There is nothing like seeing a project come to life after years of hard work.
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Sumo Village_Tokyo
Thanksgiving week is normally a time when we get to unplug from work and enjoy eating all the traditional holiday food. This year, however, I spent Thanksgiving week in Tokyo, Japan and enjoyed my favorite Japanese food.
I have always wanted to explore the area of Tokyo known for its sumo wrestling community, so I took the subway to Ryogoku eki. The moment I walked out of the subway station I knew I was in the right spot as sumo images and statues were everywhere.
A Day with Oprah
In 1995 I photographed Oprah for the very first time. It was my third celebrity cover and a very important cover shoot for my client, Essence magazine. During the start of the photo shoot her beautiful brown cocker spaniel puppies were on the set. She just received the pup's as a gift from Stedman and was excited to have them around her. I took one polaroid of her with the puppies and then they were taken away. The shoot went amazingly well and I love those images to this day.
A few days after the photo shoot I was looking over some of the polaroids and feel in love with the one of Oprah and her puppies. I decided to frame it and send it to her. I went shopping in New York's Soho district to search for the perfect frame, then framed the polaroid and sent it off. I guess I hoped I would receive a reply, because I thought it was an incredible image, but I never heard a word and wondered it she even received the image.
Fast forward to 2012, and hundreds of covers later, I find myself photographing Oprah again for another magazine cover. She walks in and come to me and gives me a big hug! Over the years we've worked together from time-to-time, but I have never received such a strong hug from her before. After hugging me, she looked at me and said, "years ago, you sent a picture after one of our shoots. The polaroid was of me with my dogs when they were puppies and that polaroid has been beside my bed ever since. Last week one of my babies past away so now that polaroid is more precious than ever. Thank you!"
The beauty of photography is that each image become more precious as time goes by. The images you take today may seem like nothing special, but tomorrow they will be more precious than gold.
To learn how to photograph subjects better sign up for my one-on-one classes or learn from the individual download videos to improve your photography. All products are available at PhotographyHelpStore.
Oprah by Matthew Jordan Smith Copyright Matthew Jordan Smith © All Rights Reserved
Teaching the Art of Lighting
This week I was in Seattle, Washington to give a lighting seminar at Glazers camera store. The event was sponsored by my friends at Profoto. It was a packed house and I was excited to speak about my lighting techniques and share stories from different shoots.
After speaking I shot a beautiful model in front of the audience in the same manner I shoot many of my assignments. I shot using the Sony A7 camera with the 85mm lens, which in my estimation, is the perfect portrait lens. I used Capture One Pro tethered with my Sony camera so the audience could see each image as I shot. For lighting, I used a Profoto beauty dish and Pro 8 strobe pack to capture each moment the instant it happened. Speed is extremely important to me when I'm shooting because special moments only happen a few times during a photo shoot. I want to make sure I capture those moments and the Profoto Pro 8 packs are super fast.
To learn more about my lighting techniques log in to Photography Help Store. There you will find my video's that are aimed to educate photographers on the art of lighting, shooting fashion and beauty and much more. You can also sign up for my one-on-one photography classes to take your photo career to the next level. The one-on-one classes take place once a week via Skype and will improve your photography and help boost your bottom line.
Always Dream Big
CD Cover Shoot
This month I have two CD cover's out and both were shot using the Sony A7R camera with the 85mm and 100 macro lenses.
Tomorrow, I head to Seattle, WA to speak at Glazer's Camera about lighting and give a live demonstration using Profoto strobes, Sony camera's and Capture One Pro.
If you'd like to learn more about photography and how I create my images go to Photography Help Store where you can sign up for one-on-one classes or download instructional video's on how to become a better photographer.
Simple Beauty
Sometimes the most beautiful images are the ones without a lot of extra elements. This week I was traveling to and from the east coast for a meeting and used the time on the plane to edit a shoot. I have a new program that lets me edit faster and easier, (and by edit I mean make selections, not retouch.) The program is called Mylio and I love it because it gives me my time back. Before Mylio I would download my images on my main computer and have to sit there and do edits as time flew by. Now, with Mylio I can edit anywhere because my images go to all my devices from just uploading once to my main computer. It's the most amazing program I've ever seen.
I pulled out my ipad and started to make selections faster than I've ever made before. By the time I arrived in Washington, DC from Los Angeles, I'd made new selections from several shoots. Now I can update my website with fresh new images and make better use of my time on airplanes.
