Photo by Kyer Wiltshire
I've spent a lot of time behind a video camera over the last 10 years. When it comes to having a staged photo of myself taken, I'm not usually the first one to jump in front of the lens. Beyond the top notch equipment and knowing the technical aspects of getting a good picture, there is the camera operator. What I've observed is that in most cases, having a rapport with your photographer is paramount. This may be an obvious comment to the professional models out there, but for many of you just trying to get a great shot of yourself - for whatever application - the process is often a big pain in the rear. I'll say this: in an age when your mug is all over hells half acre in cyberspace, you might want to partner up with someone who knows how to create good media and get the good shots. There are more talented photographers out there than you can imagine. Once you spot something you like that someone's done, send them a message and give feedback - good or bad. There's nothing more useful to a cameraman in developing his/her skills than random observations from the field. More time than not, you're likely to end up not only effectively engaging the artist, but engaging the artist within yourself. The tools available for communication these days are unprecedented in the entire course of human history. Find your photo/video collaborators, which will help you find your "media self" and leverage the incredible tools now at your disposal. Each of our individual stories are as interesting and compelling as the next persons. When you're ready to put a little thought into how you're presenting yourself to billions of people, challenge your photographer and make that shot count!
