a lot has happened during the last 18 months since my last post here - my work as a photographer is steadily going forward, I've made some progress both in terms of technical issues and updating my gear.

but above all it's true that without actually photographing, doing it a lot one never improves. after my shooling in Rome I had a lot of theoretical knowledge but lacked the working experience. now it's just amazing to see the result of what theory combined with hard "field" work can produce.

but before you get to work you need contacts and and actual customers - obvious? and this is probably the hardest part.

I was lucky enough to work as a volunteer with a cultural (print) magazine so through them I got accreditations to concerts and gigs. And luckily my cousin is quite a cool web designer he occasionally hooks me up with phtos shoots for his web site projects... so that's how it can start.

but what they don't teach you in art school (at least not where I was) is HOW to actually work during a concert... and that's just learning by doing and copying ohter photographers' working style or how to communicate with a customer during a studio session.

I felt quit helpless in the beginning, but now I am gaining confidence in my work through my work. Getting (good) feedback from your customers is so important. That's what tells you you're on the right track.
It's really an exciting feeling when you send out your first invoice and it gets even better when you receive the actual payment.

so I guess now I've earned myself a nice holiday - looking forward to charge batteries in Kazakhstan in July/August (going there by train! from Helsinki) for in August I have a two weeks heavy schedule shooting for Helsinki Festival

take care

Sasku