-by Jules

I saw a piece on the Today show recently which featured an author of a book I did not know. Apparently everyone else on the planet has heard of this writer’s book, which stems from his blog, but in case not, I wanted to share here. It holds some basic truths that I think can be helpful to creatives who own their own small businesses and sometimes suffer not only the economic challenges shared by all small businesses, but also the extra difficulties of staying positive and producing creative ideas when forces in life may seem to be conspiring against you.

The author was Neil Pasricha and his new book is called “The Book of (Even More) Awesome.” The way he tells it, he had started a blog just chronicling little everyday events that brought some kind of simple joy to his life. He didn’t think anyone would read it. His first fan was his mom and then his dad, then his dad’s friends and so on. ‘Til the blog had a ginormous following and now, he’s a bestselling author.

Why go on and on about this fellow and his story?

When we make our income by parlaying our creative gifts into tangible, communicative messages, it’s not always an easy path.  Yes, it’s all hunky-dory when you’re booked solid and budgets are ample.  But when the calendar is lacking and every budget feels parsimonious, we have to find ways to appreciate the small things in life.  The bigger stuff will work out.  It always does.  And in the meantime, it’s important to buoy yourself up, because the best creative comes from a well within each artist.  And feeling satisfied helps feed that wellspring.

For example, this morning,  I realized I was wailing away to a song I was listening to in my car.  I like to sing, and I don’t always even realize I’m humming along to something on the radio…but today, I actually took note of how much pleasure I was experiencing in the moment.  Plus I’m pretty sure the guy in the car next to me at the stoplight got a big chuckle from my antics, although he was probably thankful it’s not warm enough for open windows just yet here in Ohio…

In the fast-paced world we all live in, and the occasionally ego-crushing creative business we’ve chosen to work in, try to remember to stop once in a while and revel in something simple and fulfilling.  Maybe it will inspire your next photo?  Maybe that something little can be the start of your next big thing?

by Jules

There is no denying that texting can be efficient, emailing unobtrusive and smoke signals…well, uh…pretty?

But as visual collaborators, there is nothing to beat a good phone call or personal meeting to hash out the how-to’s in a shared creative endeavor. As photographers, it is typically our role to execute others’ vision, research and layouts. A good conversation can go a long way to making this whole experience more satisfying and successful overall.

When interpreting others’ aesthetics, can we really get the full description as quickly and thoroughly via text rather than talk? Let’s admit it, most creatives got into this business because they are image people, not necessarily word people (our friends, the Copywriters, aside of course). Many times, they are also hunt-and-peck keyboardists who struggle to scratch out a few lines of text. How dreary it must feel to attempt tapping out all the subtleties they could better describe in even a brief chat!

So, when you are working with someone and are going to be the photographer who ultimately stands with your trusty camera at that critical moment in time and “makes it all happen,” I hope you’ve been able to have a previous conversation with your client. There will be things you’ll discover that simply can’t be communicated and discussed any other way. And you’ll do a better job for having a better understanding of your client’s wishes.

I know we’re all pressed for time and the natural inclination now for so many entering the working world of the communication arts may be to reach for their inter-planetary mobile device and send a message, even if the recipient is just across the hallway.

I encourage us to seek conversation. Audio, visual, person-to-person. We can keep it short, to the point, and in the process, perhaps we may remember that in fact, the spoken word can be more efficient than we ever realized.

-by Julie

Our interns often look surprised when they read our list of “dos and don’ts” and just what activities are appropriate when nothing directly billable is at hand.  Item #21 is “Have fun and laugh.”  Many of them have never considered a work environment where seeking fun, laughing and sanctioned play time is not only accepted but encouraged.  Seriously  kids, lighten up!

Because what we’ve learned in our business is that being creative is fundamentally what it’s all about.  And having a wellspring of personal energy to dedicate to maintaining an at-the-ready-creative stance is worth cultivating.

And that toys help.

Fortunately, our friends and family understand this too.  Just this past Christmas, Geo received these totally nifty ExecuHelis. RC, with dual blades…pretty sophisticated engineering for $25 a pop.  Thanks, brother Don Anderson (and Best Buy).

The flight path in our hulking studio’s free space is ideal for unencumbered helicopter action.  (And boomerangs, and Red Ryder BB targets…not to mention the indoor swing hanging from our rafters on 12′chains …)

So- play is good.  We’ve got the toys, and when time allows, you bet we get serious about having fun.  It makes us happy, it inspires us to lofty ideas.  OK, well not always lofty per se.  But a playful mind is a resourceful mind and that’s what it seems our clients want time after time..brains in gear with good ideas to offer.

Pardon me, I want to get back to messing around with the ‘copters.  Just trying to properly get this New Year off the ground (excuse the pun)…

Working with Kids on Location

As a photographer of people and especially “Kids of All Ages”, I have found a few techniques to be essential. Most of these would be common sense to parents and Maîtré D’s, but as photographers, we can be somewhat techno geeky. We need to crank up our social empathy quotient.

1) Look people in the eye, and smile. You are a mirror to what you will get back from your subjects. If you’re going for the aloof artist look, then be one.

If you can get your subject to smile and or laugh in the first 30 seconds, you are on your way to a good working relationship. People want to be happy, and a smile is the first step.

2) Tell people what you want them to do, and how you’d like them to be. Generally, your subject is looking for direction. Give it in simple, clear, calm messages.

3) Talk about them, not about you. This would be common sense for a single person on a first date. Same goes for people you are about to photograph.

4) Use appropriate language skills for your audience. If you are working with Kindergartners, avoid big adult words. If you’re going to photograph the English Department art Yale, study up. Never swear, no matter who you’re with; it’s just not cool.

5) Tell jokes only when needed, and after you feel comfortable with the subjects at hand. And as many jokes as I know, I keep them at the 3rd grade level when on shoots. Everybody gets those. Only after someone on set “leads” with a sophisticated line of humor will I follow. Too much jokestering can upset a quiet mood on a shoot; so be judicious.

6) Patience, patience, patience with little kids. Many young kids are basically scared of us big folks and hide behind Mom and Dad. If so, talk to Mom and Dad, make them laugh and feel comfortable with you. The kids will follow. Same with dogs.

7) Watch your chimping! “Chimping” is when you look at the back of your digital camera just after pushing the shutter and go “Oooh, Ooohh, Ooooh!” I feel you have just broken a tie between you and your subject. They see you looking elsewhere than at them. Same thing happens if you’re shooting tethered and constantly turn to look at the monitor.

If you need to chimp, then tell your subject what you’re doing and why. Before shooting starts, I will often let a subject know that I will need to check the camera or monitor. I’m not ignoring them.

A final thought- keep in mind what it’s like to be your subject, surrounded by lights or whatever, with people staring at them. Keep it fun and make it seem uncomplicated.