I really enjoyed my wedding photography yesterday with Mike and Lindsey. They were so easy to "shoot", as were all the other people there - very cooperative folks. The day was too sunny to do a lot of pictures outside, so we did a lot inside. Since everyone was so flexible, the pictures inside turned out very nicely.
I really like this picture of Lindsey because she's letting go fully. The surroundings - women's rest room - aren't terribly glamourous, but I think her expression overwhelms them.

Even though there's a lot of work to do on a wedding day and thereafter, I love doing them, especially when the couple makes it this easy!

Busy times at Spectrum. Yesterday, I did a two-part photo session at the kid care place known as Kids at the Top. It's a nice place: clean, organized and the people are friendly. I liked how Tonka, the co-owner tried to help me with business referrals. The kids were cute and cooperative.
Today, I have a couple of pet photo sessions.
Tomorrow, it's a wedding.
On Sunday, it's my youngest son's birthday party - four years old!
It seems that once September comes, the year feels almost over. All the events in this month and through the end of 2012 seem to make a whooshing sound because they streak by so fast.
One other thing that might add to this is the photography I'll do in December at the Greentown Lions Club round barn: pictures with Santa through Christmas Eve.

I'm looking forward to the engagement session I'm doing tonight for Mike and Lindsey. They must be hearty souls because we're doing it outside, as planned, despite a temperature that will be about 95 by the time this comes around.
I'll post some pictures tomorrow.

Curt (photocurt.com)
(765) 437-8048

FAMILY MATTERS

Photographers don't provide the most essential service in the world, but their service often captures the most essential moments in life. An example was today's portrait session I did for the Briscoes at the Kokomo Country Club.

The occasion was the 80th birthday celebration of Jim Briscoe, which was attended by everyone in the family, including the surprise appearance by grandson Ryan - all the way from seminary school.
Deepening the importance is the fact that Jim is dealing with some health issues. We never really know when the last get-together will be - high school, college, a family barbeque... - but we all know that the combination of age and health challenges can narrow our opportunities. I'm so grateful that Jan Briscoe saw big picture and allowed me to take the family picture.
Whatever tomorrow brings, the Briscoes will have today forever.

NEW HORIZONS

I just came to agreement to photograph the South Bend campus of Purdue University next May. It came as a result of photographing the Kokomo campus of Purdue, and people like Kaleigh, a 2012 graduate.

T.C.G.

I'm getting ready to stroll through The Children's Garden - a great Montessori school in Kokomo. It's spring picture day.

TAKE TWO AND HIT TO RIGHT

That phrase is often used for baseball players as an approach that combines open-mindedness, patience and resourcefulness: look at some pitches to get a feel for what the pitcher can do, wait for one that you like, and don't try to do something that doesn't fit the situation.
I used the same approach last week during a high school senior session, which I scheduled for mid-day - a tough time to get good outdoor pictures. I was working with a great kid, Josh Maurer of Western High School, who plays drums for the school band. I knew a picture in my studio of the set-up wouldn't work well, so I suggested we do it outside. I assumed there'd be some shady spot to keep the harsh light off of Josh's face, but at 3 p.m. on a very bright day, I found nothing - on the road, that is.
Parallel to the road, though, was a set of railroad tracks. The trees were close enough and hovered low enough to give me a few clusters of the shade I needed. (I had seen my two strikes from the pitcher.)
My vision was to do this on a road to show the independent almost defiant attitude that is so typical of young people. After all, how much more independent and sure of yourself can you seem than being seated at a drum set (a musician marching - or pounding - to the beat of a different drum) while almost challenging cars to come your way? Well, a train is bigger than a car and less likely - and able - to veer off. So, not limiting my thought process to what I had planned in advance allowed me to make the best of the situation. (I didn't try to pull the ball; I took it where the ball was pitched.)

So, I was able to get this for Josh - an image I really like.

QUICK ON THE DRAW

I've expressed thanks lately for all those people who've come to me for their high school senior sessions late in the going. But, while in one respect they might be giving me new business, they're giving me something else at least as important: trust.
They trust that if I do a session less than a month before they host an open house, they'll be able to see, order and get back their pictures fast. That's where the real work starts.
A photo session allows me to use two tools to make people look good: my eye and my camera. I need one more thing to complete the process: my computer. Looking at a person in conversation is one thing; looking at them in a picture is entirely another. That's when there's no two-way interaction. All you do is stare. The longer you stare, the more flaws you find. The most attractive, and the youngest, people have them.
So, after the 90 or so minutes I spend with the client, I spend another two or 2½ hours perfecting the work. When you realize I have several projects to work on at a time, you understand that it's easy to fall behind. I suppose that's why I'm writing this blog after 9 p.m.
Anyway, the point is, because I know they need the work turned around quickly, I make sure I don't disappoint them. I handled a senior session on Saturday whose images were on-line this morning - about 80 of them. Most were tinkered with in some way: cropped, retouched, background changed. I'd hate to post something and think I didn't do everything I could to impress them and the other people who'll see those pictures.
I hope I get the chance to impress you, or someone you know in the near future.

