BF Stop 2

If you haven’t met Ben Edwards yet… you’re in for a little treat. Luckily, for us… he’s right down the street and we get to see his sweet face often over coffee, lunch or the occasional social get-together. The guy gives the BEST hugs and is a freaking rock star and you’re about to see why.

I cannot watch this without tearing up. Every. Time.  Maybe it’s because this is EXACTLY who he is, all the time. Meet our amazing friend, Ben.

WhoWeAre

from Benjamin Edwards on Vimeo.

Check out Ben’s new site with BIG Folio, freshly launched into the universe just last week! Awesome job Ben!

What inspires you as an artist/photographer?

Faith, fog, caffeine, my wife and collaboration.

What a typical work day like for you?

Kiss Lauren and Poet  goodbye, take the big kid to first grade, hit the studio around 9am, grab the email shovel, do some post production, errands shoots, pick up the big kid, repeat as needed.

What’s one thing you will always splurge on?
If I’m selfish mode, a latte.  If I’m in selfless mode, my wife.  One is better than the other.

If not a photographer, you would have considered being?

Maybe move to Africa with the family?  Wow.  I guess I currently don’t have a backup profession or professional desire.

What the strongest and weakest part of your business?

Strengths:  Giving, not being too booked that I can’t listen to my calling and travel for Non-profits who need quality storytelling, surrounding myself with some of the most talented people on Earth, being “us,” not “them.”
Weaknesses: Organization skills, nun-chuck skills, not properly evaluating my weaknesses skills….

What’s in your camera bag?
A whole lot of Nikon and preparation H.  I know what you’re thinking, but it does wonders for the little bags under peoples eyes…Sucks them right up.

What your best advice for an up & coming photographer?
#1 Be you.  You were created to be nothing other than yourself.  Anyone can purchase a digital camera and Lightroom presets, what sets you a part from your competition, the one thing you can give your clients that no one else on the planet can give them, is you.
#2 Find a mentor to not only help you with the artistic side of photography but the business side.  Over the years we seemed to have misplaced the desire to either be mentored, or to mentor.  This has already created issues in the industry.  We must teach, we must learn, always.
#3 Collaboration.  I’m currently working on a project with my dear friend Kevin Kubota (another BF fan!) and the quality of work we’ve enjoyed, not to mention rediscovering the joy of “playing” with photography has been invaluable.  It’s priceless to share value with a friend.
#4 Don’t forget to play.  Take time to conceptualize, if your concept fails or you nail it, take more time and play—it hasn’t all been done yet, the earth is still spinning.

What’s your most successful marketing concept?
Two major concepts that go hand in hand… #1 Word of mouth:  Be genuine, be true and people will respect you.  #2 The 2knees approach.  I get on my two knees and I ask, “what next Lord?”

List 3 blogs you frequent and are inspired by?
To be honest, I don’t frequent other blogs for a couple of reasons:  #1, I use my fun time during the day either on FB or running errands (fun!) and #2 while I think there’s a lot we can learn from each other, I find my self to easily consumed with comparison when I view others work.  When I’m consumed by comparison, I’m consumed by resistance, when consumed by resistance I have no forward motion.
What’s your most favorite product in the industry?
Just one???   The camera.  Without it we’d be hosed.
If I can sneak in a few more:  Lightroom, Kubota Image Tools, Lensbaby (a must for getting out of a visual rut) also, my Big Folio website.  I can’t tell you amazing the customer service has been throughout the process of getting this site live.  Example, I had a simple question but couldn’t find the answer myself, so I submitted a support ticket.  Knowing it was late at night and not crucial, I specifically asked that it not be answered that night.  Sure enough within 10 minutes Jeff responded with the answer. That kind of service is a rarity and I’ve only seen it through the other companies I’ve listed here.  There may be others out there, if there are, support them as they support you.

What’s playing on your iPod currently?
Switchfoot, Mumford & Sons, Cindi Lauper (my seven year old)

Five goals for 2011?
#1 Don’t get consumed by the world, be who I’m supposed to be, me.
#2 Collaborate
#3 Organization
#4 Love more
#5 Try to get my better three quarters to New Zealand for our 10th anniversary.

“I love BF.”