2010 a Year in Review

Wow... I am so glad 2011 is upon us and 2010 is in the past; like many of you out there. I think the photo above somewhat represents the year.  It had many challenges, but some of those challenges brought growth and forced me to make some changes.  Looking back the good times, and photos I am proud of, came from some obstacles that I had to overcome.  Some I myself put in front of me as a means of change and to break out of the box a little.  So lets get to it!

I have seen myself grow in so many ways, through my photography, as a conductor and as a person.  I feel like I am starting to find my way in this crazy world, or at least am happy with where I am at and what I am doing.   I am very introverted and don't like conflict so I tend to stay away from possible confrontations, and sometimes interactions all together.  That has started to change this past year and this blog, for instance, has been a great place for me to share and to put myself out there.  I have also been more active on twitter and facebook, and commenting on other's blog posts;  which scored me a camera bag from a blog post on Tiffinbox.org. (A great resource by the way).  These interactions have lead me to be more confident in what I do and have led to some future work.  I have also since met other photographers and had some great conversations; one was really impressed with my work! Ahhh!  To get a compliment from another photographer who has been in the business a long time is a big thing, well at least for me!  I hope my face wasn't too red and the smile to big when he saw a print of mine.  I guess taking a compliment is something I will have to work on in 2011.

Photographically, I feel I have taken some huge gains in my craft and the results prove that.  It has been growing all a long but I have really noticed it's growth this past year and I will share some images in a bit but would like to thank only some of those for their inspirational blogs and content that has given me the spark to go for it.  These are just a few of the many that I look at everyday.

Don Giannatti with Lighting-Essentials
Zack Arias
Chase Jarvis
Skip Cohen with Marketing Essentials
Trudy
David duChemin
Seshu with Tiffinbox.org
David E Jackson
Jack Hollingsworth
Scott Bourne at Photofocus
Everyone at The Photography Corner






Now lets get to the photos! Starting with somewhat of a chronological look at the portraits I have taken this year.

    

Here are some favorite Fine Art shots I got this year.

Thanks 2010 for a great growing experience, now on to bigger things for 2011!

Packing Light

I want to make a point to say that I am not a gear head but having the right gear is important.  I don't have a ton of gear but I make use of what I do have.

I recently did a review of the LowePro Fastpack 100 on a forum I am apart of; Photographycorner.com, and found that I love this bag mainly because it is small and fits my current gear selection.  It kind of forces me to pack light.  I think learning to pack for a photo shoot is essential and is part of your style.  I see it as: bring what is needed to make a comfortable place for the client.  Too much gear may scare the subject, if they are not in front of the camera that often; making it about the photographer and his/gear. I like to know my clients needs and then adapt what I have for gear to those needs.  Also doing research on locations and coming up with a shot list helps me figure out what exactly I need to bring I'm not bashing those photographers who bring everything, I just think packing lighter can have its advantages, especially for on-location portrait photographers working on their own.  I don't want to be fumbling with bags stands and too much equipment.

To add to this I am going to do a quick review of the Digital Holster 50 (not the V2.0), from ThinkTank Photo and how I am working it into my "packing light" scheme.  First I would like to thank Seshu (@picseshu) and David Jackson (@davidejackson) for choosing my comment on David's "Open Letter to a Local Photographer" post on Tiffinbox.org, and for providing this bag to me.  I really enjoyed that post by David and didn't even know there was a prize involved, but thanks anyway.

At first I thought this bag was going to be way to big for my current needs.  I only have a Nikon D50 and my largest lens is a Sigma 70-300.  I have tested the fit with that lens on and with the lens hood attached.  It  does have snug fit but what can I use this bag for; it appears it is a single purpose bag?  Like I said above, I like to know what I am bringing and plan ahead so I don't have multiple bags.  This seems to only fit a camera with large lens one it; although I could probably put a smaller lens under the lens hood with the given padded separator.  I have not had a chance to actually use it in the field but I think I will find a use for it.  Maybe when on a hike and want to keep a long lens on and be able to access the camera easily with a small pack on.  The construction seems very sturdy and durable, and I have heard great things about ThinkTank Products so this a my first experience with one.  The strap is very comfortable and I like the non-slip feature, it actually works.  The built in rain cover is a great asset and I may use that for other bags that I have.  This would not be a typical bag I would shoot out of for a portrait session, unless I had another body with a long lens.

I will probably use both bags for what what they were intended for but I would like a more practical bag for everyday shooting, one that can carry multiple lenses and strobes.  The Holster is a great idea and I will find a use for it but feel like it is too much bag for my little camera.   Although the D300s looks like it would fit nicely in there with a battery grip, maybe I just need the gear to that fits better in it.  Time to start saving up for an upgrade!

