Arriving just in time for spring is our Textured Florals Collection, a set of 5 gorgeous high res .jpg image files featuring carefully selected floral patterns and textures that can be used in various ways:

• Texture Overlays
• Template Design
• Website Ehnancements
• Digital Scrapbooking

DEGREES K
Artificial Light

Match Flame
1700

Candle Flame
1850

40-Watt Incandescent Tungsten Lamp
2650

75-Watt Incandescent Tungsten Lamp
2820

100-Watt Incandescent Tungsten Lamp
2865

500-Watt Incandescent Tungsten Lamp
2960

Professional Tungsten Photo Lamp
3200

Color Photography Studio Tungsten Lamp
3350

Photoflood or Reflector Flood Lamp
3400

Daylight Blue Photoflood Lamp
4800

Daylight (Sunlight is the light of the sun only. Daylight combines sunlight and skylight.)

Sunlight: Sunrise of Sunset
2000

Sunlight: One Hour After Sunrise
3500

Sunlight: Early Morning or Late Afternoon
4300

Average Summer Sunlight at Noon in the Mid-latitudes
5400

Direct Mid-Summer Sunlight
5800

Overcast Sky
6000

Daylight Fluorescent Lamp (see note below)
6300

Average Summer Sunlight (plus blue skylight)
6500

Light Summer Shade
7100

Average Summer Shade
8000

Summer Skylight (varies)
9500 – 30,000

Here’s our second Wear it to Work post!

As artists, we need to be comfortable for mobility, but we also want to look fashionable. An easy way to plan clothes for your work week is to take a few tops, two pants, and two pairs of shoes. Try to keep all of the colors to an earth tone, throw in a few fun accessories like belts and bracelets, and you’ll be able to mix and match for new outfits all week! This practical yet super cute combination of items will make a great starting point for inspiration!

Congratulations to our winner.. Christy Caustin! You will be contacted shortly with details on how to claim your prize :)

Stay tuned for another wonderful giveaway coming up very soon!

xoxo
Michelle

NICE SURPRISES

The goal was to find a space in Cambridge, Ohio by the time spring rolled around. It is amazing how things just happen when you least expect them to; a space in Zanesville presented itself and let’s just say I got an early Christmas gift by signing a new lease, after seeking a larger space for only (roughly) 40 days! I couldn’t be more pleased to be where I am, and have already been busy shooting there the past month! With an extremely fast move-in, complete with building an incredible pulley system (thanks Adam!), and being a part of an art walk the same day we finished moving into the space, we’re exhausted and elated, to say the least (both are understatements). Photo below does NOT do justice to the space. (And yes, that’s my little practice doll for light testing before shoots :p )

WORKING HARD

When the priority becomes “working hard” as opposed to “being successful”, things start to fall into place. Getting rid of any setbacks is the only way to reach this point. Use auto text responders, work where you feel most inspired, make your favorite hot Holiday beverage, close your browser, be in a healthy environment, get organized, and go for it! You can dooo eet. If you find yourself complaining about editing, it is time to make some adjustments. Evaluate how much time you actually spend editing versus how much time you spend shooting. Ask yourself:

• How much time CAN you spend working each day? Most work at least 8 – 10.
• Do you enjoy editing?
• How much time do you spend editing one session?
• Are there ways to speed up this process?
• What distracts you while you are working?
• Are you busy enough to consider hiring/training a part time editor or taking on an internship?

STEPPING IT UP (from my updated course material)

When you find yourself in a position to work outside of your home, be it in an actual studio or renting space for shooting periodically, there is a new level of respect that comes with the new territory. Sustaining a respectable reputation is the utmost importance, above your talents, above the money you make, and the space you work in should be consistent with the image you want to project for your business. Above ALL ELSE, you are developing a persona for yourself based on how much you value your clients, and how much you communicate that to them directly. Of course your creativity is important.. but it isn’t the most important thing. When you reach the point where you are thankful to create anything at all, you’re on the right track. This is a little different than the perspective I had a few years back, and I ha’ve since reprimanded my own thinking, haha.

passion.

“Passion” is a word that I favor greatly, and a feeling that I cling to. It is how I know whether or not something I do is right for me, or wrong for me.

“Abandon your freedom, give up the right to find your true self, forsake your own reasons” – Jonas Renkse

Realize how much you have to be thankful for, just to have the opportunities you have as an artist of any kind. You could be living in a warzone where the last thing you’d ever consider was what your next piece would be. You are lucky to be able to create. When you give up all of your superficial reasons for being an artist and look out beyond your own desires, you will find realistic goals laid out across the horizon. How many times have you said “photography is my passion.”  - I’ve probably said it as many as you, along with thousands of others. But I recently discovered that I need to rephrase that statement. Why? Because I don’t own photography. I can love it more than I love anything else but it isn’t MINE to keep forever. That mentality was closing me off. Holding me back. Making me do things like compare and/or mentally compete – and at one point I even resented that there is a constant stream of “new” photographers. However, photography is theirs, too. Cameras sell by the thousands and are used by the thousands daily. Don’t waste your time feeling like your own work is something to be desired. Don’t consider it YOUR passion, instead, be passionate.

