Interview with Tampa Bay music photographer, Russ Robinson

Interview with Tampa Bay music photographer, Russ Robinson.

TAMPA: Whether it’s the local music scene or the national music scene, one thing is certain.....there is a lot more that goes on behind the scenes of the music industry then the average fan knows about or sees. Whether it’s the talent manager who manages the bands themselves, the booking agent who books the gigs in the venues for the band, the roadie who takes care of all the bands equipment, the studio engineer and sound man who helps bring out the bands talent & skills more clearly, the music photographer who helps give the bands a particular image & look, or the music journalist who helps get the word out by reporting on the news of your favorite bands...The fact of the matter is that it takes a lot of hard working people behind the scenes to help keep the music scene machine running. Like it or not, for better or for worse, the music industry is a business.

Even though the Tampa Bay music scene is not as high profile as it once was 20+ years ago, there still is an extraordinary amount of talented musicians in the Bay area, and a few professionals working behind the scenes who are trying to do their part in getting the local music scene noticed once again.

Recently in my column I have been profiling and interviewing some of the local professionals in the Tampa Bay music scene like Tampa Bay Talent Manager Dina Mead of Bay Area Band Source, and The Florida Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame. Today I continue this mission by profiling a Tampa Bay music photographer, Russ Robinson of Russ Robinson Photography.

Russ Robinson Photography currently serves the greater Tampa Bay area, including New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, and Lutz. In their New Tampa studio, they specialize in band/musician promos, but also deal in fashion/glamour, high school senior, and commercial photography as well. Russ Robinson has shot promos for several local bands & musicians, and is gaining respect and credibility as a band/musician photographer. The following is an interview I recently conducted with Russ Robinson....

Keith Wilkins:

"First of all Russ, I would like to thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to sit down and answer some questions for me, I appreciate it."

Russ Robinson:

"Absolutely…my pleasure."

Keith Wilkins:

"Now, for my readers out there, can you tell them a little about yourself?" "Who is Russ Robinson, the man, not the professional photographer." "Where are you originally from, what kind of hobbies & interests do you have, etc.?"

Russ Robinson:

"Well, I’m a native Floridian, having lived here for over 30 years." "I’ve got a beautiful wife and 2 amazing little girls, a 2-year-old and a 3-month-old."  "I’ve been playing guitar and singing off and on since I was 17." "In the late 90s I recorded 2 full-length albums and a couple of EPs with my songwriting partner & best friend at the time, and we even had heavy interest from a couple of record labels.....But he and I ended up having a major falling out, and I just never got back into music quite as seriously as I once had." "Eventually I found new inspiration by leading worship for a few churches in the North Tampa area, and I actually found this to be much more fulfilling on several different levels." "I think it’s important to mention that my faith plays a very significant role in my life, and it guides my decision-making process." "But whether or not I’ll ever pursue music in a commercial capacity again remains to be seen." "As far as employment is concerned, I’m not a full-time photographer, I work in IT at the Moffitt Cancer Center, and I’ve basically been a computer nerd for as long as I can remember." "I also really enjoy playing golf and snow skiing, but I can only afford one expensive hobby at a time, so right now it’s photography!"

Keith Wilkins:

"Wow, it sounds like you definatly keep busy between juggling two jobs, a family, and your church involvement." "So tell us, what made you decide to get into photography in the first place? Was it something you always had a fascination with, or a passion for since you were young?"

Russ Robinson:

"The first time I ever felt inspired to get into photography was during a vacation to San Francisco, Yosemite, and Lake Tahoe that I took with my wife about 6 years ago." "I had borrowed a really nice high-end camera from my mother-in-law, and since I had no idea how to really use it, I kept it on automatic settings the whole trip." "However, I was really blown away by the quality that it delivered as compared to a standard point-n-shoot, and I loved the way it made everything look so beautiful and vibrant." "So instead of just taking regular old snapshots to simply document the places we visited on our trip, I frequently found myself contorting my body and trying different angles and compositions in an attempt to really maximize the creativity factor." "I think the following homage to the great Ansel Adams pretty well sums it up:" "For the first time in my life I was trying to do more than just take a picture, I was trying to MAKE a picture."

