i'm so blessed, i can't stand it!

it's funny because i must say "i can't stand it" a lot.  today, ryder said that his friend's dog was so cute, he couldn't stand it. now on to the real reason for this post...

i have an amazing, incredible friend, who was recently diagnosed with cancer.  she's having surgery in two weeks and i wanted to give her something special--a gift of strength, encouragement and hope.  i posted on facebook, looking for ideas, and got the most heartwarming responses.

this amazing soul offered to hand make a very special something for her.  and on her blog, i found this most fabulous print, from guest blogger leonie allen.  a print that you can download for free (although you should hurry b/c i'm not sure if it's supposed to still be downloadable).  i will soon have the print framed, hanging beautifully and proudly right next to my desk.  oh my...it feeds my soul!

so as we all dream to create our own magic, i encourage you to read the blogs of amazing people like this.

yes, my heart if full.  and i am so blessed.  so very, very blessed!

my portfolio is me.

i saw this in an academy of art university ad quite a while ago and forgot that i had it saved as a blog draft.  i love it so! my portfolio is me. everything that i am and it's everything that i'm not. it's my strengths and my weaknesses. it's my self-confidence and -esteem. my past. my present. and most definitely my future. my portfolio is where i'm going. where i've been. and the places i shouldn't have been and shouldn't go. it's everything. it's my inspiration and never finished. always a work in progress. it's everything i've ever seen, heard, touched, smelled, sensed and believed. it's my worst fears and all my hopes all at the same time. it's the beginning of the beginning and the end of an era. and so much more than a phase. it's my portfolio and describing it is describing me.

i wish i could find an artist that could make a cool print out of these words. i think it's rather brilliant and would love the words up on my wall!

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i've always said that i'd love to one day attend photography school.  it's just something that i feel i need to do.  one of those things.  and...i just noticed that the academy of art university's school of photography offers online AA, BFA and MFA programs.  hmmm...i might have to investigate this some more.

and since a post just doesn't seem complete without a photo, i'll share this one.  i dug it out of the archives today, for a friend (sending her some strength and hope). sky, taken in 2008. sigh...she's grown up so much since then.

anything is possible

consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do. - pope john XXIII i'm back, from my weekend in san diego.  had such a blast, but so happy to be with my family again.  and feeling quite drained and exhausted.

the art of photography show opening reception was amazing, inspiring and well...a bit surreal.  i met so many incredible and talented artists.  we also had the opportunity to hear charlotte cotton, the judge of the exhibition, speak the day after the opening reception.  i had such an awesome time, learned so much and am thankful beyond words. and of course, i had such a super awesome time shooting the G and K families, while in san diego, too.

iphone pic.  my silly look cracks me up ;-)

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and on a totally different subject... have you heard? urban outfitters teamed with the impossible project, to bring back instant film! how fricken awesome is that?!!

i've so been wanting to start a 365 days of gratefulness project (similar to hers), taking an 'i'm thankful' polaroid every day for a year...but at $2 a shot, the year's costs kept weighing in the back of my mind.  i contemplated digital but there's something so magical about polaroids.  the project just has to be polaroids.  and so i've kept making procrastinating excuses.  but with this announcement, there's no more excuses and...no stopping me now.

so in celebration of the revival of polaroid and instant film, here's a few of my favorite polaroids, scanned from a pile of about 500 or so.

you can read more about the impossible project here.

looking forward to 2010 and what polaroid has to offer. thank you urban outfitters. i love you even more now than i did before (if i was 20 years younger, i'd dress in even more of your clothes ;-)

yay! yay!

the give ten project

it's been a journey--a journey of passion and friendship.  a journey, which began about a year ago, with phone conversations amongst two friends.  and in may, evolved to the beginning of a blog.  and now i'm so excited to officially announce the give ten project.  it's a project created by  my friend, steph beaty, and i. and the most exciting thing is that it's only just beginning and we can't wait to see where it goes.  one thing that's for sure...our hearts are open! what is the give ten project about?  well, here's our mission statement:

give ten: 10 percent of your time and profits to causes greater than yourself.

it’s a whisper to anyone who’s listening - starting with photographers around the globe. give ten. give it selflessly. give it joyfully. you *can* do it.  not sure where to start? how about by giving something? the links on the right are just a few starting points. give with your camera. give with your wallet. it’s simple, gratifying and freeing.

once you start, you’ll never work the same way again. so, stop just doing business — and start giving business.

are you with us?