“I am passionate about photography.”

And from here… you will blossom…..

“I am passionate.”

This is where you want to arrive. Passion is a nice ‘signal’, it can become that “something” you can rely on; if you aren’t exuding passion when you do something, your human pride has gotten in the way. Practice being passionate the next time you do laundry. Be passionate. Think about how warm you will feel and how clean you will smell when you put on your freshly laundered hoodie. When you’re folding or ironing, do it with love. When I iron for Kyler (my 9 year old), I think about the favor it is doing him. I think about how he will look back and remember that I cared enough to slave over the wrinkles in his jeans (okay maybe not SLAVE, but hopefully he remembers it that way, hehee).

DEFINITIONS

It is difficult not to let the things we love define us. But imagine yourself stripped down naked and living in the woods without food. What is important then is survival. The things we love aren’t necessarily the things we need. Admittedly, I would feel quite lost not being able to document things with my camera. I need to work on thinking photography is something that I need. It isn’t who I am. I don’t need it, but you bet your ass I’m thankful for every frame I shoot. I love it, and I’m grateful I have the means to do it. I will work hard to keep it. And if I was starving in the woods, to be able to photograph again might give me one more reason to survive (aside from the obvious reasons). As for everything you love, every band you obsess over, every television show or movie you can’t live without, every new pair of heels you get (*cough*) – remember…. these things don’t define you because you are surrounded by them, but they allow you to experience emotions that you might otherwise not feel. That’s why you love them and surround yourself with them.

2011 in the Studio

In closing, the new studio is going to serve as a place for me to fully exude passion and hopefully the results from that will carry on in some sort of domino effect. That is the goal. To work hard, to be passionate, and to do better than I’ve ever done before. Do I have new year’s resolutions? Not really. And that stupid saying “take baby steps” – its so misleading! No.. don’t take baby steps. Set goals. Determine how to achieve them. Then go for it. Be passionate. If you fail, try something else. The important thing is, you’re focused, you’re working hard, and you can clearly see there is always room for improvement.

Yay! Artsy Couture is giving away one of their gorgeous Gallery Blocks this week! GREAT Christmas gift opportunity, or something to use on display at your own home or studio! Product that is up for grabs is the “Floating Gallery Block” which has the following dimensions:

21×21 Backboard with (4) 9.5×7.5 Floating Gallery Blocks.
Retail value of $169.99!

Some information regarding the Gallery Blocks:

• -Printed on Kodak Endura Professional Paper
• -Completely customizable
• -Alternative to a canvas wrap!
• -No folded corners- each edge wraps your original print around the Gallery Block, leaving a clean and crisp 90 degree angle
• -Laminated surface allows each Gallery Block to be wiped clean with a damp cloth
• -Arrives ready to hang
• -Lifetime warranty

HOW TO ENTER:

1. Visit Artsy Couture on Facebook and The Photo Professional on Facebook, and post the following to each of our walls:
“This is my Giveaway Entry! Thank you for offering one of the gorgeous Floating Gallery Blocks by http://artsycouture.com FREE at thephotoprofessional.com!”

2. Then comment below saying “I posted to your walls on Facebook!” letting us know you have made your entry! ONE COMMENT PER ENTRANT ONLY UNLESS……..

3. GET EXTRA ENTRIES BY SUGGESTING US TO YOUR FRIENDS ON FACEBOOK! SUGGEST EITHER OR BOTH OF OUR PAGES AND we will accept ONE ADDITIONAL COMMENT LETTING US KNOW HOW MANY FRIENDS YOU SUGGESTED US TO (for a total of two entries)

Be sure to separate your comments. Thank you and good luck!

GIVEAWAY ENDS SATURDAY DECEMBER 11TH AT NOON EST!

Today’s a great day to pick up our actions, textures, business goodies.. whatever ya need, we’re giving you $25 towards your purchase of $50 or more – TODAY ONLY!

Our winner for the Maxeli Designs Giveaway is Christopher Paul Alderdice, whose work at Southern Focus Ltd in New Zealand is just GORGEOUS. Congratulations! You will be contacted shortly with details on how to claim your prize :)

xoxo
Michelle

This week one lucky winner will receive Maxeli Designs Holiday Cards set featuring 5 unique card designs ($30 retail) AND a Custom Gift Certificate design to specifically suit your business ($150 value) !

Samples from the Holiday Card set…

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To Enter the Giveaway… You MUST Comment Below and ‘Like’ this post… then copy/paste the following to Twitter or Facebook… yay for letting others know about this great opportunity!

“I just entered a Giveaway at The Photo Professional! Photographers, win $180 in products from Maxeli Designs here: http://thephotoprofessional.com“

GIVEAWAY ENDS FRIDAY NOVEMBER 19TH AT 3PM EST!

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BEST of Luck and thanks Sophia for offering your beautiful products! BE SURE TO JOIN MAXELI DESIGNS ON FACEBOOK HERE!