There is no way I would have believed you if you told me back then that I would return 16 years after graduating to pass along my wisdom. As a Wedding Photographer, no less!

The panel discussion was lively. With all different creative artists on the panel, I was struck most by how similar our stories and struggles are.

Panel Discussion Topics:
1.     What is the biggest misconception about life after graduation?
2.     How has your creative work changed? Did you notice a shift in perspective or belief after you were out of school?
3.     What do you do to make money? Do you make a living selling your creative work?
4.     Were you prepared for the realities of finding opportunities? (i.e. employment, exhibitions, clientele, access to studio space/equipment, etc.)
5.     Explain the significance/importance of networking.
6.     How do you come up with a pricing structure? What do you charge people for your work or your services?
7.     What are your goals for the near future? And for the long term?

The highlights that I hoped the students would walk away with were:

* You don’t have to afford your own work

* Someone wants whatever you are selling – Find them

* Create trends, instead of following them

* Join professional organizations to learn pricing, marketing, business and networking

* Try to be humble, yet don’t hold yourself back

The panel artists were:

Peter Pincus http://peterpincus.com/

Mahlon Huston http://www.mahlonhuston.com/mahlonhuston.com/HOME.html

Andrew Cho http://www.theandrewchoartshow.com/index.html

Bradley and Sarah Butler http://thebutlerstudios.com/

Romy Hosford http://romyhosford.net/

Myself, Heather McKay http://mckaysphotography.com

Thank you Bradley Butler for inviting me to participate. I hope that someone found some value in whatever I had to offer the discussion. At the very least, it was nice for me to meet the other artists and some students afterward!

Was there a favorite nugget that you received that night? Any insights since? What do you wish you could share with someone else??? Please use the comments below to continue the discussion!

Monday January 9th there is a FREE photo show and Roc City Skate Park fundraiser at our neighborhood restaurant The Owl House. JANUARY 9th!

Help support the Roc City Skate Park Project, Local Businesses and Local Artists. Boris Sapozhnikov, Heather McKay, Michael Carnrike, Josh Saunders, Lea Rizzo, Erich Lehman, James Haschmann, Casey Haley, Alan Presutti, Alex Gagne

http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story/Trader-Joe-s-Coming-To-Rochester/wHeu2M8ZSkCHQf4WGK7vyA.cspx

Because I’m a hippy and eat hippy food, but I’m also sorta cheap… I’m very excited to have the store in my town. Every time I visit a city that has one, I have to go buy something. Anything. Last month when I took the train to Boston, I went to Trader Joe’s in Cambridge for food to eat on the long train ride home.

Why do I talk about this on my BLOG? Well, branding.

Trader Joe’s has figured out branding. I’ve never even lived in a town with Trader Joe’s, but I’ve always wanted to. YEARS before I was able to actually set foot in a store, I wanted to.

That is amazing. How does a company build a brand so strong and focused that it permeates markets that it isn’t even marketing to? One phrase… word of mouth. And not in the ‘Alec Baldwin talks about his Mom liking Wegmans’ sort of a way… but regular people talking about the super simple part of their lives: groceries.

I’m in a particularly competitive market myself and am always brainstorming ways to stay ahead of the competition, and I think Wegmans press release said it best:

“Wegmans does not normally comment on competitors.  However, I can tell you that when  new competition moves into any of our market areas, we have a plan… to continue focusing on what we feel we do best…”

This is important, and actually what myself and a bunch of Photographers were discussing last night at our October Greater Rochester Professional Photographers meeting… how to define exactly what I do and who my client is, and then run with it. Staying true to my brand and the clients I want to attract is hard work, but what will allow both Trader Joe’s and Wegmans to thrive in the same plaza. They are very different grocery stores and they have different business models, products, customer service, ambiance, etc. I’ll use them both and love it.

10 years ago, I was working at a job that I knew would be ending eventually. With people I did not like. I felt like I was wasting my degree in Photography on a dead end retail job. At the time, I was a regional trainer for retail photo labs and was supposed to drive to Buffalo to visit one employee I really disliked.

The attacks were a wake up call for me, as they were for a lot of people. What am I doing with my life? Is this the best use of my time on earth? Who is most important to me? Do I make a difference in people’s lives?

Another thought running through my mind all day was that on July 4, 2001, I was on top of the World Trade Center with my family. My Dad had biked with the Houston Police Department Bike Relay Team as part of their 20th Anniversary celebration. They rode bicycles from Houston to LA to NYC to raise money for the Leukemia Society. To think that I had just been there. Standing in that spot. On July 4th of all days…

Seeing my Dad doing something so amazing, coupled with the giant wake up call that was the terrorist attacks, really started gears turning inside my head. This laid the groundwork for the motivation to stop holding myself back. It laid the groundwork for my realization that I can have a better life.

Skip forward to today. I can’t believe that I am near my 10 year anniversary of photographing people’s weddings. More honestly, I can’t believe that I still love my job. I woke up this morning feeling blessed that not only do I love my job and the people I get to work with, but they seem to really appreciate me as well. I feel honored that I get to create heirlooms for new families being created and that I get to make new friends in the process. To be a full time Photographer is a blessing and a dream.

I am no hero like brave Fire Fighters and Police Officers, however hopefully my time spent on this earth will bring some small joy to other’s lives in one way or another. To wake up each day and choose to be a better person. To be happy.

My thoughts today are with all of the people who didn’t have the positive reaction that I ended up having. To all the families who lost a loved one and have such an event define their lives… I can’t even comprehend the toll this has taken on so many people all over the world….

The Friends of the Roc City Skate Park did a wonderful job putting on this huge “friend-raiser” for the largest skatepark in the United States. We had 4 professional skateboarders and one professional bmx rider, plus other amateur level riders from Krudco and dozens of kids who raised money to skate with the pros. Here is the Board of Directors (including me!)…

The weekend began for me on Friday evening at Krudco Skateboard Shop with an autograph signing by Zoo York skater, Ron Deily. Wow, what a friendly and laid back guy. Red Bull was on hand to show off their MXT vehicle and pass out a plethora of their drinks. Ron made the kids do all sorts of things to earn signed skateboard decks and other prizes! I was able to score an easy birthday present for my older brother who skates. Actually, some of the earliest photos I ever took were of him skating.

