Photography is a hobby for lots of people, but for some it is their entire lives. While photographers blogs and websites are probably something that most people have had to visit at least once (if you had to find a senior photographer in High School) I think they are worth a second look. While perusing Pinterest one day I came upon some gorgeous senior picture images done by Amanda Holloway. I immediately went to look her up and see some more of her images and what I found surprised me. She had created an empire (it sounds over the top, but it’s true). It was a visual representation of the fact that there is a hierarchy when it comes to senior photographers in particular.
She takes the pictures and has a professional makeup artist that does airbrush makeup, and a stylist that makeover all the girls for close to $3,000. Not only does she do images but she has online and in person classes that other photographers can take to edit and take pictures like she does. What I really find interesting after observing this blog is that she uses the same tools that most photographers have access to (a DSLR and Photoshop) yet she stands above the rest based on her creativity, technique with the camera and Photoshop and her business knowledge. It definitely puts her above some other senior portrait photographers I have seen.
Here is an image of some of the other things she offers that make her so successful:
Amanda Holloway’s website is a very good example of a blog that draws you in and makes you feel like spending lots of money for pictures is going to totally be worth it. Photographer’s websites and blogs have to be persuasive with their images and the words they use both working towards getting you to hire them as your photographer. When you are looking at gorgeous picture after gorgeous picture on a blog you get drawn into to this particular “world”.
Portrait photography is all about bringing out one’s inner beauty and being persuasive in the argument that you can do that better than any other photographer. The words gorgeous, beautiful, radiant, fun, and relaxed are used a lot within the blog posts and those who comment gush about how beautiful her photographs are. I just find it really interesting that all these images end up speaking louder than the words do. Most bloggers and the cultures that accompany certain genres of blogs are all about shared opinions, obsessions, and experiences. In the world of photography blogs the images are what photographers use to communicate who they are and what they are capable of. Certain styles of photography and editing are what bring people together in this genre.
To me it seems like a world of beauty, positive reinforcement, persuasion, and an eagerness to learn and climb up the photography food chain. There are always those who post and ask each other how they take their photographs hoping for some wise words that will help make their own photography better. There has to be some secret Photoshop technique or a hidden formula on how to pose people. Amanda Holloway has ingeniously capitalized on this and offered expensive classes to teach people how to do what she does. (below is an image of what she teaches people how to do in her classes)
This brings me to my final thought on this world of beauty photographers. What type of people get into portrait photography? From what I have observed it seems to be artistic people who are hungry for more knowledge and techniques on how to improve their photos. They seem to always be striving to learn more whether or not they are already really good or still learning. All I know is that it is one of the more pleasant blog spheres that I have got to look at and observe.
Connections to class
- This is one example of how the internet doesn’t make people lose real world relationships. With her classes Amanda Holloway is bringing people together from all over to come a interact with her and some models to learn a new skill. Her blog is just the medium for her to get her message out, bring in new clients (which also encourages human interaction), and show the world her photography and teach others.
- A lot of what she does is online now. Instead of ordering prints people will ask for digital copies of their photos so they can print them however they like. In this way technology is changing the world of photography and making it open to a wider audience instead of just the people that go to art shows.
Questions:
- If you like photography what makes you enjoy it so much?
- Do you think that photography and images have changed for the better now that there is Photoshop? Or do you think that it promotes too much retouching and makes images too fake?
- What other types of blog cultures inspire this kind of thirst for knowledge and shows such a clear hierarchy in skill levels?
- If you aren’t into photography how to do you view people that enjoy it?
My Comments:
https://laurelanddtc375.wordpress.com/2014/03/12/blog-6the-motorola-razr-v3/
http://textsandtechnologiessl.wordpress.com/2014/03/12/post-6/
Language, Texts, and Technology 375 
I thought it was interesting how you chose to focus on the design of her website and how she monetizes it as the focus for the anthropological analysis of her website. I guess that makes sense, though. For mine I did Reddit, which has much more of a community, if you will, than a portrait photographer, so I guess that makes sense. You had some really cool analysis, though. I really enjoyed the first part, when you talked about the design of her site.
I agree that pictures have a strong and affectionate persuasive element. I used the example of Lilli Ghalichi and how she uses lots of photographs to sell and persuade her audience. I believe bloggers are becoming smarter by using their digital devices wherever they go which results in capturing any special or great moment they come across. Enhancing a blog is becoming easier for bloggers due to all the technology we have and this could also mean more competition among different bloggers such as fashion designers, political bloggers, etc.
Personally I love photography, I love how it allows me to show others the way that I look at the world. One think I disagree with is the process that you talk about Amanda Holloway using in her portraits. A little retouching is good, making the skin tone the right color and getting rid of the large blemishes but having to air brush on make up and do extensive retouching is too much to me, it makes the person look like a better robot clone of themselves. That’s just my personal opinion. I enjoy looking at photography blogs especially the kind that give you tips and tricks to try those are my favorites.
-If you like photography what makes you enjoy it so much?
As a photographer right now, I love it purely for being able to capture the world as it really as well as being able to portray images that challenge reality. I like being able to capture a moment and be able to see and relieve that moment forever. Or you can create a moment instead of document it.
-Do you think that photography and images have changed for the better now that there is Photoshop? Or do you think that it promotes too much retouching and makes images too fake?
With photoshop, I feel as well it goes both ways. Without photoshop, people were still retouching photos or creating photo manipulations, it was just much harder. So with Photoshop, people can learn how to take a not so great photo and process it to be better. It also increases the ability to create photo manipulations. So one can make a photo where they look as though they are floating or flying. I feel as though it’s the same as the invention of the digital photography. People were still able to photography before digital cameras, it was just harder. Now people can buy any camera and call themselves a photographer.
If you like photography what makes you enjoy it so much?
Do you think that photography and images have changed for the better now that there is Photoshop? Or do you think that it promotes too much retouching and makes images too fake?
What other types of blog cultures inspire this kind of thirst for knowledge and shows such a clear hierarchy in skill levels?
If you aren’t into photography how to do you view people that enjoy it?
I really enjoyed your blog a lot. I think that it portrays the world of photography blogs very well. Learning about Amanda Holloway and her talent is truly amazing! I personally love great pictures and when you come across one it is very interesting to look into the photographer who actually photographed the work. In doing this you find such people like Amanda Holloway and her website and blog. Pictures intrigue me being I love graphics and color and interesting pieces. I truly find it very amazing when someone has such talent like her. Great Post!