Going Yellow

I've been teaching photographic lighting for a little over two years now.  My hobby-turned-profession has taken me to different places, I've met many different people, and I've learned a lot of new things.  I've taken fashion shots for magazine covers, food shots for restaurant and hotel menus, event coverage for company websites, lifestyle shots for developers' billboards, product shots for entrepreneurs, and many other commissioned shoots.  Many people have helped me along the way, and I can't even begin to thank them all for the support and helping hands that they have unselfishly given.  There's the secondary photographer, the assistant holding the reflector, the makeup artist, the stylist, and many other people directly involved with the shoots.  And then there are the people who have helped me in another way.  The small pep talks, the introductions to prospective clients, the referrals, the little favors.  These people have helped me become who I am today. 

Recently, I've received a little more help from someone.  And that someone is a little company known as NIKON.  I've been a Canon user since the beginning, and that decision was based mostly on what system my friends were using at the time.  The prevailing thought when I made that decision was "who has more lenses and accessories that I can borrow?"  And the answer was, of course, Canon.  I also leaned towards them because of the local service centers that provided support for your camera woes.  Through the years though, the makers of the system that I was already heavily invested in did little in the way of direct support to their professional clientele.  When I would go to their service center to get my camera repaired or cleaned, the least I expected was a service unit that they could lend me so that I could continue with my craft while they took care of my gear.  Nil.  Zip.  Nada.  I've asked more than a few times if I could test some lenses or test some other units, and all I managed to get was a verbal parry camouflaged as a joke.  It was frustrating!

Nikon Philippines (under Columbia Digital) got my partner, Parc Cruz, as an endorser a few months ago, and we've been endorsing the brand at our workshops since then.  Nikon would also come over and give away some items to our participants.  Our posters had their logo on them as well, so it was a win-win situation.  I had a dilemma though.  My system was Canon.  I was having a very difficult time helping Parc endorse Nikon while I was using another competing brand.  A few nights ago, my predicament would change dramatically.  I got a message in my Facebook inbox, and guess who it was from?  Nikon. They welcomed me to the family and asked if I could drop by their office on Thursday.  I thanked them and told them that I'd be glad to go meet them. 

When I got to their head office, I met with their CEO, and two people from their marketing department.  We talked about plans, how we could mutually help each other, and how to grow together as company and endorser.  After  a few hours and some signatures later, they loaded me with a sort of "welcome package" consisting of some items that would send me on my way into the Nikon universe.  A shiny new D300s Digital SLR, a prime lens, and some other accessories were in the package.  They also threw in some Nikon paraphernalia like bag tags, a keychain and a calendar, to mention a few.  I was awestruck with the showering of items and toys and thought to myself, "now THIS is support."  I've yet to get used to the controls of the new camera and test out its capabilities, but I know this early that this is the start of a beautiful relationship. :)