Winter in a Tourist Town

I had to bring my car in for some maintenance and brought my camera along to keep me occupied while it was being worked on.  I ventured down to the main strip knowing that everything was closed up for the winter.  This town is usually crawling people during the summer but being there in the decollate off season had it's unique photo opportunities.  Here are some shots from that walk.

Umbrellars?

ANNOUNCEMENT! Gift giving and donations!

I have an announcement to make!  I am very excited about it!  As we all know this is the season for gift giving and charitable contributions.  I have posted about the Life is good Kids Foundation before and that got me thinking, what can I do to give back?   I have thought about participating in this years Help-Portrait .  Alas, I have a concert that same day.  My manager has been gracious enough to allow me to display, and sell, framed prints in the Life is good store in Portland.  Those prints have a $20.00 donation attached to each sale and can only be purchased in the store.  Having already sold a few with donating, extending a similar offer to my online sales seemed logical.  So with out further adieu:

Online Print offer
Starting on Thanksgiving I will be offering 10% of print sales from my Fine Art Prints gallery to be donated to the Life is good Kids Foundation.  No need for a code and no extra contribution, just a regular purchase.  Although you can donate directly the the kids foundation here.

Other promotions are in the works, including partnering with PortSports Social Club; a local sports league that gives back to the community and other charities.  Ok, ok here is my announcement.  It may not sound big but it is a start of something that I would like to do with my business on a regular basis.

Noodle Abandonment

After a great breakfast with a friend last weekend we were walking down Commercial street and I noticed these bowls of noodles on the steps, no one else was around as it was 8am on a Sunday.  I wonder what their story is?

Christmas List... Already!?

Well, it is that time of year to start thinking about Christmas... I think Thanksgiving is just skipped over, according to the retail industry.  It's my favorite holiday, maybe because of the food, but more importantly the family gathering.  I just wish I had more time to visit with family during the holidays, never the less I enjoy this time of year.  However, every year my mother asks me for my christmas list so she can start looking for gifts for me.  Every year, with out fail, I can't think of anything!  I know there are some great things out there, especially for photographers so I was wondering what you all are looking at.  Books, accessories, whatever.  Lets not get into the heated gear discussion, I'm looking for things that I would use everyday or that would inspire me.  Also, if you have any tips for selecting gear that would be very helpful.

My not-so-very-long list


Books

• VisionMongers by David duChemin

Gear (Do you have any helpful tips on choosing one?)

• Card reader
• Monopod

Time for your input.  What sort of photography related things are you wishing for this holiday season?

Transforming Hats and the Customer

As I am pursuing this passion of photography and developing my business I am starting to take things I have learned from other experiences and applying them to my shooting.  To be successful, I think you need to be able to wear different hats.  Mine are ever transforming One thing that I am grateful for is working in retail... I know many of you may not feel that way but  let me explain.

Customer service can be a scary thing for someone, and being an introvert doesn't radically improve a situation either.  I have been working in retail for about 7 years now and finally enjoy engaging with others and helping them with their needs.  I genuinely enjoy providing a great experience for a customer, and I think that stems from enjoying the job that I have.  Believe me it didn't happen over night, and I still struggle sometimes to put my best face forward for the customer.  I have worked hard to be able to work with a stranger one on one, it wasn't easy for me.  I have mentioned before that I work for Life is good, a clothing company that started as two brothers who lived out of their van selling t-shirts.  It's a great story and we do a lot of great things, especially for kids in need.  The brothers, Bert and John, are still very active in the company and always wanted to give back.  They started the Life is good Kids Foundation and raise money through festivals and proceeds from the sale of specific products.  Having the Life is good Kids Foundation is another reason why I feel strongly about doing a good job for my company, and ultimately the customer.  It's more than just a clothing store, it has a great message and gives back to those in need.  Only recently have I notice a change in my persona when I am working, even though it probably has been going on for a while.

When in a large group or in public I tend to keep to myself, however as soon as I put the service hat on I am very outgoing and seem to connect easily with others.  A very strange thing, but when talking to our UPS delivery guy, he said he is the same way.  I think it has to do with your commitment to the group you are working for, whether it be a large corporation or your own small business, there has to be a level of commitment to that group in order to break out of that shell.  Another factor may be comfort.  If you are comfortable in your environment and skills then you can devote more energy to the customer.  When I am dealing with clients on a shoot, I have noticed a similar transformation.  It got me thinking about some past experiences I have had at other businesses and some recent blog posts about customer service.

Scott Kelby recently posted about is bad experience with a airline and was about ready to throw in the towel and move to another.  His second response revealed that business' reaction to what happened as a result of poor customer service the first time.  That I feel is a waste of energy and time.  If done right you shouldn't have to go back and try to patch the pieces.  We all seem to hear the horror stories from bad customer service experiences, well here is one that really changed my perception.

