I Think Gilbert Stole Your Dance Card.

“It’s so much more romantic to end a story up with a funeral than a wedding.”
– LM MONTGOMERY

Yesterday I was working at our packed Record Store Day….a day we had been anticipating for some time and that was meeting most, if not all, of our expectations.

During a slight lull in checking people out I decided to peruse Facebook. I follow several “Anne of Green Gables” fan pages on Facebook (because nerd.) and something quickly caught my eye on the newsfeed.

Jonathan Crombie, known for Anne of Green Gables, is dead.

Dead.

It didn’t really register with me right away, but I did let out an audible gasp that led several record store shoppers to turn around to see if I had seen a ghost or burned myself or something.

Gilbert Blythe had died. I didn’t really know what to do at that point, but my brain thought now was a time to start tearing up. Lovely.

Crying over an actor I didn’t know and a fictional character. That’s Maturity 101.

I felt silly….especially since then wasn’t really the time to get all sappy and sentimental over someone I had never even met. I sucked it up and got on with the day, but man…..it sucked.

Once I got home I put on Anne of Avonlea and allowed myself to process what had happened.

Gilbert Blythe had died.

Now, I know Jonathan Crombie was not his character. Gilbert Blythe didn’t really exist outside of literature and it’s horrifically sad that a man who seemed by all accounts to be a lovely person had died too young.

But, from what I read, he was very proud of his role in the Anne series….and to most, Jonathan Crombie WAS Gilbert.

If you ask me, there are few movies out there that are absolutely, perfectly cast. Especially movies made from beloved books that are 80-100 years old. You don’t have the author around to tell you what she had in mind for the characters, really. You have a bevvy of fans that are going to pick apart your every casting move.

But, Anne of Green Gables was perfectly cast. Every role. Megan Follows WAS Anne Shirley. No one else can play her, even though some have tried (Barbara Hershey. Ick.)
And Jonathan Crombie was the absolute PERFECT choice for the dashingly handsome Gilbert Blythe.

It was the first time in my young life I ever looked at a boy on screen and said “Wow. He’s something special” rather than “Yuck. Cootieville”.

Gilbert was my first crush, my first introduction into how boys and girls coexist as pre-teens….how love grows and how women should be treated. He was the perfect guy. He apologized profusely when he realized his teasing had hurt Anne’s feelings, he stuck up for her….being smart is better than being pretty…..he gave up his school posting for her so she could stay at Green Gables, he waited for her….almost until death parted them….so she could go looking for her ideals elsewhere…only to find they were right there in Avonlea.

Now, I am not a sappy, sentimental sucker for flowery language and fairy tales. In fact, the series of Anne books is pretty much the only fiction I’ve read outside of school assignments. I’m a realist. A non-fiction gal.

But the stories of Anne and Gilbert? That was my childhood. In a nutshell. I lived for those stories.

It’s no secret that I’ve always felt I was born far too late. Yes, modern conveniences are wonderful…and damn if I don’t love my car and my music and my computer. But, I have a strong affinity for the Victorian to Edwardian era. The simplicity of it all is really appealing to me. A time when it took, obviously, years to grow a love like Anne and Gilbert’s. When flowery language and mooning over someone was romantic….to an 9 or 10 year old “me” this was perfection. The way things should be.

When I found out yesterday that Gilbert/Jonathan had passed away, I felt like every bit of innocence that was left from my childhood was officially done. Now I was old, and my childhood idols are gone….the story is over. For good.

I had visions of an older Anne somewhere….without her Gilbert. Silly,  yes, but heartbreaking all the same. A great love like that, fiction or not, should never end.

But it has ended. There will never be another perfect Gilbert. Jonathan Crombie was that role. There will never be another meeting on the footbridge or walk down the lane. Another meeting of eyes across a battlefield (in arguably the WORST movie of the Anne series, but damn if I don’t still cry my eyes out at that scene).

There will never be another Gilbert Blythe.

Rest in Peace, Jonathan. You shaped many of my childhood ideals about love, marriage, chivalry, and contentment. Thank You for bringing such perfection to one of the greatest love stories ever crafted.

 

(Pictures courtesy of Sullivan Entertainment & Tumblr)

A Day in the Life ~ Wisconsin Wedding Photographer

Welp, Wedding Season 2015 is nearly upon us, friends. Soon your Facebook feed will be peppered with the best of our best efforts….each posting screaming, subliminally, LIKE ME….FRIEND ME…HIRE ME! Shameless self-promotion, oh we’ve got it!

We will introduce you to our lovely couples, showing you fancy shots of all of their carefully planned tidbits. We will drag our butts to our computers at all ungodly hours of the day to post previews and wax nostalgic about our latest shoot.

Ah yes, wedding season. The big show.

What you may not realize, however, is all the hustle, bustle, sweat, sometimes tears…..that goes into your average wedding day from the photographer’s perspective. It’s like a duck on the water…..all calm and serene on the surface…padding like a crazy person underneath.

So, I thought it would be fun to kick off the upcoming season with a bit of a “behind the scenes” look at an average “Day in the Life of a Wedding Photographer”

ENJOY!

Disclaimer: This is not describing an ACTUAL wedding, just a generic “wedding” being used as an example : )

FRIDAY (night before)

11:00 PM
Husband: Don’t you have a wedding tomorrow?
Me: Yep.
Husband: Is all your stuff ready?
Me: Yeah…..I’ll get to it….just after I see the end of this Supernatural….

12:30 AM
Cursing the fact that none of my batteries have charged themselves….I’m putting all of my stuff in some semblance of organized order for the next day’s festivities.

