45: Alex Alexander, Being Persistent and Beating Fear

LISTEN TO THE AUDIO INTERVIEW:

Photo Jenny Risher ©2015

Photo Jenny Risher ©2015

Alex Alexander Photography was created in 1980, where he excelled in fashion, editorial, lifestyle, still life and catalogue photography which continues to this day.

Alex has become known for his strong sense of design, one of his major strengths is being able to allow his subjects personalities to expand into the images. His work is showcased in numerous CD covers, book jackets and annual reports. Magazine commissions include American Health, Sports Illustrated, People and Life. His subjects have included sports and entertainment celebrities and political figures.

Today we discuss how to be persistent when making new professional contacts, the importance of your photos telling a story, and eliminating fear from your life.

I want to give a huge thank you to Alex for taking the time to chat with us! I consider myself as much a student as the listening audience, and appreciate him sharing his extensive knowledge.


“Your photo has to tell a story…It has to have something that it’s going to tell us.” -Alex Alexander

 


Top 3 Tips From the Interview:

1. Persistence wins!

When reaching out to your target audience (such as art directors, curators, and portfolio reviewers for example), expect that you may hear nothing back at first. This is normal. Find out in what form and how often they prefer to communicate, and send them regular updates on your work in order to build a relationship.

2. Your photos have to tell a story.

No matter the genre of photography you’re in, your photos have to tell a story. They need to capture the audience’s attention in some way. No photo is ever just an image in and of itself. Be aware of the story behind your images, and how it communicates with your audience.

3. You don’t have to live in constant fear.

Running your own photography business can be a bit scary, especially when your bills come knocking or when you’re unsure of how you’re going to get your next client. However, you can’t let fear overtake you. It can quickly make your life miserable. Instead, take stock of your situation and decide what you can do to help turn those problem areas of your business around. This can take the form of education, strategizing, learning from past mistakes, and taking action.

 


Alex Can Be Found At:

» CreativeSandboxStudio.com: Alex’s photography website.

 

Alex’s Recommended Resources

» American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP)

» CreativeLive.com: Creative classes for creative minds.

» Photo District News: Keep up with the latest photography news with this online magazine.

 

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