New York City
Hello! My name is Rich and I started NYPhotoNY.com in 2013 as a full-time photographer. I cater to many individuals and brands offering high-quality photo and video. I grew up in Queens and I could honestly say I’m still obsessed with New York and everything it brings. It’s a fascinating place especially with the variety of people my profession allows me to meet.
My Work
I have a great track record for providing excellent images in a timely manner. As a working-class artist and I have a down to earth sensibility with great attention to detail that comes through in my work. I think fast and shoot quickly and precisely. I truly love what I do and constantly strive to improve. We can always be better than we were yesterday.
My goal is to make every shoot better than the last.
Your Project
For any questions about any of the following; feel free to email me or call: nyphotony@gmail.com 646-275-4750
Headshots
Corporate Headshots
Product Photography
Amazon Photography/Videos
Fitness Photos
Lifestyle Photos
Live and Corporate Events
Architectural/Real Estate Photography
Staged Shoots (I have an excellent and reliable team of actors, models, and makeup artists at the ready for your production)
I also write for several publications and host a variety of online programming as well as speak in public on occasion plus I love metal, comic books, Japanese wrestling, and The Mets. Good music is a must for every shoot!
photography, new york photographer, NYC photography, headshots, best headshots, headshots nyc, best headshots in new york, fitness photographer, travel photographer, advertising photographer, luxury product photography, luxury photographer, lifestyle photographer, lifestyle photos, lifestyle photos nyc, influencer photos, biography, product photography, NY photographer, best headshots, headshots NYC, NYC headshots, fitness photos, fitness photographer, lifestyle photographer, real estate photographer,
Better late than never. That’s how I feel about this blog post. It’s January 8th, 2020. Usually, I write these “start of year ” things a little sooner but hey, better late than never. The word “never” has such crushing finality to it, don’t you think? The connotation puts a finite bookend on whatever statement you’re making or some perceived rigidity in your life. On the other hand, it could also mean sticking to your guns. Never is a strong word. But In terms of goals or work, the word NEVER shouldn’t apply. It shouldn’t be taken as an ill omen, point of contention, or a finite bookend. The word “never “shouldn’t be spoken aloud to deride one’s progress or self-worth. Us freelancers ofttimes work doubly or triply (quadruply? just drooply?) hard to establish ourselves as a commodity, have financial stability (Mental stability too!) and reap what we sow. Freelancers cannot be lazy. We all have to strive toward seemingly impossible goals then move onto the next one. It took me years to establish a sustainable photography business. There are of course many ups and downs and truly when you’re a freelancer the term “feast or famine” most certainly applies. We go from the highest of highs to sometimes the lowest of lows but we chose this for ourself and I don’t know if I could live any other way. The thought of sitting in an office and being a drone for someone else drives me absolutely batty. That is something I may NEVER do again.
This is a big year for me. It marks seven years being a full-time freelancer. I’m closer to the ten-year mark than I ever thought I would be. When I first started I gave myself two years. If I didn’t find a modicum of success I would have gotten a job with Con-ed and let the overtime kill me and may have willingly stagnated my creativity. I’m glad this has worked out so far. I can also be very stubborn and a bit delusional and that helps with being a freelancer. Staying fresh also helps. I’m a big fan of removing old work and replacing those photos with new and better work. It shows a nice progression from where you started to where you are now. As a freelancer, we have to be better, right? Instead of just dreaming about the things we want we need to put the work in and go out there to get them. We have the power because we aren’t shackled to a desk most of the day. The downside is that because as freelancers we make our own schedule and sometimes have a little too much fun or downtime when we really should be concentrating on something else. Freelancers love the smell of their own farts. It’s true. I’m guilty. You’re guilty. It comes with the territory. We perpetually want to be the most interesting person in the world. We’re not. We’re just doing our own thing and it works for us. The reality is that freelancers struggle as much as everyone else. We’re all in this together. That being said there is no stopping you from achieving what you want. Most barriers are constructs we place ahead of ourselves that we think we’ll NEVER get over. It’s a matter of perception. Change your own mind to suit your needs. In many cases, we end up being slaves to our minds for bad or worse. Don’t let the cold clammy claws of anxiety or depression keep you from your goals. Don’t let them put the NEVER in your mind. Rise above it. You’re who you are and doing what you’re doing for a reason. Instead of a negative; turn that NEVER into a positive. I’m NEVER gonna stop. I’m NEVER giving up. I will NEVER yield. Throw what you want at me because I will NEVER stop moving forward. Is that all you got? Because it will NEVER be enough. The ground will crack and tremble with every step I take because I will NEVER be able to stop reaching for my goals and when I get there I will NEVER look back and think of the bad days; only the days that gave me the motivation to surpass my wildest dreams.
