We're just sand...

So, How do you get here?
All my customers, friends and even my wife often scratch their heads when I explain my ideas, or when they find out how I got the image I wanted.
It all starts with an innocent comment, something I heard, or a magazine. This particular one was actually kind of sad. Somebody I know is now in a very sad place. Let's just say that she risked her life, to try to get a better future. Things didn't work out for her the way she wanted them. This got me thinking about the dessert. I was in the dessert taking pictures about four years ago. Now I wanted to do it again. At Home. So I decided to build a gigantic sand box. I had an image in my mind, a woman alone in the dessert. Sad, vulnerable, beautiful.
I figured I could pull it off in a day or two. It took 500 lbs. of play sand. Many trips to the hardware store. A big pain in my back. Almost getting shot while collecting wild branches and grasses since it is hunting season and freezing temperatures.


It was actually a shoot that was planned for a very specific model. Somebody who inspires me and with whom I've worked before. She ended up rescheduling the very day of the shoot. Things have a way to work out, however. I had a shoot with another model later that day. She agreed to do my sand box concept. I feel bad for her. She got sand EVERYWHERE. However, I'm very pleased with the results. I got the pensive and delicate feeling I was going after. Defenseless under headlights. My thoughts go out for Dolores, hoping she'll soon be back with the people who love her and need her, Safe.

The art of waiting: a rant

Beware: this is just a rant. Seems like there has been an increase on the amount of people who think it's perfectly fine to waste somebody's time and money. And even worse, not even feeling the least amount of remorse. Two days ago, I spent an hour waiting, since I had an appointment with a potential customer. Not that I didn't enjoy good reading while I waited, but the gas I used to get there and back, the time I spent getting materials ready, putting pricelists, samples, albums together, the time and even more important, I left my family on a weekend, to accommodate her schedule. You would think she would have called. or emailed. Well, I'm still waiting to hear from her, two days after the date. Just a couple days before her, when I actually spend money building a set for a boudoir photo shoot, hauling raw materials into my studio, getting plants from the lake freezing temperatures, kept in touch and timely followed up with her, She cancels, five minutes AFTER the time of the shoot.

Is it asking too much to respect people's time and effort towards work?

Where do sports and weddings cross?

Well of course, in the Volleyball court!
We did some fast images for Kara and James. We absolutely love taking pictures of these guys. So much fun and they're just made for each other. Besides, it's always so interesting to learn about the passions of our customers. Kara is into Volleyball, like REALLY into it. We haven't had the opportunity to see her play professionally yet, but we sure witnessed them playing each other, and boy, I got to say, they get real into it!

Anyway, here's a little teaser. More to come of this couple's great engagement images. These soon to be married couple met us at the Lee's Summit public volleyball court.
Sorry I don't remember the name, I'll ask the wife.
Adrian

Connecting with customers

I received an email, from a good friend of mine asking me to do some family portraits.
Truth to be told, family portraits hasn't been my forte, and I'm still trying to decide why, since usually they end up being so much fun.
The day of the session, I arrived extra early, I mean 2 hours. I scouted the place, took notes and waited. For some odd reason, I was really nervous. I guess I wanted my friend to get something really special for her family.
When they arrived, within five minutes all came back to normal. Her family was so much fun, accommodating and even helped me carry my gear! (I carry way too much stuff to my shoots, but that'll be a different post)
How many times you get to know that your customers met in elementary school and married nine years after? and how many times you get to know your customers business, their story, why they moved and how they interact with their kids?
The more I think about it, the more I wonder why I don't do more of these portraits.
anyway, just wanted to share how a day that worries you so much, can turn out to be such a great experience.
Adrian

Saludos desde Puerto Rico!

Almost a week in beautiful San Juan, Puerto Rico. What a wonderful place. The people is so nice and helpful. Except the taxi drivers. And the desk people at the Sheraton (old San Juan one. they look like they need some exlax)
Anyway, for the first time in many many years, I found myself traveling without at least one camera bag. No lenses, flashes, memory cards, stands, nothing. NOTHING! is driving me crazy!!
I feel absolutely naked, I feel so useless that is scary. Like awesome scenery, great opportunities come my way just to mock me, to laugh at me. To say, come on, bring your little iphone, big boy.

Besides the feeling of being lost in the jungle without an Swiss army knife, it made me realize something:
It's so much easier when people don't feel the pressure of the hude camera with the huge lens and the huge flash on top. Nothing, just a small point and shoot can give you access to places you never dreamt of. So, I'm seriously considering a smaller format. Pictures from the iPhone to come...

Talking about sexy pictures

Because of the great interest in our boudoir/ glamour photography, We have now a sister photography site, to serve Kansas City, Missouri, Wichita, Lenexa, St. Louis, Olathe, Topeka, Jefferson City, Manhattan, St. Joseph, and all the Midwest.
With a fresh approach, and great creativity, we introduce Good Girl - Bad Girl Boudoir!
please visit the site and tell us what you think!
We're working hard to create great concepts at a killer price, and of course, we continue to offer fashion and trendy wedding photography. More to come!

Where inspiration comes from

To be honest, I'm going through some changes. Professionally, personally, philosophically.
Then I happened to be visiting one of my favorite blogs (check it out it's pretty awesome) and he's interviewing a wedding photographer, who has a pretty cool story. the year she picked up her first camera ever, she did three weddings. Next year, she books forty plus weddings. All word of mouth, no previous experience. She actually dropped from Law school.
It kind of struck me. How many of us photographers, or anybody for that matter, would love to have that happen? well, it doesn't "just" happen out of thin air. She was ready, she was determined, she had the drive and the talent.
Are you ready?
As she put it, it's not only the technical stuff, which she obviously didn't have down when she started, it's all about the attitude. She said something that just makes sense. "would you rather fail at doing something you love or succeed at something you hate?"
Many times, I thought I was ready. obviously, I wasn't.

So this lady, got into photography because her own wedding photographer inspired her. why? because he loved what he did.
Many time in my career, I focus on the stuff that doesn't seem to be working. But rarely we consider the good things that happen around us. Now I want that to be my focus. So, stop the madness, let's go back to basics.

This is day 8. We'll see how many it takes.