We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jeffrey Sklan. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jeffrey below.
Jeffrey, appreciate you joining us today. Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think you parents did right?
My parents had amazing and thoroughly consistent work ethics. They always showed up, their word was good, and they never made excuses. My mother and father treated people working for or with them with respect and encouraged everyone to soar. While they had different skill sets, each approached their work with creativity and enthusiasm.
Seeing this set the tone and foundation for my own approach to things: never half-assed, always all-in.
Whatever one’s work or creative venue, discipline and the unrelenting desire to improve own’s abilities always pays dividends.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I am a fine art and commercial photographer. My portfolio and experience is a rich and varied palette. At this point in the journey – and for sure it has been a journey – I have the absolute luxury of being able to do what I want. People hire me for very personal portraits of themselves and their loved ones. Whether in my studio or their own environment, each shoot is as different as the individuals who are trusting me to create an image that really reflects their essence. Some require much planning and logistics, others are seemingly spontaneous and of- the -moment. But all are great.
Recently, I completed a very personal project entitled, ” A Case of You”. It consists of 24 portraits. Each was inspired by a song near and dear to my heart. I hope to debut it here (Los Angeles) in early 2024. Most of the sitters and makeup artists / assistants are people with whom I had worked before. Each subject brought something special to their session and thoroughly bought in to the concept.
There was a collaborative and very organic flow to the hugely fun shoots. Which highlights a critical point: always surround yourself with good and enthusiastic people. And give them the space to refine and add value to your basic idea. And then be magnanimous: give credit where credit is due !
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
This is a very practical and important question. Many artists whom I know – and this numbers in the thousands – freeze up when dealing with the mundane but very necessary aspects of ” handling their business”. Personally, I moved to Los Angeles after high school with $57 and no contacts. Every step along the way, was done incrementally, starting with my education. There has never been a time when I did not have a “day job”. I painted houses ( interiors, preferably !), learned to do wallpaper, was a parking valet, eventually worked for a bank, etc. At each juncture, I was glad to do so.
Bukowski worked at the Post Office. It served his purpose. If the work is legitimate, it is not beneath you. The starving artist is someone who needs to get their house in order first and then be patient with their output and mastery of skills. It might take longer – decades longer perhaps- but the result will be that much sweeter. We are growing pistachio trees, not zinnias. Take the long view. Be confident.
For me, one thing led to another. I always bought used gear, and mastered the limits of each piece. I budgeted for capital purchases. I traded services. If I didn’t have the cash, then I went without and made due with what I had. Gratefully. If I had a paying job, I budgeted in a line item for renting things that might be needed. Photography remains an expensive proposition. If you do not treat the commercial side of your practice as a business, neither will your prospective clients.
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
Existing clients. Bar none, the most cost-effective marketing tool is a happy consumer of your products referring someone else. I love getting a call that starts like this: ” I was at X’s house the other day and saw your work ” … it doesn’t matter if it was one of my abstract botanicals or a beautifully intimate portrait – they have seen my art in situ. It speaks for itself.
Beauty needs no interpreter.
The second best source has been public shows. People need to kick the tires. And it helps me get over my intrinsic shyness to engage with people who want to discuss an existing image or their idea for a portrait or other custom installation.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jeffreysklanphotography.com
- Instagram: @jeffreysklan
- Facebook: jeffrey sklan
- Youtube: jeffrey sklan
Image Credits
Jeffrey Sklan