How to photograph a photographer

Here’s what I like. I like it when I talk to other portrait and wedding photographers and ask them questions about how they do their thing, and they are completely forthright about what they are up to and how they run their business. There’s no worrying that if I know where they get their albums or prints made that I’ll somehow steal away business or try to copy what they are doing. Nope. Instead, they know it’s just an exchange of info from two people trying to make good decisions about how to provide the best service to our clients.

And I find that the people that are the most open about such things are the photographers that are the most competent and they realize that there’s enough work for everyone and we’re all on the same team anyway. In this town, I’ve felt that good vibe from Kent Miles, Jon Canlas, Tim Uhl, Melissa Kelsey, Dustin Izatt (dude let me borrow his camera!), Hailey Warner and Ashley Thalman. I’m happy I know these people.

And most recently, Stacy Young. I stopped by her studio in Salt Lake a couple weeks ago and she showed me how she does her thing. It was very gracious, and to Stacy, I say, thanks. Then, last week, she came to see me. (I love visitors!) I couldn’t resist taking her picture. Hey man, it’s what I do.

So now, here’s the lovely Stacy.

Thanks for coming, Stacy. Come back soon. You left your purse.

Just kidding. You didn’t leave your purse. But do come back soon.

Side note: Last month two photographers contacted me within one week of each other and asked me about my online ordering system. I use Instaproofs. They wanted to know the ins and outs and what I thought about it. One of the photographers is a very well known and over the top talented photographer from California –I was flattered he emailed me– and the other photographer, from what I could tell, was a fellow just starting out and had all kinds of questions. I took plenty of time to answer their questions and let them know why I like using Instaproofs. Why did I take all that time instead of letting them just figure it out on their own? I did it because that’s what Jon Canlas did when I called him a couple years ago and asked the same thing and I’ve always appreciated that. And the other reason is because, why not? Why not help a guy out? And one of these days, I just may have a question for those people, and I’ll be glad to have them answer whatever it is I want to know.

One more side note to an already overly long post: Here are some other portraits I’ve done of photographers that have come by my studio within the last year .

Trent Nelson
Melissa Kelsey here and here
Justin Lyon
Jon Canlas

*****

Justin Hackworth photographs photographers, blonds, red heads, fat heads, headmasters, grandmasters, grandparents, spirited youth, oceanographers, fur trappers, and he wants to photograph you.