‘
‘
More than just portrait, wedding and editorial promoted at Hallmark. Matt came to talk about photojournalism. Admitting he doesn’t know all the tricks, he offered that the skills Hallmark develops would make a shooter capable of working a news assignment. “You cannot be a jerk; you have to be on time; and you have to get the shot (sometimes differently than all the others).
Self-made and self taught, he earned a place in the White House Press Corps. Sometimes, though he arrived mostly on time, he got a place that let him make s shot few others saw. Lots of opportunities at stages ringed by flags and private engagements where he lacked access didn’t dissuade him. But a need to build a family in an area where he was more in control and had easier access to family to do child care brought him back to the Greenfield/Turners Falls area. Lots to say for quality of life.
So, he lives in the area and does freelance for AP, NYT, Boston Globe and some international wire services. Money comes from the bread and butter wedding shoots and who knows what else. Knowing the strains that war correspondents and those chronicling environmental and health issues can bring, it is unlikely he will hit the road and leave his family. He has control of his life, a position devoutely to be wished, but who knows for how long he will work the local beat and whom he will help or whom he will become.
NYT has an image of a photo op in the oval office, an event that Matt no longer attends. Not a lot of time to think about your shots or distinguish yourself, nor a lot of opportunity to witness an unscripted event. After all, they just sit and smile.