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have an idea? want to share a giving link? or just hoping you'll say hello. visit and share with us here!

let me introduce you!

let me introduce you to my friend, erin.erin used to shoot people. and dogs. but her passion was really just dogs. her dream was to shoot dogs and only dogs (and an occasional cat). we had a long talk one day about... following your passion and dreams. and erin did!

i'm so proud of erin and how things have evolved with her business. she is one person that has been true to herself and followed her heart...and she has created the most amazing portfolio and business, in doing so. her work is absolutely magnificent. without a doubt, erin is going to be wildly famous one day and i can't wait for that day (and i mean ridiculously wildly famous!). for now, i'm excited to watch her journey and the magic she creates.

love you erin! and as i always tell you, i'm so proud of you and what you have done.

it just keeps getting better and better!

this is erin, when she was still just dreaming of shooting dogs (oct 2007).

and here is a photo she took of sky, when visiting, which continues to be one of my all time favorite photos of her.

i'm a firm believer in whole-heartedly following your passion and dreams--no matter what that dream might be.  just believe and go for it!!

hell yeah, i'm game!

another awesome something i found on zack's blog. and jeremy cowart is behind this incredible idea.  my wheels are turning. i have ideas. and i've already sent some emails to other photographers.

check out the help-portrait sitehere. excited to be part of this movement. can't wait to see where it goes.

and if you're not a photographer, but know a photographer involved, think about ways that you too can be a part.  you never know what's possible!

art of photography show opening reception gala

art of photography show opening reception galathis saturday, august 29th, 6-9 PM lyceum theatre, san diego

they say there is going to be over 1000 people attending this event, so it's suggested to arrive close to 6 PM.

all the details, including directions to the show, can be found here.

needless to say, i'm so excited and honored to have my photograph selected for this international exhibition. to be a part of this most amazing group of artists is beyond words.

if you go to the show's main page, you can see my photograph along with a few other images, as part of a sampling of the art of photography 2009 show.

i'm so excited i could scream!!  hope to see you there.

tonight is about sharing

enthusiasm is excitement with inspiration, motivation and a pinch of creativity.- bo bennett

i had another blog post planned for tonight (actually for the past few days) but oh well. tonight has become about sharing inspiration and gratitude.

i met up with kelley, from kelley photo, for dinner tonight. and although we never actually had dinner, we had the most amazing time. we shared. we laughed. and while we're both photographers, most of our conversation was not about photography--but rather life and inspiration--which was refreshing and wonderful. she's refreshing and wonderful!!

one of the things that i shared with kelley was maggie doyne's blog. yes, again. i know. and well, i don't care because the world should know about maggie. as i shared maggie's story with kelley, we both got chills because maggie is an inspiration to all, young and old! if you haven't looked at maggie's blog yet...just look. you'll be hooked!

and nie nie. i actually think i learned of nie nie dialogues last year, in the airport, on my way home from hawaii, visiting steve...the same time i so sadly learned about max's passing. i had always felt that everyone must have heard about stephanie and been to her blog and therefore, i hadn't posted about her in the past. but today, boho girl shared about nie nie and i just wanted to share too. some words that immediately come to mind when i think about stephanie--beautiful, courageous, inspiring, strong, incredible, loving, and selfless. she is a true survivor, in every sense of the word, with the most unwavering faith. if you haven't heard stephanie's story and/or read her nie nie dialogues, you must go look. you will be inspired beyond words by her (and her family's) beauty and strength. truly and deeply. to the core!

lastly, i wanted to post about something personal, as a result of visiting tara's blog today. tara posted photos that she recently took of three friends--three friends, who met in nursing school 20 years ago and got together recently to celebrate one of them turning 40. i couldn't help but think about where i am today and who i'm here with.

