Jim Zuckerman left his medical studies in 1970 to pursue his love of photography and turn it into a career. Jim specializes in wildlife, nature, and travel photography, macro work, photomicroscopy, and digital effects. Currently, he is traveling to Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia leading a photography tour to take pictures of Victoria Falls and large game.

His diversity in technique and style is unique in the professional arena. He states that he only photographs beauty, leaving the dark side of life to other photographers. Jim is contributing editor to Photographic Magazine, and he is the author of 15 books on photography and has self-published seven ebooks.

His images, articles, and photo features have been published in scores of books and magazines including Time-Life books, publications of the National Geographic Society, the Economist, Omni Magazine, and Life Magazine.

Jim leads photo tours all over the world and is often a guest speaker to a wide variety of photographic organizations. He teaches all aspects of photography online as well.

The Interview

1. Tell us something about your business and how long you have been a professional photographer?

I have been a professional photographer for 43 years. I specialize mostly in wildlife, nature, travel photography, and digital effects. There are three aspects of my business. First, I am a stock photographer. I submit images to various stock photo agencies and I derive income from that. Second, I teach photography in various venues. For example, I teach online courses, I give photo seminars, and I lecture to clubs and organizations on various aspects of photography. Third, I lead photo tours and photo workshops all over the world.

2. What equipment do you use?

I am a Canon shooter. My arsenal of lenses includes: 500mm f/4 telephoto, 300mm f/2.8 telephoto, 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom telephoto, 50mm macro, 24- 105mm zoom, 14mm ultra-wide-angle lens, and 15mm fisheye. I use an Induro tripod along with a reallyrightstuff BH 40 LR ball head. My camera bodies are 5D Mark II and 5D Mark III.

3. Where are you located?

I am based out of Franklin, Tennessee.

4. What type of photography do you like to create?

My favorite types of images are wildlife, nature, spectacular architecture, primitive tribes, and digital effects. Most photographers don’t include in their portfolio such a diverse range of subjects, but I will shoot almost everything: fantasy, nudes, microscopy, fashion, and anything else that I find to be visually compelling.

5. Price range of events?

I charge a minimum of $2,000 for a speaking engagement, and for a photography workshop or tour it varies depending on how many days are involved and where I have to travel.

6. When did you notice you had a passion for photography?

I realized I had a passion for photography the first time I went into a darkroom. That was 1968. A friend of mine showed me how to develop black and white prints, and I was instantly hooked. I sold my stamp album of American mint stamps and bought my first camera – a Canon FT QL – and all I wanted to do was take pictures.

7. What is unique to what you do or what you offer?

Every photographer has their own vision, but I think what is unique about what I offer is the diversity of my interests. Whenever I speak to a large group, there are people who have a wide variety of interests in photography. I feel they can relate to my work because somewhere in the presentation are pictures that they like to take. In addition, because I have photographed in so may different situations and I’ve had to deal with so many photographic challenges, my knowledge base is extensive. I thoroughly enjoy sharing my experience and knowledge with anyone who wants to learn.

8. Most awkward moment during an event?

The most awkward moment in a photographic event that I’ve experienced is when I was setting up the digital projector and my laptop and about to speak to 200 people, and I didn’t have the right connecting cord between the laptop and the projector. I had just purchased a new laptop not realizing that Apple had changed its connecting cord. Without photographs, it’s very difficult to lecture about photography! Somebody in the audience had to go out to a local Apple Store and purchase the right cable.

9. What is the scariest thing that ever happened during a shoot?

The most frightened I’ve been during a photo shoot was in Kenya. Photography in the game parks is always done from a vehicle, but in this one particular location we were allowed out of the vehicle for breakfast. Right below us was a river, and there were several crocodiles close to us. I walked down to the river’s edge to photograph a monster crocodile – it had to be at least 5 feet wide – and even though I was using a 500mm telephoto, I knew that I was really positioned too close for comfort. I was probably 70 feet away or so, and I looked behind me to see an embankment that I could scramble up if necessary. These reptiles can move a lot faster than I can run, and I was extremely nervous. I took a couple of shots and got out of there fast.

