Good afternoon!

Whew, it’s been a busy few weeks for me. Kelly J. Kusilek Photography is continuing to grow and I feel like every new day and new client brings me closer to my goals as a photographer.

In other news…

I begin a new position next week as a marketing assistant for United States Distilled Products (UV Vodka, Phillips Vodka, Prairie Organic Vodka), but more about that in another post.

Today I want to talk about my journey thus far assisting NBA Photographer David Sherman.

My first assignment back in October was a blast: Wolves Media Day 2013. I learned a tremendous amount in setting up light stands, strobes, soft boxes, back drops, and more, the day prior to the big shoot. The next morning at Media Day, I was thrown into a chaos of player interaction, where my assignments were to assist Mister Sherman, and to capture “behind the scenes” style candid photographs of the Minn. Timberwolves players and staff.

We learned during the setup of Media Day that the Minn. Lynx had advanced the the WNBA Finals, meaning two post season home games were in store. I shot fans and crowd interaction at these competitions. It was a blast, and a great learning experience. Big congrats to the LYNX on a great season, it was an honor to watch them in action.

Briefly between seasons, I worked on sporadic assignments with Mister Sherman around the Twin Cities. His clients ranged from professional headshots to lifestyle work, so I was able to dip my toes in all kinds of waters.

I’m thrilled to be on board this Wolves’ season.

Each home game I learn my assignments for the evening. I have worked most intimately thus far with the Premium Seating department. This means I scope out VIP lounges, suites, bars, terraces, and special fans all around the Target Center to capture their photographs as they cheer on the Wolves. My work mostly focuses on capturing the atmosphere at each game. I have also been instructed to focus on the dancers, Crunch, player interaction with fans, and unique fans. I’m always keeping my eye out for people sporting their Wolves gear who might make a great photograph to capture the essence of NBA fans.

I consider myself very fortunate to receive individualized constructive criticism from a professional in the industry. I can feel the growth of my knowledge and skill as a photographer with each interaction with Mister Sherman. The best way to learn is to be thrown into the action. I still have a lot of things to fix, but I once learned that failure is key in the learning process for an artist.

The next home game is this Friday, and I’m hoping the Wolves can get back to winning since our two-game deficit!

Ta ta for now,

KJ