This image was made using two Profoto strobes, art paper from a local art store and my Sony a99 camera with the 85mm and 100 macro lens. Image selection was done on the plane using Mylio, which by the way puts the fun back into editing.
Aretha Franklin's New CD
One of the things I love the most about working with Aretha Franklin is how blunt she is. When I lived in New York City this was very common, but on the west coast people seem to have a fear of saying how they feel.
When I first showed Ms. Franklin the images she said she wasn't happy with them, but I know if she is in a bad mood it can affect everything. I pulled my favorite images and show her only the best and told her I felt we've never gotten so many great images. It was the first time I've worked with her where she actually danced as we shot. She called me back and said "Jordan, I love these images!"
I still think the best images will live in my site from the shoot, but I'm happy with the way the CD came out. Catch Aretha Today as she performs live on the Today Show.
Who's Your Favorite?
People often ask me, "who's your favorite subject?" It's always a hard question because I have photographed so many great people over the years. When I think of my favorite subjects, my mind usually goes to the most recent shoot, but I also think about the people whom I have photographed a zillion times, like Tyra, Vanessa Williams or even my favorite model muse, Kris.
Finding your favorite subjects means making a great first impression, and my very first shoot with Vanessa Williams made a strong impression on me. Since the mid 90's Vanessa and I have worked together numerous times. Each time I work with Vanessa we get great images. I am looking forward to our next encounter very soon.
Always Dream Big!
Cover Up!
One of the best feelings a photographer can have is experiencing your images on the cover of a magazine. The feeling never gets old. After decades of magazine covers I still get that "wondering feeling" each time I see my work on the cover of a magazine, or on the side of a building or passing bus.
Today, a bus pulled up beside me as I drove through Hollywood, and on the side was my recent image of Queen Latifah for the Queen Latifah show. I smiled as I looked at the image and wish my parents were in the car with me at that moment.
Charles King
Hollywood Power Brokers
For years I only received calls to photograph women, then a client took a chance on me and I started photographing men. Today, most of my assignments are still with women, but I have a good mix of jobs with men as well.
My shoot with power broker, Charles King was a great assignment and I am thankful I had the opportunity to create his images.
Photographed in Los Angeles with the Sony A7R camera.
The Richest Man in the World
I started my career with the intention of shooting fashion and beauty, but like one of my favorite books shows, The Alchemist, life often takes its own unique twists and turns.
During the last two years I have received a sudden increase in requests to photograph executives in the business world, like Carlos Slim, the richest man in the world. This week I photographed another corporate CEO, and we had a ball working on creating his image. This shoot started out just like the Carlos Slim shoot but ended with us both laughing and getting more intimate images. When you enjoy what you do for a living people feel comfortable opening up and being themselves.
Shot what you love and have a great weekend.
Photographed in Los Angeles with the Sony a99 camera.
From China to Japan
China has been very good to my photo career in the last year. I have traveled there to shoot 3 times in the last year, and a forth time this year for an exhibit at the Temple of Heaven. It now looks like I'll be doing the same type of photo shoots, and more often, in Tokyo, Japan. I have always loved Japan and all things Japanese, so I am looking forward to what the future has in store.
Music Day
This morning I got a call from Aretha Franklin to start my day. I love when she calls! It's always early in the morning and she's the only person in the world who calls me "Jordan."
Aretha is currently in the studio putting the final touches on her latest CD. We shot the images a few months ago and we had a ball. She's called me a few times to tell me how much she loves them and that makes me happy.
I also received my newest CD cover today as well. I few months ago I shot the music package for a Japanese artist. During the shoot we played her music and she sang along. It reminded me of working with Aretha because she also loves to play her music when we shoot together.
Photographed with the Sony A7R camera using an 85mm Carl Zeiss lens.
Behind Closed Doors
I had a great time photographing Beverly Hills Housewife, Adrienne Maloof last week. I used the #Sony A7R and A7 for the shoot, because these camera's make it easy to capture great images. I love being able to have an instant preview every time I press the shutter and see that everything is perfect in the moment of shooting. The best part of shooting with these camera's is seen after my shoot is over. The image quality is just insane!