SATURDAY (The Big Day)

7:00 AM
We call this “sleeping in”….if Kidlet #1 decides she’s going to bestow a few precious moments of sleep on her poor mommy and daddy. More often than not, however, she’s climbing into our bed with an armful of plastic, pointy toys.  I’m up…..I’m up.

7:30 AM
Shower, mentally go over my “Inspiration” Pinterest list in my head. Try to remember to mix it up on the posing front today and try out that new lighting idea I had.

7:45 AM
Why am I bothering to do my hair? I’m bound to look like a sweaty miner by noon. Ponytail it is.

7:50 AM
Makeup. A necessity. Without it, I look like I brought the Plague to my client’s big day.
Gee…..what black pants/black shirt/black shoes combo should I wear THIS week?
Settle for the one I can get buttoned (off season = 10 extra pounds) and head downstairs.

8:00 AM
Breakfast. Must stock up. Lord knows when you’ll get to eat again today. So….I DEMAND ALL THE WAFFLES.

8:30 AM
The OCD kicks in and I have to check, recheck, check again that I do, indeed, have ALL of my sync cords, Pocket Wizards, batteries, CF cards, and the info list from the couple. I will do this little checking dance about 10 more times before I actually leave…..and it’s pretty much a given I will forget SOMETHING and have to turn around at the end of my street and come back and get it. Usually it’s my phone.

9:00 AM
I’m off. First stop (after the inevitable gas-up) is Starbucks. Grande Mocha with Whip. Whatever my second shooter wants…..This is a necessity. Almost as much as the cameras (Crap….I remembered my cameras, right??…..Pull over before I get on the freeway to double check)

9:15 AM
Typically I’m off to Milwaukee….or Madison…..or Chicago. I’ve driven back to Milwaukee so many times I can pretty much space out most of the way there and write blogs in my head as I drive….or sing show tunes, whatever is tripping my trigger that particular day. Probably why I collect speeding tickets like some people collect postage stamps……

9:45 AM
Pull over to a gas station. Pick up gum and a few snacks. Note to photographers, buy gum. You’re gonna want gum. Mints. Something.

10:30 AM
Arrive at Our Lady of Perpetual Weddings (Note: Not a real church). Load my stuff up in my arms and try my best to carry my Pelican, umbrella, Alien Bee on a stick, and soft box into the church. Run into church lady who asks if I’m the photographer. Stop myself from saying “No, I’m the florist”

Introduce myself to church lady. Church lady lets me know that most photographers are like bratty little unkempt children and therefore I have rules I must abide by because some photographer LONG ago decided to climb on the altar and hang from the crucifix to get his shot. Typically I’m already aware of this and I nod and smile. Make it my secret mission to get church lady to eventually love me. Promise whole-heartedly not to leave the back of the church or touch their antique organ.

10:45 AM
Bride and her entourage arrive at the church and huddle away in the teeny tiny bridal room, which doubles as the daycare center for the church during the week. Try to avoid getting the big clown painted on the wall in the shot with the bride being veiled.

Decide the clown may be kind of funny and include it in one shot anyway.

Remind all bridesmaids to eat something and get their ponytail holders off their wrists (PET PEEVE, TAKE NOTE). Head off to meet with the dudes.

11:00 AM
Dudes are not dressed. Dudes are sitting around doing not much of anything. Fake a few “Dudes getting ready” shots and head back over to the girls. Note: Dude shots typically take about 15 minutes. Tops. Maybe.

Exception: If the guys are deciding to make a Top 10 list of sandwiches on the dressing room chalkboard. You stick around. Because that’s funny. Yes, this happened.

11:30 AM
Dad sees bride for the first time. Tears all around. Good moment.
Grandma sees bride for the first time. Excuse myself to the bathroom to have a bit of a sniffle over that one. Darn weddings and their feels.

12:00 PM
Priest stops me as I’m hiding my bags to reiterate what church lady has said about moving, breathing, or even thinking about lighting anything. Nod and smile. Nod and smile. Make mental note to take Communion and smile again to get in Father’s good graces. YOU WILL LOVE ME, CHURCH PEOPLE!

12:30PM
People are getting seated. Keep an eagle eye out for potentially troublesome Uncle Bob’s. There’s always one. You can tell because they bring in more equipment to the church than you did.

Spot Uncle Bob, affixing his 70-200 and positioning himself at the top of the aisle. Um…yeah. Sorry Bobbo……imma let you finish but…..I’m gonna need to stand here….just for a second. Flash Bobbo your best smile. Bobbo asks what you’re shooting.

1:00 PM
KICKOFF! Adrenaline kicks in as the bridesmaids book it down the aisle at mach-10. BAM BAM BAM! Fire off shots of each gal in mid-stride….position yourself for the main entrance of the bride. Bride enters….everyone stands up and sticks their cellphones out into the aisle for their own shot. Bob and weave like a crafty honey badger to get “THE SHOT”.

Skills.

Book it to the back of the church, avoid the ire of the church lady.

2:00 PM
Mass is over, you may go in Peace.

Kiss kiss kiss…..and follow the happy couple with my lens as they exit the church. Pray hard to the Patron Saint of Church Formals that they’ve decided against a receiving line. (Why? Because those suckers take FO-EVAH and eat up all of your formal portrait time….among other reasons. Just go with me on this one)

Get reminder from church lady (who is totally taking a liking to me, I can tell) that we need to get our butts out of there in the next 30 minutes.

Hustle to arrange family formals.

2:30 PM

Family formals are going swimmingly. Set up very large umbrella. Uncle Bobbo looks none to pleased with very large umbrella. Hence reason for very large umbrella. Sorry Uncle Bobbo, see you at the reception.

