I’ve got more pictures than I can count to edit (well over 2000), a book to finish (which I’m sending in again tonight), a project to produce (Skins anyone?), a website to launch (Arranging Light), an Exhibit to prepare for, some advertising material to produce, a whole host of business tasks to attend to (expense tracking, mileage recording, advertising to send out, checks to cash, etc), and a nice pile of personal things to accomplish (social events, laundry, cleaning, unpacking my bags, spoiling my wife, etc), a new MySpace to create and promote, some code to write to help keep my online existence up to date, and a million other things that I’ve forgotten or simply don’t have the time to enumerate.
Given all of that, I’m not quite sure why I’m eager to take on more work, but, I am.
I really want to dig deeper into making well lit environmental portraits and art outside of the studio using portable lighting techniques. So, that’s right, you guessed it, I’m looking for volunteers. If you or someone you know would like your portrait made, or if you’d like to be a part of art that I create, or if you’d just like to volunteer your body as clay for me to mold, I want to hear from you.
I only ask for four things from my potential subjects:
* You will provide or assist in acquiring props, clothing, costumes, and makeup.
* You will provide, acquire, or suggest a location (preferably indoors considering the heat) that is interesting, adds something to the photograph and is something that you (or a character you would like to portray) care about.
* You are flexible, creative, and willing to work together to make an idea happen.
The final item is the most important and deserves to be separated from the others.
* You are punctual.
As my time is very limited and I take this work very seriously, I would ask that you respect the time and effort that I put into this as well. I find that people are more apt to be serious with something and follow through with that commitment when they have something to lose. Therefore, I will charge a $25 sitting fee for anyone who wishes to schedule an appointment. If you wish to work together without an appointment and you can keep a very flexible schedule then we can work together on a “day-of” basis in which I will contact you on a day that I find myself without a schedule and we’ll make arrangements to meet that day having previously planned out and prepared for the shoot. If you absolutely cannot afford $25 and you need to make an appointment, let me know that and we’ll try to work something out.
The longer you wait the less available I’m likely to be, and I won’t be willing to do this for peanuts forever. So, email me today (daniel AT djamesphoto DOT com) and we’ll work it out and make something beautiful together.