So You Want To Shoot Air To Air?

Jay Beckman · October 17, 2010, 02:10:04 PM

Well, here's your chance...

http://air2airworkshops.com/Home_Page.html

ETA: Upon further financial review .. I'm signed up!

Matt Ottosen · October 17, 2010, 04:39:03 PM

"Our inaugural workshop will take place in Mesa, Arizona 12-14 November and still has a few spaces available at a special rate of $2995."

Not that badly!!

cpasley · October 17, 2010, 05:11:57 PM

$3000 ,thats like the value of my car ,I think id have to pass or skip eating for the next couple years

Jay Beckman · October 17, 2010, 05:21:44 PM

It's the ultimate Catch 22:

Without a portfolio of images, you'll never convince anyone to consider doing an air to air session but without an air to air session, you have no portfolio of images.

The way I look at it, if I ever want to move forward with my aviation photography, I need to take advantage of opportunities like this even if it hits the bottom line a little hard.

Tax Return Line Item: "Professional Education"

Joe Copalman · October 17, 2010, 06:32:45 PM

Funny. Moose Peterson does ONE air-to-air shoot by invite, then turns around and charges others $3000 to do it.

Sweet Lord I am in the wrong line of work.

Matt Ottosen · October 17, 2010, 06:42:32 PM

Quote from: Joe Copalman on October 17, 2010, 06:32:45 PM
Funny. Moose Peterson does ONE air-to-air shoot by invite, then turns around and charges others $3000 to do it.

Sweet Lord I am in the wrong line of work.

Hey, I've already done TWO by invite (SJ and MitS)! What's my next step?

jslugman · October 17, 2010, 07:35:10 PM

Smart move Jay.

Matt: sell sell sell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Jay Beckman · October 17, 2010, 07:52:42 PM

@ Joe: No, you simply need to get picked up as a Canon "Explorer of Light" or a Nikon "Ambassador" and you can pretty much write your own ticket in any genre of photography. People will see you out for these kinds of endorsement deals. Have you really read any of Moose Peterson's aviation stuff? He knows he's a "rookie" and freely admits it as well. When he did his presentation at ISAP in Vegas, he nearly tripped over himself apologizing to the room. Richard has the aviation connections and Moose has the sponsorship and marketing chops. Win-Win for both of them.

@ Matt: You're the CAF member and you're asking us? Ever try selling your stuff back to them or at least try to cut a licensing deal for posters in the gift shop?

@ James: Bingo! That's the right answer IMO.

Matt Ottosen · October 17, 2010, 07:57:16 PM

Quote from: Jay Beckman on October 17, 2010, 07:52:42 PM
@ Matt: You're the CAF member and you're asking us? Ever try selling your stuff back to them or at least try to cut a licensing deal for posters in the gift shop?

I wasn't really asking. I would never sell my work to the CAF or try to cut a licensing deal with them. Flying and maintaining their aircraft is extremely expensive and their assets should be used for that purpose. I shoot for them to help them get the word out about their aircraft. They have given me some awesome opportunities with their aircraft and that is payment enough. I'm already looking forward to the future with them and working as FCC on SJ and MitS, I can't wait for next year's tour!

Jay Beckman · October 17, 2010, 08:04:05 PM

Fair enough but even a generous 80/20 or 90/10 split throws you a little bit of a bone as well. Gotta pay for those gear upgrades...

You don't even need to do it for any money yourself. Offer them up gratis (very noble of you) but negotiate an agreement whereby you retain the rights.

That way, they can make money in the gift shop if they choose to sell posters but you can stil market them yourself for either fine art or editorial (which you've done before, yes?) as you see fit.

Joe Copalman · October 17, 2010, 08:08:42 PM

How do you think I knew Moose has only done one A2A shoot?

This certainly is an awesome opportunity, and if I had the dough to spare, I'd probably jump on it as well.

Matt Ottosen · October 17, 2010, 08:12:23 PM

Quote from: Jay Beckman on October 17, 2010, 08:04:05 PM
Fair enough but even a generous 80/20 or 90/10 split throws you a little bit of a bone as well. Gotta pay for those gear upgrades...

You don't even need to do it for any money yourself. Offer them up gratis (very noble of you) but negotiate an agreement whereby you retain the rights.

That way, they can make money in the gift shop if they choose to sell posters but you can stil market them yourself for either fine art or editorial (which you've done before, yes?) as you see fit.

I'll earn money some other way to pay for new gear. The photos I take for the CAF are solely for the CAF. I won't publish them or sell them anywhere else (other than on Flickr or AzAP).

I did save a few photos from my MitS air-to-air shoot for a publication, they haven't been seen or published anywhere else. The only people that have ever seen them are Joe and myself. I gave the CAF the best of the photos and a few other keepers were intended for the publication.

Matt Ottosen · October 17, 2010, 08:15:33 PM

Just so we're clear, I'm not making any money from my photos being in the aforementioned publication.

Jay Beckman · October 17, 2010, 08:43:19 PM

Just so we're doubly clear, I certainly don't expect or think anyone should do anything other than reach their maximum as photographers.

There are many paths to Nirvana...

Matt Ottosen · October 17, 2010, 08:58:42 PM

Quote from: Jay Beckman on October 17, 2010, 08:43:19 PM
Just so we're doubly clear, I certainly don't expect or think anyone should do anything other than reach their maximum as photographers.

There are many paths to Nirvana...

I couldn't agree more!

I really hope that you have A LOT of fun during your air-to-air workshop, I am looking forward to seeing your shots, and hopefully the CAF can benefit from some of the photographs that are taken during it.

News:

So You Want To Shoot Air To Air?

cpasley