11-27, Your Gift

I've decided to spice things up with my Finding Focus blog.  I find it ironic that I started this photography blog almost a decade ago (I think?!) because I was hoping to talk myself through what it was that I wanted to achieve with my photography business.  It's really been an ebb and flow process for me.  (If you didn't know already, I'm a graduate of the US Merchant Marine Academy.  I'll oftentimes use nautical references in my everyday conversations.  That's normal....right?!)  Fast forward through a decade of life and changes, and I again find myself searching for some focus.  

I tried to keep it quiet, for awhile, that I had a blow to the head this summer that gave me a concussion.  All of the 'normal' concussion symptoms were present, by my continual problem with my eyesight has remained.  (You can imagine why I wanted to keep that on the down-low since eyesight is a critical component of photography, right?) It's been almost 5 months now since that jar to my head, and I'm still having problems.  

I'm pretty much a Type A personality.  Wikipedia will tell you that "personalities that are more competitive, highly organized, ambitious, impatient, highly aware of time management and/or aggressive are labeled Type A."  You can imagine my level of frustration that this amount of time has elapsed and I'm not back to where I was before the accident.  Through it all, I have tried to remain positive.  My favorite phrase from one of my friends is that this is simply a detour.  Yes, that it definitely is.  Thankfully my eyesight, from that very day, has not been so greatly affected in pictures but in words.  I have been able to maintain my photography (albeit at a reduced rate so as not to overdo it and adversely affect my recovery) but I have had to give up--hopefully just for now-- my reading obsession.  (Seriously, I used to read a book a week, and I loved every minute of it.) I have tried to find joy in audiobooks (tried being the true word of that sentence).  

So, this gives you the background story for my point of this post.  I heard something on my audiobook today that made me stop and ponder.  I'll give it to you straight that I don't follow the 'who did what' with celebrities, so I really have no clue what this author may or may not have done and how scandalous it may have been. (He made reference in the dialogue, but whatever, that's not the 'moral of the story' here.)  Anyway, here is the quote:

"Your gift is the thing that you do the absolute best with the least amount of effort."

("Jump" by Steve Harvey)

Wow, right? Does this hit home for you?  Are you living your gift or fighting it?  I found this to be an interesting spin on the concept that if you love what you do you'll never have to 'work' a day in your life.  Sit back and think about it.  I know that's exactly what I have been doing since July 3 (can't read, might as well ponder life, right?!), so that's why this really hit a nerve with me.  Am I on my chosen path utilizing my gift(s) or trying to swim upstream?  Are you?  Hmmm...... interesting.

Drop me some comments and let me know.  I'd love to hear from you!

11-2, Dramatic Doctor

I was pretty excited to get my first client from LinkedIn.  He's a doctor looking to update his headshot to ensure he's conveying the right image for his profession.  I had never met him before, and our correspondence had been limited to email and a few brief phone calls.  I wasn't sure what type of personality he had or how 'serious' our session might be.  It was a welcomed surprise when I greeted him at the studio door-- he was smiling, engaged and motivated for the session.  He had taken my session tips seriously and brought an array of shirts, jackets and ties for image diversity. As the session commenced and progressed, I found we had a great banter.  Through our exchanges I was able to capture a variety of expressions.  It was great fun, and now I have fantastic examples of the progression of expressions throughout a session.  I wish Mr. Doctor all the best in all endeavors!

Follow me through the session and see how we worked together to get the winning image.

"Don't look so miserable!"

Wide eyes and a blank expression, we can do better than this.

Mouth Tension

"Chin out.  Excellent!"
Now let's work on getting the chin out AND down....

It's fun to play 'games' to evoke silly expressions from clients.
It's all part of my process!

You know you're client is having fun when you capture a moment like this.

And it all leads to this.  Now that's what I'm talking about!
SHABANG!!

10-6, Susan

It's always interesting committing to take someone's headshot to represent their image and their brand when you have never met them before.  This client found me through my local networking group.  We immediately found we had something in common with our German last names and German husbands.  As you can see, she's a very pretty lady and her beauty shines through in her captivating smile.  It was fun talking about Germany and daydreaming about the yummy food that can be found there.  Thank you, Susan, for being such a great client!  Good luck on your new career in real estate!

9-17, Magic Hour Family

I am proud to be a Magic Hour photographer.  The Magic Hour Foundation pairs up families battling cancer with photographers in their area.  The photographers donate their time and sessions to the foundation who in turn delivers digital and print images to the recipient families.  It's a brilliant culmination of wanting to help, sometimes in the only we know how, with something that does make a difference to these families during this difficult time.  

