Dog Breath. Starring Casey.

What a day!

Eight dogs and umpteen stories to tell. But I'll keep it short and to topic: the nuances of being a dog photographer.

The day began with three crazy adult pups. And I loved working with them. It was exhausting and cold - as you can tell by Jack's breath in the photo shown here. Even Kelsey commented 'I don't know how you do it day after day!' But the humans who are owned by those dogs - they are going to adore their portraits. So worth the effort.

Next up ... three Pet Patrol dogs for Friends of Pets (shown to the right). The gray dog shown in the 1-2-3 sequence was renamed (at least during the session) 'Humpy." Prior to snapping the photograph I had removed his E-Collar as he had just been spayed two days ago.) Problem is, anything that moved or didn't moved was a target of his, ummmmm... amoristic attachment. So, we moved right along with 'Humpy' hoping that the "fix" job may curb his enthusiasm sometime soon.

Finally, two Doberman Pinschers strolled through the studio. They were magnificent. Both are rescues - one (Casey) with a tragic beginning in life where she endured severe treatment. But she's in good, forever hands now. The other Dobie, 'Justice,' was a great poser. Problem was, he also fumigated the studio. Don't tell the military about this Gas as they would have bottled the stuff for chemical warfare.

And in the final tally, I think to myself: This is a wonderful life, indeed.

Photographers can lead or follow.

I had some spare time recently and chose to use it browsing and bantering back and forth on a well-known national photography forum. The selected 'thread' was devoted to blaming newby digital photographers for the demise of the future of professional photography. My conclusion: It's amazing to see how much passion and energy is spent passing the buck rather than looking to ones' self.

I asked: "Rather than whining, why not lead?" No one on the thread knew how to respond. The replies immediately regressed back to self-doubt and proclamations that the business of photography is doomed because of EEWACs (Everyone Else With A Camera.) Responses instantly regressed with sniping about their own superiority and then disparaged the quality of the work being passed around as "professional" by newby photographers.

It's amazing that so many talented photographers, people who are supposedly gifted at focusing, are more inclined to crank their vision to a self-centered, micro-depth of field. Their focus is so narrow that the Big Picture has been lost in a blur. They follow along, whimper and forget the power they, as individuals have at their fingertips. Perhaps they have never understood what is possible with their own potential as a person. It's easier for some to pass the buck rather than stand up and lead.

I'm talking about Photographic Leadership: Making a conscious decision to understand our roles in the world around us. This applies to much more than just the click of an fstop or aperture. Rather ... what can we do to make a difference in someone else's life with our work (instead of tearing others apart)?

Observing. Teaching. Sharing. Appreciating. All of these are more than just words. They are tools that can lead one to understand his or her own place on this earth.

What is photographic leadership to me?

Get in the trenches.
Teach. Make a change in the photographic environment we live live in. Mentor someone. Give them something to aspire to.

Be a Role model.
Continue to put out awesome work while demonstrating a positive business plan.

Impact your community.
Advocate. Join a non-profit or community organization and make a difference with your art. Illustrate what a true professional is capable of creating.

Develop your own Speaker's Bureau (a list of professional organizations you can speak to on an annual basis about what is going on in the world of photography).

Continue to grow and learn.
Absorb everything! Talk with others. Learn from others (even newbies!). Share ideas. Stretch your own boundaries. Step outside of your comfort zone.

Define your Legacy.
Long after you're gone, what will be your mark? What trace will you leave behind? Has your life (or photography) made a lasting imprint on those around you?

Thanks for listening!

Who hates dogs?

We answered the phone this morning to someone who apparently hates dogs. He called to complain that the studio has an exhibit at Kaladi Brothers, Brayton Drive.

"The stuff on the walls looks like something that would hang in a serial killer's bedroom." he said.

"When will it be off the walls again so I can come back to my favorite coffee place?" he demanded.

We did our best to "handle" this twisted, lack of soul phone call terrorist. (He wasn't brave enough to talk to me directly ... good thing.)

