The Curtain Rises on this Day | A Halloween Self Portrait

I don't get a lot of time any more to create things just because or just for me, but this Halloween I wanted to make sure I did. I had a completely different dark vision I wan ted to create but, again, due to lack of time, I had to go a different route. I jumped in the car, headed to the local cemetery that, in the end, didn't work out. Once home I was still determined to make something so I scrounged around the AJBC archives and found this really old selfie that I knew would do the trick. As odd as this is- this self portrait makes me feel really alive. This is truly who I am. Doing things just a little different, going to a new level, playing. I love regular portraits, but this... this type of work is what calls me. I hope to really expand on this this year.

AJBCPhotography_self_Halloween

I deserve not to starve

I've read TWICE this month about 2 photographers, one local and one not, closing their doors FOR GOOD. WHY?

Because they BOTH said they could NOT survive and support themselves off their FULL TIME self employed photography income.

I checked both of them out on facebook. One had an ok number of likes with ok work. Alright- so that makes sense, perhaps there was room for improvement, on marketing and on technique. I've seen worse though! One had 5,000+ likes and beautiful work. Clearly people saw the beauty in her work and she had quality images!!

So what gives? How can 5,000 people like your work and you not be able to live off that? I don't KNOW, but I can make an assumption... These photographers were not charging what they were worth. Plain and Simple.

As Artists we love what we do- but this is also our job. We're here to have fun but we don't have hours to throw out the window either. So to anyone who wants something for free, or next to nothing- remember- we aren't just selling paper, or are required to give away digital copies bc they are "free." That "paper" holds cherished memories never to be seen again, those files took us hours to envision, capture, and artistically perfect, AND we have to survive just like you.

We have thousands of dollars in to our gear (and if you don't, I honestly don't feel as though you can call this your REAL profession... I'm not talking about hobbyists who have another job, I'm talking about the people who give it their ALL EVERY DAY.) We have years of knowledge. We have a talent no one else has. We have an eye and artistic mind you can't just borrow. And yes- if you want a custom, specialty service, you have to pay for it. Just like a painting, or a limited release item, or a product built just for you!

The SAD part is- I'm still not saying you have to charge $10,000 per session but you can not be the photographer shooting, editing, burning, and gifting EVERYTHING for $100 either.

WHY? Because you will SINK just like these people did unless you have another job or have someone else to support you. AND bc you have a GIFT that is worth more than what it cost me to buy a pair of over priced jeans from the Mall.

Please think of it this way- $100. approx. for 10 hours broken down in to emailing, meeting with a client, shooting, editing, viewing, making a disc / prepping ordering, (whichever you do), delivering products. Done. $100 divided by 10 is $10 an hour. Then uncle Same takes out 30%. $7 an hour. Then you have to pay all your studio bills, your business insurance,  sales tax, or... or... OR.... the list goes on. SO NOW you are working for yourself for like $3 an hour. Really!?

NO! STOP IT! YOU STOP IT RIGHT NOW! YOU are worth more than that and so is your work, and so is your time!!!!!

To all of my clients- THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for seeing the value in what I do. Thank you for accepting the fact that I LOVE having fun with you but I am NOT here to play all day and that I create beautiful things for your home to support me in mine. YES- I love what I do but I am also very proud to say my full time job is a business I built, myself, from the ground up, and that it's in a field that many put the word "starving" in front of.

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(self-portrait created during my 365 project in 2011)

Think of it this way- I have the drive and the fire behind me that a starving artist does, except I choose to eat, bc I deserve to.

What's your story- What's your secret?

More than a month ago I made a very blunt facebook post stating I was no longer interested in "just taking pictures" and I was ready to really push AJBC in to a new direction.

Since then I have photographed a stunningly beautiful child during a stylized shoot, a strong, gorgeous woman during a boudoir shoot in her downtown loft, and also a loving family during a lifestyle shoot in their naturally lit home. Next up is a fashion inspired Senior Session.

Yeah, those are a lot of big words and fancy phrases but what I really mean to say is every Portfolio Session I have booked since making that promise to myself has been SUCH an inspiring experience and it has been by far my best work yet.

Why?

Because it made me feel alive again

.

It got me excited again. And that's when I produce my best work.

