Metro PPA Mention June 2023
Metro PPA Member Spotlight ~ Randy Carter
Randy Carter Photography
Tell us a little bit about yourself:
After college, I opened a photo studio on campus corner in Norman specializing in portraits, advertising and fashion photography. I was also operating an entertainment business doing magic and comedy. When the entertainment business really took off in the early 80’s my photo business fell by the wayside. About ten years ago I developed a renewed vitality for photography and even though conceptually it it the same technically it’s a whole new ballgame.
Where are you from?
I grew up in Duncan OK. After High School, I moved to Norman to attend the University of Oklahoma and have lived here ever since except for the three summers I spent in Arkansas as a street entertainer at Dogpatch USA.
How long have you been of member of Metro PPA?:
About three years
Why do you decide to join Metro PPA?:
After being out of the photography business for many years, I started in the old days of film, there was so much to learn about all the technical innovations that occurred during my absence. I have found everyone in MetroPPA so giving with their time and expertise that my relearning curve has been reduced dramatically. Plus we are a fun bunch to hang around with!
What’s your favorite part of being a member of Metro PPA?:
The variety of outstanding educational experiences interacting with a bunch of likeminded fun loving photographers.
What’s your favorite Metro PPA event and why?:
Kids camp has to top the list of favorites but shooting family portraits for the military families at Tinker Air Force Base is a close second.
How did you become interested in Photography?:
While perusing a business degree at OU, a friend convinced me to take intro to photography in the journalism school, claiming it would be an easy A. I was hooked. The following fall of my senior year another friend who was then editor of the OU yearbook let me have access to the yearbook darkroom as long I would shoot pictures for the yearbook. It was on the job training.
What type of photography do you specialize in and why? :
My favorite things to shoot are sports, portraits and seniors. I also like to shoot the moon.
What’s the best piece of career advice you ever received?:
Make sure you get an image, that’s from my days at the Oklahoman. An editor would be mighty irritated if you came back empty handed.
What’s one skill you’d like to develop or sharpen this year?:
I’d like to get better at the digital darkroom.
What advice would you give someone just starting a photography business? OR What advice would you give someone just starting to learn photography?:
Don’t sell yourself too cheap.
What’s your biggest (or one of your biggest) professional accomplishment(s) so far?:
While working in the journalism world I got to shoot (maybe I should say photograph) three US presidents. Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan and I skipped my own OU graduation to go to OSU’s graduation ceremonies with national press credentials to get pictures of Richard Nixon giving the commencement address. It was my first front page picture and President Nixon’s last public appearance before he resigned.
When you are not working what do you like to spend your time doing? :
I’m an avid bicycle rider and snow skier.
What’s something about you (a fun fact) not many people know:
I can ride a unicycle and juggle but not at the same time.
What is your favorite photography tip?:
It used to be make ‘sure you have enough film’ but now I guess it would sure you enough cards that work.
What is your go to piece of equipment?:
My 105 macro.