my friend, gwenn, and i were air force nurses together in tucson, AZ, 10 years ago. she left in 1999, to become an AF air traffic controller. i stayed in tucson, to finish nursing grad school. i later got re-married to a navy guy (my wonderful husband, steve) and got out of the AF. gwenn married an AF guy and got out of the AF. having husbands in different services, doing way different jobs (gwenn's husband fly's A-10s and steve takes apart bombs), we knew the chances of us ever being stationed together were one in a million. well...here we are. our husbands both got assigned to fort leavenworth's general command and staff college (a one-year army school). i mean seriously...what are the chances?! and...while here, i'll be turning 40. so it's a year to celebrate. a year to cherish. a year stationed with one of my best friends, who i never thought i'd be stationed with and will most likely never again. a year of incredible family time. a year of celebrating the beauty of turning 40. i'm here for a reason, for sure.

love ya gwenni!

seriously...

where did this guy come from? his message is unbelievable.  he was meant to come into the lives of millions and i fully believe he will. if there's one video you take the time to watch, whether it be today, this week or this month, make sure this one is it.  you need 10 minutes.  that's all!  

i promise you will be inspired-- to work harder, be better, think positively. to live, dream, have goals and be patient.

so please (yes, i really am begging you), take 10 minutes and let derrick touch your life, as he has touched mine.

this is another one of zack's videos that will bring you to tears, inspire you beyond words and have you longing to watch it time and time again.

thank you zack for recognizing derrick's message and taking the time to share it with all of us!!

some things to think about

i picked up one of my photography magazines (the july issue of professional photographer) the other day and in there was this great article--an interview with marketing guru, seth godin. i had heard about mr. godin quite a while ago from somewhere (can't remember where) and i actually own a couple of his books. so...i thought i'd share a few key questions and interesting points, from his interview:

how do you become somebody who is able to create a different sort of feature, a different sort of environment?

how do you become someone who goes to some edge where there is no one else like you?

how do you become that person where people will cross the street, pay extra and wait in line because what you do is different, better and more remarkable than everyone else in the yellow pages?

it's not how do i get the web to make my business work, it's how do i define a business that works well with the web. step 1: do things regularly that are worth of becoming viral--connecting people so they spread the word about you. step 2: don't try and make the most of your business from strangers, make the most of your business from friends and the friends they introduce you to.

making a living as a photographer is not about access to tools. anyone can buy a good camera these days. and it's much more than having the most or the best equipment. it's about doing photography worth paying for.

always remember that being a photographer is much more than taking pictures; it's about creating an experience (from beginning to end) that is remarkable and people can't help but talk about it.

definitely some things to think about.

finding my place

and above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. those who don't believe in magic will never find it.- roald dahl

yep, started another three or four blog posts, only to go no further than more saved drafts. seems to be the trend lately.  and just seems to be how things are rollin' these days.

i am really working to find my place in so many ways--as a wife, a mother, a photographer and flat out just find my place in general.

not long ago, steve was separated from us, deployed to iraq for seven months. and for about a year prior to that, his average time getting home from work was around 7 or 8 PM. now...he's home all the time and many days by 1 PM. and we are parents together, working as a team. i am no longer the (temporary) single parent making all the decisions for my children; my role is and equal half of the parenting equation. i went from being crazy busy in san diego with my business, to being here in kansas and well...not crazy busy.  i know...everyone's probably thinking,

hey stupid, that's awesome. wake up. what is there to think about or ponder or find?  it's right in front of your face.  grab it.  tightly.  and hold it with everything you have because before you know it, it will be gone and you'll be begging to have it back.

yes, i know. i know. i know. i know. i get it. but with post-deployment, there comes a phase of reintegration or a readjustment period. and beyond the standard post-deployment reintegration bit, we added a move across country to the mix and a daughter, who has been away from us (with her dad) all summer.

believe me, i'm grateful as can be...but this is all still a pretty big adjustment. i know my fellow military spouses are nodding their head in agreement--they've been there and they get it. while my best guess is that the non-military folks are thinking i'm a bit off in my thinking and maybe even a bit crazy.

i absolutely love my husband and have to say he's the greatest husband and father ever. i'm thankful that he's home and for this time we're getting to spend with him. but, like i said (over and over again)...it's an adjustment.

i know that this is time we won't see again (until steve retires) and i'm working hard to realize that it's okay to slow down and not be crazy busy with life and well...simply embrace and cherish this time we have together, with every morsel in my body.

