San Diego, California Photographer - Darren Edwards

This is some of the best advice I've ever heard, from Art Streiber!

2011-07-27T23:00:00.000-07:00

Art Streiber’s advice for emerging photographers

Diego Cuevara, a Miami-based art director, designer, and photographer, recently did a Q&A with Art Streiber for his TheeBlog that covers how Art fell in love with photography, his approach to celebrity portraiture, and collaborating with clients, among other subjects. Clickhere for the full interview, which also includes the following—Art’s advice to aspiring photographers.

TheeBlog: What would be your advice to all those photographers out there trying to get discovered and featured by big publications or studios?

Art Streiber:

• Immerse yourself in the genre of photography that you’re interested in pursuing.

• Go to bookstores and stare at the photography section.

• Go to the newsstand and open EVERY SINGLE magazine that is of remote interest to you.

• Make a list of your dream clients, your nearly accessible clients and your easily accessible clients.

• Tear the mastheads out of your target magazines and put them on the wall.

• Focus your energy and break up the big tasks into bite-size pieces.

• Do incredible work.

• Make 4×6 or 3×5 prints of that incredible work and put it on the wall so you can see what you’re up to and how your work is developing.

• Keep your website CONSTANTLY updated and fresh.

• Remember that you take yourself to the next level and it’s up to you to figure out what that next level is and how to get there.

• Make sure that you have a strong sense of your own aesthetic.

• Self assign.

• Take advantage of your downtime. It’s a gift.

• Ask for help. Ask for other opinions of your work and then weigh their merit.

• Surround yourself with incredibly supportive and hardworking people and then support them in return.

• Custom Print your digital images the way we used to custom print our negatives in the darkroom. The Canon jpeg algorithms are excellent, but they shouldn’t be the last word on how you present your photograhy to the world.

TheeBlog: Any tips on what NOT to do?

Art:

• Don’t let your website get old and musty.

• Don’t be a pest to your potential clients.

• Don’t make excuses.

• Don’t beat yourself up for an extended period of time.

• Don’t make the mistake of including an image in your portfolio or on your website that isn’t AMAZING, just because the process of creating that image was exceptionally difficult.

Shooting in Florida!

2011-07-19T17:36:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure how people in sweltering, humid places do it really, all the time. We are lucky here in Southern California near the beach, because it never really gets too hot or sticky. I recently spent a few days in Tampa shooting outdoor lifestyle work. The work itself wasn't toooo labor intensive as most it required very little, if any, extra lighting.

The issue was the hot, sticky weather. Don't get me wrong, I had a great time and met some amazing people, but I think I also lost about eight pounds in sweat equity! By the time you start your early to late days, it's already over 90 with 100% humidity. Good times. We spent most of every day outside, going place to place, shooting a wide variety of the neighborhoods lifestyle.

In the end, I think we got some fun work out of it and I was happy for it. I can handle most any situation on a shoot, get through it and keep a smile on my face for a few days, but arriving home here in San Diego makes you realize just what a great city we live in. Thanks to my clients at Newland Communites, the people of Mira Bay and Fishhawk and all the people that did the little things to make the shoot run efficiently and smoothly. I'd love to come back!

Your Local Union 101

2011-06-01T15:22:00.000-07:00

We recently completed a shoot for the Union Kitchen and Tap, a great new restaurant here in Encinitas, CA. By combining exposures and layers, we try to create a sense of motion and action in the restaurant, while still having some of the people remain crisp and sharp. This technique allows natural looking people in the space and still gives a feeling of the place being busy and full. Isn't digital great!

Busy!

2011-05-23T08:31:00.000-07:00

The first ten days of a busy three weeks are in the books. Although, not without a certain amount of stress, they were very successful. I'm looking forward to the next ten days! Being busy is so much better than not being busy! In the early part of my career, I never had to market at all. Work just showed up on my doorstep. In the last couple of years, it's become very evident that, there is still work out there, you just have to hustle more to get it.