"Anyway, when we returned from our trip, I reluctantly gave the camera back to its rightful owner and sulked for a while because I couldn’t afford to buy one of my own." "But my mother-in-law, being the awesome woman that she is, bought me my very own Canon DSLR as a birthday present a short time later, and that’s where it all truly began for me."

Keith Wilkins:

"When did you start Russ Robinson Photography?" "How long has Russ Robinson Photography been in operation?"

Russ Robinson:

"I incorporated in December 2008, so about 2 years."

Keith Wilkins:

"So tell us, in the begining, what kind of clients did you start out shooting, and when and why did you decide to start focusing mainly on shooting only musicians?"

Russ Robinson:

"I started out shooting families and babies, since, let’s face it, they’re very plentiful and usually very willing subjects." "But over time my style became much more commercial as I gained a proficiency with various lighting techniques and post-processing in Photoshop." "Eventually I got into fashion & glamour, which seemed like a natural fit for me because most of that stuff is very heavily retouched, and you have to be pretty handy with studio lighting to be successful at it." "However, I found it rather difficult to bring in a steady stream of discerning clients who were willing to pay a little extra for premium-quality images, and since I had tried unsuccessfully to establish any kind of ongoing business relationship with the major modeling agencies in the area, I found myself in somewhat of a rut, until one day it hit me." "Why not go after the clients who were truly near and dear to my heart....musicians!" "Since that day, it’s been nothing but bands and musicians, and I’m loving every minute of it!"

Keith Wilkins:

“Why do you feel that shooting bands & musicians is a good fit for your particular photographic style?”

Russ Robinson: 

"Well first off, I can usually relate on some level with almost all of my clients right off the bat, which really helps us establish a rapport very quickly." "This tends to make everything flow so much more smoothly, from the planning phase to the actual shoot, and honestly I feel that having open communication lines is a huge but often overlooked factor when it comes to creating great images." "I work hard to build trust and openness with my clients, and I want them to be brutally honest with me if I suggest something that they don’t like." "Let’s face it, potential fans are going to make immediate generalizations and judgments based solely on the quality of the images being displayed on a band’s website/MySpace, so it’s vitally important that those images be of the highest quality and truly reflect each band’s unique personality and style." "After all, you know what they say about first impressions!"

"In terms of photographic and artistic vision, I feel that my style is VERY well-suited to shooting band & musician promos." "In fact, it’s like a perfect marriage, because I favor a very crisp, punchy, and vivid style that so many major recording artists are using to promote themselves these days." "My goal is to give each client a set of images that they can proudly hold up to anything being published in magazines like Rolling Stone, Spin, and Vibe, and have the confidence to send those images to the biggest record companies out there with full confidence that they’ll be hearing back in short order." "But even though my #1 goal is to help artists promote themselves and break through to the next level, I’m also cognizant of the fact that my own reputation is on the line with each and every shoot, and I take that fact very seriously."

Keith Wilkins:

"Which Tampa Bay bands & musicians have you shot?"

Russ Robinson:

"Up to this point I’ve shot promos and CD covers for bands such as Southside Serenade, Adalee, and GlorySound, and I’ve also worked with internationally-recognized DJs/Producers Viro & Rob Analyze." "Things are really picking up at breakneck speed right now, as I’ve got 4 shoots coming up in the next few weeks, and several more being planned after that."

Keith Wilkins:

"Is having musicians as clients harder than having other clients?" "Are they harder to do a photo shoot with?" "If so, why?" "If not, why not?"

Russ Robinson:

"Well, there’s usually a heck of a lot more planning involved with musician shoots, because there’s so much more at stake for each artist." "As a music photographer, I’m being asked to create images that will become the “face” of each artist to potentially millions of fans." "Hence, it’s not just about making an artist look good, it’s about creating a highly marketable brand that will help propel the artist into the stratosphere." "Equally as important, it’s about helping an artist achieve instant legitimacy and credibility in a world filled with wannabes."  "It’s human nature to judge a book by its cover, we all do it from time to time." " So the trick is to make the cover as attractive and eye-catching as possible."