Saturday was a bit chaotic for me as I ran down to Max for the Friends of the Roc City Skatepark Board meeting, then ran home to finish packing my car and pick up my SUPER assistant, Dan Ross… a Groom from last year! Dan and I setup the outdoor McKay’s Photography booth just in time for it to pour down rain. So, we packed everything back up and re-setup inside Max. Phew! During all of this, I also was delegating the setup for my indoor McKay’s Photography booth with on-site photo printing. Thanks to Dan, I stayed on track and relatively sane. Note to self…. always bring an assistant that is tall… they come in handy! It was excellent to see Brittany and Mike (Dan’s brother) hanging out and having fun too!

Once the rain stopped, it was a great time. I feel like I didn’t get to photograph nearly as much as I had planned because the schedule was thrown out and I was constantly pulled in 4 different directions at once. Special thanks to Lori Coleman of Light and Ink and Angie Carter of Goatmouth Studio for helping to photograph the event. Also Terri Parthum for editing all day!

The VIP event was a blast though. We had a slideshow with the best images from the day (3 photographers!!) and there was a performance by Aerial Arts of Rochester, speeches by Jim Maddison (RCP President), Luis Burgos who is probable our biggest fan at City Hall (Commissioner for Recreation and Youth Services) and most important, a brief and touching speech by Sheila Foxx. There were tears on everyone’s faces as she talked about her son, Akeer, and his passion for skateboarding, which killed him….

Sheila Foxx’s 14 year old son Akeer T. Matthews was hit by a car on October 8th 2010 while riding his skateboard and passed away on October 9th. “I was devastated. Actually, that is an understatement. Words cannot describe how I felt. I didn’t know what to do. Akeer never had a place to ride his skateboard and skateboarding was his passion. Akeer and his friends would try to skateboard in empty parking lots or at playgrounds but at each location there was a sign, NO SKATEBOARDERS ALLOWED. But as I mentioned, it was his passion, he was determined to skate anywhere he could. Unfortunately, like most skaters that place has become our business parking lots and busy city streets. In the name of Akeer, please help Roc City SkatePark become a place for them to skate. ANY donations would be appreciated.”

The weekend ended with a ride around Rochester in the Red Bull MXT and skateboarding with pro-skater, Ron Deily, for the largest fundraiser for the Rally… Jesse Morland! I was on hand to be the Professional Photographer and provide a photo shoot for Jesse and Ron. We headed downtown to Manhattan Square Park and within 30 seconds we were kicked out by the security at the HSBC office building! Ah, if only there was a legal and safe place to skate in the city of Rochester…..

All of the Professional images from this event will be online for viewing and ordering. Most of the proceeds will go directly to the Roc City Skatepark! Click HERE to view the gallery and buy away.

Media Links:

http://rochester.ynn.com/content/all_news/rochester/545761/rally-to-raise-money-for-roc-city-skatepark/

http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/news/articles/2011/05/RECREATION-Big-boost-for-Roc-City-Skatepark/

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20110605/NEWS01/106050338/Youths-rally-skate-park-Rochester?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Marcus McBride – DGK Skateboard Video

Lenny Rivas – DGK Skateboard Video

Ron Deily – Zoo York Skateboard Video

Tony Hamlin – Kink BMX Video

Derrick Wilson – Skateboarding Video

Well, I can’t believe I didn’t blog about biking last year. Geez! I’m so behind on blog posts, I can hardly believe it. I mean, I like blogging, but it takes a lot of time. Suppose I should do it every day so I have less to say. Oh, well, this will be a catch all for 2010. Like a year in review. Except it is already May of 2011.

Here are the cliff notes. I like to ride my bicycle…. I like to ride my bike (guess the song!?!). I gathered a bunch of Photographer friends up and we started a regular bike club one day a week. Biking is a great way to work out frustration, brainstorm, location scout, feel the wind on your face, move your butt, feel strong, network with other Photogs and generally enjoy our tax $….

Click here to read the City of Rochester’s Bicycle Master Plan!

So, here it is… May and I’m finally out an on my bike again. A few weeks ago I was able to get in my first ride of the year … It felt good to get a full 15 miles in on the first time out. Decent pace too, averaging 11 miles an hour. Not bad for the first ride. I guess all my P90X has been paying off. And snowboarding. And walking.

Did you know that Rochester was ranked #50 in the top biking cities in the USA by Bicycling Magazine?

Anyway, I’ll try to blog more about my biking escapades, since I always see such random things. Do you bike? Where do you go? What’s your favorite item in your bike bag?? Mine is my crash proof, waterproof camera…

Here are a few highlights from past biking trips around the Finger Lakes and Rochester with Linda McFadden, Lori Coleman, Sue Egan, Greg Fair and others…

It is a truly monumental task attempting to put into words our appreciation towards and admiration for Heather McKay of McKay’s Photography.  To make the task a bit more manageable we will focus solely on our experience with Heather as our wedding album designer.  We must say though that we could rave for days about her professionalism and exceptional skill that were evident throughout all of our experiences with her.

One of the factors that makes Heather’s work stand head and shoulders above the rest is her ability to capture beautiful images with her camera.  Other photographers nowadays rely heavily on technology and Photoshop, while Heather is able to actually capture moments with her camera and not fabricate them later on.  She tastefully uses Photoshop to enhance her images, not to create the image.  No one wants to look at their wedding album and think “That’s not how I remember it!”  Nothing can take the place of natural talent, years of experience, and passion.  Heather possesses all of these things.  Nothing is more timeless than a beautiful photo.   Heather produces beautiful photos every time!  She has the rare ability to stay current while remaining timeless.

Heather worked closely with us while making our album to make sure that we were getting exactly what we wanted.  She shows her sensitivity to her clients’ economic situation by never trying to up-sell.  There were never any hidden charges.  Everything was completely upfront and honest.  It is reassuring to do business with someone who is so trustworthy and who truly has your best interest in mind.  She makes sure that the client feels comfortable and knows exactly what they will be getting for their money.

