I think there is a lot of young talent in Miami that is going to change the business.
They are on the uprise and I can see great things in the future from these talented folk. The Industry in miami can not stay the same or it will die out. I was having this conversation with a good friend of mine in the business and we were talking about this and how the next generation in the industry is going to do more fashionable stuff with an edgy twist... instead of all this catalogue swimwear here in the MIA. Not that swim wear or catalogue will ever die out. Come on were talking about miami here, but maybe we can have a little more creativity involved. Im tired of seeing the same thing. I can already see it changing by the people that are starting to do castings down here ... such as Mirage, Nylon, and XLR8R magazine. Just the beginning.
8 comments:
NO, that's never going to happen.
It's not as if the miami industry started two years ago. The miami advertising/photography/modeling industry started back in the 80s and has bee the same since. It started for a reason, and that reason is what keeps it the same.
The reason why it will never change is because Miami is not a markte but rather a location. People come here for a certain specific reason and to get a certain specific look, therefore it will never change. Im sure it has had and will have some evolution, but it wont change from what it is. The clients that come here, come here for THAT Miami look, if they dont get that, then they wont come back, no reason to.
Do you think that the talent u know now, the guys u know who are photographers are not only the first but the best to ever come out of Miami? You would have to do some reaserch as to what photgraphers have come out of and thru to be able to compare. =)
Don't forget no photographer is bigger than the industry itself, the same way some guy is hot today, he could be totally cold out out of it in a month. And Miami is what it is... Won't change much.
Sure, there have always not just recently, but since I could remember been "edgy" magazines come down cast and shoot stories, but that will never change what Miami is good for and what Miami is all about. Also how many of those stories do u know of where they hire the photographer from Miami? ;)
Just like LA will never change their style and their "hollywood" thing.
Just look at how bad our selection of "fashion" magazines, is.. Our best fashion local magazine is ocean drive... that is a double cheeseburger... Have your talented friends the ones u feel will change the industry, submit a story to Ocean Drive, let's see if first they are good enough for it and second are not too edgy for them. And you will realize that u have to make it "miami" style to work. =)
You are not the first one that has ever felt that way, it has happen before... I myself wish we were a bit more paris-ish, ny-ish... but it will never happen.. I myself tried and went the "edgy" style, and got love from models and other photographers, but everyone wanted free cool fashion pics.. but the stuff that pays is the commercial catalog style.. and at least I am in this business to have fun and make a living, and not to be the cool broke kid with the NY style pics... because that does not pay here!
I hope all this made sense LOL LOL =P
I KNEW YOU would have a lot to say about this... knew it.
=)
Well, I know guys who have started here, guys who have over 15 yrs working and had the same ideas YOU have right now, and nothing ever changed.
I dont know if the people you talk to, have more than 5 yrs experience shooting here or dealing with it here, but Im sure if they did they would understand what I mean. =)
Sad, but true. More than having photographers with a different vision, what we need is big pockets to start fashion forward magazines who hire local guys.. If u were to have a GREAT local fashion magazine here, it would help change some of it.
But at the end, what moves this industry is money and the money in miami cuz of our weather and art deco is catalog and swim. =)
I guess u didnt like my view =P
I don't pretend to understand "the industry," but I do know talent when I see it, and it's a shame that Miami's photographers, designers, and other creative people don't get more respect outside of south Florida.
Having said that, though, I don't see the popular perception of Miami's so-called fashion scene changing anytime soon. The editorial offices of the most influential fashion magazines are in New York, Paris, and London, and they dictate the prevailing visual trends to the rest of us from their distant corporate castles.
They never took south Florida seriously, even back in the 80s. Sure, everyone came here to play after Bruce Weber shot the Calvin Klein "Obsession" campaign at the Breakwater, but they always went back north at the end of each season.
They loved Miami Beach for its wide, white beaches, for its quaint architecture, for its beautiful skies, and for its drugs. They weren't interested in south Florida's provincial notions about fashion or photography.
Like Dax said, Miami has always been just a location to them.
Will that ever change? Although the the traditional fashion hierarchy is being increasingly influenced by what happens online, probably not.
But isn't it pretty to think so?
"I think it's pretty to think so" . =) If no one believes it will ever change, it WILL NEVER happen. You have already committed to accepting what is "okay", placed yourself with the "norm" and set yourself for failure.
And yes the norm pays, (if thats what you want), but the norm doesn't make many marks in the change of what the industry is to become in Miami or any part of the world.