Email nyphotony@gmail.com or call/text 646 275-4750
I have shot interiors and exteriors for a variety of clients including architects, design firms, contractors, and real estate agents. I guarantee photos delivered same day of shoot and a fast turnaround time on retouched images as needed. The gallery below is some of my work for past clients. Thanks!
-
- Shot for Quatela Architects
-
- Shot for Quatela
-
- Shot for Quatela Architects
How it works
If you need photos for your product I can shoot them at my studio or your space. If you’re out of state and can ship your items I guarantee a quick turnaround time on edits. Typically photos are completed within ten days. All images are delivered via Dropbox at full res and resized for web. I shoot on white for Amazon/Ecomm, Lifestyle photos with and without model, and can do video for your product as well. I offer a package rate over 2 items. You can message me at nyphotony@gmail.com or at 646 275 4750 Thanks!
-
- Stylized Shot done for JadeBlackCo
-
- Thursday Boot Co
What You Get
You would receive all edited images via Dropbox or Google Drive at full resolution and resized for the web. Once images are approved I can send your items back to you as needed. I also work with a great group of models who can bring more life to your items.
-
- Chargers
-
- Shot for Gorilla Survival
-
- Shot for Pearl River Mart
-
- Shot for Mobile Boss
Contact With Questions
If you have any questions feel free to contact me at nyphotony@gmail.com or at 646-275-4750 I have worked with many product sellers and if this is your first time doing this I can walk you through my process step by step. Invest in your item and invest in great pictures!
product photos, amazon product photographer, amazon product photographer, ecommerce photography, ecomm photographer, new york product photographer, product photographer in new york, photographer new york, new york photographer, lifestyle photographer,
2017 was a weird year. For everyone. But these kinds of things help us grow and mature. We learn from our mistakes even though sometimes it takes us a while to realize that. 2018 will personally be a year of laser-like focus for me toward the goals I want to achieve. I used to never make resolutions. I didn’t believe in them. But I believe in myself now more than ever and know I have resolve. We all do. I encourage everyone to try and be the best they can at whatever they want to do and not to let anyone stand in their way. My goals are to be a better person and a better photographer. Over the last year, my passion for production came back like a phoenix from the ashes. I was too mired in always thinking about work and getting gigs that I lost sight of some creativity in my life. Since making that realization I’ve accumulated quite the number of ideas in a notebook (complete with color coated post it’s) that I’m hoping to write, film, produce, and rock over the next year.
It’s been close to five years since I started my photography business full time and my passion has been reignited to create more than what my skillset is. This year I hope to create my own YouTube show, expand my podcasting, shoot bigger photography projects, write at least four shootable projects, get in better shape, see more movies, read more books, be a bigger fanboy of the stuff I love, create more art (I can draw and paint ya know!) and just be an all-around better person. Of course, there will be bumps in the road but I’m at the age where I need to consciously reassure myself of my decisions. I’m a self-admitted late bloomer but on a great day I wake up feeling like I’m 17 again. Maybe I should look into that. Life is such a learning process and it would be very easy to just stay the same without any progression. The late bloomer in me talking is feeling like I’ve been waking up for the last five years. I’m still not 100% there and who knows if I ever will be but progress, right? You don’t have to be confined by whatever crazy walls your brain builds for you. We can literally do anything our mind thinks of. All it takes is a little push, positivity, and the will to manifest what you want.
What is gonna motivate YOU this year?
2016 was a weird year.
