When I launched this blog a while back, I really wanted photos of me scrolling at the top. The only problem was, I didn’t have any photos of me that were any good! I see a lot of photographer blogs who have photos of themselves up top and I’ve always loved it. This is where people should get to know me, it’s my place to showcase my work, tell stories, and be myself. My blog is just as important to me as my website. Recently, as I’ve been slowly adding images to my new site, I realized all over again my need for some good photos of me. How am I supposed to display the importance of quality images to my potential clients when I don’t have any great photos of myself? How am I supposed to tell them how passionate I am about capturing the essence of who they are, about lifestyle portraiture and why it’s so awesome, when I haven’t been part of that sort of shoot myself? It was time to change that.
I’m now convinced that one of the best branding/marketing decisions you can make is to get quality images of yourself! I once read on Fred Egan’s blog, “Give me a bio pic. That’s all I want…that’s all your clients want. We love face recognition. This business is a personal business when you name it after yourself.” If I want to display who my clients are through the photos I take of them, then I should display who I am through photos of me.
When I asked Jamie Clayton if he’d balance on top of a ball for me for my idioms series (see post below), he said sure, and asked if I’d take some photos of him for his site. I realized this was a great chance to trade “headshots” and asked him the same in return. Since Mark was there to help me out, Jamie got a few of us together, and I love them! We never got engagement photos (shocking, I know!) and haven’t had legit photos of us since our wedding, so it was time for a few more. Enjoy my favorites!
I discovered Jamie Clayton via Tig while I was wedding photographer hunting for my best friend Allison’s wedding! Tig and him did work crew together at Frontier back in the day and now also lives in Nashville. We spent an amazing weekend in Nashville for Tig’s birthday and Jamie and I decided that while we were there, we should definitely get together for a shoot! I wanted to use him for the idiom shot from yesterday, and figured while we were at it, we might as well trade some “headshots” for our new sites. He also was awesome enough to get some photos of Mark and I, which made me really happy! Tomorrow, I’ll share all my favorites that he took, but today, I’m sharing the ones I took of him.
We started at a sweet spot Jamie found, the leftovers of what used to be the segregated bowling alley in Nashville.
The textures on the wall behind Jamie make me so happy I can hardly stand it!
That afternoon we all headed over to Arrington Vineyards where we enjoyed some fabulous wine and lots of sunshine! Jamie and I figured we should take more shots around the property and I’m so happy we did because all of my favorites came from this location. Jamie brought along his awesome Leica M3 for us to play with, too!
These two together make my favorite shot(s) of the day!
Tomorrow I’ll blog all my favorites that Jamie took of us and of me. If you want a sneak peak, head over to Jamie’s blog to see some favorites from his side of the camera!
Photo #2 for my Idioms series. Click here if you missed the introduction of the series.
Thanks to Jamie Clayton for being my feet for this shot. Come back to tomorrow to see the rest of our awesome photo shoot that went down yesterday in Nashville.
Nantahala, NC
It started because I was working on my website. I typed out the phrase “straight from the horses mouth” on my RAVES section, and then realized…”I don’t even know what that means.”
So I Googled it.
And I came across a page with a huge list of idioms. You know, phrases like “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” and “we’re all in the same boat” and “a chip on your shoulder.” Every idiom I read, I saw a photo. Then I remembered that an artist that I love (yes, Deyber, for all you Tigner fans), does something like this. I realized that he paints phrases, or words, and does interpretive paintings of them. What I want to do with my photo series is photos of what the idiom literally says, not what is means. Along with this, I’ve decided I want people in every photo. This will make each photo more personal, and, more of a challenge for half the idioms I’ve come across. I love english. I love photos. Why not put them together?
So, here is my first idiom photo.
Once a collection is formed, they’ll be in a featured gallery on my new website (under construction!)
In other news, I’ll be in Dallas on March 31. If you’re interested in a session, email me!
Dahlonega, GA. Taken with Fuji Instax Mini.
“Peace by way of war is like purity by way of fornication. It’s like telling someone murder is wrong and then showing them by way of execution.”
- One of my favorite lyrics and most true statements by Derek Webb from his 2005 Mockingbird album.
Also, download the Rocket Summer’s new album on Amazon for only $5.99! It’s delish.
Dahlonega, GA
And a playlist to get your week started right…
Yesterday I met up with a bunch of Atlanta photographers for one of the best shoots ever!
Location #1 – Starlight Six Drivein
This is Michele…
This is Angela…
This is Chad…
And this is what happens when models get “married”
Favorite shot of the day. So much love to my new 45mm tilt shift lens! That lens + the sun = the best thing that’s ever happened to my camera.
Location #2 – Atlanta prison farm.
Big love to Chris and Allie of The Reason for setting this up!
Snorgia :: Snow in Georgia.
I feel sort of silly when I HAVE to take photos of snow in the south, being that I saw it most of the year in Colorado. It was nothing special. But here, it’s special. And to make an already special, snowy day more special, the sun is finally out! It’s been cloudy way too long and the mix of sun and snow has made today a beautiful day in north Georgia.
Yesterday…
Today…
If you aren’t listening to the LOVERLIST I posted yesterday, you really should be (look below!)
Valentines Day is America’s best fake holiday. Mark and I usually don’t get each other stuff, except maybe something small, or inappropriate cards. This year Mark has to work on Valentines Day so we’re going to dinner Monday night. The older I get, the more I just want a good meal!
I love Valentines Day because I love to send my friends and family cards just to say I love you. I love to bake something. I love an excuse to have flowers in the house. I love the stupid cards and the red crap everywhere you go. It’s so pointless and so wonderful!
This year, Mark and I took the photo above in our backyard and I made these that are on their way to certain special people:
Each person got something different on the back of their card, but the one above is my favorite “I love you poem” so that’s the example you get to see. If you don’t get one (they will probably be late), it’s not because I don’t love you madly, it’s just because I got you something else…the mother of all playlists!!
I’m posting this today so you can enjoy this incredible playlist all weekend long! It’s a mix of my favorite love songs. Old ones, new ones, classics, sexy ones, power ballads, cheesy, scream at the top of your lungs in the car when no one is looking, some broken heart songs, guilty pleasures, good covers, you name it, it’s on there! I could have made this list twice as long, but I tried to narrow it down. You are so welcome. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, my LOVERLIST : 100 IN YOUR FACE LOVE SONGS. En-freaking-joy!
Also, if you haven’t vote for me to win Jose Villa’s Mexico Workshop Scholarship (below) please do so. I’m over 1,000 votes behind the lead 
by carolinefontenot
no comments
leave a comment! link to this post share this post