The Art of the Personal Project is a crucial element to let potential buyers see how you think creatively on your own. I am drawn to personal projects that have an interesting vision or that show something I have never seen before. In this thread, I’ll include a link to each personal project with the artist statement so you can see more of the project. Please note: This thread is not affiliated with any company; I’m just featuring projects that I find. Please DO NOT send me your work. I do not take submissions.
Today’s featured artist: Aaron M. Conway
When capturing a portrait I want to make sure the subject’s personality comes through. I want the viewer to feel that they have some connection with the subject and understand their story. Sometimes that is with a smile or it’s a stare. It’s the creator’s job to bring the subjects true self out sometimes in just a short period of time.
When approaching this project I knew I needed to take the familiar subject of youth boxing and make it my own. I wanted to create a series of portraits of these boxers that they would be proud of. That shows their dedication and intensity. Along with highlighting the organization that helps these athletes grow both physically and mentally.
As I sat across from these kids I kept asking for their “Fight face”. Within the first few images I realized that everything was lining up. None of us had ever met before and they were able to take the focus they learn from their coaches and apply it to the photo. We moved throughout the gym capturing all aspects of their training to create this series of images.
We have now started the printing process and will be delivering large format prints to each of the kids. This is an important part of my process; I enjoy holding the photograph and not just viewing on a screen. Now they can have something tangible from the photo-shoot versus something that could fade away in our digital world.
To see more of this project, click here.
APE contributor Suzanne Sease currently works as a consultant for photographers and illustrators around the world. She has been involved in the photography and illustration industry since the mid 80s. After establishing the art buying department at The Martin Agency, then working for Kaplan-Thaler, Capital One, Best Buy and numerous smaller agencies and companies, she decided to be a consultant in 1999. She has a new Twitter feed with helpful marketing information because she believes that marketing should be driven by brand and not by specialty. Follow her at @SuzanneSease. Instagram
Success is more than a matter of your talent. It’s also a matter of doing a better job presenting it. And that is what I do with decades of agency and in-house experience.