I was just placing a routine call to order for receipt paper... I know not really something write home about.  The woman on the other end of the phone was very pleasant and I proceeded to tell her where I was calling from.  Then, which took me by surprise, she asked who she was speaking with.  Not something I was expecting; I really just wanted to place the order and get off the phone.  It instantly changed the tone of the conversation and made it more personal.  I felt she was being genuine and we actually had a little conversation before ending the call.

Now for you to weigh in.  Tell me some of your GOOD experiences in customer service, or what are some tips you have to make a costumer's experience more enjoyable?  Check out the related posts as well, I guess Jack and I were thinking about the same thing.  His posts are a little more refined than mine.  I'm working on it. :)


Related Posts:
Jack Hollingsworth: I AM INVISIBLE, and I AM GREATNESS

Is This Really my Path?

Starting off with some deep thoughts then some photos!

So, after thinking about what and where I am supposed to be doing in life I think I may have figured it out, at least for now... maybe.  I have talked about doing what I love and after that post and seeing how my work effects me, I feel great and comfortable with the fact that I am not teaching right now.  I am starting to consider a new path for me.  I am in between teaching jobs and can't seem to even land an interview.  Maybe this is a sign to not fight it and let my destiny (cue cinematic music) reveal itself.  I firmly believe that things happen for a reason, I still love teaching but the actual joys I get from teaching are few and far between compared to the politics and stress that goes on in a public school.  Maybe I am just not meant to teach... right now?  Several recent blog posts have also felt like they were directed at me.  This one in particular, Is NOW the Time?, really resonated with me.  I felt like Don (@wizwow) was speaking with me one on one, trying to tell me something big.  Then, Chase Jarvis (@chasejarvis) posted a video from his keynote speech at Photo Plus Expo where he, and a bunch of his friends, talked about their stories and why it is the best time to be a photographer.  Being creative is what I live for and drives me to do more.  I have noticed that in the last few weeks I have been the most creative I have been in a very long time.  I don't know if it coincides with my unconscious decision to embrace my photography and not teach, but I am enjoying it!  So, I have decided not to fight for a teaching job and to put my heart and soul into my photography and my conducting, while working for a great company; Life is good.  This is a hard decision as I am paying off a piece of paper that says Bachelors of Music Education and the expectation that I will teach music, and I am not.  Things change and you have to embrace the change.

Ok I feel better now... So here is a slide show from my latest photo shoot with Slaney.  Enjoy.  Comments always welcome.

I love what I do...

But, that doesn't mean I am not fighting and working hard to have this.  My most recent shoots, and the concert I conducted, have been so much fun and I have had great people to work with.  All it took was taking that first step and doing it.  It was tough for me but you know what, it was totally worth it!  I came away with some great images, and a performance, and in turn made my clients (friends) happy as well.  That was the best part.  Seeing their face light up when the peek at the LCD, or hearing the excitement after a concert, just confirms that I am doing what I love, I just need the confidence to keep doing it.  Building that confidence is easy; through practice and dedication.  Example: here is one from the first 5 frames I took of her.

I immediately knew this shoot was going to go well, and I showed her them and a huge smile flashed across her face.  We were then able to get shots like this:

Timid me, would normally not try this, in fear of getting in trouble, even though I knew it would a great thing to do.  I just did it.  Nothing happened, and we got a great shot out of it.  I was confident in my abilities and that pushed past the doubts so I could get what I was envisioning.

I really think that I have gained a tremendous amounts of confidence in these past few shoots, and my first concert conducting the Casco Bay Concert Band.  That is what I think was holding me back from making that first step.  So, now that I have made that first step... I need to keep the ball rolling. Follow through is the next hurdle that I need to overcome.  I'm ready!

The 50mm and Miss Alex

I had a great time catching with a friend during a photo shoot.  I also had a great time getting to know a new, and soon to be very close friend; the Nikon 50mm 1.8D.  Wow, what a great little lens! I have only shot with zooms before but I love the clarity and colors from this prime.  I don't think I changed lenses at all during this shoot.  A great challenge for me and I like the fact that I have to move my feet to create better compositions.  New angles are found all the time doing that.

Here is the slide show of all the images selected from the shoot

Sneak Peek: Slaney

Meet Slaney.  She is a working in NYC and taking some Musical Theater auditions.  I went to college with her and she contacted me for some headshots.  More to come!

Photo Shoot with Alex

Having friends who are willing to pose for me is a blessing, especially since I need all the practice I can get.  My friend Alex was in town and wanted to do a photo shoot so we set it up and it also gave us a chance to catch up; and use my new Nikon 50mm 1.8D.  I don't think I changed lenses at all during the shoot.  She is so full of energy and gave me a lot of expressions to work with.  Thanks Alex for a great shoot.  Here is one from yesterday's shoot.  More will be added to my Smugmug site once they are all edited.

