Creole Wisdom

for the love of work

photo taken by a stylist at a shoot I did last week :) I always wear chucks on big shoot days.

I went through a phase this summer where I lacked passion. Basically I shot images well but wasn't truly feeling the often painstaking process. Something in the fall shifted and things got better. I thought I had plateaued for a bit: I would always love what I do, and still feel challenged by it. But today I find myself truly loving what I do in- a new way. I am newly challenged and newly pleased with my results as of late. The craft is always good. I think it's normal to go through periods lacking in inspiration. I'm glad I'm out of the desert now. All is well.

Where I am finding inspiration: industrial buildings of northeast and downtown

When is my favorite light: surprisingly, nighttime right after sunset

Dreaming about shooting with: a 5D Mark II

Preferring: a warmer black and white conversion. I hate stark shadows

I will probably always excel at: food photography with portraits being my most challenging area

I would love to: get into newborn photography and do some still-life inspired family portraits

my wednesday

My Wednesday was ideal. I cannot complain. Is anyone else messing up their days? I have had an issue with this all week; I thought yesterday was Thursday and that I had an extra week this month :/ Oh well. I am really excited about our next issue at The Magazine, I cannot wait to start my photo shoots.

This blown out, straight hair is crazy for me. I have zero idea how to style it, but I surprised myself and was able to do a very simple, messy crown french braid. I had no idea I could french brain my own hair! What I love about this hair is that I can probably go nearly a week without washing it!

Wednesday's photography challenge was blue. I knew exactly what I wanted to photograph. What is better than baby blue eyes? :) Baby C is such a doll. When I lean in to kiss his cheeks he smiles with his whole face and grabs my face with his little hands. This photo of him cracks me up!

I love soup, especially in winter. So I whipped this up and it turned out nicely. I was going to follow a specific recipe but ended up not buying/having half of what it needed so this is my own little creation, I loved it. I think you might like it, too :)

spinach curry soup (serves 4)

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil

3 cups fresh spinach

1/4 cup sliced shallots

1 teaspoon red curry paste

1 teaspoon curry powder

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 red onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 can light coconut milk

2 cups chicken broth

3 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon fish sauce

lime wedges and avocado slices to garnish

White or brown rice to serve over

method:

cook spinach for one minute in a pot of boiling water and remove and save

in a large skillet heat the oil and add the shallots

return skillet to medium-low heat and add curry paste, curry powder, cumin, cinnamon, red onion, garlic salt and pepper.

add coconut milk and broth, heat up to boiling and reduce to simmer

add sugar, fish sauce and add salt and pepper to taste if needed

remove from heat and add spinach

serve warm over rice

I am getting very, very excited to visit Texas! I have never been and cannot wait. I am especially looking forward to meeting up and eating lunch with a few blog buddies, it shall be great!

september favorites

So, some of these aren't really from September, they're from earlier but that's okay. I forget so much of what I shoot that I actually like going back into my file archives. Good times.

When I see eggs like that, and it's often (food trend) I just want to break into them and watch the yolk drip everywhere. Then I shoot it up.

Craw-daddies! Do you eat stuff like this? I wish I could, they give me exgema and look a little too alive if you know what I mean. I love the color, though.

I love the colors in this dish: pink, gold, white and green. I think colorful dishes are my favorite. If you're eating lots of color chances are you are eating healthy and no, I'm not talking about now and later candies.

Finally this darling drink on pink paper. I actually shot this for our Wedding issue, I love working on that one, it's all fun.

recent portraits

Well, I just realized I forgot to blog about some of the great portraits I've had the honor of photographing. I say "had the honor" because I am seriously so grateful that these people even ask me to do this and are happy with the results. Please don't read that last sentence and think I am fishing for complements, I not :) Here is a resource for those of you who also like photography.

Bailey is great. She's one of those people who has a laugh that you cannot get out of your head and a happy, sweet personality. I love her. I'll always remember her in the basement study room of AOPi cracking me up. Plus, we share a love for Mariah Carey!

Joe was a referral from one of my elementary school buddies, Nikki. I am so grateful to friends and family who refer me to great clients! Thank you much. He is the second senior portrait session I've done this fall and the second boy. Where are the seventeen year old girls? Truly, I was so impressed with his great, intelligent outlook and how can you not be kind of excited for someone who is right on the cusp of heading off to college? It's great to spend time with kids who were raised well.

Now that November is here I've kind of turned the tide from portraits to Christmas card photos. I've got three sessions already booked and I'm hoping a few more will get scheduled, too.

July-August Favorites

Can you guys believe that winter (the holiday season) is already here? It seems like we had one long Indian summer and I'm just adjusting to fall. Blame it on gorgeous weather (80s in October, yep) and yellow leaves still on the trees as of today! It's no wonder it seems like just yesterday that I was in the thick of a few food issues at work.

Here are some of my favorites. I had so much fun shooting all of these :) I feel so blessed to be able to do what I love. I now really wish I could have a bite of those ribs...

my process

There are moments when I'm with my camera that I literally think my talent will give way and disappear. I don't know where this stems from, but maybe other creative people can chime in when I say that when you're self taught and you believe your talents are God given it makes growing in your craft a good challenge.

Did that make any sense? I'm sorry if it didn't.

I am constantly wondering if I am getting better. I second guess my eyes to the point where I don't trust them when I'm frustrated. Sometimes my brain hurts because doing five shoots in a day is the equivalent of working a forty hour job (I know, I've been there.) I get frustrated about a few images but can't articulate what isn't working. I hold myself to the standard of someone who's been shooting as long as I've been alive.

