My name is Fortune M. (yes, it's for real...and, no, I don't have one...yet).
I've been a portrait, fine art, and food photographer since 1992. I have a strong educational background in photography. I've studied photography at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, at The George Washington University and the Washington School of Photography, and I have a Professional Photography Certificate from the New York Institute of Photography. I also have an Associate degree in Business Administration from Central Carolina Community College in North Carolina, and am currently pursuing a BS in psychology from Upper Iowa University. (I love to learn...what can I say??)
I've always wanted to teach photography. In fact, at one point, I designed a photography school curriculum for a photography school I was planning to start. I think the most important pieces of equipment you have are your eyes, your brain, and your heart. Of course I will teach you how to use your camera, if you need that. But I want to teach you how to see, think, and feel first.
I'll also show you basic art principles. The first part of that photography school curriculum I designed was art - drawing, painting, design, etc. My thinking was, "Put down that camera until you learn how important those things are." Don't worry, I'm not really going to make you draw or paint first. But I do want to encourage you to read up on those things, and learn about them.
I'll show you about the business aspects of it, too. I had my business degree before I got into photography, and I'm glad I did. It's not enough just to have a portfolio or a website. You need to know how to promote them. And you need to know what to charge. I'll help you with that.
I might also want to have you be my photo assistant on a shoot. You'll learn more from that than you ever will from a book. I've done my share of assisting, and I wouldn't trade it.
And I'll encourage you, not knock you down. Photography's not easy, but it's not rocket science, either. You can learn. I did. I wasn't born with an eye for good photography, but I developed one. You're already smarter than you know about photography. I want to build you up.
If you want to check out my current sites, I'll give you the URLs. I have a child photography business, a portrait business for adults, and products with my fine art pictures on them.
I do hope you'll contact me, and I can help you on your way to...wherever you decide to go in photography.
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