FYI +PhotoShelter just published their free 2012 The Photographer’s Social Media Handbook today. The 2-part ebook features many great tips on all things social media – from facebook to linkedin to twitter and of course google+. In fact, +Shane Srogi and I both offer our own tips using G+ in the ebook.

Check it out for free here: http://www.photoshelter.com/mkt/research/social-media-for-photographers

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Social Media for Photographers | PhotoShelter
Learn how to improve your business by leveraging social media tools like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Blogs and more. Free downloadable PDF.

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It was a great honor to have been one of the featured photographers in Issue #16 of the photography magazine Camerapixo by +Artur Heller and +Anetta Heller that just came out.

If you haven’t seen this beautiful online magazine yet you are missing out on some great photography in a fantastic online format. You can receive this free issue by following the link.

http://camerapixo.com/magazines/regular/last-few-days-to-the-new-beginning

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Camerapixo No.16 – Camerapixo No.16 – Last few days to the new beginning
Photography Magazine Camerapixo – Regular No.16 – Camerapixo No.16 – Last few days to the new beginning

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+PhotoShelter – the company that hosts my online photo galleries – has just shared a blog post featuring comments about G+ from +Johan Peijnenburg +Shane Srogi and myself.

Check out the blog post and be sure to add Photoshelter’s G+ page to your favorite photography biz circle. They are always distributing informative free ebooks and tips for today’s working photographer.

Reshared post from +PhotoShelter

We joined Google+ and got some great insights from successful G+ photogs including +Matt Suess, +Johan Peijnenburg, and +Shane Srogi.

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PhotoShelter Joins Google+ ‹ PhotoShelter Blog

Daily discussion of photography business issues & photography websites. Marketing and sales tips for smart photographers, plus a dose of inspiration from the PhotoShelter team.

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Post imported by Google+Blog. Created By Daniel Treadwell.

I am excited to announce that yesterday I delivered my first two (and soon to be many) photographs of mine that will both be on display & available for purchase at the Scottsdale International Auto Museum here in Arizona.

The photo included in this post, “Frontier Gas Station”, is one of the photographs I have on display there.

The museum, which features a very limited and select number of artists, has quite the car collection. In fact one of the cars there is the Howard Hughes 1936 Lincoln Aero-Mobile, recently appraised at over $2 million. Another is the race car Tom Cruise drove in Days of Thunder.

Entrance to the museum costs $10 and it is open daily. http://scottsdaleinternationalautomuseum.com/

FYI – I along with a few other artists will be there in person Nov. 18-20 during the Scottsdale International Classic Car Auction event held at the museum.

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Last month in July I was interviewed in a studio setting for Art Space – a tv show in Show Low, Arizona. The show started airing this month and I finally got a copy to share with you.

In the 12 minute interview I discuss a few of my photographs including “Fire & Ice”, “Old Betsy at Sunset“.

I also talk a little bit about my background, HDR photography, some of the processes I take while taking photos and printing, and traveling and living full-time in my rv.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Yesterday I was interviewed live on tv for Good Morning Vail before the start of Sunday’s Beaver Creek Art Festival.

In the short nearly 5 minute video I talk about a couple of my newest photography pieces of old cars and gas stations using the HDR photography technique.

Click here to view the embedded video.

February 4, 2011

A couple days ago I was interviewed by Scott Sheppard – the host, executive producer and anchor of Nik Radio, sponsored by Nik Software. In the 20 minute interview I talk about my history with photography and being a photojournalist, my current work as a full-time artist selling at art festivals, and the gear and software I use to create my work.

You can listen to a streaming online version of the interview here. You can also listen to it via itunes by subscribing to the podcast here.

As many of you may know, I have been a big fan and user of Nik Software for years and I highly recommend their products. They have provided me with a coupon code for me to share with you to save money on all of their software products. Simply use the coupon code mattsuess during the checkout process to receive your discount.

In my photo workshops I spend a big part of them teaching and sharing with you the way I use Nik Software to enhance my work. You can see my latest workshop schedule here.

September 3, 2010

A brief article appeared about me and my work in today’s White Mountain Independent Newspaper.

Art Barn Features

Digital Photography

Matt Suess is an award-winning photographer whose career spans the past 20 years.

He started as a photojournalist, worked in New England and is widely published worldwide. In 2003 the New England Press Association awarded Suess the Photographer of the Year Award.

Suess considers himself a digital photography pioneer, helping bring the first digital cameras to the Connecticut Post Newspaper in the late 90′s. In addition, he assisted with the implementation and training of the photo staff in the use of digital cameras and equipment at the Cape Cod Times Newspaper in the late 90′s and early 2000′s.