None of our meetings with Heather were constricted by a time limit.  She always allowed us to stay as long as we wanted to discuss our ideas and questions.  Most people today are all about making money and that means meeting with as many clients in as short a time frame as possible.  This is not the case at McKay’s Photography.  She cares about her clients and it shows by the amount of time she is willing to spend with them.  She truly listened to what we wanted and it was all reflected in the end product.  From specific pictures we wanted included, to the background color of pages, to the formatting of various pages; she managed to capture exactly what we wanted!  Even though she did all of the work, she made us feel like we were part of the process too.  Our Wedding Album reflects all of the things we love and admire about Heather’s work, yet she made it feel undeniably ours!  That is no easy task!

It goes without saying that we became misty eyed when Heather presented us with our completed album.  It is something that we will treasure forever.  The bride and groom would naturally be pleased with an album featuring themselves on their special day, but what would the tougher critics aka our parents think?  They were nothing short of amazed.  We heard a lot of “We have never seen anything like this!”  My mother said it is “Absolutely the most beautiful wedding album ever!”  In complete seriousness my Grandmother offered to buy us a new coffee table for the sole purpose of displaying our Wedding Album!  If those aren’t the words of a satisfied customer, I don’t know what is!

People who opt not to get an album and only receive the digital files of their wedding images are missing out on a truly breathtaking heirloom.  Heather told our story through her pictures and our album.  Going through each page brings back a flood of happy memories.  I put wedding pictures in my own small album immediately after the wedding.  When I look through that album I do not get the magical feelings that I get when I look at the masterpiece that Heather created.  She is nothing short of a magnificent artist.  She created our most valuable possession that will be treasured throughout our lives.  Some people are hesitant to spend significant amounts of money, but believe me when I say that it is a small price to pay for a priceless piece of art.  Heather’s work speaks for itself and it says all of the right things!  She has lifelong customers in us!

Brandon & Stefani Dilmore
Married May 22, 2010

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** At McKay’s Photography, if a customer purchases a wedding album between January and April, they receive the digital files as a gift from the studio. (minimum $1000 purchase, completely ordered/designed/paid between Jan-April 30 to qualify)**

This is a huge honor for me to be invited as part of the Greener Photography organization. We will have a booth in the trade show, next to Rice Studio Supply (the vendor for all of my packaging!).

Greener Photography will be participating in and teaching several short classes at several booths including ProDPI, Bay Photo, Rice Studio Supply, White Glove Books and more. As the current GP Education Committee Chair, I will also be working with the committee to finalize several programs in the works and networking for speaking opportunities.

My secondary focus for the trip will be to network with the other vendors that I currently use for my albums and work on getting a sponsor for my upcoming program in March. I am teaching on Album Sales and Design at the Photo North East Convention. My vendor loyalties vary well may change this weekend, with a switch to all green vendors. We’ll see, since I’m happy with the ones I currently use and there are a few green options in there.

Lastly, I plan to have a ton of fun in sin city with old and new friends alike! One fun thing planned is a special tour and photo shoot for Greener Photography Members of the Springs Preserve, The Springs Preserve is a 180-acre cultural institution designed to commemorate Las Vegas’ dynamic history and to provide a vision for a sustainable future. The Preserve features museums, galleries, outdoor concerts and events, colorful botanical gardens and an interpretive trail system that meanders through a scenic wetland habitat.

So, if you are trying to reach me, I’ll be MIA until Wednesday! Email will be the best form of contact and I will check it each day from the road…

This started a small firestorm. I find people responding in two camps: the shocked and the amazed. Either people admire me for it or they go on and on about what an atrocity it is that I don’t have a cell phone. How inconvenient it is for them. No matter that I have 3 email addresses, Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter and a land line (and days when neither phone rang). Heaven forbid, they just come over to say Hi. Remember those days? It used to be fun to just walk over to someone’s house to see if they were home.

My favorite excuse is the whole ‘emergency’ excuse. I get this a lot. However, I got through 34 years of life, including traveling through Europe for 3 1/2 months ALONE at the age of 21. I’ve also run out of gas in the middle of South Dakota. Cell phones weren’t around back then. I made it out alive.

When I got my cell phone, it was indeed because of the business. Travel certainly is easier with a phone. However, making plans ahead of time and committing to them has worked for me in the past. I’d like to get back to that. With phones and texting, I find that people don’t value my time anymore. They can just text that they are running late…. when I’m already at the restaurant… waiting.

So, it has been about a month and a half now and I’m still loving it. There is only one person that I’ve noticed I’ve inconvenienced (sorry, Tom) by not having a cell.

When I’m sitting on the ski lift, I’m really there. When I’m working out, I’m not distracted by a vibrating phone. When I’m sitting with someone, I’m really there. Listening. In the moment.

The joke had been “I’ll get another cell phone when Verizon finally gets the iPhone!”… darn! I was hoping it would take another year or so. All this being said, I’m sure I’ll cave. I do have two conventions coming up…

In the meantime, I’ll call you back when I get in from snowboarding….

Here is a great interview on the Colbert Report with Sherry Turkle, author of “Alone Together”…

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/371249/january-17-2011/sherry-turkle

Also, check out Star Trek’s Borg… that is how I feel some people act now….

This is what I found in Nate’s garage… and we played with ALL of these fun things!

Here are a few highlights from my trip West:

Snowboarding at Arapahoe Basin Ski Resort with Nate…

Sunrise Photo Shoot at the Denver Museum of Outdoor Arts…

A stroll down Colfax Street with my RIT Friend/2009 Groom/Amazing Artist, Vin Comparetto at sunset…

Biking around Denver with Jill and baby G…

Super Special Early Bird Holiday Print Special

Order prints & gifts THIS weekend, and you will receive never before seen LOW print prices! Visit http://www.mckaysphotography.com/blog/ to view the active web galleries and place your order.

** This offer is only good until midnight on Sunday, November 14th, 2010!
There will be no further print sales for 2010, so order those holiday gifts NOW (pretty please)

Print Prices
4×6   – $5

5×7   – $10

8×10 – $15

11×14 – $45

16×20 – $75

48 Wallets (2×3)  – $20

Custom Photo Products

Single Digital File - $25
Individual image file with reproduction release for printing. File will be emailed. Image will be color & density corrected. Wonderful for creating your own holiday cards!