3:00 PM

Head off to bridal party pictures. Position myself on Party Bus or follow party bus. Don’t have a preference really, unless the participants of party bus fun have questionable music taste.

Bridal Party Picture Location #1…..very popular place. Notice 2 other shooters with their bridal parties.

Do I know these people? If I don’t know them, who are they? Dang, there’s a lot of photographers out there. How come I don’t know them? Where have they been hiding?

If I do know them “Hey! What’s up! I know you! Funny to see you out in the wild!”

Stage West Side Story type gang-fight pictures between rival bridal parties. Good times.

4:00 PM
Bridal Party Picture Location #2 – Bridal party has been partaking in the bus bubbly. Better make this one quick.

Ya know what, on second thought, why don’t we just do the bride and groom here. Everyone else back on the bus. Hang out. Have fun. Don’t throw up.

Park Ranger comes over and does his Park Ranger thing. Of COURSE I have a permit, Park Ranger….lemme just go get that out of my car.

*RUN*

4:30 PM
Scarf previously acquired gas station snack.

Not really doin’ it’s job but hey, whatever. The bridal party got Jimmy John’s.

Mmmmmm….Jiiiimmy Johns…..

5:00 PM
Get to the reception. Boogie inside super-fast to hide my stuff by the DJ booth, say ” ‘ Ello” to the DJ, and get in gear for the Grand March.

Realize the bridal party isn’t even CLOSE to being ready to do the Grand March and decide it’s safe for me to use the bathroom.

Realize while I’m IN the bathroom they suddenly got themselves organized and book it out of the bathroom to grab my camera and get the shots.

Aunt of the Groom pulls me aside to ask me to take a picture of their family MID-Grand March.

Send 2nd shooter to help out Auntie and follow the bride and groom to their table Mid- March because I know what’s coming next.

“CLANG CLANG CLANG”

KISS

WOOOOO HOOOOO!

Ok, now I can finish hitting up the bathroom.

5:30 PM
My God, why didn’t my Second Shooter TELL me I looked like this!??! Ugh….

Rearrange outfit and comb hair. Decide no one will notice that your makeup sweated off hours ago….hit the floor again.

Sometimes I have a seat….sometimes my seat is a dark corner of the reception hall where I crouch like Gollum and inhale my mashed potatoes (PRECIOUS) until someone does something photo-worthy. I never really have a preference, as long as potatoes are in the mix.

Potatoes make everything wonderful.

6:30 PM
Dinner. This is downtime….as most folks don’t really care for pictures of themselves eating. Don’t blame em. Get Kiddie Cocktail from the bar. Enjoy immensely.

Head outside to check out the sky. If the sky is particularly awesome, fetch the bride and groom and promise to be quick. Shoot awesome sky/nightime shots.

7:00 PM
DANCING! Best part of the night. Set up your light and get killer dance shots.

Open dancing kicks off and you get to be-bop around like a crazy person to “I’ve Gotta Feeling” or “Shout”. Bet your Second Shooter $20 that you can guess the next song on the DJ’s playlist. Collect $20.

7:30 PM
Take a tour around the reception hall to capture the non-dancers. They matter too : )

Kiddie Cocktail #2

Mint.

Candy bar.

8:00 PM
Text husband to see what he’s up to. Kids are being crazy. Wish him well, they’ll be in bed long before I get home.

Bounce around the dance floor a bit more.

Cupid Shuffle….Electric Slide….Cha Cha Slide…..Chicken Dance….polka…..

8:30 PM
Let’s toss that bouquet, folks!

“All the Single Ladies” means I gotta get in position. PLEASE DJ, don’t make them all stand in a circle. PLEASE……FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY AND GOOD.

Garter removal…..I typically try to position myself in front of a kid….so, you know, they don’t have to witness the debauchery about to go down. : ) Doin’ the mom thing.

CAKE! Mmmmm…CAKE. And coffee….Cake and coffee are some of my greatest occupational perks.

9:00 PM
Gotta see if there’s anything else the couple needs…..typically this means group shots. Get all the bride’s sorority sisters together in a bunch….shoot shoot shoot.

annnnd…..**drop the mic***….we’re out.

9:30 PM
Stop for french fries and a Mountain Dew. Because after a wedding this is the food of the GODS.

10:30 – 11:00 PM
Depending on where I’ve been, get home and realize that being on my feet all day, and then sitting for 2 hours, has rendered my legs jelly-like.

Get inside. Husband is up watching American Restoration or How It’s Made or some equally boring man-show. Unload all the stuff, throw Intervention or Hoarders on the computer to watch as I back up.

11:30 PM
Start backing up those files. Now, some folks sleep on them. I don’t. I can’t. If I don’t get my files backed up THAT NIGHT…..the world will surely end….or something. Terrible things will happen, I’m convinced. So, I get my jammies on and I start the back up process.

1:00 AM
Back up process done. Takes so long because typically I get distracted by the internet and forget that I’m downloading.

1:30 AM
BED. I have “All of Me” stuck in my head. Stupid Ear Worm. My lord….I’m sure it’ll be something else this season.

7:00 AM
Next morning get startled awake by my kid standing at my bedside needing to use the potty. Head downstairs and start on the blog.

Blog and then NAP! (If I’m lucky!)

So there ya have it, folks…..glamorous, I know, ain’t it? But, this is the life of a wedding photographer. Sometimes it differs in hours, in place, in time, and in happenings…..but there’s no doubt that we all go out there and tackle our wedding days like a boss.

Here’s to a KILLER 2015 Wedding Season, Shooters!

I Say Uncle ~ Wisconsin Photographer

So, yesterday I came home from another long day at work ( a mix of slinging records and editing in between) to find a few school notes and a “Little Poms” t-shirt on our kitchen counter.

