Recent Posts
August 2nd, 2009 in Uncategorized by Jessica Shepherd
So, I’ve decided to make this journal whenever i get on to post because I don’t get on the computer daily. That being said, I”m going into our lesson for the day. This is for both guys and girls, kinda goes into the relationships category. When you’ve dated someone for a long time, or if you are just pining over someone special for yourself, this might help. Have you ever heard the phrase, “it’s the thought that counts?” It really does, though most Americans are greedy bastards who think that everything is materialistic.
If you’re in a relationship, which a majority of the population is, you will hit a point where you take the other person for granted. I have a saying for my relationships personally, it’s “I’ll do extra things for you until you take me for granted, then I stop.” Remember to recognize all the little things your significant, or want to be significant other, does. They notice them, and if it’s being done for you, notice the little things, make it apparent that you recognize that they do them for you. When they pick up the trash after you, when they cancel an appointment to spend time with you instead, plan a special dinner, ask you to a movie, buy you a random gift. Remember these little things. They are extremely important.
A video I would suggest looking up on YouTube or some other free site would be “How does she know” from enchanted. This clip/song is extremely informative for both guys and girls from today’s lesson. Make sure you know when things are being done. This goes for friends too, remember the little things your friends do for you. They help you in more ways than a relationship will. If they pick up the tab, don’t fight them on it (and yes, I’m a fighter on chivalry at times). If it makes the other person feel good to help you, let them. When they offer to help you on your homework or something, take them up on it, you never know just how much they might be able to help your productivity. Remember in a past post that I mentioned what a best friend is? This is one of the ways you might be able to know. The love that crosses from significant other love to an unconditional friendship love. Also, don’t take your friends lightly, after a relationship, there will always be friends. They stick around quite a deal longer than relationships tend to, at least in my experience.
Another thing to keep in mind, don’t forget to do the little things. A simple, “you look pretty today” is sometimes all someone needs to perk up their day. Most things you do don’t have to cost money, complements, time spent with your significant other or friends just hanging out and talking, walking to school/work, homework, going to parties together. All these things, that are usually free, matter after a while. This builds your relationship and can make a great lifetime friend for it. Though, don’t expect them to mention that they notice the little things all the time, don’t do it for the recognition! You should be doing this because it makes you feel good to know you helped out a little bit, even though it might be a tiny bit. If they notice them, great, if not, just make sure you’re not being taken advantage of.
That’s all for today, until next time people.
~Jessie
chivalry, complement, friend, granted, relationship
July 31st, 2009 in Uncategorized by Jessica Shepherd
So, totally forgot to post yesterday, but here’s one today for you guys. I was sitting in my advanced communications class today and came up with this lesson for the day, well, at least something I picked up. During our weekly sharing of current events, one of my fellow classmates brought up that the literary rates are taking quite a turn. She meantioned that the current young generation does not read books as much as in previous generations. She also brought up that the current generation is actually reading more, but it’s in the form of personal thoughts that others have placed out there (like this blog for example).
This brought up a good point. People are reading more but it is in the form of blogs, texts, etc. They use shorthand more currently because it is more practical for their upbringing. Though another point that was brought up during this discussion was the fact that over 25% of students in 9-12 grades in high school do not know how to write or read. Though they are being pushed through to the end.
I believe this is very true, another story that relates to this I will share with you. A friend of mine is a very adament talker. He can place almost anything you want to say into a sentance or paragraph that extends from now until the dawn of a new age (or so it feels at times). He is an extremely intellegent person and knows his field very well. He retains information just as well, though his problem, as was recently brought to my attention, is that he can’t put those words into writing. He had a problem with writing about a certain topic. Now this guy is almost always saying something the can be summed up in a few words in a few pages worth of talking. Though when it comes to transcribing this information, he hit’s a strong roadblock. I told him that a good way to deal with this in his particular case would be to read the questions he was trying to answer and then answer them to a friend as he were just holding a conversation with them. This would then be recorded on a voice recorder of some type, I mean, go back to the old school way of casette tapes, they still exist and are dirt cheap. Then, after he finishes, not thinking about writing, takes that tape and plays it back. After playing it back and listening to it a few times, transcribe what he said exactly on the paper, or into typing if he’s a good touch typer or transcriber. This would be beneficial to him, and probably a bunch of you, my readers.
Also, if you are stuck on a certain topic but you are lacking another page or half a page worth of writing, make sure you are elaborating. Make the paper so bluntly obvious that any nitwit who picks it up can read it without asking any questions. Write out acronyms every time (maybe put the acronym in paranthacies next to the written out version). Answer the Who, what, when, why, how. Then answer it again, imagine that you are explaining this topic, whatever it may be, to a 3 year old.. remember the common question of this type of person is WHY? I enjoy photography, why? I enjoy painting with light, what is that? Elaborate, what is it, why is it, how does it work, explain until you can’t explain anymore. It’s not as hard as people make it out to be, I mean, I’m writing for fun here..
