When most kids were playing with toys are hanging out with their friends, Kirk Voclain of Kirk Voclain Photography, was already learning about what he would one day do as his profession. When he was 8 years old, he started saving up for his first camera by asking his mom to buy the same cereal each week in order to save up enough box tops to get a camera. Now, that is what I call dedication! From there, he kept saving to improve the equipment and eventually landed his first job of photographing a wedding at age 15!
Fast forward to today, and Kirk is one of the top high school senior portrait photographers and is one of the speakers at WPPI! Even though this is not his first year speaking at WPPI, this is the year he is focusing his class on what everyone asks him for….Lighting and Posing! He plans to demonstrate exactly what he does when photographing a senior and share his set up. In my opinion, this is the best way to learn. By watching and seeing him in action, you will be able to learn from his 34 years of experience.
I had the opportunity to interview Kirk and below he shares his story and what you can expect to learn in his class at WPPI. To see more of Kirk’s work, click here! Thanks for sharing Kirk!!
Tell us a little about yourself…
I’m 49 years old and I love my wife Tammy….I’ve been married now for 25 years. I have one child, a daughter named Scarlett who is 17 years old. I mostly photograph high school seniors. However, I have photographed everything from Commercial to Weddings and everything in-between!
How did you get into photography?
When I was 8 years old, I was reading the back of a corn flakes breakfast cereal box and it said to save up your box tops and get a camera. I had my mom keep buying the same cereal and I got my camera. I loved it, and I photographed EVERYTHING. When I was 14, I saved up some money by working a paper route for 6 months. I got a Minolta with a 50mm 1.8 lens. A buddy asked me to photograph his wedding and so I said I would do it for $100. That is when I realized I wanted to do this for life. When I was 16 I got a job working at a camera store and by the time I was 17 I was the manager. I worked there for 9 years. After that, I started my own business, Kirk Voclain Photography http://www.kvphoto.com Since then I have started 2 more businesses in the Photography Industry. The Pro4uM http://www.pro4um.com which is an educational subscription website for exclusively Pro Photographers. And FiiP.net http://www.fiip.net with stands for Fix It In Photoshop.
Any formal training?
As in College? NO! I’m a guidance counselors worst nightmare. I’m a straight A student, Honor Society, etc. Who never went to college. Yet, I’m extremely successful. The business training that I have I attribute to my father who owned his own business and the 9 years I worked at the camera store. My photography knowledge comes from mostly the Pro4uM.com http://www.pro4um.com and by going to seminars like WPPI.
How long have you been in business?
As I said, I have been photographing since I was 8. However, I did my first paid wedding when I was 15. So, being I’m 49, I guess that means I have been photographing as a professional now for 34 years.
Who or What inspires you as a photographer?
Looking at images is my best and most powerful inspiration. HOWEVER, from time to time, I will listen to a song and then use the power of that song, and the emotion of it to then inspire me to make an image based upon that emotion. IF you have never done this, I highly recommend it, it’s very powerful!!!
I also get tons of inspiration from looking at the images at WPPI and also online on the Pro4uM.com http://www.pro4um.com
How would you describe your photography style?
I guess I would explain it as “Fashion Senior Portraits”. It’s really not like what you see everyone else do, but then again it is kinda like what you see in magazines.
What percentage of your business is seniors?
Lately I would put it at about 90%
What attracted you to the senior market of photography?
Well, it’s cool because anything you want to do, any idea you have, any pose or crazy concept you come up with, seniors are always willing to try it. It’s mega fun and you can be mega creative. I guess that really is the draw for me. I can truly explore fully my creative size and then sell that and make a profit. Thus, both the PHOTOGRAPHER in me and the BUSINESS PERSON are both happy!
What has been your best marketing technique for seniors?
Word of mouth is by far the most powerful of all the different marketing techniques out there. So I always do things that promote word of mouth. I like giving people things they can give others…thus making them talk about me. For example, this year we gave every senior we photographed a stack of $50 gift cards printed by H&H Color Lab http://www.hhcolorlab.com These cards would get them a discount for giving them away and give a discount to those they gave them too! Thus promoting my studio via the word of mouth concept.
You are one of the speakers at WPPI in Las Vegas this year! Congratulations! Tell us why you chose “Lighting and
Posing for Today’s High School Senior” as your topic?
This is the 3rd or 4th time I speak at WPPI….and every time I speak, the most asked thing of me is POSING and LIGHTING. So this year I decided to just focus on the thing everyone wants the most. I will have 2 models and I will have some what of a studio set up. I will explain what I do, what goes through my mind, and then show how I do it. It should be MEGA FUN!!!!
What can attendees expect to learn from your class?
I hope to show them a quick and easy to remember way to pose and light. I do not want it to be complicated. EASY is the word for the day. Easy and simple to remember. I hope that when the class is over, everyone will INSTANTLY be able to walk away with useable information that they can put into practice and make their images look better.
Who is this class for?
Everyone who photographs high school seniors. My thinking is that no matter what level you are at, you can always learn something. So, I hope we have standing room only!!!!
When is it?
Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012 at 8:00 AM
What is your favorite thing about WPPI?
First it’s the PEOPLE!!!!! I love the ENERGY that seems to come from everyone that is there. It energizes or even RECHARGES me!!! Next, it’s the Trade Show…goodness that thing is HUGE!!!
What is your best tip to making WPPI a successful trip for photographers?
Funny….GET YOUR REST!!!!! Do not stay up too late and be ready for several days of mega learning and mega information!!!! Also, expect to get only 1 or 2 great things from each class that you go to. Then make a list at the end of the show of your top 10 things that you learned, and the top 10 things you are going to put into practice as soon as you get home. Literally write it down! This will MAKE you do it.
What is in your camera bag?
Advil!!! <grin>
OK…seriously….Canon 1DS MIII, Canon 1D MIII, Canon 5D MII, 14mm, 16-35, 24-70, 70-200, 300mm. Several 580EXII Flashes and batteries, and cards and other backup stuff.
Favorite lens?
Canon 70-200 f2.8 IS version II…..this is the lens I use the most.
Most popular senior product?
By far it’s what we call the “Amazing Randy”….several years ago on the Pro4uM http://www.pro4um.com I wrote a Photoshop action that makes a 10×20 sized image that has a base image and 5 smaller images coming down one side. It also has the customers name on it. EVERY senior I photograph buys at least one of these…and sometimes 6 or 7!!!! I make about $100 profit on each one. So, at the end of the year, this one product puts about $20,000 in my pocket. The Photoshop Action is free for download on the Pro4uM http://www.pro4um.com for those who are members.
What is one tip you can share with other photographers who want to get into the senior market in their area?
Simple…focus on FUN!!! Make sure that your customer HAS FUN!!!!! MEGA FUN…the fun is way more important than the lighting, the posing, etc. MAKE SURE they have fun and they will make sure you make a profit!
WPPI Senior Line Up – {Kirk Voclain Photography}
Reply...
heck, yes i do!
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