The Wharf

Took my camera to work the other day and got this.  I don't play with black and white processing that much so this a bit different for me.  I saw this scene and knew it needed to be black and white. Comments welcome.

Branding The First Impression

As part of my business development, I needed to reevaluate my logo and website.  Both of these are very important as it should represent your brand.  What does your website and business card say about you as a photographer? It is that first impression your client gets of you.  I was told by my high school band teacher that "You never get a second chance at a first impression, so make it a good one."  I live by that to this day.

A photographers brand is what sets him/her apart from the rest of the crowd.  Brand is not only the visual elements; like the logo or website.  It's how a photographer is perceived, and viewed by the world. Personality, values, people skills, etc. all play a major role in how the photographer is viewed.  Don Gianntti, a.k.a Wizwow of Lighting Essentials, puts it very eloquently in his post about brand:




        It is NOT your logo.
        It is NOT your camera.
        It is NOT your gear.
        It is NOT how much you spend on marketing.
        It is NOT how much you make. Or how little.


        It’s YOU.


I whole-heartedly agree, but would like to discuss brand identity, and how it should encompass what your brand is. Mainly the process I am going through to re-design my logo to fit my overall vision of my brand.  Read my previous post on my discoveries about myself and my brand.

Finding my Brand

Do what you like. Like what you do

This mantra surrounds me when ever I go to work.  Not because I don't like my job but because I work for Life is good®.  A great company to work for, and has almost forced me to reevaluate my life, mainly what I wanted my photography business to be.  First place to start; my passions

What are your passions? What do you do for that passion; dress a certain way, set strict guidelines for yourself, research for the sake of research, show up early and stay late? I did this exercise and came up with several things that I think are important to me, and my developing business.  Some are probably obvious to you but I have nothing to go by, no formal business training just my own experiences and values.  Read on...

Out Takes = Missed Shots?

Well I had my first engagement shoot for a couple that I know from college.  They were great and were very pleased with the result of the shoot; as was I.  After reviewing the photos I noticed that there were some shots that I wanted to get but didn't quite get them nailed down. This shot was an out take that I like but it shows how distract it can be during a shoot, especially as a fairly new portrait photographer.  This image has a good composition and exposure but I could have gotten a better... SQUIRREL!... Expression out of them (an actual quote from this image).

Seriously, I was having a good time but may have missed a great image, by not just taking one more composed shot.  I know I shouldn't be to too picky but as I am beginning a new start as a portrait photographer and getting out of my comfort zone, I want to do really well at what I do.  I had several images that were on their way to being pretty good but felt that some major things were not up to par.  Expressions were great, but exposure was off, or exposure is great but I didn't focus on the right part of scene.  These are just a part of the learning process, I know, and I am too much of a perfectionist.  I did get some great shots for my first engagement shoot. I just can't get past the ones I missed.  How do overcome that inward critic, and nail the shots you have on your list?

A slideshow of the ones I chose to present to the client; after their approval of course, after the jump

Fear = Change

So while out for a run the other day I had a pretty big realization about me and my photography, especially the growth of my photography.  I am afraid... of several things, and it is holding me back from reaching the goals I have in my head. 

So what am I afraid of exactly? I wasn’t sure and it took the remainder of my run to figure it out. The multiple facets of my personality have their own fears but it all comes down to the unknown and leaving the comfort zone.  The introvert in me doesn’t want to meet new people in fear of rejection or not pleasing them in some way.  The business person is afraid of not pleasing the customer; having seen my share of unhappy customers as an employee in a retail setting.  I am also afraid of not being disciplined enough to get what needs to get done.  I am afraid of that big step, I know once I step and start to walk then I will be fine, it's the first one that gets me.  All of these fears have been proven not to be an issue in other areas of my life, like teaching, but I still find I am tied in knots trying to move forward.  All of these personas are needed to run my own business, and they need to be in better control for myself but more importantly my potential clients.

Some solutions to this are mentioned in this article, although not the “magic wand” everyone wants, but they resonated with me.  I, for one, need to take it slower and get into a routine of getting out of my comfort zone.  For instance, little things, I run on a trail and go the same way every time.  This past run, maybe the reason for the revelation, I decided to take a shorter run and go the opposite way.  It is still the same, comfortable path, but I am going about it at a different angle.  I am very good about talking the talk but need to walk the walk so I can eventually run the run if you will.


This blog, being another huge step, will be a place to put the new and exciting things that I do to further myself and my photography.  I will share photos, stories, trials and tribulations but  please excuse the writing for now as it will come with time.  Comments are more than welcome as long as they are appropriate to the conversation.