Scott Kelby
President of the National Assn. of Photoshop Professionals
Company:
Oldsmar, Fl
Your blog/website?
Favorite Gadget(s):
Hands down it's my iPhone, but the upcoming iPad might make me change my mind.
Your cellphone/smartphone (make/model):
iPhone 3GS
Won't leave the house without:
….being fully clothed.
Blogs you read regularly:
Seth Godin's Blog, PhotoWalkPro, BestAppSite.com, AppleInsider, ProFootballTalk.com, JoeBucsFan.com, Engadget, NikonRumors, LightroomKillerTips, DaveCrossOnline, John Nack on Adobe, Joe McNally's Blog, PlanetPhotoshop, Layers Magazine, Digital ProTalk, and on and on. I use Alltop.com to manage and view the 46 sites I keep up on daily.
Mac or PC:
Mac
Laptop or Desktop:
I have a 27" iMac at home for working on photos, but my laptop is my main machine.
Favorite App/Software:
Photoshop and Lightroom for software—-my favorite iPhone Apps are: TripItPro and Flight Track Pro, Best Camera, Delivery Status, Gate Guru, Photo Assist, Paper Toss, RunPee, Sportacular, Todo, Flight Control, ConvertBot, and Big Day
Technology that you're most looking forward to that hasn't been invented yet?
I'm waiting for the day where video renders instantly, no matter what you've done in your project, everything happens in real time, and the final video renders and saves as quickly as you can save a still JPEG image.
What do you wear to work?
Jeans, white sneakers, and a t-shirt with a logo of some sort (my wife jokes that I don't own any shirts that don't have a logo of some sort on them). I did a training video with Jay Maisel and off camera he asked me why I was wearing a Fender Guitar shirt. I told him I always wear logo shirts, and he asked me if they were a sponsor and paying me to wear it. I could hear my wife laughing 1,200 miles away.
Favorite Quote:
We were on vacation last year and we were driving around in the car when my 4-year-old daughter asked where we were going. My wife turned to here and said, "We're going back to the hotel, and we're going swimming in the pool!" My daughter got this excited look and said, "I'm so happy I could explode with candy!" (her reference to a Mexican pinata), and I thought it was just priceless. We still use that same quote to describe anything any of us are really psyched about.
Favorite Restaurant:
Hands down, it Carmine's Italian Restaurant on West 44th street in New York City. Locally though, it's Ocean Prime or Maggiano's Little Italy.
What time do you go to bed?
I get most of my sleep while I'm driving. (kidding), I usually hit the sack somewhere between 12:30 and 1:30 am on most nights.
What time to you wake up?
I have a 4-year-old so I'm usually up around 7:00 am, but my wife works things out so I can sleep in to around 9:00 am on weekends. I love weekends!
What's the first thing you do when you wake up?
I make a cup of coffee the size of a 55 gallon drum, and sit down to visit with my wife before the kids get up.
Describe your perfect day:
My perfect days happen when I'm on vacation with my family. It would start with getting to sleep in, then we head out exploring for the day, and I bring my camera along to shoot travel and family vacation shots. Then we wind up for a sunset dinner, sitting outside at a small local restaurant. That sounds like a pretty perfect day to me.
Anything else?
Here's five things most folks wouldn't know about me:
(1) I'm on XBox live with my son almost every night, playing either Halo 3 or Modern Warefare 2.
(2) I used to be a tournament foosball player
(3) I have an electric guitar and amp everywhere I work, even though technically I'm a keyboard player by trade (I have an office in two different buildings, and two guitars in my office at home).
(4) I'm pretty decent at singing country music, but I can also rap. I can't explain either one.
(5) I've never ever been drunk, high, or even tried a cigarette, despite spending about 12 years in a rock band playing nightclubs. I guess that's why I had to find all these other things to do to have fun, eh? 😉
Kelby seems less god-like now. Thanks, Terry!
“less god-like” – ha, I like that. But I think I like him MORE now since I see that he is a dude like the rest of us – yet he still rules the Photoshop world. Rock on!
“I’m so happy I could explode with candy!”
Now THAT’S priceless!
What a fun interview!
I remember seeing that photo straight from the camera monitor, if it’s the one I’m thinking: from Alan Hess at PSW Vegas from the pre-con rock concert. Great shot!
After this interview, it should be mandatory that Scott sing a country song at the PSW After Hours Party. You can’t throw a teaser like that out without showing us, right?
It is nice to see a tireless, sincere, all-around nice guy rise to the top. Scott has further defined himself by the people he hires at NAPP; they are all extraordinarily gifted, genuine and friendly – just like Scott.