Someone asked me recently why I shoot with Sony. Well, these camera's put the fun back into photography again for me and that is why I love them so much. When you shoot all day the way I do, you want a camera that doesn't weigh you down and tire you out. These camera's are light-weight and compact and I love that. This year alone I've taken them all over Asia and the North Pole and they have never let me down.
This week Sony announced an entire new lineup of lenses which will only enhance the excitement of working with these incredible camera's. Check out my brother's link below.
http://briansmith.com/just-announced-sony-fe-16-35-f4-lens-hvl-f32m-flash/
Night Photography and the Sony A7R
In the 90's I shot a swimsuit calendar for Tyra Banks. We shot all over the island of Jamaica and were often up at 4:00am to start hair and makeup. Back then, to shoot at night or early morning before the sun came up was difficult. I remember having my assistants carrying all types of photo gear and lighting gear to create the types of images I wanted.
Today photography has come a long way, and thanks to the Sony A7R camera, photography is much easier than it was in the past. No more lugging heavy cases of photo gear to create photographs with high production value. Now this lightweight camera has opened up opportunities for me to create great images in a much easier manner.
The other night I wanted to try shooting on the beach at night. I brought minimal gear, just my Sony A7R with two lenses, the 24-70mm lens and a 55mm lens. I also took along a Profoto B1 strobe and a small stand, and a handheld light meter. Everything fit into one lightweight backpack, so instead of having an army of photo assistants, cases of gear and heavy lights and strobe packs, I could easily shoot by myself and create stunning images.
I love shooting in this manner and I love how photography has become easier today. You still need knowledge to create powerful photographs but technology has opened the door so we can create images in a much easier way. I wonder what Sony will come up with next?
Always Dream Big!
My Big Secret
Many people missed my "big announcement" a week ago on Facebook and Twitter. I will share it a few times this week to ensure the secret gets out. If you missed it, here it is and feel free to share it.
I have held a big secret for two years now. Secrets are hard to hold on to at times, but this one made me smile deep inside my soul. I have told almost everyone I know that I spent two years photographing children from 100 families across America for a project I call Future American President. Well, I did travel to every state in America and it was wonderful to meet strangers in this manner. Yes, Zendaya, the Disney star from Shake It Up, is in the book, and she wrote the books forward. Yes, President Jimmy Carter wrote a special opening note exclusively for the book, and yes, as some of you have guessed, my secret is about a child. The secret I have kept all this time is..................
I have only photographed 99 families for Future American President, not 100 as the book says on the cover.
My "Big Secret" is I have saved the last space, the 100th spot, for you and YOUR child. I have saved space for you to have your child on the COVER of my new book, Future AmericanPresident.
I have made a Youtube video to explain how you can have a custom book that feature your child as the face of Future American President. Please share this link with every parent or grandparent you know - http://bit.ly/SquvzM
Future American President will make a powerful gift for your child this Christmas season for parents and grandparents. Not only will it help to empower your child but it will also help inform as the book is filled with educational elements to keep your child going back to it for years to come. For example, instead of having a traditional table of contents at the start of the book, I have sequenced the book in order of how each state came into the Union, showing children how America was formed.
They will also learn about past American Presidents and where each was born. In the Presidential map of America, they will be able to quickly learn where each American President was born along with the years each served in office. Future American President is meant to inspire and educate. There are other elements in the new book, which comes out fall of 2014, but you can only pre-order the book with your child on the cover until June 30th, 2014.
Order your personalized copy of Future American President here: http://igg.me/at/YourChildsCover/x/8035330
Always Dream Big!
Day 1 By The North Pole
Photography has taken me all over the world, but I never thought I would ever shoot by the North Pole. My latest trip was to Svalbard, just 600 miles south of the North Pole. When I first mentioned to friends and family that I was headed to Svalbard, they all said "where?"
Svalbard is really no man's land. It is not part of any country, as no country owns the North Pole or the arctic ocean surrounding it, but Norway governs this area. To get to Svalbard, I flew from Los Angeles to London, London to Oslo, Oslo to Tromsa, Tromsa to Longyearbyen, and then finally onto an ice cutter ship to head north to Svalbard.
This expedition was extreme so it was critical that I had the best camera gear. I took three Sony camera's bodies along; A Sony A7R with a vertical grip, a Sony 7R body and a Sony A99 body. I love using these camera's because they offer me the ability to capture amazing images without getting in the way or slowing me down. While other photographers are looking at the backs of their camera's to see if they have an image, I'm concentrating on getting great images every instant I can.
