I am interested in networking with professionally oriented creative people. I would like to set up a team of photographers, MUAs, Wardrobe stylists, hair stylists, set designers, art directors, models, photoshop gurus, and web designers to work together on a regular basis on a long term. Having a quality group of talented professionals who work together on a regular basis makes success easy. If you are interested in joining my team, please contact me.
The goal is mutual benefit - profit sharing, access to more gigs, and the ability to set up the best shoots quickly, and make images that are above and beyond the rest of the crowd.
I would like to explore methods of maximizing exposure and profit. A main goal is to eventually set up a working studio in downtown Phoenix, Scottsdale, or Tempe. It would allow us to push our talents to their maximum and do what we love for a living - and make lots of money doing so! I am an experienced businessman, having owned and managed a successful photography gallery on the main bus route for ArtLink First Fridays. I am a professional photographer with 14 years of commercial experience. I would like to collaborate with individuals with a similar talent levels and commitment to the craft.
Studio is all set up, tested and the setup works great! I have an extensive set of strobes, backgrounds, and some decent furniture for props - always keeping my eyes out for more, though. There is also a large East facing window for natural light portraits that look wonderful!
About Craig:
I am a professional photographer, with over 12 years of commercial experience. I have done a good bit of commercial model photography, and a lot of artistic model photography. My studio is fully equipped with a strobe kit, lighting mods, backgrounds, and some funky retro furniture. I'm equipped to shoot digital, 35mm, medium and large format film, black & white and color.
I am notoriously laid back, and people have always told me how easy to get along with I am - however, I've worked with enough models to know how to be direct as well. If we shoot together I will let you know what I need clearly and directly so you don't have to wonder what's going on. (I won't just follow you around with a camera and hope you "do something sexy.")
About our photo shoot:
When you come to the studio, there is plenty of room to get ready. I have a network of photo assistants and MUA's that we may or may not use - but I find that the more people (up to a point, of course) work on a shoot, the better it turns out (and the more fun it is). I always enjoy it when you bring someone with you who has a good attitude and can add to the fun atmosphere, or just provide you with support. Anything that helps make it a great experience for you - just don't bring any dickheads who want to take over and direct the shoot!
IF you are willing to sign a model release for me to sell our photographs as stock photography, I will be most grateful! I am NOT able to pay you for this, because my profit margin is very thin on stock photography. HOWEVER - the exposure potential is GREAT! I have a multitude of images in printed publications, websites, and in other high audience media. I credit you as the model, but I cannot force the client to - but I request it, so you may end up with printed credit, which is very rare for models. I keep track of where my images are used as much as possible, so if I find that one of your shots is published somewhere I will definitely forward you the information. This is one of the easiest ways to get into print, and get yourself some real 'tear sheets' for your portfolio.
I DO NOT require you to sign a model release, since there is no pay - it is purely voluntary (unless we have arranged specifically for a stock photography shoot).
About your images - READ THIS!!!!!
The turnaround on the images I give you may be longer than what you are used to. There are a few reasons for this, so consider the value of what you get:
I do all of my own post processing. I do not shop it out, and I do not 'batch process' a ton of images in a couple of hours. I usually shoot 200-300 images in a typical photo shoot. I ONLY shoot RAW files. Of these, I will first select 10-15 images that I feel are the best. I prefer to have you meet me to discuss which images are selected if possible. Then, I carefully optimize each image in Adobe Photoshop
at full resolution, to create the look I aim to achieve. My creative process includes working on an image for a few hours, and then putting it away for several days, then picking it back up with 'fresh eyes' in order to see the overall image more critically. I may spend up to 15-20 HOURS on EACH image that I produce a final copy of. The final images are technically flawless, and have gone through a process of revision, re-revision, and so on in order to get the highest possible quality and originality. Since the images are all edited at full resolution, very high quality prints may be made. I can provide you with copies of the high res files, or make prints for you if you pay for them (unless we have some other arrangement).