And a subsequent call to Kaladi's to make sure everyone else was enjoying the artwork yielded this response from the store manager:

"We're getting lots of positive responses from our customers. But one guy came through earlier today telling us that he hated dogs."

I understand that dogs are not everyone's cup of Kaladis' Best. But it's scary to know that there is someone out there who has such hatred for innocent souls that he would go to the extent of harrassing my staff and also exclaim this hatred to others.

The Kaladi's manager summed it by saying .... "he's part of that one percentile."

True. And my biggest regret is that staff had to listen to this monster's tirade.

Too bad the one percentile's parent hadn't been neutered before having a child.

A few words from Pixel: Why David usually only photographs weddings for people he's worked with in the past.

It's rampant in the wedding biz these days. Vendors, guests and family members are getting worse with their camera manners. Call it attention deficit disorder, boredom at weddings ... or perhaps just call it for what it is: Rude.

As artists, professional photographers like (and need) to be able to do their very best job without interference. We feel a loss if we can't create images the way we intended to and the way a couple has dreamed we would (while never ignoring the fact that the couple has also paid generously for the photographer's professional services).

Like a musician or oil artist, professional photographers are justifiably sensitive to outside noise and interference. After all, who wants to perform in (or listen to) an orchestra when a wannabe musician decides to play along with a kazoo in the audience? And who tosses a splash of Glidden Semi-Gloss on a canvas before a master painter's brush strokes have even dried?

When a talented photographer walks into a wedding hall ... he or she just wants to create! "I want to be allowed to be the artist that I am," is something David has been heard to say. People who interfere with the bride and groom's dreams of having perfect professional photography are disruptive and disrespectful of the couple and the professional photographer. We've heard more than a few couples apologize because of their guest's univited interference and rudeness.

PointandShootarazzi want to be instant stars. They'll let nothing get in their way of supposed fame. Their Etch-a-Sketch version of photography will play well on fb mere moments after the flash, click and send. They'll post their blown-out and blurry stick-drawing pixels on a Wall and take reward in counting how many Likes and Comments pop up with each of their posts.

"Look at me .... I fauxtographed Jack and Jill at their wedding! I'm so Good!" states the PointandShootarazzi.

Then PointandShootarazzi breaks his or her own arm while patting him/herself on the back - ignoring or oblivious to the fact that they possibly ruined a professional photographer's efforts to create a truely remarkable image. And some of PointandShootarazzi's fb friends see how cool it is to be a PointandShootarazzi ... so cool that they decide they'll do the same thing when they're at their next special event. "It must be okay to be a PointandShootarazzi because everyone else is doing it." It's self-perpetuating.

Yet, we photographers resist the temptation to show up at someone else's workplace to do everything possible to upstage them at their job. What's the difference? Everyone has a hammer - but they don't show up at a construction site and start wacking away on nails. And who doesn't own a spatula or spice rack? When have you ever heard of someone going back to the kitchen at Simon and Seiforts and handing over a jar of Nature's Seasoning to the chef?

So, in the end, one way to improve the quality of the wedding work environment is by contracting only with clients who have hired the studio multiple times over the years. This helps but it's never a guarantee. But, it's one of the reasons David Jensen Photography limits its wedding commitments to less than six a year.

As the song goes: "People are crazy."

A rather sensitive topic for some. But funny all the same!

While checking our newest adoption dog, Princess, into the vet clinic for her first visit under the my name, a voice from across the room struck up an amusing and sensitive topic:
======================================================

"Are you sure?" she asked. "I heard that this procedure can be done while leaving them intact."

"No," said the very patient and understanding staff person. "When they're neutered, they have to be removed."

"Really?" "I was sure that Petey would be able to keep them," she said in somewhat sad tone.

Then she sparkled with a brighter tone ...."What about fake ones?"

"Well, we don't recommend them here in Alaska because of how cold it gets."

"Oh. I guess that makes sense. But what do you do with them?" she queried.

"Well," the staff person replied, "they're disposed of unless you want them."

"Oh, no....." Petey's mom exclaimed .... as she finally looked around to see if anyone was listening.

