In an effort to reach the African-American & Hispanic markets, Harley-Davidson & LA Grant Communications sponsored a three-day press trip for members of the international press (myself included). These are some of the highlights.

Photography is competitive. It’s an art, and like all creative industries, someone else always has a better idea or images to show off. Still, that isn’t to say that you cannot prepare yourself to become a more intersting prospect to employers. A college degree will help open doors, but for a photographer, it’s more about how skillful you can be with the tools and creativity you have.

Some individuals might take online schooling to give them an edge; others decide on building their skills by snapping pictures of random objects. No matter if you choose schooling or self-taught experiences, some tips will give you a leg up while others will be a just a waste of time.

Education

Most photographs get by on just a high school diploma and raw talent, but remember, more education translates to better pay. Not only will you earn more, but earning a higher education degree will expose you to techniques and build skills you may not have known before. You’ll learn how to manipulate pictures. New editing techniques. You can even become part of a respected institution certified to prepare for a career in photography.

Education may not be a requirement, but with so much competition, it gives you a leg up. Just imagine you’re interviewing for a position as a photographer. You have only a high school diploma; your competition has a 4-year degree. Both of you possess wonderful portfolios, but because of the 4-year degree, the employer decides to select your competition for the job. It may not seem necessary, but earning a degree from an accredited university does give you a major advantage.

Build a Portfolio

You might be able to render photos that inspire, capture emotion or even tell a story, but if you cannot render proof of your skills, it’s pointless. You must build a portfolio. Take your best snapshots and save them for a professional portfolio. Retouch pictures using Photoshop. Use different lenses to capture the same picture. Change the lighting. Whatever you do, make sure the best work you wish to display looks flawless.

Remember, a portfolio just shows off your pictures. This is the time to showcase your best work, including photographs you may have taken while competing your online photography degree. Some include them in a binder. Others have digital portfolios. However you do it, make a portfolio and include your best work.

Intern

Education and portfolio work wonders in helping you secure your dream job as a photographer, but you need experience. An internship will equip you with hands-on training to understand the complexities of the industry. You’ll have deadlines. Work with professional photographers. Manage information and even help build a portfolio and set of skills you can use to showcase to employers.

An internship also gives you the chance to work for a professional agency and display to employers that, yes, you can perform this job and some of the challenging tasks that may come with it. However, many internships require individuals to be enrolled in an accredited university.

Sources

BLS

Mac Dev Center

HI RES PHOTOS AVAILABLE TO THE PRESS FREE OF CHARGE UPON REQUEST.

G-Unit dark horse Lloyd Banks showed that he still had the “hunger for more” when he performed at Club Capri in Brooklyn last night. The “Punch Line King” took to the Bay Ridge stage before a sold-out crowd just before 3am. Earlier that day, Banks — along with Fabolous, Ashanti, R&B singer Lloyd, & Jadakiss — performed in SUNY Albany at the college’s annual Parkfest, where he fired on all pistons in the pouring rain.

Successfully staving off a bout of pneumonia, Banks gave Brooklyn live versions of “Beamer Benz or Bentley,” “Start it Up,” & “Any Girl” — from Hunger for More 2 — as well as the Jahlil Beats-produced “Jackpot,” which is due to be on his much-anticipated V6 mixtape. The mixtape is set to drop on the 30th of April — which will be Banks’ 30th birthday.

PEEP THE PHOTOS BELOW!

HI RES PHOTOS AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE UPON REQUEST.

Brooklyn emcee Lucky Don shut down the Brownsville district today when he shot a video (directed by Sincere) for his new song, “What’s Happenin’,” off of his upcoming mixtape, when he brought Maino through to slam a few bars on the Ty Fyffe-produced track. You may remember Lucky Don for his guest spot on Tony Yayo‘s track “Tiger Blood.”

Check out the exclusive photos below, where Maino & Lucky Don was joined by members of The Mafia, #ush Clothing, & some extreme stunters!

The photo was taken a week ago at the “Think Like a Man” special red carpet premiere in NYC.

Below is the Splash News/Corbis tearsheet; above is how the photo looked on TV this morning.

A BIG shout out to Splash News/Corbis (and my agents in the NYC office) & the CW Pix 11 Morning News!

MICROPHONEBULLY PRESENTS:
ARTIST: BIG BROTHER BIZ
TRACK TITLE: GOT THAT FEELING
PRODUCED BY: ON DA AVE
TWITTER: @MICROPHONEBULLY / @MICBULLYBIZ
WEBSITE: MICROPHONEBULLY.COM
DOWNLOAD LINK: http://www.hulkshare.com/nvustkc9ffox

“I am the master of my craft.”

The words resonate off the poster like the ominous words that they are, and this psychological thriller from Lamont Jack Pearley promises to be the first of a long career.

Starring Angie Bullaro (yes, she’s Sicilian) & Terrence Dudley, “King of B” tells the story of Kevin Schmitz: the ultimate method actor, Kevin believes he has become his idol Kurt Russell. Losing all sense of reality, Kevin ends up in a psychiatric facility.

“King of B” will premiere at NYC’s New Filmmakers’ Series on April 1st at 6pm (additional showings at 7 & 8pm). It will be held at the Anthology Film Archives, which is at 32 Second Avenue (at 2nd Street).

Right behind Lloyd Banks’ latest smashing Jahlil Beats-produced track “Jackpot,” G-Unit veteran Tony Yayo takes his turn behind the board with Jahlil Beats with “100 Bottles.” Fresh off of his SXSW performance at the Shady Records showcase, Tony Yayo drops “100 Bottles” (produced by Jahlil Beats).

TO HEAR THE CDQ DIRTY VERSION FOR REVIEW, CLICK HERE: http://picosong.com/wFW4/
TO HEAR/DOWNLOAD THE CDQ CLEAN VERSION FOR RADIO PLAY, CLICK HERE: http://picosong.com/wFW5/

KD Dance — www.kddance.com — whose clothes have been worn by Jennifer Lopez & Kanye West — gets a “Latin Twist” as Roseay Models’/50?s Most Wanted’s Sally Ferreira & Jameela, along with Nikki Rich Models’ Jenn Bel, get a fashion shoot for the April 2012 issue of LatinTRENDS Magazine, which features “CSI” star Adam Rodriguez on the cover.

TO SEE EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS, PICK UP A COPY OF THE APRIL 2012 ISSUE OF LATINTRENDS MAGAZINE, AVAILABLE ON NEWSSTANDS APRIL 1st!

CREDITS
Creative Director/LatinTRENDS Editor: Bernadette Giacomazzo (@bgiacomazzo)
Concept: Lapacazo Sandoval
Hair: T. Cooper for MajorFace.com (@tcoopermua)
Makeup: Stephen Royster for Sephora (@mrsaditty)
Stylist: Jessica Richardson
Location: Jennifer Love Studios
Video: Smart Alix of KUSH DVD (@kushDVD)
Photographer: Patsy Castillo

MODELS
Jenn Bel of Nikki Rich Models (@jenn_bel & @NikkiRichModels)
Jameela of Roseay Models/50?s Most Wanted (@JameelasWorld & @Roseay & @50sMostWanted)
Sally Ferreira of Roseay Models/50?s Most Wanted (@sallyferreira & @Roseay & @50sMostWanted)
Aundreus (@aundreus)