Meet Ed Wolkis of Ed Wolkis Photography

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ed Wolkis.

Ed, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
About thirty years ago I was at a party, and I met a girl named Jackie Goldstein. Jackie asked me what I did for a living, and I told her that I was a photographer. She said that she worked for WSB-TV, and that I should come down there and show my work to the Creative Director.

About six months later, I ran into Jackie again at another party. She said, “You really should come down to WSB and show the Creative Director your work.” So, despite my fears, insecurities, and propensity for procrastination, I went there, and showed my work to Ted Young. Ted said, “OK, I’ve got a job for you. We need a photo of a hand with fire coming out of it for a TV Guide ad for our Halloween news story.” I said, “Sure, no problem!” and walked out thinking, “How the !@#$ am I going to do this?”

Now, keep in mind, this was in the days before Photoshop. Way before. Somehow, I managed to get the shot done, using my own hand as the model, (couldn’t get any other volunteers), a small camping burner, scraps of paper kindling, and a black curtain for a background. It actually came out looking pretty good. Good enough to impress Ted and Jackie and the higher ups.

WSB-TV became my steady client for the next ten years, and my name got around to the other news stations. Soon I was doing still photography for just about every television station in town, as well as Turner Broadcasting and CNN. Jackie eventually became Creative Director at Turner Broadcasting, and I worked with her there for many years.

I consider the TV work to be photography boot camp. I never knew what kinds of assignments they would throw at me. One week it was to do a photo of a cruise ship (done with a miniature model), another week it was of a man pretending to be a mountain climber while climbing up the stairs in his house. Or a photo of the earth with a fire under it (to represent global warming). Always something different. It was great training, to learn how to photograph just about anything, and always get it done by deadline.

I soon started doing work for companies such as The Home Depot, Bell South, Dupont, General Electric, etc. I had a beautiful 7,000 square foot studio right off of Northside Drive. Years later, I went through a divorce, and sold my studio to Tyler Perry.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The early years of the transition from film to digital was probably the most difficult challenge to everyone in my profession. I used to read mystery novels during my lunch break, but I found myself spending hour after hour reading magazines about how to use the new technologies.

Now one of the continual challenges for me has been that many potential clients are not aware of the differences in the quality of photography. When I’m doing Architectural Photography, I will spend quite a bit of time on each photo, both at the location and afterwards in Photoshop. Some projects take several weeks before I’m satisfied with the results.

Photoshop retouching is a thankless job If the work is good, most people won’t know the effort that went into it. You don’t see good retouching. But good photos have to be planned, and a good photographer will visualize the finished result, Photoshop and all, before he or she clicks the shutter.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Ed Wolkis Photography – what should we know?
While I still do commercial work, including work for the television stations, I’ve discovered that I really enjoy Architectural Photography, which is what I’ve been specializing in lately. It has its own set of challenges, and I am very much a perfectionist. I have taken the skills that I learned from my commercial work, and now with the advantage of Photoshop I’ve been able to produce work that would not have been possible a few years ago.

I’ve been very fortunate in my career. I’ve photographed everything from Dorothy’s slippers from the Wizard of Oz to President George H. Bush, to Yak Herders in Tibet. I couldn’t have asked for a more interesting career, and I’m very thankful.

My philosophy has always been to try to be the best at what I do, and to always give my clients more than what they pay me for. I’ve had some clients for over 35 years…so far, so good.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
So many people have helped along the way. My mom sent me for arts lessons when I was a kid, and my father was an avid amateur photographer, who showed me how to use a real camera with f/stops and shutter speeds.

When I first got to Atlanta, I volunteered my time at a commercial photography studio, Larry Thomas was a photographer there, and showed me the ropes for studio lighting.

Jackie, I already mentioned. And all my clients who kept giving me work through the years.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.wolkis.com
• Phone: 678 361-7887
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ed-Wolkis-Architectural-Photography-195510423818713/

Image Credit:
©ed wolkis, www.wolkis.com

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