Antonio, Jalen & Kelly - Just Because

A few weeks ago I got the opportunity to hang out with and photograph some friends of mine. Sometimes as a photographer you worry about quite a few things, but in Colorado during the late fall it's always the same thing. The Weather. As I write this it's probably about 20 degrees or so outside but on that day we we're blessed with perfect fall weather.

I'm always grateful when someone lets me photograph them. This time I'm especially thankful for their great attitudes and willingness just to have fun. Thanks guys.

TC

Finally, It has happened to me....

What seems like years ago, a supremely talented photog by the name of Jared Wilson contacted me through the b school to offer me a tag along assignment. As a professional in other areas I know what it's like to work with a relative newbie and how it's kind of like putting your reputation squarely on their shoulders and hoping for the best. I'm big on being grateful for opportunity and not taking it for granted. So thanks Jared for the shot. Maybe I'll be in the position someday to pay it back (or forward).

I'm not sure if all weddings are like this, but if they are then I'm hooked. The bride (Polly) was stunning and the groom (Jeremy) was enthusiastic and fun. Jeremy was genuinely consumed with his bride and couldn't take his eyes off her. Polly seemed to glow as he looked into her eyes. Storybook/romantic comedy type stuff. If you could put forever into a look I think they nailed it.

I wish them all the best.

TC.

Actual living breathing wedding pictures...well just 1 for now

During my ever increasing moments of self evaluation (and some much appreciated honesty from my loving wife) I have come to realize that I am a perfectionist. I make it sound like this realization was an easy one for me, but it wasn't. To think, me who loves randomness (not a real word) and spontanaeity may actually be borderline OC is kind of scary. Initially I felt like randomizing my vinyl from it's pristine order of lyrical emotional effect (depressing to hyper energetic) or rearranging my shoes so they were no longer from light to dark with athletic shoes arranged by alphabetical use. What snapped me out of it was rememberig that my wife once said that when I cook I dirty more dishes than I actually use and my favorite tee shirt has more than the 4 required holes. What she later pointed out to me was that I wanted something to be absolutely perfect before showing it. Hence me taking an inordinate time to post shoots that I have done.

So here's a little teaser for a wedding I 2nd shot with the amazing Jared Wilson. I will deny my semi-compulsive nature and post more this weekend.

Redemption Song...

(c) Teshon Christie Photography

I'm a music lover. I live by the lyric "One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain." penned by Robert Nesta Marley. Some songs are poetry and serve the same purpose that true poetry always has. To engage from within. One of my favorites songs of all time is Redemption Song also by Bob Marley. It's a song about the realization that power is found in overcoming the past. The second verse starts out with

"Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our mind..."

Sometimes it helps to be reminded of the fact that we all control what we think. It's empowering in a way. This is a hard concept until you understand the true definition of freedom. (I'll probably get into that another time.) Sometimes it's easier just to go along with the flow, but easy isn't always the path to right.

A lot of people today in this country made a decision that I'm sure wasn't easy for them. Whether or not it was right, time will tell. What I can say is that it's exciting to see history occur in my lifetime. My greatest hope is that everyone will at least try to emancipate themselves from doing the easy things and do what's right. Putting aside petty differences and make the most of every opportunity.

Congratulations to President-Elect Obama. I hope that you continue to show us that if we free our minds anything is possible.

I could shoot that with my eyes closed...

(C) 2007 Teshon Christie Photography

(This is kind of long, but worth it.)

I listen to a ton of podcasts. Considering my love for learning and the fact that podcasts make it easy to dip the proverbial toe into the waters of lifelong learning, I indulge. I also benefit from a 30-40 minute bus ride one way Monday through Friday. One of the podcasts I listen to fairly often is Shutterbug magazine Radio with Jack Warren. On the show was an interesting interview with a Photographer by the name of Douglas Kirkland. Douglas Kirkland is a prominent photographer who started in the 60's and has an impressive portfolio of candid celebrity shots taken from movie sets and private engagements. So Doug (I get familiar with my podcast presenters) said something that validated a conviction that I have had for some time.


Jack Warren asked the question "What other types of photography (other than celebrity) did you dabble in?"

Doug replied,

'Today young photographers are often told to specialize. In the 60's most of the large publications wanted you not to specialize. They wanted you to be challenged all the time. Which I think was very healthy for me because you had to keep landing on your feet.'

Doug finished with,

'If theres a picture that needs to be taken, I will take it whether or not it's a wedding, a baby or whatever it is...it's all photography. It's all for the love of what the camera can bring us.'

I know it's not the 60's but there is a very good point there that sticks with me. 'Landing on your feet'.