i guess in the end, i just i feel like i'm in a really weird place right now. everything has changed and i'm trying to understand how i fit in amongst that change.

inspiration by the bundles

yesterday i learned of two blogs that inspire me so.  these two women are so darn talented, creative and not so serious.  i love that.  wish i was more of that. i feel like when i'm having a bad day, i could go to either of their blogs and my spirits would be immediately lifted.

color me katie seems so incredibly free-spirited and fun.  wish she was my neighbor.  shoot, i wish she just lived in my city.  you have to check out these two photography projects of hers:  street art (brooklyn thought project and the shadow project) and little surprises, where she leaves little bits of goodness around her city for others to find.  and her improv everywhere work too.  the no pants video had me so cracking up.  seriously, you can't help but love and be inspired by her work.

and then there's you can't be serious' blog.  i actually knew about hailey from flickr, but had never been to her blog or website.  she is so incredibly talented with everything she does.  i mean look at her--claymation, photography, film.  and every bit of it is absolutely incredible.

and while hailey might have a girl crush on katie, i think i have one on hailey.  i'd hire her in a second for both photography and film, if she didn't live all the way around the world.  maybe someday we will visit australia...maybe someday!

did you see her 365. GRATEFUL project?  oh man.  i love it so.  i think i might try my own 365 days of being thankful photography project--of course, solely inspired by hailey's project. amazing!  and remembering to be grateful each and every day is so important to me. i absolutely love the idea.  yes...i shall start today ;-)

and this little family video (holiday in hastings) that hailey did.  oh my.  love.

Holidaying in Hastings from hailey bartholomew on Vimeo.

reading these two blogs yesterday and today and soaking in as much goodness and inspiration that i possibly can, reminded me of a couple inspirational things i came across on the streets of california.

the first was when shooting the flohr family. we came across these signs posted on random poles and trees around their neighborhood, think of others -- smile & be nice! i just loved them so.  peta shot the family with me and captured this photo of melis and her youngest, by one of the signs.

and in venice beach, i came across this mural painted on the garage of a house.  had to drive around a couple times to get the photo b/c it was in an small alley, with no room for parking and cars kept coming.  i have a wall, where i've been wondering what print to put up...i think it might just have to be this one.

so many thoughts

very little is needed to make a happy life;it is all within yourself... in your way of thinking. - elisabeth kubler-ross

i'm not kidding when i say that i've rewritten this blog post three times today...and i had started and saved at least five different blog posts last week that never got published. so many thoughts running through my head, but none of those thoughts have made it farther than a blog draft thus far. but today is the day...to publish no matter what!

first, let me share that i'm back on the wagon--not the 'i'm going to abstain from drinking' wagon but the 'i'm going to get back in shape and not be so squishy' wagon. i was pretty much feeling crappy the past few weeks...really crappy. i had stopped working out a couple months before steve got home because i got too busy with work (photography). then i embraced steve's return and continued to not workout. a month later, we relocated and here we are--no more excuses--just feeling very "fluffy", as one of my dear friends says. it didn't matter how much i weighed; i knew i was fluffy and i felt like shit. a week ago, i committed that i'd get back on the wagon and begin working out. so i've been following a daily routine, alternating cardio and weight training. while i'm certain i haven't lost a pound and i'm not any less fluffy at this point, i'm standing taller and walking prouder already. i am determined!!

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i've also done a bunch of business thinking this week--ordered new business postcards, new business cards, and worked on a portfolio book. this morning, i began a blog post about my endeavors to market, in an effort to get clients while here in KS. by afternoon, i had decided that i'm not going to do any hard core marketing while here.  instead, i'm going to use the next 11 months to hard core spend time with my family and shoot a bit (or maybe a lot) for me--personal work. i already have a few project ideas in mind, projects that actually having been keeping me up at night lately.

one of these days (soon) i'm going to feel settled enough to get back shooting.  it's been a nice break but i really do miss my camera time.

if interested, you can preview (and even order a copy of) my portfolio book here. designing and sharing a book of your work, even if self-published, is always exciting. while the book started as a deb schwedhelm photography portfolio book accompanied by inspirational quotes...in the end, i decided to just let the photographs speak for themselves.  i hope you enjoy! :-)

give ten

life is a gift...and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more. - anthony robbins

more on giving. i guess i can never really blog too much on giving...right?! well just so happens that one of my very best friends started a giving project--the give ten project. and i'm hoping that everyone will participate. not just photographers. everyone. in some way. give ten. ten percent of your time and profits to charitable work and causes.