Walking out the door this nice but clearly disappointed person called to her intact boy dog (who was sitting in the exam room .... "Good boy, Petey. It'll be okay. I'll see you tonight."

Poor Petey. We trust his human mom won't think less of him for making his contribution.

Side note: This true story reminds me of a vet who used to be in town. She kept a jar of, umm, specimens on her desk in a jar. It was an interesting statement.

anyone there?

Just curious....please email me: david@alaskaportraits.com
if you are following this blog.

:)


dj

John the photographer wants to be a millionaire, too.

"John the photographer ....are they ready?" That's what the emcee called David, er... John, at a recent reception. It illustrated a long, long day behind the camera.

Once again a family member with a Canon Rebel stalked David on nearly every portrait throughout the afternoon and evening. David had to request that the person move to the side several times because the person with the camera was so blatant. No respect whatsoever for the professional photographer that was hired by the couple to do his job. And when the fauxtographer was posing with his family for David's lens - the guy handed his camera to another person who stood right over David's shoulder with the camera. Sigh.

Kelsey stated it best when she told me "I don't show up at an event with my own microphone and speakers and try to take over the dj's job."

All of this aside, there was one hilarious moment that we have to tell you about:

During a solemn portion of the ceremony - at a very formal Catholic service - a guest neglected the important TURNING OFF OF ALL CELL PHONES announcement. The church was quiet except for the priest. And all of the sudden a phone rings.

The funny part....this person's cell phone was set to a song that is popular with a lot of young people, here's the verse the entire church listened to before the mute button took over:

"I wanna be a millionaire....so frickin' bad........."

It was all David could do to hide his smile and chuckles behind that big old camera of his.

Again, Kelsey said it best when she suggested that "at least it was the censored version of this song.!"

Ouch.

David took a serious tumble today.
No irony was lost with him given the fact that this happened at a place called Falls Creek.
The portrait session carried on. This was a redo session (the last attempt was rained out) and we were on a serious timeline. Mission accomplished.

The good news: no gear was damaged during this gravity vs. David incident (an amazing feat).

The bad news: several stitches to sew up the knee. Likely knee MRI in the near future!

Life goes on .... and so too does the energizer rabbit known as David.

Weddings.

David is wondering why he spent YEARS attending wedding shows and spending $ on marketing as a wedding photographer. Last year, he decided to halt any wedding marketing efforts ..... and the 2010 calendar still filled up.

2011 is just around the corner and five weddings are already on his books.

As shown to the right, Pixel caught David in action at Holy Family Cathedral two Sundays ago.

The invitation photo to the left was the object of his artful focus.

Not sure, but I think Pixel was trying to make a statement by including the wheel chair in the candid shot of David.

A brief overview of why David can't resist accepting a few wedding assignments: All are past clients and might as well just be called good friends. Locations include Crow Creek Mine, Crystal Lake and Fairbanks. And most also include David's signature (and exclusive) Eclipse Wedding Album.

Watch that focus, Grasshopper.

Pixel snapped this close up of a grasshopper on The Rock along Turnagain Arm yesterday. It was our first time seeing a grasshopper in Alaska (after 53 years).

So much to see in this state.

Do not read this if you are a USPS employee.

A special thank you note to the United States Postal Service from David:

As some may know, the street in front of the studio is experiencing roadwork the past and next few days. Access to the studio has been unhindered - unless you're an employee of the postal service who is holding my mail indefinitely.

I called and talked to someone at the Lake Otis station about the undelivery of our mail. The customer service manager of my district said that USPS can hold mail up to 10 days if the delivery route person decides that the conditions to deliver the mail are not reasonable. And that is what our delivery person has apparently told my local post office's customer service personnel..

I invited the customer service manager out to the studio to see what the conditions are. She said she would visit - after a BUNCH of doubletalk - to review the situation "again". I said, "so 'again' means you've already seen it, correct?" She said "no". And then went into a dialog about how she uses information provided by carriers as part of her 'review' process. Then she complained to me that carriers have to undergo difficult delivery situations throughout the year.....and on and on an on. She whined to me that she was a carrier for several years before taking this customer service job eight years ago and knows how difficult it can be to be a carrier.