A lot of contributors to pro photography forums I participate in and a lot of the articles I read confirm the same thing Doug alluded to. An overwhelming drive to specialize. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of knowing your strengths and weaknesses and working around them. I'm a bigger fan of putting in time to strengthen your weaknesses. In my opinion specialization doesn't allow that. The funny thing is this applies to more disciplines than just photography. We've all heard the phrase ' A mile wide but an inch deep.' or my personal favorite 'Jack of all trades, master of none.'

I'm dedicated to becoming an excellent wedding photographer in every way that I can. That also applies to being an excellent portrait photographer, sports photographer, editorial photographer or whatever else I choose to photograph. Digital photography hasn't changed the fact that skills in one photographic discipline can and will translate to others.

Does that make me a bad person?

I'll tell you how it goes.

TC

A change is gonna come

I've been moving for the past two weeks and haven't had any time to update my little notes to self (aka blog) for a few weeks. The good thing about this is I have realized a few things about myself.

1. I need to give/throw away a bunch of stuff.
2. I need to keep track of where I pack things better for next time. The label "books" does absolutely nothing for me.
3. I like moving.

It seems strange to say but I like complete change sometimes. Looking outside the bedroom window and having a different view. Seeing how different the people at the local grocery store are than where you moved from. Realizing that your old place was just that. OLD.

I finally have my main working computer unpacked and have lots of plans for getting this thing going. Music reviews, pics, inspiration, a root beer section (I'm a sucker for a good root beer) and much, much more. I should have it all fleshed out soon. In the meantime I'm moving my commitment up to at least twice a week. That means I will have to actually pay close attention to my extended personal space. Oh the wonders we will see.

TC

I Can't Call it work

I love doing Toddler portraits for one simple reason. They are always themselves. Even when they're hamming it up they always seem to go back to just being a kid.

At first little Zoe wasn't too fired up that she couldn't keep coloring, but eventually she decided that she would play along. She's a natural. We had a great time and I got some memories for her folks.

Baby Steps

I'm pretty excited. Okay I'm not just excited, I'm having trouble containing myself. An excellent wedding photographer by the name of Jared Wilson is giving little ole me a chance to tag along on a wedding shoot this week. I'm hoping to learn a ton and run from there.

It should be fun.

Okay I did it..

So during David Jay's Free to Succeed tour (mentioned here) I was really inspired by becker. If you don't know who he is in one word he's energy. Not like 1.5 volt alkaline energy, more like the Hadron Collider.

To make a long story short he presented a pretty cool concept called the [b] school where an aspiring photographer (like yours truly) can meet seasoned pros and learn how to do the thing thing correctly. I waited patiently for the [b] school to open and finally I enrolled yesterday .

It's pretty cool. Still has that new site smell, but I've already learned some things that I'm going to apply to my business. I look forward to watching it grow and growing with it.

Finally Have time again..

It seems like the last couple of months have been stretched out and condensed at the same time. I've been busy on all fronts. Finally got the new website up www.teshonchristie.com. I have a couple of Senior sessions coming up that have a pretty quick turnaround so I'll be busy.

Looking forward to registering for the [b] school. Becker convinced me that I can do this photography thing despite whatever difficulties may come up. So I'm going for it.

The Free to Succeed Tour

Since I decided not too long ago that I wanted to give my photography more of my attention, I have been looking for every possible learning opportunity I can find. While looking through the Open Source Photography site for a little inspiration I came across an add for the Free to Succeed Tour. I had been seeing David Jays work for some time and thought that it would be worth the relatively cheap fee and if nothing else I could I could get some of that free(read cost of admission) hotel ballroom tea and soda. My only hesitation was being around a lot of other photographers. To be honest here, a lot of the photographers I've met in the last few years are not very nice people. As a matter of fact, arrogant is the word that I would use. Despite that, I paid my money and showed up on time not sure about what I was going to see.

It was worth every penny. (The show, not the "free" drinks.) Not only did I not hear the words "It's all about who you know" even though it still kind of is, I realized that some of the people at the top are ordinary people doing extraordinary things. DJ is a really good instructor and you can tell that he truly believes that what he's telling you will work for you as long as you take the time to do it. Becker , an incredible photographer and businessman from Orange County, really inspired me. I'm not a timid person, but I'm not a walk up to you and make myself a part of your life type of person either. Becker was energetic, funny and open and made me realize that a great personality that no one sees is the same as not having a personality . He and David stressed community between photographers as being the key to success. I also met a lot of really nice people like Travis, Lynsey, Denny and Steve. I'm going to mark August 14th, 2008 as the day that everything changed for me as a photographer.

Hello World....

I've avoided blogging for these past years because I didn't think anyone wanted to hear what I had to say. They probably still don't but selective apathy is a good thing in some cases, and this happens to be one of them. As I grow into my not so young, not so old self I will document the bits that I care (or feel the need) to share. Hopefully I'll make a friend or two that share my roundabout thinking. Hopefully I'll make some friends who think totally different than I do. If I don't life will go on.

So Hello World, Here I am.