Photogen Inc Speaking at JNP WORKSHOP - SIGN UP NOW!!!

in ,

WOOOO HOOOOO!!!!!!

I AM SOOOOO FREAKING EXCITED!!!!!

I am honored to be guest-speaking at the first ever JNP WORKSHOP!!!

Here are the stats:

When: January 25th, 2010

Where: Santa Ana, CA at the amazing Jason's Downtown Restaurant

Who: YOU (you are really crazy not to sign up, this is going to ROCK!)

Why: The whole point of this workshop is to give back to the photography community be taking your work and business to the next level! We will also be having some fabulous giveaways by our amazing sponsors + live shooting + critique and MIND BLOWING conversations!

For more in-depth details + to SIGN UP, click here!!!!

We want to keep this experience very intimate and personal, so there are only 15 SEATS AVAILABLE!!!! SIGN UP BEFORE THEY ARE GONE!!!!!

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Did I mention I am EXCITED?!?!?!?!?!? This is going to be THE SHIT!

LOVEe

Live the Fancy Life Feature: Part II !!!

in ,
Part II of my oh-so-FABULOUS interview is up on Live the Fancy Life!

This blog is one of the hottest things to hit Minneapolis in a while and I am SO excited to be a part of it!

In case you missed Part I of the interview, you can check it out HERE!

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Happy Friday everyone! I hope you have a VERY FANCY weekend!

LOVEe

Thoughts on my AMAZING Team!

in ,
Our philosophy is to have as much fun as possible!

For the last few years, team Photogen Inc has been a core of Brandon, Cadence and myself! As the company grows, we have DOUBLED in size! (Crazy, I know!) I am super happy and excited about all of the fabulous new photographers we have joining the crew for the 2010 season and on!

Each wedding we photograph is a true collaboration between artists. Yes, I'm the boss lady, yes I am the leader, but SO many cool images come from my 2nd shooters. I am so proud of everything everyone has brought to the table and the elements they contribute to the team as a whole.

Many people ask me, " How do you find people to work for you? How do you handle people leaving and going off on their own?"

The answers are simple. Find people who you jive with. People who lift you up and inspire you and you see passion in. Personally, I choose to spend a lot of time and effort into training my team, critique, etc. so we are all on the same page when it comes to shooting. We hang out a lot outside of the studio and are truly great friends. These are also people who I can be brutally honest with. Sometimes being 'the boss' is very hard. Lines are crossed between business and friendships sometimes, but everyone has the understanding that the two are separate, which makes it a whole lot easier! 

I also think that it is a very natural progression for assistants to grow and go out on their own and that we should embrace these changes and not be scared of them. Every artist has come to the point in their career where they know they are ready for another step. I've been there and you have been there. In the last year, Brandon has launched his own company, Rivets and Roses and Cadence just launched her new website and blog today! As my assistants are moving on, I brought in the new kids, Melissa, Tom and Ryan to take their roll as assistants, so B and C can focus on being leaders.

At the end of this last wedding, Cadence said, " Awe, guys! This might be the LAST time we all ever shoot together! We are all going to be so busy next year!"  The statement is true in that we are all going to be very busy. However, we will most definitely shoot together and collaborate in the future! We are a team...the DREAM TEAM...and we are unstoppable!

I am truly very blessed to be surrounded by such awesome people! They are my best friends and we are truly a family. I mean, shit, I get to WORK with these people EVERY DAY!!! How lucky am I?!?!?!

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Special thanks to our friends at The Traveling Photo Booth for these photos!

Enjoy!

LOVEe

Capture Studios!

in ,
One of the BEST things about my job is raving about the people I love to work with! I think anyone who has come in contact with Matt from Capture Studios has nothing but amazing things to say, both about him as a person + an amazing artist!

Matt makes some A-Freaking-MAZING videos and I am very happy to have the opportunity to work with him often! Below is a video from the Faleel wedding a few weeks ago! It is so fun having a friend on set with you during a wedding, because there is a true artist collaboration going on! Be sure to check out to videos below + The Capture Blog!

JAMAL + JESSICA // Minneapolis, MN from capture studios on Vimeo.

Here is a video that Matt also did as a promo video for Joynoelle!

JOYNOELLE PROJECT from capture studios on Vimeo.

Enjoy!

LOVEe

Happy Birthday!!!

in ,
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Today is my birthday! Yeah for birthdays!!

For my birthday this year, I took 3 days off. 3 days for just myself to do whatever I want - and to celebrate of course!

Yesterday, I was having lunch at a small deli, and eating alone mind you, and one of the chef's came to my table and said, "I just wanted to say Thank You for sharing your photos with this city." I was obviously very flattered at such a random compliment, but I was also very humbled - and I continue to be humbled. As I thought about it some more, I began to realize how many people check back into this blog, log onto the facebook page and follow my nonsense on Twitter on a DAILY basis...and you keep coming back!!! My business is truly SO strong, partially because of the work I do, but even more from YOUR support!

Thank YOU! Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you ALL for continually supporting me and my team and our dreams!

I've also spent some time reflecting on the AMAZING last year that I have had! We've accomplished SO much  - our team is growing, we launched a new brand and expanded our dreams to support Brandon, photographed some amazing editorial features (and my DREAM fashion shoot, which will come out November 1st!!!), and I personally purchased my Frye Boots this year, which to me was the equivalent of a Rolex...Yes, if I put it in these terms, I have done A LOT this last year.....However......

The momentum is growing for something much bigger than I can possibly comprehend at the moment, and I am SO excited!

I thought I would share with you some of my personal + professional goals for this next year...

~Create more of a work / life balance: This really is happening and I am feeling much better about 'shutting off work' when I leave the studio for the day! For all of us who own our own businesses, it's not simply a job, but rather a lifestyle. However, sometimes I need to tell myself that it is OK to take breaks....hence my 3 days off this week :0)

~Visit my friends, Often: I have THE best friends all around the world really! I am one REALLY lucky girl! I would love to see many of you much, much more, and I intend to do so!

~Get In Shape: Seriously, it is time! And I have some goals, starting with an indoor triathlon this winter (indoors because it's usually -22 degrees here in the winter....)

~Travel: I want to take a 3-4 week trip sometime during this next year to somewhere very exotic with a lot of adventure!! YESSS!!!

~Continue to Inspire People: This is the BEST compliment I have ever received. It is humbling, yet invigorating at the same time - there are BIG plans / projects that I will be working on over this winter that will hopefully up the inspire-anti in the photography industry! I never dream small...

~Push the Limits: I intend to REALLY, REALLY push the limits this year. From my team's abilities and what we can do together to my wedding work, commercial work and editorial work - and REALLY pushing the boundaries of what I am capable of!

~Ray LaMontagne: I MUST GO TO A CONCERT!!!!

~Make a Book: I've wanted to do this for a while as a personal project and it is already in the works! It's going to be filled with only photos, very fine art based.

~Remember Myself: And be the BEST possible person I can be for both myself and everyone who surrounds me!

Now, everyone, please raise your glass with me...CHEERS!

LOVEe