A Day on the Set

People often ask me if they can work with me on my shoots, but the process of making my clients looks stunning is not an easy one for my crew. Often we have long hard days putting the jobs together but even on those days, no one wants to go home.

Here's a sneak peak behind the scene's of a location job.

To learn success tips and more sign up for my seminar at: Photo Seminar

Shhhhhhh Don't Tell... For Your Eyes Only

For your eyes only!

The Creative Experience Photo Seminar is coming to a town near you!

June 28th and 29th: Los Angeles, CA

July 19th and 20th: Akron, Ohio

August 16th and 17th: Minneapolis, MN

September 20th and 21st: Washington, DC

October 18th and 19th: Atlanta, GA

November 8th and 9th: Dallas, TX

I Love Oprah

Yes, I love Oprah, but don't we all? Since my last Oprah post I've received many questions about the use of the image on her show. One person asked via email if I was paid for the usage of the shot on the show. Typically, I am not paid for those types of usages on show's but I am given photo credit at the end of the show which is worth more to me than a small usage fee. I've had many of my images on shows ranging from Oprah, Tyra, America's Next Top Model, Entertainment Tonight, Extra and many more, but the publicity I get from those shows is far better than the fee's I would get. Oprah works with ton's of photographers and I was elated she choose one of my images to turn into an Avatar on the show.

To learn how to develop your own unique clients list check out my seminar tour coming to a town near you this summer: Your Creative Experience

Always Dream Big

P.S. Lakers win 103 - 101

Get Your Free Camera

I'm giving away a free camera! Well, actually Sony is giving away the camera and it could be yours simple by coming to my seminar tour and learning how to enhance your photography. This is a win/win situation at a time when win/win is hard to find.

Welcome to your future! Over the next six months I will travel to six select cities across America and give away a free camera in each city. We will also help you improve your color by giving away several Color Checker Passports thanks to the Mac Group, makers of Profoto lighting gear.

Win/win means you have the opportunity to get away from your computer and experience a seminar that will change your life and photography career forever. Every one seems to be talking about ROI, return on investment. We buy gear and software to have the latest greatest but what return, (profit) do you receive? If you make the investment in coming to my seminar tour you'll learn more than most students learn in a year. Those are not my words but the words from one of my students in Kyoto, Japan who came from England to attend my seminar there. Invest in yourself and change you life forever! I hope to see you soon!

Your Creative Experience Seminar is coming to a town near you very soon.

June 28th and 29th - Los Angeles

July 19th and 20th - Akron, Ohio

Always Dream Big!

Photo Seminar Testimonials from Matthew Jordan Smith on Vimeo.

How to Find a Million

How would you know if you shot a million dollar photograph? Making great images is one thing but knowing how to select the best images can be a tricky task.

There is so much information regarding equipment and software in the digital photography world but very little in regard to the best ways to selecting our best images. Clients buy photography based on the images you show, not the equipment or software you own. Yes, having the best tools at our disposal is essential but that is just the starting point. To get a return on your investment you will need knowledge or you've just purchased an expensive paper weight.

To select my best images I do the following. Using either Lightroom or Capture One Pro, I use both for different reasons, I do a quick pass over all the images placing a check on all the images I like. I'm not picky at this point and selecting all images I like. For example, I shot almost 3000 images yesterday during my photo shoot, and during my first pass I selected 1100 images. Then I go through the images again and put them in groups based on the different shots, themes or locations. Once I have all the images broken down in groups I start to really narrow down the images to just the photographs I love. The entire time I am cognizant of my theme, story or concept. I may have a shot that I love but it may not fit in with the theme, so I have to put that image to the side. In Lightroom I use color tags and the star system together to indicate how I feel about an image. When I have my top selects narrowed down I can start seeing how the images work together best to tell my story. After narrowing down my 1100 images yesterday I ended up with 184 of my top images, then in Lightroom I started the process of seeing which images worked best together. I use the compare mode in Lightroom, command C on the Mac, to do this and compare until I come up with my top images. Good luck and I hope this helps. If you have an questions please leave one here and I will respond as soon as possible.

