My other sites
www.nickonken.com
www.onkendesigngroup.com
www.iamhandsfree.com
www.thatguyhosting.com

Photographers of Influence to me:
www.stevenlippmann.com
www.robbaarongordon.com
www.chasejarvis.com
www.jefflipsky.com
www.dananeibert.com
www.christopherklutner.com
www.larrybartholomew.com
www.matthewwelchphoto.com
www.marcleclef.com

Design
www.matthewloyd.com
www.jessegraupmann.com

LA Connections
www.launchproductions.com
www.quixote.com

Seattle Crew
www.alvinstillwell.com
www.jenniferverador.com

Photography Business Sites
www.pdnonline.com
www.bhphotovideo.com
www.dpreview.com
www.asmp.org
www.workbook.com
www.agencyaccess.com
www.adbase.com
www.sosastone.com
www.1portauthority.com
www.burnsautoparts.com
www.editoralphoto.com
www.lebook.com
www.blackbook.com
www.copyright.gov
www.lostluggage.com
www.caseenvy.com
www.canoneos.com
www.hasselbladusa.com

The Idea:
Visual style or "Visual Integrity" is the most important thing in the business of photography. Developing a distinct approach and style is your calling card. It differentiates you from the rest. As with any industry in the world today, the markets are clouded with a lot of competition. You must be distinct, and stand out from the rest. Your brand must be strong. You style needs to be unique to you. I've been reading a lot of articles from the 1 Port Authority and Burns Auto Parts websites. Great articles for you to read if you want to pursue the business of photography. They also talk about marketing and different ways of approaching it. It all should be portrayed through your portfolio, which is a work of art in itself. It is your product, and what you will be hired for.

My Visual Style and Approach:
My approach is something that has developed over the last three years of shooting and learning. It's an ongoing process that teaches me new things every day. I've been reading a lot of articles on developing a visual style and integrity which is key in this business, especially if you want to shoot what you like to shoot. My style is seen as fun, beautiful, dreamy off moments. It's very Archetypical of the person being photographed. My images feel very natural. I like to tell stories with the images. I like to pull joyful off moments and drop a little edge into it. They have a raw human element to them, and feel very fresh, alive, rich, spontaneous. That is how I describe my imagery, but everyone sees things differently.

My Arsenal:
My consists of all Canon equipment except for the new 1.3 megapixel camera that came with my Sidekick 3. The camera I use most is the 1Ds Mark II, but I also have a 1D Mark II. The lenses I have are the 20mm f2.8, 35mm f1.4L, 50mm f1.4, 85mm f1.2L, 24-70mm f2.8L, and the 70-200mm f2.8L IS. These have mostly completed my arsenal, but for most of the lifestyle work, I use the 50mm, and 85mm lenses. The 24-70mm and 70-200mm lenses I mostly use for journalistic work. I have about 4x2GB SanDisk compact flash cards. I also have a set of ProFoto Acute 1200R lights, which I seldom use. Mostly I'm a natural light guy. In Post I use Capture One, which is the best RAW editing software. Then I retouch and do more specifics in Photoshop CS2. I also have an Epson 2200 that I use for printing my books and promos.

Photography Biz:
Eighty percent or more of photography as a career is the business side. That in itself is a world to learn. To the left you find some helpful links. Amanda Sosa Stone, 1 Port Authority, and Burns Auto Parts are all photography consultants, which will help you get your business in order. Workbook and Blackbook, and Le Book are all resources that you can find all kinds of vendors related to photography. They also make source books that photographers advertise in that gets sent to most of the advertising agencies in the states.

The most important book to read for business of photography is the one called ASMP Professional Business Practices in Photography. It's a great book on everything from how the business of photography works to forms and legal documentation that photographers should have.