The Benefits Of Hiring A Professional Photographer (Part 2)

Edition Twenty-One – Week Twenty-One:

Written by: Mercedes Barreto // Adobe Express 

Joe Mack’s Event Photography:

What got you started photographing NY’s best musical talents, etc.?

“I am a lifelong musician and photographer. When I saw all the terrible cell phone shots local bands were using for their social media, I decided it was time to do something about it.”

Why is it important to get hired as an event photographer?

“As I said, most of the content that bands use come from cell phones, blurry, out of focus, and unedited. It gives a very poor picture of what the band is like. They need to hire a professional that works for HALF the cost of the others. I get it that bands don’t have much money. I have been there, so THAT’S why my rates are so low…”

What inspires you daily, and what do clients usually ask for in photoshoots?

“What inspires me is that I LOVE music and I LOVE photography, the more I do the better I like it. Most bands just leave it to me as far as what I shoot, but sometimes, they ask for posed photos along with performance photos.”

What is it like to be the best photographer in the Hudson Valley area?

“It’s a good feeling, my name is well known in the music community, and when bands finally do decide to get photos done, I am usually the one they call.”

What are your goals for this year and the next?

“My goal is to continue networking so the bands that don’t know of me find out about me. The good thing in this business is there are new bands forming all the time. Both new bands formed by young people who are by the way the future of live music, along with older bands reforming and staring other projects.”

What is a message for photographers or creatives out there who are struggling?

“Keep Shooting Keep Shooting Keep Shooting, post on Facebook and other social media. You will soon learn if your talent is appreciated and if it is that’s a good incentive. If you don’t get much feedback, then maybe it’s time to find another hobby.”

JP Graphix:

What got you started photographing NY sports and other thematics?

“After college I started putting myself out there getting involved with trying out all different types of photography to figure out what I’m best at and what I enjoy the most and it’s definitely sports and concert photography!”

Why is it important to get hired as a photographer?

“It’s an honor to photograph someone’s special occasion, capturing precious moments to look back at, for example a wedding, birthday party, or baby shower. A photographer is the reason why those pictures exist from that special day.”

What inspires you daily, and what do clients usually ask for in photoshoots?

“I’m inspired by other photographers I see online or people I worked with that give me great ideas and keep me motivated. Clients love us to take every moment at an event. For example, I recently photographed a 60th birthday party and the client asked me to take a lot of candids of people socializing, group photos and the decor of the room.”

What is it like to be a woman photographer in a competitive industry?

“I’m a woman who is known as a hard worker. I was raised that way and surrounded by my family who are also hard workers. I have never been in a position where someone prefers a male photographer over a female photographer. Any industry you’re in these days is competitive. I just focus on advertising myself to get as many clients as I can.”

What are your goals for this year and the next?

“My goal is to have my photography business grow into something that can be one of my main sources of income. Another goal is to get better photography equipment for my business.”

What is a message for photographers or creatives out there who are struggling?

“It takes time to get to where you want to be. Just keep on going and eventually your time will come where you’ll be getting so many bookings from clients and busy as ever.”

Anything to add here?

“Follow my Instagram @jpaternoster_graphix and Facebook JP Graphix!”