Artists are always told to go where everyone else is not headed. Separate yourself and build an identity for yourself. Set a new standard or just set yourself apart from the rest. You might be the odd ball, and you might never be accepted, but just like anything in this industry, "it's who you know" and when it happens (one day God willing), there is no turning back. Just as we all know, you can be the most untalented photographer/artist and still be the most successful (monetary/business wise). But in the eyes of other artists, what does that mean? If money is your main goal and end to happiness, then do what it whatever it takes. If setting yourself apart and making a change is more meaningful to you as an artist, then do whatever it takes. Cause even if you change the mind's and heart's of only a few, in an audience of millions in the fashion industry, then have you not succeeded? Who are we trying to please anyhow? Better yet, who is your target audience? Change doesn't always happen overnight (though we would want it to). And sometimes it doesn't happen in a lifetime. But what we all need to do is continue to start a movement. Continue to goal set and NEVER stop believing. We will never know who the next Miami Magazine, photographer, or celebrity might be, that would change the face of the industry for Miami. And as long as there is talent in Miami, and as long as they dream BIG, It's just a question of when.
I am a realist, but I also believe in miracles, and one thing I know is, nothing is impossible.
So..... Miami ever change? IT'S POSSIBLE.
"If no one believes it will ever change, it WILL NEVER happen."
I agree.
"You have already committed to accepting what is 'okay', placed yourself with the 'norm' and set yourself for failure."
I disagree.
I don't expect the traditional fashion hierarchy to change. I don't expect that the people who work in those far away editorial offices will ever fully appreciate Miami.
That doesn't mean that I am "accepting what is okay," or setting myself up for failure. It means that I don't expect them to change, or to embrace anything truly different, so I shouldn't depend on their approval for my happiness (or income, if that's part of the equation). I only accept it in the sense that I recognize how narrow-minded most magazines are, and I've come to the conclusion that submitting avant garde editorials to Conde Nast publications is a waste of everyone's time and energy. I accept it in the same way that I accept gravity.
It does NOT mean that I'm not trying to find a way around it.
Like I said before, the traditional fashion hierarchy is being increasingly influenced by what happens online. Blogs like Skinny Intern are changing the way we see art, style, and the fashion industry. Independent voices and visions threaten many fashion magazine editors, because they can't control them, and because they can't use them to increase circulation or advertising revenues. Sites like LookBook, in particular, are subverting the dominant paradigm to a delightful degree, much to the dismay of Anna Wintour and her crowd (at least the folks at Nylon have enough sense to try to co-opt net-fashion via MySpace - but that's another rant altogether). If the fashion industry's perception of south Florida changes, it will be because of what people choose to see and read online, not what they get fed by established dead tree media.
"But what we all need to do is continue to start a movement."
Again, I agree.
But I don't think that we should hold our collective breath waiting for people in distant magazine offices to change their opinions of Miami. We should do what we love, and do it well. If change comes to 4 Times Square, fine. If not, at least we're happy with what we're doing.
at the end...it's all about personal satisfaction. Like you said John, If your happy doing what your doing, then what else do you need in life. Money? Wealth? Well, thats always a plus =)
Change will come when we least expect it. But yes, don't wait for it. Keep doing what your doing cause I sure as hell am not going to sit around waiting for that miracle to happen. Shoot!!!! If anything, I'm guilty for waiting at times such as now. I am a photographer and I should be spending my time networking and most importantly SHOOTING right now, rather than fill my day with hours and hours in front of the computer in facebook and text/chats. Little will happen in my career if I spend more time online and less time out there shooting editorials/ and networking. Nor will I ever get better at my craft as a photographer and have the tools and talent needed to create that CHANGE for the future of fashion and most importantly satisfy my needs as an upcoming photographer in this industry.
As the saying goes, DO WHAT YOU LOVE AND YOU'LL NEVER WORK A SINGLE DAY IN YOUR LIFE. As noted in this particular entry and many entries alike, it's all about the love of the art. We all love what we do and am passionate about it.
That's all that matters.
Miami has wonderful light, it is a great location, and there are some hard working agents, creative types, and some good people that have emerged in that market. Many of the problems stem from the fact that it is a location. Even serious fashion clients come there with a bit of a flip flop mentality to shoot location and colors. It is what is offered there with great beaches; however, it is totally possible to shoot so many scenarios there that do not look like Florida. Greg Lotus has been and industry leader shooting Italian Vogue there with situations that do not scream Miami. It can be done with knowledge of the area and Florida. The other problem is that Florida has NO FASHION. It is impossible for the creative people there to resource good cutting edge current clothing for the upcoming shoots. The stylists have to get the clothes out of NY or be NY based to put it together and fly down. Many of the Miami based talent are catalog stylists trying to get editorial for there books stuck using stores in Palm Beach, Bal Harbor, or Aventura Mall with clothes that will already be outdated by the time the magazines come out. There are severe challenges but I think everyone she fight for the market that is involved in it and aspire to push for better. It can be a very good resource for high end commercial talent if everyone does not give in to the cheeseball factor that easily.
Post a Comment