Behind the Scenes: My office disaster - Stage 1 {Personal}

Ok, it's confession time. So, I'm not the neatest person. I'm probably about a week away from being a hoarder at any moment in time ! The only way I curb those tendencies is by having a maid service once a month (gotta tidy up so they don't judge me) and by watching episodes of Hoarders to scare myself straight ! 
Well, recently I decided it was finally time to tackle my home office. It has been a dumping zone for far too long and I miss the days I felt like an adult and would use it for editing ! So here is the first stage of my home office transformation. I've nicknamed it, "Ah, so there is a floor !". At least I can enter the room now without doing the landmine hop. I really want to pretty it up a la +Katelyn James's office. It's a good start, anyway. Stay tuned for updates !

Please excuse the crappy cellphone photos. Once it's all done, I'll bust out the "big camera" and take some fab detail shots.

In Search of a Brand - Part 1 {Escondido Wedding Photographer}

So, this week, after coming back from United, and frankly, even last year after the United conference, I've been thinking about my "brand". I feel like I'm just another cookie cutter photographer. Why would someone pick my pretty photos over another photographer's pretty photos ? Especially if mine are more expensive ! The answer is me. They would need to pick me over the other photographer for me. Now, this is a hard concept for someone who's always been insecure, but hides it well. I guess it comes with the territory. When you're doing something creative, sharing of yourself, it's harder. Because what if the world doesn't like it ? This piece of you that you've wrenched out of yourself for all to see and judge ?

So many of the speakers at United seemed to have a similar message. Find out who you are, then market to like minded/dressed/acting people and you'll have your perfect client who'll pay more to spend time with a "friend" on their wedding day than they would a stranger. And bonus, fab pics where you and your hubby look totally relaxed and like you're having a great time, because you are !
So, they say think of 3 words to describe yourself, your brand or whatever. I am having a tough time. Most people would say I'm fun. "Fun" sucks. "Fun" can be so many different things. And "goofy" doesn't seem like a valid reason for a client to choose you over someone else. 

Maybe I should take a page from the fab, Kristen Booth's playbook, and go with a phrase rather. She describes her purpose as a photographer, "To make the world believe in happily ever after". She's all about poofy dresses and white horses. I too love a good poofy dress, but I'd say I'm more sequins and black lace, minus the goth. Sometimes I feel like I'm a walking contradiction. I love books, but I'm a movie nerd too. I love classical music, but I'll belt it out with Dave Grohl anyday ! I watch TMZ but also love historical documentaries ! 

Hrumph ! This introspection thing sucks ! 

To be continued ...

United 2014 Santa Barbara, CA {Escondido Wedding Photographer)

This was my second year attending United in Santa Barbara, CA. It's a photography conference put on by the guys from PASS and Showit. Last year it was less than 200 people and while it doubled in size this year, it still managed to keep it's sense of intimacy.
I hit the road north on Sunday, stopping at LAX to pick up a couple ladies heading my way who were in need of a ride. Natasha from Missouri and Jill from Minnesota. None of us had met before, but this is nothing new at United, where photographers looking to share a bed at the pricey conference hotel just post their need on the United Group Facebook page and the offers come swarming in. I snore. Bad. So I relegated myself to the nearby renovated Motel 6 for $70 per night. I promised myself after last year, that I'd try to be more social, be a joiner and make a concerted effort to meet new people at every turn. Mission accomplished ! It was a fabulous 4 days meeting new people, seeing old faces from last year, learning about posing, shooting and workflow from some of the best photographers in the biz and generally getting and giving lots of hugs. What I love the most about this community of Shoot & Share Photographers is their emphasis on serving each other, their clients and the photographic community as a whole. They selflessly give of their time and talents to help other photographers and their community as a whole. It's not about competition and success, although, success does seem to follow ! After spending just a few days with these awesome people, I am sick with a cold, and tired to the bone, but it's difficult not to come away with a refreshed mind, feeling less jaded by the industry and looking for ways to give back. Taking a page out of Josh Newton's playbook this year, I am definitely going to be looking for a passion project to work on. Something that'll keep my creativity fueled and hopefully give back somehow.
To see some cellphone pics from last week, check out my Facebook Album.

Here're a few behind-the-scenes and shoot photos from the week: