■ FIND YOUR STYLE!
Become fully aware of what you are visually drawn to.
Discover what subject matter, kind of space, colour palette,
mood, light, etc... Then ask yourself why? If you do this, you
identify the true core of what turns you on as a photographer
and it will help you find your visual style quickly.
■ BLACK AND WHITE TEST
If two elements don’t quite fit together, view the image in
black and white. If in black and white it looks good, then you
have a colour mismatch. But if the parts are still not
matching then you know you have to adjust the exposure or
contrast to blend the parts.
■ COLOUR WASH
When doing multiple composite photography, try to add a
colour fill layer on top of all the other layers. Pick a colour
already inherently in the image. Set the blending mode to
Color and the Opacity between 5 and 15%. This will add a
very light colour wash to help blend the elements.PORTFOLIO TIPS
ERIK’S KEY TIPS FOR SUCCESSEYE ON DESIGN PORTFOLIO INTERVIEW
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BOTH DIGITAL
AND TRADITIONAL PORTFOLIOS?
The digital is for a mass audience that can be
accessed at any time. The printed is for in-person
meetings where you truly want your pictures to stand
out. To meet with someone and then show your
images on an iPad won’t change the experience of
your possible client beyond what they have already
seen online. I do think a big printed portfolio will...YOU’VE HAD AMAZING CLIENTS, HOW DID YOU
BECOME SAVVY IN MARKETING YOUR WORK?
HOW CAN CREATIVES GET THEIR DREAM JOB?
I’m in the world of marketing and I only try to apply
what I see done by advertising agencies and big
brands to my business. In this, consistency [in] the
marketing effort, is key. Set your strategy and follow
it for two years or more. It is so hard to get noticed
in this increasingly competitive world of
photography. A brand presence won’t happen
overnight. There are two things needed to land a
dream job: a unique perspective and style to the
photography, and the dream client seeing it. The first
is all about the art, the second is marketing...YOUR YOUTUBE FEED IS FULL OF
WONDERFUL MATERIAL. WHICH VIDEO DO
YOU THINK WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR
PHOTOGRAPHERS AND COMPOSITORS?
Thank you! Each of the videos touches on different
aspects so it’s hard to suggest one. I would maybesuggest one of the interviews as they cover more
ground rather than just one topic.YOU ARE QUITE THE PHILANTHROPIST. HOW
DID THE BOOK PROMISE OF A PENCIL BY
ADAM BRAUN INSPIRE YOU TO GIVE BACK?
HOW CAN OTHERS GET INVOLVED?
I would not call myself a philanthropist, but it’s great
to be able to help. It’s the same feeling when I teach;
being able to make a difference and help someone
else out is a tremendous feeling. I got truly inspired
by Adam Braun’s story and wanted to help. It’s such
an extraordinary cause and I wanted to see if I could
contribute somehow. We posted a workshop where
all participants donated to attend and in a week we
raised $33,650 to build a school in Ghana. If you
want to get involved you can either start your own
fundraiser on pencilsofpromise.org, or if you want
to donate and receive one of my prints as a gift you
can still donate through my page on Pencils of
Promise (www.erikalmas.com/pencilsofpromise)
and I will send a signed print.ARE YOU WORKING ON ANY NEW PROJECTS?
There is so much I want to do, accomplish and
experience so there’s always stuff going on. Besides
my commercial work that keeps me constantly onWe posted a workshop where all participants donated to attend
and in a week we raised $33,650 to build a school in Ghanathe road, I have just released a new tutorial on
composite photography and [I’m] working on the
launch of a new winery called Stories by the Glass.
Wine to me is about social gatherings and stories, so
I have collaborated with poets and songwriters to
describe these gatherings and I then create visuals to
go with their words.Paris: According to Erik, composition is key when it
painters can help you learn so much about how to trap comes to a successful image. Studying the Old Master
the eye within a frame using classic compositional tools