So... was that my goal, just to give you better portraits?

No.

And why I am keeping so many secrets? Why won't I just release these pictures and start this new chapter already!?

Well, because. There is A LOT going on behind closed doors and once I get it ALL (and there's a TON of new things I'm exploring) to where I want it to be, where it feels right, I'm crossing that line and never looking back. I want there to be a distinct line that says this is where I came from and this is what I am now.

I basically want to come out of the gate swinging for the fences. 

I want to take no prisoners. 

I want to give you the best damn portrait session you have ever had.

So... what's going to happen?

Most importantly, more time. I love hearing your story, I love learning about you. I want to allow us both more time to dive in to that.

I want the session to not be so timed. I want to shoot until I feel fit. I want to be able to take all the shots that inspire me and not have to look at the clock.

When I edit I want to know every shot was NAILED and not just taken so my client could feel fulfilled by the click of the random shutter. Quality over quantity.

I want you to walk in to your viewing and have a life changing experience. I want it to hit so close to home that you can't believe we created that together. 

I want you to appreciate your life.

I want you to look at those images and realize how lucky you are because we captured YOU, not a fake perception, not a boring version, but YOU!

I want to help you design and decorate. I want to see you take those images and embrace them by showcasing them in your home so when people come over they see who you are and not the cheap sunset painting you bought at Hobby Lobby.

If I wanted this to still be about pictures, I would not be making this change, because I know how to take pictures. I want this to be about the experience.

So... what are my secrets? Besides the amazing images I'm waiting to release, my new pricing structure that I'm thrilled about, my new packages that have new items, my new system to prints and discs, and my desire to tell your story?

I guess I should say what WAS my secret....?

Fear.

I was afraid before. I was afraid that if I made this jump people would leave. That they just wanted a quick fix of pictures. I feared offering a better service because I thought people would say it was not needed and they just needed something easy, and in return, if I fought that they would just go out find that easy quick person somewhere else.

That fear is gone. 

The reason why?

Because- I don't fear those people leaving any more. 

I do not want to be your quick fix. 

Because by me fearing those "quick fix", that was jipping the people out there who are dying to have a personal, beautiful, and unique experience. And that is so so so unfair.

Again- there are lots of people out there taking pictures. But don't you want more than that?

I'm so excited to now be allowed to do that for you.

Let's Tell Your Story.

Together.

365

365.

To some of you those are pointless numbers.

To some, it's a full calendar year.

And to me, for the second time, it's a year long project to push, test, and challenge me.

For those of you who didn't follow me the first time I did this insane project- a 365 is a photographer's fun way of saying- I'm nuts!

A 365 is where I vow to take an image, 1 photo each day, non stop, no cheating, for 1 full year, for 365 days.

I did my first self portrait 365 back in 2010 with my DSLR. It helped me gain a TON of knowledge about portrait work and off camera flash.

I'm revisiting the 365 this year with.... it's true... my iphone.

WAIT! Before you judge me, hear me out!

What does an iphone offer that a DSLR doesn't!?

Ok, so quality is NOT on that list, nor is options- but that's the point for me!

I no longer can rely on crisp details to captivate my audience, I can't edit out mistakes, I can't enhance anything blah. All I can do is take a picture.

Wow. Talk about going back to the basics. My phone (3GS) doesn't even have a flash. All I have is a crappy camera, natural light, and my arm. No timer. No tripod. No tricks. Just me and the camera.

So why a phone and not a camera?

2 reasons. I needed to go back to the basics. I needed to push my creativity and realize what can be done when you don't over think things. Sometimes reverting back to where you started can help you grow and see things. Reason number 2- I am busy. Ridiculously busy. I knew if I had to set aside time each day to set up, pose, photograph, edit, post, I would fail, and.... I've been there, done that. I needed something quick and to the point.

I also wanted to prove- with the right light, the right creativity, you can accomplish great things, even with a phone. Is this a push for people to substitute professional portraits for iphone images? NEVER. I'll be the first to tell you I am SO over the 1 click retro edits that push people to think they are the next big artistic statement, but there's no denying- this is a digital age. People LOVE their camera phones. Why not embrace that. Why not have some fun!

So, here we go. 364 days left to go. Are you with me?

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