This Week in Photo (TWiP)

In this episode, I chat with web designer Alex Vita. We talk about web design and website galleries -  as they apply to photographers.

Connect with Alex: http://www.foregroundweb.comThis Week in Photo: http://www.thisweekinphoto.comFree Elementor Course: Building a Portfolio Website

Transcript:

Hey, welcome back to another episode. This is Frederick Van Johnson. Today. We're going to be talking with Alex Vita about galleries, in particular, and websites for photographers. And what are some best-practices for displaying work online and just having everything Bulletproof?

Should you go with a roll your own solution, like WordPress and install, awesome plugins into it, or should you just, pay a subscription fee to a Squarespace or someone like that and have it all managed by third-parties in the cloud here to demystify all that is Alex Vita.

©Alex Vita

Alex is a Romania-based web designer who knows pretty much everything there is to know about web design and photography, as it applies to websites and galleries. And we're going to pick his brain today.

Alex, welcome to the show, man. How are you doing?

Alex: Hi. Frederick nice to meet you. Happy to be here.

Frederick: Nice to meet you too. Are you ready for this? I got a ton of questions for you.

Alex: I'm ready. Go ahead. I'm an open book.

Frederick: Cool. All right, let's start with chapter one of that open book. who is Alex Vita? How did you get started in all this? And how did you start building your niche in web design and gallery design for photographers?

Alex: I started as an amateur photographer myself. I had a photo studio, I shot a few weddings, a few portraits sold some stock images. So that's how I got introduced to the field of photography. But I have a degree in computer science and I started building websites for a few photographers and that grew over time. And now I'm doing only that I have web design services exclusively for photographers, and I'm enjoying every minute of it and having to do work only with photographers. Over time, I started learning the nuances of the industry. It's a bit different than building generic websites, I think.

Frederick: One of the big questions that come up for a lot of photographers is should I invest my time and effort in learning WordPress and putting it, finding a great premium theme and putting it on there and, owning it all.

Or is it better to go to a Squarespace solution? As a web designer, where do you fall on that? Is it budget based? Is it skillset based or something else?

Alex: I'll try to avoid "it depends". And try to offer some pointers here - it's all a game of compromises. I like WordPress, I think it's the big elephant in the industry, right? It powers a third of the Internet for good reason. And there are dedicated photography platforms out there, which photographers have been using for a long time, the big players, SmugMug, PhotoShelter, and the other ones.

And I feel they are all sensing the heat from WordPress. There's a good level of competition now because WordPress is so powerful. You get a great theme, some plugins and you have good functionality, a great looking, mobile-friendly portfolio. So the decision then comes down to a few factors, right?

In this discussion, veteran sports photographer Andrew D. Bernstein and I discuss the fast-paced world of sports photography. We discuss his storied history and origins in the industry, and also how the sports, and sports photography industries have been impacted by the 2020 global pandemic. We also cover how Andrew is embracing the challenge and evolving.

About Andrew D. Bernstein

Andrew D. Bernstein

Bernstein’s photography has appeared in thousands of newspapers and magazine covers worldwide, as well as major advertising campaigns for over 30 years. Recent commercial projects include featuring some of the world’s top athletes for Nike, Reebok, Adidas, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Icy Hot, and GlaxoSmithKline.

The unique personal rapport Bernstein has developed with athletes over the years allows him exclusive access to special behind-the-scenes moments, some of which were showcased in the 2010 book he co-authored with legendary Hall of Fame NBA coach Phil Jackson, “Journey to the Ring”, documenting the 2009-10 Lakers championship season.

In 2018, Bernstein collaborated with five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant on the worldwide bestselling book “The Mamba Mentality: How I Play,” a unique look at Bryant’s 20-year career through Bernstein’s lens.  

Andrew and his company, Andrew D. Bernstein Associates Photography, Inc., has served as team photographer for the LA Lakers, LA Kings, LA Clippers and LA Dodgers. In addition, Bernstein holds the position of Director of Photography for STAPLES Center and Microsoft Theater L.A. Live, the sports and entertainment complex in Los Angeles.

LEGENDS OF SPORT Official Channels:OFFICIAL WEBSITE: https://legendsofsport.blogPODCAST: https://link.chtbl.com/LegendsofSportTWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/legends_ofsportINSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/legendsofsportLA TIMES: http://www.LATimes.com/podcast

ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN Official ChannelsOFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.adbapi.comTWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/ADBPhotoIncINSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/adbphotoinc

In this live stream, LED expert and SpiffyGear.com founder Udi Tirosh will joins the show to discuss how the confluence of LED lighting and high sensitivity/low noise sensors in modern DSLR and mirrorless camera sensors have made continuous lighting a real possibility.