Since 2003 Suess has been selling his artwork at fine art festivals first in New England and now currently throughout the greater Southwest. In 2006, when he moved to Arizona, he left his career as a photojournalist and became a full-time artist. His love of nature and the environment is evident in his photography – grand vistas photographed throughout the Southwest and New England.

Every piece of artwork Suess creates is done by hand. A master printer (he has been printing his own work ever since he was 12 years old in a black and white darkroom) his prints reflect the emotion, beauty, fine detail, and three-dimentional look of his exacting vision and intention. Rather than relying on simply what the camera captures, Suess says he enhances each of his photos in his digital darkroom to bring back out and share with the viewer what he personally saw and experienced. It is this personal tough, vision, and unique style that truly separates his work in the photography field.

The Art Barn showcases the creative works of many fine artists and crafters during Pinetop’s summer months in a gallery and open studio. The Art Barn is located at 4756 Buck Springs Road in the Pinetop Lakes Country Club. The 2010 Art Barn season runs through the last weekend in September. Hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

For more information, call (928) 369-5002.

On assignment shooting video documenting a wedding in The Grenadines in 2001

I can be terrible with dates – just ask my family. I am usually late with birthday cards and have a hard time remembering anniversary dates. I even had my wedding date etched inside my wedding ring to help remember the date! I quit cigarettes over 10 years ago. Missed the anniversary date when it came up – I remember it was in October because I quit on my birthday – perhaps my wife Marci remembers the exact year.

So it should be no surprise that after reading about another photographer on twitter who is celebrating 25 years of self-employment that I just happened to realize that this month marks my own 10 year anniversary date of self-employment. Thank God for twitter – almost missed another anniversary.

It was 10 years ago this month that Marci and I moved from CT to Cape Cod, Mass. I had just left my full-time staff photographer position at the Connecticut Post Newspaper to once again jump into the freelance waters. My job at the Post was the last I held as a full-time (or even part-time) employee working for someone else.

While living on the Cape I freelanced for many organizations including the Cape Cod Times, Boston Herald, Cape Cod View Magazine, and USA Today to name a few. I did spot assignments on the Cape for a number of other newspapers around the country. Being a digital photographer allowed me to instantly transmit photos hundreds and thousands of miles away – this at a time when many newspapers were still shooting film. I sold my images to newspapers, books, magazines, etc.

I also did some corporate and advertising work. And of course, being a freelance photographer, I also shot a number of family portraits and photographed a limited number of weddings each year. Every day was different and I enjoyed and thrived working for myself.

At work photographing Horseshoe Bend in Page, AZ in 2006

While still on the Cape, back in 2003, I began selling my own artwork at art festivals. And since moving to Phoenix, AZ in 2006 some 3 years ago (October marks the 3 year anniversary – hey I remember that one) I ended up leaving behind – for the most part – my freelance career and now sell my artwork full-time. While I do accept occasional advertising/corporate assignments I have done nothing in regards to editorial, portrait or wedding  photography since arriving in Phoenix. Creating and selling my artwork consumes most available time and it is something I enjoy tremendously.

Looking back on the past 10 years there are many things I remember fondly about my photojournalism days: getting the shot no one else got at a spot news event, the rush of trying to make deadline, the wonder of what will happen in the news day today, getting access to events the regular public is not able to get, etc. And the fact that I was able to experience it all, working for myself, makes it even more enjoyable.

I am now on the other side of the media, here being interviewed by a local newspaper in 2008

Working for oneself is not easy. It takes dedication, perseverance, commitment, knowledge, ability and desire. It takes marketing skills as you are constantly selling yourself and your work. But above all it takes love – if you love what you do you are heading in the right direction and are leaps and bounds ahead of others that don’t love what they do. If you love what you do your desire to succeed is greater than those that don’t. And if you love what you do you find yourself happier in all aspects of life.

Here’s looking forward to the next 10 years of self-employment as a photographer.

Out on a photographic hike in Colorado in 2009.

This is a live TV interview I did on Good Morning Vail on July 18, 2009 in Colorado prior to the start of the Thunderbird Artists Edwards Fine Art & Wine Festival.

I have done a number of interviews – but this one sure wasn’t my favorite. Unfortunately the person doing the interview never looked over the sheet I prepared for us to talk about. She even thought I was a painter – no preparation on her part – and I had no idea we were already live and starting the interview. Anyways – not the best – but felt the interview was good enough to post online.

Click here to view the embedded video.

For a better TV interview of me, from 2008, click here.