FREE Children's Photography Class

Learn to take better pictures of children during this 2 hour FREE class. We will cover many lighting and posing techniques while photographing a child. You will learn simple ideas that make a big difference. We will use natural light with very little other equipment to create beautiful and fun portraits.

This class is suitable for novices to advanced amateurs.

This class will be held at Washington Park in Macon on Thursday, May 21 from 6-8pm. Please email me to register for the class. It is limited to 20 students. neal@inwardstudio.com

It will be rescheduled due to rain.

Success

What is success without friends to share?

I believe someone much wiser originally penned this sentiment, but I believe it to be true. The last few weeks have proven it. On several occasions, I have spent the day with great friends who happen to be full-time photographers. I remember years ago when I would drive to Atlanta by myself for a photography or Photoshop class. Those days are no more. Now I have a group of fellow photographers who are happy to join me. The drive can be as educational as the class. The drive is always more fun...and more inspirational.

I wonder where I would be if I had these friends years ago. I know I am better for their companionship, knowledge, and encouragement. How much better could I have been if I found them sooner? You are so much a part of what I have. Thank you.

Vote for Your Favorites

The Macon Telegraph has opened voting for the annual Best of the Best. Take time to vote for your favorite restaurant, store, health club, or... PHOTOGRAPHER! (Favorite Photographer is listed under services.) Click the title of this post for the link.

Nectar's New Website

Congrats to Carmen, owner of Nectar and Company, on her great new website. I love the clean, verdant design. It even includes a digital version of the book I created for her to promote her Garden Parties. You can flip through the pages of the book to get a better understanding of the concept of the Nectar Garden Party. They are perfect for everything from an evening out for ladies to a birthday party for a child.

Also, keep your eyes peeled for Carmen in an upcoming national magazine.

Quote of the Day

You cannot catch a child's spirit by running after it.

You must stand still and for love it will soon itself return.

―Arthur Miller

Amazing how much this applies to photography...even with adults.

A Little Bragging

My image from Cristin's bridal session in Fort Valley was chosen for the cover of the Wedding Guide section of M Food & Culture magazine. Thank you to Cristin for being brave enough to sit in a field in her dress BEFORE her wedding. If you haven't seen M Food & Culture, check it out. It is filled with amazing local businesses and restaurants.

USA Does it Again!

I mentioned once before on my blog about the USA network's Character Approved promotion. Now they have unveiled their Character Project. Eleven photographers were asked to travel to different regions of the country to capture slices of life. They have created images that elevate the everyday to the extraordinary. Some of the images remind me of Avedon, while others look more like the cover of Rolling Stone. Oddly, it appears many of them are shooting FILM! I know some of you don't know what that is, so here is a link to wikipedia.

A Gift for Mom, Part Deux

I had the pleasure of being a part of the taping for a TV commercial for the Telegraph's A Gift for Mom promotion. It involved a half dozen or so photographers acting very silly. I can't wait to see the finished product. It should start airing on WPGA in the next few days.

Of course, being a photographer, I was very interested in the lighting. They do amazing things with very little. It inspired me to try some new lighting ideas myself. Stay tuned.

A Gift for Mom is a special section being published in the Mother's Day edition of the Telegraph. It will include images of mom's with their children. Best of all it is only $25 (with a minimal purchase). Additionally, I'll be offering a 20% discount on all regular prints ordered from these sessions. Take a moment to capture a sweet moment between you and your children. I look forward to seeing you all soon.

One Week Sale!

For this week only, we'll be offering 25% off toile. Toile are modern interpretations of a classic idea. They are canvas prints stretched on a frame. The image frames itself so there is no need to add a frame. Drop by the studio or Macon Monogramming to see examples of toile. Toile are available from 5x5 to 40x60 inches. This sale ends midnight Saturday, March 14th.

Classics in Lego

Finding the right model can be difficult. The right location takes time to find. Then you have to arrange hair, makeup, and wardrobe. Mike Simpson has solved these problems. He uses Legos. Best of all, he uses Legos to recreate iconic images. "Behind the Gare Saint Lazare" by Bresson and "VJ Day Times Square" by Alfred Eisenstaedt or two of my favorites (click the title of this post to see the images). Having to create a renowned image with very simple "models" and "locations" requires you to distill the idea to a few key components. It allows for the beauty and simplicity to come through without unneeded detail. These images are simply amazing!

Ellen and Anthony are Engaged!

This is why I love my job. My day started normally enough. By lunch, I had found my way into shooting an engagement...not and engagement session, but an actual engagement at the Blacksmith Shop. Ellen loves the Blacksmith Shop and Anthony was smart enough to ask for her hand in marriage there. It was a true honor. Congrats and good luck!

Bubba, the Vietnamese Southern cook from Houston

According to John T. Edge, local boy made good, Bubba is evidence of what makes the South great. French restaurants in New York are manned by extremely talented Mexican cooks, so why can't a Cajun restaurant in Houston have an experimental Vietnamese cook at the helm...named Bubba?