Udi discusses some common misconceptions around LED lighting, and we'll preview some state-of-the-art innovative lighting tools that may change your perception when it comes to strobe versus LED.

Discount Code: TWIPTWIP15Offer: 15% off for This Week in PHOTO on KYU lineDuration: Expires Dec 5thProducts discounted: https://spiffygear.com/product-category/kyu/

http://www.spiffygear.com

Randal Ford and I discuss his newest photography "coffee table" book Good Dog. We discuss Randals experiences with learning to professionally photograph a wide variety of... personalities. We also talk about some interesting patterns he noticed during this project.

http://www.randalford.com

Randal, in his own words...

Dogs have been in our lives for millennia-- as our best friends and our family. As we attempt to navigate the ever-changing terrain of a global pandemic, one good thing remains constant: our dogs by our side. If there were ever a time to pay tribute to our closest companions, it is now. Good Dog is a heartwarming collection of meaningful moments with man's-best- friend. As we look into the eyes of these animals, may we recognize the unwavering presence of their gentle spirit-- one of wisdom, unending loyalty, and perfect love for imperfect humans.

In this interview, I'm joined by Matthew Jordan Smith. Matthew and I discuss how he is managing to continue to be innovative and creating during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Matthew Jordan Smith

Matthew Jordan Smith is an American photographer based in Tokyo, Japan, and working between Tokyo, New York City, and Los Angeles. He has photographed some of the world's most famous celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Queen Latifah, Angela Bassett, Tyra Banks, and more. His advertising clients include Olay, Pantene, Revlon, Showtime, and HBO.

In his spare time, Matthew focuses on personal projects, photo exhibits, and book projects. To date, Smith has published three books, Sepia Dreams, Lost & Found, and Future American President.

He has received numerous awards including the Vision Award and the George Eastman Power of Image award. He is a Nikon Ambassador and the host of the Master Your Lens photography podcast. Matthew is represented by LVA Represents in New York City.

http://www.matthewjordansmith.com

In this episode, I chat with Darren McBurnett (U.S. Navy SEAL, Ret.). He's a combat veteran, professional photographer, author, ambassador, and motivational speaker. Darren takes us behind the scenes into how and why he photographed the elite SEAL training program, BUD/S, in Coronado, California. We discuss his photographic "trial by fire" education, and we get a glimpse into the world of photographing the forging of the elite U.S. Navy Seals.

The Uncommon Grit official website.The Uncommon Grit book on Amazon.

Darren McBurnett (U.S. Navy SEAL, Ret.)

Over the years, McBurnett has become an accomplished speaker and motivator, presenting to companies and groups including CDW, AIG, Budweiser, Rite-Aid, Founders Brewing Company, Hilton Hotels, BMO, National Quarterback Club, Arbor Pharmaceuticals, and many others. He is also an award-winning photographer, his professional portfolio including work for NIKE, National Geographic, Fox and Friends, Rolling Stone, CBS SEAL Team, and the movie “Act of Valor.”

His work has appeared on everything from album covers to billboards to walls of Fortune 500 companies and is in the homes of Charlie Sheen, Kid Rock, Jim McMahon, John Rich, Brent Burns, Roger Clemens, and John Daly. He is proud to be an ambassador for Uncommon Grit Foundation, a nonprofit he started in 2020 to assist military, first responders, and their families—those who answer the call.

McBurnett is the author of Uncommon Grit, a 224-page fine art photography book of the journey through Navy SEAL BUD/S first phase training. It’s a unique look at the military’s toughest training from the point of view of someone who has lived it. McBurnett includes descriptions of evolutions along with his sense of humor, allowing the reader to laugh, cringe, gasp, and imagine themselves participating.

His message is not only motivational and inspiring on a corporate level, but also promotes individual and personal growth—how to navigate in an ever-changing adverse environment where critical decision-making and leadership skills are absolutely vital for success. His visually breathtaking multimedia presentation highlights the untapped potential and Never Quit intestinal drive that is the cornerstone of Navy SEAL success and shares the defining characteristics that promote leadership and sacrifice in theSEAL Teams.

In this interview, Daniel Usenko, CEO of Pixellu, makers of the famous SmartAlbums and SmartSlides software, joins the show to show the latest advances the company has made towards making slideshow and album creation easier and more enjoyable.

http://www.pixellu.com

About Pixellu

Co-founded in 2010, Pixellu was born as a solution to the problems we faced as wedding photographers. We were spending increasingly more time stuck behind our computer screens and less time out shooting.

The sheer quantity of tedious work required to run a successful photography business is a problem faced by professional photographers worldwide. It’s overwhelming, and many photographers end up quitting on their dream of having a photography career.

