#andy bardon

ANDY BARDON / 2013 REEL / DP / DIRECTOR from Andy Bardon on Vimeo.

With so much talent available in the photography world, personal relationships have become more important than ever. Of course your work has to be strong, but that's just the bare minimum requirement. Clients need to know that if they are on a job with you for days on end, sometimes in remote locations that are really uncomfortable, that you are easy to get along with and they'll have a good time with you on location. Things will go wrong, and it's key to be able to roll with the punches. You have to deal with adversity with a smile and prevail! Laughter and positive energy are infectious. Sharing those laughs with a client is the key to getting hired (and rehired). Nobody likes to work with a Debbie Downer.

During the review, I was able to get some great feedback on my current body of work from people that have been hustling in the industry for over 30 years. Their opinions and advice are born from experience and being surrounded by such veterans was really informative. I tried to listen more than I talked, and I tried to be interested, instead of interesting.

I was able to meet up with a senior photo editor from National Geographic who I'd worked with on Mount Everest. Spending time with her and catching up on future work was great. I also had the chance to meet with some photo editors and buyers that I've always wanted to work with. We discussed future jobs and exchanged information with a handshake and a smile. Lastly, I landed some immediate work from the meetings–which was a pleasant surprise. I entered all the meetings with no expectations, so to walk away from the reviews with jobs lined up was such a bonus. The whole experience was definitely worthwhile.

Onwards!