Little poms…..Little Poms? OH YEAH, Betty wanted to do Little Poms this year. Why are they giving her the t-shirt now? I thought to myself. That shizz don’t kick off until March.

Um…think again, unorganized Mama.

The performance is Thursday. As in TOMORROW. And guess who missed the rehearsal? This girl right here. So, my little innocent red head who so badly wants to pom it up was going to be woefully unprepared for her performance this week because I’m a moron and couldn’t write down one simple schedule.

Thank God for You Tube. We You Tubed the dance and Betty and I “pom’d” it up in front of the TV for a good 45 minutes last night. I think I jammed my toe trying to demonstrate a proper cheerleading jump.

I think my ego and my heart were bruised more.

I felt like a terrible mom. Because of our schedules it’s not like my kids get to participate in a litany of after-school activities. Little Poms was pretty much the one thing Betty specifically asked to do this year.

And I nearly completely screwed that up.

My kids spend most of their time at school/daycare or with their grandparents. Such is the life of a family whose parents hold down three jobs, two of which are self-run businesses. I get daily reminders of how I could be screwing my kids up for life because of this choice to be self-employed two times over.

“Mommy, play with me”
“Mom, you have to go to work AGAIN?”

“Mom, you’re ALWAYS on your computer”
Reminders from other adults in my life that our schedules are insanity and we need to back it off. Reminders from my own body that I’m burning the candle at both ends and I’m not taking care of myself (says the bronchitis that lasted WAY too long). Completely convincing myself that the reason my 4 year old won’t get completely potty trained and my 7 year old rolls her eyes at me in the morning is because I work too much.  Angry calls from my eye doctor because I missed a follow up appointment (whoops). Letters from my regular doctor that threatens to drop me because I showed up at our appointment at the wrong time.  My car is 4000 miles past needing an oil change. Lord knows when that’ll happen.

I’ve never been an unorganized schedule keeper, ever. I’m efficient….that’s my “thing”. Type A and all that. But, I’ve also always seemed to laugh in the face of time. The laws of time are MINE and they will obey ME and all that (geek reference….sorry). But, it’s simply not true. I have 24 hours each day to cram in as much stuff as possible…..and even with all the help we get things can go terribly awry. I’m not superwoman, as much as I’d like to pretend that I am all hours of the day. I can’t always say Yes…..and I have to start being able to say Yes to the right people (namely, my kids) and learn that it’s okay, sometimes, to say No when something is just not possible to finish….or to even start.

I know there are others out there like me. I know there are perfectionists who look in the mirror each morning and say to themselves “No failures……you’re going to kick this day’s ass….let’s do this”….and when things unravel your sanity unravels along with it.

I’ve found in the last year I haven’t done much that I’ve ENJOYED…..for myself. I’ve been working at a break-neck pace and even when I was in NYC I was so worried about cramming in as much “adventure” as possible that there wasn’t much stopping and breathing. Am I even CAPABLE of stopping and just breathing? Not sure. I am simply the type that has to have 400 things going on at one time to feel whole. It’s a gigantic character flaw.

My point? My point is resolution. My point is focus. My point is learning that no, I do not have to take on 10 sessions a week every week in between running the store and trying to be Mom and Wife. I just don’t. That’s the point of running my own business, correct? I have to make the choices? GET to make the choices?

So in 2015 I’m going to scale it back. Mark my words, folks. I adore shooting seniors and I really want to focus on that. I adore shooting weddings and I really want to focus on that as well. But perhaps in smaller slices.

My kids need me….I know this…I need to be around to catch their everydays because someday those will be gone. Someday will be the day I carry Molly around on my hip for the last time and I don’t want to miss that because I had to rush off to something else. Someday Betty will no longer want me to kiss her goodnight or jump around the living room doing cheerleading routines.

I love work. I thrive on work….I need problems! I need things to figure out! Its my ingrained nature…..but I also need a little of the other stuff too.

I really hope, pray, wish, and yearn for clarity and peace in 2015. For myself and for everyone else in my well-worn shoes.

(On that note, I’m suspending Friday Fractured Thoughts for right now……I’ll be just blogging randomly…..having a set day was too much pressure. End of an era and all that. To everything, a season….turn turn turn. LOL)

New York City Photo Plus Expo 2014

October was rough. Hell, 2014 was rough. If I’m being honest, I’m not sure I have ever come closer to complete and total burn out since I started Type A in 2008.

I was taking on more and more with each passing month: triple the seniors I photographed the year before, more second shooting gigs, the store opening, more editorial assignments. All things I chased….but it left me pretty exhausted and road-weary by October.

I developed a slight love affair with NYC when my husband and I visited in 2012. It’s just such a magical city. That’s the best way I can describe it. It’s the perfect place for a semi-introvert….because even with the millions of people, you can be anonymous. You blend seamlessly into the furious motion of the day and within that tornado you can BREATHE. It’s like being in the calm epicenter of a whirlpool. Everything is chaos around you, yet you can just be.

It’s what I loved the most. That and the opportunity around every corner…the options…the lights….yeah, it’s safe to say I adore that city.

So, when I heard about the PhotoPlus Expo in NYC I decided to break my streak of NEVER going to conventions and attend.

When I read that Dan Winters was giving one of the seminars, I knew come hell or high water I had to get there. He’s one of my all-time favorite portrait artists.

I’m not a very well-seasoned traveler….so I had this completely irrational fear of not being able to find my plane once I got to the airport.

So what does Type A girl do? Type A girl gets there 5 hours early.

I found my plane.

My first full day in New York I had switched out my first seminar to see Cliff Mautner instead of Michael Grecco. Mostly because Michael Grecco is a portrait artist and I figured if I was going to get the most out of seminars I should probably throw a wedding photographer in there somewhere.

