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If Rusty Can Do It, So Can I!
18 years ago
I'm beginning to seriously consider what I want to do to raise more money for myself. Cartooning is the obvious choice, but a lot of that depends on whether or not I can get people to hire me. So I have another idea in the works - running my own underwater fashion photography business.
Now, originally, my underwater photos were just a pastime with no real purpose. But I've recently been studying the work of semi-professional photographer William "Rusty" Pietrzak (that's pronounced "pet-zhock", in case you were wondering), who's run his own self-maintained underwater fashion photography business for 21 years (see his website here: # ). I figure that if he can do it, why not me too? It's definitely something I'd have fun doing, that's for sure.
So far, I've deduced the things I'll need and how much they'll cost me. For still photos, I'll need a waterproof digital camera. And for video, I'll need a digital camcorder and an underwater housing for it. Plus, there's also the matter of adequate lighting materials. All together, that'd run me about $1200, but luckily, I've already begun saving up for a while now (and the commissions I'm taking on DeviantArt are definitely helping - to speed up the process, I may begin taking them here, too).
Obviously, I also need a pool. I've been using the one at the Quality Inn near my house, but I don't know how much they'd like the idea of me bringing all my equipment in there every time - and plus, I have props and things that they probably wouldn't allow in the pool area. So to be safe, I'm also on the lookout for friends who have access to an indoor pool that I can use for the more extravagant sessions. And of course, I need models. My friend Kristen, who's modeled for me in the past, says she'd rather not do it anymore (she doesn't think she's good at it, even though I think otherwise), so I'm going to begin recruiting my other friends. I'll pay them, of course - I figure $30-$35 a session to start would be pretty good and within my means.
And then comes the means of distribution. Now, while Kristen isn't up for modeling anymore, she is willing to help me with the technical aspects - namely, burning and copying the DVDs of the footage I'd shoot and designing a web site for me to run everything from. I have access to a forum full of people with an affinity for underwater footage the likes of which I'd be shooting, so promotion shouldn't be a problem either.
It'll be quite an undertaking, and I probably won't be able to really get things going for a couple of months. But I have the initiative and I'm gathering the money I'll need, so I really think I can pull this off. Wish me luck, won't you?
Now, originally, my underwater photos were just a pastime with no real purpose. But I've recently been studying the work of semi-professional photographer William "Rusty" Pietrzak (that's pronounced "pet-zhock", in case you were wondering), who's run his own self-maintained underwater fashion photography business for 21 years (see his website here: # ). I figure that if he can do it, why not me too? It's definitely something I'd have fun doing, that's for sure.
So far, I've deduced the things I'll need and how much they'll cost me. For still photos, I'll need a waterproof digital camera. And for video, I'll need a digital camcorder and an underwater housing for it. Plus, there's also the matter of adequate lighting materials. All together, that'd run me about $1200, but luckily, I've already begun saving up for a while now (and the commissions I'm taking on DeviantArt are definitely helping - to speed up the process, I may begin taking them here, too).
Obviously, I also need a pool. I've been using the one at the Quality Inn near my house, but I don't know how much they'd like the idea of me bringing all my equipment in there every time - and plus, I have props and things that they probably wouldn't allow in the pool area. So to be safe, I'm also on the lookout for friends who have access to an indoor pool that I can use for the more extravagant sessions. And of course, I need models. My friend Kristen, who's modeled for me in the past, says she'd rather not do it anymore (she doesn't think she's good at it, even though I think otherwise), so I'm going to begin recruiting my other friends. I'll pay them, of course - I figure $30-$35 a session to start would be pretty good and within my means.
And then comes the means of distribution. Now, while Kristen isn't up for modeling anymore, she is willing to help me with the technical aspects - namely, burning and copying the DVDs of the footage I'd shoot and designing a web site for me to run everything from. I have access to a forum full of people with an affinity for underwater footage the likes of which I'd be shooting, so promotion shouldn't be a problem either.
It'll be quite an undertaking, and I probably won't be able to really get things going for a couple of months. But I have the initiative and I'm gathering the money I'll need, so I really think I can pull this off. Wish me luck, won't you?
CaribbeanFox
~caribbeanfox
That sounds like a very cool undertaking! One question though is how do you control the quality of the water so your shoots are as clear as possible? I've seen some shoots done in the local pool here and there is some haze because the water is never quite completely clear. How much for a giant fish tank and filtration system? ;)
jbwarner86
~jbwarner86
OP
I plan to use waterproof lighting materials. That way, I can illuminate the scenes from under the water, so the light won't get refracted.
CaribbeanFox
~caribbeanfox
Will the light reflect off any particles (dead skin, hairs, dirt, etc) that are suspended in the water?
jbwarner86
~jbwarner86
OP
I don't think it should, but the camera I want to use has settings that cut down on that stuff, so it shouldn't be too much of an issue.
CaribbeanFox
~caribbeanfox
Sounds like you have all my concerns covered. ^_^ Let us know when you have some examples to show even if it's a few months from now, I'd be curious to see them!
