I thought I would start a blog to share my very eventful life with all of you. Thank you for stopping by. I hope you enjoy my passion for people, photography, the business of photography and teaching . You will see amazing quotes from amazing people and some not so amazing from me. I love to share my thoughts and plans so I hope you enjoy and comment.
It's simple, Great Photographs of men start with understanding the classic approach. Guys in general want to look strong, masculine and most importantly good. Simple approach, yet simple concept that can change your total look. Enjoy the Video.
Can you re-frame how you think about your work?
If work is more a job and less a career or calling, what other things in your life bring fulfilment and a sense of contribution? If these are missing, what can you do to create something new?
When thinking about how people might re-define their motivation in the workplace, what better place to finish than with the words of Martin Luther King Jr.
"If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry.
He should sweep streets so well that all the host of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well."
You look at a subject, situation, or a computer screen. And it looks like it is a barrier that thwarts you.
What are you going to do to beat your creative block?
You keep staring at it. Nothing happens - instead, it keeps looking more solidly blocked.
You keep staring and think, I should play it safe.
Let's, for a moment, take a different perspective.
Let's think of this barrier as a pause that allows you to reconsider what you're after.
Instead of trying to break the barrier, and to get more and more frustrated about the impossibility of coming up with the stuff you're trying to create... think about the experience you're having, right now: the experience of being stuck.
As you think, ask yourself:
- What is it I really want to create?
- What does it mean to me to create this project?
Something powerful happens when you ask yourself these questions.
If you decide that what we could get from fighting the obstacle is not worth the effort, then you're now free to pursue other directions.
If you decide you still want very much what lies ahead of the obstacle, then you have found new depth to your motivation.
It all starts with understanding what matters most!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Getting started is easy if you are motivated enough.
You take the first few steps,it starts with picking up the camera and doing something you have never done or whatever else it takes to simply do something.
But what then?
If you’re like everyone else then you start to encounter strange feelings, of fear and doubt and uncertainty. It’s in this place, just after you start something, that creativity really shines.
You’ll begin to question yourself and your abilities. You’ll find yourself asking “Is this the right way?” repeatedly. Undoubtedly, shortly after you start something, you will feel discouraged. At least, if you’re really doing something worthwhile, you’ll have these feelings. That’s where you find the value of your own abilities, of course.
Like walking around a strange city without a map, the only way to know what’s out there is to explore.
Without exploration we – all of us – wouldn’t be where we are today. So embrace the fear and uncertainty and doubt you feel after starting something, it’s a sign you’re on the right track.
Wow, I would be rich if I had a nickl for everytime I was asked this question. The answer is very simple. You bet your ass it does! It is crucial to the success of almost any image we take. Here is a short video to show you why.
I believe this is one of the biggest problems facing photographers today. Most don't really know how to pose a couple to flatter both of them and more importantly how to make them look like a couple. I believe this video will hit some core rules.
To really get this blog and Facebook workshops page going, I tried to figure out how I can help others most. On a daily basis I receive dozens of question via email, Facebook or by Phone. I thought to myself why just answer one person, when perhaps I can help many. I plan on doing a QnA in one of my up coming video’s and I need questions from you, my loyal fans! so feel free to post any question you want(Nothing overly silly) and i’ll try my best to answer them all! I will try to do this weekly. If you would prefer to email me your questions, please do so at Doug@douggordonworkshops.com
A Taxi driver taught me a huge lesson in customer satisfaction and expectation. Motivational speakers charge thousands of dollars to impart his kind of training to corporate executives and staff. It cost me a $25 taxi ride.
I had flown into Las Vegas for the CES convention last week. I was beyond tired after waiting on line for over an hour for a ride. Time was of the essence as I had to be up at 6am to report to the trade show floor. A spotless cab pulled up.
The driver rushed to open the passenger door for me and made sure I was comfortably seated before he closed the door. As he got in the driver's seat, he mentioned that the neatly folded NY Times next to me was for my use. He then showed me several CD's, offered up his Ipod and asked me what type of music I would enjoy.
Well! I looked around for Ashton Kutcher, I thought I was being Punk'd Wouldn't you? I could not believe the service I was receiving! I took the opportunity to say, "Obviously you take great pride in your work. You must have a story to tell."
"You bet," he replied, "I used to be in Corporate America. But I got tired of thinking my best would never be good enough. I decided to find my niche in life where I could feel proud of being the best I could be.
I knew I would never be a brain surgeon, but I love driving cars, being of service and feeling like I have done a full day's work and done it well. I evaluate my personal assets and... wham! I became a driver.
One thing I know for sure, to be good in my business I could simply just meet the expectations of my passengers. But, to be GREAT in my business, I have to EXCEED the clients expectations! I like both the sound and the return of being 'great' better than just getting by on 'average'"
Did I tip him big time? You bet! Corporate America's loss is the traveling person's friend!
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We thought we would start with understanding where light comes from. This is only the beginning of what we will posting. Enjoy!
Enjoy the following quiz.
Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one: Easier? "Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia."
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.
How did you do?
The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.