Keith Wilkins:

"Was there ever a particular band or musician you shot that was your favorite to shoot, or was the easiest to shoot?" "If so, why?"

Russ Robinson:

"My favorite was the promo shoot I did with Southside Serenade, because they were the first band I ever worked with." "I remember being so nervous and wondering if my lighting rig was gonna be adequate to shoot four band members at once." "But those guys were very gracious and patient with me, and after all was said and done we ended up with some great images." "As far as the easiest shoot I ever did, that would definitely have to be the one with DJs Viro & Rob Analyze, because they were so laid-back and full of ideas." "I literally just stood there pressing the shutter repeatedly while they moved through all sorts of wacky poses." "They brought a ton of character and personality to their shoot, and I don’t think I stopped laughing the whole way through." "Those guys are freaking hilarious!"

Keith Wilkins:

"Of course I have to ask this next question, and I understand if you don’t wanna mention any names." "Has there ever been a particular band or musician that you have shot, and they were just too impossible to work with, for whatever reason?" "If so, please explain why & what happened." "Tell us how you handled it?"

Russ Robinson:

"Well, I once did a shoot for a band, and after spending about 10-15 hours retouching their images, they decided that they didn’t like any of them." "They said that their expressions in the photos were all too serious, and not an accurate reflection of the bright & happy persona of the band." "So I offered them a reshoot, no questions asked." "Oh, and I also wrote a big fat “Note to Self” to make darn sure that I didn’t make the same mistake again."

Keith Wilkins:

"What is your favorite kind of photo shoot to do with musicians?" "Do you prefer studio photo shoots or live performance photo shoots, and why?"

Russ Robinson:

"I actually prefer to do studio shoots, because I have complete and total control over the light, which is absolutely critical to photography in general." "Shooting live can be very hit-or-miss...mostly miss, because the lighting conditions are often changing constantly."

Keith Wilkins:

"I've gotta tell ya, I have seen some of your work and I have to admit, I am a fan of your work myself." "In your opinion though, tell me what you think sets your work apart from other photographers work?" "What do you do differently?" "I guess what I am getting at, is why should a band or musician hire you over another photographer?"

Russ Robinson:

"I think what separates my work from other photographers is the way many of my images seem to jump off the page at you." "At first glance, this usually causes most people to say to themselves, “Wow, he must have a really expensive camera.” "I think it’s natural to draw this conclusion, but it still doesn’t explain why my images look the way they do." "The truth is, I’m able to achieve my look through the judicious application of two things, lighting and post-processing, a.k.a. Photoshop." "For me, these elements are inextricably tied together, meaning that when I plan each shot, I’m configuring the lighting specifically with an eye toward how I will eventually retouch the image in Photoshop." "Of course things like posing and location play a significant role as well, but it’s my lighting and post-processing techniques that really give my images that extra bit of “pop” and make them instantly recognizable as being professional-quality." "Very few music photographers out there take such a methodical  approach to image-making, and the ones that do are probably shooting covers for Rolling Stone, I guarantee you." "Maybe I’ll  get my chance one day."

"As far as why bands and musicians should hire me, I think it really comes down to the way I treat each client like they’re the only one I’ve ever had or ever will have." "I’m willing to literally bend over backwards to ensure that each of my clients is absolutely thrilled with the final product, and I’m known for going to great lengths to make that happen." "It all starts with the very first meeting, where we make introductions and start brainstorming ideas, and my clients quickly begin to realize how dedicated I am to helping them achieve stellar results with their promo shoot." "But beyond that, I’m actually looking to make a real connection with each person, to understand what makes them tick, how they view themselves, and get a sense of their stylistic preferences." "All of these things factor into the approach I take from an artistic perspective, and it ensures that everyone’s on the same page and that we have a solid game plan before we even think about shooting." "The last thing I want is to have everyone show up for a shoot without getting all the details worked out beforehand, which invariably results in unfulfilled expectations and disappointment." "I respect my clients’ time far too much to let that happen, so I invest myself heavily in the planning process, which I think is why I’m able to deliver such consistent results."

