Oh wow, today it’s finally there… the weekend of the Professional imaging 2012.
Without a doubt one of the exhibitions I always look forward to with a warm heart, this is the exhibition where in fact I taught my first workshops years ago on the booth for fotoflits (the Elinchrom agent in the Netherlands). It’s also the exhibition where I met up with Scott Kelby for the first time so one could say that this is the one were it all started.

For many years I’ve been teaching seminars and workshops on the Elinchrom booth and this year will be the first year I’m on the main stage (some might wonder why it took so long, so do I actually :-)) but I will also be teaching a brand new Masterclass (I finished writing it this week) the limit was set on 40 people but it sold out so quick we moved to another location and now we are probably around 70 attendees, really looking forward to that one on Monday.

But most of all Professional imaging is a moment to meet up with friends and colleagues, meet people from all over the country (well ok for you Americans it’s like all over the city), hanging out with the guys from Canon (trying to squeeze a 5DMKIII out of their hands to test-drive), and we’re expecting some new stuff very soon from some of my sponsors 🙂 so it will be a fun weekend.

Also joining me on stage will be my buddy from the states Dave Black, anyone who knows Dave’s work knows he is one of the best sports photographers out there but he also does an AMAZING JAWDROPPING light painting technique, and he will be teaching that all on the PI. And also Drew Gardner will be on stage, this English Elinchrom shooter I’ve known for some years and I absolutely LOVE his work, when you see him shoot and work you can’t feel not inspired, so make sure you catch Drew and Dave (and me of course).

But there is so much more, how about the introduction of Lightroom 4 ?
Demos at all the booths, the 5DMKIII, new Nikon gear, Leaf and Phase one are always there etc. etc. and above all…. it’s all free !!! (except the Masterclass).
So surf to http://www.professionalimaging.nl and make sure you are there.

A few weeks ago I got a call from a friend of mine who is running a Dutch modeling site called http://www.photoplace.nl and he told me about a new project they would be starting, the moment I heard about it I was more than interested in helping out. As many of you may know I’m shooting a lot with models, experienced models but also models just starting out. I’m very aware of the way that some people are perceiving the fashion photography industry and it’s a shame to say that indeed some of these “horror” stories are true. Although most photographers are into model photography to make beautiful work or just have fun without any form of bad intentions there are also some people out there that are in it for the wrong reasons. The problem is that those people are in fact ruining the market, but most of all ruining models emotionally and sometimes physically.

 

Next week a new website will go online in the Netherlands called fotoshootklachten.nl
 And I’m proud to say that they asked me to be their ambassador, and I did not need to think about that one of course, this is an issue that I hold very very dearly and am more than willing to connect my name to. The website will be filled with tips and hints for models how to prevent anything from happening, but also how to act when something has happened. It’s also good to know that the organization will be cooperating with the Dutch justice department. Read more