The Busy Creator Podcast, episode 26 with Still Life Photographer Christine Blackburne

Christine Blackburne is a commercial still life photographer based in New York. She works primarily in the fashion, cosmetics, and jewelry sectors, bringing her stylish use of colour and light to her images.
This conversation moves from Christine’s origins as an assistant photographer, to how she sets up her still life shoots, and a bit about working with an agent and managing workflow.
Click through to the full blog post to see a few of Christine’s images, and check out her site, christineblackburne.com, to see even more.
 


 
 

 
00:00
 
00:00
 
 

 



 

Perfume bottles still life

 

Watches still life


Christine occasionally shoots things that move

Show Notes & Links

Christine’s studio is located in the South Street Seaport area of Manhattan
Southwark, London
Christine shoots most things that don’t move like cosmetics, jewelry
Christine went to Rochester Institute of Technology, spent time with objects
Most fashion photographers are extroverted
Many photographers lately have no fixed location. Rented gear, hired location.
Make-up and jewelry is very reflective. Bright. Shiny. Objects.
Fashion photography “is more about finding a photograph rather than creating one”
Editorial is more free than commercial shoots
Word of Mouth is the best way to get clients
Make-up doesn’t always cooperate, so it’s nice to have freedom
Christine’s water-splash series
Dexter’s roll of knives
Bill Wadman’s episode on The Busy Creator Podcast
MacGuyver-ing — mad science involved in still-life work
“Snot”, the rubbery glue used in commercial printing
“Word-of-Mouth Nirvana” where clients call you.
We can’t all be Saul Colt, previous podcast guest
Merge Left, Christine’s Agents
Christine’s popsicle images
The Narcissism of Minor Differences
“Your ability in life is like a stove with four burners: health, friends, work, family. When you turn off one, more gas will flow to the others.” 
Energy management vs. time management, a recurring theme on The Busy Creator Podcast
Seasons, another recurring theme (as mentioned by Blake Stratton and Todd Henry)
“There time to reap and a time to plant.” Prescott paraphrasing Todd Henry paraphrasing Ecclesiastes 3:2

Tools

Fuji GX680, nearly extinct (available on eBay)
Profoto & Broncolor lights
Underlit soft box
Acetate
Knives and Palette Knives
Forceps
Armature

Techniques

Stay away from client-created sketches or sketches you are showing to the client, which can be unrealistic in terms of dimensions or scale
Do as much in-camera as humanly possible
Let your agents play “bad cop”
Aim for a portfolio featuring about 20-30 final images
Bring a printed portfolio for your main work, but use your iPad for the case studies and deeper cuts
“Don’t get an agent until you’re so busy you need that extra set of hands.” ← Click to tweet

Habits

Calibrate your monitor bi-weekly
Be flexible (No routine! Not really.)
Keep one day per week for your own personal work, or office housekeeping