Welcome and thanks for dropping by. The Featured Galleries consist of some of my favorite images divided into categories. Please feel free to leave a comment on my blog. |
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About
My background
Since 1989, I’ve been based in Southern California as an institutional photographer engaged in commercial, training, lifestyle/marketing and editorial photography with hundreds of photos published associated with underwater exploration, scuba diving and layperson CPR/first aid training. Beyond this, my work includes a growing range of fashion, performance, contemporary style portraiture, and product images. From 1980 to 1982, I worked for Heritage Studios in Atlanta, Georgia.
My company permits (encourages, actually) outside assignments on a time-and-resource-permitting basis, presuming no conflicts of interest, making me available to individuals, companies and publications interested in contracting me as a photographer.
The featured galleries display some of my favorite image divided into categories. I did the retouching of virtually all the images, with many of these published one or more times.
Philosophy
Commercial-type photography is a craft. A craft, by definition, is a skilled activity or profession. Photography involves art, but you have a purpose in mind and it’s my job to accomplish it, albeit in a creative and visually interesting way. Artistic vision contributes to this end – often significantly – but the goal is what you need the photo to accomplish.
Skills beyond the taking the picture
• Working with lay talent. I often work with people who are not trained models either because they have specialized skills I must show, or because of costs. However, I always encourage clients to use professional models when appropriate to the project because the resulting images and the time saved more than offset the added expense. Models are well worth what they cost.
• Location shooting (indoor & outdoor) with full studio lighting, or with portable strobes, reflectors etc. as circumstances call for.
• Writing. Much of my work involves photos to support copy and vice versa.
• Photoshop. Generally, I shoot RAW and deliver processed, retouched images that need little additional editing in Adobe RGB (for print) or sRGB (for web) as TIFF and/or JPEGs. However, I can provide images in any color space and file format Photoshop supports. I'm fairly skilled at Photoshop retouching and image manipulation, and use these when appropriate.
Details
• Rates estimated based on the assignment. I take paid assignments as an independent contractor providing a service, not someone selling a product. Rates based on time plus expenses. Ownership of rights negotiated at time of contracting – industry standard is for the photographer to retain the copyright with the client licensed for a specific use, with further uses requiring additional compensation. However, much of what I do is so specific that I’m open to reasonable arrangements regarding transferring the copyright permanently.
• Assignments outside my employment are based on my availability, resource availability and interest. Advance notice and schedule flexibility increase my availability and may benefit the rate.
• Pro bono (TF) assignments. I will consider pro bono and/or expenses-only for not-for-profit groups, individuals without means and in particular need, and similar causes. I will also consider unusual/new shooting situations and travel opportunities that particularly interest me, especially for exciting, worthwhile but cash-starved ventures. I work TF with models, makeup artists and others in the trade on projects in which we all donate our time and skill to create images for our portfolios, experience, etc.
• Weddings. Generally, I don’t do weddings (unless we’re related). I will consider bridal/couple portraits. I will also consider weddings in which the couple wants non conventional imaging and is willing to put in the time and money for fashion-style, theme-related shots (usually accomplished apart from the wedding itself, BTW).
• Photo assistant. When possible, I work as a photo assistant or secondary photographer in the same way I consider pro bono work (since it usually doesn’t pay or pay much).
Since 1989, I’ve been based in Southern California as an institutional photographer engaged in commercial, training, lifestyle/marketing and editorial photography with hundreds of photos published associated with underwater exploration, scuba diving and layperson CPR/first aid training. Beyond this, my work includes a growing range of fashion, performance, contemporary style portraiture, and product images. From 1980 to 1982, I worked for Heritage Studios in Atlanta, Georgia.
My company permits (encourages, actually) outside assignments on a time-and-resource-permitting basis, presuming no conflicts of interest, making me available to individuals, companies and publications interested in contracting me as a photographer.
The featured galleries display some of my favorite image divided into categories. I did the retouching of virtually all the images, with many of these published one or more times.
Philosophy
Commercial-type photography is a craft. A craft, by definition, is a skilled activity or profession. Photography involves art, but you have a purpose in mind and it’s my job to accomplish it, albeit in a creative and visually interesting way. Artistic vision contributes to this end – often significantly – but the goal is what you need the photo to accomplish.
Skills beyond the taking the picture
• Working with lay talent. I often work with people who are not trained models either because they have specialized skills I must show, or because of costs. However, I always encourage clients to use professional models when appropriate to the project because the resulting images and the time saved more than offset the added expense. Models are well worth what they cost.
• Location shooting (indoor & outdoor) with full studio lighting, or with portable strobes, reflectors etc. as circumstances call for.
• Writing. Much of my work involves photos to support copy and vice versa.
• Photoshop. Generally, I shoot RAW and deliver processed, retouched images that need little additional editing in Adobe RGB (for print) or sRGB (for web) as TIFF and/or JPEGs. However, I can provide images in any color space and file format Photoshop supports. I'm fairly skilled at Photoshop retouching and image manipulation, and use these when appropriate.
Details
• Rates estimated based on the assignment. I take paid assignments as an independent contractor providing a service, not someone selling a product. Rates based on time plus expenses. Ownership of rights negotiated at time of contracting – industry standard is for the photographer to retain the copyright with the client licensed for a specific use, with further uses requiring additional compensation. However, much of what I do is so specific that I’m open to reasonable arrangements regarding transferring the copyright permanently.
• Assignments outside my employment are based on my availability, resource availability and interest. Advance notice and schedule flexibility increase my availability and may benefit the rate.
• Pro bono (TF) assignments. I will consider pro bono and/or expenses-only for not-for-profit groups, individuals without means and in particular need, and similar causes. I will also consider unusual/new shooting situations and travel opportunities that particularly interest me, especially for exciting, worthwhile but cash-starved ventures. I work TF with models, makeup artists and others in the trade on projects in which we all donate our time and skill to create images for our portfolios, experience, etc.
• Weddings. Generally, I don’t do weddings (unless we’re related). I will consider bridal/couple portraits. I will also consider weddings in which the couple wants non conventional imaging and is willing to put in the time and money for fashion-style, theme-related shots (usually accomplished apart from the wedding itself, BTW).
• Photo assistant. When possible, I work as a photo assistant or secondary photographer in the same way I consider pro bono work (since it usually doesn’t pay or pay much).
© Karl Shreeves