Spotlight: Derek Stout, Photographer/Videographer

After shooting the Main Street Hub Sales Team ATX Video, photographer/videographer Derek Stout took time out in between shoots to recap with us. Over Reubens and fries at one of our customers — Waller Creek Pub House, we talked to the former photojournalist about working with Main Street Hub, racetracks and shooting because he needs to.

You have worked with Main Street Hub on some varied projects, what has been your favorite so far?

“Definitely the Main Street Hub Sales Team ATX Video. It’s the largest project we’ve done together so far, so we got to put a lot more into it. That’s the most work I’ve done with Main Street Hub and I’ve gotten to know a lot more people and understand the flow of things more — so it’s been the most enjoyable.”

Tell us about shooting the Main Street Hub company video.

“It was little hectic. A little crazy. (Laughs) There were so many people that stayed late after work that Friday night and everyone was having so much fun together. I thought it would be hard to corral everyone, but it flowed surprisingly well.

“You all had such a fun and clear vision and that was not only super helpful to me, but helped make it so awesome to shoot.”

Can you talk a little bit more about the energy that night during filming?

“There was a lot of it! The energy was through the roof. I think it was almost 100 people there, and when it got a little loud and rowdy, that made it fun. It seemed like everyone wanted to be there and really wanted to be a part of it. It really showed me the fun atmosphere at the company, and the culture of everyone being there to support their team.”

Was there a moment that was particularly memorable?

“Probably when we went through the high-five tunnel. That was really awesome, and it was the easiest to shoot. It only took about 2 or 3 times and all the cuts worked.”

Tell us a little about you. What’s your gear like when it comes to taking photos and videos?

“My favorite shoots as a photographer is when I get to use the minimal amount of gear. I like to just go with just one lens, one body and if I need a light, just one light. I that’s because of my photojournalism past. I worked for several newspapers, and that’s usually how I was working, whether I was covering events or hard news — one or two bodies, one lens, and I shoot as much as I can.

“With video, I use the same still camera as I do my video camera. I use a Canon 5D Mark III. I also have a Mark II that I use as a second body for stills and video. It’s very versatile, I can use it professionally for everything I do. Like any photographer, I also have medium format cameras, like 35mm cameras that I’ll shoot with for fun, but that gets a little pricey.

How did you end up diving into both photography and video?

“When I was in school, I took a lot of multimedia journalism classes, and you’re taught how to shoot video for the web. We learned shooting cameras, how to edit, making quick clips that are 2 minutes or less, and how to get people’s attention online. I took that initial training and ran with it on my own.

“I’ve also shot a lot of TV commercials when I worked for an ad agency in Albuquerque, NM, some for hospitals, some for health insurance. You learn a lot on these shoots, especially lighting techniques, because they are fairly large productions. Now that I’ve done that I can do it on a smaller scale by myself.”

What do you like to shoot most?

“People. I would say portraits, but I wouldn’t want to limit exclusively to straightforward portraits. In general, I like interacting with people. I like that I can photograph them and get to know them.”

What are you currently fascinated by?

“I’ve been working on this personal project for a couple of years now involving racetracks. It’s a fascinating lifestyle to me so it’s interesting to try to capture that. Especially the work that I do on the backside of the racetracks — working with trainers, people who mop the stalls. It’s basically like a traveling circus, because they are only in any particular place for 2.5 to 3 months. I don’t really know what direction the project is taking, but it’s personal so it’s just fun for me to shoot.”

Do you have any self-imposed rules that you live by, especially when it comes to your photography?

“I had a lot more rules when I was a more straightforward photojournalist, but some of those principles I still feel pretty good about. I don’t like to edit photos and add things that aren’t there — I don’t do a ton in post-production. And in general, I abide by the rule of just being respectful of people and their surroundings.”

Can you name some other photographers you admire?

“Alex Webb is probably one of my favorite photographers, ever. Just the way the guy crafts light. His compositions are just remarkable and his use of color is incredible.

“And Eli Reed. He was a professor of mine at UT [University of Texas, Austin.] He is part of a group called Magnum Photographers, which are some of the most well-respected photographers in the world. He kind of was a mentor to me going through school. He is a very successful photojournalist who is just full of wisdom.”

Do you take photos as a personal passion or is it strictly professional?

“Both. Absolutely both. Whenever I’m not shooting for a job, I’m out shooting for fun, and shooting on my own. A lot of times I’m taking jobs so that I can shoot what I want to. It’s give and take.”

What’s the best piece of advice you have received?

“Don’t shoot because you want to, shoot because you have to.” Shoot because it’s something that you feel like you have to do.

Any words of wisdom for the up and comers?

“Yes, absolutely. The world is at your fingertips as far as the Internet goes. But the advice I would give is, at the end of the day, unplug, get off the Internet, stop looking at what everyone else is doing. Get off your phone, and just go out and shoot. It doesn’t matter where you are, there are cool stories to be told anywhere — I don’t care where you are in the world.

“It’s simple advice, but just go do it.”