LOVEe

The [Film] Book!!

WOOOOO HOOOOOO!!!!

I am SUPER excited to share with you all the launch of my first book!!

It's been on my goal list for a while now to create a coffee table book and it really started out as a personal project for myself. I am a huge believer in creating something with your images. When we live in an age of computers and iphones, every image seems to stay on a machine. I love prints, canvas, albums and - alas - books!  As I started talking about this project, I started noticing an interesting response...people actually wanted to see it!

The [Film] Book
features images from my film cameras over the last year. You all know how passionate I am about film, so this is very special to me! I also wanted to share my thoughts in the book so I chose to do so through quotes. I'm a big quote-girl, if you couldn't tell, and I thought there was no better way to inspire than to use references that you can take with you on a daily basis!

So, without further adieu...

I present to you...

The [Film] Book

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If you are interested in purchasing a copy of The [Film] Book, click here to go to the Photogen Inc Store!

LOVEe

Cheers to 2010!

2009 has been an amazing year! Photogen Inc was busier than ever and I feel like I accomplished so much! We photographed some amazing weddings, knocked out some crazy cool editorial spreads and even got a new look! Brandon also spread his wings with Rivets and Roses and we added Melissa, Tom and Ryan to the Photogen Inc. family!

I feel like we have accomplished SO much, yet we are just beginning! There are SO many big things that I have in store and want to do that I also feel like I haven't even made a dent in my goal list! This year, I made my resolutions on my birthday instead of waiting until new years! I've already crossed some things off of that list and I am feeling better than ever about where this next year is going!

With that said, my ultimate goal for 2010 is to give back. I've discovered that I have developed a real desire and passion to reach out and help other photographers and business owners! I absolutely love meeting and inspiring artists who want to take their work to the next level, so they can truly live the lifestyle they always wanted. It's much more than being a good technical shooter, editing techniques and having a fancy blog. It's ultimately more about you. I am thrilled to be guest speaking at the first-ever JNP Workshop at the end of January and I can't wait to bring the ROCK! (There are only a few spots left!) I also launched LOVEe Consults a month ago and so far it has received QUITE a big response! I am super excited to make this official and begin spreading the love!

This post isn't meant to be like, "Hey! Sign up for my one-on-one consults", but rather to push the blog reader who has been waiting to take the plunge! I read a quote in a book I'm currently reading that hits home: True vision leads to commitment rather than compliance, confidence rather than caution. 

My challenge to all of you out there who have been making excuses, playing it safe and 'waiting for the right time' to make your dream come true is to STOP waiting. With this mentality, there is never going to be a perfect time. I challenge you to take the plunge - or even the little baby steps - to make your dreams come true. I GUARANTEE you that once you commit to those decisions, you will feel safe, determine and driven to make those visions a reality. Failure is not an option. You will succeed.

So, do it. Make yourself feel uncomfortable and you will accomplish more than you ever thought possible! It's not only the beginning of the new year, but also a new decade....there is no better time than NOW to live your dreams!

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If you are thinking about signing up for a LOVEe Consult, visit this page for more information!

If you are REALLY serious about living your dream, click here to download the FULL LOVEe CONSULTS PDF!

And if you are READY to take everything to the next level, e-mail me to sign up!

eliesa@photogen-inc.com

Please join me in a CHEERS to 2010!

Happy New Year!

LOVEe

Yearbook Photos!

I took a trip down memory lane today with my friend Andy! Over a couple beers, we came up with this lovely little post for you all! Andy and I, obviously, grew up together and have experienced every single awkward phase there ever was together! I thought we were great friends...until I saw our third grade yearbook...the year he apparently had it out for me!

Also...take note of the props my cat gave me for graduating high school....

Cheers!

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Happy Wednesday!

LOVEe

The Perfect Frame.

Oh. My. God.

I got a couple rolls of film back from my awesome lab and holy shit. Literally, holy shit. I know I say it again and again, but THE thing that fires me up the most about photography is film. It's raw, its real and many times it is the perfect little mistakes that make the most stunning images. It's also a process, which I love. There is no instant gratification, so it constantly teaches me to be patient with my art and passion. It reminds me to wait for the moment and think about what I am going to choose to use that valuable frame to capture.

Some people might argue, "Well Eliesa, you can be just as selective with digital photography." I argue no. It's a totally different medium of photography in my book. Is it better or worse than film? That is not the question. I don't think digital photography is better or worse than film photography, I simply think it is different.

I am obviously a big digital shooter and 90% of the work I do pump out is from my digital cameras, which argues another question, "If you love film so much, why don't you just shoot film?" The truth of the matter is, film is sacred to me. It holds a very special place in my heart and brings me back to my roots in photography and why I am a photographer. My film images are very personal to me, which is why I choose to save that for my personal projects/images and not for 'work'. Sometimes I bring my film cameras to weddings, because I feel inspired to, and I would love to shoot some film for an editorial spread sometime, because I think it is inspiring. However, for the most part, film is my escape in the busy world of photography that I LOVE to live in!

The image below is of Brandon and I am completely taken back by it! It speaks to me on so many different levels and it is absolutely perfect, in my opinion.

**AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION**

Does it speak to you? What are your thoughts?

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Enjoy!

LOVEe

Charming Chicago!

Chicago was bursting with merriment this past weekend! I was in town to photograph an engagement session and just love this city so much! My dream is to live in a charming little brownstone and as I walked the streets I was also reminded of how much I love the bustle, eclectic crowd and energy of this place. Here are some out-takes and street shots I took...the stellar holiday engagement session is coming soon!

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I hope everyone is having a very merry holiday season!

LOVEe

Catching Up!

About a week ago, I had just come from the gym and was walking into the grocery store and all of a sudden I had this person standing in front of me saying, "When are we going to get coffee?" I was so startled, because I totally recognized this person, but I hadn't really seen them in years! It took me a good couple seconds to remember where I was and I was so confused...The person in front of me was one of my best guy friends growing up! His name is Dan and we did end up getting a cup of joe (well, I stopped drinking coffee, so I had my new-found-love Chai Tea) on our first blustery day of the year and I realized that the following statement is very true:

Lifelong, true friends are those who you can pick up with right where you left off. No matter how long it has been, no matter what you have been through or where you are in life, they will always relate, support and love you. Great friends are home.

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Here's to snowy winter days and good friends!

LOVEe

LOVEE Consults!!!

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WOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

I am SO excited to officially launch LOVEe Consults!!

This is something that I have wanted to offer other photographers for a while now and I could not be more pumped about how this is coming together! 2010 is the year to give back! I have been truly blessed in this industry and I want to share the LOVE!

LOVEe Consults is an intensive, one-on-one day for photographers who want to learn how to take their business to the next level! Experience level does not matter one bit - whether you just picked up a camera or you've been doing this for a while and need a breath of fresh air, I am totally your girl!

In a LOVEe Consult, we cover the following topics:

The Artist
Intense Critique
Goal Setting
Marketing
Submissions
Equipment and Shooting Techniques
Inspiration
Open Q&A

My goal is to totally fire you up and challenge you to be the best photographer, business owner and person you can be! I'll also leave you with tools to continue your journey along the way!!

For more information, CLICK HERE to download a PDF of all of the lovey little details!

If you are READY for your LOVEe Consult, e-mail me at

eliesa@photogen-inc.com