I think I can speak for all of us when I say it was an unexpected year to say the least. 2016 just seemed to have a blanket of malaise through the full year. There were lots of ups and downs but wow a whole lot of downs. We kind of realized the world is a lot scarier than we gave it credit for. In the age of smart phones, tablets, plugging in, luxurious tech solutions shaming this and that social media memes viral marketing keeping up with the Jone distractions, we kind of got hit in the face with our own mortality, the mortality of others, and the fact that no matter how progressive we think we are as a society we make HUGE mistakes. (See what I did there?)
Freelancing in 2016 was interesting as well. We saw more freelancers join the market more than ever. It’s great that folks are once again taking it upon themselves to carve out their own niche. Isn’t that what modern society was built on? People saying NO- I got this? Creatively I had so far the best year of my career. I met so many wonderful people, worked on many great projects, and improved my portfolio in ways I couldn’t even dream of when I started in 2013. It makes me hungry to do more and hungry for the future. That being said – success doesn’t come over night. I’m personally not at all where I want to be now but instead of jumping the gun I’ve come to grips with walking before I run – even though I have a very run run run attitude. The cream always rises to the top (Oh yeah!) as they say. Freelancing has many bumps in the road but the goal should be knowing that you’re doing what you love and are able to support yourself and your family. Being in New York we have the added bonus of fighting with the city that never sleeps and wrestling it into submission because you know you can conquer whatever is out there waiting. But guess what – New York doesn’t want to beat you down. New York is the Howard “Fats” Brown (From the Twilight Zone Episode “A Game Of Pool.”) New York is the best there is BUT wants to be beaten. It needs you to alleviate the stigma that comes with it. The song rings true “If you can make it there – you can make it anywhere” and I think if you have the mindset to make it in NYC and follow through – you’ll be just fine kiddo. I encourage anyone with a passion to jump in two feet first and ruin their lives trying to make something of themselves in this city.
We lost a lot of great people in 2016 and I’d like to think we gained a lot of perspective. Life’s too short to be an asshole to anyone. Maybe we should be as good as we can to one another and hope that 2017 is the most kick ass year we can have regardless of how you feel about certain things. My mindset is to engage and rearrange. We could also use a serious overhaul on our way through life and what better time than now? I have the privilege of working with a lot of great creative folks and more often than not I get texts, emails, and have conversations regarding the same feelings across the board. Hopefully we have an artful 2017 with tons of laughs, great success, and a lot of fun. Don’t let the haters tear you down. Onward. Forward. March.
Being a freelancer can yield the ultimate highs and the ultimate lows. As a freelancer or small business owner you know exactly what I mean. Committing yourself full time to your passion can be an uphill battle but the rewards far outweigh the risks. It’s all about commitment. That being said – the more you produce and the better you hone your craft the more you should acknowledge your worth as a viable commodity for those who need your service.
That means you shouldn’t sell yourself short. Three years ago when I started my business after quitting my go-nowhere job I KNEW I had to make it work. I had no capital, was getting married, and had no clientele. Looking back on it now I’m amazed I’m here. It took equal parts stupidity, bravery, willpower, and goddamn guts. I couldn’t quit. In that first year I took any and all jobs and took any pay that came with. It didn’t matter if I was working a 6 hour shoot for $200 (My client was mixing cocktails for his family at 1pm on a Tuesday in a 6 million dollar home) or working a 4 hour party for $75 (The party was in a loft in Soho filled with pseudo celebs and hangers on) I knew I had to do the grunt work to better my portfolio, gain more experience, and ultimately charge more and get better clientele so I didn’t have to hear someone say “I’d make you a drink but I don’t want crooked pictures! ::Insert smarmy jerk laugh::” or dealing with flakey clients who no-showed or tried to chinse on an agreed upon price.
After a while of plugging away that stuff eventually falls by the wayside and through a sometimes trial by fire you start to learn quickly and know better about how to handle your business. The type of clientele you will start to get will also rise in quality. You just have to keep working at what you do, don’t sweat the competition, and offer your customers something excellent. Customer service is a huge part of this business and it will get you repeat customers time and time again. As time goes on you can raise your rates accordingly, which is great for your business but your work will come under more scrutiny from higher end clientele who want a more perfect package. That being said you need to quote rates that are firm across the board. It would be unfair for you to charge people differently unless you have those awesome legacy clients that deserve a discount here and there because they have been loyal to you.
