We want to thank Ian Spanier for sharing his insights in his Talent Will Only Get You So Far: the Successes and Failures of a Photographer webinar, co-sponsored with Photoflex.

If you missed the event, we’ll provide a short recap here. You can experience the webinar in its entirety in a just a few days on our web site. Please visit our Ask the Pro page for information on this, past and upcoming webinars.

Ian shared great advice on how to blend the artistry of photography with the business of photography. As a former GQ magazine photo editor turned freelance photographer, Ian knew many of the ups and downs. As he started off on his own, he made a few rules–such as never taking jobs that weren’t his strong suit: shooting weddings, kids or pets (and he rarely had to break those rules). He was reluctant, at first, to hop on the social media band wagon, but realized the exposure opportunities he could reap.

Other highlights include: renting versus owning equipment; his invoice system; reading contracts; copyrighting and insurance; sending clear and complete promotional information to potential clients; using consultants, agents, producers and studio managers; plus his go-to gear. Ian has carried Lowepro bags for many years. His current favorites are two that help get him from location A to B while traveling for assignments: Pro Roller x200 and SlingShot 200 AW.

An award-winning advertising and editorial, portrait photographer, Ian Spanier is based in Long Beach, New York. To learn more about his work and upcoming projects, please visit his site.

It’s Free Bag Friday (the 13th)!

This week we’re offering a SlingShot 202 AW to one lucky winner. To participate, all you have to do is answer the question: “When do you like to use a sling bag?” Add your answer to the Comments area of this blog post. You have until midnight PST, Sunday April 15, 2012 to enter. We’ll pick a winner from the comments and notify via this blog and our Facebook page next week. As always, void where prohibited.

Good luck on this Friday the 13th, and let us know when you like to use a sling bag.

Derrick Story is the Photography Evangelist for Lowepro.

You’re cordially invited to join us for a webinar with professional photographer Ian Spanier on Tuesday, April 17 at 11am PDT / 2pm EDT.

Ian’s topic is Talent Will Only Get You So Far. We think you’ll enjoy and learn from this honest and revealing look into the ups and downs of getting into and remaining relevant in the photography business. He’ll cover topics from choosing assignments, to renting versus owning equipment, to utilizing social media.

Ian’s work appears in publications such as Condé Nast Traveler, Men’s Journal, Marie Claire, Muscle and Fitness, Field & Stream, Time Out NY, Psychology Today and Los Angeles Magazine.

Sign up today to reserve your complimentary spot!

Grizzlies. Cougars. Bison. Moose. Tigers. Cranes. These are just a
handful of the wild and elusive species captured in the stunning photography of Thomas D. Mangelsen. For 40 years, he has traveled the seven continents photographing the natural world. He was honored with the Conservation Photographer of the Year by Nature’s Best in 2011.

Tom takes an active role in supporting conservation groups such as the Jane Goodall Institute, is a founding Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers and co-founder of the Cougar Fund.

He has been recognized as one of the 100 Most Important People in Photography by American Photo, Legend behind the Lens by Nikon, Outstanding Nature Photographer of the Year by the North American Nature Photographer Association, and given the BBC’s prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award. Read our profile of this dedicated conservationist, artist and photographer.

Pulitzer Prize winner and celebrity photographer Brian Smith likes to get a sense of the person he’s going to shoot. More than a decade as a newspaper photographer helped him hone his unique portraiture style.

Take a look at our exclusive video profile on Brian as he shares his thoughts on location shooting, approaching public figures, and the art of getting comfortable with the subject.

You can visit his web site for a full view of his gallery and upcoming projects, and read more in our online profile.

Enjoy!

It’s Free Bag Friday and time for you to throw your lens cap in the ring for a chance to win the Photo Traveler 150 camera/tablet backpack.

Just comment below about how you like to use your tablet (such as an iPad) and camera together. You have until midnight, Sunday, April 1 to enter. We’ll pick a winning comment next week and announce here and on our Facebook page. As always, the give-away is void where prohibited.

The Photo Traveler 150 is a nifty bag. It holds your Compact System Camera gear, or enthusiast DSLR kit. Plus, it has a dedicated pocket to store and protect your tablet computer. Combine that with its handsome urban styling, and you have a winner for casual shooting and computing when out and about.

So let us know how you like to use your camera and tablet together… and good luck!

Derrick is the Photography Evangelist for Lowepro.

Street shooting is a passion of mine, and I’ve never enjoyed it more than I do today. The convergence of mobile devices, social networking, and a plethora of coffee shops have created a fluid working environment. Using these tools, I can shoot photos, upload them to an iPad, edit my favorite images, publish them online, finish my cup of dark roast, and hit the streets again.

Lowepro is doing its part to facilitate this workflow. They have designed a variety of tablet friendly bags that accommodate my iPad or MacBook Air, basic DSLR gear, and all the gizmos and accessories that I would need for the day.

To give you a better idea of the workflow that I use, here’s a short movie that walks you through the basic steps.

This scenario works great with the iPad 2 or The New iPad, an Apple Camera Connection Kit, and iPhoto for iOS. There are other terrific image editing apps for the iPad, including Filterstorn Pro, Photogene, and Snapseed. Also, you don’t necessarily need a cellular-connected iPad (Verizon or ATT&T) to embrace this workflow. You can use a WiFi-only tablet. But then you are at the mercy of the network that’s available where you’re working.

Regardless of how you design your own urban photography workflow, the end result should be the euphoric sensation that results from having just captured a great image and then seeing it online before your coffee gets cold.

Derrick Story is the Photography Evangelist for Lowepro.