-Charles Schulz
I know it's been a long time, but we are raring to go. We just started our own YouTube Channel and are in the beginning phases of populating it. We will be adding free tutorials atleast once a week on Posing,Lighting, Photoshop, Business and lots of inspiration. We will also be answering your questions. So please start submitting them to us at doug@douggordonworkshops.com or on our Doug Gordon Workshops facebook page. Best part it is all free. Enjoy our brand new preview for WPPI 2012. This promises to be the best ever. We will be giving away a brand new Nikon camera along with about $30,000 in other free prizes for our Sunday 2/19 Program at 3pm at the MGM Grand
I want to begin by thanking all of you for making our upcoming Spring Class our fastest sell out ever. We sold out in under 2 days. That is amazing. Well we know a lot of you wanted to come, unfortunately couldn't because the class was full. Well with a little playing in our schedule we were able to add a 3 day in studio class June 28-30. To top it off we are setting the class fee at our lowest investment ever. For more details go to our store at www.douggordonworkshops.myshopify.com
This will be three of the most intense days of your professional career and is guaranteed to take your career in a total new direction and to levels never imagined. Be sure to reserve early as we expect this class to sell out very quickly
I want to first begin by thanking you all for your love and support over the years. This would have never been possible without all of you. To be honest the last few weeks of my life and career have been beyond anything I have ever dreamed of. It all started at WPPI with a fabulous group of photographers for my WPPI Plus Class and then moving onto the awesome and new WPPI U. The culmination or so I thought was being able to be the opening speaker of WPPI for the fourth straight year. It has never been done more than once by anybody. To se a few thousand people in the room and the feel their energy excitement, was beyond anything I could have ever wished for. However that was only the beginning. Last Monday I received a call from George Varanakis of WPPI to inform me, that I was chosen to receive the International Photographic Council of the UN's leadership award. This was an award that I had heard of before, but honestly never dreamed of receiving because there have been very few portrait and wedding photographers to have this award bestowed upon them since the organization began in 1974. The list includes the likes of MOnte Zucker, Joe Buissink, Bambi Cantrell, Tony Corbell and Andy Marcus. As you can tell to even be mentioned in the same breath with these legends is something I could have never even imagined. So on May 5th I will be honored at a luncheon at the UN in NY City. Yes that UN. I know crazy. I am so overwhelmed and believe it or not this is only one half of the great news in my professional life. I don't know what to say I am numb. Here is the official press release.
Thank you all
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, March 7, 2010 – The International Photographic Council (IPC), a non-governmental organization (NGO) of the United Nations, is proud to announce the recipients of its IPC Professional Photographer Leadership Awards. IPC is also establishing a Lifetime Achievement Award in professional photography and is proud to announce the first honoree. All of the 2011 award recipients will be honored at the 13th Annual IPC Awards Luncheon, which will be held at the United Nations in New York City on Thursday, May 5, at 11:30 a.m.
As it does each year, the IPC Awards Luncheon kicks off May, International Professional Photographers Month, saluting professionals around the globe. “The winners, nominated by professional photography organizations, are chosen for best representing the groups’ criteria and ideals,” says IPC President James Chung. This year, six associations designated honorees: Advertising Photographers of America (APA); American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP); Federation of European Photographers (FEP); Professional Photographers of America (PPA); White House News Photographers Association (WHNPA); and Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI). The Professional School Photographers Association (PSPA) nominated IPC’s first Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.
The 2011 IPC Professional Photographer Leadership Award recipients are:
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The 2011 IPC Professional Photographer Lifetime Award recipient is:
Professional School Photographers
Association (PSPA): Harold Strawbridge
This year’s Awards Luncheon Chair is IPC Vice President and Board member Kathy Schneider-Jello. Andy Marcus, 2010 WPPI Leadership Award honoree, will deliver the keynote address, “The Life of Professional Photographers.” IPC Vice President and Board member John Segall will deliver introductory remarks for Lifetime Achievement Award designee Harold Strawbridge.
Reservations for the May 5 luncheon at the United Nations must be received by April 22. To RSVP or receive more information on the event, contact James Chung at 914.476.1712 or by email at jchung1@prodigy.net.
The International Photographic Council (IPC) is a multinational, non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) of the United Nations, composed of representatives from every major sector of the photographic industry. Founded in 1974, the IPC is dedicated to increasing worldwide recognition of photography as a universal means of communication through the adoption of the motto “Peace Through Understanding, Understanding Through Photography, the Universal Language.” Additional information may be obtained by visiting www.ipc-un-ngo.org.
Thanks again to everybody who came and saw my opening presentation. I also want to thank my very good friends Kevin Kubota who took time out of his busy schedule to shoot a scene for the video and my australian mate Jerry Ghionis for letting me tear his face of the mirror
Let me know your thoughts and I hope you enjoy
Doug Gordon Wppi 2011 Opening from Patken Photographer on Vimeo.
Recession or not, the spirit of entrepreneurs and artist will continue to be celebrated. This is why at this time I want to announce a new blogging concept for us., where good business ideas for small business and creative concepts will be available to you for free. That is right, for free. As of now this will be called Doug Gordon Workshops Idea Cafe and it opens this week. For sometime I have wanted to bring education content to my blog for free to you. It has been a long haul, but I am happy to say it is finally coming together. Starting this Thursday March 3rd, we will begin posting daily educational content on everything from sales tips, to business, to posing, to lighting. You name it, We will posting about including short videos and images. This blog is meant to be an idea generator which is set to turbocharge your mind with new ideas, find new ideas, discover new ideas, and we will begin in the near future doing image critiques of your submissions. This is a very exciting time for Doug Gordon Workshops and we cannot wait till Thursday to begin sharing with you. Look for our first video.
Stay Tuned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
First of all thanks to all of you who attempted to come to my virtual program. I am beyond sorry embarrassed with a/v difficulties. As we all know it is a new and worth while endeavor however, there is a learning curve. i am sorry you had to be a part of it. So here is the video for you to see. I hope you enjoy it and take advantage of all the great discounts
PDN MP4 VIDEO from Patken Photographer on Vimeo.