Then she told me I could file a complaint using the USPS form # FU.IDON'TCAREABOUTMYJOBANDIHOPEICANRETIRESOON!!!

I asked her if she would followup with me after her personal visit (aka..."reviewing the situation again.") She stated she would prefer if I filed USPS FORM FU first.

I said "So, you're in customer service and you won't call me back?" Then she said "I didn't say that." So I said, "then you are going to call me to followup?" She finally said she would "in a day or two."

Also stated during the discourse:

She said USPS doesn't like to ask its drivers to get out of their vehicles. And she stated USPS doesn't expect drivers to "go out of their way" to deliver mail (meaning straying from their usual route.) And she said that after 10 days, the mail can be returned to sender. On top of all this she had the ball bearings to tell me her excuse as to why it is such an apparent USPS economic hardship for a driver/carrier to drive around the block to deliver my business mail (even just once in 10 or more days).

She never said USPS customers should expect due diligence considering extenuating circumstances. She was all about the poor, sad fate of the life for USPS carriers. Sounded more like she would be a better union or employee relations rep.

Happy days. Through rain, sleet and snow ... but not around the block.

d

Wrapping up a wet, wet day.

Hatcher's Pass was in true Alaska- mode Saturday. As a photographer in Alaska, David is used to working with every possible shooting condition. In this case, it was just plain wet.

Here are two images ... including one Pixel snapped of David at the end of the day and another photo David created with the roaming telephone booth. Notice the warning sign in the above photo:

"Trailers and campers not recommended."

What you can't see is the big trailer behind the Subaru (carrying a telephone booth and sofa lounger). Pixel will send this image to the quarterly Subaru magazine. We assume that the sign was intended for users of the Summit Lake road in the winter.

In the phone booth - several of David's friends and clients. David assures us that the next Booth photo will be an icy adventure that will include him in or on the booth - cell phone in hand.

David on the run

Pixel caught this pixeled "action" image of David on the run last weekend. David had just completed a couple of portraits of a bride and her father before they arrived at the wedding hall (Tanglewood Golf Chalet).

When David saw the photo ... he vehemently complained that it should not be posted on ANY blog. David claims he was carrying a lens in each front pocket - adding pounds to his waistline.

On closer inspection, Pixel and I will confirm that wideangle lenses were definitely a part of this image. We're just not admitting how they were used.

Captain Cook Hotel - maybe not?

Walking down toward the reception hall in the Captain Cook, David was ready to connect with the room host to make entrance arrangements for his bridal couple. He had just toured the downtown area with the lovely bride and groom who enjoyed the comfort of an evening horse and buggy ride.

The couple was about 50' behind David when the host erupts out of the Hall and ludly announces "Smith, Table for two, please come this way!!)

200-300 guests were awaiting the couple's entrance. The bride and groom were in glorious attire. It was impossible to mistake that they were the guests of honor. And all they received in the hallway was "Table for two" from the host.

30 minutes later, a Scottish toast was being announced and prepared. It was impossible to see the couple because the house staff was so busy clearing "table for two's table" and pouring champagne. Preparation and delivery of the traditional toast was completely lost to the commotion.

David's wedding couple was oblivious to the faux paws of the Cook's staff. They are gracious and deeply in love. Nothing could have taken away from their evening.

But David ..... caring little about whether he is ever a part of the Captain Cooks' events, had nothing to lose and complained to the house (after making three calls before finally reaching someone with an interested ear.)

Hopefully the Cook will be receptive. Pixel and I can't imagine that David will recommend a positive word to his families unless the Cooks' staff make some positive changes.

Wheel chair please.

4000+ images after two weddings this past weekend and David is pooped.

All went well. Fantastic portraits throughout. Beautiful scenery, couples and participants.