Cliff’s seminar was pretty good. Lots of good advice from his over 30 years in the business. Always good to take away some nuggets from those who have weathered all the storms.

One of the guys I was really looking forward to seeing was Joe McNally. So much so that I signed up not only for his Seminar but his Master Class. Well worth it. Joe is the master of light manipulation and one of my major influences with use of flash and big lights. His seminar was all TTL based (which I do not use) but the idea behind flash position, etc. is the same, so I learned quite a bit.

And he took my picture (helped I came to the seminar wearing a 16% grey sweatshirt). So that was cool.

That night I wandered down to Times Square. I didn’t stay long, it’s not really my speed. But, I figured might as well see what’s up. Lots of whoremongers, apparently.

On the walk back to my hotel I passed a place called Infinity Tattoo. Being that I was on vacation and feeling a bit spontaneous, I decided to jump in and see if they take walk ins.

30 minutes later (no joke) I was walking out with new ink.

Times Square is kind of a “crowd-phobic’s” worst nightmare. I enjoy it in very very small doses. That’s about it.

On Friday (Halloween) I got up super early to go to the 9/11 Museum. Last time we were in NY it wasn’t completed yet so I was pretty excited about seeing the final product.

It was really well done. Very stirring. Very quiet and contemplative. I was glad I went.

That afternoon I took Mr. McNally’s master class, which was all about large light sources. Made me realize I need to spend some more money. LOL.

It’s always nice to be around people who are obsessed with light modifiers as you are. The “Ooooh’s” and “Ahhh’s” that came up from the crowd every time light was modified a different way was pretty funny. What a bunch of geeks. These were my people.

That evening I decided to have dinner at whatever place I could find that sounded interesting and then photograph some Halloween revelers in the city.

However, my interesting dinner space (Aya Sushi) turned out cutting my night short as I became violently ill after eating there.

So yeah. Aya Sushi…not sure if I’d recommend it. : )

That was pretty much the only sore spot of my trip, so I’ll take it.

Saturday was pretty much the best day ever. Dan Winters seminar in the morning was almost a religious experience, seriously. I’m not being facetious. The man is a moving speaker and had some wonderful insights into creativity and work and life in general.

What struck me MOST about Mr. Winters didn’t happen during his talk, however. It happened afterwards. He was selling his new book, The Road to Seeing, outside of the room (pick this book up, its incredible so far). So, folks naturally lined up to have him sign their purchased copy. I had Ben Folds’ keynote to get to, so after standing in line for about 15 minutes without it moving I decided I didn’t need to meet Mr. Winters….his talk had been enough….and I scurried off to see Ben.

More on Ben in a second, but after Ben’s hour long key note….I left the room and there was Mr. Winters….talking to EACH and EVERY person who was having their book signed at length. He hadn’t moved.

I ran upstairs to get some food, came back, and he was still there.

All in all, Dan Winters….portrait artist of some of the biggest, most famous names in the WORLD….sat in a hallway of a convention center for over TWO HOURS talking to each person who wanted an autograph. It was pretty stellar. He listened intently to each person’s story and gave upbeat and humble feedback. It was just a joy to even watch. That solidified it for me. He’s my favorite.

So, once the line just dwindled to nothing and I noticed he had a sandwich sitting there untouched, I hopped in a the end….the second to last person to approach him.

“You don’t have to talk to me, you can just sign the book. You have a sandwich to eat!” I said. To DAN.WINTERS. Oy.

He chuckled and asked where I was from. After I told him I came from Wisconsin pretty much just to see him speak, he laughed and said that was so great and I made his day…..WTF. Surreal. Surreal is what that was. That dude. His work. His artistry. Seriously.
So getting back to pre-Dan run-in I went and listened to Ben Folds’ keynote presentation. Not only is he a kick-ass musician but a photographer as well and he showed some of his work. It was a great presentation (he’s a funny dude) and afterwards I got to meet him, have my picture taken (it’s gross, but hey….I’ll take it. It’s Ben).

I was on such a high after the Ben/Dan afternoon that I was pretty worn out. I was supposed to take a posing seminar with Lindsey Adler but about halfway through it I found myself nodding off (no fault of Lindsey’s at all, I was just exhausted). So as not to be completely rude and fall asleep, I snuck out the back and went to an early dinner.

It was a good day. I needed that. I needed a day just peppered with happy all over the place. It had been a long time.

That is not to say I live in some black hole of unhappiness. Quite the contrary. I live in a world of a lot of rushing, stress, exhaustion, kids who need more of my attention than I’ve been able to give them lately, and just LIFE in general. I needed a DAY. A day that was all about unhinged joy.

To me, unhinged joy is being able to meet and bask in the knowledge of some of my heroes…..then head on down to Greenwich for a little record shop browsing and a farm to table bistro.

Then I get back to my hotel and find out Benedict Cumberbatch is on Graham Norton.

No joke. Seriously. Best day ever.

I didn’t really want to leave so soon but I knew I had to. I knew too many more days and I would grow weary of the hustle, bustle (and, let’s face it, weirdo trash/food smell of downtown New York).

But I feel like I got a chance to really get back to the CRUX of why I do what I do for a living. Why I’ve chosen to work for myself. Why I still, after a handful of years, get a thrill out of a picture that goes the way I saw it in my head. I was able to be around others for nearly a week who feel the same way I do about softboxes, and gritty black and whites, and the way Dan Winters can light a subject. We are people who are unapologetic geeks about our craft.

It is so so SO damn easy to get wrapped up in the SMALL. The noise. The things that just don’t freaking matter.

