Calm Photos

Yes, there is such a thing as press that’s less than positive. Sometimes it’s completely non-intentional and the negative effects aren’t realized until a few years down the road. Shortly after I started my photography business in 2003, the Dayton Daily News ran a full-page story about my work with nature and landscape photography. It was a good article. I can’t complain about that. The problem is that it ran at a time (early stage of going into business) when I held the mistaken belief that I could actually make a living solely based on the fine art market for nature, landscape and wildlife photography. The lasting negative effect of both that initial belief and particular article is that I’ve been permanently pigeon holed as just a “nature photographer” here in my local market, and I accept full responsibility.

I received a quick and expensive education to the contrary once the payables far outstretched the receivables. Even today people in Dayton keep mentioning “the article” and how much they are a “great fan of my nature and landscape photographs.” Daytonians love my work so much that they email or call me quite frequently asking me to donate a print to some silent auction or donate services or donate licensing rights. Donate, donate, donate. “It’s a great way to get your name out there.”

If I hear that phrase one more time I’m going to go out of my mind. Uh, I’m pretty sure that here in Dayton my name is out there. Perhaps that’s part of the problem ??

Here’s one the few certain things I’ve learned now that I’ve been in business as a photographer in the Dayton area going on five years now. The only thing that results from donations are more requests for donations, plus a whole host of hobbyists fishing for free info (that’s why I added paid workshops and lessons to my list of services).

Anyhoo, the truth is that my bread and butter is my commercial and assignment photography services, particularly in covering events, architectural projects, business portraits, products, processes, and a recent pick-up in activity for family portraiture.

Posted below is a new flyer I put together highlighting some of the recent architectural projects that I photographed. If I had to decide which area of commercial photography that I enjoy the most, I would have to say architecture followed closely by editorial and event work.

And yes, I will always hold-on to my first love of nature and landscape photography. However, I like to consider myself as a “renaissance man” in the field of photography. I can’t stand being pigeon holed - whether it applies to my professional or my personal life. What is it about this area of the Midwest that people feel so comfortable being permanently stuck in ruts - ruts of the same old way of doing business, day in and day out, and of applying convenient labels to one another.

Change, expand, adapt, learn, move forward. When things get too comfortable, then I know it’s time to light a fire under my @%# and get moving. In the words of Martha Stewart, “it’s a good thing.” Yesterday an old friend - originally from Dayton but who has also lived elsewhere (and that means out of Ohio) - commented that there’s just this “negative energy” to the area. I think it comes from so many of my fellow Daytonians falling into their comfortable zones and well, becoming permanent residents in the bland land of security and predictability. That’s not living. That’s just simply waiting.

Ellen and Terry over at the Inn at Cedar Falls are now making use of YouTube as an inexpensive but quite effective way of marketing the uniqueness of what I consider to be the best bed and breakfast in Ohio.

When I go to the Inn and walk through the doors the first thing I say is “I’m home.”

The following YouTube video features the still photography I completed last July for restaurant and pub at the Inn at Cedar Falls:

I did quite a variety of commercial and assignment photo shoots this past year. Everything from food, medical facilities, dental office, home interiors, waterproofing product application, small families, big groups and events.The following images are my personal favorites from those and other commercial photography shoots. I thought it would be important to emphasize this body of work given all the nature and landscape work I’ve been posting recently.

Is Jim Crotty a nature photographer ? Is Jim Crotty a portrait photographer ? Does Jim Crotty do commercial work ?

Yes, yes and yes - for God’s and cash flow sake, yes (just no weddings, please). I’m hearing more and more that here in Dayton I’m regarded as strictly a nature photographer. That could be part of the problem why I struggle do to business in this town. Sometimes I’m in a fight against my own success. But I still believe there’s another, more negative reason why this is the case. In fact, I actually know it to be true. More on that later. For now here are my personal favorites from my commercial assignments for 2007.

      

I’ve chosen a few images to share from an assignment photo shoot I did last week, of a client’s Christmas Party held at the Dayton Art Institute.One of the things I take pleasure in when doing event photography is to go in for the little details that sometimes get overlooked, particularly at social gatherings. There were plenty of people shots, but sometimes the decorative details and unique characteristics of the venue can say just as much about an event, if not more, as the typical adults-at-a-party images.

This particular location was a bit challenging because the shooting conditions were very dark and there’s only so much a portable flash unit will do. Because it was a busy event with lots of people it really wouldn’t have worked if I tried to move portable strobe lights around. So I tried to mix things up between hand-held shots with a Canon 580ex Speedlite and some longer exposures using my Bogen tripod. All shots were captured using a Canon 1D Mark III.

Wishing you and yours a happy, warm and loving Thanksgiving.

First Impressions is my second Blurb book. This one includes information and samples about my commercial and editorial photography and photography services, including recent images from food, product, portrait and architectural photo shoots. It is 22 pages in length, full color and comes in either hard or soft cover formats.

The following photographs are a few samples from a food photo shoot I recently completed for the Inn at Cedar Falls, known for the quality of their food and the talent of their head chef, Anthony.

The first tip I have for doing food photography is the same tip I have when grocery shopping while on a diet - never do it on an empty stomach. I did this shoot late in the afternoon, after a full-day of interior photography of rooms, cabins and gift shop, and skipping lunch. It was excruciating, to say the least, but the results were well worth the effort.

My second tip is to not let the food sit around too long. It if does, well, then it’s bit a like me back during my days working in a corporate office: I look good for the first few days, but then I go bad real quick. It is important to photograph the dish as soon as it comes out of the kitchen.

Of course the obvious question is did you get to eat any of the food that you photographed ? Nope. Not that Chef Anthony didn’t offer, however, it’s just not my professional policy to become that involved with my subjects. It would be kind of like your car mechanic asking to take your car for a lengthy test drive after he has fixed it. Not cool.

But dinner sure was good later that evening.