EOC Week 10: Networking

Networking is an important aspect about a business.  Without networking, having a business and letting people know about a business will be rather difficult.  Networking is when you use certain ways to spread the news about your business and keeping your business alive.  For my business I will network through charity work, through my contacts, and a website.

One of my passions is charity work.  I have helped build a new playground/ garden for underprivileged children in Santa Rosa, CA.  I held a benefit dinner for the People Africa and raised money to build a water source for them; the benefit was held in Oakland, CA.  I also created and ran a scavenger hunt because I wanted to raise money for the cancer foundation in a creative and fun way.  I held this even in Las Vegas, NV and invited the younger generation, so they can give back and have a great day on the strip.  With all these said, I believe it would be a great idea to combine my creativity and talent to give back to the underprivileged people in Las Vegas, NV.  I want to hold a photo shoot for this groups\ of people to show that they are special and beautiful in every aspect.  I believe once I do these charities using my photography skills, then my name will travel from person to person.  Also, my company will be in people’s mind.

Not everyone knows about my great skills with photography (yet).  Once I spread the word to some people in my life, I know my business will be booming.  The Filipino community is huge in Las Vegas, NV.  Filipinos are very supportive people and also love to support other Filipinos.  Also, my dad is best friends with a man that has assisted for a local Filipina singer.  He also is currently assisting the lead singer of Journey.  Knowing my dad’s best friend will aid me to be involved with the entertainment/ event photography.

Once my name is spread around I would need to direct them somewhere, my website.  My website will showcase my portfolio, biography, and my contact information.  I believe once I have my own website people in the internet world will see my work and will tell their friends to tell their friends and so on.  Websites are so important because nowadays people are on their computers and their social networking site all day. 

These are three networking way to spread the word about my business; however there are so many more ways to network.  I know that charity work, my contacts, and my website are my first steps to network KMA Photography; and I cannot wait until my business gets around.

EOC Week 9: 40 under 40

I am a 26-year-old woman living in Las Vegas, NV.  I still go to college and work at a place that has no relations to photography.  When I am not at school or at work, I am shooting, editing, or finding my next project.  I am a busy, always one the go, kind of woman.  Therefore, I never really thought where I would be when I turn 40.  In 14 years I will turn 40, which seems like a long time from now.  However, I have a feeling that being 40 years old is goring to be here rather quickly.  Therefore, I have goals for myself when I turn 40 years old.

Once I am 40 years old I will be a full-time photographer.  My clients will be CBS, ABC, MTV, FOX, and many more other networks.  For those types of clients, I will be given the opportunity to shoot for their television shows.  In addition to the television networks I will also be photographing for companies that need to advertise themselves, whether it is products to music to movies.  I will be famous for my work, however I will be better known for my charity work.  I will have several charities that I will create by the time I am 40.  The charities will consist of bringing creative people together to give to those who are in need of help.  While we give back to the community I will create my own photo books about the journey and give a percentage to its cause. 

Those are my goals and dreams that I will accomplish by the time I am 40.

EOC Week 8: Are celebrities fair game?

Being a celebrity has its perks; everyone knows their name, people look up to them, and they live the rich and famous life style.  Then there are times where being a celebrity is a nightmare.  Paparazzi stalks celebrities everyday and just shove their cameras into these famous people’s faces.  There is no privacy for the rich and famous.

As a photographer, I believe there is a blurred line when celebrities are fair game.  Celebrities should understand and accept that their lives are public domain once they dabble into the media industry.  If a certain celebrity decides to join a reality show for their drug addiction or is already known for wanting to be all over the entertainment news, then the media is going to hound that celebrity.  Photographers, reporters, and others will have no problem invading their privacy.

 Once someone becomes a celebrity, the word privacy does not exist.  I agree that celebrities are fair game, to a certain point.  I believe if a celebrity decides to be a very private person, then they should be left alone.  Paparazzi can take a couple photos (they do have to make a living) , however hounding and stalking is unacceptable.  If a celebrity is with their child, the media should leave the, alone.  All the chaos could scare the children or even harm them.

Being a celebrity foes mean they are fair game, however as I stated above, there are some blurred lines.