Once I have selected my story, I then send the images off to the retoucher or client. Here are a few samples from my editing process yesterday. All the models were great so it was hard to narrow down the selects but this is part of the fun of being in a creative industry.

To learn this process in person come to my seminar taking place in Los Angeles June 28th and 29th. To learn more click here: LA Seminar

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Shooting Tips for Today

While shooting in studio it's important to sit or stand where your subject will be so you get a sense of how the light looks and feels on the subject. Today I'm in studio and while my team is doing hair and makeup on the models I am tweaking the light.

The reading today is F22 but I pushed it a 1/3 stop more to 22.3 so I can shot at F22.0

My first model is now ready so I'm headed to start shooting!

Always Dream Big!

Shooting Today

Today I am shooting the second part of my beauty story. We have two models, one from Germany and one from Japan. The first model for the story was shot last week and is from India. All three girls are extremely attractive but more importantly are great on camera. The lighting for today will all be done with Profoto strobes.

The first image of the day will be done using my x-rite Color Checker Passport so I can control my color and get exactly what I want. Okay, I'm headed back to the set. More to come soon!

Oh, I'm using my Sony A900 and the len's for today will be the 100 macro and the 85mm but most images will most likely be done with the 100 macro.

Always Dream Big

Cosplay in America

Today I went to see a very cool exhibit and book signing called Cosplay in America. The images for the book were all shot with one single light, the Profoto Beauty Dish. The beauty dish is the same light I use on many of my images, which really goes to show you that if you keep your lighting simple and concentrate on your theme you can make magic with only one light.

The books author, Ejen Chuang did something really amazing, he took a chance and invested in himself. His book is self published and is being marketing and sold solely via social media. Take a look at his work and if you like it you can purchase his book by clicking on this link: Purchase Cosplay

I met Ejen today for the first time in my life but I was inspired by his drive and dedication so I want to support him in any way possible. I purchased a book and had him sign it, but I also want to spread the word because he is the future in many ways. As we spoke today Ejen expressed that if the recession hadn't happened his book would never have been made. Because he was slow as a photographer, he had to do something to keep his creative juices flowing. Kudo's to Ejen for inspiring us all to dream big!

If you are in the Los Angeles are and want to learn more ways to dream big come the photo seminar taking place June 28th and 29th at the Sheraton. For more information and registration click here: LA Seminar

Always Dream Big

I end each blog post with the words "Always Dream Big", but what are my big dreams and why do I end this way? I believe the future lies with someone who is reading these words today and by daily reminders to dream big the future will reveal itself. After the Great Depression business boomed and new discoveries were made that changed the world. I believe that history will repeat itself very soon.

I have a dream and I've kept it to myself for a while. My dream is to change the photography world as we know it. To enhance every photographers life in a way that has yet to be done, to make all our lives better and more profitable than ever. This is not a big dream it's a HUGE dream. Some things are very hard to keep quiet but I learned my lesson in 2009 when I told one of my best friends about a secret project and swore her to silence. Now I work quietly but my hope is to one day be able to share something that will bring a smile to all of our hearts and take photography into a new age. The future is coming.

Always Dream Big!

New Camera

My shoot yesterday was great and now the second part will take place next Tuesday instead of today due to model availability. I'm looking forward to capturing my complete story concept and sharing it with everyone here once it's completed. The concept incorporates compositing as I'm shooting each model separately.

Today is now about experiencing new things, and to start the weekend I am opening a box containing my new Nex-5 camera body. I had to get it! Now I'm off to use it for the first time and throughout the weekend.

Images soon.

Always Dream Big

Los Angeles Photo Seminar: June 28th 29th

It's so BIG!

The World is changing and with it everything we have ever learned about digital camera's. In America, bigger has always meant better, but is that really true?

I'd like to carry a large camera with me all the time but that's not possible. I want to always have a camera on me, because I want to live the life of a visual artist capturing life in every manner as I see and experience it. I also want to have great images but I fight with myself at time over having a point and shot or just having my large camera all the time. This has always been part of my inner fight, but maybe I've found the answer to my problems.

This article came out today in the New York Times and now I can't wait to get my hands on one of these new http://nyti.ms/cZrwe5 bodies to try out. Read it and let me know your thoughts.