One of the major things you need to keep in mind is to never give up and never lose hope in yourself or your work. It’s an uphill battle with many factors that may discourage you from continuing but if your passion is your work then the hard work will start paying off in spades and before you know it you’ll have established yourself. The work never stops but at some point you’ll be able to work smarter instead of harder. For example why take 5 jobs that have a payout of $200 per job when you can have two jobs that each pay $500 within a week? As your work gets better so do your rates.
A huge factor in maintaining your business and your lifestyle as a full time freelancer is your positivity. You need to remain calm and positive and keep your eye on whatever prize you have in front of you. It sounds cheesy but it works. Why do you think people are always talking about the power of positivity? Thanks for reading!
Above and Beyond
Blogs / Going outside / Hardware / Inspiration / Landscapes / Photography Blogs / Photos / Theory / Writing
We have all heard the phrase “Going above and beyond,” but what does it really mean? What does it mean to us photographers?
Let’s break it down. When someone says; “That person really went above and beyond” in reference to an act that was performed that generally means that the person in question took it upon themselves to perform in a manner that exceeded expectations. That also means that they exceeded expectations without asking for more compensation without an added bad attitude. Basic translation “I don’t need to do this for you but I’m going to do it anyway.” Why? Common courtesy? Compassion? You really like the person? Respect? All of the above? Yes.
This applies a lot to the service industry. However, photographers are part of the service industry as well. We take the shots people want to pay for to have for whatever reason it may be. Whether it’s to document an event, capture a location, surprise a lover, for self promotion, for business promotion, or to make someone feel better about themselves. We serve people with our skills. Now, when a client is amazing they will get the best part of our service. We will go that extra step to make sure that they are happy. If there is someone I like I tend to overshoot a tad and maybe offer them a few more retouched images as well as some more artistic shots other than the ones they specifically asked for. More often than not conversations come up about the photography business, small business, modeling opportunities, or what have you. I personally will take the time out of our session at no extra charge to walk a client through any question, fear, or anxiety they may have with whatever regard they are wondering about. You’d be surprised at how many photographers don’t do that. You’d also be surprised how many photographers don’t do that in NYC, which is a city filled with photographers!
I pride myself on a job well done. We all should. The reason we give these little nuggets of extras out is because we care and that we also know we will make the money back on referrals and get great testimonials out of the deal. However, going above and beyond can also lead to a client being married to you or attached at the hip and we try to avoid that as much as possible. This is the grey area that occasionally arises. In the past I have gone above and beyond for a few higher strung clients and it backfires in the respect that they nitpick because they feel like they can or they call you at inappropriate times for whatever reason. It doesn’t mean you should stop being nice. It just means that you have to be more firm. I recently got married and my wedding photographers went above and beyond. I can honestly say that being on the other side of the lens for once was surreal but they were so great that it didn’t matter and they became friends because we all got along, which is why we hired them in the first place. They catered to our needs and delivered amazing engagement photos (still waiting on the wedding snaps) with such a great attitude that it was inspiring. They gave themselves to their art and that can sometimes be hard to find. If you are reading this and want to know who they are then by all means send me a direct message through whatever outlet you see this blog post in.
Clients also go above and beyond for their photographers. Living in NYC my whole life we know that you pretty much tip for everything. I have overshot and stayed longer than I should have on some shoot and without asking a client would usually throw a compliment my way and give me a “Here you go, kid. This is for you.” Sometimes we live for those sentiments. I am in no way trying to show off because that happens in a one out of twenty situation. I just wanted to show that it goes both ways. The client/photographer relationship can be very symbiotic and you want to ideally avoid it being stand offish. We’ve all been there. Sometimes people just don’t like having their picture taken and it’s our job to go above and beyond to calm that person down and make them forget that you are there to steal their soul with your camera.
