Last week in Orlando was Zack Arias’s first appearance as a Photoshop World instructor. I knew a little about Zack: he lives here in Atlanta; I’d watched his guest post video on Scott Kelby’s blog and related to the winter photography funk; a few months ago my husband printed his white background studio setup to hopefully create for me one day in our unfinished basement.
What I didn’t know was the impact he would have on me at Photoshop World.
You know that feeling you get when someone is speaking and it really moves you? That heavy, misty feeling in your head that says you just might start crying if any more of your inner wires get tripped, your fears and insecurities laid bare? It didn’t take long for that sensation to hit me; not a particularly comfortable feeling in a room full of people, sitting there between a couple of my NAPP buddies.
Here was this wildly successful photographer who seemed to be a lot like me on the inside.
I walked out of that room a serious Zack Arias fan. Not just me: he was the hit of Photoshop World Orlando.
He’s real. He’s honest. He’s encouraging. He’s a battery charger. I was trying to explain it to my husband, and he said, “He made you feel like you could do it.” Exactly.
One of my favorite quotes (and this isn’t word for word) was this: It’s not about being a rock star photographer. It’s about serving people. (Obviously this has nothing to do with shooting rock stars, which technically does make you a rock star photographer. It’s about the “photographer as rock star” mentality.)
There’s a lot of buzz in the photography world about fees, and how underpricing your work is detrimental to photographers as a whole. Zack told the audience that if you’re just trying to feed your family, do what you need to do and let everyone else take care of themselves. Don’t worry about taking down the industry.
I had the chance to speak with Zack a couple of times. He’s very down to earth and likable, like someone that would be fun to hang out with. If you can hear him speak, don’t miss it.
Zack Links:
- Zack’s blog
- Zack on Twitter
- OneLight Workshops
- Usedfilm Studios
- Usedfilm Studios fan page on Facebook
Related Posts:
- Joe McNally’s Big Lights from Small Flashes
- Photoshop World Whrrled
- Photoshop World Orlando 2010 in Photos Recap
This post brought to you by my Photoshop World sponsors, Red River Paper and Artistic Photo Canvas.
Well said Dawn. That echoes my thoughts on Zack as well.
.-= Eric´s last blog ..Nikon P100 Video Sample at 240 fps =-.
What a sweet post. I attended his One Light workshop in Utah the weekend before PSW and completely agree with everything you said about him. He’s a humble, hard-working man and just a wonderful person. And a pretty killer photographer on top of that.
.-= Macy´s last blog ..Photo Shoot – Thayne Family =-.
I can’t say that I have a different opinion and I just read his blog… a moving experience indeed, I can only imagine what it must be in-person
I wish I could’ve heard him speak. I remember reading an article about underpricing and bringing down the industry and all that too. It was kind of discouraging.
I do plan on focusing more on photography in the near future. But my main goal is to bless people, give EVERY family a good picture, capture memories… I am blessed with so many pictures to remember Christian by… I want to pass that gift on to others. And I won’t be charging industry rates either (if anything at all)!
.-= Marsha´s last blog ..Home Sweet Home =-.
Dawn,
You hit the nail on the head with this one. I walked out of his How to Make it as a Photographer class and was totally humbled, speechless, and looking like I just saw a ghost! He really hit home with everything he said. I am hoping to contact Zack (somehow) and see if I cant get contents of his presentation, mainly the bullet points of the things he said. It was a shame that he ran out of time at the end as I wanted to hear more. Unfortunately he didnt have any content published in the PSW “Bible”…. 🙁
Good to hear others felt the same way I did….