STEADY, COWBOY #010

🗞️WELCOME TO ISSUE NO. 10

Welcome back to “STEADY, COWBOY”, where I do three things:

1. Document the effort I’m putting in to become a world class photographer & creative entrepreneur

2. Track the progress I’m making, where my head is at, and what I’m testing to raise my own game

3. Share as much value as I can, so that I can be useful to you in your own creative mission, whatever that may be

I’m super psyched you’re here. Let’s go.

🛰️CAPTAIN’S LOG

I’m getting to experience some cool things this upcoming week:

1. Going to Las Vegas to experience the National Finals Rodeo (as a fan): I started out going to rodeos a little bit as a kid, and over the last three, four years I’ve started shooting a few rodeos when I get the chance. I am becoming a bigger and bigger fan of this sport, and I’m taking a couple vacation days to go down there and see what it’s like. My hope is that, someday, I’m photographing this rodeo. One step at a time.

2. Shooting a cool project for a clothing brand: From there, I’m headed straight to LA to shoot some stills for a brand I’m psyched about. I’m starting to get more and more opportunities for brand work, and it makes me smile, because of something I made a commitment to myself on back in 2017: When I decided in January 2017 that I liked this photography thing enough to stick with it, I made a call that I’d try really hard for ten years and see where it got me. I had this phrase “ten year overnight success” in my head. Now, eight years in, I still have so much work to do, but man - I’m seeing things really start to click. I am really hopeful for 2025.

3. Shooting a few projects for fun: While I’m on the road, I’m going to shoot a few test concepts to keep working on my game. Particular areas of focus this week are as follows:

   • Lighting: Practicing using a flash & softbox outdoors

   • Video: Testing a few new short form video concepts using BTS footage

   • Film: Breaking in a Contax G1 I just bought

🎞️STILLS

Let’s break down the work I put up this week, just two posts:

📸 David in Studio [Summer ‘22]

Let’s break this down: Going back into the archives🗂️ for this dead simple studio setup with David. You’ll notice most of the light is coming from the right side of the frame, David’s left. That’s a big window. So if you’re taking David’s picture, twelve o’clock is a white cyc wall, and your 3 o’clock is where all your light is coming from. One thing to know - don’t underestimate the “bounce” light has in a white room like this. Just because the light’s on the right doesn’t mean we’re not also getting some of it reflecting (is that the right word choice?) from other surfaces in the room.

What my camera settings probably were:

• Estimated aperture: F/2.8

• Estimated shutter speed: It’ll vary. I am likely no faster than 1/800 and it’ll vary a little bit based on angles

• Estimated ISO: 400

• Lighting intel: No lights other than the window

📸 Zoe in Studio [Summer ‘23]

Let’s break this down: some flash portraits in studio w/ Zoe. This is a super simple production - one flash, shot directly at her, and it’s on-camera rather than detached (i.e. I’m not holding it in my hand or putting it on a stand). This approach to flash is basically the OG for me, it’s what got me started using artificial light. I’ve since learned a handful of others, but this started it all for me.

What my camera settings probably were:

• Estimated aperture: F/11

• Estimated shutter speed: 1/200

• Estimated ISO: 400

• Lighting intel: Just the flash on the camera

📈AUDIENCE GROWTH

Instagram: 9192 followers, +43 vs. last post, +0% vs. last week 
TikTok: 1039 followers, +16 vs. last post, +2% vs. last week
Newsletter: 921 subscribers, -5 vs. last week, -0% vs. last week

SLOW going right now - minimal follower growth, actually a few less newsletter subscribers vs. prior week. I think it’s a great indicator of what happens when you take your foot off the gas, which I certainly have for a bit - it’s been a jam-packed couple of weeks.

🙋GOT A QUESTION?

Have a question about cameras, lighting, editing, workflows, whatever? Ask me here - your question may get featured and answered in depth in next week’s newsletter.

💬COMMENT OF THE WEEK

Very kind from my friend Cory.

💬LINKS

📍Free mood board #05, Satisfy Running: LINK
🆓Five free Lightroom presets: LINK
🛠️All the cameras + flashes I use: LINK
🤝1:1 consult calls: LINK

🔗SHARE

If you saw something you like or found interesting in today’s post - will you do me a solid and forward it to a friend or creator you think might like it?

Everybody have a great start to your week,

Garrett