As people we should always go above and beyond. As business people we should strive to exceed expectations but not at the cost of our integrity or wallet. There is a balance out there and we can all do well to find it. Sometimes you wake up and just want to crawl back into bed, but you can’t. You won’t. It’s not in you because you know that you have to get out there and shoot. You don’t know what situation you are going to walk into once that camera is around your neck. All you should know is that you are going to do the best job you can and if the situation calls for it you will go above and beyond to put that smile on someone’s face!
As always help support this blog with your comments, likes, retweets, or whatever you crazy kids do. Also, go above and beyond for someone you love this Holiday Season with a gift card from Amazon!
(This photo was a bit of a technical test I set up and did at home. Pretty cool, huh?)
A Fierce Defender
Blogs / fitness / Going outside / Hardware / Inspiration / Landscapes / Photography Blogs / Photos / pinup / punk / tattoos / Tattos / Theory / Uncategorized / Videos / Writing / yoga / yoga photography
So, I love music. Further more; I love heavy metal music. I have been in NYC metal bands since I was 18 years old. Metal has always been a part of my life since I cranked up that first Black Sabbath album I got through those bogus Columbia House deals many moons ago. That being said; metal is an extremely positive genre of music and for me it’s the most rocking life affirming jammingest stuff you could listen to. People associate great things with music and I have a song for almost every memory or frame of mind. I love to rock, baby.
Every so often you run across a song that means more to you than the surface value of any written piece of music is supposed to mean. Sometimes music speaks to you in untold ways that really strike you to the core. I have recently felt like that about 3 Inches Of Blood’s song “Fierce Defender.” It’s not because I’m killing undead hordes or championing a battlefield with sword in tow. This song is the perfect allegory for a small business start up. You still with me? Good. Here are the lyrics and song and my breakdown as it relates to being a small business owner. If you could stick around to the end I’ll buy you a drink (Call me out on it. You will get a drink and a conversation!) Anyway, here we go:
The outbreak has begun
End of days are coming
Very few will survive this plague
Gather all supplies, keep your wits about you
A war is coming, prepare for the attackNo more running, here we make our stand
Against the odds we will fight
Be the champion, be the one
A fierce defender til its doneFortress walls, behind them to defend
From mindless creatures need for flesh
They are coming, they will not stop
Crash upon you like a tidal wave of doomNo more running, here we make our stand
Against the odds we will fight
Be the champion, be the one
A fierce defender til its doneHold the line, defend it to the end
Destroy the brain and they will fall
Show no mercy for they will give you none
Relentlessly they seek to kill
Don’t wait for outside help
Reinforcements will not come
On ourselves we must rely
Find the courage to last another day
So all of us will stay aliveOutlast the horde
Their ranks are shrinking
The instinct to live on our greatest strength
The will come when all the killing stops
Time to rebuild all that’s lostNo more running, here we make our stand
Against the odds we will fight
Be the champion, be the one
A fierce defender til its done
The outbreak has begun
End of days are coming
Very few will survive this plague
Gather all supplies, keep your wits about you
A war is coming, prepare for the attack
Meaning: You have recently started your small business and the pressure is very real. Statistically, there are only a small number of businesses that succeed. You have to use all of the tricks you have learned and carefully use your funds because you’re on your own now with no outside help. Keep your wits about you.
No more running, here we make our stand
Against the odds we will fight
Be the champion, be the one
A fierce defender til its done
Meaning: You’ve been thinking about this for a while. This is your chance to succeed and employ the tools you have amassed while preparing for your launch. The odds of success are against you but you have to believe in your self. You have to be your own champion because you know you can. Never slip in your own self confidence. Be that Fierce Defender!
Fortress walls, behind them to defend
From mindless creatures need for flesh
They are coming, they will not stop
Crash upon you like a tidal wave of doom
Meaning: Whatever you build there are people that want to tear it down. These are the haters. They could be family, friends, or business associates. They could try and tear you down and tell you that you are not good enough or special enough. It may hurt at first but you have to persevere and defend that wall.
