Name, Age and Where do you Currently Reside?
Antton Miettinen. Photos usually run by my first name. I´ll be 33 in a month and I've been living in Barcelona (Spain) for the past 7 years.
How long have you been shooting for?
I´ve been taking photos for 16 years, professionally 9
What did you first start out shooting, and how have you progressed over the years from that?
I first started shooting skating and snowboarding. Pretty soon afterwards I started to shoot other stuff as well; I had a few friends who were starting to make a living doing graphics/layouts/advertising, being around these guys and working with them had a huge impact on my photography. Obviously quality standard was a lot different in advertising stuff or with album cover work, but just to be around different influence and to have a different look on photography and commercialization of the craft was very eye opening. For me this was quite important, since I don't see myself as an artist, but 100% as a commercial photographer.
I say this with no opinion of which is better or more desirable; artistic approach or commercial approach. I just happen to be a commercial photographer and for me the source of satisfaction is to do the commercial work well ie: I'm able to understand the customers needs and fulfill them. It's especially challenging in skating, where one has to remember that there are 2 customers; the rider and the company/magazine that's gonna buy the photo, there's a real obligation towards both of these parties. The obligation might be even more towards the skater though, nothing as useless as a skate phographer without a skater
How did you make the transition from editorial to comercial?
Actually, I didn't. It was the other way around. For the first 2 years of shooting skating for a living, I shot ads almost exclusively. Then a little more editorial and now back to mainly commercial (ads,catalog and shop windows) stuff. I don't think my editorial income has ever been over 20% of my annual.
Where there a lot of hurdles to overcome in your career?
I do think that anything to do with shooting skate photos (probably snow or bike as well) for a living is a giant hurdle. Just getting by, at least for the first years is the biggest hurdle itself. For myself I can say that the struggle was a very necessary thing to push me to give 100% to get better and wiser. Nothing pushes one like the necessity to survive I suppose.
Has your style evolved (positively or negatively) as you've gone from shooting what you want to shoot, to shooting for a client?
Well, I've never worked staff for a mag, but in general I treat an editorial assignment like any other work. A client is a client. I'm only speaking of my own experience, which is fairly limited, I've never done a editorial assignment for a snowboard mag, for example.I do think that with every shot I take, I grow as a photographer. I'm always out there trying to shoot the photos the way I want to shoot; if that makes sense?
Sometimes the clients want stuff that might seem a bit ridiculous or wack. This is not too much an issue with skate ads, but on some catalog or album cover shoots, yes. I just try to make the best out of it in those cases. I have said no to some projects altogether. Not because I would've been embarrassed ( I would have) but because I feel that if something, that I gotta shoot, is so far fetched from my point of view, there's no way I could do a decent job.
In that case, what is the ideal commercial project for you? Do you prefer to have the client tell you what they envision and it's up to you to interpret how you'll make that work for them?
Hmmm. Ideal commercial project? Suppose something where I would be working with friends and time and budget wouldn't be an issue. My best experiences on commercial (non skateboarding) shoots is when the AD is on point and involved in the creative process. This is a very fine balance between interfering and creating. So, yes, I prefer the client to be involved in the process.
What's the deal with the album photography? Are you big into the music scene?
These days not at all. I think the last one I shot was, like, 8 years ago. I used to do that stuff when I was living in Finland, before shooting skating for living. Very good experience in all aspects, but I dont miss it at all.
So what are you looking at doing in the next couple of years? any big plans?
Survive the economic crisis and come through stronger. Hmmm, survive? Sounds pretty dramatic. Of course I´m gonna survive ie, stay alive.
I suppose I mean economical success. The world has got to me.
What's been the most memorable experiences you've had as a professional photographer?
Numerous, it would be unjust to point out one.
Any advice to kids out there looking to make it as a professional photographer?
Yeah, buy a light meter and maybe even a film camera. Why, I think that sometimes it would be important to plan the photo before shooting and not be able to check immediately. I feel a lot of times, that I get confused with all the angles that digital allows me to try, maybe ending with the not the best one.
Don't take things too seriously, except one: photography. Take it very serious and give it all you got. Cause if you wont, someone else will.
When selling your photos, don't take it personally. Your job is to shoot photos for someone to buy. If they don't want it, they don't want it. It is primarily the photogs problem. No need to rant, how the photo is good or about politics or whatever. Doesn't really matter who's right or wrong. Nobody benefits having bad relations.
When one does starts taking it personally, bitterness might start to creep in. Its all downhill from there. Hey, sometimes it is personal, not very often, but... if it is, still doesn't help to argue about it.
Dont double dip. To make that extra 150$, even though it might get that additional 555, can cost you hundred fold in the long run. Its kinda the same thing as arguing with an editor, doesn't help much, but can cost you dearly.
Try to be polite and nice to people, even if you don't like them, don't have to be fake, but polite. You never know where people land in the industry.
Look for inspiration. Look up old masters and study their work, maybe even take a class on history of photography or art history.
I just got a document about Annie Leibovitz, pretty interesting, maybe not as Manspirating as Nachtways war photographer, but, I would still recommend this document over the other.
Buy photo books, its different to have em in front of you on the living room table than, say, on computer screen. Spend that 2000$ on books before buying that t/s lense.
- Irving Penn
- Richard Avedon
- Alfred Stieglitz
- Walker Evans
- Peter Lindbergh
- Annie Leiboviz
- Helmut Newton
- Euegene Richards
- Josef Koudelka
- Diane Arbus
- Oliver Barton
- Mike O´Meally
- Deeli
- Seu Trinh
Any last words? Shout outs?
Shouts go out to the Kapitan,BonanBonan,4D,Moblow,Tomi Toiminen, Timo Järvinen, Bartok, PutoJavi,Mikko Ryhänen, Ali keep your chin up!! Hasselblad 203, Master and Margarita, For whom the bell tolls, Mr Nice, The great shark hunt. Green beans and fresh cilantro, Numero mag R.I.P, Lorena.
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