10. Best advice that you’ve been given in your photography career?

The best advice I was ever given was to join a stock photo agency. This was in 1987, and it made a serious impact on my business. With a continuous royalty income, I was able to pursue the kind of photography that I really love to do and not worry about paying monthly bills.

11. Best advice that you could give someone else that is pursuing a photography career?

The best advice I can give to somebody pursuing a photography career is to follow your heart. Do what you love to do and learn how to market your work. Marketing is just as important as producing excellent photography. Most artists don’t like the business end of their art, but it’s necessary and you have to become good at it. In essence, you have to learn two things at once – the business side and the artistic side. Shoot what you love to shoot and this will keep your passion for photography alive and well for the rest of your life.

12. Best moment of your photography career?

The best moment of my photography career was when I held my first book in my hands. I’m most proud of the books I’ve written, so this was a very exciting moment for me.

13. How many sessions/events do you do each year?

I do about 15 events per year including photo tours.

14. Have you changed anything to adjust in the current economic times?

I’ve changed my business plan a lot due to the current economic situation. I’ve put a bigger emphasis on leading photo tours because they are still selling. There is a never ending supply of amateur photographers who want to take better pictures and are who willing to pay people like me to show them where the most awesome pictures can be found. This might be in the US or abroad.

15. Describe your shooting style.

It’s hard to describe my shooting style because it is so varied. Having said that, I like saturated color, strong graphic design, and exciting subjects. I would say these qualities characterize my style.

Connect with Jim

Website: www.jimzuckerman.com

Blog: www.jimzuckerman.com/?page/65495/jims-blog

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jim.zuckerman.12

Sarah Petty is the owner of Sarah Petty Photography in Springfield, IL, one of the most profitable photography studios in the country according to Professional Photographers of America.

Sarah began her career in the marketing department at the world’s largest brand, Coca-Cola Enterprises, and went on to direct the marketing campaigns of many small businesses at a top regional advertising agency. After earning her MBA, she opened her boutique photography studio in 2001.

She teaches photographers how to make a living doing what they love at her company The Joy of Marketing, and is the co-author of the New York Times Best Selling book, Worth Every Penny: Build a Business That Thrills Your Customers and Still Charge What You’re Worth.

The Interview

1. Tell us something about your business and how long you have been a professional photographer?

I started photographing part time in 1998 while I was working full time as a marketing director for a local advertising agency. In 2001, I went full time and opened my first studio. This was when I realized I was under-priced and needed to make some major system changes like making the move from proofing to projection selling.

2. What equipment do you use?

I am a Canon shooter. I have two 5D Mark IIs. My workhorse lens is the 70-200. I also love my 85mm 1.2 and 100mm macro. I use Photogenic studio lights with Larson soft boxes and reflectors. I also love my Jill-e camera and computer bags to store and transport my goodies. Post capture we are all Mac in the studio and ProSelect is my sales software that I couldn’t leave home without.

3. Where are you located?

Springfield, IL, which has a population of about 110,000.

4. What type of photography do you like to create?

I love to create whimsical portraits of children. At my studio, we also photograph families and high school seniors, but my true passion is photographing one child at a time and capturing his or her true essence.

5. Price range of events?

My creation fee is $185. All of my artwork leaves archivally framed, which drives up prices. Our smallest wall portrait starts at $835 and unframed gift images (8×10 or smaller) are $150.

6. When did you notice you had a passion for photography?

When I was 15, I received a Pentax K1000 for my birthday and I loved it. I always had a camera with me in college and then when I started dating my now husband, I fell in love with photographing all of his many nieces and nephews.

7. What is unique to what you do or what you offer?

My photography studio is set up very differently than many. I have really become an interior decorating partner for my clients. My team and I help them with everything from the designing of the session all the way through the framing and placement of the final artwork. We try to create artwork that creates emotion and looks amazing in their home as opposed to simply photographing what their family looks like.

