I’m taking bookings for my newest photography talk: The Charro, and the Unexpected Rewards of a Long Term Photography Project.
The Charro has a fascinating mythology that inspired me throughout this 5 year project. I spent months, deep in Charro Country, getting to know the people, their traditions… and being taught some cool rope tricks.
This talk isn’t just about Charros though, it’s also a look at the challenges and rewards that come with taking on a long term photography project like this.
This is my second multi-year project. My previous one, The Aztecas and Storytelling for Photographers, has been booked over 250 times. In fact the feedback was so lovely, I decided to create another talk in a similar same format. A mix of narrative, behind the scenes footage, photo/process breakdowns. And a liberal sprinkling of photography philosophy…
I think you’ll really enjoy this talk.
“Your work is mesmerising! Your presentation was an inspiration.” Gladstone Camera Club
“Our members were on the edge of their seats for the entire time!” Hillsborough Photo Society
Ready to book? Got more questions?
TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS PHOTOGRAPHY TALK
- I look at the technical hurdles that come with a new project. Like learning how to correctly light horses and huge hats!
- I walk through my process for finding concepts, models and locations.
- I discuss how it feels to slowly shift from community “outsider” to “insider”.
- This talk combines “behind the scenes” video footage from my shoots with sketches, location shots, test shots and final photos, to show the details of how a project like this comes together.
- I close with the unexpected benefits I get from taking on long term projects. Because they go beyond just improved technical skills.
GET A FEEL FOR WHAT MY PHOTOGRAPHY TALKS ARE ALL ABOUT
My YouTube channel is a good way to get a feel for who I am.
PHOTOGRAPHY TALKS TESTIMONIALS
See what people who attended my photography talks had to say:
Cool presentation and great insights. I really enjoyed the talk.
Cool presentation and great insights. I really enjoyed the talk.
Our members were inspired to get out and try your intentional approach!
Excellent presentation! The club really loved it. Many of our members were inspired to get out and try your intentional approach to visual storytelling!
I found your talk both engaging and inspirational.
I would also like to personally add my thanks for last night. I found your talk both engaging and inspirational, and the photography was excellent. Thanks once again.
A winning blend!
JP's work is so cinematic each image is a feast for the eyes. He spoke full of enthusiasm for photography, explaining narratives and the thought process into how to tell stories with your images. I found JP's talk really inspirational and it was one of the best ones we've have had. I look forward to trying some of his storytelling ideas in the studio next season. He was really engaged with the audience and answered questions throughout the talk, I really learnt a lot. The chat box was full of compliments 'Beautiful pic' 'Epic' 'Stunning' and so on. I would happily recommend JP Stones to any club.
JP’s work transcends photography alone.
JP's images have such beauty, that just on a superficial level they demand attention. But more than that, they transport the willing viewer into an unfamiliar time and place, and invite them to write the narrative. Our club learned a great deal about how to develop an intention for a photography shoot and work through that cohesive process to produce a narrative image which has a power and vibrance of its own. I would whole-heartedly recommend JP to clubs and societies - photographic and other. His work transcends photography alone.
So much more we could hear you share with us about this topic!
It seems like there is still so much more we could hear you share with us about this topic! Your presentation on Storytelling for Photographers was very informative and very enjoyable.
A fresh and fascinating talk!
Thank you for a very interesting and enjoyable evening. There was a lot of talk afterwards about how great your images were and we were all really taken with your idea of intention and story telling. I think we often talk about an image telling a story but this often happens by chance so the notion of thinking of the story first and then creating the image is really fresh and fascinating. We are all going to go out and buy smoke machines now!
JP’s responses to questions proved to be enlightening.
JP is an entertaining and competent speaker working his way through his presentation in a methodical process making quite clear the points he makes. His responses to questions proved to be enlightening from which our APJA members learned a great deal. We wish him well in his lifelong photographic adventure.
You gave us new ways to look at photography!
Your presentation last night to the Sierra Camera Club was entertaining and educational. You gave us new ways to look at photography which gives us opportunities to broaden what we shoot and create art. You used your striking mages well to illustrate your message. Thank you
I thought your presentation was fabulous!
I thought your presentation was fabulous! It really makes one think about the reason behind taking a photo. They always say you have to tell a story and your photos really hit it out of the ball park in that respect. The culture of the Mexica people really came through as well. Great work!
An Incredible Presentation!
Thank you for your incredible presentation.Your talk was like a gift that kept on giving, or maybe like a good story that keeps unfolding. You were so effective in creating a mindset of not just striving to capture a nice image but to establish the framework for conveying a narrative. Your images had so much depth, not just conveyed by creative exposure but through luring the viewers’ imagination into the image. You successfully created captures that prompted questions about the character, more that just viewing a model. Reading between the lines, it was evident though out your presentation that you think and plan your images.
Interesting, fantastic, and inspirational!
Thank you for last night. The presentation was interesting, the pictures were fantastic, and the thought process was inspirational. We are still talking about it tonight and looking how we can plan and move things forward incorporating what we have learnt!
JP’s images were amazing and really told a story.
Our photography group thoroughly enjoyed this presentation. JP's images were amazing and really told a story. He explained his ideas and processes in a clear and concise manner. It took us out of our usual realm of Irish landscapes to see some stunning Mexican cultural images
Very striking and well curated images!