Another tip I’m going to throw out there is to use spell checker on whatever platform you happen to be on. This is extremely important. I write daily in this blog and almost monthly for my other blog. I’m a photographer, I, in no way, credit myself to be a great writer, but if you’re reading this, then I must be doing something (however minute) right. But these tips have helped me on writing and after suggesting these to him, might help him.
Hope this helped, Until tomorrow,
~Jessie
July 30th, 2009 in Uncategorized by Jessica Shepherd
So, I’m sure you have heard the saying, “if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself?” Well, this lesson plays off that, but I am going to throw a twist at you. I am a very active person with a very busy social life. I am vice president (hopefully soon to be pres.) of the local Chapter of the Student Photographic Society and Lead Tech at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh Cage/Cave. I have lots of friends, a steady relationship with my boyfriend, and still try to find time for homework. This is an average week, on top of running my online book selling business, managing freelance jobs for my photography and keeping the house clean. Life can, as you might imagine, get a little hectic at times. Here is where my leadership weakness kicks in, I want to do everything myself. I write the agenda’s, minutes, and organize speakers and fundraisers for SPS. I realize, after finishing my minutes before moving to my zone system photography, that I might have put a bit too much responsibility on myself.
I want to make sure things go well, so I’m always doing things myself, the old saying, right? I, in a sense, proved that theory right when we had the club fair today and for the first time in 3 quarters, I didn’t run it. I decided to place the responsibility on the president (who hasn’t done much more than show up for the meetings lately, I have to say), who decided to sleep in, and when she showed up, only had the theme items (3) and lacked the presentation items. The past 3 quarters we won best table and got the club some starting funds. This quarter, I know we didn’t for a fact. But it’s a loss I had to swallow.
This brought up a valid point to me, that even though the person didn’t pull through as much as I wished she did, I was less stressed. I didn’t have to bring in the large presentation board through the terrential downpour and lug 2 cameras, magazines, and articles of clothing to the school. Sure, we lost the contest I’m so adament about, but I didn’t loose my mind (or rip out my hair). This kind of puts forth this type of lesson, that you may not get something done completely right, but if you do everything yourself, you’re going to regret it later. Another thing to think about in this lesson, is that other people need to learn how to do things also. If you are always doing things for them because you want them done right, they will never learn and thus never grow. Sure there will be mistakes, but swallow the mistakes, take a breath, and think about how you didn’t have to stress about it as much. Also think about how soon, you wont have to do that task as much, or at all if someone’s a great learner, since you taught them. A short term sacrifice for a long term reward. Until tomorrow’s lesson.
club, friend, leadership, Photo, school, training
July 29th, 2009 in Uncategorized by Jessica Shepherd
I shot an engagement shoot yesterday for a couple who signed me on for their wedding in 8 weeks. The entire time before the shooting occured, I was nervous. I was afraid that I wouldn’t appear professional enough, that I wouldn’t be able to pose the couple in romantic ways. When they came in, I introduced myself to the guy (I already knew the girl). He seemed nice enough, made some small talk while I was getting ready to shoot (setting up lights, etc). He had nothing but good things to say about his bride to be. They got together in front of the background. Without instruction, began joking, playing, and smiling accompanied with laughing. I got so many good kissing pictures, and once in a while I put them in a pose I thought up. They were genuinely happy, and they were best friends with one another. This brought up a sense of joy in me (thus is why I’m a wedding photographer when I can be). I realized that, after writing in another blog I have about what is a best friend, when you find yourself in love, it’s usually with your best friend. Your absolute closest friend. I mean, look at what made you best friends, look at why you are so close, look at your trust, look at all the sucessful and happy marriages. They are friends first, lovers second. I just realized that this is a very important lesson I wanted to share with my readers.
Family, friend, Relationships
July 28th, 2009 in Uncategorized by Jessica Shepherd
I have a friend who just got a sum of money from his grandmother for no reason. He suddenly got very sad, wishing she hadn’t. He said he feels like he can’t help back anymore. Of course this struck a nerve with me, as I’m sure it does with a number of you out there as well. When in times of hardship, some of our families keep asking and asking, never giving back. I told him later, after thinking on it for about 20 mins, that it hit a nerve with me, and that I “hate people like you”. I told him he needs to be grateful for it and stop questioning it. Not the fact that it’s money, just the thought and the fact of the matter that without asking, his grandmother, who he hasn’t seen in over a month, just randomly gives him an act of pure kindness. I told him that I would kill for that, and to stop wanting what he doesn’t have and start appreciating what he does have. So, through this story, the lesson is to appreciate what you have and be grateful, stop being selfish. You’ll be happier for it.
