part of the deal but when making money is the main goal, there are other important considerations. This is the main crux of Gary Gladstone’s “Corporate and Location Photography” and one of its greatest strengths is its real-life stories culled from Gladstone’s years of experience as a photographer dealing with corporate clients. The fact that he still uses film in this book (it’s not that new) is beside the point since it deals with preparing for a shoot and being able to deal with a client’s needs.
For example, some upstart photographers who think they’re ready and just bite the bullet not knowing much (this is happening too often) about dealing with actual shooting situations, figuring they can just wing it, are really in for a rude awakening.
To prepare for shoots and to make sure the shoot is as fluid as possible, Gladstone suggests having at least two sets of lights with each set having the same contents that way if one were to get lost in a plane, you still have another and you can still manage to shoot. He also doesn’t ever let go of his camera bag containing three bodies and seven lenses along with filters, accessories and even, as he calls it, a road office and extra forms. This idea is very useful. If you, unfortunately, lose all your lighting equipment because of changing from one plane to another, having your camera with you means you can still shoot even if it means having to buy lights wherever it is you are.
The book also deals with the subject of assistants and this is a most crucial part. An assistant also has to follow certain rules of decorum like in absolutely no way should the person offer his/her own card while assisting another photographer. Also, assisting is a unisex activity. There should be no such thing as, being a girl, the assistant refuses to lift the heavy stuff.
Perhaps the most important chapters of the whole book deal with interpersonal skills and the one dealing with actual problems. Interpersonal skills are so important especially when dealing with clients who, for some reason or another, would’ve wanted a different photographer. That’s normal. It’s up to you to convince them that (1) you’re a really good choice and (2) you will be a great choice for the next requirement. That’s an issue of interpersonal skills as much as it is generating very good work. The chapter, entitled “Before and After,” deals with just this next aspect. Often, clients may not really have any artistic experience aside from ogling some magazines, hoping they have the same type of images. They then ask you to shoot their operations in their offices wanting images fit for publication without realizing that maybe their office isn’t good to photograph. It’s now up to the photographer to come in and make a miracle of sorts.
Gladstone narrates how he was able to not only make shots happen but also how he dealt with the situation given him. He not only made use of tools that may not usually be considered part of photographic gear but also, and more importantly, was able to visualize just what the client may want, giving it to them rather than just following what the client wants as regards shooting. Remember, the photographer is the photographer. The client is not.
One of the best things one can learn from this book is that photography is a matter of dealing with problems that the photographer must solve. Too many Filipino photographers have the habit of telling their clients how difficult a shot is and that they can’t get it done. There is no better way of irritating (and losing) one’s clients than that.
Photography as a profession has to be dealt with different from a hobby. Too bad there are many people who are into photography don’t realize that before they actually try to get into it and mess up the lives of clients and other photographers. Gladstone’s book is a good introduction into what really goes down in an actual shoot and hopefully, it’s a sobering enough reminder to people of just what it means to be a professional photographer.