New promos set to hit the streets tomorrow!

2011-02-23T08:26:00.000-08:00

Here are my two latest promotional mailers. The emails go out tomorrow and the snail next week. Enjoy! The top two going to all my architecture/interior designer contacts, from the Peak 8 Penthouse job in Breckenridge, CO. The bottom are front and back for all hospitality contacts from the Marriott Gaslamp job here in San Diego, CA

Classic San Diego!

2011-02-12T13:14:00.000-08:00

I've always wanted to get this classic shot of downtown. It has to be shot on a crystal clear night to get the mountains in the back. After 12 years here, I finally got in the car and found the spot! Enjoy!

The photographer's conference in L.A. by ASMP

2011-01-25T10:22:00.000-08:00

I just returned from a photographers conference in L.A. presented by ASMP, (American Society of Media Photographers) called SB3. The conference, known as Strictly Business Three, will be happening two more times this year in Chicago and Philadelphia. Here is the link http://asmp.org/content/strictly-business-3.

This is truly an amazing event. The amount of information given at this thing is almost overwhelming. Everything from video production and sales to SEO, blogging and copyright, to reinvention and seeing outside your comfort zone. It is an exceptional event for photographers at any level of their careers. Learning from these industry leaders and having the chance to ask questions face to face is invaluable.

The cool part about the event, however, and something that I feel is almost more important, are the personal connections you make. Whether it's by the elevator, at the cocktail receptions, in the meeting hallway, you'll meet so many new people. Everyone there is eager to meet others, so it's very easy to strike up conversations.

Getting to know your competition is great on many levels. The ability to discuss your business in an open environment like this is fantastic. No one is there to steal your clients, but simply share ideas. There is a lot of respect. No matter the level of photographer you are, you can still learn something from others in the industry. There are also many programs geared toward emerging photographers, so if you are just getting into it, this is the place to be.

I had great conversations with two guys that would be considered my direct competition on a national level, but there was never any feeling like that. We discussed pricing, techniques, copyright, and future trends among other things. Many times, these people have already been through what you're dealing with and can give great advice, or perhaps you'll be the one giving advice. It's all about advancing our industry as a whole, and not stepping on the other guy getting there.

ASMP creates a network of peers that allows you access to an amazing amount of information. If you get the chance and make the time to attend one of these events, you will not be disappointed!

Breckenridge, Colorado Property by Architect Michael Gallagher

2011-01-16T21:31:00.000-08:00

I recently had the opportunity to photograph another spectacular home in Breckenridge, Colorado. The architect was Michael Gallagher, www.michaelgallagher.com based in Breckenridge and the designer was Donna McAlear of New Mood Decor, based in Atlanta, GA. www.newmooddecor.com We shot here for two and a half days and had a great time. The weather, unfortunately, didn't really cooperate for some of the better views that were available, but we made it work. I thought it was a great combination of modern decor in a mountain setting, although all the reflective surfaces definitely made it more difficult to shoot. Here is a selection of some of the work.

Truly Incredible Property

2010-11-08T20:18:00.000-08:00

Recent Resort Promo Mailers from Darren Edwards Photographs

2010-08-30T09:46:00.000-07:00

Recent Hotel Photos from Hawaii!

2010-07-22T15:12:00.000-07:00

Grand Hyatt Kauai

St. Regis Princeville

Thirsty? Organic, produce driven cocktails by HMS Cocktails of San Francisco

2010-06-11T19:16:00.000-07:00

Pano Stitching with HDR!

2010-05-18T10:16:00.001-07:00

Value Added Selling

2010-04-16T09:57:00.000-07:00

Regardless of the product or service you are selling, this is a great book! It will help you to understand things from the customer point of view, and how to sell your service based on VALUE rather than price. Well worth the cost of admission!

Content Aware Feature

2010-04-11T11:02:00.000-07:00

Content aware fill in the new CS5! Wow, this will be fantastic! http://is.gd/bozfk For any of you that have tried the old way to remove with the spot healing brush, this new feature is going to make life so much easier!! Can't wait!