New York Times Article


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Bangkok Crackdown

A friend of mine lives in Thailand and send this link to me. He lives not far from where these images were taken but he is fine. I've never been to Bangkok yet but it was to be one of my next destinations. It may have to wait a bit longer now.

Bangkok Crackdown

Oprah Avatar and Matthew Jordan Smith

A few months ago Oprah had the director of Avatar, James Camaron on her to speak about the movie, Avatar. I was unaware at the time but received numerous emails, texts, calls, etc from friends saying The Oprah Show showcased my image on the show to illustrate turing Ms. Winfrey into an Avatar. I searched and searched to find anything I could find about the show but only found images of the other two images used, which were not mind. I even called my friends on the show but the only thing I received again were the two other images used on the show. After an exhausted search, I finally gave up and thought everyone must have confused my image with someone else's. Today out of the blue a reader of this blog sent an email with all the images from the show and I am happy to finally show my image here. Thank you Andria!

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Finding Inspiration

Thursday and Friday I will shoot images based on an idea discussed with my makeup artist in our meeting last week. This week started with the models casting process and today we will spend more time in casting to narrow down the model choices for day two. We've already selected the model for the first day and I'm very excited to capture my idea's in the way I envision. To come up with my idea's I spent time going through my idea books that are filled with years of tear sheets from magazines around the world. Many times I find inspiration from old concept or combine ideas to make a new vision that is current and relevant in today's market. Research is always the starting point and everything else evolves from there.

In terms of lighting I will use the D1 lights by Profoto to bring my concepts to life. Stay tuned for images and video from the shoot soon.

To experience this first hand join us in Los Angeles June 28th and 29th: Click here

Always Dream Big

Are You an Artist?

Are you living your life as an artist or simply putting on the artist hat from time to time? When was the last time you took a photograph just for you?

Dream Bigger!

Kobe Bryant-White Hot

A few Sunday's ago I opened my door to find the Sunday LA Times. I really enjoy reading the New York Times more, but when in Rome.

As I picked up the paper the LA Times Magazine fell out and on the cover was an African American in an all white outfit. The first thing I thought was, "they have too much makeup on that guy"! Then I looked closer and was shocked to find out it was Kobe Bryant. I forgot about the rest of the paper and started looking through the magazine at the Kobe story. As I looked on I was a bit shocked with how Kobe was portrayed but the shock value will sell magazines. I look right away to see who the photographer was and it was listed as a photographer I wasn't aware of. Later on the site however I noticed it was credited as Ruvan Afanador and that seems more in line as the images fit Ruvan's style more. Misprints of credit are always bad but sometimes a misprint like this one could lead to a lot of press.

I didn't like the story at all and please comment on your thoughts of the issue. As I looked at the story I wondered how Kobe's teammates would react to seeing him this way as well. Regardless of how much I like or dislike the story, it is a successful story for all involved because of the buzz. I've loved a lot of Ruvan's work and tonight as I go to visit with a photographer friend, Kwaku Alston I'm sure we'll discuss this article and much, much more.

Other interesting articles on this story: Wrong Way Kobe

Websites Will Never Work

It seems like only yesterday when I dreamed of becoming a photographer and making a living doing what I love. I've been blessed in my life with wonderful clients and subjects but it wasn't always easy. The truth is it's not supposed to be easy because the road to success is paved with uneven bricks. We all need help in getting down the road to reach our goals, but on this road there are really only three things that help guide you to success.

1) The people you meet
2) The places you go
3) The books you read

A decade ago I started reading every book I could find on Warren Buffett and the knowledge I've gained has helped me see things I wouldn't have noticed before. Years ago I approached my agent about starting a website for the agency and I was told websites would never work. The lesson here is that change is hard to see and even when we do see it it's hard to believe what we see. In photography, and everywhere else, the world is changing again. Forget everything you thought you knew because the old rules no longer apply.

If you're interested in the future of photography and learning how to become a better photographer or how to make a better living as a photographer you will need help. On June 28th and 29th I will share all the secrets to help you excel as a photographer, an artist, a visionary! Come and embrace your future success in this one of a kind seminar like none other.

Creative Experience Photo Seminar:

Los Angeles, CA



Always Dream Big