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[ April 23rd, 2007 ]
Becoming a photographer isn't one of those things you just wake up one day and settle on, it takes a certain something to realize this is what you want to invest your entire life in. Craig Orsini has that certain something. He approaches photography with the passion of a storyteller and with the eyes of a visionary. Altpick had the pleasure to hear Craig tell us his story.
When did you realize that photography was something you wanted to get involved in?
My fondness for the camera started in 8th grade with a math teacher who happened to have a passion for photography. His photography inspired me to get involved with it as a hobby. I took all the classes high school offered by my sophomore year and later developed my talent at the Art Institute of Boston from 1986 until 1990. I freelanced with a local shooter for a couple years and opened my own studio in 1993.
When did you start shooting digital?
It was 1994, and not many people were shooting with a digital camera. I saw a demo for a Leaf digital camera and it got me excited all over again. Seeing the hi-res image open on the monitor was the same magic as seeing that first black & white image appear in the developer tray in the darkroom. I purchased the PhaseOne Scanning Back when it first debuted. There were times that were difficult and people didn't believe in digital, but I stuck with it. It took 1-2 minutes to capture still life shots and I was using a 5000 watt tungsten light for lighting.
What was the first assignment to kick start your career?
I started my career shooting widgets on a white seamless. Everything from shoes to pottery. Nancy Conaty at Hill Holliday gave me my first break shooting for Marshalls and the TJ Maxx company. It gave me my start shooting still life which I continued with until 1998. At that point I started shooting more people and received a call for a project from Mary Rich at Mullen to shoot for Boeri Ski Helmets. That led to more conceptual larger scale advertising shots and I have been pursuing this type of work ever since.
What does showcase your true personality?
Shooting conceptual images from a storyteller's point of view. I use humor and whit to capture the ideas of the clients and conceptually convey it on one single print. I love the unpredictable nature of large scale production shots. I do my best work when my back is up against the wall. The larger the production, the bigger the adrenaline rush. Figuring out how to produce a shot in a limited time and within a certain budget is very demanding but is also very rewarding. I surround myself with the best production crew I can find and we go 110% until the job is done.
How long does it take to set up for each shot?
Each photo I create involves a detailed production schedule, several weeks of preparation, and an approach that finds problem solving solutions for each assignment. It can take an entire day to shoot one shot. On the day of the shoot, the production crew is on set 2-3 hours before the client arrives to set up lighting and to prep the set and models.
Generally do you shoot in a studio or on location?
I strictly shoot digitally on location; making use of a PhaseOne P25 digital back tethered to a Apple G4 iMac. Pre-production is done 100% digitally online, allowing client, agency, and photographer to review locations, models, and wardrobe all at the same time. I've streamlined the process from pre-production, to shoot, to retouching, and final image delivery.
How would you describe your photography career experience so far?
For the past 15 years, this business has treated me very well, both professionally and personally...nothing beats doing what you love on a daily basis! I've worked with such clients as Nokia, ESPN the Magazine, Jet Blue Airways, Jiffy Lube, and Kawasaki among a laundry list of others. It all comes down to making sure my clients get what they expect in the end and creating excitement about my work.
Craig Orsini is represented by agent Ralph Mennemeyer in New York.
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