Work
December was a really full month for me and what better way to finish the year than my shoot at Pregame! Founded by Ciara Pressler, Pregame is a space and community dedicated to giving entrepreneurs the guidance, support, and connections they need to move forward.
We set up a studio in the meeting room for portraits, I sat in on some impromptu sessions and then grabbed a few images of the beautiful space- located in the heart of Portland's Pearl District.
Just before the holidays I had a chance to shoot a series of documentary-style images for East Portland Pediatrics which is located at the Adventist hospital in East Portland. We had a few actual patients and some children of the Staff (also patients of course!) come in and we generally had a great time! They also have a dedicated teen clinic as well. If you are looking for a pediatrician, I can't recommend them enough!
Sometimes you look at your website and think, "Well it can't have been too long since the last time I posted" and then you realize it was 2 months ago. Sorry about that. I've been really busy. I promise! The time between the last post and this one has been my busiest, and in many ways most productive photography season ever.
So, before I get too far in here, let me just say thank you! If you are a client that trusted me to tell the story of your business, represent your professional image, show off your family or just spiff up your facebook profile pic I am sincerely grateful. You've made this an unbelievably successful first year in business for myself. I also want to say thank you to all of the friends that have supported me, asked about it and referred their friends and family my way. Your support is so valuable to me and I'm grateful.
So, what have I been doing the last 3 months?
I wrapped up my largest professional project to date- 200+ matching headshots over 16 sessions at 15 locations spread over 2.5 months.
I tackled 4 documentary style photo sessions which I'll be sharing more in-depth in the coming weeks (when the clients start using them). Headshots and patient documentary shots for a group of pedatricians, An entrepreneur coaching group in an amazing space in the Pearl District, a custom furniture maker, and a local winemaker marketing a new sparkling wine.
In the meantime, here are a few of my favorites from my professional work this year.
Philip and I met for a morning session in downtown Portland fully expecting a typical overcast fall morning, but instead we were greeted with one of fall's first crisp and clear days. Philip is an agent with Broad River Financial Services in the Portland area.
I haven't talked about it here at all, but in early February, I left my corporate banking career. It was a great season in my life, and provided stability when we were starting our family. I met so many amazing people, both co-workers and clients and learned so much about how people do life, run businesses and make decisions.
In many ways, my clients inspired me to make this change. So many of them are completely enamored with their work. Whether running a small business, corporate management, commissioned sales or something really creative or entrepreneurial. I was jealous.
For many years, I've had the itch to work for myself, but it can be daunting to make that leap, especially when there isn't a clear path for how to do it, or what it will look like. This year, Emily's career success, lots of souls searching, research,inspiration and some amazing opportunities all aligned and I'm now doing some meaningful work that I love. I'm absolutely sure that it will be a long-term growing and learning process and thankfully I've had some amazing friends that have given encouragment and real-world, no-bullshit advice.
I chose this photo because I took it during a morning walk with Bailey after dropping the kids off at school, which has become part of my new routine- My new normal. I'm working harder than ever, juggling multiple projects and house-husbandry, but taking time every day to get outside, clear my head and dream. I've never been happier and can't wait to see where this goes.
As far as specifics, I'm primarily doing environmental portrait photography, business and non-profit documentary photography and website/brand consultation. I'll be sharing some of my work right here very soon!
I found this great video when Conor McClure shared it earlier this week.
THE GAP by Ira Glass from frohlocke on Vimeo.
Daniel created a video accompaniment to a section of an interview with Ira Glass about the frustration of being in the place as a creative person where you have good taste, but aren't really satisfied with the quality of the stuff you're producing.
What a strange place to be. Understanding the difference between the good and the mediocre but not being able to push through. Here's Ira's advice-
You gotta know, the most important possible thing you can do is do a lot of work...It's only by actually going through a volume of work that you're going to catch up and close that gap and the work you're making is going to reach those ambitions.
I've found this to be the case in so many creative endeavors over the years. Whether it's photography, songwriting, playing an instrument or graphic design, the same rule applies. You'll know what exceptional looks (or sounds) like long before you can pull it off. As much as it sounds cheesy, there really is something to the phrase, "Fake it 'till you make it".
By trying over and over again to make the thing that you can already feel inside of you, eventually it stops being fake.
The world built by the Internet is one of convenience. Buy anything without leaving your house. All knowledge is nearby and that’s a lot of knowledge, but don’t worry, everyone is pre-chewing it for you and sharing it in every way possible. They’re sharing that and other interesting moments all day and you’re beginning to believe that these shared moments are close to disposable because you are flooded with them.
You’re fucking swimming in everyone else’s moments, likes, and tweets and during these moments of consumption you are coming to believe that their brief interestingness to others makes it somehow relevant to you and worth your time.
...
This is not a reminder to over-analyze each moment and make them count. This is a reminder not to let a digital world full of others’ moments deceive you into devaluing your own. Their moments are infinite – yours are finite, too, and precious – and this New Year I’m wondering how much we want to create versus consume.
I need to hear this. I've been thinking about the balance of consuming information vs creation and Rands nailed it.
I did a photo shoot with my friend Joel's band Wednesday Weekend this past Saturday. Here are a few of my favorites.
