What do you do?
WHAT DO YOU DO?
The above video shares what goes through my mind whenever I’m presented with that age old question.
“What do you do?” It’s the age old opening question when meeting new people. They say everyone selling anything should have a 30 second elevator pitch. In moments like this I find myself excited to express what it is that I do, yet cringing at the fact they they won’t be able to fathom exactly what I am saying. It used to be so simple for me. I could say “I am a wedding photographer, or a portrait photographer.” Then it evolved to lifestyle photographer. Today, I simple say I am a a full time professional artist creating works across multiple genres. Of course the next question is… “So how do you make a living?”
Expect the Unexpected - Education
I’m excited to announce that I will be speaking via a platform program at Imaging USA 2021 on the topic of Fine Art. Don’t wait for inspiration, you’ll find it here in this fine art program presented by artist, abstract painter, video animation expert, and of course... photographer Charles Maring. Art and commerce go hand in hand once you understand how to take control of your destiny. This program will teach you to see in ways you never thought possible, and expand upon your business opportunities with next level ideas and thinking. This is the time to learn more about making fine art with your camera along with how to position your work so that the right clients respect, and understand the value. In this world of screens, print is now a modern luxury... Seize this moment, learn and grow, open your mind to possibilities, and expect the unexpected.
Yes, the word artist in the minds of many is often prefaced by the word “starving.” So, it’s not always easy for others to grasp that I have made an incredible living for 20+ years from the ideas floating around in my head. Yet, here I am still moving and shaking. I am creating on high these days, and all the angles that I have been working are overlapping in a multitude of beautiful ways. I see so many opportunities before me that it’s sometimes hard to choose which I would be smartest to focus on. I don’t mean financially smartest, but rather what makes me happiest. At the end of the day, my goal is love my work so much that I wake excited for the day ahead. So far, so good.
How has working at the intersections of many genres made me stronger?
Let me count the ways! This blurring of the lines between visual, audio, and design makes total sense, and there are numerous examples of how it has allowed me to improve my offering to clients. My foray into live music and songwriting has forced me to become a better audio engineer. That equals competency and confidence when working on video projects that require audio. Songwriting, and producing music has also given me reason to create music videos, and therefore it made sense to dive into education on video art and animation. Ten years into my photography career, and numerous awards later, I took up abstract painting. While I was obviously capable of garnering the highest level of awards out there I now know there is more photography than what’s visible to most. Painting vastly improved my photography in ways I never saw coming. It opened my mind up to a new way of seeing the world. Now, even the most mundane subjects excite me because I see beyond what others take notice to making it easy for me to wow my clients. Artistically I notice familiar subjects in the texture of rocks or trees, and when I go out with a camera in hand I feel at one with the universe and more open minded to possibility. It’s given me new instincts and a myriad of options on how to approach a photograph. The art of photography alone gave me lighting, lens, and composition skills that most video creators never learn because they simply hit record. I take details into account, and am prepared for anything. That’s just the beginning of why the overlap is so meaningful, and not just on a personal level but rather on a professional level as well. I’ve become the person on set with all the answers, and everyone who works with me knows that I can step in to any role and handle it with grace. It’s a good place to find myself. Confident, yet work with me and you’ll know that I am humble, kind, and simply helpful. I seek to help others evolve, and mentor them to reach their true potential.
Bottom line… I am a master creator, and I am ready for any project you bring my direction as long as I know I will enjoy the process and can do my best work. I am an artist and the tools, although very cool and helpful, aren’t what make my work special. It’s the immense amount of energy I’ve spent educating myself on how to use them, along with an innate sense of personal style that I’ve grown into by applying myself each and every day for two decades.
What do I do? I do whatever makes me happy, and I’d love to share it with you, and possibly work together to create something remarkable that you will be proud to call your own. So, whether you seek a photographer, video artist, animator, an oil painting, love music, or just wish to be entertained by creative art I’m here creating a never ending flow of magic. Reach out anytime, and I’ll be ready to surround you with great energy and a positive experience that you simply won’t find anywhere else.
