Walter Austin
“To
me, Virtual Backgrounds was the best investment that I've ever made! It
is what makes me money! If it wasn’t for Virtual Backgrounds, I would
not be in business.”
Mission
,
Texas
photographer, Walter Austin, has nothing but high praise for his
Virtual Backgrounds system which he uses for nearly 100% of his
work. He has been actively using Virtual Backgrounds in one form
or another since he first opened his studio back in the 1980s.
Mission is a small but growing town in the deep south of Texas.
Walter was not always a photographer and has only minimal formal
training. He once was a hair dresser and then a
videographer. He happened to pick up a still camera one
day, and he hasn’t stopped shooting since. His great grandfather
and an uncle were photographers, but he really had no intention to go
this route. Walter now occupies a building in the historical part
of downtown
Mission
that was originally owned by his great grandfather.
Walter has always been an equipment and technology fanatic. He
originally started out with a German made background projector and then
got his first Scene Machine Virtual Backgrounds system. Today he
has 3 Virtual Backgrounds systems, including a 10 x 12 foot screen and
a 10 x 10. “I collect Scene Machines like I collect Harley
Davidsons. I have 4 Harleys.” Walter is also very well
equipped with the latest digital technology including three Canon 5D
cameras and a wide variety of lens. His favorite is a Canon 35 to
350 zoom. He describes his equipment as his “toys.”
Austin Studio does all kinds of photography but much of his current
emphasis is on bridal formals, quinceanera and general studio
portraits. He avoids those areas of photography that are now
dominated by amateur photographers such as weddings and general
portraits taken in the park. “I do most of my work in the studio.
Portraits are my main thing. I love to do studio work. I
take 50 photographs of a quinceanera and I sell them even large wall
portraits up to 30 x 40. Nearly every time they love the proofs
so much that they buy all of them - even if it is 50 of them. I
make them all so different using many different backgrounds, and they
buy them. This is why Virtual Backgrounds is so super nice. If I
did not have it, they would not have so much variety to look at and
they would not buy so much. With this Scene Machine. Customers
like all the different pictures and different backgrounds and they buy
them all. I can personally vouch for that. They like them
all and buy them.”
Austin
studio has only one painted canvas background. He finds that the
painted canvas is really quite good but it is such a lot of trouble to
get it right. Walter much prefers studio work. Many of his
competitors shoot in the park where every amateur also shoots.
This is why he prefers to work in his studio where he has full control
and can do things the amateurs and even most professionals can’t
do. “Today anyone can buy a digital camera and take a picture in
the park and have it come out real nice, but they can't do what Virtual
Backgrounds can do. It makes me very special and that is why
customers come to me.”
Walter Austin reports
that many of his customers visit several studios before making a final
decision on a professional photographer. But after they see Walter’s
work, they always come back and select Austin Studio and Walter Austin
as their photographer.
Walter has had a hard time figuring out his friends in the
business. “They look at my set up and my Scene Machine Virtual
Backgrounds System and they are impressed, but then they don’t do
anything about getting new equipment for themselves. They say
they have money, but I don’t see it and they don’t invest in
equipment. They say they are too old. Investing in
technology is what makes me special. It is how I stay in business.”
The new Web site, http://austinphotostudio.net/,
is his newest and most important method of advertising. He also
uses his display windows and makes sure that he sells a wall
enlargement to his bridal and quinceanera customers. The
portraits always are on display as guests enter the studio foyer.
Virtual Backgrounds is proud of Walter Austin. He is clearly
demonstrating how Virtual Backgrounds can be one of the most important
tools a professional photographer can own.
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