4.5×5 Folded Cards (48) – $80
Press Printed folded cards. One image on front with simple text inside (use special instructions to write greeting). Great for holiday cards or basic personalized stationary! (available in packs of 24 only)

NEW for 2010… Holiday Gift Tags – $50
100 – 2.75″ x 1.10″ cards/gift tags/ornaments. Printed in full color on both sides. Back will say “to” and “from” unless otherwise noted. Up to 5 different images! (Images need to work well as a rectangle/panoramic)

** All galleries from 2010 are active and have the special pricing. Prices WILL return to normal on Monday morning. Please email with any questions that you have.

** No other discounts will be combined with this offer.

The eco-chic wedding has grown in popularity over the past few years. Couples are looking to protect the environment by choosing organic and recyclable options, as well as offsetting the impact guests’ travel will have on the earth.

Great Ideas for a Green Wedding

Greater Rochester NY Eco Friendly Wedding Photographer

Whereas weddings often mean “the more extravagant the better,” having a green wedding can make a statement to your guests about the importance of protecting the earth from wear and tear.

The easiest way to keep emissions and effects on the environment low is to have a small wedding – 20 guests instead of 200. Obviously, this isn’t always possible. The goal is to have a beautiful wedding that is as least wasteful as it can be.

Many facilities are now catering to eco-chic weddings. However, be aware that a green wedding can cost up to 20 percent more than a traditional wedding. For instance, having an organic menu can raise costs by 10 percent. But if the environment is your main priority, there are plenty of great ways to plan a beautiful green wedding and keep the environmental impact low.

Here are Wedding Solution‘s favorite tips for a green wedding:

1. Invitations:
a. Use organic or soy ink on recycled paper
b. Choose paper not made from trees. Paper alternatives include bamboo, hemp, banana stalks, and even cotton.
c. Save paper by skipping the multi-envelope invitations and using a postcard for your Save the Date
d. Use online invitations or create a wedding website to give guests details of events such as the bachelor/bachelorette parties, rehearsal dinner, and bridal shower, hotels

2. Location:
a. Have your wedding and reception in the same place to avoid wasting energy and natural resources on transportation
b. Have the wedding outside, instead of in an energy-inefficient reception hall. If you have an outdoor wedding, you can utilize the natural beauty of the site to have fewer wasteful decorations
c. You can also locate an LEED-certified space to have an indoor wedding. LEED stands for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” and means the space is sustainable and conserves water, energy, and electricity using solar power, insulation panels, and other state-of-the-art technology. Visit the U.S. Green Building Council’s website to search a list of LEED-certified locations by city or state — www.usgbc.org

3. Flowers:
a. Use potted plants — then have your guests take them home as favors and reuse them. Or have them donated to a local hospice or elderly care center.
b. If you do want flowers, get organically grown flowers – meaning they are grown without pesticides or insecticides. Consider organic roses, which are a beautiful option and have an amazing – and real – fragrance. Non-organic roses are actually sprayed with perfume. Have your guests toss the organic rose petals as you walk down the aisle. (Be aware that organic flowers won’t last as long, however, so make sure your florist considers timing.)
c. Get flowers from a local nursery to avoid using up natural resources during shipping.

4. On the table:
a. Choose an organic menu, with seasonal or locally grown products (to avoid shipping costs). You will be hard-pressed to find an all-organic caterer, so simply instruct your caterer to shop at local farmer’s markets and choose fresh, season ingredients, such as heirloom tomatoes and fresh herbs in the summer. Be aware that with a seasonal menu, you should find a caterer you really trust, because it’s not likely you’ll be able to taste the menu ahead of time.
b. Donate any extra food to a homeless shelter!
c. Choose organic wine or beer selections. Make sure they are registered with the USDA National Organic Program
d. Use recycled napkins and table linens
e. Use natural products for place cards – one couple used a pressed tree leaf with each guest’s name on it as a place marker. Or writing guests’ names on a smooth river with a paint pen is an eco-friendly option.
f. Choose beeswax or soy-based candles over those made with petroleum, a non-earth friendly product. Best of all, beeswax candles smell amazing, like honey!
g. For the serious eco-friendly couple, request biodegradable utensils and plates – made out of potatoes, cornstarch, or sugarcane. Then have them composted after the wedding.

5. Gown & tux:
a. Purchase a secondhand or vintage gown. Have it altered to look more modern and to fit your body perfectly.
b. Donate your gown after the ceremony
c. The groom can wear a hemp tux
d. Buy a dress – and have your bridesmaids buy dresses – that you will wear again or can have altered

6. Rings:
a. Buy a conflict-free diamond. The Blood Diamond controversy is very hot right now – this means diamonds mined in war-torn African countries that help fund rebel armies, and finance arms purchases and other illegal activities in those countries. Be sure to ask for certified conflict-free diamonds.
b. Opt for a vintage piece. Or you can have an old piece of jewelry melted down and made into a new ring.
c. A lot of eco-friendly couples are opting for wooden rings. They’re custom-made and inexpensive (a few hundred dollars). Touch Wood rings are gaining popularity. www touchwood.com

7. Gifts:
a. Create a registry where guests donate to a favorite charity instead of buying you gifts. Avoid something political that guests might take issue with. Stick to organizations that benefit international aid, nature, animals, disease prevention, or relief efforts. Their contributions will be tax-deductible, and you won’t end up with a bunch of crystal glassware that you use once a year.

b. Register for a home-delivery service that delivers organic food productsc. Ask for national park passes

c. Register with wedding vendors, like the Photographer, to put towards your heirloom wedding album

8. Honeymoon:
a. Instead of a lavish honeymoon, go on a volunteer trip! Build houses for Habitat for Humanity or help hurricane victims.
b. Take an eco-friendly or low-impact honeymoon. Stay in a green resort, go camping, visit a local B&B.

9. Travel and Carbon Credits:

Carbon dioxide emissions from guest travel are the single biggest environmental impact from your wedding. The energy needed for lighting, catering, DJs, etc. always plays a role. Use an online “wedding carbon footprint” calculator to determine the amount of greenhouse gases and carbon emissions that will be generated by guests flying and driving into town. Then, the couple can purchase “carbon credits” – which puts money toward U.S. carbon-reducing energy projects — to help offset the environmental damage of the wedding. One site designed specifically for wedding planning is www.terrapass.com. You might also ask your guests to contribute to carbon credits, instead of buying a wedding gift.

