We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful David Verschueren. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with David below.
David, appreciate you joining us today. So, let’s start with trends – what are some of the largest or more impactful trends you are seeing in the industry?
One of the biggest trends I’m seeing lately with photography is the use of AI. Although it’s been around for a while, I’ve just recently began using it myself with Photoshop and Topaz to help reduce noise in high-ISO images or remove a distraction in the background of a photo. I’ve also used it to help enlarge a sunset photo for a 4 ft. x 8 ft. print without losing any resolution from the original image.
I think the use of AI is only going to increase, and the technology will just continue to improve. I know some are concerned about AI taking over true creativity. I can see that side of the argument, because you can use a program and literally just type what you want, and AI will produce an image. I think that’s where it can cross the line and take away from someone that took the time to stage a photo or physically travel to a location to get the shot.
I can also see the other side, where it will help streamline editing. For example, photographers that regularly do composite images can benefit greatly by using AI. Or as I mentioned above, reduction in noise and/or sharpening prints without losing quality. Photo manipulation has always been around, even before the digital age. AI is just making it easier and faster. If it’s used as a tool to assist, and not replace, creativity, I look forward to seeing future developments in AI technology.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Photography has been a major part of my life in the last decade. I don’t know if I ever want it to become my full-time job, because right now I use it as my creative outlet. It’s a nice income boost occasionally, and I like helping others capture their moments, but I don’t want it to ever become another “job.” My daily job is in Information Technology.
About 10 years ago, I was Technology Director for our local school district. Not only was I in charge of the network and computers, etc., but I also managed the district web site and social media. Actually, I created the school’s first ever social media account on Facebook. One day I had the idea to take photographs during sporting events and post the pictures on the school’s Facebook page to help get it going, and it took off like a rocket! The kids were excited to see pics of themselves, and the parents loved it. It was a great way for out-of-town relatives of the kids to get to see the “highlights”, so to speak. From there I started taking pictures of just about every event, sporting and academic, and the school would even allow me to travel for regional or state competitions to capture those moments.
One year, we had a senior class that was smaller than usual. Because of this, the slideshow they present every year at graduation was going to be rather short, so they came up with an idea, and asked me for my help. They wanted to do “personality” pictures to add to the presentation. These would be different from their regular senior pics, in that they would showcase each person’s individual favorite sport, hobby, etc. After hearing the ideas, and a lot of YouTube and Google on photography techniques, I agreed to give it a shot. I even got the school to buy a green screen and some studio lights. This would be the project that ignited my interest in photography. I must have done well, because it was also the project that got people asking me to take senior photos the following year, and it only grew from there.
Fast forward through the years and I began to browse other genres of photography. Here in southeastern New Mexico, we have the most amazing sunsets, so one of the first things I tried was to capture different foregrounds as silhouettes against the sky. Then, as I would travel for work or vacation, I would look up techniques for landscape and urban photography. Living in a remote area, away from large cities, we have a pretty good view of the stars, so I began exploring astrophotography, light painting, and fire spinning. While I’m not a master of any of these techniques by any means, I enjoy the challenge of learning what settings and techniques need to be used to accomplish the end goal and get that final image.
While I’ve sold prints here and there of landscapes, sunsets, stars, or even water droplets, most of my current services remain in family and senior pictures. I also get hired for some events, like small weddings or quinceañeras. One service I’ve recently started offering is aerial photography. I’ve just recently obtained my FAA certification as a remote pilot, so I’ve been practicing and securing more work using my drones in addition to my regular still photography.
How did you build your audience on social media?
Honestly, all my audience has come from word of mouth. After my first year of senior and family sessions, I thought it would be better to direct current and future clients to a dedicated photography page rather than my personal one. As I feature a sneak peek from a session, the client shares it, and then their family shares it, and that gets my work in front of more people than anything. This will often lead to future appointments.
I always try to do one sneak peek photo the day of the session. As I’m taking the pictures, I look for that one photo that I know isn’t going to need to be edited very much if at all. This gives the client some immediate fulfillment and makes them look forward to more. Then, after a day or two, I’ll share 2-3 more photos from that session. This keeps the traffic coming back to my page. Once the full session is uploaded, the client is free to share on their social media as they please, getting my name out to even more people. I also use this platform for all of my other photography as well, so sometimes I’ll get a random order for a sunset or landscape just because they’ve been following me since I took a relative’s picture months earlier.
Having a web site for private photo albums helps tremendously as well. This way clients can look through my final edits, and once approved I can make them available for download or open up a print package they can order from, where the prints are sent directly to the customer. This feature is especially useful for out-of-town clients, since I’ve sometimes traveled several hours for a photo session.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Professionally, the most rewarding aspect has come recently in the form of a large volume of print orders. Our local medical clinic has opened a wellness center with a dentist, chiropractor, physical therapy, and pharmacy, and chose my photography to decorate the walls throughout the entire building because they wanted to feature someone local. It’s been a very humbling experience, and I feel very honored to have been asked.
Personally, I always enjoy it when someone sees one of my photos and asks me the story behind the image. Whether it’s just wondering where it is or asking “how” I captured it. Sometimes someone will catch a glimpse of my iPhone wallpaper and ask me where I got it from. I get to reply that it’s my own photo that I took, and I get to tell the story. My air show photos are always popular with veterans, and so I get to hear their stories as well.
Photography is also ever evolving. I have a few things I’ve never tried before that I am getting prepared for, such as the solar eclipses coming up this year and next. There are also a few things that I want to go back to and try again because I’ve learned or heard about new techniques. Having a vision in my head and challenging myself to be able to make it tangible for others to enjoy keeps it fun.
Contact Info:
- Website: dv.photos
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidverschuerenphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavidVerschuerenPhotography
Image Credits
David Verschueren