some giving i've done this year that has fed my soul--

max's family. i will forever be committed to photographing and helping max's family in any way i can. recently i photographed their family and am hoping to return to san diego the end of september to photograph their maxapalooza fundraising event.  hannah is holding max's shark, who since max's passing, will be in all their family photos.

team kirsten. you can read more about kirsten and her family and see some of her photos on this blog post.

team sam.  my giving actually started with sam, when he and kiele were at the same school together. his family is such an incredible family, determined to find a cure to save their little boy's life.  i've now photographed sam and family a few times, both for their personal use and for their magic water foundation.  

st paul's school auction. i made this book, 52 glimpses of heaven, to raise money for the preschool class.

warren-walker school auction. i actually worked with two warren-walker classes this year. i photographed the first grade kids and auctioned off 5x7 framed prints of each child. and photographed and made a book for the 2nd grade class.

deployed EOD families. a few months ago, i donated mini-sessions to six EOD families, who had a deployed spouse...and gave them 5x7 prints of all their photographs to send to the deployed active duty member and an 8x10 for their wall.

mentoring session. i recently donated a mentoring session to an up-and-coming photographer.

the howard family. nicole's husband deployed when she was 36 weeks pregnant. i donated a maternity and newborn session to nicole and her family, giving them 5x7 prints of all their photographs. dad was able to be here for newborn photos because he was able to come home for a couple of weeks because baby got sick and was in the NICU for a little while.

there's so many ways we can give. i truly believe that where there's a will, there's a way. we all have our unique gifts that we can share with others...that we can give to others.

a future giving project that i'm super excited about... after steve retires (nine more years), we plan to live on a sailboat and travel the americas. i'm excited about the adventure. excited to be free of the things that hold us down and hold us back in our everyday lives. excited to give.

we'll bring the little ones with us on our year sailing adventure, as they'll be 14 and 15. kiele will be able to choose if she wants to come or not, as she'll be 21. and when we go, i want to give, give, give...at every location we stop. in some way. in any way that will benefit the community. whether it be building homes. or teaching english. whatever will help. we will learn. and give. and share. and dream.

so you're taking great pictures... | post three

so you're taking and printing great photographs and you're wondering if it's time to start a photography business...time to start making some money with those great photographs you're consistently producing.  if you're still wondering if your photography is at the level it should be, you can check out the previous posts in this series here and here. so let's talk... BUSINESS what will be the name of your business? do you have a business license? have you filed your DBA (business name)? do you have your resellers license? have you written out your business plan? have you determined cost of goods? do you have a separate business checking and or savings account? do you have a separate business credit card? have you thought about sole-proprietorship versus LLC? are you going to accept credit cards (if so, through what merchant service)? begin thinking about your branding (you want to be consistent throughout your business). are you a member of any professional organizations? how will you do your book keeping? do you have a plan for proper image and document backup?

and this is only the beginning--only the beginning thoughts in having a successful photography business. we haven't even begun to talk about such things as pricing, sales, organization, forms, marketing, website | portfolio, etc. i'm saving those topics for future blog posts.

something that i will continue to stress throughout this series is how much work having a professional photography business really is...when you do it right. it is a BUSINESS, just like any other small business out there. and working from home doesn't really make managing that small business any easier; sometimes it's even more difficult.

one thing you shouldn't do is one day decide that you're tired of shooting for free, develop some form of pricing and start charging clients. for one thing, my first guess would be that that is illegal--to pose yourself as a business and accept payment from clients, without really being a formal business.  i truly am amazed at the number of new photographers that do this.  if you're tired of shooting for free AND you're truly ready to go into business (i.e. you work is at business-ready caliber / quality) then do it right--formally and completely start a small (professional photography) business.  

sharing a shot from last week of michael flor and his family and where the magic of his business happens.

