We’re wrapping up our four-part series with award-winning photographer Stewart Cohen and Workbook Regional representative Mary Preussel on this episode of Workbook Radio.
In this fourth and final installment, Stewart gives a little industry advice, his take on industry trends, and what’s in store for SC Pictures in 2019.
MP: “So I’m looking at question that I know you already answered. It was ‘the best industry advice you ever received?’ Sounds to me like it was spend 10 percent of what you make. What is the best industry advice that you can give?”
SC: “If you’re going to commit to being in this business, it’s all or nothing. I don’t think it’s a 9 to 5 job. And you gotta love it. I mean industry advice is: don’t quit, keep working through barriers, and make friends because the thing I’ve learned…that’s the one thing I’ve learned is don’t be a dick. Because that comes back.”
MP: “Right. Don’t burn any bridges.”
SC: “Don’t burn any bridges.”
MP: “And you’re not. That’s the great part I’m sure [for] anybody working with you. I remember [years ago] some of the larger-than-life photographers who would just stare, just point at you, the creative, and say, ‘You, get off set now.’”
SC: “Yeah, see that’s never been my way. I always figure some of my best friends are people I work [with]. I mean, I meet my friends on set.”
MP: “Right.”
SC: “Yeah, so that’s not my way.”
MP: “And I think that abuse is no longer a part of our community anymore. I think that was at a time where, you know, the photographer had more power. I think it’s more of a collaboration these days. What do you think?”
SC: “Well in my book it’s always been a collaboration, so I don’t, I can’t speak to that. I mean, that’s what I like about the big groups and big sets and big productions; it’s a group thing. And one of the things I brought to stills early on, coming from live action, is I’ve never been afraid to hire the best people in any area to bring something else to the project. And it is a group thing. And I think the one thing that I see looking back that held photographers back is they felt they had to be the only person that had a say, and I really don’t feel that way. I mean, I really feel like if you have a great stylist, if you have a great set designer, you know… Even if you hire a separate lighting guy, you hire the best people so that they help you look good.”
MP: “Right, they’re giving contributions, and you’re accepting and encouraging those.”
SC: “Right. Yeah.”
MP: “That’s fantastic. Well that’s another reason why you’re the Mister Man. So, I still see you today after being quite a few years of being in business. I still see you at award shows. I still see you at the cocktail parties. I mean, you are non-stop. You’re always out there.”
SC: “Well it’s because I enjoy it. I enjoy the industry; I enjoy the people. I always like to see what’s going on. And I’m always out. That’s really where I get my inspiration for everything we do is to see what’s actually happening in the world. So you gotta be out and you gotta be looking.”
MP: “Mmm,hmm.”
SC: “I mean shows are a good thing. Traveling, I travel a lot. Airports, you know, you see what, you look at the backpacks people are carrying or the clothes they’re wearing. Most of them aren’t very good, but…”
MP: “Right. The streets of New York City, what’s hip.”
SC: “Yeah but streets of New York, I don’t think that jives with the rest of the world. You know? You could go to the streets of New York or the streets of London. Streets of New York are still different from London, and that’s different from, you know, Los Angeles and anywhere.
“You know, I’ve seen a lot of trends come and go and it’s great. It’s exciting. I think it’s an interesting time too. I think every time is an interesting time. I was just looking at some work yesterday, and I’ve never really been one to follow trends? Like big crazy trends, you know? Which is good because when you’re looking at some older work, I was trying to pull some older pictures for something, and I saw stuff where I kind of went down the trendy road. And the stuff’s useless today. I mean, just good solid work can stand the test of time. But if you start to use gimmicks and tricks and weird lenses because it’s hip that day…granted, you should use them for the three weeks that they’re hip. But then you gotta move on.”
MP: “Interesting point. What do you think the industry trends are now?”
SC: “I don’t know…A lot of fake flare, still. And it still works but when it’s fake it’s really bad.”
MP: “I’ve been seeing gels come back lately?”
SC: “Yeah, yeah! The little…that’s nice stuff! You know, it looks good, and it looks super cool and super contemporary, and in five years it’s gonna look super dated.”
MP: “Yeah.”
SC: “But that’s not to say that you shouldn’t do it today. But you can’t build your career…you can build your career on it, but you gotta be able to jump when the industry decides that [trend] is over.”
MP: “Right.”
SC: “And you gotta be able to just take it all out of your work [overnight]. You need to continue to reinvent yourself in that way.”
MP: “Okay, so where do you see you going? What do you see in your future? What do you see the future in the industry?”
SC: “Well I have no idea of the future in the industry. I think we are…I mean [SC Pictures has] a new book coming out next month. It’s called Seeing Red. It’s about the potential extinction of redheads. Should be fun.
“I also, we just launched our first Zine series. They’re images [in which] I’m having guest creatives design each issue.”
MP: “Oh, nice.”
SC: “And that should be two or three times a year. And I’d like to do that going forward. It’s all pictures taken at off hours. Because I usually always have a camera with me. So, stuff like that.”
MP: “Very cool. And those are personal projects but those are also part of your marketing.”
SC: “Yeah, but there’s no difference in my world between personal and marketing. I think the last [project] of my career, whenever that comes, will be, we’ve been working on a…I’m not supposed to say it!”
Laughing.
SC: “I didn’t want to say it!”
Stewart’s social coordinator talks about mentioning his landing page instead.
SC: “So for the Zine, if you wanna go check it out. It’s [at] sc.pictures/peek. The one out now is Volume 1.”
MP: “Right. May I have a copy, please?”
SC: “You may.”
MP: “Thank you very much. I can’t wait! You’re stuff is always so much fun. Thank you so much, Stewart. I admire you, and I just consider you a dear friend, and I just hope the best of success for you!”
SC: “Thank you, Mary Preussel!”
Listen below for the full episode!
See Stewart’s work here.
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