Outdoor Living Space

2010-03-12T16:04:00.000-08:00

Master Bathrooms

2010-03-02T21:39:00.000-08:00

The Strip Club, La Jolla, CA

2010-03-02T14:55:00.000-08:00

The Strip Club in La Jolla was going to be just like shooting any other restaurant right? Smiling people enjoying great surroundings. Standard, right....until you walk in the place. The entire room is black! The booths, the ceiling, the chairs...not to mention dimly lit. The only thing lighting the huge restaurant was a little bit of daylight and bright lights above each table.

Good times! This job was really an exercise in digital post production. The key, however, is having all the ingredients necessary to mix the right cocktail.

Many lights and layers, and several hours of photoshop later, I'm pretty happy with the outcome! Oh, and the client is too!

www.darrenedwards.com

Recently Completed - La Costa Grill

2010-01-31T14:32:00.000-08:00

Here are a few images from the recently completed project for La Costa Grill Restaurant in Carlsbad, CA. Hospitality is one of my favorite avenues for photography and we had a great time on this project. www.darrenedwards.com

New Year, New Attitude.

2010-01-31T01:59:00.000-08:00

With the first month of the new year behind us, it's always nice to look back and see if the resolutions you decided on, ways you change you life, are actually working. Are you sticking to yours?

My goals were to get my book in front of as many new people as possible this year and look for new ways to freshen up my work.

I'm happy to announce that my first month saw several meetings, one of which landed a new client!

Marketing is a funny thing for creative types. Most of us want to spend our time out making something new, not on the phone or on the internet doing research. It's a rare breed of photographer that is extremely good at their craft, an exceptional business person and a great marketer. I've found I'm definitely not a great marketer, but can also see why it's so important.

Marketing, I've found, is really not that hard, simply time consuming and somewhat tedious. In today's economy however, more and more photographers are chosen not by their work, but by the personal relationships that are established. Amazing photographers who are not fun to work with are just not getting the jobs anymore. Creating a personal connection with the people you are working with, or would you like to work with, will take your career farther than was ever dreamed of before. Create great work on top of that, (and hire a good accountant) and there's almost no way you won't be successful in this business. Marketing is simply getting outside your comfort zone, taking your licks and putting yourself out there. A mentor of mine said, "it's those uncomfortable times and tasks that move you forward in your career, and allow you to grow as an individual!"

With a goal of 10 new client calls each week, and as many meetings as I can get, it will be interesting to see where we sit a year from now.

I am also working a non-traditional way of shooting digital that could really give my work some new punch. I will post new photos as I have them.

2010 is looking up already and I can't wait for what this year brings!

Check out my site for some of the latest and greatest! www.darrenedwards.com

Facebook

2009-10-14T08:59:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I've realized I'm not the best at blogging....I suppose that's probably obvious since my last post was in like April.

Trying to keep up with the daily tasks and continue to update those that are interested, in this forum, seems not to be working. Part of the reason, is really, I just want to be out shooting and not stuck in front of a cpu doing social media!

I have been posting new photography on faceboook, however, so perhaps that's the best way to keep up!

Check out my Facebook page if you are interested in seeing the latest work. I will continue to try to update here as well, but since the whole process seems much simpler there......well....we'll just have to wait and see!

Enjoy the fall!

Darren

Another Amazing House

2009-04-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

I had the chance to photograph another amazing home last week. It's located in Rancho Santa Fe, CA, near the Bridges area, and was one of the most unique residences I've ever been in. It was made completely of adobe brick and had the most ornate tile and wood work I've ever seen. No two doors in the place were alike and it seemed that every one you opened revealed some new secret. Although the home seems dated a bit, it may have had to do with it's completely uncommon appearance. The grounds were massive and included tennis courts, swimming pools, outdoor fireplaces, horse stables and guest quarters. This place is going to need a particular buyer, but if this is what they are looking for, they will be thrilled!

