We were lucky to catch up with Scott McGregor recently and have shared our conversation below.

Scott, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

Learning photography can be lot more complicated and layered than some would think. There can sometimes be the impression that photography is just buying a camera, pointing it at something, and pressing the button. On the contrary, the act of getting nice images consistently, involves a lot of components. There is an academic aspect to photography in that there are actually rules/principles/elements that can play a role in getting to that final image. This can include composition rules like “rule of thirds”, “leading lines”, etc., and other aspects, such as lightning and post-image processing (editing). There is a technical aspect as well, in that understanding what a camera can do and how it actually works can prove to be very useful knowledge in this space. This knowledge allows you to be able to adjust to various scenarios and consistently produce desired results. In addition to the academic and technical aspects, there is there is the most popular aspect, the artistic aspect. This is where the quality of the work is really only measured by personal aesthetic or what looks good to the viewer. All of these things play together and can have varying levels of importance depending on who you are and what your objective may be.

When I sought out to learn this space, I had no idea what I didn’t know. I knew it was going to be complicated, but I wasn’t aware of all the nuances and the rabbit holes I would find myself in trying to learn. The number one way I learned was experimentation. I would say that I really advanced with trial and error (heavy on the error). My fundamental knowledge was introduced during a week-long basic course that was gifted to me from my wife. From that point on, I spent endless hours on YouTube trying to learn everything I could. I would watch videos, then subsequentially go try out what I had seen. I repeated this for months before I started getting more comfortable with some of the things I was learning. Over time, certain things got easier, more natural, and eventually became second nature.

Knowing what I know now, I believe that I could have sped up the learning process by shooting even more. While I do believe that I picked up certain things fairly quickly, there was often times where I would get frustrated when I couldn’t execute various techniques. This would also cause self-doubt on whether or not I would be able to get there. These things would result in me not being as focused and engaged as I could have been.

The most essential skills to me have been understanding lighting and understanding how to edit images. Those two things have helped me develop my own style as well as produce consistent work that I have been proud of.

Because there is so much free learning material on platforms like YouTube and Instagram, I think the only obstacles that may have stood in the way are confidence and time. Confidence to not let the frustration get to me, knowing that I will eventually be able to figure out whatever it was that I was aiming for. Time in that there are only so many hours in the day, and I couldn’t just lock myself in the house and watch YouTube all day (life was still moving).

One of the best parts about photography is that there is ALWAYS something to learn. It doesn’t matter how long you have been doing it, you can always learn something new. I believe that this mindset is what allows people to become very good and successful in the space. I know that there are some aspects of photography that I am barely scraping the surface of. So. I look forward to continuing to learn and grow!

Scott, 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?

I am a published photographer/videographer specializing in portrait and event work. I started my business, Vision 6 Productions, as a means to express my creativity, while helping to capture people in the best way possible and to preserve memories for a lifetime. I have always considered myself to be a “creative”. Earlier in my life, I started in the space doing drawing, painting, and graphic design. My interest in photography really felt like a natural progression.

At Vision 6 Productions, we provide most photography sessions (portraits, weddings, events, families, etc.). We also are rolling out videography services like highlight videos and social media compositions.

What sets me a part is that I approach each session with a level of care and consideration that I would want someone to provide for me or my family. I want people to say “wow” when looking at my images. With me, you know that you will have someone that will take time and consideration with what they are producing. I care that people are happy with their images, as opposed to someone that is all about compensation. At the end of the day, I treat my clients like people and do my best to provide the best product I can.

I am most proud that I kept on pushing when self -doubt reared its ugly head in my earlier day. My photography journey has surpassed anything I could have expected. My work has been displayed in various publications. I have been contracted and flown to numerous cities across the US to shoot at large-scale events like concerts, red carpets, and festivals. I have shot more individual and family sessions than I can count. More importantly, I have been able to preserve memories for people and, subsequentially, make a lasting impact. I am grateful for each and every experience and I don’t take any of it for granted!

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

For me, “word of mouth” has been EVERYTHING! I have learned that by treating your clients well often results in them sharing their images with others and referring me to those in their circles. This alone has allowed me to have a steady workstream. If I could add something to this, it would be social media. Sharing image and videos online has helped me tap into clients that otherwise would not have gotten a chance to see my work.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding thing is that I get to preserve memories for people. This essentially allows me to leave an impact in the lives of my clients. Whether it’s taking someone’s wedding portraits or capturing someone’s large scale event, I am able to use my own creativity (my eye, my style, my skills) to produce images or video that highlights an important life moment. One of the best feelings hearing about or seeing someone brag about images that I was able to capture for them!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.vision6productions.com
• Instagram: @vision6productions
• Facebook: Vision 6 Productions

Image Credits
Vision 6 Productions