THE SUDDENNESS OF SPRING

Just when I thought the 2012 school year was pretty much over, I've received phone calls from several people wanting their senior pictures done. I'm incredibly grateful for how fortune is showering down on me this spring. I also got a call last week for a portrait session from a family that got shut out at a chain studio. Fifteen minutes later, the people were here and we were shooting. It went really well.
Each moment something is happening somewhere. That episode, that occurrence can be carried out without our knowledge. It can also be aimed right at us. Thus, the last minute business.
Ironically, I hope it comes to a very, very temporary halt because I leave in less than two days for a business trip to Connecticut. Fortunately, my family lives there, so I'll also have even more fun than I do on a photo session, especially because I'll have access to the world's greatest pizza, bagels and linzer tarts.
Thank you for reading.

SYCAMORE PICTURES

There probably are some people who have forged their way 100 percent independently, but I always need help. I'm thankful for it from Cindi Milligan, who has gone through the painstakingly detailed job of uploading orders, looking for omissions on my part, then sorting through photo orders to make sure everyone from Sycamore Elementary School has what they need. I only wish school was still in session this week so I could drop these off, but it's a big headache out of the way.
Next stop, re-take day, Friday, April 13 (yes, that Friday!).

THE SURROUNDINGS

I sure do like my work as a photographer, but one other thing I like about it is the places it takes me. I haven't gone anywhere exotic recently, but I still enjoy the short trips. For instance, this week I've been stationed in Carmel doing soccer pictures at Off The Wall Sports. I enjoy the chance to see different surroundings and eat at different restaurants. Yesterday, it was Indian. Today, I'm not sure.

The restaurants and the changes of scenery are a lot like photography itself: one day a wedding, the next day, head shots, and still another working with a playful puppy. It's a broad SPECTRUM of subjects, and I love it!

LEARNING FROM A LEGEND

Like a lot of people, I attend seminars to get better at what I do. They're very helpful. But, there are seminars we can attend without having to pay or register for anything - just by paying attention to what's around us.
Saturday night I went to The Jazz Kitchen to hear a legend perform: saxophonist Benny Golson. Golson, who is 83, played a lot of great music, but between numbers, he also did a lot of great talking. He remembered when he was a kid just starting with the saxophone, thinking how he knew how happy he'd be if he could just get to "this" level. But, when he got there, it wasn't enough. So, he dreamed again of "just being able to get to this level." Of course, when he got there, it still wasn't enough.

I can remember a lot of goals and moments in my photography career that felt the same way. Even though I wasn't there with a notebook, and I thought I was going to hear great music - which I did - I was actually given an important reminder about how essential it is to strive for more.

OPPORTUNITIES IN THE BIG CITY

Just when gasoline prices rocket, I find myself doing an increasing number of jobs in the Indianapolis area. I'm photographing the Barbara Belt Cotillion tonight in Indianapolis. I like this because it's essentially charm school for 12 and 13 year olds. Manners can be difficult to learn and apply at any age, but this phase of life is already as clumsy as a just-born foal, so the classes and the culminating dance is great to see.
Next week, it's photography for some Girl Scouts troops in Carmel. The week after, the Lil' Kickers at Off The Wall Sports.

OFF THE WALL

Nothing crazy about this post - just a reference to my just completed week-long photo session at Off The Wall Sports in Carmel.
One reason I like working with the kids (ages 2 - 5) is because it's an acceptable way for me to show the craz part of my personality.

More Off The Wall stuff next month.

RE-CHARGED AND INSPIRED

Some people take vacations, some people go on retreats - there are lots of ways to change your frame of mind. I'm renewed because of a photography seminar I attended over the weekend. I came away with some great ideas on photography and some new equipment that will make it easier for me to do certain things I already do, and allow me to do other things I hadn't been able to.
Look out, world - I'm unleashing myself!

MARCH TO THE BEAT OF A BSU DRUMMER

I just got the confirmation that I'll get to do the Ball State Marching Band pictures again this summer. I'm very thankful for the opportunity.

Curt (photocurt.com)
(765) 437-8048

INSPIRATION

One thing this so-called slow season does for me is give me a chance to focus a little more broadly on the world around me. I see so many opportunities for photography. For example, hardly anyone around here - if anyone at all - does really intimate, meaningful photography: a baby napping in dad's arms, a little child nosing around curiously and cutely in a guitar case. Now that you have the idea, you can come up with better ideas than I can. In fact, that's a good point. Please send me your ideas; if I like them, I'll photograph them for free! Just so I can post them on my web site.

Curt (photocurt.com)
(765) 437-8048

HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR MODELS

I'm probably like most people in that I'm looking toward spring and summer, but probably for different reasons. Sure, I welcome the warm weather, but I'm anticipating what I call high school senior season. So, during January and February I don't hibernate - I'm hunting to find high school senior representatives. The response has been pretty encouraging since I first put out the call a few days ago.
Anyway, though, I'd still like to find more. So, if you're a high school junior who likes being in front of the camera, and you can share your enthusiasm for what you believe in, please contact Spectrum Photography. Your photo session can be FREE! My e-mail address is spectrumphotography@photocurt.com; my phone number is (765) 437-8048.

Community Involvemenet

One of the many things I like about photography is that it puts me in contact with a diverse group of people who can make use of Spectrum Photography to help their cause.
Project Access, which is part of the Howard County Medical Society, is doing that. I've got the chance to do some photography next month for Project Access's mother-daughter event at the Kokomo Country Club. Ticket sales will help raise money for Project Access, which provides medical care for people without insurance - what a great mission!