Photo Books

It has been a long while since I have completed a photo book.

Quite a few have been started, but I have not actually published any since the first one in 2008.

It is important for me, though, to have updated hard copies of my photos. I prefer book form to print form, too.

I was looking through my first book, ...one, the other day and noticed how far I've come.

So, this year, I am going to make at least two books. One of them will be another 8" x 8" book of just Instagram photos, and the other will be a portfolio book. I may split the latter up into people and non-people, so it might end up being three books. I'll have to wait and see how massive it is. (I mean, I have three more years to draw work from than I did for my first book!)

Realization & Re-Evaluating

I met with another of my maternity clients on Friday to go over her session that we are going to do tomorrow. Luckily for me, she also happens to be one of my longest-held friendships as well.

But, last night, as I was making my list of things to do before the shoot tomorrow -- what to take and to remember to format my memory cards and charge my battery -- the real reason I stepped back from photography.

I'm not afraid of failing, as some might take it to be from my post.
I'm afraid of it being successful.

Unfortunately, over the course of my life, I have come to expect failure from myself. I always anticipate falling flat on my face and making a complete spectacle of myself.

This makes no sense, though, because I passed some of the hardest classes my college offers with flying colors.

I think it is that I am just afraid, too, of not having proper time to devote to it.
What if my business takes off, but then I also get a new career position? A photography business takes a lot of time to be successful: marketing, interacting with clients and fans, scheduling, photographing, editing, delivering product, ordering prints and photographic items, meeting with clients, paperwork, and a whole mess of other things.
I'd rather get the career part figured out, first, and then fill in the gaps with the photography part.
I'd love it -- love it, love it, LOVE it -- if I could just do photography full time and have it be gainful. But that part also scares me.

So, for now, I am still on the periphery of the business. I am still honoring those shoots I've agreed to and any shoots which have been inquired about, but I may be back before too long.

2013: Stepping Back

Often in life, decisions are hard to make.
The following decision was one that came a little easier, all things considered.

At this time, I have decided that I am no longer accepting new sessions.

I will still honor sessions from anyone who has inquired about a session, and, obviously, those who have done a bit more than just inquire. However, at this time, and for personal reasons, I am no longer accepting new client work. 

I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused, but please know that this decision has been a long time coming. 

It does seem kind of odd, though, doesn't it, that I am stepping back right when it seems things are about to really take off.
I've had more inquiries in the last six months than I've had in all the previous 18 months combined.
It was just last spring --starting a year ago this month-- that I took a Studio Photography class to learn about studio lighting techniques.
I've had many friends --Krista Juhl of Juhl Photography principally among them-- introduce me to new opportunities and open the door to new experiences in photography over the last year. 

So why step back? If things are going so great and things are looking up, why derail the train? 

I need a breather. 

Yeah, I know, that's rich. There are photographers out there doing six shoots every weekend and at least two more during the week, in addition to raising their children, keeping their house clean, and juggling everything else in life, but poor little ol' me, who has one shoot every quarter (if I'm lucky), has no children (except a fuzzy one named Bailey who requires a leash every time she needs to relieve herself), and has minimal housekeeping duties, needs a break. 

I'm just going to re-examine where I am and how photography will really, truly, fit into my life. 

Do I really want to continue to offer this as a business? Or do I just want to do it for fun? 

I've tried for the last two and a half years to make it be both, but a fun business hasn't made any profit, or really turned out much of an attractive portfolio. 

Photography has been one of the things that has made me the happiest.
I can capture the world around me and share my unique perspectives with people. 

...but does that require me to have a client list? Does that require me to have a sitting fee? Should it? 

I decided about a month ago that out of all the styles of photography that exist, that I am closest to a lifestyle photographer.
I like to capture people in their otherwise unmemorialized everyday, doing what it is they do. Natural poses for clients in natural environments. 

It makes sense, especially because it (1) causes a permanence to exist for fleeting moments and (2) that line of thinking is what drew me to take photography more serious anyway.

This decision, to take a step back, is not a permanent one. I will be back. 

I just need space, and time, to think things over. To reacquaint myself with myself.
Hopefully, to start a new career and move out of my parents' house -- again. 

And figure out where photography is going to fit into all of this, and how deeply. 

I will still be posting work. I still have clients on my list; I still have sessions scheduled on my calendar. (And there are five weddings on tap so far this year! Woot woot!)
And I will be posting personal work. I don't plan on being photographically lazy. There will be more landscapes. More art. More springscapes. More animalscapes. More lifestyle photography from my own life. And, perhaps, more expressive work as well.

So I am taking a hiatus. Hopefully you will be around to see what happens during and after.

Thank you for your understanding. 

Last Wedding of 2012

The last wedding I shot in 2012 as a second camera for Juhl Photography was a Winter Wonderland themed wedding.

It was gorgeous, and even Mother Nature obliged by laying down fresh snow a few days before! 

The following images are my favorites from that December day. 

Miss A {::maternity::}

I had the honor and privilege of photographing my dear, lifelong friend, Amanda, a few weeks before the birth of her youngest daughter, Juliet. 

It was a maternity session that was also a family session, and there was plenty of wonderful fun to be had.

These are my favorite images from that day. 

Lily is listening to what Juliet has to say, but Mama 'Manda knows; Juliet says she's coming soon!

Loved the session. Love the family.
Can't wait to photograph them again when Juliet makes her appearance, which should be any day now. 

Amanda, her family, and all of us friends are officially on baby watch. =)

Ok, Ok: I Did It

For the longest time, I was editing with Lightroom 2, and using Photoshop Elements 6 for when I wanted to put watermarks on my images.

Well, I finally broke down and installed Adobe Photoshop Creative Suite 6. (And deleted the dated Elements.)

Now, I can edit and watermark without leaving a single program.
I still haven't quite gotten skin retouching down yet in CS6, but I am working on it.
The patch tool is quickly becoming my friend! =)

In other news, I am going to be quite busy over the next 46 days.
I have a maternity-cum-family shoot on Sunday. The mama's due in approximately three weeks with her second daughter. So excited. =) I am in the process of making a belly sash for her to wear. It's my first go, so I'm a bit nervous. (And most of it will be hand-sewn, because I am still unfamiliar with a sewing machine!)
I have two engagement shoots over the next month. One of the couples wants to mail out their photos with their invites before Christmas. The other couple is easy-peasy on time, and just wants it done before the end of the year.
Also coming next month is another wedding. Yep, I am second-shooting my fourth wedding next month! I am so excited.

All of this coming work is a blessing, and I welcome it.

Goodbye, October

Goodbye, October, a photo by speckled_beckle on Flickr.

There is still autumn left, but not much.

We've already had three snowstorms in my area, and more may come during the next month. November has been a historically unpredictable month for snowstorms.

I've been taking advantage of the fall colors while I can, but I've mostly stuck to the autumn I see around me in my front yard.
I didn't make it to the mountains this year, but I will make it a goal for 2013.

This little vagabond leaf was hanging out in the currant bush in the front yard, detached from its normal branch --that is, indeed, a currant leaf.

Tis the last of October, so Happy Halloween, everyone!

November brings Christmas prep and, of course, Thanksgiving.

(By the by, do you notice a new watermark I'm trying out? I may need to make it bigger, but I don't know. Feedback on that would be appreciated.)