As I was sitting there listening to Joe McNally speak, I wondered in the back of my head “I have to wonder if he even gives a shit if one of his pictures gets 100 likes or not”?

Of course he doesn’t. He has bigger fish to fry. Like paying jobs that send him all over the world.

Same with Dan. Same with some of the other folks there. As photographers we tend to live in the now….and we LIVE for the “atta boys”. The accolades. The folks jumping on our pages and telling us how AMAZING our work is. We revel in it as it happens, but when it’s over and we don’t receive more….it can lead to a bit of a spiral into the “I sucks”.

I was struggling with that. Letting social media determine my worth as an photographer. Which is ridiculous. As Ryan Brenizer said…..there’s a hedgehog on Instagram that has more fans and likes and followers than you will EVER have. EVER. No joke. A hedgehog.

I’m printing out a picture of that stupid hedgehog and putting it up as a reminder that it just DOESN’T MATTER.

People are fickle. People are strange. People will like a lot of weird things. Facebook/Instagram/Twitter……in the long run, these things may help drive and distribute your work….but they shouldn’t DETERMINE your work….that’s on you.

It’s on me.

I curled up the last night in NYC and I started to read Mr. Winters’ book. In it he doesn’t talk about how to be popular on Facebook or get the most reTweets or any of that garbage. He talks about reconnecting with life….with his family…..with finding his place and speaking the truth. Things organically happen for the better for people like Dan because they focused on what mattered and ignored what didn’t. I’m sure of it.

I have a very long way to go. But my own “Road to Seeing” definitely had a long layover in New York City this week….and it was a very important part of the journey. I know what kind of business owner/photographer/artist/mom/wife/person that I want to be, I just have to take the necessary steps towards arriving there. I may never get there.

But it’s a single step….and that’s a start.

Until next time NYC. : )

10 Things Senior Portrait Photographers Wish You Knew

It’s senior portrait season….which means lots of walking through the woods, quick changes in the back of the car, and explaining the difference between a package and ala carte.

I thought a little list of helpful hints was in order. So here I give you 10 Things We’d Like to Tell You = Senior Portrait Edition.

1. Iron Your Clothes

This is a big one….and maybe it’s my old school mentality (my mother used to iron EVERYTHING…jeans….sheets….everything). But dude, if you’re going to bring a bunch of outfits to wear for your portraits, at the very least make sure they’re ironed. If you don’t know how to use an iron…..maybe slip your mom a fiver and have her help you out. : )

2. Comfort is as Important as Style

Now, again….I’m showing my age here (my advanced, AARP ready age of 34, apparently) but sometimes the current fashions scare me. Short….tight….revealing…itty bitty…skinny jeans on dudes (how can you SKATE in those?!? That just baffles me!). But hey, who am I to judge.? My generation wore shower sandals with socks and called that fashion.

But, just because it’s FASHIONABLE doesn’t mean it looks good on your body type. Your pictures are going to turn out 1000 times better if you’re comfortable.

When I had mine done I agreed to wear this little flowery dress that my mom picked out. She loved it. It was the LAST thing I would ever wear…ever ever. That picture is the one that still hangs in their living room, but I tell ya….I think I looked so much better in the one where I was wearing ripped jeans and my Nirvana t-shirt. Because that was ME.

It’s the art of the compromise.
3. It’s Not 1992 Anymore.

Ok, tastes change. People change. Trends change. Sometimes it requires a bit of a come-to-Jesus talk with mom or dad to explain that soft-focus images of their baby girl hugging a tree aren’t really the way portraits are done anymore (at least not when I do them).

Same goes for props like giant numbers proclaiming your graduation year (remember those?!?), fake hay bales or a fake chain link fence, fake…well…fake stuff……crimes against portrait art everywhere and it runs the gamut.

Like wedding photography, every senior portrait artist is different and you have your choice when it comes to the look you’re going for. Just know that it CAN be done differently. You don’t need to have what people have had for years or what your parents had.

4. Hair-Do and Makeup and Stuff

Now, as I’ve mentioned before numerous times…hair and makeup are really not my forte’. It’s why I hire professionals for this stuff. I’m lucky if I leave the house wearing cover-up and a ponytail on most days.

A lot CAN be accomplished with modern editing software, yes, but consider having your roots done, a nice clean trim, or a professional makeup job for your portraits. It really can make the difference. Type A has a makeup artist on call (Holla at Stephanie!) that can work miracles, no joke.

Don’t laugh, even GUYS can benefit from a bit of blending and smoothing and what have you.

I guess the rule is, don’t just assume that computerized magic can fix all skin imperfections or hair issues.

5. Be On TIME!

Dude, I’m a stickler for this. Don’t be late for your appointment. Especially if the makeup artist is waiting for you. If you tend to run late for things, leave 15 minutes earlier than you thought you should. Also, come prepared. Bring your outfits and your props and what have you and have it ready to go : )

That being said, if you are sick the day of your appointment please reschedule. You’re not going to look your best if you’re running to the bathroom to ralph every 5 minutes.

6. Location, Location, Location

In every city there’s always the “go-to” portrait place. The place where everyone and their mother’s brother’s cousin’s friend wants their portraits taken. Mostly because all their friends did….or they’re unaware that there are other options.

In Milwaukee, that place is the Art Museum. In Madison, it’s the Capitol.

In Beloit, it’s Beckman Mill. God love it, but man…..on any given afternoon in the summer you’re going to see a handful of senior portrait sessions going on at Beckman Mill. It’s pretty and all, but there are plenty of other fabulous options in the area that can lend themselves to creative on-location portraits.

I always suggest to folks that they think of places that MEAN something to them. Not just a pretty background, but something that speaks to who they are: the theater at the high school, their grandma’s house where they spent every summer, their elementary school playground, the campus of their chosen college….

