The Documentary Photographer

Thank you to everyone who has been reading the blog over the last year.

I hope you find health and happiness in 2010.

(c) Roger Overall 2009

A whole new year starts tomorrow, an unwritten slate upon which we can write a better life.

I’m about to come over all philosophical. Just a little warning. You can bail now, by going here: Exit This Post.

For those of you still here, the point I want to make is this: while it’s great to be looking ahead with ambitions, we can only stand tomorrow on the foundations we built in the past. If the foundations are feeble, the future will likely be equally weak. So the best way to sort out the future is to sort out the present.

Nothing new in any of that, but for me personally it’s become a guiding light for me in the past 12 months.

It’s been very liberating.

And scary. Because, you know, I’m solely responsible for where I am. I can’t blame anyone else. It’s all me. (And between the two of us: he can be a bit of a dunce at times).

There is an upside. A biggie. If it’s all me, then I have the power to change things. I can affect an outcome, give direction to a situation, meet a challenge and turn it into an opportunity.

I’m starting to think that too few photographers realize this.

For instance, go to any wedding fair here in Cork and you will hear constant bitching from some of the exhibiting photographers about how many other photographers have stands. The worst offenders are three photographers from the same company who complain the loudest, oblivious to the inflationary aspect of their own number.

It’s crazy. The more photographers in the hall, the better. How much easier is it to stand out if there are lots of people offering the same service? If you are truly different and have defined your USPs, you will rise above everyone. It will be plain to see.

What is really going on is that the photographers who complain the loudest haven’t in the past made the decisions that would have made them unique to the market today.

In the last 12 months, I’ve come to understand, through personal insight but also through the generous input of others, what I’m good at and what I truly love doing.

My utter conviction of the value of documentary photography shapes everything I do in the business now.

That is what I have taken from 2009, and it will help me going forward in 2010.

You won’t be surprise then that the last picture on this blog this year is a documentary one.

It’s a photograph of my two greatest sources of inspiration. I am very lucky to have them both in my life. I love them dearly. My wife and my daughter.

Have a great 2010, everyone.

My daughter is one of the funniest people I know. A couple of nights ago, she almost made us wet ourselves with a new look she had developed. It came out of nothing as we were all watching TV together. (c) Roger Overall 2009

Merry Chrismas Christmas, everyone.

It started with a tweet. I can’t find the exact date and time, but it was a retweet posted by Paul O’Mahony, a good friend of mine and one of the sagest men I know.

Omaniblog Needing free photo? RT @mayhemstudios: Places to Find Photos http://tinyurl.com/dxgpl2

Well, free photography doesn’t fill the heart of a working pro with great glee. So I responded:

22.14 hrs, 1st December 2009: RogerOverall Am I obsolete? Free photography: RT @Omaniblog Needing free photo? RT @mayhemstudios: Places to Find Photos http://tinyurl.com/dxgpl2

Then I  checked out the link and found something abhorrent to a professional photographer:

22.15 hrs, 1st December 2009: RogerOverall Re previous tweet: It gets worse. These people will do FREE commissioned photography. http://www.photorogue.com/

Free commissioned photography is  sky-falling-down territory. Professional photographers are under enough strain as it is.

So how do you face up to a competitor who will shoot for free? In fact, how can any business respond effectively to such a threat?

I was in the Netherlands at the time with only intermittent internet access, so it was a day later when I saw Paul’s tweet that contained the key to everything:

22.29 hrs, 1st December 2009: Omaniblog @RogerOverall The thing I can’t get from a stock photograph is: conversation

Apparently “conversation” is a very old concept in business and somewhat passe. It does, after all, date back all the way to 2008. That’s practically Jurassic.

Nevertheless, it was new to me and it’s a phenomenally rich concept that gives everything I want to do with the business an overarching theme.

For instance, conversation is interaction.

Conversation is relationship building.

Conversation is responsive.

Conversation is revealing.

Conversation is door handles. (We’ll come back to that)

It’s all the things that make a client want to deal with you instead of somebody else.