it's about the passion...and soul

i can't even begin to explain how much i love this song, performed by this man. so full of soul. full of passion.  you can see it, hear it...feel it!  the soul and passion, that is. makes you long to hear more of his music.  and that's what i dream for with my photography or any photography, for that matter.  it goes beyond a picture.  it's the soul and passion...and the longing to see more. whether you watch american idol or not, i highly, highly recommend downloading adam lambert's song, mad world (found under the american idol downloads) on itunes or at the very least, watch the preview. and make sure you watch the performance version and not just the song.  did i mention...AMAZING!

i can't wait for him to starting making music outside of american idol.

maybe your still working towards taking great pictures... | post two

i've had a few things come across in blog comments that i wanted to touch on and then continue a bit on the basics and skill assessment. first, anyone who knows me, knows that i whole heartedly believe that everyone should follow their passion, whatever it might be. if photography and starting a photography business is your passion, go for it...but the business portion does not have to come in three months, six months or even 12 months. and personally, i don't think any aspiring photographer should start the business any sooner than one year. again, this is my personal opinion and i know others opinions will vary (that's okay), but i think that at least one year of shooting, editing, learning, growing, gaining confidence, etc. is essential in providing a good, solid foundation--to then move on to learning how to start and manage a small business.

i also don't want anyone to think that mistakes won't be made. even with mentoring, guidance, etc., you will come to bumps in the road and make mistakes. that's what learning is all about. they'll be times where you'll fall down and that's okay...just get back up and start again. so while mistakes will be made, i think it's best to make most of these mistakes pre-business and there's certain mistakes that can be avoided.

and just know...photography is a roller coaster. oh yes it is! you're an artist. our photographs are our personal work. what we create with our camera is a part of us.  some days we think we're damn good. some days we're *really* damn good. and other days, we're doubting ourselves completely. we all go through it. just keep plugging along because what goes up, will also come back down. hang in there through those days of self doubt.

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so, for this post, i'm going to backtrack a bit.  let's talk about some...

BASICS lighting. understanding lighting is huge, huge, huge! throughout your photography journey, play with lighting as much as possible. there's window light, outdoor light, hard light, soft light, direct light, reflected light, side lighting, front lighting, back lighting. there's quantity of light. there's quality of light. and that's only the beginning. i'm predominantly a natural light photographer but one of the most rockin' workshops i went to was the one light workshop, where we played with the power of artificial light. always keep your mind open, to see, learn and grow. there is so much power in light alone.

i can't stress enough how important it is to learn aperture, SS and ISO...and how they work together. you must fully grasp this step. this book was one of my favorites when i was just starting out. it is a basic book and an easy read, so it was good for me in the beginning.  i would read something and then go practice it. i would read...and re-read...and re-read.

once you have a good grasp on how aperture, SS, and ISO work together and you can consistently get good exposures in the varying lighting conditions, begin... shooting from different angles. shooting using different apertures. try varying distances from your subject. work on getting good exposures in camera. and when you don't, try and figure out why. do you know how to meter? are you consistently getting in focus what you intended to get in focus? do you know how to change your focal points? do you know what makes a well-composed photograph? posing versus not posing--what works best for you? maybe a little of both. really look at and work on recognizing and developing your style. use this pre-business time to experiment and work on your creativity. know that sometimes it's okay to break the rules but do so purposefully. begin to build your portfolio.

in speaking of portfolio building... remember that throughout your journey (and not just PBing), your style will continue to evolve; your portfolio will be very fluid--adding and deleting on a regular basis. try to always stay true to yourself and show photos that are you--that represent your style.  don't show images because it was your best friend's favorite or your client's favorite or because you think it's a correct image to show.  show images that truly show who YOU are as a photographer.  through your portfolio, you want to give your client a complete and honest representation of your style, what you have to offer and what makes you unique.  

also, i have a high-res portfolio folder b/c you never know what size you'll need for web use and having them in one location makes them easy to find. since started my business, i've gone through two websites. my second site used different size file sizes than my first, so i had to go back and find each of my portfolio images, which was a tad painful b/c i had to do a lot of searching.  

remember that all of this takes time and tons of practice. it doesn't happen overnight. there's so much to learn, remember and think about...and we haven't even begun to incorporate managing the small business.

and again, i'm not saying my way is 100% the right way; it is simply the way that i have come to do things over the years.  these are just my thoughts and practices and you can take whatever part(s) of this you choose.  my goal is simply to help others and that is all.  