This is why I don’t limit locations….I want to allow the senior to really play with options and get creative along WITH me. If that means they want to hit three different places, hey…I’m game! You only get to do this once….go nuts!

(And if you really really want to hit up Beckman Mill, I ain’t gonna stop you! Trust me!)

7. Ma and Pa, Can I Have a Word?

Now, I get that you’re holding the checkbook. I TOTALLY get that. But sometimes it can really mess with a kid’s head if you’re sitting there picking them apart WHILE they’re being photographed….or if you’re hanging over the shooter’s shoulder questioning their every move.

I totally get that you want that beautiful, smiling, perfectly posed image of your baby….but going all Joan Crawford on them isn’t going to achieve that. If you TRUST your chosen portrait artist, let them work their magic.

One way to feel comfortable is to schedule a consult with your chosen shooter to go over your wishes and concerns BEFORE the big day. Then, you can just come and ENJOY the moment instead of being all worried that Junior’s smile isn’t smile-y enough.

Also, it MAY go without saying, but leave your camera at home. : )

8. Digital Vs. Print

Ahhh, that age old debate. Senior Portraits are kind of the last hold out in the digital vs. print war. Seniors and their parents still want prints. They want that big old portrait to hang in their foyer and have people marvel at the beauty of their child for years to come. It’s WHY you do senior portraits. So, I offer a bevvy of print options: metal, canvas, framed art prints, wallets, rep cards, albums, etc.

I ALSO offer digital images. Because this makes archiving and backing up at home possible…and whether we want to admit it or not, we are living in a digital world. People WANT to share those images on social media and send them off quickly to friends and family.

Remember that episode of Saved by the Bell where they made a video yearbook. Where the heck do you think Zack Morris’ video yearbook is NOW? On a VHS tape at the bottom of a box somewhere, that’s where. Probably has to go over to the house of the last relative that he knows has a VCR to watch it.

I am always going to stress the importance of printed images. Think of it this way, what if your grandparent’s images could only be retrieved through an outdated “digital” medium? They would be gone.  Prints are forever. I just can’t see a DVD or a digital download link becoming a family heirloom, especially as quickly as that technology shifts. Computers are already being built without DVD drives….I think in 10 years or so we are gonna have a bunch of folks with a bunch of useless DVDs. This makes me sad. PRINT YOUR STUFF!

9. Just Say No to Selfies and Cellphones

Someone told me recently that people were submitting selfies for their senior portraits (and may the Little Baby Jesus help you if you’re giving duckface and throwing up a peace sign as well).

No. Just…..no. Let’s just resist the urge to go there for a FEW more years, at least.

If you’re really hard up, everyone has someone in their family with a DSLR and a Facebook photography page. Hit them up. It’s better than a selfie.

Sometimes.  ; ) (Down, Snark-a-saurus! Down!)

10. HAVE FUN!

I know, this is a big fat Duh! but it really is supposed to be FUN. Come on in, bring some music with you if you want (unless you want to listen to whatever I have on, which could be Joe Cocker one day and Broadway the next, depending on my mood). Maybe we’ll order a pizza or something…or maybe not. Pizza sauce in teeth? Hmmm…..scratch that thought.

But, this is not the uptight, pose and prop your head on your hand and smile senior portrait situation. Just relax. You’re going to look so much better (and cooler and more fun…) if you chill out and not worry so much. I’ll help you along. : )

Just be prepared to work it out!

At the end of the day, if you work together with your chosen portrait photographer, you can both create a collection of senior portrait images that you’ll be proud to show everyone (as opposed to hide in the back of your family’s cedar chest or only give away to Grandma and distant relatives).

The Ballad of Uncle Bob ~ Wisconsin Wedding Photographer

Ok, sit down. It’s confession time.

Are you sitting down?

Ok.

**deep breath**

I once Uncle Bobbed a wedding.

There. I said it. Man…..do I feel a weight off my shoulders. I’ve carried the guilt of having once “Uncle Bobbed” for YEARS.

Backstory: This was back in 2008. I had BARELY just started Type A. In fact, I’m not sure if I was properly registered with the state yet (man, I was just chock full of amateur screw ups!)

One of my closest friends was getting married. I didn’t even have it in my head to SHOOT weddings yet, really. Frankly, I was as clueless as clueless could be and my whole idea going into my friend’s wedding was “this chick is gonna PAD HER PORTFOLIO”

Yup. I was going to use a wedding I wasn’t hired for to shoot wedding images.

**Insert audible groan from the peanut gallery here**

Now, ignorance of the “law” is really no excuse for bad behavior. I should have known better. But, I didn’t….which leads me to think that lots of folks packing up their D40’s and their 60D’s to tote to the next wedding they’re invited to in the hopes of getting a money shot for their new Facebook “business” page don’t really know better either. Or, they do and they’re just okay with being numpty heads. Either way, I thought it would be helpful to put together a little “Are You or Aren’t You” test…..print it out and take it yourself if you’re planning on attending a wedding any time soon as a guest.
 

So, what IS an Uncle Bob? “Uncle Bob” is an industry term referring to any non-hired photographer at a wedding that insists on shooting the thing anyway. Regardless of their gear. I’ve had Uncle Bobs that had better gear than I did…..I’ve had Uncle Bobs that used their cell phone like it was going out of style. Uncle Bobs can be male or female, young or old. Most tend to be distant relatives of the couple….or significant others of bridal party members (ahem….like I was. LOL). They are like the mosquitos of the wedding industry. Seemingly, the more you swat at them….the more they tend to buzz around.

