Client(less): From Personal Projects to Paying Commissions

Personal projects have long been a way to both satisfy our creative impulses and move towards getting the kinds of paid work we want. However, finding, executing, and promoting a project that fulfills us personally while also helping our business can be a challenge.

At this event, APA|DC Director Matthew Rakola will share lessons learned from his own multi-year effort, The Learn Project, as well as a current one, Picture Wheaton. There will be a strong emphasis on strategic thinking and envisioning the project objectively.

Topics will include:

• Finding a topic that fits your brand and fulfills a need.

• Defining the project: who, what, when, where, how and especially why.

• Determining goals, scope, and deliverables.

• Getting started, tweaking, and maintaining the project.

• Logistical issues including financing, time and project management, releases, and ethical/legal concerns. 

• How to talk about, pitch and promote your project to multiple audiences. 

• Deciding when to put the project to bed.

We’ll also meet another photographer, Hannele Lahti, who will discuss her own project, and see case studies from Todd Wright and Clark Vandergrift.

Seating is limited so RSVP now!

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Matthew Rakola is the Director and also past chair of the DC Chapter of APA. He has been shooting professionally for over 18 years. His first major personal series, The Learn Project, followed adults learning to do interesting things. Images from the project have lead to dozens of assignments including magazine covers, commercial and advertising work, and photographing several books. He hopes his current project, Picture Wheaton, strikes gold again.