Just two days after I finish Episode 4 of the PhotoCreative podcast and mention that I’m going to take a second look at speakers at the 2010 SWPP convention the latest edition of Professional Image Maker pops through the door.

Along with a delightful promo shot for Animoto, Doug also has a feature from The big Red Bus Tour. (Oh and an advert for his workshops of course).

I didn’t attend the bus tour unfortunately, but I was there for the members day half day, run around the Novotel, trying to work out what’s actually going on course.

It was quite fun and Doug is quite a character. I not convinced by the way Doug works but that’s down to personal preference.

I’ve come from a background where I shot around 50,000 couples in EXACTLY the same way and had to train dozens of photographers to do the same. It is possible to teach pretty much anyone a repertoire of poses but what you can’t learn is personality. Doug has bundles of it and I’m sure he has to pay an excess luggage allowance when he hops over the pond.

As for Animoto and Kubota I think I’m becoming a bit more of a purest. As wonderful as both programs are I don’t think it’s really the way develop you’re own style if you’re just using someone else’s techniques. Animoto is becoming really popular and they do look great for marketing purposes. The problem I have is that they are very recognisable (a bit like a Clickpic site). What’s wrong with that? Nothing except image if every advert you seen on TV was shot by the same director. Where’s the originality and where’s YOUR style?

Same goes for Kubota, which is put together fanatically and I love the concept, but where’s your style?

So moving on and rant over, what I’ve put together is a Doug Gorgon Philosophy. This isn’t exactly a consise or in any way offical Doug Gordon photo philosophy. But what I have done is put together a series of direct quotes from the man himself at the members day seminar during the 2010 SWPP convention….. enjoy.

The Unofficial Doug Gordon Photography Philosophy

Change
Change is guaranteed, progress is not
Change the way you think, change your world
All change is in the power of your decisions
Model yourself on someone who has proven results
Unlock what is stopping you
Close your eyes and open your mind

Dare to be different
Create impact
Make the invisible visible
Use emotion and energy
Use fear as motivation
Love what you do
Don’t be afraid to be you

Good luck is created opportunity

It’s time for change…… It’s time to get sexy!

Create the moment
Romance must be created
Turn the ordinary to extraordinary
It’s what happens in the pose the creates the naturalness
Practice makes perfect

It’s all about systems!
Systems create….
Consistency
Guarantee
Story
Flow

It all begins with lighting……
Identify your main light source and match it
This will create beter colour balance and tone
Shoot from dark to light areas
Have no more than a quarter stop difference between shadow and highlights
Spot meter under the eye

With rules comes consistency!