Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Brian Smith speaks at photography symposiums, seminars and trade shows everywhere from Boise to Brazil. He’s appeared at PhotoPlus Expo in New York, WPPI in Las Vegas and Estudio Brasil in Sao Paulo. As president of Editorial Photographers he frequently speaks to photography trade organizations and to emerging photographers and photo students at colleges, universities, photo schools and art institutes around the country.
DESCRIPTION OF TALKS:
SECRETS OF GREAT PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY
In this talk, Celebrity portrait photographer Brian Smith shares the lessons he’s learned over the past 30 years capturing the faces of the famous and infamous as a top magazine portrait photographer. Brian will discuss his approach to editorial and commercial assignments from concept to final images, and detailing his approach to lighting and problem solving on productions both small and large. Smith will also share secrets about how to quickly capture the personality of the people you photograph and he will also discuss how personal projects can be used to generate editorial and commercial assignments, and allow your personal style to evolve and grow while generating assignments you love to shoot.
SECRETS OF GREAT PORTRAIT LIGHTING
Brian Smith at Luminance 2012
©Michael Treola/PhotoShelter
Mastering great portrait lighting begins with a simple understanding how to control what light reveals and shadows hide. The best way to understand how to control and shape light is to first break lighting down to a few simple principles beginning with an understanding of how light can create drama and enhance the mood. Celebrity portrait photographer Brian Smith shares his use of lighting modifiers to control and shape light and shadow to create bold iconic portraits of Hollywood’s A-list. You’ll learn how to work quickly under pressure, on productions both small and large. Learn how to control the quality of light had how the choice between hard light and soft light allows you to control the mood. From his simple problem-solving approach to both sculpting light in the studio and how to overcome harsh daylight by blending strobe with ambient light to on location, you’ll learn how to take cues from reality make the most of great light when you find it and to create it when you don’t. Smith will share celebrity portraits of from his books ART & SOUL and Secrets of Great Portrait Photography to share ways that you can make everyone you photograph look and feel like a star.
THE FUTURE OF EDITORIAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Editorial photography is undergoing rapid change, yet the death of magazine photography has been greatly exaggerated. Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Brian Smith, President of Editorial Photographers and ASMP Member, will discuss how to maximize the creative and commercial rewards while avoiding bad contracts and stagnant rates. Seminar Topics include: How to get and keep the attention of photo editors and art directors at top magazines; How production value can make your work stand out; How to charge properly for digital processing; What are the best things you can do in a slow economy; How to maximize re-licensing, syndication and reprint revenue; How the shift to online content will affect rates; What you should know about editorial that nobody told you.
A SURVIVAL GUIDE TO EDITORIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LICENSING
Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Brian Smith, President of Editorial Photographers, will discuss how to maximize the creative and commercial rewards while avoiding bad contracts and stagnant rates. Seminar Topics include: How production value can make your work stand out; How to charge properly for digital processing; The best things you can do in a slow economy; How to maximize re-licensing, syndication and reprint revenue; How the shift to online content will affect rates; What you should know about editorial that nobody told you.
EDITORIAL PHOTOGRAPHY: FROM PULITZER TO PORTRAITURE
Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Brian Smith shares insights from his last 30 years as a editorial photographer as he moved from Pulitzer Prize-winning sports photographer to shooting celebrity portraits of Hollywood’s A-List. Smith will speak about both the art and commerce of editorial photography and what every artist needs to know about business of photography to remain in business. In this presentation, Smith will share ways to grab and keep the attention of photo editors and art directors; how shooting personal projects can promote your vision and land the jobs you’ll love to shoot; and ways to keep your portfolio and vision fresher than next year’s winner of The X Factor.
STOP WAITING FOR YOUR BIG BREAK
What do Donald Trump, Richard Branson, nudist golfers, and hundreds of Olympic Athletes have in common? They’ve all been photographed by Miami celebrity portrait photographer Brian Smith. In this talk, Pulitzer Prize winner Brian Smith as he shares how to overcome career plateaus, adapt your approach and expand your photographic range to win new clients, and create the career of your dreams one small break at a time.
Complete list of Brian Smith’s speaking & television appearances, workshops and exhibitions
