New York City fashion photographer and Syracuse University alumna Lindsay Adler spoke to students, parents and faculty in a packed Watson Theater on Tuesday evening. Adler touched on a variety of topics including her career in the photography business and the success of inspiring photographers and fashion designers at SU.

‘Fashion does not need to make sense,’ Adler said.

She said even though knowing the rules is important, it is OK to break them.

‘It’s what made me stand out, and it’s what can make you stand out,’ she said.

As an SU student, Adler said she did not realize she wanted to focus solely on fashion until her senior year. She said she chose to attend SU because it best allowed her to communicate her photography outlook. At SU, Adler majored in photography, business and political science. She said having two or more degrees can help students understand the business of their career to make informed decisions.

During her freshman year at SU, Adler completed an internship in Washington, D.C., with a photographer who only focused on political photography. Though Adler had no intention to pursue that type of photography, she said the internship was one of the best choices she ever made.

‘To start out in this business, you first have to identify a need,’ Adler said.

Adler decided to move to London to gain some inspiration and work on her portfolio. While she was there, Adler decided to write her first book, published in the spring of 2010 and titled ‘The Linked Photographers’ Guide to Online Marketing and Social Media.’ She felt this type of book was necessary and hired a publisher within three weeks.

Adler herself is not an expert in social media, but she said she has access to firsthand experience as a young, up-and-coming photographer that gave her the knowledge to write her first book. Social media has helped Adler put her name out to the public and can be more useful in the future, she said.

Adler also touched on how important it is to get to know people in the business.

‘It is not only about who you know, but what you know,’ Adler said.

Adler said she continues to keep contact with so many of the people she met when she first started out. She gave students advice on how important it is for them to be confident in their work all the time.

‘People like confidence, more important than anything else,’ she said.

Many students with many different interests agree with Adler and found her talk both informative and inspirational.

Avery Gray, a freshman fashion design major in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, said Adler’s advice about the photography business is insightful. Gray said she is now considering photography as a possible secondary tool.

Adler said her work is scattered all over the place today. Even though she doesn’t consider herself creative, she tries to teach students that breaking the rules to make a unique image is OK, she said. She emphasizes working on personal work that means something to the student.

Said Adler: ‘The personal work might not pay as well, but the lasting inspiration is what makes it meaningful to the photographer.’

nrcardon@syr.edu 

Published on February 7, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Contact Nick: nrcardon@syr.edu