The main entrance and grand staircase

2009-04-28T00:00:00.001-07:00

Living room looking all the way through the house

2009-04-27T23:59:00.002-07:00

One, of two, living rooms

2009-04-27T23:59:00.001-07:00

Seating area

2009-04-27T23:52:00.000-07:00

Spend the day at OUR beach!

2009-03-29T13:46:00.000-07:00

Maderas Golf Club, a member of Troon Golf, and one of the finest golf courses in San Diego County, recently announced their latest promotion. Spend the day at OUR beach!

2009-02-26T18:23:00.000-08:00

I recently photographed a home in Fairbanks Ranch in Rancho Santa Fe, California, and although I've shot over 1000 homes in my career, this one was truly stunning. It looked like something out of the hobbit, or King Arthur. It consisted of over four acres of lush, completely private grounds, surrounded by a 15 foot foliage wall. It had beautiful pathways around the property that included bridges, coy ponds, seating areas, fountains, a guest home, tennis court, swimming pool and spa, and an outdoor bbq/bar area that could easily seat 15.

The great room was probably bigger than my entire 1/4 acre lot, and don't get me started on the master bath. My favorite room, however, was the "wine cellar". It held a table with seating for 12 that you'd expect to see knights seated around. It was fashioned like a castle with real stone ceilings and floors, and a fireplace big enough to fit a small car.

Here are just a few images from this amazing property. And at only $12 mil, it seemed like a steal. Why don't we all pick up one (or two) and have a little party!

2009-02-26T18:22:00.001-08:00

The Wine Cellar

2009-02-26T18:21:00.002-08:00

The Great Room

2009-02-26T18:21:00.001-08:00

The Master Bath

2009-02-26T18:20:00.001-08:00

The Grounds

2009-02-26T18:19:00.001-08:00

The Front Entrance

New Website Announced!

2009-01-25T20:56:00.000-08:00

Darren Edwards Photographs announces the launch of his new website with a complete rebrand. The site utilizes Livebooks technology, and provides clean viewing, with smooth flash transitions, of big, beautiful images. Darren Edwards Photographs provides photography for the Resort/Hospitality and Architecture industries. These include, hotels, architects, developers, interior designers, restaurants, spas, golf courses, destination travel and the lifestyle that goes with it

His portfolios can be viewed at www.darrenedwards.com. Enjoy!

New Calendars - Del Mar Beach - August

2009-01-15T12:29:00.000-08:00

Darren Edwards Photographs delivers with 2009 San Diego Calendars. Review have been great, and we're all looking forward to a great year.

If you did not get your calendar and you still want one, they can be purchased for $15.00 each.

If you would like to see the rest of the calendar images or purchase one, email me at info@darrenedwards.com

The rest of my portfolio can always viewed at www.darrenedwards.com

Mission Bay Park, San Diego, California

2008-03-31T17:44:00.000-07:00

www.darrenedwards.com

Photo Tip

2008-03-28T17:49:00.000-07:00

Rule of thirds:

Try not to put your subject right in the center of the picture. Imagine lines going through the photo to form a tic tac toe pattern.

www.darrenedwards.com

Be sure to check back for new tips!

2008-03-28T17:30:00.000-07:00

By putting your subject at or near the area where the lines cross, you'll create a much more dynamic and interesting composition.

Remember also to put your horizon on either the upper or lower third to add impact!

www.darrenedwards.com

We make ordinary.....look extraordinary!!

2008-03-25T18:35:00.001-07:00

760-633-3555

Call Today!

www.darrenedwards.com

Dog Beach, Del Mar, California

2008-03-25T18:28:00.000-07:00

www.darrenedwards.com

Estancia Hotel and Spa, La Jolla, CA

2008-03-25T16:45:00.001-07:00

Photography for the Resort Industry!!

www.darrenedwards.com

Paraglide Beaver Creek

2008-03-07T18:21:00.001-08:00

On a recent photo trip to Colorado, I was lucky enough to have this guy fly right into my shot!!