Introduction to bip photographic

This blog will follow my progress in integrating commercial photography into my photographic work. My passion is documentary photography and portraiture. The ‘but’ arrived some time after the birth of my daughter Esmé. A couple of years in fact. So, now, I need to make some money to pay for her pull-up nappies and fromage frais addiction.

Despite a good understanding of the photographic industry, presenting myself as a commercial photographer requires looking at the industry and marketplace from a different perspective, including technical and aesthetic. It requires another way of looking which, initially, will be a contrast to my documentary approach.

I have done commercial photographic work over the years but never classified myself as a commercial photographer. This is a big change. I have worked for book publishers like Evans Brothers, Heinemann and Taylor and Francis. I have done general commercial work and sold images via a few photo libraries. Most of my work came from word of mouth.

Of my working time I have decided to spend 80% of my time focusing on commercial photography, and 20% on documentary photography.

I am into the second month of re-organising my photographic ‘career’, as a result, I am also re-inventing myself. I will be using some of the commercial work I have had to do in recent years in my website portfolio. I’ll be covering my take on branding, marketing, advertising, admin., designing and editing a website and portfolio, self-promotion, networking… and the list goes on in my head…

(I will need to edit this introduction as there is a lot brewing in my head!)

Millenium Dome from Trinity Buoy Wharf, London

~ by bip mistry on November 26, 2006.