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Hi Everyone!
I'm new to the island. Been here on and off again for about 8 months. I finally put my schedule together to be able to spend a great deal of time here. (I travel for work).
I'm a professional photographer. I have been photographing for over 8 years. You can see my website at www.teklaphotography.com to verify. I have a great deal of experience doing architecture work (interior/exterior), weddings, head shots, events, and brochure work. In the states I focus mainly on sporting events. I've been the team photographer, for the last 4 years, for quite a few college teams, minor league teams, and magazines. It's been exciting.
I'm hoping that you can lead me in the right direction in terms of connections so I can get things started around here. I'd love to do more of my photography work on the island, so I could be around more.
Thanks! Have a great week!
Tekla Frates
Posted : October 2, 2006 12:34 pm
First of all, which island?
This will be a hard business to get started because so much of it is word of mouth and referral. Perhaps you could hook up with a photographer on-isand who could use an assistant.
Posted : October 2, 2006 2:32 pm
The island is St. Croix (I know this photographer). I think she failed to mention that she is a high profile sports photographer as well.
Tekla:
I would suggest going to both the Daily News and the Avis
Going to the Buccaneer and the Palms as they do a lot of weddings.
Checking out the cafe on Market Square in C'sted as all they exhibit is photography.
Speaking with Anna of Anna's Cafe as she does the cakes for many of the weddings.
Try to be here for the Starving Artist show in November, right after Thanksgiving. It would give you exposure, get your cards out and get you into the fold of the artist' community. That could lead to multiple connections.
If you cannot, due to your traveling, do a lot of marketing of your work, I would suggest giving a number of prints to someone who can market them, and give them a percentage of the gross. This person could go to the galleries, restaurants, art shows, etc. and make sure that your work gets exposure. This person would also have to have your cards and/or brochures.
There is a niche here for GOOD PHOTOGRAPHY. As the cruise ships should be coming in this year, also consider doing a table or booth around the festival part of a ship coming, or talk to one of the stores on the boardwalk/docking area about handling your work. I know of one place that does, but they will only commit to one artist at a time.
A final suggestion is investigating the Department of Tourism. As you have been clicking away for a couple of weeks now, show them the best of your work. As many of the magazines about "What's Happening" always need new pictures, as do the tourist publications, you might find an in there.
Whew. Okay. That's all I can think of for now, but if I think of anything else I will surely let you know.
Warmly,
Dan
Posted : October 3, 2006 10:12 am
Hello Tekla,
Dan mentioned you to me. I send you a private e-mail with some info. I hope it will help. I am still looking for a link to the pro photographers VI Group. Maybe Carol Lee has that link for you. I think she could be of great help.
Good Luck
Iris
Posted : October 3, 2006 1:33 pm
You should contact the VIPPA organization - that stands for Virgin Islands Professional Photographers Association and there URL is: http://www.vippa.com .
The member that coordinates the meetings and the meeting invites is Carol Lee on STX. Her e-mail address is: carolee@islands.vi. She would welcome another member as very few actually attend the meetings which occur monthly if it's possible to get together. Several of them do architectural photography.
Tell Carol Lee that Paul Basten referred you to her.
Posted : October 3, 2006 7:06 pm