EOC Week 6: Ron Galella

Ron Galella is a paparazzo photographer with a great reputation. “[He] is clearly willing to take great risks to get the perfect shot. As a result, he has endured two highly publicized court battles with Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis, a broken jaw at the hands of Marlon Brando, and a serious beating by Richard Burton’s bodyguards before being jailed in Cuernavaca, Mexico.” (http://www.rongalella.com/about-ron.html). I personally do not like his photography methods. I feel as if he is a stalker with a camera at hand. He invades people’s lives and shares his photos with the whole world. If I was the subject of his photos, I also would be very upset. Ron Galella constantly in my face with a camera is not a way I would like to live my life.

On the other hand, the subjects that he is shooting are famous people; famous people who should know that they are, and will always be in the public eye. Also, (even though I do not like this type of work) Ron Galella has made a name for him.

Ron's body of work exhibited at museums and galleries throughout the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in both New York and San Francisco, the Tate Modern in London, and the Helmut Newton Foundation Museum of Photography in Berlin. Ron's passion for photojournalism has also given rise to many highly acclaimed books including Disco Years (PowerHouse, 2009), which was honored as Best Photography Book of 2006 by The New York Times, and Smash His Camera, a documentary of his life and career by Oscar-winning director, Leon Gast (When We Were Kings, 1996), which premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festivaland received the Grand Jury Award for Directing in the U.S. Documentary category. (http://www.rongalella.com/about-ron.html)

The work that I have seen by Ron Galella is a fine art feel to them. His photos are not of celebrities coming out of the car with no panties on, it is more than that. My favorite one is of Jackie O riding her bike with her son, or the one with the woman walking into a building with an umbrella covering her face. Even though these celebrities try to hide their face or try to avoid him, their characteristics show through the photos.

As I reflect on what I have just blogged, I realize that I am on both sides of liking/disliking Ron Galella. To clarify, I respect Ron Galella on doing what he is passionate for. If being a paparazzo keeps him smiling and enjoying life, the so be it. However for me, I could not see myself doing what he does for a career.

EOC Week 5: Copyright Process for Photographers

“Copyright infringement is not a matter of if; it’s a matter of when” (Harrington John, Best Business Practices for Photographers, pg 321).  People steal images and it may be yours.  It is so easy to get access to photos (especially if it is on the web already, so being prepared for the ‘unexpected’ is very crucial to photographers.  After taking a photograph, you are establishing the point of creation, which also means you have the ownership once the photograph is taken.  However, to make it official you must but the little c with the circle, your name, and the date.  For example, © COPYRIGHT 2011 KRISTINE ALBERTO, is the format I use to copyright my photographs.  There are many programs that have a section to embed the copyright information into your metadata.  Another way to make it official is to create a narrative about the photograph.  I did not know about this way until recently, and all that is needed is a small paragraph.  And in this small narrative paragraph it should include information about when you did the photograph, who modeled in the photograph, who was involved with the photograph, where the photograph was taken, the who, what, when, where, and how; and also all the other little details about the photograph.  By doing this, it proves that you are the owner of this photograph and that you created it.  

EOC Week 4: Writing a Contract

Writing a contract for your client(s) is an important step before you do an assignment. It will protect you and set everything in stone. It also can generate revenues for you. However, each contract may be different. A contract for an editorial client can be different for an event job. If a client comes to me and asks me to shoot a birthday party for them and is also willing to pay me $500, a contract is in need. Some of the factors I would include in this contract are the signatures and circumstances if there is a change to the job.


According to Best Business Practices for Photographers by John Harrington, all contracts must have my signature and the client’s signature. The reason of signatures is due to protection for the client and me.  A contract is to put everything on paper; so nothing is a surprise or someone else claiming they are pulling a fast one.  Therefore the placing of the signatures is very important; “the assigning client’s signature appears on the bottom of page two of our contract and above the signature are all of the terms and conditions”.  Therefore, if a client says ‘I do not remember this on the client’, you can show your signed contract and say ‘you signed at the bottom indicating you have read the contract’.  Signatures are a very important detail to have in a contract.

Another element I would include would be an agreement for the circumstances if there is a change to the job.  The client in this situation wants me to shoot a birthday party. If the clients want me to photograph more than a party it would cost more.  If the clients wants more prints than he agreed upon would cost more.  If the party goes longer than what is on my contract, then I can charge more.  However the only way I can charge more like this is because of the contract.  The contract should be in precise detail.  That way the client cannot attempt to pull a fast one, and I have a better chance to earn extra money.

EOC Week 3: Where are you now and where are you going?