Often people mistakenly romanticize creative careers. If you're doing it correctly (i.e. putting your heart into it) it shouldn't be a picnic everyday.

My job is about delivering beautiful, appropriate and spot-on images. I'm not the photographer who shoots dilapidated houses and lives off of powdered hot cider. I'm not weird, I don't really do skinny cords and to this day I still cannot believe I do this. I've (thank God) not been the premadonna. I was never entitled about the interest that turned to hobby that spread to craft that became my living.

They say you need to love what you do and live to work, and I agree.

I just never knew something so beautiful and desirable could also challenge and strech me in ways I never imagined.

Really good things take outrageous amounts of work and physical, spiritual and mental streaching to end up being meaningful. That is what is has and is becoming for me.

It's a process. I love what I do. I am lucky.

for now anyway

  So this blog has gotten a bit irregular and I'm sorry, but it's going to be that way for a little bit. I'm gearing up for a move, editing too many photos and squeezing several shoots into a few days. I can't wait to show you my new place, but this photo will have to do for today: I love fire king jadeite. This piece I won on ebay a few weeks back. It's too perfect.

It it just me or is August one of the most stressful, jam packed months of the year? I am so ready to turn the calander to September.

how I survived my very first business trip

Well, my friends, I survived my very first "business" trip. I put business in quotations because I don't wear a suit or carry a brief case and I certainly didn't stay at The Four Seasons, but it was work related and what else am I supposed to call it?

The Magazine sent me to the north shore to photograph some of the best that Minnesota's superior coast has to offer. I experienced it all: great food, pretty architecture and incredible nature. All by myself. I felt empowered and able. It boosted my self esteem :)

Here's how I survived and my advice for all the fellow young ladies out there, who like me are breaking out into their careers and doing some big things for the very first time:

•Plan ahead. This was sort of a requirement for me, but I knew where I'd be staying and how to get up there. Let's just say I am ever thankful for the iphone gps capabilities.

•Stay somewhere comfortable and generic. I love B&Bs for vacations but I craved safety, an all-night staff and some dependability. Enter the Holiday Inn & Suites. I was so impressed with how professional the front desk people were (hey, I've never checked into a hotel by myself!) and honestly how comfortable the beds were. I slept so well! I appreciated the connected parking ramp and the good breakfast.

•Eat well. A quick google search brought me to Hanabi in Duluth. I went early to take advantage of the happy hour dinner (hey, this ain't Mad Men, no liquid dinners!) menu and sat right at the sushi bar. It was delicious!

•Go above and beyond. I had a list of required items to shoot but you know this lady can't stop at the basics (ooh, type A alert!) I shot items I thought would add to the album and even stopped in at an Amish furniture gallery to check it out. I asked locals if they had any recommendations for me. People are just so friendly and helpful!

•Treat yourself. I don't really shoot at night, but there was no way I was going to sit around in a hotel for hours before bedtime. I took myself to a movie, The Help, and I loved my little slice of entertainment after a long day of work.

•Stay hydrated. This goes without saying really, but keep up the water. No one will be there when you pass out from thirst. I refill my water bottle constantly, it's actually kind of a joke, but I'm not about to get thirsty while driving three hours to and from home.

Well, that's the jist of it. I had a wonderful time. I took photos and have survived my very first buisness trip :) I kind can't wait to go on my next one!

10 Things I love about my “new” job:

 
shot while waiting for crab cakes to arrive

I put new in quotes because aside from a title and paycheck change I do pretty much the same thing: photography, but of course more of it. I am so grateful.

1-I use my creativity. I had hopes that this was possible, but being a realist I had let the dreams of a creative career go. I should have a separate post about how schools/society lies about how we're all going to be living in poverty if we don't choose math/science. It's so ridiculous (rant over.)

2-My home is also my office. Throwing in a load of laundry between making calls? Completely doable. I can also turn on Lifetime movie network while I'm editing photos, but usually I just listen to Pandora.

3-The flexibility. I have multiple deadlines to keep track of but that is it.  I schedule the shoots as close together or as far apart as I see fit. I have this down to a science now and place a lot of my bets on what the weather is like or the specifics of a story.

4-How fun it is! Photographing crab cakes and sprinkling old bay seasoning on top for visual appeal, snapping images of wedding cakes at the city’s top reception venues? Honestly it's so fun!

5-The goodies. There’s a box full of pretty cupcakes from a local bakery in my fridge. People are just so thoughtful. As you know I try not to indulge, but sometimes I can't say no :)

6-Talking with folks. I love to chat. I like talking to chefs especially because they have interesting life stories. I use my dusty interviewing skills and ask them about how they got to where they are. It’s always a good story.

7-The cover shoots. I don't shoot these, but assist. Last month I was in charge of taking care of snacks, it felt like throwing a party. I was there from about 4-10pm and it flew by.

8-The glamour of it all. Actually it doesn’t feel glamorous, but according to some people in my life it is glamorous so I’ll take their word for it.

9-How hard I had to work to get this. This position means the world to me because it took two years of hard work, dedication and honestly luck.

10-How truly nice people are. I mean over the top sometimes. I had a shop owner call me back after a shoot one day to tell me how much she enjoyed having me there. I was floored that she even kept my business card.

What do you love about your job?

please don't feed the photographer

It's a hard life.

Every time I shoot food the chefs wants me to eat.

I've tried many techniques: explaining that I'm not the writer or reviewer, saying I'm full, using my roommates and our fridge real estate as an excuse... basically nothing works and I end up eating restaurant food. Several times a week.

It's a hard job but someone has to do it I guess, and plates of gnocchi are really tempting. 

Thankfully my dear, dear friend Jillian Michaels is helping me counteract all the butter, salt and oil.