In Bo’s advice he mentions treating people fairly and with respect, along with a few other things that i’ll let you guys read. I happen to agree with him and for Bo’s simple email which got us talking I believe that Bo doesn’t just say it he actually means it. So check out what Bo has to say then head over to his websites’s etc… for some great work.
Bo Ismono
Tell us a little about yourself?
Hi, my name is Bo Ismono. I am a commercial film editor and photographer based in Hamburg / Germany. I’ve been working as a film editor since 2001 and started photography in 2007. My parents come from Indonesia, but I was born and raised in Hamburg.
What made you get into photography?
As a film editor I mainly work on TV commercials and the occasional musicvideo or shortfilm. I love that work and it will always be my main job, but at some point I wanted to add another “tool” to my creative output. As a film editor I see so many pictures during the editing process of a film, and I just wanted to start making my own pictures. I was interessted in fashion and beauty photography. I thought that would be something that wouldn’t “interfere” with my advertising work as a film editor. My plan in the longrun was to have two different set of skills in to different sectors of clients.
How did you get started?
I bought my first camera, a Nikon d70s with a Nikon 18-70mm, in 2007. I did a small photography class in highschool, but that knowledge was more or less gone at that time. So basicly I taught myself through the wonders of internet and a lot of try and error. Through my work in the advertising and film industry in Germany, I had a lot of contacs to model agencies. I got in contact with those agencies, found some good make up artists and did at least two testshootings a month.
What sort of photography do you mainly do?
I started with fashion and beauty photography, but lately I’m more interessted in portrait and people photography. The emotional side and the challenge of working with people who don’t like to be photographed is something that I am looking for right now.
What gear are you using?
I am using a Fuji S5 pro as my main camera, and a Nikon D5000 as a backup and „take-everywhere“ camera. I do own a Mamiya 645afd, which I just started to use, but film development or renting a digital back comes with a price. Moreover I do not own a scanner yet. I’d love to make the step over to medium format, but the price is just too high.
Lens-wise I own the Nikon 24-70mm 2.8, 85mm 1.8, 50mm 1.8, 35mm 1.8 and the 18-70mm as a scouting lens. For the Mamiya I got the 85mm and the 105mm. I love working with fixed lenses, because of their weight and their quality.
I use a lot of lighting equipment. Right now I use Bowens Gemini Monolights with a bunch of Bowens and CreativeLight lightmodifiers. But I am thinking of adding Elinchrom Rangers to the set for location based work.
Whats your favourite lens and why?
I guess the Nikon 85mm 1.8 is my favorite lens right now, but lately I started to use the 24-70mm 2.8 a little more. I somehow get the feeling that the colors are a little „better“. But it’s just a feeling. I’d love to trade the 1.8 against the 85mm 1.4 though.
How are you marketing yourself?
My website is of course the heart of my marketing. Keeping the portfolio fresh is key, but doesn’t matter if noone notices of course. That’s probably where social networking comes into places, and which is quite difficult. Right now I am just concentrating on my blog, Facebook and Twitter. There are definitely more ways and places, but keeping those three up to date is sometimes work enough.
Keeping in contact or building a friendship with clients is even more important than the virtual networking.
Whats your favourite photo you have taken?
Another difficult question. It is quite hard to pick out a favorite one, of course. Therefore here are a couple…
Advice for new photographers looking to go pro?
I believe it is important to love what you’re doing. This positive energy combined with hard work, being friendly and treating people respectfully and fair is something clients will remember and make them want to work with you again.
Visit Bo Ismono – website, blog, twitter and facebook
