NEW MEMBERS PAGE

SEPTEMBER 2018 GROUP

;

NOTICE:

WE START TODAY!
WEBINAR LINKS BELOW.

WOOHOO!

Here is the link to the Jumpstart Book (Business).
Download and save so we can go through it together.
Jumpstart PDF

MAKE SURE YOU READ ALL OF THIS PAGE.

August 31

Your login can now get you to the System home page. More coming.

August 29

Here is our Webinar schedule, and notes on how to proceed to have the best experience.

First, we use ZOOM, which allows all of us to have a voice. You won’t have to download a big program, but when you sign in there will be a small executable that will have a controller for muting your microphone and turning on/off your video feed.

ZOOM can also let us share screens and learn from each other.

You should have good microphone and headphones so we can hear you while we are discussing your image.

When you enter the webinar, you will be muted. You can unmute yourself from the control panel by clicking the microphone with the slash across it.

Once we are through discussing your image, please mute yourself. You can always unmute to ask questions and make comments.

Here are our Webinar dates and links.

We will begin next Wednesday and Saturday morning.

Wednesday Morning, 10 AM Pacific:Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/678985389

Wednesday Evening, 6 PM Pacific: Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/578637356

Saturday Morning, 6 AM Pacific: Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/683949932

You do not need to attend all three, just pick the one that will be best suited for your time.

I look forward to meeting all of you.

August 26

How to Get A Jump Start

Most of the assignments we will be doing will be based on the types of customers you will have right there in your community. Whether it is a product or portrait or food, there is someone who is looking for that kind of work.

They may not realize it at the time.

Here is the chance to not only get great subjects for your assignment but to also begin building a solid portfolio and client list.

Use the people and businesses near you for your assignments. Treating the assignment like a real gig means you have touched the community and left a photographic touchstone.

A typical example:

The assignment may be to shoot a promo for a coffee shop.

Instead of shooting it on your kitchen table, ask a few coffee shops if you can shoot a promo shot for them in their shop.

You will find a taker if you ask enough shops.

Now you have a real client to shoot for. One that has a brand you must honor. One that gives you access to al the sorts of props and set items that you will need.

Someone to appreciate your work.

And yes, we give them the photograph. It’s a trade.

We have had several P52 members try this strategy and all of them ended up being called back by those they had worked for to do more images… this time for pay.

Here is a way to fully cover the price of this course.

If you do what I say, take it to heart, and make the effort to be noticed you will be able to pay for this course and more during the year we are together.

It is a time-honored strategy that works if you do it.

See you next week.

August 22

August 19.

Two weeks away.

From the most intensive, fun, challenging, frustrating, exhilarating experience in photography in the entire universe. (heh).

The intensity comes from a community and program that puts excellence first and will push you to do better than you think you can. And we do it in a positive, empowering way. Critiques are not slams that you leave reeling from, they are more like seminars you leave excited about. If you did well, you learned what worked, if you didn’t you have learned what to look for next time. And the time after that.

The challenge is what happens when we put you outside the normal box you have been shooting in and tell you to make something totally outside of your normal work. And that can lead to frustration.

Frustration is good as long as it doesn’t win. A frustrated artist finds a way to beat the frustration.

Frustration is really just ‘resistance’* in a monkey suit. And never let the monkey win.

If a shot doesn’t come up to muster, take the criticisms and ideas that work for you and do it again. Always get your shot.

The joy of making sure you got the shot is really where the fun is.

And the learning.

And the feeling that you ‘got this’ and can move forward with the knowledge building on each of the things you have learned.

Here are a few ideas that I want you to think about.

Never fear to get it wrong. We all get it wrong. More times than you think. But getting it wrong is not the end of the journey. We learn from those mistakes, and we build on the knowledge of how to fix them. When we first ride a bicycle, we fall. We are expected to fall a few times. But once the feeling of the bike (knowledge) is firmly planted, we can ride the bike all day without falling.
Never ‘mail it in’. Never. I would rather you not submit something than go out the day before to just ‘do something to turn in’. This is not high school, and no one is graded or humiliated for not turning something in. I just want you to turn in your best work… the best you can do. Your best effort.If time gets away from you, then take a pass and join us to follow what others have done. Turning in a photograph that is NOT your best effort achieves nothing. You will not learn anything from it, and it will not add to the meaningful discussion.Just as in real life, you do the assignments and deliver on time. Or you don’t. No matter to the universe, but when you turn something in, fully own the concept and production of that image.
Do not wait until the last minute to do your assignment. That will not work here OR in the real world. You need time to get some ideas, some production notes, get some feedback from the community… LOTS of ways to make that image the best way you can. But not if you wait until the day before it is due.
Ask questions. The Briefs should be well explained, but sometimes terminology may be confusing, or you may not fully understand what is being asked for. OK. Just ask.Ask me, a fellow P52 member, or the community. You will get your answer pretty quick.
Keep a sketchbook. A notebook of ideas, diagrams, notes of shots you are doing, or are going to do. This notebook can become invaluable. (If you want to learn something, really learn it, write it down. Proven science.)There are also documents that I will make available for you to keep specific notes on for the critiques. Exposure, lens, ISO, lighitng diagram, and any other important elements you may have used. Having this note page makes the critiques so much better.

Please do not think that this is oppressive in any way. Keeping a notebook, making sure you have time to do the shots and stuff is easier than you may be thinking at the moment. (Those thoughts of fear and “I’m not ready” are resistance again. Remember how powerful resistance can be, and do not let it win.)

Resistance

From the book “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield. Highly recommended – in fact, you MUST read this short little book if you intend to make art your career in any form.

Hi, and welcome to the Project 52 Pro System.

This will be an amazing year and you will make great photographs AND great friends along the way.

First, bookmark this page. This is where I will keep you apprised of all that is going on before we launch. Check it every couple of days to see new info and links.

For now, I want you to get familiar with the “Twelve Days of Project 52”.

These links will take you to PDF’s that are for your information, and very important for the P52 Experience.

Please take time to read them, and ask me questions (don.giannatti@gmail.com) if you have any.

You will continue to get email from me as well.

THE TWELVE DAYS OF PROJECT 52 PRO

(NOTE: some of the links may not work. I will be checking them as soon as possible.)

12 Days – Chapter One

12 Days – Chapter Two

12 Days – Chapter Three

12 Days – Chapter Four

12 Days – Chapter Five

12 Days – Chapter Six