Thank you very much for your talk. It was very enjoyable and informative with some very striking and well curated images. The portrait, documentary and street photographers amongst us will have picked up many tips. I will certainly think more about the intention behind my photos to help make them more powerful.
Your work is mesmerizing!
You just finished giving a presentation on zoom to a few photography clubs, I was part of that zoom meeting and I just wanted to say thank you! Your work is mesmerizing! I've been feeling very stuck with my photography lately and your presentation was full of some great information and inspiration for me personally.
Our members were on the edge of their seats for the entire time!
Thanks for an excellent presentation last night! Our members were on the edge of their seats for the entire time!
The talk was professional, very enjoyable and invaluable!
It was a pleasure for our club to host JP Stones and his presentation on Storytelling for Photographers. It was great hearing JP’s perspective on storytelling and his intent behind his work. JP’s willingness to explain his thought process, showing examples of both his brilliant images as well as mistakes he has made was a real eye opener. The talk was presented in a professional way, was very enjoyable and our members found it invaluable.
I was engrossed all evening and learned much.
have been to many, many camera club presentations and I must say that JP Stones talk on Storytelling in Photography last night was right up there. His photographs are first rate. His location in Mexico gives an interesting new subject setting and perspective I've not seen before. And in the presentation he openly and generously describes his journey and methods of photography. I was engrossed all evening and learned much.
Blown away by your photos!
Thank you JP. That was an exceptional presentation. Very informative. Blown away by your photos! Really Fabulous. Thank you so much.
fantastic photography, well planned out and well delivered!
I would just like to say how we thoroughly enjoyed last night's talk from you. Apart from the fantastic photography, it was full of tips and things I will definitely keep in mind next time I am out with my camera, and also questioning what am I trying to say and what will the person viewing the image take from it? So thank you for such an interesting evening, well planned out and delivered, and we will forgive you for saying how hot it was over there, as we were all wrapped up in our community hall!
A truly excellent illustration of the topic
Thank you JP for your great presentation. Wonderful work that clearly shows your connection with the people, and a truly excellent illustration of the topic. Lots of food for thought!
It was a truly unique learning experience!
JP did a fantastic job describing the path he has been on to develop his photographic style and how it has evolved over time to the present. The images he shares exhibit the care and thought he puts into his photography and telling a story in one photo. It was a truly unique learning experience for me and for most of our photography club. JP was able to explain his unique vision and how other photographers can adopt or adapt it to fit into their future work. I have notes from the presentation that I am sure will help me on my photographic journey.
Unlike anything we have had before!
Such a great presentation! It is unlike anything we have had before. Many of the points are applicable to the various genres of photography in which the members engage. Thank you!
We are all still talking about our evening with JP!
We are all still talking about our evening with JP. He is a dream guest for Camera Clubs! Affordable, humble, quick to respond and equally good in front of the camera as he is behind it!
Best talk I’ve seen since I’ve been at the club!
I've been a member for about 5 years and this event was by far the most interesting and engaging. A view shared by many of the members and attendees. It was informative, practical and educational. The message of intent was striking and the progression of JPs photographs through the use of intent was remarkable. JP presented mistakes and provided solutions based on what the intention should be. It was a different mindset, which I could see the audience taking notes on. Even our more seasoned members. We enjoyed the story telling and the journey you have been on to bring to light the cultures of Mexico. Your passion and enthusiasm are an inspiration!
You even motivated some individuals to purchase fog machines!
Everybody really enjoyed your presentation last month – very informative. You even motivated some individuals to purchase fog machines. I know Denice got hers 2 days later!
Every screen remained live until the end – not one dropout!
Thank you for your excellent talk. It was very well received. Every screen remained live until the end - not one dropout! Our members commented on the impact created by your storytelling approach to photography.....clearly the message is getting through!
Une excellente conférence!
Nous avons assisté à une excellente conférence de JP Stones. JP nous a fait évolué dans la compréhension de la narration visuelle en photographie. Ses commentaires étaient justes, pertinents et ses photos magnifiques! Je veux aussi remercier JP pour sa générosité et aussi de nous avoir si bien aidé à passer à un autre niveau! Tout ça, dans un excellent français! Merci encore!
JP presented us with some fantastic images
JP presented us with some fantastic images each telling a story in their own way. JP explained how he creates images that tell a whole story from beginning to end. In his 90 minute talk he explained how he works with narrartives & how they work with creating lighting, composition & the mood for his images. This will help us think about the story when creating our own images.
JP demonstrated a different way of looking at things, for which we are grateful.
We really enjoyed seeing how JP constructed his images to express stories. The resulting portraits are superb! JP demonstrated a different way of looking at things, for which we are grateful
Ready to book? Got more questions?
ABOUT JP STONES
“I started my Cultural Photography Workshops because I was frustrated at not being able to create the travel photos I wanted to. Candid photos are fine, but I wanted my portraits to show the personality and history of the people I was photographing.”
“A great portrait is a blend of multiple factors: the model, the environment, the lighting, and the composition. But as a tourist you can’t control many of these factors. I wanted to change that, bringing tourists and local communities together, in a harmonious way. The more we learn about someone else’s culture, the more we’re likely to embrace and respect it. As a foreigner in Mexico, that idea means a lot to me.”
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