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!
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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!
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!
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.
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!
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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!