8. Most awkward moment during an event?

I haven’t had many awkward moments (or maybe I was oblivious to them – ha), but I do remember when I first started, I had someone beg me to photograph their wedding reception (after they were married at the beach somewhere else). After I was introduced to all of the parents and they all walked away, the mother of the bride walked up to me and told me NOT to photograph the step-mother, as she was hateful. I had no idea at that point which person she was so I figured she could edit those out later. That was a first lesson that weddings were an entirely different animal!

9. What is the scariest thing that ever happened during a shoot?

Luckily, I haven’t had many scary things happen, but I vividly remember 9-11, 2001. I had a client session at 9AM at the park and as I was walking out the door, I saw what was happening to the Twin Towers in New York City. It was a scary morning and I found it hard to concentrate during the session. I remember the little girl of my client. Her name was Samantha, she was 9 months old, had blonde pig tails, and a polka dot swim suit.

10. Best advice that you’ve been given in your photography career?

In 2003, I studied privately with Darton Drake when pregnant with my youngest child, Grace. He was a master at photographing what was happening during the session and not just the people. He was always watching the interaction between the subjects who were behind him as well as those in front of him. He wouldn’t hesitate to swing lights around and capture the magic in the room instead of trying to manufacture it. I hold that lesson with me to this day and try to pay attention to every subtle thing happening during every session.

11. Best advice that you could give someone else that is pursuing a photography career?

Invest in studying from those who are where you want to be. Whether it is photography or business, you can learn slowly on your own or propel your growth by investing in yourself. Even if you must have supplementary income to help make that investment, you will never regret it.

12. Best moment of your photography career?

That is such a tough question, but I feel like the best moment of my career happens (hopefully) in each session. When that shutter clicks and I get goosebumps because I caught the magic between my clients, that is the best moment for me. If there isn’t a moment happening, I change things up, move locations or do whatever I can to try to create that magical image. I know that this time in my clients’ lives can never come again and I want to give them something that thrills them for a lifetime.

13. How many sessions/events do you do each year?

At my studio, we shoot between 75-130 kid/family sessions and between 15-30 senior sessions. I have another photographer who assists me on sessions and photographs the seniors.

14. Have you changed anything to adjust in the current economic times?

Ya know, when times are tough, I try to go back to the basics. I get involved in my community, I treat people as great as possible and work my hardest to create images that thrill them for life. I have found after being in business for this many years, I usually know why times are slow and it is typically because I haven’t been working hard enough on my business.

15. Describe your shooting style.

My style is a little bit of controlled chaos. I like to stir up a session so that I can get something magical to happen. I start more reserved to lock in the soft and magical images and then add chaos to taste to get the desired result.

Connect with Sarah

Website: www.sarahpetty.com

Website: www.thejoyofmarketing.com

Blog: sarahpetty.com/theblog

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sarahpettyphotographystudio

Yellowline Photography was established by Daniel Rosenthal in 2008. Since then he has been published in a number of both online and printed publications as well as invested himself heavily in his private projects. No matter what Daniel may be shooting, he seeks to tell a story about his subject. A story that is honest and vulnerable and relatable. His favorite subjects are beautiful women and kids being kids.

Daniel is currently living in Brookly, NY, shooting fashion, music, and headshots, but is available for travel and other projects worldwide.

The Interview

1. Tell us something about your business and how long you have been a professional photographer?

I started my business in 2008 and focused primarily on weddings. I named my business Yellowline Photography because I wanted to make a statement about living a life of risk vs. passivity. To live passive is to simply allow life to happen to you. To stay in a 9-5 even though you’re miserable because the money is good and you don’t know what will happen if you truly pursue your dream. I refuse to live that way. So I decided to take the risk, to cross that warning line, to start my business. Clearly there were no guarantees of any kind of success. I started it at the worst time possible economically and I had no formal photography training, but it didn’t matter. I had to try even if I failed, because to not try and wonder “what if” is a far worse fate.

2. What equipment do you use?

Nikon for now, but I believe the Nikon vs Canon debate is an apples and oranges kind of issue: they’re both delicious and nutrition and get the job done. It’s what’s behind the camera that truly matters. ;)

3. Where are you located?

I am originally from Boise, Idaho and still do a lot of work there, but I just moved to NYC from LA, and I love it here. To a certain degree, I’m starting over, and I’m okay with that. I have a premonition that good things are in store.

