In this interview I would like to welcome Partner/Co-founder
of BSP “Boston Studio Photography” Paul Granese. A brilliant and awesome person
that puts a huge amount of efforts to deliver quality work, yet he keeps quiet
and don't bring too much attention to himself. It’s noticeable to everyone, how
Paul could put an event together to make a successful outcome and to bring joy,
and yet with his management skills he keeps all groups organized and maximizes
the use of their skills while making sure that each and every individual is
getting the recommendation that they deserve.
Enjoy the interview and don't forget to leave a comment.
Hi Paul,
Q. Tell us a little bit about you, and how did you start
with Photography?
A. In the darkroom! I started in B&W as a teen and spent
a lot of time in the darkroom. I had photos placed in the local newspaper,
mostly scenery around town and local events. I studied photography courses in
High School and College again with a primary focus on black and white. I
studied the Zone System by Ansel Adams and made that a college project. I have
not stopped shooting since then.
Q. How long did you live in Boston, and Where is home?
A. My home is west of Boston. I have lived in the Boston
area most of my life except for a 5 year stint in California. Today I still
live here but I travel very frequently and spend about 1/3 of my time in Los
Angeles and San Francisco.
Q. If you don't live in Boston what other place would you
chose?
A. Sometimes I think Los Angeles, other times I just want to
escape to Belize or DR
Q. When did you buy your first camera and what brand was it?
A. A long time ago and it was a Mamiya.
Q. Do you remember your first picture?
A. No!
Q. Do you consider photography as a hobby or a way of
living?
A. It is a way of living but that is not to say that
photography is my sole source of income.
Q. What is your specialty?
A. I try to create art rather than create photos. I want the
photo to be an expression of who the model is and who I am at the same time.
You have this collaboration between two people, a digital device and specialty
software and the resultant synergy of those can sometimes be spectacular.
Q. What is your favorite subject to shoot?
A. I shot landscapes and architecture for many years and
about 5 years ago started to focus more on people. Portraits and fashion.
People, either in a posed setting, or in their life, is now the most
interesting subject for me and where I have spent the bulk of my time in the
past 5 years.
Q. How many events do you average per year?
A. At BSP West we hold group shoots almost monthly and the
coordination and time put into that is significant. Other than that I have
attended Photoshop World last year and will be going to the After Dark workshop
in May., I also have benefited by having both Brooke Shaden and Bobbi Lane hold
workshops at BSP West so by default I attended.
Q. What inspire you to carry the camera and start shooting?
A. I was an artists as a kid, always drawing and painting.
Then I discovered the camera and started shooting and was excited by the
possibilities of creating art with this new tool.
Q. When you are shooting an event or a portrait session do
you like to run the show or do you follow your Clint's directions?
A. I found most clients are looking for direction...they are
paying me to supply the creative element to what it is they want captured. I
will work within their stated guidelines but after that it is my show.
Q. Do you have an assistant that accompanies you in the events?
A. Sometimes, it depends on the event.
Q. How do you prepare for a photo shoot at the studio?
A. I prepare well in advance. I work with the model
beforehand to understand what it is she is trying to capture. Whether it is a
portrait or a fashion shot I want to know what they are trying to achieve in a
photo session. Then I will exchange sample photos from the web to get an idea
of the areas in which we would want to go. Once we are in the studio it is
simply a matter of lights, sets, angles, etc that are all just tools in the
making of the final product.
Q. How do you prepare for a photo shoot in location?
A. I like to scout the area out beforehand. I look for
interesting architecture or settings beyond the typical. For instance I
recently did a shoot in Cabarete Beach in Dominican Republic and while the
beach was beautiful I scouted around and found an open air yoga hut and a
graffiti wall in the skateboard area. These shots proved to be far more
interesting than simply girls in bikinis on the beach in the sand.
Q. How many images do you average per event? And how many
images do you average per portrait session?
A. I take a lot of shots. I take multiples of every good
shot I have lined up to find the one that really captures the model's
personality. Also if the model blinks or was off in thought it loses the
imagery. I want him or her focused on the camera.
Q. How many images the client gets?
A. All the good ones.
Q. Do you have a favorite photographer that his/her work
inspires you?
A. Some of the contemporary ones I like are Brooke Shaden
and Lindsay Adler. I think Martin Schoeller does amazing work as well.
Q. What type of cameras do you shoot with, and do you shoot
digital or film?
A. I am of the Canon family. I have several cameras, some
for studio, and some for travel. All digital.
Q. Which is your favorite lens, that you can't live without,
and why?
A. Believe it or not it is a simple 50mm f1.8 Canon lens
that is spectacular clarity and low light and costs around $100 on Amazon.
