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!).