Only 2 seats remain for Flourish, our 3 day, intensive, all-inclusive, ultra fabulous photography workshop in January! If you’ve been on the fence as to whether or not to go, now would be a pretty good time to make a decision. 
There are only 8 seats left for the flourish workshop that i’m co-hosting in january. so if you’ve been waiting for the right time to reserve your seat, now is a pretty good time.
for more information or to reserve your seat, head over to our website to check it out.
as a business owner, i’m always trying to be wise in where my advertising dollars are spent. with a few exceptions, i prefer to spend my money with organizations that are selective with their screening process. i’d rather be part of an elite organization that has high standards and screens their applicants, than one who accepts everyone who applies.
i first heard about photographik from beckers blog several months ago, and was delighted when i was accepted. however, i’ve been so busy with my fall weddings, that i didn’t have time to send in my info. i was finally able to last week, and jesse, the founder, just emailed me to let me know my listing is live. check it out here.
if you’re a photographer that’s looking for a site that promotes only the best wedding and portrait photographers, check out photographik. and if you’re looking for a wedding or portrait photographer across the united states, it’s a fabulous resource.
well, i’ve been promising to give you the exciting news about abie for a little while now. abie is my new associate photographer! she has been second shooting while me throughout the summer, and i’ve been so impressed by her style and abilities that i asked her to join the team - and she said yes!
a little background:
abie was moving to pittsburgh from california earlier in the year, and emailed me to ask about the photography market in pittsburgh. (prior to this, abie’s primary focus was portraiture.) we kept in touch via email until she moved here in the spring. the first time we met, we totally hit it off, and i asked if she wanted to second shoot some weddings with me. she agreed, and we’ve made an awesome team throughout the summer.
i’m so excited to have her on board! we’ve been working closely together since the spring, and she is everything i could hope for in an associate: light-hearted, easy-going, fun, full of energy, and immensely talented. if you’d like to send her an email to welcome her on board, you can reach her at abie (at) kreedphotography (dot) com.
if you check out my website, you’ll be able to view a gallery of her photos. keep an eye on the blog too, for engagement sessions and weddings that she is doing.
(this photo is from a few months ago- she now has shoulder-length hair)
so if i’m already booked for your date (or you just like abie better! 
), she is also available to photograph your wedding. abies wedding collections start out slightly below mine. if you are interested in booking her for your wedding, fill out the contact form on my website and we’ll be in touch!
the website for our upcoming ultra luxe, all-inclusive photographer’s workshop is now live! check it out at www.flourishworkshop.com. Registration begins on monday, and if you sign up by november 13 you get the early bird rate ($1600 for double-occupancy).
…i’m hosting a workshop!
myself, and fellow wedding photographers angela anderson and kitty maer are co-hosting a photography workshop in Louisville, KY from January 20-23, 2008.
Specific details will follow, but here’s what we know so far:
Flourish Workshop will be three days of open sharing (how we do what we do and what NOT to do) and hands-on instruction. We’ll be going over the aspects of our business models, marketing, branding, shooting techniques, and post-production and workflow.
The concept is “all that is fabulous”. The workshop will be all-inclusive and will include stays at the modern and chic downtown 21C Museum Hotel. At 21C you will be surrounded by contemporary art and each room comes with an iPod loaded with your favorite genre of music. Gourmet breakfast, champagne, lunch, snacks and gourmet dinners will all be included.
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The workshop will include a day focused on business, a day full of shooting (using live models, we’ll walk you through our approach to shooting in different scenarios, so bring your camera!) and a day focused on post-production, workflow and album design.
You’ll get specific, hands on information on how to grow your photography business. We will be doing lots of one-on-ones: answering your specific questions and talking to you about where you are with your business and how to get where you would like to be. You will come away with tangible information on what it takes to get started, or take your business to the next level. It will be great fun. I’ll probably do a lot of laughing. Light but serious. And of course, it will be fabulous.
If you are interested, sign up for the mailing list to be the first to know . Everyone on the mailing list will receive a personalized invitation and an extra special something once you sign up for the workshop. You can find information on the list on our temporary site http://www.flourishworkshop.com. Our official launch of information (and the website) will be in the next month but those on the mailing list get the scoop first!
if you are looking for an amazing children’s photographer in the pittsburgh area, check out my friend kelley calvert. she’s fabulous at capturing real moments in a candid, photojournalistic style that really reveals the personality of your child. she does lifestyle portrait sessions as well as coverage for birthday parties, baptisms, bar and bat mitzvahs…you name it. check her out!
i just came across this blog called digital photography school, and it’s chock full of great resources for digital photographers; from understanding your camera’s histogram to the top 20 dslr camera models to obtaining model releases. click here to check it out!
i was tickled to be asked to be one of the featured photographers on the website don’t box us in. it came out yesterday but i had a crazy day and wasn’t able to post about it.
i love the idea behind this site (a sister site of trash the dress) and am honored and delighted to be featured among the other uber-talented photographers from around the world on there. here is a little blurb about don’t box us in that i pulled from their description:
“The staff of Trash the Dress has decided to create a website that features today’s best Artistic and Creative Photographers. We have a great thing going with Trash the Dress, but we thought it we be great to show off the other amazing shots, besides the dress trashing, that are being created by photographers who have been given creative control.