4. What type of photography do you like to create?

I love to create work that makes me feel something. That is vulnerable and revealing. Work that is a part of me combined with a part of my subject that 

contributes something to our viewer. I like to make the viewer FEEL something, remember something, crave something, ache for something. I want my work to reach to the bottom of us, of me, and bring up something true and honest and beautiful and worth discovering. Humans are complex. I want my work to embrace that complexity, and break it small, relevant, digestible pieces. That’s a part of photography that I adore. It forces one to stop and study a fracture of time.

5. Price range of events?

My wedding packages start at $3,900, family and children at $400, and headshots at $500, but I’m willing to negotiate if I love the project. I love to travel! Wink wink!

6. When did you notice you had a passion for photography?

I didn’t know I had a creative bone in my body until I got a camera from Christmas in the middle of my senior year of college at Northwest Nazarene University. I was finishing up my degree in Psychology, but when I got that camera in my hand, something just clicked into place (honestly, no pun intended). I couldn’t put it down, and I really haven’t since. That was 2005.

7. What is unique to what you do or what you offer?

I am told again and again that what I seem to be gifted in is capturing the depth of a human being, whether it is a simple family shoot, an actor, or my nephew. My ultimate goal is to tell a true story about my subject: to bring a mirror to the common denominator that connects us.

8. Most awkward moment during an event?

One time I said, “excuse me, sir?” to the mother of the bride.

That’s not true, but I needed something ;)

Lori Nordstrom, M.Photog.Cr., CPP, ABI  began her professional photography career photographing her kids in her own back yard. Realizing she “had something” led her to start a photography studio business. Today Lori is dedicated to not only running one of the most profitable portrait studios in the country, but to educating other photographers in the business. Lori says, “seeing photographers succeed in business makes me proud and happy!”

The Interview

1. Tell us something about your business and how long you have been a professional photographer?

I have been a pro photographer for 15 years now. I specialize in kids and families, and have niched myself into being an interior designer or sorts, along with photography. I create custom designed wall concepts for each of my clients and work closely with them to do something for them that complements their decor style and colors. 

2. What equipment do you use?

I’m a Canon shooter. I currently shoot with a 5D Mark II and primarily use my 24-70mm 2.8 and 70-200 2.8 (my two favorite lenses!).

3. Where are you located?

I’m in a tiny mid-western town of about 5,500 people. Our claim to fame is the movie “The Bridges of Madison County” was filmed here.  I live in Madison County. It’s also the birth place of John Wayne. Woo Hoo!! 

I moved to Winterset at the end of 1999 and opened a studio here in 2000. It’s a small, quaint town and I have only a handful of clients from my own town. Most come from Des Moines (about 45 minutes from me) and beyond. 

4. What type of photography do you like to create?

Simple, real-life portraits are what I love. My favorite images are of kids being kids, families being families, and high school seniors showing off their personalities. 

5. Price range of events.

My session fee in the studio is $185. Location sessions start at $100 more. My senior sessions start at $385 and we use a “build your own” package menu which I absolutely love, and so do my clients! I do have a second shooter who photographs our Real Kids Portrait Events and Seniors.  Her senior sessions are $285.  (Our session fees do not include any products.)

I only do a few weddings a year, and my weddings are $8500, which includes complete coverage and an album.

6. When did you notice you had a passion for photography?

When my older kids were little, I would take them outside once a month or so and shoot a role of black and white film. I got into hand-painting the images and played with all kinds of mediums – oils, pastels, pencils, etc. At the time I owned a hair salon, and as my clients there started seeing my pictures, they started asking me to photograph their kids too!  I fell in love with it!

7. What is unique to what you do or what you offer?

From the first phone call we are educating our clients on designing for their home. Everything that is planned – clothing, locations, backgrounds – is all based on their home and where we will be hanging their portraits.  I do a lot of hand-holding and it’s something that no one else is offering (at the moment) in my area. Potential clients will get a very different conversation with me than they would with any other photographer they might call, as well as a very different overall experience. Because I’ve made designing for the home my specialty, I have a very distinct niche.

