So I gave a talk. It was a captive audience. They were winners and I had a chance to talk at them. A small but potent group. Filmmakers, photographers, writers. You know, creative types. From the far reaches of the planet. Here and there and a few places in between. I spoke about myself, about Blurb and about AG23, amongst other things. One of the folks was Jesse Levine.
A few weeks later I’m away and I get a text from a neighbor. “You have a package on your front porch.” Where I live things like this might disappear and I thought “I don’t remember ordering anything.” Package safely inside I returned home curious what had been sent my way. Turns out Jesse listened to some of the things I mentioned in my talk. And not only did he listen, but he also acted and this is why I’m writing this post. I’ve said this many, many times before but there is always a reason NOT to do something. Creatives spend massive amounts of time finding reasons NOT to do things but then there are those who go for it.
Jesse sent me a variety of things. First, a thank you note in the form of two postcards printed on paper I had mentioned in my talk. Hahnemuhle Postcard paper with a beautiful black and white image from his award-winning work. Handwritten. A third postcard, blank, for my purposes. But it gets better.
Also included was a Blurb, 6×9, softcover Trade Book from his work in Kyrgyzstan. Beautifully designed, edited, sequenced, a story encapsulated in print. There was also a gift inside but that was the least important part of the package. Thoughtful, yes, for sure but the entire response is what I want to bring your attention to. This is professionalism in all the right ways.
On the surface, you might not think a filmmaker and a printing platform have anything in common but that is simply not the case. They do and Jesse proved it. He also made me stop everything else I was doing and take his work into consideration. That is the power of print and the power of reaching out in a thoughtful and professional way. Since receiving the package we’ve been able to talk on the telephone and learn a bit more about each other.
In the age of Instagram, email and the emotionless, electronic missive there is a strange yet strong place for print and tactile communication. If you haven’t yet dipped your toe in the world of print communication, do yourself a favor and have a go.
Comments 10
That video and story are fantastic.
Wow, very moving.
Great stuff!
I love the postcards idea. I don’t remember where I saw it first if it was on your old site where you talked about printing postcards on that portable canon printer or Frank Jackson’s blog where he was giving them away if you provided a mailing address.
But I have adopted that in my practice as a photographer and collage artist. I always include postcards of my work – that is separate from the main package I have sent. People dig it – I love making them. It is a win win.
Thanks for sharing. I always am inspired by your journals here. People always asks where I get my ideas of printing work – and I just point them in this direction and say “explore around take what you need and share with others!”
Author
Hey Aaron,
Thanks for that. Very kind. Postcards are the best. I remember traveling when I was younger and sending them from remote places as my only connection to my life back in the States. No phone, no computer. Just a pen and a stack of random cards. And, I remember receiving them!
Aaron, any recommendations on reliable, low maintenance, fairly portable printers?
Author
Scott,
Me too…
Thanks for sharing this. The value of a “print first” world still exists.
Author
Hey Matt,
For sure. I’ve run into a fair number of younger, more online photographers, who have never printed a single image. It’s odd to me but I also came from another world. Print is such a great educational tool.
Can’t you just tell from his face what a super decent chap the Lugene is? Faces really do reflect the personality of the soul.
Heartwarming video.
wow that Lugene guy seems sooo nice 🙂 good to see cattle being treated better than in a lot of other places