By Alex A. Lluch, author of over three million books sold and President of Weddingsolutions.com, WedReviews.com, and UltimateGiftRegistry.com.

[chirp, chirp]

Haha, does anyone read this thing? Though I update it regularly, I don’t publish as much as I would like to. My desire is for this to be a resource, as well as a ‘hey look what I just did’ type of a BLOG. Obviously when I get super busy, that doesn’t exactly happen. I am proud that I do update about once a week though. It is like a running resume of sorts.

Recently, I realized that I haven’t been keeping track of my publicity and exhibitions like I should. In college and after, when I was doing Fine Art Photography, I kept a detailed list of all published work and gallery shows. For some reason, being self-employed, I don’t value that progress as much as I used to. A shame, this industry is so focused on the next job, the next wedding season, etc.

So, here it is… my promise to myself to start at least using this BLOG to more frequently give myself and my customers props for a job well done. Anytime my images are used elsewhere should be a moment for pause and a sigh and a pat on my/my customers back. I certainly would NOT be where I am, and churning out the quality work that I am, without my super awesome customers who let me do whatever I want, take chances, get silly with them, pose them, etc. etc. etc.

Though each and every job teaches me something new, and I am happy with the work I produce with all of my customers… it is actually very time consuming, difficult and a bit of luck to get published.

Enough rambling for one day. So sorry. Just wanted to give a shout out to The Green Bride Guide and Sean & Brittany Chilson for getting their wedding as a ‘Real Wedding’ feature on the The Green Bride Guide! Super cool.

http://www.greenbrideguide.com/realgreenweddings/adirondack-affection

What was your favorite resource for planning your wedding? Website? BLOG? Friends? What website did you visit most?

Sure, today’s affordable digital cameras can make anyone seem like a good photographer. But there’s a lot more to getting the wedding photos you want and deserve than just pointing and shooting. After this most important and special of days, it will be your wedding albums and pictures that you turn to time and again to remember and cherish those once-in-a-lifetime moments. Choose your photographer as carefully as you’ve planned every other detail of your wedding, and you’ll still be enjoying those images years from now.

To help, we’ve put together a list of ten critical aspects of wedding photography you should know and understand, along with some of the most important questions you should ask prospective photographers to help you make your final decision.

#10    Professional Fees: What are your fees? Do you charge a flat rate for the day, or do you charge by the hour? What about travel time, overtime, and editing rounds? Are there other potential costs I should know about?

I charge a flat fee for up to 8 hours, because I have found that is the proper amount of coverage needed for about 90% of weddings. Additional hours are available. My fee covers myself as your main Photographer, a press-printed proof book with all images, a personalized web gallery for viewing/ordering as well as high level customer service and wedding planning brainstorming. Occasionally, I will bring another photographer, depending upon the wedding dynamics. Travel outside of Monroe County is typically $50/hour for driving. I edit all images after the wedding, during my initial round and only do retouching on purchased images.

Post-wedding, the costs will be completely up to you…. albums, prints, gifts, calendars, tote bags, canvas wall collages, etc. McKay’s Photography offers gift certificates and I recommend that you add my services to your registry.

#9    Format: Do you shoot with film, or capture digital images? Tell me why you choose one over the other.  If you capture digital images, what steps do you take to preserve the digital files for the long-term?  How soon after the images are taken are the media cards backed-up. What steps do you take to protect against data loss?

I shoot completely professional grade Nikon and Fuji cameras and lenses. I used to love the simplicity of film, however now I love the challenge and creativity with digital. Digital is not ‘free’ as I often hear from amateurs that are out there shooting weddings for friends. I spend a LOT more money now that I have gone digital. I need new cameras and computers and hard drives every 3 years at best. Last year, I spent $1000 just on a hard drive backup device. This is pretty cool though! If a drive in it fails, then I can just get a new drive and the device will automatically figure out what needs to be repaired and replaced. No lost data and no lost time sorting out ‘what was on that drive?’.

My workflow after the wedding is this: I get home, open a beer, open Aperture (my editing software), import the first media card into Aperture and the original files get copied directly to my HD backup device. While they are importing, I can go through the thumbnails to see exactly how the images came out and start to visualize what I’ll do with them. Also, while they are importing I lay down on my yoga log to put my back into a straight line again! When the first card is finished importing/saving to drive, then I back those images up onto a DVD. Repeat process for all cards. I usually go to bed around 1 AM… but you know, even though nothing could happen to the cards while I’m sleeping, I really can’t go to bed first and do this in the morning.

In addition to the backups on my main hard drive and the DVDs, I also backup everything in both places again when I have edited the images down and for quality. The final images you see online/in proofbook are all backed up too. As well as the album design. Heaven forbid your album get damaged down the road, I can pull those files and have a new album made for you, for significantly less than the original! Then, at the end of each wedding season, I copy everything from my main hard drive to another separate drive as another redundant backup.

#8    Equipment: What kind of camera do you use?  Do you use any equipment that requires flashes or special arrangements for lighting?  Are you able to provide equipment for black and white, or special effects?

I find this question a little silly, if asking someone who does this for a living. Obviously I use all professional grade camera gear, have backup gear, many different lenses, flashes, etc. Only the ‘friend with a good camera’ needs this question. The real issue is that this is just a tool to get the job done. I could take your friend’s lesser camera and get great shots with it because you are hiring ME and my experience and my style of shooting and seeing light, as well as my ability to handle all the personalities and posing issues at a wedding. As for flashes and lighting.. the same applies. As a professional, I am constantly playing with fancy lighting techniques, learning classical portraiture, etc. Also, some locations are different than others. I shoot available light as much as possible. You should be able to see this in the Photographer’s work immediately as a consumer. That being said, I don’t do selective color (where the image is B&W, except one thing), and I do provide a LOT of B&W images.

Here are perfect examples of the concept that the camera does NOT matter!