We aren’t saying that your photographer shouldn’t be capturing the traditional formals or group shots….we’re just saying that when it comes to your wedding portfolio, if you are looking for amazing creative shots that will really set your pictures apart from everyone else, look for a creative photographer. Creatives don’t like to be boxed in with titles such as Portrait Artist, Photojournalist, or even Fashion Photographer. A good creative photographer uses a mixture of styles to create the ultimate portfolio for his or her clients.”
Head on over and check it out. There’s some super awesome photography that’s showcased!
Me Ra Koh hosted an ‘ask and learn’ session last night on a pro photography forum, and closed with these nuggets of wisdom:
“Be good to yourself. Being an entrepreneur is one of the scariest things we can ever do. Trying to live a life that isn’t based on feast or famine is hard, and we feel the weight when we especially have little ones around us. So be good to yourself for even trying this thing called “self employed” or “on my way to being self employed”. I commend you for trying, despite your fears.
Look at other photographer’s websites and work, but not for too long. If you’re like me you get sucked into this thing of starting to put down your own work. Don’t get in that trap. Set a timer if you have too. 
You have an eye that no one else does. No one will ever be competition with you b/c no one can express life the way you do. This is truth and always will be.
Take a risk, but make sure you let others in on your risk (maybe one or two) so when the storm hits and you’re not sure if your risk was a good idea, you have support, a safe place to cry and express your doubts. But then hang in there and don’t give up.
And inspired from a conversation I had with my dad this week, whenever you see the magazine Fortune. Think about what it would be like to have a magazine called “Misfortune”. I would read this in a heartbeat. I don’t want to hear about all the “right” things people did all the time. Especially when I often make mistakes and feel like I’m in the dark. Remember that even though it seems like every one and their businesses is doing great, you are too and we’re all struggling to honor the gift and passion we carry.”
I just loved what she had to say, and I had to share it. I get contacted from time to time from photographers who are just starting out in the business and are looking for some wisdom, or insight, or a critique of their portfolio. I’m always honored when someone thinks highly enough of my work and my business to ask me for advice with theirs, so I help them in whatever ways I can. (Plus, so many people have helped me along the way, it just makes sense to pay all of that generosity forward).
Anyway, I wanted to offer encouragement out there to anyone that is just starting out in this crazy business. It’s easy to look around at what other people have, and where they are, and to get discouraged. Don’t. We all have to start somewhere. It’s scary to take the leap into turning your passion into your career path. There are no guarantees in self-employment. But if this is what moves you, what brings a smile to your face, what keeps you laughing and inspired, then hang in there and follow that dream. Through all of the ups and downs and doubts and insecurities, because if you have that creative urge inside of you, it’s always going to be there, and it’s always going to need to be expressed. I’ve tried a zillion 9 to 5 jobs, desk jobs, sales jobs, service jobs, and at the end of the day, I wanted to poke my eyes out. I just can’t do it. I need something that fulfills me. And I’ve found it. I love the challenges and the freedom. I love being inspired by my peers. I love that every day is different. I love that I get to meet so many amazing people, and to be a part of their lives, if only for a moment.
So if you’re reading this, and you’re on the fence on whether to pursue what you’re passionate about (whatever that may be), jump off of the fence and do it. Life is just too short to spend doing something you loathe. Do what fulfills and inspires you, every day. I’m a firm believer that if you chase a dream long enough, sooner or later you’ll catch it.
Fellow photographer David Hessemer is doing a blogathon TODAY for his “Through Their Eyes” Africa project. He is going to be taking a team of photographers to areas of Africa next year that have so far been unreached by electricity and media contact. In addition to helping the people living there, the photographers will also be teaching them to take photographs, in the hope of giving them a skill as well as to be able to see the world the way they see it. The photographs they take will be formed into a traveling exhibit all over the country.
There are only a few hours left in the blogathon to raise money and awareness for this project. The link where you go to donate and learn more about the project is:
i think it’s so important, in every industry, to constantly be learning and growing and challenging yourself. i just got back from my photography conference in chicago, and my head is spinning from the things i learned and the ideas i have. i can’t wait to begin to implement them. i knew it was going to be a great time when i met my roomie jess and we immediately hit it off. i attended workshops by denis reggie, anna and michael costa, me ra koh, pepper nix, millie holloman and david jay (and of course i had to order a shootsac from jessica claire. a huge group of us went on a walking tour of the city and then to dinner at a wine and tapas restaurant (we had a table for 50. for real). and i met so many amazing photographers from all over the country…and laughed. a lot.
plus, i got some pretty exciting news while i was gone, that i can’t wait to share with you guys (in the next few weeks…). i feel so fortunate to be in such an amazing industry that i love so much, surrounded by so many talented and gracious peers. and i’m super excited about the direction of things to come with my business!
