Update!

For those whom are wondering and don't follow my facebook or twitter feeds... I have a few new websites primarily for clientele interactions and transactions. But as always if you want to follow my work its best to follow me on Twitter @ChrisAdval or/and like me on facebook.

1.     www.ChrisAdvalsArt.com - > Primary transactions for print sales

2.     www.ChrisAdvalPhotography.com - > Non-commercial photography website

3.     www.ChrisAdvalProductions.com - > Commercial Services website

4.     www.AdvalSeniorPortraits.com - > Non-commercial Senior Portrait photography website

5.     www.TheGreatWeddingStory.com - > Non-commercial Wedding Portrait photography website

and as you should already know, my flickr - www.flickr.com/chrisadval

As for that I haven't been updating the blog as I used to simply because you can see the models I've photographed already on many other areas like flickr/facebook. I gave all the tips I already knew on working with models and working with photographers as a model. I didn't see any new tips/tricks to share either. I've been explored in 2012 and 2013 a ton more environmental portraits and have yet to learn half of what environmentals can provide. I did recent purchase Vaga Bond battery pack (with extra battery) to shoot a lot more environmental outdoor shoots without worrying about much on power and allowing me to use my studio strobes instead of speedlights... Right now I am debating to use the vaga bond or invest into more speedlights to get equal amount of power as my studio strobes on-location... but I am testing this with actual shoots in the field to see which I prefer... right now I prefer taking (1) 100w/s studio strob than taking 2-3 speedlights to get the same amount as the 100w/s strob, of course it depends on the speedlights, expensive latest most powerful (1) speedlight or 2-3 cheaper speedlights. I've also invested into a speedlight medium softbox, which I had for 2 months, and didnt use it yet. I wish I could take it with me on the transportation bus to NYC to shoot local models outside with it but the carrying bag/case is too awkwardly sized. 

Also I've cut down by 30-40% of trade shooting this year due to being in business officially since December 2012 (1 full year this month). So I cut it down to work on the business and possibly increase sales from that trade market. But I've learned something from many of my fellow photographer peers locally told and saw it with my own eyes... there is no market with working with models. Models, in most cases will never pay a photographer. That includes, wannabe models, professional models, etc... The only useful thing with working with models are simply building a portfolio for using those photos to advertise yourself to potential clients outside of models. Such as, senior portraits, bridal/wedding photos, headshots, and boudoir (sexy type photos for non-models)... I'm sure there is a ton more but thats what I do mostly for my business. Other than that yea, submitting photos to contests or magazines are useful to use actual models instead of people (non-models).

Fake vs. Real Tear Sheets

It’s been awhile since I posted anything but I need a real decent rant posted here about this topic…

Let’s talk about the big dog in the room… Mag Cloud. As soon as it started to become noticeable to photographers and/or models that didn’t have any tear sheets they thought… “Why not make our own tear sheets!” Ethically, they didn’t/don’t care if it was unethical as the value to “make your own tear sheets” for credit purposes. I’ve seen many photographer websites where it’s a list of 10, 15, 30+ tearsheet credits from these worthless publications. And its not just a zero value to putting on a tear sheet, its completely pointless. Here’s the only tiny point it has, its form of a photo sharing with other colleagues in the profession, such as for photography/model mag cloud magazines, it’s a form of a way to show off with other colleagues. No different than other resources such as flickr, 500px, forums, facebook, etc… Here’s the big difference…. The person who “created” the magazine can make money from the magazine. And here’s the KICKER… they generally won’t give a penny to those who contributed! Won’t offer royalty, won’t pay licensing fees, won’t even pay for a printed copy of the magazine which are generally priced $15-$20 each!

These so called “publications” have ZERO value to anyone. If you contribute to it you value yourself so low that you are telling the entire planet your work is completely worthless. A tearsheet is where serious and REAL credits reside and shown, not ones you made up yourself or was featured on some magazine that can’t afford to send you a printed copy at least!

What’s more disgusting is some of Mag Cloud magazines that are ran by photographers, use these so called “publications” as a form of payment… since they think their magazines have monetary value of some kind to some people and some people think it has value that its good enough as actual cash so they’ll model just to get featured into their magazine and charge other photographers whom don’t have these fake magazines.

Here’s when its okay to use Mag Cloud… anything but trying to run a publication. If you want to run a publication do it right… charge for advertising, if not advertising, then give at least some royalties to the contributors as minimal compensation and showing that their work has a value at all especially when its featured in your publication.