I took these to illustrate the difference between knowing lighting and posing and being too candid or amateur…. In the first image, we can see Anna as she is normally: she HATES getting her photo taken and always makes this face! (um, Anna… this is why your photos look silly… stop making that face!). Anyway, the second image shows what happens when you hire a professional photographer… A tiny amount of posing on my part and placing her in great light and viola! GORGEOUS ANNA, the way her friends and family really see her! Same girl, same day, same camera… even the same photographer (just to prove a point to you and her)…. the third image is a candid that tells a story…

#7    Collaboration: Will I be working with you or someone else on your staff? Do you work with an assistant? Can we work together to make sure you get all the shots I want? What is the process for reviewing, selecting, and editing the final images for the album, enlargements, and print sets?

I will be your Photographer. If I bring a second Photographer with me, they will be someone of similar level of skill and quality (other professional photographers). I do not use traditional assistants because I find them highly distracting. You are hiring me for my skill and image quality, so bringing a hobbyist that wants to learn how to do weddings is my paying them for their education. That being said, I am always on the lookout for a good assistant…. I just prefer they carry my lights, tripod, etc.

We will work very closely together PRIOR to the wedding day so that you and I both know exactly how the structure of the day will go, which images are ‘must haves’ and which ones are extras that we will try to capture at the reception. The only thing to keep in mind is that if you are handing me a list of images I have to get, then I’m not able to walk around and discover.

People don’t hire me for my formals. Anyone can group a few people together and get them to look at the camera. You are hiring me for my disarming personality and for my ability to capture personalities in great light. If you let me do my job, then I will be more creative, more fresh, more productive. This is also the difference between someone with years of experience and a newbie. I already know what the ‘must have’ shots are and know what challenges there are to capturing them. I also know which images end up purchased or in an album and which ones aren’t important the day after your wedding. I also have a great sense of who you are and what is important to YOU, not some bridal magazine. I work for you… or rather, I work with you to create great images that last. Collaboration is a great word. Without you, I would have nothing.

#6    Deliverables: In what format do you deliver the proofs? Do you provide an album, CD, and prints as final products? How many and what size? What packages do you offer, and what will I pay for additional items not included? Are negatives or image rights included in your costs?

I find that most couples are completely overwhelmed with the process because there are so many options and all Photographers are different. Honestly, you have no idea what you actually want yet. The bridal websites tell you what you think you need, but really each couple is different. The only people who really need the digital files are graphic designers. Even they never actually get around to producing their own wedding album! My designer still hasn’t done hers! The Digital Negatives (DNG) are available for purchase at any time, however almost every couple earns this from me. If you order an album during the winter for $1000 or more, I will give you the files upon completion of the album. What I have found is that couples really just want the files for posterity, a random printing of a 4×6 here and there and also because they are told to want them. Photographers don’t value these enough either. If I charge $600 for a DVD of 800 images, then that is only $0.75 per image! Surely the editing and backing up alone is worth more than that.

Please look at this from other perspectives… Will you EVER actually sit down and design your album? Will you continually backup those images as technology changes so that your great grandchildren can see them? What about printing? Even a lot of Photographers aren’t color correcting their images correctly… how will you know if it looks right? When you buy a print from me, you are not paying for the piece of paper it is printed on… you are paying for the image because you couldn’t take it yourself. You are paying for my expertise. I don’t have my accountant gather my receipts for me and then I sit down and do my taxes… It is the other way around! I’m paying him because he is a professional accountant. He knows better than I do. Why would a Photographer be any different?

#5    Time: What is the maximum amount of time I will wait to see proofs? Once I’ve selected my pictures, how long will it take for final delivery of all printed products?

Typically I have my weddings finished and delivered a month after your wedding, however my favorite highlights of the day are on my BLOG and Facebook a day or two after.. as a teaser!

Prints are delivered two weeks after ordering. Albums can take up to three months, however I am usually the one waiting on you with regard to albums…

#4    Quality: Do you develop or print the final pictures in-house, or do you work with a professional lab? If in-house, what kind of equipment do you use? What do you do to make sure my pictures don’t fade?

I do all of my own editing and post-production, then I have a professional photo lab print it for me. My experience working at a photo lab for over 10 years has given me extremely high standards for quality and I take this very seriously on your behalf. These images are not just for you, today. They are also for your kids, your grandkids and that distant cousin, the genealogist. Also, all orders come to me and are inspected before they are shipped to you.

#3    Style: What is your artistic style? Do you shoot traditional poses, or have a more photojournalistic approach, or, is it mixed? Do you like to shoot in the studio, as well as on the wedding day? If you stage shots or group portraits, how do you manage distracted or uncooperative subjects or guests?  Can I see examples of an entire wedding day shoot to see how you might tell a wedding day “story”?

Hopefully you can see my style from my web galleries and my BLOG posts. I keep two words in mind when picking images for my website: fun and photojournalistic! Photojournalism is talking about capturing “moments,” “emotion,” “storytelling” and candids. At the top of my BLOG there is a link for all active galleries where you can see entire sessions and weddings. I will be happy to send you one that is similar to your day. As for the posed group shots, you will learn that I have a TON of tricks up my sleeve that ‘handle’ difficult participants or guests… that gets back to the experience that I was talking about earlier. The more important perspective to have is that they are your guests and this is their day too. If I was a guest at a friend’s wedding, I would want to be able to get a great image of the B&G for myself too.

#2    Experience: How long have you been photographing weddings?  How long have you been in business? Can you provide references? Can I view some of your albums? Tell me about the worst wedding photography nightmare you’ve experienced, and how you got through it.

I have been a Photographer since I was in Junior High School, went to the Rochester Institute of Technology, worked at a photo lab for 10+ years and have been professionally photographing weddings since 2002. If you want to see what my past clients think of me and my work, check out my Facebook Page! My clients are very active there and you can contact any of them for a referral.

The worst wedding nightmare for me was my first “real” wedding (first one that found me through advertising and not a friend). It was the hardest day of my life and really taught me how to ‘swim’ so to speak. After that, I realized exactly what I still needed to learn about myself, weddings, posing, gear, etc. It was a great learning experience and taught me that I am very calm in a crisis. The B&G had NO idea about all of the problems that day and the images came out amazing. I have learned since that many ‘problems’ are usually blessings in disguise.