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i'm off to yuma today to shoot this family and another, along with their pigs, chickens, bunnies, cows, horses, etc. i wish i could bring her with me, to guide me with the animal stuff. should be a very interesting and super fun weekend.

so you love taking pictures... | post one

with each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident and more and more successful.- mark victor hansen

so you love taking pictures, you take great pictures and you're thinking about starting a photography business?  well i have some things to share with you. :-)

i've been talking to my friends for a long time about doing a post like this, as i feel that it's one thing that's not readily available in our industry. there's a ton of workshops on editing, inspiration, etc. but i don't feel that a lot is discussed regarding what is necessary in getting prepared for and taking the steps of starting a photography business.

in starting a photography business, or any small business for that matter, it's so easy to get in over your head, especially when not doing things right. what do i mean? well, loving to take pictures and taking great pictures does not make a successful photography business. and starting a business takes lots of preparation, dedication, knowledge and hard work.

by no means am i saying i've done everything right or that i have all the answers. i'm also not saying my way is the exact way you should do things; however, i am saying there are certain things you should at least investigate and think about, when considering starting a photography business. trust me...i've made plenty of mistakes along the way. and i don't want you to make the same mistakes i did.

so if you take great pictures and you're contemplating starting a photography business, here's some things to think about and get prepared for with the launch of your business.

after getting started writing this, i realized i had much more to share than i originally thought so...i will be breaking this up into a series of posts. today, i'll be talking a bit about personal skill assessment and later move on to such things as equipment, small business preparation, packaging, etc. if, after reading, you have any questions along the way, feel free to ask. in the end, i hope this will get to and help some aspiring photographers out there.

PERSONAL SKILL ASSESSMENT do  you fully understand your camera? do you understand and can you shoot in various lighting conditions? do you understand what the varying lighting conditions can do to and for your subject? do you completely understand individually and the relationship between shutter speed, aperture and ISO? do you consistently get things right in camera versus trying to fix things later, while editing, e.g. exposure, highlights, focus (are you technically proficient)? do you understand about composition and what makes a well composed photograph? have you invested in the appropriate editing software? do you understand editing basics (and not just actions!!) and what they can do for your image, i.e. levels, curves, etc? have you had someone else (i.e. a professional photographer) evaluate your photographs and potential portfolio images? do you have a mentor? have you considered going on a shoot with a professional photographer (can't hurt to ask)? have you begun networking with other photographers in your area? have you ever printed your own photographs? are you using a professional print lab? is your monitor calibrated? have you thought about who and what inspires you, in life...and photography? have you thought about your style (do you even have a style)?

photography skills are only the beginning. please, please, please...don't feel like you need run out and start your photography business right away. take the time to really learn your equipment and master taking great photographs right out of camera. and when you are ready to take that next step of starting a photography business, make sure you do it right and in it's entirety. remember that once you start your business, that's exactly what it is--a small business. it's no longer just the love of taking great photographs; it's also appropriately managing a small business, in order to make that business a successful one.

personally, looking back, i jumped into the business too fast. even though i thought i was ready, i wasn't nearly as knowledgeable or prepared as i should have been. there were so many things that i didn't know and had to end up learning the hard way, along the way (some lessons tougher than others)...and i don't want you to make the same mistake(s) i did.

i share this photo with you because it was one of my first clients, back in summer 2006. light was low and i ended up using artificial lighting. what? not that artificial light is bad at all, but...i really had no clue what i was doing with that alien bee at the time. i basically got lucky. really lucky...that's all. i should never have gotten that light out in the first place because a) i didn't really know how to use it correctly and b) i should have known how to make the existing light work.

and as the quote above says, remember... you will grow stronger you will get more skilled and you will get more confident. it just all takes time a ton of practice and lots of patience.

success

success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be.- george sheehan

as photographers, we are artists. our photographs are the art, which we create. but when is a photographer successful? is it when one makes enough money? whatever enough might be. or when one books enough clients? when one sells enough fine art prints? or maybe success is when one gets published or has a gallery display? that is what a friend and i were talking about the other day.

for me, when it really comes down to it...success is knowing i've done things like this for families.

or getting told by a client,

we're so sad that you're moving...we want you to be our family historian.