No more running, here we make our stand
Against the odds we will fight
Be the champion, be the one
A fierce defender til its done
Hold the line, defend it to the end
Destroy the brain and they will fall
Show no mercy for they will give you none
Relentlessly they seek to kill
Don’t wait for outside help
Reinforcements will not come
On ourselves we must rely
Find the courage to last another day
So all of us will stay alive
Meaning: Small Business owners must face facts. There is no one to help with their journey. At the end of the day if you decide to do everything on your own then you must hold the fort and provide victory for your brand. Against all odds you will see the success of your small business and end up being the bigger fish in the pond. Small Business owners must be steadfast in their product and their belief in their product. No one will help you, no one will back you up, and you have to find the gumption to stand alone, say your piece, survive, and live to fight another day. As small businesses, we climb a treacherous hill with many obstacles and we should never give up. We must find the courage to last another day. We owe it to ourselves, our family, and other like minded individuals. We stay alive through the communal effort of other business owners that hold the line.
Outlast the horde
Their ranks are shrinking
The instinct to live on our greatest strength
The will come when all the killing stops
Time to rebuild all that’s lost
Meaning: The more you chip at it – the more you get out of it. The haters will fade and the detractors will think better. Why? Because you have pioneered and championed your brand through your own belief. The INSTINCT to live on IS our greatest strength. Small business owners know that they have a huge undertaking before them and that is to establish a reputable brand. When success comes then you can expand, take time off, and make up for lost time.
No more running, here we make our stand
Against the odds we will fight
Be the champion, be the one
A fierce defender til its done
Meaning: Get out there and do it. BE the successful person you know you can be. BE the business owner you have always wanted to be.
Whew, well I hope you all got through that in one piece!
The album this is from; “Here Waits Thy Doom.” is also one of the greatest driving albums ever.
I would love to hear what songs motivate you and have meaning for you.
As always, please support this site and blog with some items from Amazon!
Everyone wants to be the best at what they do. With photography it’s no different. As a photographer you always want to be able to outshoot the other guy (or girl.) Photography is a very interesting field APART from the visuals, which is hard to believe for an outsider. As a photographer we are witness to some really amazing intricacies or beautiful simplicities that we may happen to capture or behold or are just in the right place at the right time for. It could be the detail of a model’s eye caught in your lens or the scope of a misty mountainside at dawn (or dusk for you evening shooters.) One thing we all have in common is the fact that we have to deal with a lot of people. We interact with clients, artists, neighbors, friends, family, and other photographers – whether we know it or not. These interactions should play into how we deal with approaching subjects or getting jobs.
Every one wants to be the best. BUT if you want to stand apart and not only be better but be different you have to treat people with as much compassion as you have ambition/passion for your art. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard horror stories from past clients who have shot with photographers that were so self absorbed, spoiled, and rude that it ruined the idea of a good picture. At the end of the day that’s what we do, right? We press a button and hope that at least one gem gets unearthed. Apart from that real fact we photographers are blessed with vision and creativity that should not come at the expense of others.
If you want to be the best you have to treat people better than the rest.
Just because you may be an artist does not mean you have to act like an artiste. There comes a time to be firm but being aloof and rude should not even come into the equation. Our job is to make people as comfortable as possible in order to bring out the best in them so we can capture those simplicities/intricacies that make photos great. We have to check our attitudes at the door. Plus, the same people we meet on the way up could be the same we meet on the way down.
As a photographer we have to remove ourselves somewhat from our subjects and become subjects ourselves and do lots of self study. All that means is that we have to realize that everyone is different and that we should not judge or cast aspersions on those that we meet based on how we have lived our lives thus far. We should also try not to complain because at the end of the day we have the best job in the world. We get paid to make art. We get paid to do what we love. And if you’re a people person like me you get to hear about different lives on a regular basis, which can be worth more than a paycheck in a spiritual sense.
We are not only photographers but we are therapists as well and need to be as accommodating as possible but without sacrificing our own sense of self. Those of us that don’t realize that are lost in the dark no matter how much they make per gig. These are more than likely are the same people who tout how much money they spent on their equipment and knock other professionals in this wonderful field of ours. You can buy Stevie Wonder a Lamborghini but he probably won’t get very far. The same goes for photography.
It’s great to be competitive but don’t lose sight of what puts a smile on the person’s face that hired you. Give them an unforgettable experience full of art and magic. Oh yea. We’re magicians, too.
Thanks, guys!