And perhaps the most important thing you need to discuss with your photographer …

# 1    Assurances: How do you ensure my satisfaction? What are your backup plans in the event you’re late or called away by an emergency?  What happens if there’s an equipment failure, or some other unforeseen issue? Do you carry liability insurance? Can I get all of the points we’ve covered in a written contractual agreement?

This is again where being a professional and being part of professional organizations is imperative! I am very connected to the Rochester Photographic community and have a number of close friends I could call on if needed. That being said, it would take A LOT for me to not be there at all. I’m too much of a control freak and also, even if someone died (other than me), what would I be able to do about it?? As for gear, same applies. I’m friendly with a camera shop in town and I know in a pinch he would bring something to me if needed, or I could call a photog friend. I’ve done this for people too. I believe in sharing… skill, etc.  Also, I do have liability insurance and the PPA has all sorts of support for you and I in case something goes terribly wrong.

Do not take “no” for an answer to that last question! A written contract signed by all parties protects you and the photographer, and does more to ensure your wedding photo bliss than any other action or decision you can make.

See the Difference

Professional photographers have unique skills and training in the artistry, as well as the technology, of creating beautiful wedding images that reflect exactly the image you want to portray.  And wonderful wedding photography goes beyond the actual shoot itself to the products you’ll want to own.  Before you sign on the dotted line, make sure your photographer is well-versed in creating and delivering the total package that will make you happy long after your big day is over.

We recommend interviewing multiple photographers—and don’t forget, chemistry is important as well.  Your photographer will spend this most important day in very close contact with you, your wedding party and your guests, so make sure you interview several photographers and after you’re satisfied that all of the above is in order, pick someone who you will want to share in your wedding day.

This is true, however it is not just the day! You and I will be working together for two whole years, if not more! Keep this in mind when looking at personality as well as price. You may have some magical budget that you pulled out of thin air, but I have done the math on how much time and energy I spend on getting you as a client, keeping you happy and supported during the wedding planning process, as well as after the wedding until the delivery of the album. Not to mention the fact that I then become your family photographer! There is no surprise (to me) that almost all of my friends were clients of mine first! Ask all of the other Photographers how many they keep in touch with. I know you are not shopping for a friend, but it shows the level of customer service and sheer respect that I have for you, your money and your investment in my business.

Here is an image to illustrate this post:

This is really cool! I photographed Jodi & Jeremy’s Wedding, Jodi’s pregnancy, her Trash the Dress and Little Mason at one year old!! I know that I will continue to work with Jodi through the years, even though her father is an excellent Photographer as well. We are working on building these heirloom canvas images of their growing family. I know they are trying to have a second child and Jodi has already told me that I will be scheduled to be there for the birth too. I LOVE this part of my job. Each year, her and I get better and better images together…. (I’m an idiot though, as her pregnancy canvas here is sideways, derr!). These were a surprise gift for Mother’s Day from Jeremy and Jodi cried…

Since the drive to Boston is so boring, and Albany is more than half way there, I scooted to Boston after the convention! I arrived just in time for record rainfall in March, but was secretly happy about this due to the sheer amount of work that has piled up during the chaos over the last 2 months. You know, there is something really great about being locked into a friend’s apartment while they are at work. Makes me remember that I should be working too! Wow, I got a lot done! So much so, that I decided to stay through Easter weekend to dog sit for her. Somehow, Easter weekend doesn’t seem as important when your family isn’t close.

During the week I was able to see both of my friends named Marc though and that was awesome. Marc Baizman just eloped in Jamaica, so I wanted to hear all about that and try to talk him into doing a American tour for a wedding reception (which I would want to document, of course). Marc Leuchner and Courtney Hite met up with me in Porter Square for dinner and beer the same day and it was so great to see them! You know, they eloped too… I think I see a trend here. Or at least a trend with Marcs.

Part of the reason I wanted to stay in Boston was that the weather has been 70-80 and sunny! I thought, how perfect to go run around on a photo safari alone in this city that I’ve only known through the eyes of my Late Auntie Carolyn. Well, it turns out that I just wasn’t in the mood. Maybe it was from being tired from the chaos lately. Maybe just because I wanted to get some wedding albums designed before wedding season heats up at the end of the month. Or maybe I’m just not inspired. Probably a mix of all three.Oh, but I was super excited to see Heather (the flowering shrub from Wales) in bloom!

I did venture out to South Boston’s Castle Island for a long walk, but I wasn’t feeling artsy. I thought about walking the Freedom Trail, but wasn’t feeling that either.  I don’t know what it is. Maybe I’m just needing a real vacation? Or a new hobby now that photography is my job? Luckily I always feel inspired at each wedding that I photograph! And I do love designing wedding albums. That has been fun this week! I get to relive the entire wedding all over again and cull it all down to just the highlights. Difficult and fun, and so so rewarding when the album is finished and shiny and pretty.

It has been great staying with Merri (Maid of Honor, 2008) and it is awesome to see Boston from a different view since my Aunt died last year. She lived here for 30 years and I’ve only ever experienced it with her…

Well, next up is Cooperstown, at the early crack of dawn tomorrow, so I better go pack. I’m going to visit Chris and Bret, most of you know him as the skateboarding groom from years ago… Still one of my favorite weddings I’ve ever photographed…. It will be great to see them (especially since Chris is pregnant!).

Well, I decided to ride this upward wave and begin 12 week rolling study groups for the Certified Professional Photographers (CPP) exam given by the Professional Photographers of America (PPA). Between having a lot of new photographers in our group and a lot of seasoned professionals who haven’t taken the next step, I thought it was a great way for our members to set aside time to improve their craft and to get to know other GRPPsters better. There are currently only 4 CPPs within the Rochester area! I was in the first study group and was hoping to learn more about digital printing and file adjusting. After all, I did graduate from RIT right when digital and the internet were just coming out! Old school!

The twelve weeks began somewhere in November, which is really our busiest time of year in the wedding industry, however I carved out the time to meet once a week with 6 other Photographers. After all of this time has passed, we have all gotten really close and have bonded in ways you would never expect! The most exciting aspect is that we ALL took the exam at the annual Northeast Convention in Albany last weekend!