John spoke last night at Mercer as part of a visit to the Southern Foodways class at Mercer. He decided to speak about a 20 some-year-old cook book called White Trash Cooking. Many received a copy of this book as a joke, but John used it as a scholarly work documenting a period of time for a group of people. He explored White Trash Cooking like your English professor would discuss Hamlet. It was an unexpected point-of-view on a book that was rejected by publishers repeatedly. Once it was printed, it became highly reguarded. Some worried the title was offensive. Others realized its power to shock and affect change. John even spoke at length about the shocking, honest nature of the photography in the book and how it might have referenced the work of James Agee and Walker Evans, Let Us Now Praise Famous Men: Three Tenant Families. The book is filled with traditional, Southern recipes. The kind of recipes you'd expect in the local Baptist church cookbook. The kind of recipes that worry not about calories or cholesterol, but instead concentrate on creating maximum flavor from things discarded by people of greater means. My favorite part of the story was the lawsuit threatened by the Junior League of Charleston because they felt the Opossum recipe was stolen from their cookbook.

I have been a fan of John's writings for some time. He has written for numerous magazines, written a few books, and even appeared as a guest judge on Iron Chef. He is also the director of the Southern Foodways Alliance at the University of Mississippi. Check out the links to see all John is doing. Last night was a great opportunity to merge my love of food and photography.

Networking?

This video was quite interesting to me when I watched it on another photographer's blog. It makes me realize where I should be spending my time. We all try different ideas to see what works. I know what works, but still I try new things. Maybe I should stick to what I know works?

A Gift for Mom

I'm very excited to announce a very special Mother's Day promotion for the Macon Telegraph--A Gift for Mom. The Telegraph is creating a special section which will be published on Mother's Day. The section will be filled with images of Middle Georgia mothers and their children and will make for a great keepsake. Each image must be created by one of a small group of professional photographers...including me. Best of all, the session is complementary. You only have to pay a $25 fee for the listing in the Telegraph and make a minimal purchase. For me, the minimal purchase is simply a single print of the image you want submitted. I will also be offering a 20% discount on all regular prints (tirage) for orders from these sessions. The deadline is April 17th, so don't delay scheduling your session.

Studio Remodel...Partial

Here is a shot of my studio part way through the remodel.  I've been planning for more than 6 months, so it is amazing to see it approaching completion.  I want the images I hang on the walls to be the focus, so everything (as much as possible) is white.  There is a splash of orange to maintain the look of the logo.  I'm still waiting on some very cool new frames and prints to complete the look.  I'm really pleased with progress.  Please come by soon and take a look in person.

Character Approved

USA Network is running a series of ads about people notable in their fields for bucking trends called Character Approved.  

One of particular interest to me was David Chang.  He is the chef/owner of an Asian fusion restaurant in New York called Momofuku Ko.  He has won notoriety by creating food he likes.  He is less concerned about pleasing the customers than pleasing himself.  A refined, specific approach to his food has allowed him to excel in a crowded marketplace.  Momofuku Ko does not try to be all things to all people.  "We don't do vegetarian."  

He has several other restaurants including a bakery and milk bar called bakery and milk bar.  Classic baked items such as Key Lime Pie share space next to unexpected twists such as Banana Green Curry Bread.   They even have 4 different kinds of milk!   

Being yourself is the only way to survive.  It is a valuable lesson to any business owner...or person.

FREE Budget/Location Lighting Class

The next in the series of FREE Digital Photography Classes is a Budget/Location Lighting Class on February 19th from 6-8pm. We'll be covering how to create beautiful portrait lighting with very little money. The rig we will build (less than $250 with flash) will also be great for lighting on location. We'll discuss balancing fill and ambient light as well as overpowering ambient light. It will be 2 packed hours. The class is limited to 20 students, so email me to register.

neal@inwardstudio.com

No Matter How High You Climb...

As I have mentioned before, I love CBS Sunday Morning. This Sunday included a story on Walter Iooss (pronounced y-long o-s). He is a renowned sport and portrait photographer. He is best known for his work on the iconic Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, but that is not what I found interesting.

Iooss has spent decades photographing athletes and models to great acclaim. He has photographed some of the greatest athletes we have ever known. He even got to photograph Yogi Berra and Whitey Ford. It is a very cool image. It shows two greats many years in age in uniforms similar to those worn during their time with the Yankees. Why do I love it? They hate it. Yogi and Whitey hate the image. They think it is very unflattering.

No matter how great you are...someone is there to tear you down. You have to have a very thick skin.

A Weekend of Wishes

Joy, wedding assistant extraordinaire, is expecting her second child in a few weeks. She is ready to meet her child face-to-face. So, Saturday night, we ( Joy, her husband, my wife, and myself) made the journey to Scalini's in Smyrna. As many of you know, I worked there in college. Many of you might also know of its special claim to fame. The eggplant parmigiana has magical powers. It causes women to give birth within 48 hours of eating the massive plate of breaded eggplant covered in marinara and cheese. The myth has been featured in Southern Living, the New York Times, and on Good Morning America but to name a few.

We are only 24 hours in, and I can't wait to see what the next 24 hold. If my time at Scalini's is any indication, we will have a new addition very soon.

Krystal Lovers!

I found out today that a couple, whose wedding I photographed, was one of the five winners of the Krystal Lovers Love Story contest. I thought having your Krystal story on the side of Krystal box would be cool, but to be one of this five would be every better. Best of all, they will receive a $100 gift card and "romantic" dinner complete with white tablecloth and candles at Krystal. Congrats guys...and I agree whole-heartedly with Paul.