So here’s a fool proof way to test your Bobby-ness. And if you find you have Uncle Bob’d, I say do 10 Hail Mary’s….a Glory Be….an Act of Contrition…..and never do it again!

1. You Pack Every Piece of Gear You Own
If you show up to a relative or friend’s wedding as someone OTHER than the hired gun with 4 external flashes, every lens in your arsenal, a light stand and a softbox?

Yeah, you’re probably an Uncle Bob. If you want to bring your camera to a wedding, that’s probably fine, most folks do. But there’s a fine line between snapping a few candids of your fellow guests and setting up a mobile studio.

2. You Plan on Surprising the Couple With a Gift
I hear this ALL. THE. TIME. Uncle Bob decides to shoot over your shoulder all day, print the images up at Walgreens, and surprise the couple with his artwork.

Uncle Bob, they would probably prefer the blender off their registry. I dunno, that’s just a guess. If you were the superior wedding-shooter you believe you are, they would have hired you to just shoot the wedding. Am I right?

3. You Plan on Putting Your Shots Up on Your Business Page
Ok, this is….like…mortal sin territory here. Let me explain why. Modern wedding vendors rely on word of mouth and Facebook/Internet exposure to market their businesses and get more paying clients. When you do this for a living, you really look forward to picking your favorites from wedding shoots and putting them up for the world to see….in hopes many people will see them and say “Hey, awesome…I want to hire that person too”

Now, I’m sure you have a similar thought process. I want the world to see MY shots and hopefully say “Hey, not bad…I’m gonna get Bob to shoot my wedding”…and maybe they’ll even PAY you! Holy BUCKETS!

Here’s the problem. If you were not hired and paid to shoot a wedding, you’re being a big liar liar pants on fire if you put your business name on shots you chimped off the hired gun from the side lines. Just to lay it all out there. Your business did not shoot this wedding. Period. People are going to see the professional shots from a particular wedding….and then your shots…and wonder “So, who really shot the wedding?”

So, if you want to get wedding experience without being a big fat liar : )….second shoot for someone. Wade into the water before you go belly flopping in. Belly flopping stings.

4. You’re Being Disruptive
Now, here’s where I find folks really don’t know where the line is. If the hired shooter is busy directing a group to stand a certain way, look a certain way, hold their bodies a certain way…..you stepping in to co-direct or move them to suit your needs or what you find “better” is just….ugh…no. Just NO. Even if you think the hired shooter is a moron who has no idea what they’re doing. You have a right to your opinion, but a wedding day probably isn’t the day to step in and assume their duties.

Think of it this way: Lets say you LOVE music….and you’re an audiophile, like my husband (who pretty much criticizes every DJ we come across). You go to a wedding thinking “I can’t believe they hired such and such DJ. They SUCK….I’m much better”….so you bring your own music collection, your own gear, and you set up your own booth right next to the DJ.

Regardless of how much better you may think you may be, how disruptive will that be to the flow of the day to have TWO DJ’s vying for attention of the wedding party?

Yup, its kind of the same thing with Uncle Bob. Wedding parties are hard enough to corral and direct without two cooks stirring the pot.

5. You are PHYSICALLY in the way.

Yes, during the ceremony, standing center aisle will probably guarantee you a pretty good shot of the first kiss.

It also blocks my guaranteed shot of the first kiss. So, yeah…..

Also, on a similar note, I’m pretty sure the bride doesn’t want the ambient glow of cellphones lighting her entrance into the church. She’s much rather see the adoring faces of her guests.

ON THAT NOTE……

6. You’re MISSING stuff

If you’re so busy chimping all the shots you got or worrying about when the couple are going out at sunset, you’re going to miss the event. Trust me. When I shoot a wedding I’m not PARTICIPATING in the event the way a guest who was specifically invited for that purpose would. I am wolfing down the probably-expensive meal so I have time to catch the speeches, I am concerned with lighting and angle, I’m running around like the proverbial headless chicken.

You were invited to share in a moment in someone’s life….not photograph it….SHARE in it. That means put your phone down and WATCH these moments that the couple have meticulously planned over the past year or so.

So, You’re An Uncle Bob. Now What?

If you’re sitting here reading this going “Oh crap. I’ve Uncle Bobbed. I feel like a heel. Now what?”

I feel ya. Been there. Like I said, I once Uncle Bobbed too. There is hope for all of us.

First, think of the couple next time you’re invited to a wedding. They want you there to participate in their day, not work.

There are also plenty of other better ways of adding weddings to your portfolio without being a pain in the butt. Second shooting, assisting….etc. There are a lot of photographers out there (myself included) who are happy to take new photographers under her wing, under most circumstances, and allow them to keep what they shoot for me under my business, for their portfolio.

Now, with that being said, don’t assume that because you are starting your own business that the hired shooter at the next wedding you attend wants to mentor you….especially right then and there. We’re WORKING. We don’t want to be rude, but dude…..think about your own 9-5 job and add a person next to you asking you a billion questions that you didn’t agree to train….yeah, it can be a bit distracting.

Approach someone outside of their work day that you admire and inquire about assisting. Start small. You have to get your foot in the door and work your way up. There’s no fast track, no matter what anyone says.

And on a final note, be aware if a hired photographer may want you to just put your camera away and enjoy the day. Some of us throw more subtle hints that others. Some of us are cool with just saying “Um…dude….I’m workin’ here”. Most of us have clauses in our contract to cover this sort of stuff. But, we WANT to be happy and helpful on our client’s big day, not running interference….so it’s SO much easier if you just test yourself, then check yourself. :)

Together, we can lessen the impact of Uncle Bobs for the NEXT generation : )

Andrea (member of the infamous A-Team) surrounded by well-meaning "second shooters)