I am a young 25 year old woman.  Everyone tells me I have so much to look forward to.  I have everything I need.  I may be young; however I have been faced with some difficult obstacles.  I am also the first generation to be born in the United States.  I believe that fact is very important because I was my parents “guinea pig”.  It was that and a combination of learning on my own which caused many mistakes.  Without saying too much personal information, I have been faced with financial issues that were not caused by me.  I have spent nine years trying to clear my name; to give myself the first opportunity to be financially stable.  I have had good credit; however that was taken from me.  Since then, I have had high payments in everything I encounter.  I live paycheck to paycheck, living with my parents, and trying to save money here and there.  I have put away 20 dollars every paycheck to save up for a rainy day, however it always seems like a financial emergency just comes up in my life every time I get some where.

I hope I do not sound too negative in the previous paragraph.  I believe adversity makes you stronger.  My financial status is just a part of my life that will keep me fighting and searching for ways to make my financial issues to be small.  If I keep on working hard, and keep focus, I can be at a point where I can say ‘I am stable’.  Then from there I, again, will work hard and keep focus to put money away for a retirement plan.  I believe retirement is a place to relax and not worry about money. Well, I hope.

EOC Week 2: Sacrifices

In the movie "Rear window", the main character sacrifices his relationship to continue to be a photographer in the photojournalism world.  If I am ever put into a situation like his, I will also do the same as he.  I am willing to sacrifice love, time, money, sleep, and anything else that I may have, to keep my dream alive.

It may sound a bit bizarre that I am willing to sacrifice what keeps me going day by day.  However, I am a strong believer that no matter what happens love, time, and money will always be in my life no matter how many times I push it away.  There will always be another lover, or time to be with family, or other opportunities to make money.

On the other hand, if a situation ever comes my way where I am given an ultimatum (it's 'blank', or the job, or nothing at all), I will do my best to have a win win situation.  However, if a win win is not applicable then I choose my dream.  I want to be a professional photographer, therefore if anyone gives me an ultimatum, then they are definitely people (or situations) that I do not want to be around.  Who would want someone to drop their dreams and live a life they never wanted?

In conclusion, I will sacrifice any situation for another, so I can pursue my dreams.

EOC Week 1: My Voice

I am a photographer and what I love about photography is with every photo, the photographer captures a story. With that same photo the viewer creates their own story, or even remembers something from their past. I love how photography can trigger something for someone, and how photos capture different types of emotion, interpretation, and beauty. I have worked in different kinds of photography, from food to landscape, people to still life. I have experience with photography equipment, editing, and on location or studio environment.  I also have the ability to revamp an old photograph. I can recreate someone's memory and put life to it once again. I find enjoyment in photographing a series of photos; a set of photos that tells a story. One day I would love to publish a book with my storytelling photographs. Eventually, I want to get into advertisement. It’s a field where I can promote movies, artists, and companies through my creativity. I love the thought of using my talents to promote other people’s creations. I love using my talents to promote other people’s creations.  I also want to travel the world and photograph places that no one has seen. I want to take adventures to the unknown territories and capturing photos to share with everyone.  In addition, I would also love to find a way to incorporate my photography skills and charity work together.  I would love to give back to the community, especially with something that is so special to me.

EOC Week 1: Haute Couture

Haute couture is a French word for ‘high dressmaking’.  The word haute couture refers to fashion that is created to be exclusive and trend setting.  At times, people use the term as a label for fine art and music.  Haute couture has influenced the world tremendously, with the clothes, accessories, and style.  It has contributed culture to or society and to the photography world.

In society today, haute couture garments are made by hand that is fitted for just a specific person.  When looking at haute couture clothing line, it is very elegant and extravagant.  At times, it may also be over the top; something that you would not see someone wear during their everyday life.  The people that do wear it are people from the upper class.  The upper class can afford these expensive garments.  Also, you can see haute couture on the runways.  Majority of the runways are in Paris, New York, Milan, London, Tokyo, and Madrid.  The costume and fashion history would not be the same without Haute Couture.

In the photography, haute couture is very important.  Fashion Photographers are surrounded by haute couture.  During fashion shows, hundreds of photographers surround the runways to capture a glimpse of the next trend setting style.  Once captured it is sent to magazines to display to the whole world what is hot this season.  In my opinion, haute couture garments is a great opportunity to shoot creatively.  Haute couture garments are made with the finest materials, and have that fine art quality to them.  I want the opportunity to shoot haute couture garments on models, and shoot them dramatically.  I want to capture the uniqueness of the garment while I artistically shoot in different angle and odd poses.

Overall, haute couture is a huge impact not only to the fashion world, but also to the photography world.