~Jessie
Family, friend, hardship
July 28th, 2009 in Uncategorized by Jessica Shepherd
I haven’t been writing a whole lot lately, but started a new blog where I am going to force myself to post almost daily what you learn everyday. It goes off of a saying I have, “learn something new every day and you’re doing great”.
http://onethingaday.journalspace.com/
Check it out, become a reader.
~Jessie
July 25th, 2009 in Uncategorized by Jessica Shepherd
So I decided to take a different approach at my blog writing and use quotes. This blog is about ‘best friends’ I will be addressing the questions: What is a best friend? What makes them your ‘best’ friend? How do you know if you’re a bestie?
Well, to kick this off, I wanted to use a dictionary definition of what a best friend is, thanks to Dictionary.com.. Best Friend: an intimate or close friend; see also Boon Companion.
So I’m sticking with this thought while we explore what other people consider a best friend. I asked a few different forum’s I frequent what they think a best friend is.
Ben C:
May 29th, 2009 in Uncategorized by Jessica Shepherd
There are many ways to best a critique, while either giving or receiving one. This article will help you know what to look for, how to define it, and how to appropriately take a full-on constructive critique and make it work for you.
What to Look For:
In giving a good, fair critique, one must be able to know what makes a photograph good. Most appropriate areas are to comment on lighting as well as composition. This later leads to aesthetic feel and timing, among other fields of skill that go into a photograph.
How to define it:
There is a certain lingo and tone your photography critique should take on. You should be using terms such as; depth of field, highlight, shadow, and composition. Also, do not argue in a critique that “this sucks” or “this is good” without actually defining why you took that particular stance. An appropriate argument would be “your highlight on the face are a little hot.” This is more than acceptable with most photographers. Do not be afraid to be harsh once in a while, as long as you can back up your claim you should be fine.
How to take a critique:
When receiving a critique, however, you should hake it how it is. Do not defend your work unless it is asked of you. If you are worried that your message is not going to get across, then say a few words in the captions or comment to the critique(er) before they begin. Remember, you are getting their opinion and any advice you get can always help you. Do no disregard anyone’s critique solely because of a bias (they’re younger, different type of photographer, graphic designer, they smell, their photos aren’t good). Everyone’s opinion matters when it comes to critiques. Even snapshot photographers, at some point in their lives, crave critique, even if not by the some established photographer. Also, do not expect more out of a photographer than their skills show. This makes for a very poor criqitue.
I hope this helps and don’t forget to keep shooting my little shutterbugs.
~Ember
linkedin
May 13th, 2009 in Uncategorized by Jessica Shepherd
This is just a post for myself, mostly because it’s been a while since I posted anything. I figured I”d go away from the photography for a moment. This is a bit more personal of a post, an update of me, if you will.
Love
Duncan and I are doing great together. We’ve been living together for easily over a year, and we’ve got a few months before it’s 2 years of dating. We’re both planning on moving to NJ, NY, Connecticut, area when I graduate. Closer to the bigger cities and closer to his family, who can help us if we get in a jam. Plus it’s fairly close to a beach that I can go diving at. Granted it’ll be colder, but it’s a compromise I am willing to make. I would love to move to CA and be warm all the time, but that probably wont happen.
School
School is going well. I”m in my 11th quarter, which easily makes me a senior at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. I just got past midterms and am working on final projects, which is taking a bit of a toll on me. Especially since I’m a fairly social person, not as much often as before, but still social. This is eating into my sleep time, which is fine, just the more challanging classes are pushing me to succeed and try even harder plus putting much more time into homework. I’m struggling this quarter to get my grades up and keep them up, but at this point, passing is all that matters to me.
Work
As many of you know, I’m working at the cage/Cave in the basement of AiP. I’m the Media Center Lead Tech soon to be senior lead tech once Erika graduates. Luke is going to be the new junior lead tech, which I think is an amazing fit. I’m working on helping all the new hires get settled into the cage and learn what they need to learn to succeed in this job. All the time trying to make new friends with the ones there already outside of the cage. I really have a lot in common with a lot of them that they don’t realize it sometimes. It seems like I’m always working, even when I’m not on the clock, I’m going in off the clock to finish something I want to finish or going to just hang out at the cage because I’m bored.
Life
Life has been good. I’ve been working out connsecutively with Ben from work. I’m finally starting to see results, 5 weeks in. The working out and walking up the mountain with Luke on an almost daily basis has improved my cardio impecably. My muscles are becoming toned which is amazing. Especially since summer is right around the corner. I’m planning on taking my sister to NYC this summer, working around her band schedule, when dad’s goign to see her, and my volunteer schedule for the Three Rivers Arts Festival. I’m planning my trip to Imaging USA this next year in Nashville, TN. I’m very excited about this.
