We recently connected with Andreas Ortner and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Andreas, thanks for joining us today. Do you think folks should manage their own social media or hire a professional? What do you do?
Ill manage my website and all social media channels myself and keep it very personal.
Andreas, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
WELL HERE WE GO, MY NAME IS ANDREAS ORTNER AND I WOULD SAY THAT I AM ONE OF THE MOST BOOKED FASHION AND BEAUTY PHOTOGRAPHERS IN THE INDUSTRY. I WAS 30 AND WAS AT A PONT WHERE I WASNT SURE IN WICH DIRECTION I SHOULD GO IN MY LIFE. I WAS ALWAYS IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY, ACTUALLY SINCE IM 16. YEARS OLD. BUT AT THE TIME I TURNED 30 AND LIVED IN NEW YORK FOR MODELLING I CAME TO A POINT WHERE I KNEW I NEEDED A CHANGE..
I HAVE ALWAYS LIKED ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY AND I JUST WENT TO A FLEW MARCET IN BROOKLY TO BUY MY FIRST ANALOGUE CAMERA. I STARTED REALLY LIKING IT AND GOT DEEPER INTO IT, LEARNED EVERYTHING MYSELF AND READ ALL BOOKS ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY. I STARTED ALSO ASSISTING THE BEST PHOTOGRAFPHERS THERE THAT I KNOEW FROM MODELLING.
I SOON REALISED ITS NOT EASY TO GET CLIENTS AND WORK IN THIS INDUSTRY. IT TOOK ME ABOUT 10 YEARS FORM THEN WITH LOTS OF HARD WORK, DEDICATION AND PATIENCE TO FINALLY MEET THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND GAIN THEIR TRUST. WHEN I GOT BOOKED MY FIRST VOGUE COVERSHOOT ALMOST 10 YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY I KNEW THIS IS THE POINT WHERE I COULD BUILD A NAME IN THE INDUSTRY FOR MYSELF. NOT TO FORGET THERE A THOUSENDS OF AMAZING TALLENTED WONDERFUL ARTISTS OUT THERE SO TO DELIVER BEAUTIFUL PICTURES IS NOT ENOUGH.
I REALISED THAT IT TAKES MORE THAN THAT AND STARTED TO BUILD A STRONG TEAM AROUND ME. I WORK WITH THE BEST RETOUCHERS, LIGHTASSISTANTS AND THE STORNGEST TEAMS IN THE INDUSTRY TO DL
ELIVER THE BEST AND MOST RELAIBLE SERVICE IN THE INDUSTRY THERE IS. TRYING TO COME UP WITH NEW IDEAS AND KEEP UP WITH TRENDS IS A FULL TIME JOB AND IS A BIG PART OF THIS JOB.
IN THE MEANTIME I HAVE SHOT MANY VOGUE COVERS AND EDITORIALS, LOTS OF COVERS FOR HARPERS BAZAAR, ELLE AND MANY OTHER TOP MAGAZINES WITH TOP MODELS FORM ALL OVER THE PLANET.
CLIENTS LIKE DIOR, CHOPARD, YSL BEAUTY, SWAROVSKY, AIGNER, ARMANI BEAUTY, FENDI, SWAROVSKI AND MANY MORE ARE ON MY CLIENTS LIST.
WHAT ALSO MAKES ME REALLY PROUD AND STAND OUT IN THE INDUSTRY IS THAT I KEEP 99% OF MY CLIENTS FOR MORE THAN 10 SEASONS.
TO STAY PROFESSIONAL AND KEEP THE CLIENTS I BELIEVE THAT A HUGE ASPECT IS TO STAY LOYAL AND NOT MAKE IT ABOUT THE BUDGET BUT THE PASSION FIRST. GIVE IT ALWAYS A 120% AND NEVER LET THE CLIENT LEAVE THE SET NOT BEEING SATTISFIED.
MAKE ALWAYS SURE THAT THE ATMOSPHERE ON SET IS GREAT, TREAT EVERYONE IN THE TEAM WITH RESPECT AND MOST IMPORTANT DONT HAVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS ANYONE.
I AM SUPER PROUD TO HAVE REACHED A STATUS IN THE INDUSTRY WHERE TOP CLIENTS FORM ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH ME. NOT ONLY BECAUSE THEY LIKE MY WORK BUT BECAUSE I BUILD A REPUTATION OF BEING PROFESSIONAL, CREATIVE AND ALWAYS GO THE EXTRA MILE TO REACH AN EXTRAORDINARY OUTCOME FOR THE CLIENTS..
ALSO I AM BRINGING OUT MY PERSONAL COFFETABLE BOOK TOGETHER WITH THE COPENHAGEN ART GALLERY WIHC IS PUPLISHED VERY SOON.
VISIONS OF A DECADE by Andreas Ortner
BEEING A FATHER AND A HUSBAND FOR 10 YEARS AND STILL MANAGE TO HAVE A INTERNATIONAL CARRIER HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CHALLENGE BUT MANAGEABLE.
ALSO HAVING STILL THE FIRE, THE PASSION AND THE WILL TO ALWAYS CREATE SOMETHING NEW AND EXITING AFTER SO MANY YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY MAKES ME STAND OUT I BELIVE.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
THE MISSION AND GOAL FOR MY CREATIVE STORY AND PROCESS HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO CREATE SOMETHING WITH A STORY BEHIND. I WANNA SHOW PICTURES THAT HAVE A MEANING, A SOUL AND SHOW THE PERSONALLITY OF THE PERSON IM WORKING WITH. FOR ME IT HAS NEVER BEEN ENOUGH TO JUST HAVE A PRETTY FACE ON SET. BEAUTY HAS NEVER BEEN DEFINED WITH PERFECTION TO ME BUT WITH UNPERFECTION AND ATTITUDE. I ALWAYS WANT TO GET TO KNOW THE PERSON IM WORKING WITH BEFORE I START TO TAKE PICTURES.
CREATING IMAGES THAT MAKE YOU DREAM AND LET YOU DIVE DEEPER INTO THE STORY JUST WITH YOUR IMAGINATION IS A PERFECT RESULT FOR ME.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
SOCIAL MEDIA IS THE BUSINESS CARD OF YOUR BUSINESS THESE DAYS. FROM THE BEGINNING OF MY SOCIAL MEDIA PRECENSE IVE BEEN NOTHING BUT AUTHENTIC. I TAKE THE AUDIENCE WITH ME TO MY WORK, TO MY CREATIVE PROCESS AND GIVE THEM BACKGROUND INFOS THAT THEY USUALLY CANT GET ANYWHERE ELSE. I KEEP IT VERY PROFESSIONAL WITH ONLY A TINY BIT OF PRIVAT AND PERSONAL INFO.
ALSO I REFUSE TO GET PAYED PARTNERSHIPS ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AND MAKE IT ONLY ABOUT MY WORK AND MYSELF.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreasortnerstudio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andreasortnerstudio/
- Linkedin: https://de.linkedin.com/in/andreas-ortner-8227a4130
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlYaurm76wA
Image Credits
Jana Kapounova, Elke Dostal, Jan Kralicek Pia Knoll