The exceptions to the weekend were two: The first wedding, a young lady guest who who insisted (loudly) two times that David should pose his groups with the mountains in the background. Great idea except for the fact that she was telling David (rather than requesting); and it would have required hi to shoot directly into the bright sun; and because of the staging area, a railing and large table would have been directly in front of the bride, groom and other well-dressed attendees.

The second wedding included a very persistent portly person who confidently required that David hold EVERY formal pose long enough for her to snap her prosumer camera 2-3 times after he created his official images. She then proceded to stand one foot behind David throughout the formal portraits - never getting a clue that everytime he accidently bumped into her from behind his tripod that, just maybe, she was out of place. The result, cummulatively, added 20 minutes to the formal poses-taking away valuable time at the reception. But we're certain that she'll flaunt her images proudly to friends and family as if the lighting, posing and smiles that David created were her own magical concoction.

Wedding guests are becoming so rude. David's decided that he may have to start wearing a sign on his back that says "If you can read this sign you're following to close."

David's Man Cave

Behind the scenes...this is a peek into where David spends some of his time repairing things for the studio and around his house. No excuses for not fixing things - it's all organized and waiting for the next projects.

Put that camera away.

This is what happens when paparazzi go to far with cell phone cameras. Pixel and camera apparently wore out a welcome with David's wife, Carol.

A one judge, three-legged dawg, ride-hitchin' town

The radio is blaring southern twang ... "I found out she was sleepin' with him in the bed of our RV."

65 miles from Spokane, I'm sitting under a shady tree in the metropolis known as Colfax- smack dab in the parking lot of a Taco Time restaurant.

Pixel and I needed to rest and chomp some dawg treats for a bit.

The friendy old timer working the counter of the restaurant greeted Pixel and me like the tourists we are. Maybe the long sleeve shirt and full-length dress pants in 98 degree heat gave us way. Old timer guy rambled a few mutterings I still can't figure out - probably just as well.

I bravely ordered my three tacos: "It's three taco thursday here in Colfax!" he proclaimed. (Pixel and I understand any language - even Drawl - when a bargain is at hand).

I asked the old timer - how far is it from here to Pullman?

"14 miles, maybe 15," he said. "But don't swerve and don't speed! This is a one judge town and you'll be in a spot of trouble if he doesn't like ya!"

I reassured him about my driving skills and thanked him for caring so much. We found a shady tree and munched on crunchy Taco Time tacos and lapped up a cold coke.

Pix snapped this photo of David at Milepost 49 on I195. David's a little deranged about that Milepost 49 thing of his. We can't figure him out.

Loving the air conditioning. Off to Pullman - through cricket sounds, wheat fields and the smell of John Deere fumes in the air.

Anyone know a good small town lawyer for a one judge town? Just in case.

When people hurt David's feelings.

Someone hurt David's feelings today. He's feeling pretty down. Here's what happened:

Mom, a new client, called and scheduled TWO high school senior portrait sessions a while back. One session was for her son and the other for her son's best friend. We did everything right: talked to her about pricing, how to prepare for the session, what her son and his friend would like to do for their session and made sure everyone was excited. David was definitely excited to be able to work with the guys. It reminded him of his best friend in high school and how he regrets not having photos of their adventures together. The boy's sessions were to happen this coming Friday.

Today mom calls again. "We found a friend who can do it for much less..." This is after David and his staff spent more than an hour working with Mom and her son's friend over the phone discussing every detail of the session and pricing (2-3 weeks ago) and the studio has turned away LOTS of other high school seniors who would have gladly scheduled their sessions during the same timeframe. This mom has known David's prices and packages ever since her first call. With two days remaining, it will be impossible for the studio to reschedule anyone in those time slots.

It hurt David and his staff. It hurt his ability to pay his staff. And it hurt others who wanted to hire David during that time.

Fauxtawg Dawg thinks this 'mom' is the same kind of person who as a child probably ordered a dozen pizzas and had them delivered to someone as a practical joke. Pixel had a few choice things to say, something related to what David picks up in the yard with shovel, but we'll leave those expletives off this post.