That’s all I have for right now,
Thanks for reading.
~Emberdragon
March 26th, 2009 in Uncategorized by Jessica Shepherd
<!– @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } A:link { so-language: zxx } –>
Hello fellow artists and photographers, both professional and amateur,
I must first apologize for not posting in a while, finals and all that jazz. Here’s my new post:
Albums That Wow, notes from a session by Julie Cialone.
As most of you already know, I went to Imaging USA 2009 in Phoenix, AZ. While I was there I went to a bunch of classes and sessions. I honestly think that I learn more from the sessions I go to than I do when I go to my classes I’m paying for anymore. I suggest anyone serious about their art go to a session or class offered by a respected professional in the field at least once, you’ll fall in love with it just as much as I have.
In this session, Julie Cialone and her partner were teaching how to make your albums wow for your clients. If you don’t know who she is visit her site http://www.imagestoinspire.org/ .
Now that you are familiar with her, let’s get started on my notes from the session.
Portrait Albums (things we’ll cover in today’s article)
-
Factors to consider before offering a portrait album to a client
-
Get your clients keen before shooting
-
How to shoot sessions and how to talk to clients while shooting
-
All of their sessions and how they run each session
-
Pricing
*One of the most important things to consider is, Make it difficult to say “No.”
Factors to consider while doing a session
~Do you think traditionally?
~What are your competitors offering?
~What Albums are out there in the market now?
~Are you thinking as a storyteller at every session?
~Importance in Details
~Are you prepared to change the mindset of your clients?
How to Influence your Clients
~Educate Them
~Show a variety of Albums
~Budget (trifold, acordion)
~High End
~High End Proof Albums
TALK, TALK, TALK!!
~Make your logo show up all over the album.
Remember: The more excited you are about a product, the more excited your client gets. It’s human nature.
Things to find out at a consultation:
~Ages of Kids
~Interest of Kids
~Family Interests
~Vacation home or vacation Plans
~Favorite Songs
Write this stuff down after they leave, remember as much information about the client as you can, this will help with your branding later!
Show your new clients a full session similar to that of one that they might want to have. (Also show the album that was produced by the session).
Order
Base, Interaction
*Always put the shy child in the middle, ring around the rosie is a great game to get a photograph of children who are shy, you get a shot of one child at a time as well as the rest playing with them, they are usually the happiest then because they think the game is silly to play in front of a photographer. Great opportunity to get true smilies.
~Place in your head, If you were a parent, which image would you erase?
Now it’s time to think about how you are shooting your sessions.
Shoot Diversity-different angles of the same scene
Shoot Groups- Break down the group photo with them still posed. Shoot each person seaperately in the position. (Head shots)
(Families are silly, catch that on your camera).
~Break down groups into lots of subgroupings (don’t forget the grandparents).
Shoot Action- Shoot series of actions
-Encourage interaction (Fact: Interaction shots are just more interesting then a single person standing alone)
Shoot Multiple Locations- Move your clients around, shoot them, then move them again.
Shoot details-like a wedding
Storytell-If you can
Session Options
Basic Portrait session
Is this going to be Studio or Loaction? (Always encourage Location)
-No deals or discounts for albums from these sessions
-Albums are always encouraged as gifts especially the smaller ones
-Family session=Bigger Album sales
-Bound Proof Albums
Engagement Sessions
-Given to all wedding clients at no extra charge.
-Album is designed immediately after session and they go on location for 85% of these sessions.
-Session is encouraged as a non pressure portrait day
-They design a portrait album and engagement singing album
A year in their life:
-Market to pregnant women
-Client gets 4 sessions and album priced as a package
-Client is the main image
-Pediatricians office is a great place to display these.
Life Volumes (A day in the life)
-Market aggressively to high end clients
-documentary heirloom
-followed by future volumes (Life Volumes)
-focus on each child in a family so you can do albums for each
-Special day or average day (Wedding)
-Include pets when possible
-Design control (client make ONLY subtle changes)
-Document a charity for a fundraiser
Senior Portrait Albums
-Marketed to all seniors
-Extensive sessions with personality and hobbies
-Produce a more glamorous album
Speciality Albums
-1 year old birthday party session
-children book sessions
Pricing and design
-3 factors in how this works out
-
How many images are going into it?
-
What external size is it? (3×3, 13×13)
-
Is it Imount or bound album (Life volumes are the exception)
Album Designing
-
Traditional 1 image per page (Imounts only)
-
Artistic-multiple images per page
Offer Online Album Presentation, this creates great client interaction.
linkedin