I think Kelby should put his gamer tag out there – we’ll be lookin for you in Karachi! 🙂
Hi Mark:
It’s Highrise, Rust, and Wastelands where you need to watch out for me. 😉
-Scott
I’ll be all up in Favela. 🙂
Hahe Scott you just blew my mind with the Modern Warfare 2, im an addict – though on PS3 unfortunately.
Keep up the great work and let us know if you ever come to New Zealand, am a huge fan.
Scott is one of the reasons why I started teaching Photoshop for photographers. So in a way he helped me to turn pro (photographer) four years ago after “mastering” PS. Thank you Scott for all the tutorials, books and Twitter posts.
Hey Terry/Scott,
Great post. I wish I could claim all of the stuff that Scott can on #5, but I can claim about the tobacco products thank God. And, I have put down the others. Musician no, but I play a mean volume control. Thanks to Scott & NAPP I am fairly proficient at Photoshop too.
Excellent stuff,
mike
I have never, ever met a guy (or a woman for that matter) who hasn’t been drunk, high or not smoked a cigarette in his/her life. Are you sure Alzheimer’s hasn’t set in, Scott 😉
Now you know two 🙂
Make that 3 🙂
By the grace of God I have never tasted alcohol, smoked a fag or used drugs, but I am still a sinner like everyone else. A sinner saved by grace. (Ephesians 2:8,9)
Nice interview Terry and an interesting chap is Scott. BTW, you can never spend enough time with your kids.
Regards.
Add me to that list! 😀
I wish I could say the same! I thought I was somewhat of an angel because I know so many people that has passed out drinking etc.
Where I’m from we start drinking wine at a young age with dinner so I’ve been a bit tipsy 🙂
I don’t smoke cigs though; I kinda hate Philip Morris.
—
DT.
Nassau, Bahamas | Miami, Florida
P.S. Terry What’z good!!!!?? I like the the interview a quick read! 🙂
I saw Scott the day before yesterday @ the PI conference in Utrecht (the Netherlands). Besides a fast but very powerfull presentation Scott was (very) kind to sign HIS books … well … now they are MY books ;-).
It was my 2nd time to see him live and in person he’s as kind, professional and wonderfull person you’d expect after reading his books and seeing his stuff on the net. I’m glad i could shake his hand and i’ll cherrish the signed books.
He’s one of the reasons i like Photoshop so much. He’s making it seem so easy – the truth is … it is, just read his books and watch his stuff…
By the way … nice interview … like the style.
Jeroen
That was a fun read :D:) Thanks for sharing. As for wearing all kinds of music instrument branded t-shirts, I think it’s great. 😀 Always nice to see a Fender or a Zildjian shirt. While we are at it. Is there any recording with Scott on it that’s out there somewhere?
Szabi
When I grow up I want to be just like Scott. He rules. 🙂
I’d be 4, but I might be able to use juvenile diabetes as a partial excuse.
And, er, I only use Lightroom. Someday, I need to learn Photoshop. It’ll likely be through Kelby Training. I think that puts me closer to being on topic again. Heh
Terri, you and Scott are two of my favorite people that I’ve never met. Proof positive that the most powerful stimulants for fun and creativity are creative and fun family and friends… and coffee… especially coffee consumed with family and friends. I wish I had figured that out as early in life as you guys did.
“I’m so happy I could explode with candy!”
You know a little about PhotoShop – Make it happen…
I’ll wait……..
Tom
scott- i love hoildays with my family too- it is what i want my kids to think happy thoughts about when they are older and having their own families!!
i have just started reading some of your books and i have learned do much and my pictures are getting better with every shot!!
thanks so much, eh!!
I wonder if Scott’s 27″ iMac has the display problem that most if not all of them have.
Hi there Terry I discovered your website when reading reviews on the Intuos4 on Amazon – great review video. And I received my Intuos4 this morning – I replaced my little Bamboo – and I’m loving it. My wife is working down in London (I’m in England) and I have to decide how to break the news to her that while she was away working I spent £190 ($275) on a gadget.
So after watching the video review I surfed over to your website and have now bookmarked it.
I discovered Scott’s great books on all things Photoshop and Camera tips about 18 months ago and have been a big fan ever since. Got quite a collection of his work now – and I always have them close by to help me out when editing my latest wedding shoot. I also watch his podcasts on my ipod classic – another gadget that I managed to purchase when I was on holiday in New York back in 2007 when the exchange rate was a heady $2 to the £1 – oh happy days!
Keep up the good work on your websites. I’ll be back.
Thanks!