DuChemin D. - VisionMongers: Making a Life and a Living in Photography

Making a Life and a Living in Photography

VisionMongers: Making a Life and a Living in Photography
David duChemin

New Riders
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New Riders is an imprint of Peachpit, a division of Pearson Education

Copyright 2010 by David duChemin

All photography David duChemin except as follows: author photo on About the Author page Kevin Clark; photos on pages 1925 CHRIS+LYNN PHOTOGRAPHERS; photos on pages 4955 Kevin Clark Studios; photos on pages 8185 www.darwinwiggett.com; photos on pages 107111 Grace Chon / Shine Pet Photos; photos on pages 127133 Dave Delnea; photos on pages 151157 Gavin Gough-www.gavingough.com; photos on pages 165170 www.KarlGrobl.com; photo of Zack Arias at top of page 199 Lucas Brown; photos on pages 199204 Zack Arias (www.usedfilm.com); photos on pages 225231 Chase Jarvis; photo of Joe McNally on page 243 Anne Cahill

Editor: Ted Waitt
Production Editor: Hilal Sala
Cover and Interior Design: Charlene Charles-Will
Layout and Composition: Kim Scott, Bumpy Design
Indexer: James Minkin
Cover Image: David duChemin

Notice of Rights
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. For information on getting permission reprints and excerpts, contact .

Notice of Liability
The information in this book is distributed on an As Is basis without warranty. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of the book, neither the author nor Peachpit shall have any liability to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the instructions contained in this book or by the computer software and hardware products described in it.

Trademarks
Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book, and Peachpit was aware of a trademark claim, the designations appear as requested by the owner of the trademark. All other product names and services identified throughout this book are used in editorial fashion only and for the benefit of such companies with no intention of infringement of the trademark. No such use, or the use of any trade name, is intended to convey endorsement or other affiliation with this book.

ISBN-13 978-0-321-67020-5
ISBN-10 0-321-67020-5

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Printed and bound in the United States of America

To Sharon,
my wife, muse, fan, and friend.
Youre not only the safety net under the risks I take,
youre leaping with me. Thanks, babe.

Im deeply grateful to the following:

To every client Ive ever had who has allowed me to do what I love and serve them in the process, thank you. To Lyric especially, my first and favorite client, who took a chance on me because, though my abilities were unproven, we shared the same vision and passion. And then she sent me to a war zone.

To my friend, client, and now my manager, Corwin, for faithfully taking time every week to share a drink or a meal and the ups and downs of life as an entrepreneur.

To my other friendsphotographers and otherwisewho have never once asked me when I was going to get a real job, but instead encouraged me and supported me, and a few times helped me pick up the pieces: Troy Cunningham, Eric Pay, Jeff Anderson, Matt Brandon, Gavin Gough, Kevin Clark. Thanks to my friend Alan Smith, impossible to track down most of the time but when we get together his encouragement and business advice is always worth the wait.

To the photographers who gave so generously of their time so I could include them, their work, and their stories in this book. Without exception, they are kind people of great talent and heart who love and give back to the photographic community.

To my editor, Ted Waitt, one of the unseen heroes behind not only this book but many of the best photography books out there. What it takes to corral a stable of photographers trying to express themselves in unfamiliar words, I can only guess, but hes my hero. My book team as well. To Charlene Charles-Will, the designer who makes these books so gorgeous; to Scott Cowlin and Sara Jane Todd, who flog them with the greatest of enthusiasm and integrity; and to my publisher, Nancy Aldrich-Ruenzel, who keeps taking these chances on me. Thanks so much.

To the photographic industry, particularly my sponsors. I know I give the industry a hard time occasionally with all this Gear Is Good, Vision Is Better talk. I know you prefer it when I have a lapse and accidentally preach my Screw Vision, Give Me Something Shiny sermons instead. Still, we all have a role to play and your gear makes my job easier, and in many cases, just plain fun. My sponsorsAdobe, Lexar, Think Tank Photo, Gitzo, Drobo, Acratech, BlackRapid, Lensbaby, PocketWizard, Evrium, and ZINKall support my work with the quality of the products they make.

To the readers of my books and blog who have created a community around my words and lunatic rants. Thank you. What you have given back to me feels generously disproportionate to the words I crank out.

To my mother, Heather, who has been my best friend since as far back as I can remember. She has been my greatest fan, greatest cheerleader, and often my greatest inspiration. To my stepfather, Paul, for raising me as his own, and tormenting me accordingly. His stories of working the steel mills of Hamilton have kept me from honest work for years now, and for that Im grateful.

To Sharon, for supporting me, loving me, and cheering me on.

Finally, to God, from Whom my calling, and the gifts to chase it, comes. Be Thou my Vision, oh Lord of my heart.

David duChemin has taken a winding, unlikely road as hes followed his calling. From aspiring photographer to theologian to professional comedian and eventually back to his first passion, David is now a full-time world and humanitarian photographer, teacher, and author. A passionate contributor to the international photography community, duChemins first book, the bestselling Within the Frame: The Journey of Photographic Vision, received worldwide acclaim for its vision, passion, and depth.

Davids work and blog can be found online at PixelatedImage.com.

Photo: Kevin Clark

IN 2006 I RETURNED TO MY FIRST PASSION, photography, as a vocation, after taking a zigzag path to get there. After theology college and a 12-year stint as a successful comedian, I left the stage and became a full-time working photographer, what some would call a professional. With vision, passion, and 12 years of marketing and entrepreneurial know-how, I made a dramatic change of direction and am now enjoying the calling Ive dreamed of since I was 14 years old. I use the word calling because thats the word at the core of the word vocation, and its the word I feel best suits what I think and feel about this gig.

Its hard, in part, because there are no formulas. There isnt one single path.