An important aspect of the conversation is content and quality. What is it you want to say and how are you going to say it? My conversations with clients are more productive since I decided what it is that I want to tell them.

I’m a documentary photographer and I want to photograph my client’s wedding day, family, company in that vein.

With that simple ground rule set, it’s much easier to have a fruitful conversation with a prospective client. They know instantly whether I’m the right kind of photographer for them.

The conversation can move on to other aspects. I shoot produce a lot of black and white work. Is that what the client would like? We talk about that. We have an interaction going.

The real power of the concept of conversation, as I interpret it, is that you can apply it to things as seemingly insignificant as the door handles in the space were you receive clients. Are they pleasant to hold and turn?  That simple interface between the client’s hand and the handle is part of the conversation with your business. If the door handle is uncomfortable, what does that say about your business? What is it contributing to the conversation between you and them to help build that relationship?

In the context of conversation, cheap and free photography don’t pose a threat to me. My clients are looking for a rich conversation. Stock is anonymous and sterile. Even the free commissioned photography is done by email: send a request, get a picture back that may or may not suit your needs. None of the human face-to-face that my clients are looking for.

As an aside, the concept of conversation suits something I’ve said before: I have no competition from other photographers. They can’t compete with my conversation, just like I can’t compete with theirs (if they even have conversation, which many don’t). If a client likes my conversation better, they will book me. If they prefer someone else’s, they won’t.

More to come in future posts on the topic of conversation…

I’m fortunate enough to be a member of Ireland’s leading BNI chapter: Cork City.

If you’re unfamiliar with BNI, it’s a international organization with chapters around the world. The sole purpose of each chapter is to generate word-of-mouth referral business for its members. My membership was worth about €10,000 to me over the course of 2009. Nothing huge, but not to be disregarded either.

Apart from the business and the networking, there are lots of educational benefits to my membership in BNI.

So that’s all good.

There are down sides, though.

This morning was our traditional Christmas meeting, at which we all present on behalf of another member instead of ourselves. It can get messy, not to mention apocryphal and downright libelous.

For instance, this is what Willie Ahern, our group’s electrician, said on my behalf:

“My name is Roger Overall and I am the greatest photographer alive. [So far, so good]

“In fact, before me, there were no photographers worth talking about. [OK, that's not quite true]

“If I take 10 photographs, 11 of them are going to be award-winners. [Now hang on a minute...]

“I don’t need to set a shutter speed on my camera. Time stands still for me. [I have almost never claimed that]

“I don’t need to use flash. The sun just shines brighter for me. [Or that. And then it just gets worse:]

“I’m looking to speak to people who can afford me.

“If you know them, tell them that I invented light.

“Tell them that if they humble themselves before me, I might take a phone call from them.

“That’s Roger Overall, I’m a genius.” [That bit is true]

Now, surely most of that is slander? I’d be the first to admit that I have an ego (we had to build an annex to the house specially for it last year), but this is going too far.

Fortunately, my solicitor is a member of our chapter as well. He has a keen legal brain and a sharp intellect. He immediately leaped into action on my behalf:

My lawyer defending my good character (c) Roger Overall 2009

On a more seasonal note, the group’s printer, Ciaran Buckley-Barry of Prontaprint, volunteered to have his legs waxed for charity as part of his presentation on behalf of the chapter’s beauty salon, Asana.

He didn’t enjoy it:

(c) Roger Overall 2009

We laughed like drains.

All kidding aside, it is a privilege to be a member of the Cork City chapter of BNI and I’m looking forward to 2010 in the company of my fellow members.

So, I’ll raise a glass to them.

Willie Ahern gave me a bottle of 2004 Chateau Cantenac Brown with which to do it.

Thanks for everything, guys.

Here it is. The Cork Help Portrait event video.

Videographer Gerry MacBride is a hero. I’m blown away by this.

Thank you so much Gerry.

I have a problem. I recognize that.

[Deep breath]

I can’t get enough of reflections and splits in my photographs.

There, I’ve said it.

