Kenneth M. Ruggiano Photography

I had a good meeting today. Sit down and let me tell you about it.

Kenneth M. Ruggiano — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:51:33 +0000

VIDEO!

Kenneth M. Ruggiano — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 23:50:41 +0000

Video response to an email I received.

Oh Photographers…

Kenneth M. Ruggiano — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 01:47:42 +0000

About every 3ish months someone posts a blog about how photographers shouldn’t take jobs for “exposure.” Either the original poster or readers think this is valuable information for students and recent graduates. It explodes with accolades from the photography community as it makes the rounds on the web. It normally includes some math which sums up the cost of one image based on the purchase price of all their equipment and software. It’s good that we don’t assign the value of everything on this model, I would hate to know the cost of the keyboard I’m using right now.

Here’s the thing. Taking a job because someone promises you “exposure” and taking a job because you think you’re going to get “exposure,” are two different things. A few years ago I took jobs not because I was offered “exposure” but because I knew I could take advantage of the situation to get something I wanted, while at the same time providing a product for the client.

My advice for students or recent graduates or stay at home moms that just received a camera for Christmas. Don’t be a dick…also your work is probably crap. Good news is that won’t always be the case (probably). Find photography that you like, learn how it was created and then make it your own.

Below is a photograph I shot of Dominique Whaley for ESPN The Magazine towards the end of last year. ESPN didn’t want to know the cost of my computer when I invoiced them for the assignment. And no one but my mother called or emailed to say they saw it.

Smart Money Shoot

Kenneth M. Ruggiano — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 04:46:49 +0000

This is a short video of an assignment I did for Smart Money Magazine a few months ago. I shot it with speedlights, mostly because I was unsure of the office setting that we would be in. I like the idea of being lite and flexible in the environments. This turned out to be a good decision since we were shooting in a working cube farm, I have no doubt cords would have been in the way.

Goal setting & failing

Kenneth M. Ruggiano — Thu, 05 May 2011 18:11:46 +0000

In the beginning of 2010 I sat down and wrote our my goals for that year. And taped them to the wall next to my desk. I didn’t look at them every day, but any time I wondered what was next I looked at the list of seven items. I can honestly say that by the time the year was out I had only achieved two. But the work I had done in 2010 led me to accomplish two of the biggest goals on that list by May of 2011.

On stands now is the May issue of Inc. Magazine and inside it an image I created. I was hired by Inc. through my agency Redux to photograph Miles Hall owner of H&H Gun Range. I could not have asked for a better subject for my first shoot for a national publication. I am extremely pleased that I was able to make this happen, even if it was in 2011 rather than 2010. And with one shoot for Business Weekly already in the bag and one next week for Smart Money I know this isn’t just a fluke.

Second goal that was marked off the list in 2011 rather than 2010 was my personal project. I spent five days with the Kelly Miller Circus documenting their day to day life. Truly an incredible experience. I am hesitant to go into much detail about my short time with them because I could go on forever. I have put the work up on my editorial website and you can view it here Being Circus. I will be having a show eventually and will keep everyone up to date on that.

There have been many opportunities for me to get off track. Keeping goals has helped to make sure I stay on the path that I have chosen. For me there have been many times that I have considered throwing in the towel and getting a regular 9-5. It would be nice if I didn’t need to worry about where the next check is coming from. Hard work, determination, talent and a wonderful wife have all helped me to get to where I am. It hasn’t always been easy but it’s definitely been worth doing.

I love you Glynna.

Before and After, Happy & Sad

Kenneth M. Ruggiano — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 17:26:42 +0000

I heard once that people mostly judge times in “before and after.” As in “before I graduated high school” or “after I got married.” We remember our lives as these chunks of time. I think we do it because it’s easy to mark time by these major moments. I have never thought “after I bought that shirt.” It is always major life events. In the very end of 2010 I had two such events…well I had one and only time will tell about the other.

In October I went to New York for an event called NYC Fotoworks. Basically what it amounts to is speed dating for photographers. I was able to get meetings with people I would never have gotten on my own. I received so much feedback on my work, mostly all positive but there was defiantly some criticism, which I welcomed with and open mind. My very first meeting was with Marcel Saba from Redux Pictures. In our short time we discussed my work and my goals and he told me to keep in touch. A few days later I followed up with him thanking him for his time and opinion. A few emails, phone conversations, and a contract I became a contributor for Redux Pictures. I hope that this event is one that I will use when discussing my career.

After the event in New York I headed up the coast to Massachusetts to visit with one of my aunts. While there I was able to take a short drive to visit my Grandmother in New Hampshire. While I was in New York my Grandmother was diagnosed with Cancer. So now more then ever it was important to see her. We spent the afternoon watching Swamp People and visiting about whatever came up. We did talk about her illness and she was very clear about her wishes. She was happy to have lived the life she had but didn’t want to go through treatment. We ended our time together with a portrait session, which ment a great deal to me. Less then a month later she was gone. I know that I will mark time by this event.

I know that there will be many more of these moments in my professional career and personal life. I hope that marking time by these events will make me better at both.