The exam was a little harder than I expected it to be, considering I knew almost everything in the study book and with all of my years of experience. That being said, it was an excellent exam! If I don’t pass, I’ll be really disappointed in myself for not knowing studio lighting a little better. That was my weakest area on the exam because there was a lot of gear listed and if I didn’t know what the gear was, then I didn’t know what it did for the different situations listed. Aside from that, I feel very confident. My years of color correcting at the photo lab certainly helped me ace parts of the exam. I am happy to say though that this exam is truly applicable to Professional Photographers and really sets us apart from the friend of a friend and Uncle Joes with a camera that are at every wedding and also shooting weddings at little or no cost to the Bride and Groom. It even sets apart the other Professional Photographers from the ones who haven’t studied for the exam. Each one of us in the study group learned a lot of new techniques and worked through some technical issues that we were pondering! I know two Photographers in my group who grew leaps and bounds as Photographers just through the course of this 12 weeks…. and we are still getting together to play and learn!

The next round of CPP study group members have already started and they have a leg up on us because they were right there at the Convention when we finished our exam! Now they know exactly what type of questions to think about and how the exam is worded and formatted. Our group had no idea what to expect, so we spent as much time learning the darkroom and negatives as we did with digital and lighting. Lucky them!

Anyway, it will take at least another week before I find out how I did on the exam and if all of my years of being a Photographer paid off! {fingers crossed}…. I PASSED THE WRITTEN EXAM! (4/12/10)

The next step is an image review. I have to submit 20 images from paying clients that represent my work and show my competency. They don’t have to be my best or most creative work. Here are a few images that I have in mind…

The convention was 4 action packed days of speakers, print competition and parties. All of these were a sight to behold. I am very interested in entering the PPA Print Competition next year, so I arrived on Thursday to watch the judging.  It was educational and amazing to see so many extremely creative and superior quality images. I’ll have to do a whole BLOG post about print competition all on its own, since there is so much to it. All I can say is that it was exciting watching images score a 100, which rarely happens. It was also interesting seeing some images turn toward the judges that obviously had no right to be up there. There is one image that comes to mind that I actually gagged when it turned around. The most interesting aspect of watching the judging was listening to them explain why this particular print did not show even average quality and did not belong along side the other images when being displayed (if the image scores a 70 or higher, then they are hung in a gallery during the convention). The explanation was that they are trying to uphold a standard and showcase the best possible work.

As for the speakers, my favorites were Micheal Barton, Tammy & Tamar from London/Wolfe Photography and Story Wilkins. All of these photographers have extraordinary passion for photography and their clients. Each of them taps into the energy of their clients story to capture award winning photography. I am so lucky to know them as people and peers. During the convention, I volunteered to be Tammy & Tamar’s ‘speaker buddy’, being sure they had everything they needed, knew where to go and were set up for their program. I also got to introduce them. That was fun. These two are a blast and I was the reason they were speaking that day. Last year, I was the Program Chair for the Greater Rochester Professional Photographers (GRPP) and I brought them in for a 2 day workshop. We totally hit it off and so did their program, so PPSNYS slated them for this convention. They arrived on Friday afternoon, and so I entertained them in the GRPP hospitality suite for the weekend, along with Michael Barton and Dana Nordlund. They all became adopted GRPPsters.

Speaking of the GRPP Hospitality Suite… it was THE place to be! Seriously, I got in trouble for having too many people in our room and not bringing them to the actual convention party. But we were having SO much fun! And the fact that we had some speakers in our room made it even better. We were stealing people from all over and from other sections in the state. What was I supposed to do? I mean, why fight it? The best part of all was hearing from members at the end of the weekend that they were now SO excited to go to our monthly GRPP meetings because they will be seeing their friends! We sure did bond this weekend, and we had a great turnout. We have around 65 active members in GRPP and at least 30 were in attendance at the convention! This was the best turnout in years for our section and I feel like we are only on the way up.

Well, I have a million images from the weekend, but those will get posted later. Unfortunately I am in Boston for the weekend and forgot to bring my little media card reader! Lame, I know. Trust me though, the pictures will be worth the wait!

The new Green trend makes me happy if only because there are more and more green options everywhere I look. From my super awesome brown canvas frame and album bags (Wegmans plastic bags in the winter were just tacky anyway)… to my new line of framing and albums, there have been a lot of changes in my studio this year. I am the first Photographer in Rochester to switch from DVDs to Jump Drives (USB drives) for the High Resolution image files! I’ve been scouring conference trade shows for these, and EVERYONE still promotes DVDs! It has been a frustrating journey, but I found some pretty brown ones to put my logo on!

Another awesome change was to Sustainable Framing! Not only is my framer less than 2 miles from my house, but I FTP the images to them and they print and frame whatever I need! I secretly call it the “stay in my jammies” special, because my buddy, Pat, does all the work! He found me a special line of frames that are reclaimed from: wood shavings, chips, sawdust, wasted trim, pallets, construction materials etc. The frames are a solid material with a smooth, fine texture! A bonus is that Pat is awesome at picking out mats and frames and I am terrible at it…. I just tell him to do whatever he wants and he always makes me happy that I delegated to the expert.

Next up is my GORGEOUS and BEAUTIFUL  and LUXURIOUS new eco-friendly album! Can you tell I’m a little excited about it????? I’ve been wanting to order a sample from this company since I first began looking into albums. I’ve been too cheap to do it and also too afraid to pick the images to go into it. I needed images worthy of the album, and realistically I knew that I didn’t have the clientele that spring for such an album. Worse still was that I knew that past clients would want it as much as I did! I was OK teasing me, but not them. Well, now is the time to offer this one of a kind, handmade, eco-friendly album with Japanese book cloth covers and a custom presentation box to store it in. All of my other albums are delivered in a cardboard box. OK, a fancy cardboard box, but still. So, I will also offer the handmade clam shell box as an upgrade to my regular albums as well.

Well, this post is way too long and I still have a LOT more to say, so I’m ending it here with a few images….

Our end of the year party was a huge success! So much so, that we had to upgrade to the Fire House at Artisan Works to hold all of the RSVPs. This alone shows how far we have come as a group since 2 years ago the holiday party was canceled because no one showed up!!! Artisan Works gave us a great deal on the space and everyone had an absolute blast! Thank you, Victoria! Here are just a few images from the night, as I didn’t take very many…