[Oh, that feels so much better to get that out. Cathartic]

You’ll see how bad things are in this selection of photographs from a wedding this summer. Fortunately, Niamh and James are a very understanding couple.

I am seeking help.

Last night I was up at Cork International Airport Hotel for the Christmas gathering of the Smarter Egg tribe, a collective of  business people who meet in groups regularly to discuss business books. Book clubs for entrepreneurs if you will.

Chief egg is Aodan Enright, who facilitates the discussions at the meetings and chooses the books. I’ve suggested we read The Dilbert Principle, but oddly the idea has had little traction within my group.

I mention all of this here for several reasons.

Firstly, Aodan asked me to be interviewed for a promotional video, giving my thoughts on the benefits of participating in his discussion groups. We got a first glimpse of the video last night. I learned two things about myself: I speak right posh and I need to lose two stone. It was like watching Jabba the Hutt being voiced by Stewie from Family Guy.

Why else do I mention it here?

Well, it was at one of the Smarter Egg sessions that I finally got clarity on the direction I should take my photography and my business. Without Smarter Egg, I wouldn’t be striking out in a purely documentary direction. Nor would this blog exist. And nor would I have been able to photograph on board Brittany Ferries for my portfolio recently. I’ve gotten to know the MD here in Ireland through my group, you see.

Lastly, I bring up Smarter Egg by way of an example of just how effective documentary photography can be for any subject, even book clubs.

The pictures here give you a good idea of the interaction at the meetings. It is relaxed, it is fun and we learn a lot from each other.

[NOTE: I should point out that the bottles of wine in the photographs are not standard Smarter Egg issue. They were a gift from one of the group members that evening. Wouldn't want you to get the wrong idea or anything.]

Smarter Egg book club for entrepreneurs in session. (c) Roger Overall 2009

We laugh and we learn. (c) Roger Overall 2009

Leader of the tribe, Aodan Enright. He supports Arsenal, you know. (c) Roger Overall 2009

Sometimes I wish I were lazy. It would save me so much time.

Today, though, I am going to be lazy work smart.

Paul O’Mahony, who got Help Portrait started here in Cork, has done all the legwork and produced a list on his blog of those who helped us organize the event. You can find it here:  “Roll of Honour”. By the way, if anyone is missing [God, we hope not] do let us know and we’ll make sure you’re recognised.

Paul has also produced a short version of our story on Flickr .

Some of the people who made Help Portrait 2009 happen in Cork, along with a couple of the people who came to have their portrait taken. (c) Roger Overall 2009

As I type this I’m sitting by the fire with my 4-year-old daughter watching Toy Story 2, while my wife is making a terrific shepherd’s pie for dinner. I’m warm, I am safe, I am healthy, I have a loving family and I will eat well tonight.

Not everyone can say the same.

That’s what Help Portrait is all about. Brain child of American photographer Jeremy Cowart, Help Portrait has grown into an international movement. Yesterday, thousands of photographers around the world, supported by an army of phenomenal volunteers,  produced portrait photographs for those who have had or are having a rough time.

Here in Cork, writer Paul O’Mahony took up the challenge to organize professional photographer participation. Thanks to Paul (and the small army of volunteers he inspired), we greeted, made-up and photographed 44 people: 21 women, 10 men, 13 children – giving each a mounted print and a disc of image files. In the process, we must have triggered our cameras over 2,000 times.

In a day or so, I’m hoping to post the names of everyone who gave of their time and skills to help us run the event here in Cork. The effort they put in was just incredible, and they deserve all the recognition we can give them. For now, all I can say is a heartfelt “Thank you” to everyone who made Help Portrait 2009 here in Cork such a remarkable event.

Look out for a video of the day soon on the blog.

Meanwhile, here are some behind the scenes photographs.

Commercial photographer Gabrielle Morehead can't resist a munchkin in a Santa suit. Who can? (c) Roger Overall 2009

Munchkin and several thousand euros worth of camera gear. Phil Daly on the right looking very relaxed considering it's his camera. (c) Roger Overall 2009

Gabrielle Morehead not getting much respect. (c) Roger Overall 2009