Keith Wilkins:

"Do you shoot with both film & digital photography?" "Which do you prefer, and why?"

Russ Robinson:

"I’m digital all the way." "I guess you could say that I kind of missed the era of film entirely, which is fine with me, because all I keep hearing is how bad all the chemicals used to smell!"

Keith Wilkins:

"What would you say is the hardest part of your job?"

Russ Robinson:

"Ah, that’s an easy one." "The hardest part of my job is balancing the photography business with my family life, my 40-hour a week job, and being a night student." "I’m about 8 classes shy of my Business degree at USF." "I could easily fill up the entire schedules of at least two other people if it were an option." "But I’ll tell ya this, when they finally perfect the whole cloning thing, I’ll be the first to sign up!"

Keith Wilkins:

"Tell me, what has been your proudest moment or moments during your photography career?" "Is there one or two things that you have done or accomplished that will always stand out to you?"

Russ Robinson:

"There have actually been several moments where I sort of paused and thought to myself...Geez, maybe I’m onto something here.” "I think the first moment was when I took this one particular photo of my 2-year-old daughter Adelyn." "I think she was maybe a couple months old at the time, but the photo was the first that I ever took with off-camera flash...strobes." "It marked not only a big technical achievement in my photographic journey, but it was also just a flat-out adorable picture." "Beyond that, I think the launch of my website in January 2009 was another proud moment, because it gave me instant credibility as a professional photographer." "But I think the biggest moment for me occurred just recently, when I was contacted by internationally-recognized Adobe Photoshop & Lightroom expert Matt Kloskowski about using one of my photos in his upcoming book on Layers." "The book is due out any day now, and is expected to sell around 40,000 copies worldwide."

Keith Wilkins:

"Wow, congratulations on your inclusion in the up-and-coming book, I'll look forward to checking it out when it is released." "In the mean time, tell us what the one thing is that you love the most about working in the Tampa Bay area?"

Russ Robinson:

"In terms of working as a photographer in the local music scene, I don’t think very many people necessarily view Tampa as an absolute hotbed of musical talent......But I’m on a mission to help change that." "Of course nice photos aren’t going to improve anyone’s musical ability, but they can definitely go a LONG way toward changing the public’s perception of the talent level in this area." "I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had band managers and booking agents tell me that they really wish more of their musical acts would pony up the cash for a professional shoot with me." "Countless bands out there have plenty of musical ability, but all too often they fail miserably when it comes to marketing themselves." "So I think one of [the] things I really love about working in this area is the limitless potential to completely turn things around for so many musical acts, and really help them get the exposure they deserve."

Keith Wilkins:

"Russ, once again I’d just like to thank you for taking the time to do this interview with me, it’s been a pleasure." "I wish you the best of luck, and continued success."

Russ Robinson:

"Thanks for having me, and best of luck to you as well!"

If you would like to see some of Russ Robinson's great work, take a look at the slide show in this article. The slide show is just a small example of Russ Robinson's work he has done with local Tampa Bay musicians. 

All articles published in the St. Petersburg Live Music Bar Scene column are written by Keith Wilkins, and are under copyright laws. Articles cannot be re-printed, re-posted, or re-produced in whole without written consent by the author (Keith Wilkins), KAM Music Publishing, or the Examiner. Partial re-printing, re-posting, or re-producing with a link back to the original article is permitted. For consent, questions, or comments, please email Keith Wilkins c/o Amy Joyner at: kampublishing@aol.com.

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Want to learn more about Examiner Columnist Keith Wilkins? Read part 1 & part 2 of an interview with Keith Wilkins that was published in the San Antonio Single Parenting Examiner Column on October 4th & October 6th, 2010.