Q. Have you ever broke or lost a camera or valuable
equipment?
A. I have had a camera stolen from the carryon bin in a
plane.
Q. Do you ever use natural light?
A. I prefer natural light and use it 80% of the time.
Q. What do you use to edit your pictures?
A. I use Lightroom 4 to do the bulk of my image processing
and then use Photoshop if I want to play deeper with layers, compositing, and
special effect.
Q. Do you shoot raw?
A. It depends on the shoot.
Q. Do you prefer Windows or Mac?
A. MAC!
Q. Do you use other devices like Wacom?
A. Yes I have a Wacom medium sized tablet. I use it for fine
touches in Photoshop
Q. How do you showcase your images? Do you use a laptop,
iPad, tablet, or prints? And do you have a web site? Can you provide us with
the link?
A. Yes. www.PaulGranesePhoto.com
Q. Can you briefly describe for the readers your
photographic workflow after an event?
A. I dump all photos into my MAC using the import wizard
with Lightroom. I then sort through them on a first pass to remove the obvious
bad ones. I go through a second round where I begin doing color and lighting
corrections. With Lightroom you can actually copy and paste these corrections
from one photo to the next which I do with similar photos. Then I go through a
third time being more selective and picking the best in the series that I want
to produce as final shots. I will start working on removing blemishes,
smoothing skin, brightening eyes, etc. Form this final list there will be some
that I wish to perform more in-depth work so I will import those into Photoshop
and make additional changes/improvements to.
Q. Do you make your own prints or do you outsource them?
A. I definitely outsource them. Rather than invest in the
equipment and toner for prints I invest in my shooting equipment. Besides there
are so many good printers available at a reasonable price.
Q. How often you update your equipment, and do you plan on
buying any new equipment?
A. I am always picking up something on a regular basis. I am
a junkie. Having said that I don't believe the equipment makes the
photographer. But better equipment can reduce your limitations.
Q. Do you belong to any photographic organizations?
A. Yes, I belong to NAPP, the National Association of
Professional Photographers.
Q. Do you have any personal photographic projects, and can
you briefly describe?
A. I am planning a photo excursion to the Dominican
Republic. The trip will include shooting locals, models, scenery and the life
there. I am planning the trip for May of this year and it is open to any
photographers that want to explore this great country with so much beauty.
Q. Anything you’re still learning?
A. I learn every day. I am constantly looking for new ways
to express my creativity and to capture the person or the scene in the optimum
way to create a work of art rather than a photo. I find myself getting lost in
studying light and angles when I am watching a movie. Any photograph that
catches my eye I study it to understand how they did it. I continuously take
online training courses and go to seminars to learn more. I feel if you stop
learning and growing then you dead end your creativity.
Q. Last subject, tell us a little about BSP West “Boston
Studio Photography West”?
A. BSP West is the sister studio to Boston Studio
Photography in Boston. Boston Studio Photography was opened in March 2010 by me
and Younes Jabir. BSP West opened one year ago in Clinton, MA. The idea behind
the studios is to offer a virtual private studio for photographers who require
studio space but don't want to carry the cost of maintaining their own. We are
a member-based co-op studio where members can use the studio as much as they
like 8 AM-10 PM 7 days / week. Members have their own keys and book their time
with an online calendar. They also have a secure storage area for their
equipment. Both studios have been very successful in building a great
membership base as well as being rented by non-members for short term shoots.
At BSP West we are in a circa 1800 mill building. The main studio space has two
600 sq ft shooting bays along with makeup and stylist stations and a dressing
room. In addition we have 5 additional themed rooms including a Victorian
Parlor, a powder room, a large, classic styled bedroom, an ultra-modern high
key room and a classically styled board room. We also have the run of the
building at BSP West so we have a 10,000 sq ft loft for edgier shots, a spiral
staircase and a full basement. The studio has 14 foot ceilings and 8 foot
windows with tons of natural light. It is a beautiful space and some have
joined as members simply for the themed rooms themselves.
It's always fun to meet with Paul. You will always feel that
you know him since the first day at school. When talking to Paul about
photography you can feel the confidence on his words. His eyes sparkles with
excitement, and his answers to any questions are supported with knowledge and
facts. I would like to invite all of you photographers to give him a visit at
BSP West. You can't imagine the place without seeing what Paul is describing.
BSP and BSP West are every photographer dream studio. Possibilities and creativities
are only limited by the time you willing to give. It's a world without boarder lines.
To see more of Paul's art and to contact him please visit
his website at http://www.paulgranesephoto.com/
Photographer Paul Granese
Thank you Paul
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