My Photo Editor Mind - Good photo stories don’t just happen

I’m going to explain this in simple terms to get my point across about planning. Imagine you are shooting a wedding; whether or not you realize it, you’re probably thinking of the various shots that will complete this story. You need the bride getting ready, the groom walking down the aisle, etc. You might also be thinking about how you can make that walking down the aisle pic look different…hmm, is there a high vantage point? You also might want to shoot details of the ring, get a portrait of the bride, and on and on. You know the narrative (we all know the narrative of a typical wedding), so you can think about the different ways and angles to complete the story. Put this all together, and you have the makings of a thoughtful collection of images – opening shot, closing shot, details, sense of place, etc.

A long time ago when I was young and foolish, I spent six months covering a story with the idea that if I shot enough rolls of film, I would have a story…automatically! Wrong! I had to learn this the hard way, so learn from my mistakes and don’t be me.

Think about your narrative. What’s the story? What’s the point? Why are you shooting this? Imagine the set of images you will have when you are done. Does it tell the story? Plan, research, write down notes, consider all possibilities, and then be open for the unplanned, unanticipated events that could be great shots.  

Figuring out the narrative beforehand will give you a roadmap to success.

My Photo Editor Mind - You can’t handle the truth

Clients always tell me they want me to be honest with them about their work. And I am honest…brutally. When I was a photographer, I knew the only way to improve was to hear the truth about my work, but that’s not to say a few critiques didn’t leave me in tears. I think you have to see your images for what they are, not what you felt when you shot them. Sure, your friends will tell you how awesome your work is and what a great photographer you are, but let’s face it; they have to. They are your friends. That’s not a real measure of quality.  Accepting your images for what they are is a huge accomplishment and part of the learning process. So next time you say you want the truth from me, rest assured you’re going to get it.

My Photo Editor Mind - I’m an Emmy Judge!

I was just notified that I will be judging the 39th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards starting in a few weeks. I’m judging rounds 1 and 2; not sure how all of this works, but time will tell. This is a first for me; excited to see some great work.  

My Photo Editor Mind - Are You Curious?

I recently watched the movie Truth about CBS News anchor Dan Rather and producer Mary Mapes. It’s an average but interesting movie, but what struck me the most was a scene where Dan Rather is asked why he got into journalism. His answer? Curiosity. I started to think about curiosity and asked myself if I was the curious type. I thought about if my friends and the people I admire are curious. It seems to me that you have to be a curious person if you want to more than just good at something – but instead, really great at it. Curiosity helps you know your subject, or topic, or motivation intimately, and knowing these things intimately helps you succeed and be great at what you do. Why do you take the pictures you take? What do you take pictures of? Why do you care about your subject? The issues you cover? When you consider your goals, is it to find answers? So are you curious?

My Photo Editor Mind - I Miss You

Going from the newspaper industry to freelance, one of the things I miss most is the follow-up on projects or stories. I always saw the project to the end and saw how it was published, received, etc. Now I work with photographers, several months often passing before I hear from them again, and I always wonder what happened with a project, a story, a possible publication. Occasionally, I’ll see something posted on social media but not always. So instead of just hoping I will see a note, I’ve recently been asking photographers to let me know the outcomes. Did the project get published? Are they still working on it? Did they sign a book deal? I want to know what happened. I really do care.

My Photo Editor Mind - Pictures Speak

I recently edited some photos for one of my clients, and we were trying to decide whether they should be in color or black and white. I was immediately convinced they should be in color and told him so. I had both edits on my desktop and let them sit overnight. Sometimes you can get so wrapped up into what you think it should be you can lose sight of what they want to be. Well I can anyway. The next morning I took a look at both edits and was actually somewhat startled when I saw how much more powerful the black and white images were; they spoke to me. 

I have always been a fan of B/W images; geez that’s why I started shooting with Tri-X back in the day. In this case, the photographer had a message and wanted to get across a point of sadness and wrongdoing and a bleak outlook.  In this particular case, the black and white relayed that message better. Though the beauty of the outdoors was lost, the message was clear.

My point is that if you are having a hard time deciding on the direction to go with a particular edit, walk away for a few hours or let them sit overnight. Then come back and let them speak and tell you what to do.

 

My Photo Editor Mind - Kind words from a client

Mary has been instrumental in helping me push beyond plateaus and identify the strengths and weaknesses in my work. Her expertise has helped me get into workshops and portfolio reviews that I undoubtedly wouldn’t have been selected for had I been left to edit my own bodies of work. Her frank and honest feedback is refreshing in today’s age of instagram likes and her encouragement is inspiring in a world where it feels like the competition for photographers is stronger than ever. I can’t recommend Mary highly enough - Tito West

My Photo Editor Mind - Intimacy – Get closer

I get to look at a lot of images from a lot of photographers in varying stages of their careers – from beginners to experienced and seasoned photographers. And a common problem I see in many photographers’ work is a lack of intimacy. I actually think it’s one of the hardest aspects of photography to master. But if you want to be a great photographer, you have to be able to shine a light on the subject’s essence, their inner self. You are asking someone to become vulnerable in front of you and your camera. By achieving this intimacy, you are allowing me, the viewer, to connect with your subject, and that is when you take your photography to the next level.   

How do you accomplish this? I’m a believer in spending time with someone, lots of time, letting them get to you know you and trust you. I also think revealing a part of yourself helps too, or it might just be taking the time to listen to what they have to say, letting them know they matter. 

It’s tough, but this is when the magic happens. Just as composition and lighting are important aspects photography, so is intimacy.

 

My Photo Editor Mind - Website Update

It’s time to update my website. I haven’t touched it for a while, and, for me, it’s a daunting task. Because most of the recommendations and testimonials on the site are from people I worked with over three years ago, I’ve been asking people I’ve worked with recently to write something. I recently received this one from Ioana Moldovan: 

It was September 10th, 2015, when I had the inspiration to write Mary a message asking for her help. I had just returned from Ukraine, doing a story from the front lines of the war with Russia. I thought it was the most important work I had done that far and believed it needed a professional editor to give it the narrative arc I couldn’t. As a freelance, self-taught photojournalist from Romania, I had never worked with a professional photo editor before. The whole process was unfamiliar to me.

“Hi Ioana,” Mary wrote back, “it's hard to put in a little Facebook message what I can do, but basically anything you need.” At that moment, I was far from grasping the full extent of what that “anything” meant.

Ever since, Mary has been there for every important body of work I have done. She was never just an editor joggling images to send the right message, but also the person who challenged me to push my limits, to dig deeper, both into the story and myself. Mary has a sensitive eye, a deep and comprehensive view and a keen attention to details. She has this amazing ability to turn up the volume on a story and give its voice clarity and meaning. And she has the patience to make me understand why one photo is more suited than the other or why another approach might do the trick.

Working with Mary not only gave my stories the better look and feel they needed, but it made me a better photographer.

Now I know what “anything you need” stood for. It actually meant everything you need. I guess September 10th, 2015, truly was a day of inspiration.

Thank you, Mary! For precisely everything.