I was asked how I do it...

I've been asked to share how I've been fortunate to have some of my shots

in CNN, USAToday and others.

As you read this, please keep in mind that I don't mean to sound like this

is the way it HAS to be done, rather it's just what I've done and it seems

to have worked some for me.

First, I take my camera EVERYWHERE I go. I always have it with me, ready

to shoot anything that might catch my eye or not. I also try to "think

outside the box" in what I shoot. With that in mind, I don't merely watch

for what's ahead of me, but I also keep an eye out for what's above me and

behind me. I've been fortunate to get some good shots by glancing back and

seeing things in a different angle.

Second, and kind of tying in with #1, I always look for public events where

I can shoot. Festivals, fairs, potlucks, etc etc etc. The basic pattern

I follow is usually the same, but for simplicity's sake, I'll illustrate

what I'm trying to say with a craft fair.

I'll strike up a conversation with the vendor and ask him or her if they

mind if I take some photos of their crafts. I also tell them that if

they'll give me their email address, I'll be glad to send them the link

once I have the photos uploaded.

During post processing I delete the obvious junk (out of focus, blurred,

bad composition/lighting, etc). Then I upload and send them the link in an

email along with a note that they can feel free to use any of them they

like as long as they will give me photo credit and keep me in mind for any

future paying gigs.

It's reallly that simple.

Now for specifics...the sunrise through the pecan grove that USAToday used

was shot at a Easter sunrise service in Georgia. I had approached the

group with basically the same "spiel" that I mentioned earlier. I uploaded

the photos and gave them the link. One of the folks that got the link "had

a friend who had a friend" that worked with USAToday and word was passed to

me that the paper would like to use the photo. Of course I agreed.

The picture that was used by CNN (also on my home page) was shot at Bel

Chere in North Carolina. I told the local paper that I'd be glad to shoot

for them if they gave me photo credit. They used the photo in their paper

and it also was picked up by CNN in a piece they did about Bel Chere (the

largest street festival in the southeast).

I shot a craft festival in Carolina this past summer and gave the promoter

of the festival the link. She had a friend that was writing an article for

USAirways and wanted to know if they could use four of the pictures to

accompany the article in their inflight magazine.

That's pretty much how I work. As I said, I don't have any overhead plus I

love shooting, so it works for me to give away the photos. I do believe

though what goes around comes around (good as well as bad), so directly

from my giving away the links to the photos, here's what I've gotten:

#1 Invitation to shoot "Paradise City Art Festival" in Massachusettes this

month (a paying gig).
#2 The opportunity to do a "comp card" for a model in Washington D.C. next

week (another paying gig)
#3 The opportunity to be a second shooter for the Washington D.C.

professional soccer team (another paying gig)
#4 Contacted by the largest artisan's group in Vermont to do a coffee

table book for them in the spring (another paying gig)
#5 Under contract to do a Habitat for Humanity shoot (also next week),

another paying gig

And well, I could go on, but I think you get the picture.

So in a nutshell, I use marketing 101 skills. I talk to everyone I can and

I always try to deliver more than I promise. I try to keep my prices well

within reason since my needs are so few and the few times that I've been

"stiffed" by a customer, I smile and let it pass.

I'm not sure this answered your question, or even was what you're looking

for. I'd be glad to attempt to answer more fully any specific questions

and help out in anyway I can.