A short recap from two talks I gave this month in Austin during SXSW 2010.

Last year I wrote a detailed thank you to the people that made SXSW 2009 great; but this year, it’s just not possible. SXSW 2010 was a vastly different, busier, better experience for me than last year. Panels? Didn’t go. Parties? Great, but overwhelming at times. Conversations, chats, and meals with friends? The best part about SXSW Interactive, in my opinion, hands down.

Other than a couple talks I gave and participated in, of course.

@Photoshelter Austin Photo Seminar

Photoshelter’s Austin Photo Seminar
The view above is from the front of the room just before I gave the introductory remarks at @Photoshelter‘s Austin Photo Seminar “Thriving in Uncertain Photographic Times” in Austin on March 13th, about “Creating Context for your Content”. Photoshelter packed the house, selling out their event with a mix of presentations, panels and photography workshops talking about career paths, the challenges and opportunities created by new technology and culture, SEO, and some hands-on work on lighting for shoots. I know I enjoyed my talk, and based on the feedback I know it helped create some ideas and thoughts in the professional photographers packing the room.

SXSW Core Conversation

SXSW Core Conversation
The view above is from the front of the room during a SXSW Core Conversation I co-lead with @Photoshelter CEO Allen Murabayashi entitled “Everyone can be a Professional Photographer” on March 14th in Austin. The room was packed: apparently, far more people were interested in the discussion than SXSW had guessed because the room was full well before the scheduled start time. People stayed and contributed and many people were turned away, unable to get in the room because of space constraints.

Core Conversations at SXSW, for the uninitiated, are not presentations but a discussion, and the goal of the conversation leaders is not to give a talk, but to guide and moderate the discussion from everyone in the room. Instead of talking about the technical and gear-oriented questions about the requirements and processes for creating great images, the conversation focused on the business and ethical aspects towards being a “professional” photographer. Allen provided great commentary and tactical advice on many topics and answered many questions, and many photographers and “digital content creatives” contributed to create a lively, informative discussion. Based on the great engagement in the room and the feedback I received afterward, I hope people left with a better understanding of the issues and the energy to create great work.

What’s next?
For one, I’ll be on a panel at CEPIC in Dublin, Ireland in June about “The Future” of the stock photography industry, but trust that there will be much more between now and then. Stay tuned.

Liked this post? Subscribe to this blog by RSS or email, check out more about my consulting services for photographers at NARRATIVELY, and follow me at @tdavidson and @narratively on Twitter.