So one set of ten photos from a 2 hour shoot represents around 100 hours of post production (possibly more, maybe less). This means that you will have to wait a while to receive all of your images from the shoot - possibly several months. However, I do strive to get the first image done within a day or so (usually, that will be my 'favorite' image) so that you do have something to show for it. I also will prioritize the next few so that you can have several more quickly. But I have been known to continue sending images here and there for months after a shoot (even years, on one or two occasions!). I constantly have a backlog of images in post-production. But you will get an outstanding set of a few images right away. And the quality is not one you will receive from most photographers.
From a typical photo shoot, my goal is to produce at least two, hopefully three different shots - the other images will be variations on those shots. So it may help to think of the final product as 2-3 very high quality images, and the rest are bonus alternative shots. If you need something specific from the shoot, just discuss it with me - I can arrange to make available certain images early, or hand over images with minimal editing if that is what you need. I can also give you a disk with all of the shots from the shoot with no editing.
I know that this is unusual for this community, but I am a fine artist, and we have different expectations and goals than do 'shooters' who knock out two or three shoots a week and come out with a pile of 250 images with minimal post-production (or cheesy digital filters - ugh!) the next day.
Think of it as the difference between fast food and a gourmet meal - you don't mind the wait for a masterfully prepared dinner!
What I am looking for right now:
Alternative nudes - Suicide Girls type of shoots. I am looking for small framed 18-24 year old (or who look that age) girls with alternative looks, including tattoos, piercings, Emo, Scene, Goth, etc. to do tasteful nude shoots.
This is PAID work. See my casting call.
Elegant portraits - think Vanity Fair. Annie Leibovitz. Camille Akrans. Solve Sundsbo. Alexi Lubomirski. Perfect hair and makeup, amazing wardrobe. Chaise lounge and jewelry.
Stock photography - I sell a lot of stock photography, so I always need people to pose as nurses, teachers, businesspeople, moms & dads, hotties in swimsuits or dresses, etc. Anything interesting: serial killer, punk, angry boss, stoner, you name it, I can use it - time to play dress-up! I require a model release for these, as I will be selling them - but the exposure potential is great.
Classic Hollywood style portraits - B&W, soft focus, dramatic lighting, big eyes - glamorous! Horst P Horst, George Hurrell.
"Movie stills" editorial fashion shots:
Woman on the Run - roadside, hitchhiking, suitcase, desperation.
Motel Hideout - dividing up the loot, guns, disguises, a hostage?
Desperate Housewife - what is the CEO's lady up to when he is out?
VIP Booth - Scarface like character & entourage parties at his nightclub.
Artistic nudes - these are poetic, painterly, motion-blurred abstractions, so they are anonymous. See my portfolio for examples. This is my most unique work - not really inspired by any previous photographers, came about through my pure genius (in other words, I discovered it by accident!)
Message me if you are interested in a photo shoot. I'm really easy to work with, but I only have so much time. I like to help models get their portfolios started, so feel free to ask.
Old news:
I am now a gallery owner! Several colleagues and I have opened an art gallery (mainly photography), located at 316 W. McDowell Rd., Phoenix, AZ. 'Gallery 8' is inside the Garfield Galleria, in the heart of McDowell Row.
Silver Miner
By Steve Jansen
Published: August 16, 2007
Urban photography wizard Craig Wactor ventured from downtown’s torn up Baghdad-esque streets and captured other depressive looking doom-and-gloom -- the resurgent mining communities of Miami and Globe, Arizona -- with his silver gelatin prints. Works by Farrell Yancy are also on display.
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2007-08- … ver-miner/
I am a Phoenix, Arizona based photographer, with 12+ years experience. I shoot pictorialist portraits and artistic nudes, occasionally fashion shoots, and social landscapes. My professional work is mostly editorial - I do not arrange for models, they are provided for me in that realm.
I received a Bachelors of Fine Art in 'Art Studio', with a concentration in photography, from the University of South Carolina in December of 2000. I trained in commercial photography by assisting local pros. Most of that training was editorial and advertising photography. I am a geeky technical guy, good with lighting, film, photoshop, etc.
I may be willing to do TFP or TFCD, depending on the situation. Click "send message" above, if you are interested in setting up a shoot.