For example, on day one of our expedition, we saw a polar bear taking a nap. We were in a Zodiac raft when we spotted him and started photographing him. One moment he was napping and the next moment he was up on his feet. This image was taken as he got up and started to move.
I love my A7R because I get an instant preview as I shoot. This way I don't have to worry about looking on the back of the camera to see if I caught the moment. The polar bear is backlit by the sun, which can be hard to capture, but a fast adjustment with my eye still glued to the action was easy and simple to do. If I had to look at the back of my camera on a very bright day I would have missed this shot.
To create this image I use the Sony A7R camera with a 70-200mm zoom lens and a 2x converter. On my A7 body, I had a 55mm lens to capture a wider version of the image. Shooting wide shots, (the 55mm lens) and close shots with the zoom is something I always try to do in situations like this. Many photographers are concerned with only getting the close shots but you never know how you will tell your story until you are back at your computer and editing your images. Shoot wide and close as much as possible. If you think you have a powerful image, change you lens and rediscover a different way to tell your story.
Big vs Small
I've taken two big trips this year centered around photography. The first was to China to receive the Power of Image award in Beijing, and the second was to Svalbard, just 600 miles south of the North Pole. Today, I'll spend a little time talking about China.
For both trips I was around professional and amateur photographers from all over the world, each with their own unique tools of the trade. I took my favorite camera along, a Sony A7R body and A7 Body with several lenses. I like using a battery grip because I love shooting vertical images in my line of work, but even when I shoot horizontally, the grip feels great in my hand. The grip also holds two batteries vs one, and this is very important considering how I shoot.
During my trip to China several of the photographers who also received awards asked or commented on my Sony A7R. It seems everyone is hearing about how great this camera is. One photographer, who is sponsored by another company, told me he'd purchased the Sony A7R in secret because he likes it so much. It is one power house of a camera.
Shooting with the Sony A7R on a smoggy day in Beijing
Temple of Heaven Exhibit in Beijing, China
During the exhibit in Beijing, which took place at the Temple of Heaven, one of the photographers asked me to take a picture of him using his camera. When I held his big DSLR I was shocked how heavy and bulky it was. It's been a long time since I've had a camera like that in my hand, so I told him to hold my camera. He couldn't believe the weight of my A7R and talked about it the entire trip. I teased the others who complained about their heavy gear as we traveled around various parts of China, and shared some of the features that I really love about this camera. One of the best features for me about using the A7 and A7R is that the camera lets me concentrate on being creative. It doesn't get in the way. Yes, I am sponsored by Sony, but it's not the reason why I shoot Sony. The reason why I love shooting with this new Sony camera is that it gives the the flexibility to do great work and make critical adjustments in the moment. The electronic view finder is something that professional photographers can really take advantage of. I've watched so many people miss great images because they are looking at the last image on the back of the camera. During these moment, life is passing by, but with my Sony A7R I never miss a moment, because I get an instant preview of the image in the viewfinder. This way I never have to take my eye away from the viewfinder. When you are shooting street action things happen fast and you can't miss a moment by looking at the back of the camera to see if you have the shot.
The Sony A7R is small and light in weight but offers a 36MP image that blows the doors off other camera's. On top of that the price is substantially better than its competition.
The Coldest Day
There are times as a photographer when you feel absolutely incredible. Maybe it is because of the photographic opportunities around you, or maybe it is because of the new camera or lens you have in your hand. This day was bitter sweet for many reasons but the sweetest moments of the day took place while I held my Sony A7R to my eye and tuned out everything else.
Cameras:
Sony A7R
Lens: Sony 55mm lens
Sony a99
Sony 20mm lens
Location:
Svalbard
600 miles south of the North Pole
"Merry Christmas" Created for Angela Bassett and Courtney Vance
Merry Christmas
If you look closely on the top right you'll see a hint of the umbrella my assistant is holding. In the final image this is taken out but it's worth showing here.
What you can't see in this image is the fun my crew had bringing this image to life. The kids had a ball pretending to enter the front door over and over again, and I had a ball directing the family. I love creating images like this because they are not poses; they are recreations of real moments. I had the family come through the door over and over and each time the energy increased until I felt we had enough variations.