Technology has provided us with a platform to create beautiful solutions for the world of photography. Our easy-to-use, time-saving software allows photographers to spend less time in front of the computer, and to get back to what they love.

Pixellu has grown from two wedding photographers with big dreams, to a team of passionate people from around the world — people who are experts in their fields. We continue to push ourselves to deliver intuitive, reliable, and beautiful tools that help photographers succeed day in and day out.

Editor, Filmmaker, and Educator Lee Herbet joins the podcast this week to discuss how he's managing to survive and thrive while editing, in isolation!

About Lee, in his own words…

I'm Lee Herbet a filmmaker, educator and storyteller.

I've been creating and sharing stories for years. I'm passionate about the art of storytelling - both artistically and technically - and I want to share my knowledge, trials and errors with others.

Some people have read all the books about video filming and editing but have little practical experience. Others have immense practical experience but lack the vital technical understanding. I’m a combination of both: I have the technical and the practical experience, knowledge and understanding.

Capture.ink is where I share my stories and, hopefully, help others who want guidance or inspiration in sharing their own stories. I’m also a bit of a gear-head too, so there will most likely also be a fair bit of discussion about what type of kit people think is best for various tasks and how to use them.

Along with this I’m a Certified Final Cut Pro Master Trainer, Certified Motion 5 Trainer, Certified Compressor Trainer and a member of the Apple Consultants Network. With a Certification IV in Workplace Training and Assessment, I am qualified to deliver nationally accredited vocational training in TAFEs, private and enterprise-based registered training organizations as well as in secondary schools with vocational programs.

To find out more about my training offerings and corporate film making, visit Capture training.

Grab Lee's course on Final Cut Pro X:https://courses.creative111.com/courses/GS-FCPX20% off code - FCPX2020

Join the TWiP community:http://www.thisweekinphoto.com

In this interview, I speak with Commercial Photographer Katarina Premfors. We discuss life as a photographer in Dubai as well as her recent As week photographing ballet dancers for a 2020 calendar in aid of the Foundation of Cystic Fibrosis in Italy.

This interview is a companion to the comprehensive written article on The Phoblographer.com.

About the project, in her own words:

I am a commercial photographer whose first love is editorial photography above all else, when The National Ballet Studio in Dubai asked me to come up with some ideas for street ballet I jumped at the chance. With no budget, we quickly decided that Dubai was not the place to shoot. It had become prohibitively expensive to secure a shooting permit. We decided to go to the Sharjah Art Foundation which supports art in all its forms. We did in the end sneak up on a roof in Dubai for the last part of the shoot.

Six months later I was asked to come and spend a week photographing ballet dancers for a 2020 calendar in aid of the Foundation of Cystic Fibrosis in Italy. At the end of the school term, on our way to Sweden for the summer, my young children in tow I stepped out on the Mont Blanc Glacier and started planning the shoot, in Italian and in a biting wind. I had left Dubai in 50c heat and a few hours later I was on the ice. Cystic Fibrosis affects many of the mountain guides in Italy and the area so it was only fitting we did some of the shots at 3600 m on a glacier, tethered to each other, in a glacial lake and on the side of a rock face.

About Katarina Premfors:

Katarina is a Dubai based freelance photographer covering the Middle East since 1992.

She was born in Sweden, raised between Pakistan, Turkey, and North America before launching her commercial career in the Middle-East over twenty-eight years ago.

She works across a multitude of editorial and commercial genres, and have delivered multi-national campaigns for a broad spectrum of world-leading private and public sector enterprises. Her clients include global advertising and branding agencies, major corporations, and the governments of the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Jordan, Yemen, and Afghanistan.

Her work is regularly published in The New York Times, Fast Company, The Guardian, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, Greenpeace, and others. And she regularly exhibits personal and editorial work.

She is also a Fujifilm X Ambassador and a member of the global group Women Photograph whose mission is to shift the gender makeup of the photojournalism community and ensure that our industry's chief storytellers are as diverse as the communities they hope to represent.

In this interview Artist Steve Richard discusses his photographic process and why he does not consider himself a photographer. We discuss his "personal dogma" and how his approach to his art includes an obsessive focus on intent and execution. We dive into the reasons why he only creates a single print from each shoot and more.

About Steve Richard

Steve Richard has been plying his trade in the mysterious photographic arts for well over a quarter of a century. Steve is both a stills photographer and a cinematographer, thus bringing an unerring sense of style and composition to all of his work. Steve’s visuals capture the imagination, challenge preconceptions, and merge a classical ethos with urban grit and 21st Century techno-savvy.

http://www.steverichard.com