8. Most awkward moment during an event.

I once met a very busy celebrity family at the lake to do a portrait that was to be on display at an upcoming charity event. They had arranged their very hectic schedules to meet with me. I got my camera out of the car, and there was no camera card!! I had even forgotten my card sleeve that holds all of my cards. The closest place to get a camera card would have taken me at least a half hour round trip and they did not have the time, so we had to reschedule for the next week. The next week came and I made sure to pack all of my camera cards! Driving out to the lake I was going through my checklist in my mind. When I got to camera batteries, I remembered putting them on the charger to make sure that they were charged. I got to the lake (about 40 miles from my studio, by the way) and you guessed it … I had never put batteries back in my camera!!  

I knew we couldn’t reschedule again, and I was mortified. I grabbed my Canon Power Shot point and shoot out of my purse and told them we would make it work! I took 2 shots of the family and ended up printing a 24×30 for the event and the portrait now hangs in their home.  

Most embarrassing thing EVER!!!!

One more… since I’m sharing.

Years ago I delivered a wedding album to my client. I charge a lot for weddings, so this was a high-end client. A few days later I got a call and the bride said, “Lori, I think there is an image in the album that must have been double exposed! I can see my face in a tree!!” I asked her to bring the album back and told her that I would replace it for her. When I got the album back I realized that I had done a head swap of the bride, and when I flattened the page, I left the “face” that I drug over from another image on the page!! In the tree!!  

Wow.  Embarrassing.  I had to replace the entire album since it was a flush-mount album!  Ugh!

9. What is the scariest thing that ever happened during a shoot?

Hmmm … scariest … I have dropped my cameras, dropped lenses, everything you can imagine. I even had a camera roll out of my jeep as I turned a corner, onto the highway! I would suppose the scariest was when a baby peed on his daddy and his dad THREW him! Luckily mom was close by and the baby was caught! That could have been a nightmare.  

10. Best advice that you’ve been given in your photography career.

Ann Montieth told me to get to know my numbers really early on. I’m glad I listened. 

11. Best advice that you could give someone else that is pursuing a photography career.

The same … think of your business as a business. If you just love taking pictures and have no desire to run a profitable business, keep it as a hobby. It’s much more fun that way! If you are going to be profitable with photography, you have to dig deep. Think like a business owner and get to know your numbers. Price for profit. Sell in person and not online. 

12. Best moment of your photography career.

I’ve had so many great moments. Magazine covers, awards, degrees … but the best moments are always when another photographer tells me how her business has changed because of something I’ve taught her. That is very fulfilling for me. 

13. How many sessions do you do each year?

About 220 sessions.

14. Have you changed anything to adjust in the current economic times?

I think that we constantly have to evolve and change to stay current. If you continue to do something that is different (niched), and something that is valuable, then you will continue to have a segment of the market that will buy. I’ve never worried about the economy or the influx of new talent. I want to always be the best version of what I have to offer regardless of what’s happening around me. 

15. Describe your shooting style.

I’m very relaxed and personable. My shooting style is very simple and real. The best compliment to me is the client in the order appointment telling me that they are re-living the session time because it was so special for them!  

We get to be in the job of bringing families together, celebrating relationships, and creating moments that happen right in front of our eyes – and cameras. What a wonderful life!

Connect With Lori

Website: www.nordstromphoto.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LoriNordstromStudio
Twitter: @NordstromPhoto
Pinterest: pinterest.com/lorinordstrom/

Kerry Brett, has been the Staff Photographer for The Improper Bostonian Magazine for the past 18 years, she brings a singular editorial style that is reflected prominently in the celebrity portraits that appear on covers of this biweekely magazine. A renowned portrait photographer, she is the owner of Kerry Brett Lifestyle Portraits in Hingham, Massachusetts. Her work has appeared in many publications including New York magazine, The Boston Globe magazine, Rangefinder magazine, and Professional Photographer. Kerry is a frequent recipient of her industry’s top honors recognizing the quality of her work, including numerous Kodak Gallery Awards, Fuji Masterpiece Awards, Courts of Honor and Wedding Photographer of the Year. Kerry has a degree in art from the University of Massachusetts Boston. She is also a Master Photographer and Certified Professional Photographer through Professional Photographers of America. She lives in Hingham with her daughter, Morgan.