that is success! that is what doing this is all about. sure...the money, lots of clients, getting published, having a gallery showing...that's all nice. but there is nothing more rewarding than knowing that you've done your job and your photographs have touched your clients' hearts.

and therefore, i can honestly say... i am a successful photographer.

thank you to all my clients who, over the past 2 1/2 years, have trusted me to capture their children and families. it truly has been my pleasure. i am a better person because of the job i do and the people i have met along this journey. and i can't wait to see what the future holds.

inspiration

far away in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. i may not reach them, but i can look up and see the beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.- louisa may alcott

today, i want to share and blog about someone i consider not only my mentor, but also a really great friend.  cheryl jacobs-nicolai.  cheryl is a brilliant film photographer, who i so admire and respect.

i met cheryl a few years ago, at one of her workshops, when i first started photography and it was b/c of her, that i had my aha moment.  it was cheryl's inspiration and words that helped me get the confidence in  myself and move my work and my business forward.  her work moves me beyond words.  no matter what cheryl shoots (children, adults, local tavern regulars, equestriennes...whomever), she captures the soul of the person in her photograph better than anyone i have seen. 

if you've never seen cheryl's work, please take a few minutes to check our her website. i promise...it will be so worth your time and you'll keep coming back again and again.

i can honestly say that i love everything cheryl produces but here are a few of my favorites:

and a couple she took of my kids and i, when she was visiting last year

lastly, i may have shared these words of cheryl's once before, but i don't think a photographer can ever read this enough...

Style Is Not a Voice

- Style is a voice, not a prop or an action. If you can buy it, borrow it, download it, or steal it, it is not a style. Don't look outward for your style; look inward.

- Know your stuff. Luck is a nice thing, but a terrifying thing to rely on. It's like money; you only have it when you don't need it.

- Never apologize for your own sense of beauty. Nobody can tell you what you should love. Do what you do brazenly and unapologetically. You cannot build your sense of aesthetics on a consensus.

- Say no. Say it often. It may be difficult, but you owe it to yourself and your clients. Turn down jobs that don't fit you, say no to overbooking yourself. You are no good to anyone when you're stressed and anxious.

- Learn to say "I'm a photographer" out loud with a straight face. If you can't say it and believe it, you can't expect anyone else to, either.

- You cannot specialize in everything.

- Know your style before you hang out your shingle. If you don't, your clients will dictate your style to you. That makes you nothing more than a picture taker. Changing your style later will force you to start all over again, and that's tough.

- Accept critique, but don't apply it blindly. Just because someone said it does not make it so. Critiques are opinions, nothing more. Consider the advice, consider the perspective of the advice giver, consider your style and what you want to convey in your work. Implement only what makes sense to implement. That doesn't not make you ungrateful, it makes you independent.

- Leave room for yourself to grow and evolve. It may seem like a good idea to call your business "Precious Chubby Tootsies"....but what happens when you decide you love to photograph seniors? Or boudoir?

- Remember that if your work looks like everyone else's, there's no reason for a client to book you instead of someone else. Unless you're cheaper. And nobody wants to be known as "the cheaper photographer".

- Gimmicks and merchandise will come and go, but honest photography is never outdated.

- It's easier to focus on buying that next piece of equipment than it is to accept that you should be able to create great work with what you've got. Buying stuff is a convenient and expensive distraction. Spend money on equipment ONLY when you've outgrown your current equipment and you're being limited by it.

- Learn that people photography is about people, not about photography. Great portraits are a side effect of a strong human connection.

- Never forget why you started taking pictures in the first place. Excellent technique is a great tool, but a terrible end product. The best thing your technique can do is not call attention to itself.

- Never compare your journey with someone else's. It's a marathon with no finish line. Someone else may start out faster than you, may seem to progress more quickly than you, but every runner has his own pace. Your journey is your journey, not a competition. You will never "arrive". No one ever does.

- Embrace frustration. It pushes you to learn and grow, broadens your horizons, and lights a fire under you when your work has gone cold. Nothing is more dangerous to an artist than complacence.

++++++

thanks cheryl--

for being you.  for being honest.  for being real.  for inspiring.  thank you for all you do and all  you offer to others.  i hope to see you soon.  looking forward to hanging out and shooting some film ;-)