I was motivated to become a Magic Hour Photographer after the loss of a dear friend to cancer.  She is gone, but the one thing, the one small thing, I could do was to provide her husband and young twins with a beautiful (candid) image of her from a wonderful, happy moment before cancer changed it all.  It provides me comfort with the thought that this image will help this family carry her with them always.  I hope it provides them comfort with a moment of happiness as that image transports them back to a time when their loved one was here with them.  It's a lofty ambition to think that maybe an image, a moment in time, will help ease some of the pain these families are feeling.  But since I am not a doctor, a scientist, or a researcher, this gesture is my way of supporting these families.  If I can fill their hearts with love by giving them a moment to smile about, then I have done what I know how to do.  I have the greatest respect for these families and these challenges they are facing.  Thank you, Magic Hour, for all the good work that you do.  Thank you, families, for allowing  photographers such as  myself into your world so that we can show you just how beautiful,  wonderful, strong and courageous you are.  Our thoughts and prayers travel with you long after the session has finished.  My hope now is that the doctors, scientists and researchers fulfill their roles and find a way to beat cancer once and for all.  I would be happy to never have to do another session under these circumstances.  Love to you all.  ~Tara

If you'd like to learn more about the Magic Hour Foundation, you can do so here:  https://magichour.org.  

8-25, Cole

I really like this kid.  How nice it was to work with him for his senior pictures.  He was so polite and such a willing subject.  If only it were always so easy!  Cole, I hope you have a fantastic senior year.  You have the personality and the drive to accomplish many great things.  Go get 'em!

7-11, Tracy

I love it when a session begins with an introduction and ends with a hug.  Tracy and I had never met before her session, but as the session progressed we discovered how many things we have in common.  Photography opens a window into clients' worlds, and I love these connections that are formed.  Thank you, Tracy, for letting me into your world and sharing the afternoon with me.  It was a pleasure!

6-26, Miss Personality

Meet Elena.  She's a bubbling fountain of smiles and dreams for the future.  She was such a joy to have in front of my camera!  If her ambitions take her half as far as her dreams, she has a wonderful future ahead of her.  Thank you, Elena, for the fun and laughter!

6-26, Summer Wall Art

I have been really busy this year working on my headshots.  As you may (or may not) know, I joined Peter Hurley's Headshot Crew earlier this year.  It has been a tremendous opportunity working with the world's top headshot photographers and meeting Peter in person as well.  Everyday, in person or virtually, I am surrounded by the best; they motivate me, educate me and challenge me to improve my photography in ways I never imagined.  The crew has added a dimension to my life and my career that has been very fulfilling.  That being said, summer is here, fall is coming and the seasonal transition to portraits is upon us.  It's been awhile since I've enjoyed creating wall art collections.  I took this new season's arrival to embrace my outdoor portrait work with a session with my own kids.   I love the flexibility that my wall art software offers for creating collections.  I've never been a 'gamer', but this might be the closest thing to that in my realm-- always striving to create more and create better.  It's a win for my creativity and a win for the walls in your home that could be adorned with the lovely faces of your family!

Intrigued?  Inspired?  Contact me!  Let's have a session and put together some creations for your home.  Hurry-- the lazy days of summer are here but before you know it holiday decorations will be in the stores and we'll be wondering where the year went!  And you think I'm kidding..... lol......

5-1, Carrie

Meet Carrie.  She is an amazing hairstylist and a wonderful person.  Time spent with her, either at her studio or mine, is a little dose of zen that carries (no pun intended, really!) me through my day.  If she looks familiar, it is because I featured her with her husband on this blog back in the fall when I did an outdoor couple's session with them.  It was cute to see her face light up when she saw my duplicate studio sample of the wall art collection she has in her own home from that session.  I hope I've made her look and feel as good as she does me after I visit her studio!  Thanks, Carrie.  My turn next!

4-19, Denise

Lawyers seem to be my hot clients this month.  Literally, April = Lawyer headshot and Hot = they look good!  This is Denise.  She is an estate lawyer in Parker, Colorado.  One thing I've learned with these recent sessions is that my impression of straight-laced and buttoned up is not entirely accurate for these women in the legal profession.  Warm smiles and easy-going was the mood of this session, and that mood carried through in the resulting expressions of this smart and beautiful lady.  Glasses on or off, I think she looks fantastic with both looks.  I hope she thinks so, too!

4-9, Author, Lawyer, Business Advisor, Performance Coach....

Meet Kelly.  This classy lady cannot be described in one word.  She is an author, lawyer, business advisor and performance coach.  She has as many sides to her professional life as she does to her cheery disposition.  If I had to simplify a description of her it would be this:  a brilliant beauty.  We had such a fun studio session.  As an artist, I'm torn between sharing all those fun, quirky photos that led us to these final images and maintaining the professional image my clients seek.  Headshots are about putting your 'best face forward', so I have chosen to keep those humorous images offline.  But let me tell you, there were some adorable ones that capture the fun we shared during the session.    We laughed until we had tears in our eyes.  That, my friends, is what it's all about.