The Interview

1. Tell us something about your business and how long you have been a professional photographer. 

I have been a Professional Photographer since I was 21 years old. I started out as an intern and contributing photographer at the Boston Globe, that same year I got hired as a photographer by the Improper Bostonian Magazine. I have worked there since my early 20′s. In 1997 I opened my first portrait studio in Hingham, Kerry Brett Lifestyle Portraits.

2. What equipment do you use?

I use Canon Equipment. EOS 5D Mark III camera bodies. The the lenses I typically use is the 70-200 mm, 28-70 mm, 85 mm 1.2, and 16-35 mm.

3. Where are you located?

I am located in my hometown, Hingham, MA. Hingham is a charming coastal town 15 miles south of Boston. It is a perfect location for me because I am only a few blocks from the beach where I photograph most of my families and children. This is my third studio in this area. In 2004, I bought a commercial building near the downtown area and completely renovated it from the ground up. It was truly a labor of love.

4. What type of photography do you like to create?

I really enjoy creating portraits. I do love how interesting and exciting my editorial work can be, but there is nothing better than ending your day on the beach photographing beautiful babies, children, and families. I just try to become better than I was the week before and give my best to all of my valued clients. I think it’s important to really listen to what your client wants you to create, but once that is accomplished it’s extremely important to shoot for yourself – this will ultimately be your best work.

5. Price range of events? 

$500 – $10,000

6. When did you notice you had a passion for photography? 

I have been in love with photography for as long as I can remember. My father is a photojournalist for the Boston Globe and I would run down the stairs in the morning to see if his image appeared on page one. I was so interested in his career, that he would take me along on assignments as much as he could. I spent much of my free time printing with my father in the darkroom. I loved to print. I take great pride in the fact that my clients tell me my prints have a film like quality, I guess it’s all the years I spent printing.

7. What is unique to what you do or what you offer?

One of the most important things I did was to create a recognizable style. My lifestyle look/brand is my trademark, what makes me unique. I specialize in fine art black and white portraiture. I really work on my print quality so everything is consistent, as I have many clients who collect images or hang my prints together over the years. I think it’s really important to get the lighting as perfect as possible whether shooting on location or in the studio.

8. Most awkward moment during an event? 

I went into labor while photographing triplets. 

9. What is the scariest thing that ever happened during a photo shoot?

It’s always scary when I have very limited time on a celebrity cover shoot, but for some reason I thrive on that and it’s part of the thrill for me. 

10. Best advice you have been given in your photography career?

The best advice was given to me by my mentor Jeff Lubin. I really wanted to open up a portrait studio and I told him I didn’t think I could do it because I felt I wasn’t ready. He told me that I would never be ready. He was right! He then said, if you are always sitting at a red light waiting for it to turn green, it never will, sometimes you just have to pull out when it’s yellow.
Those words gave me the keys to create a new life.

11. Best advice that you could give someone else that is pursuing a photography career?

My best advice would be to realize that your mind is the most important piece of photography equipment you have. I believe strongly in the power of positive thinking. I truly feel that if you believe in something firmly enough you can make it so. Know in your heart that it will happen if you just stay the course. “Success always comes when preparation meets opportunity.”  

12. Best moment of your photography career?

I have had many best moments in photography, it would be hard to chose just one, but I can honestly say, my most proud moment was collaborating with my father on our first book together Boston, Inspirational Women.

13. How many sessions/events do you do each year?

Between 200-300 per year.

14. Have you changed anything to adjust in the current economic times?

I have had to work hard, and market aggressively, but I’m proud to say that I never lowered my rates or pricing structure. 

15. Describe your shooting style.

There are many different words to describe my style of photography –  photojournalistic, editorial, fresh, simple, classic, timeless, recognizable,
artistic, creative, and constantly ever – changing.

Connect with Kerry:

Website:  www.kerrybrettlifestyleportraits.com
Facebook:  facebook.com/kerrybrettlifestyleportraits