Moment

Current Reading: Art Form Magazine
Current Music: The Beatles - Rubber Soul
Mood: Good
Sounds: Background tv
Smells: Coffee
Temperature: 98degees - feeling fine
Thoughts: Do not ask me to think...need sleep

Pittsburgh Wedding Photographer

How I got my PhD in “How-To-Business” of Photography

***New series every Monday for the next 5 weeks*** Part 1 of 5

(without getting into debt or going to school and how you can do it to)

In fall of 1991 I became a professional photographer…sort off. This all came about because of the frustration and annoyance with my current position, which was working for a small company writing ads. I created ads & brochures for a small company that quickly placed me in the sales department after I re-wrote all three of their brochures and two newspaper ads. I was not their best employee, nor their eighth best employee. You get the point…I was bad at my job. On an afternoon that I was supposed to be making a sales call at a local mall, instead of walking into my appointment, I just kept walking.

Here I am 21 or 22, soon to lose my job and thinking how amazing it is that I haven’t been fire yet.

Earning a living doing something that I love wasn’t even an option to me. I loved (& still do) writing, playing guitar and taking pictures. These skills are not profitable in a small middle class town. This is the same small town where I was raised to believe if you’re not the child of the rich and famous then don’t bother dreaming, at all. I was the child of an electrician and a baker. Good parents, bad dreamers.

After accepting my loss of the job I so loathed (and almost getting giddy over that acceptance), I kept walking through the mall. With a soft pretzel in one hand and an Icy in the other I scribbled through an application placed outside a photography studio on a small folding table for all to apply.

I like photography. I even have taken a couple of classes in photography in college. My friends consider me the artistic one. Why not apply; life can’t get worse. They hired me. I start in two weeks. I am photographer…sort of.

This was a retail franchise photography chain. Yes, the type of photography that true-purist photographers hate, detest and bastardize all things they hold scared. No control over your lighting, no control over you camera, zooming in and out and placing the subject on the “X” were your only options. Customers came in herds and management only cared about the sales average and bottom line.
Guess what? I loved it! I was good at it!

I took photographs that people bought. What made me good at my job? I enjoyed the experience of photographing people…that’s it. People enjoyed the experience of me photographing them…that’s it. People bought photographs from me to remember their experience of being photographed. They my have come to get senior photos or that gift for their boyfriend or husband but they bought the experience.

Insanely useful photography tip #1: Photography is an experience. Make it a good one for people.

To be continued…

If you like this article please be sure to pass it on…friend me on Facebook, connect with me on Twitter and info on private consultations can be found here on Photographer's Corner.

Part 2 of 5 next Monday…

Photographer's Corner

So, you want to be a photographer. You daydream about life as a working artist, earning a living with your camera in hand. But for some reason you don know where to start? You have questions, fears, and a need for guidance and help…

So let’s talk….

Elizabeth & I have just launched a new page and a new service on our website - Photographer’s Corner. It’s for the inquiring photogs out there.

Daily we receive inquires and questions about HOW TO EVERYTHING: PHOTOGRAPHY…honestly we try our best to answer you. At times I’m sure e-mails and phone calls go unanswered, and we’re sorry about that.

To bring organization to the chaos we are now offering private consultations to those who are interested.

Thank you for your questions throughout the years. Answering them has prepared us for the opportunity to work with each of you.

Photographer’s Corner pager (HERE)
Contact us (HERE)

Wine & Shadow

Two conversations last night – one about wine and another about a shadow. Both were about self reflection.

I was sitting in a galley space that’s exhibiting self portraits.

The photographers that I was chatting with were telling me about their self portraits that are on display. What interested me is how they talked about their photography as a human subject. Not merely flesh or thoughts of a subject, but the acting, feeling, living human individual.

I love the conceptual existential attitude they brought to their work. It was motivational. I did not enter a photo into the exhibition but I did think about it. My ego and insecurities hinder my thought process.

Both of these photos captured the human experience without being too abstract.

The exhibition: “Self Portraits” will be displayed through September 12th at Silver Eye Center for Photography – highly recommend it.

Why Hire TWO Pittsburgh Wedding Photographers?

How great is this?? This is why making sure you have TWO photographers is always a good idea. The first shot was taken by Elizabeth (she tends to shoot close up and more detail) and the second shot was taken by me (I tend to shoot more “big picture”). We took our shots at the same time but you can see how we both had 2 completely different ideas in mind.

Tonight – Purposeful Blogging Workshop

Thank you to all who signed up for the seminar. I am not sure if there is any available seating left, if interested you can contact Silver Eye Center for Photography (here) for openings.

Some of the topics we will be discussing tonight: Building a Portfolio, Culture of Sharing and Whole-Web-Thinking.

See you at 7.

~ John

New Routine

I am a person of habit. “Discipline” is a more defining word for how I live, but using the word discipline would just not be true. Content in my habits…content in my daily practice; that’s true, that’s me.

Up and out of bed at 6:10 am; shower, yoga, guitar or meditation, coffee and then out the door… that is my morning. Next I sit in front of a computer for a couple of hours (drinking way too much coffee) and then I go to lunch. Lunchtime is when I like to read. For at least the last ten plus years I have quietly read a book at lunch. I love my lunchtime reading habit. Two weeks ago I stopped reading and went for an afternoon walk in the woods. It was nice.

I like the woods, I like walking, but I really, really like my lunchtime reading. After two weeks of not reading and two of walking in the woods I feel great! I do not want to stop. I am content with this new habit.


I wear my 5 finger shoes and can feel muscles developing throughout my body. My posture is better, my breathing is lighter, my skin feels cleaner. I like the fresh air, I love the smell of the woods and I love the reprieve of not looking intently at a screen or a page.

I miss my books.

The quandary is that I want them equally, the woods and the books, the fresh air and the knowledge from the page. What to do?

My life is divided up into live-able hours. If I want to live I have to be able to work.

Listed are workable solutions for people that are disciplined, which I am not. I could get up at 5am and start my day, which would give me the extra hour in the morning to read. Again--need self discipline to do this. I could listen to audio books while I walk in the woods. I won’t…because, one, I hate any and all types of multitasking. Two, the sounds of nature are wonderful. Three, I am afraid of bears, and four, I can never pay attention to audio books. I get lost trying to imagine what the narrator looks like.

Can anyone get me in contact with Oprah? I bet she could solve my predicament.

Photo of the Week

Camera: Nikon D200
Exposure: 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 35 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

Pittsburgh Wedding Photographer

Have a great weekend. See you Monday.

Photo of the Week

Camera: Nikon D200
Exposure: 30
Aperture: f/29.0
Focal Length: 70 mm
ISO Speed: 100

Insanely Useful Photography Tips

In the last couple of weeks we have been complimented on our ethics, professionalism, and client privacy. I like compliments. I especially like compliments when they generate new clients for us.

We have been praised – even won awards base on our professionalism while working with our clients. Note to photographers: you can laugh, make jokes, have fun and still be professional. It goes without saying, but I will say it. Show up on time, deliver on time, and listen all the time. Be creative, break the rules, push the bar but most importantly be nice.

Things not to brag about - Ethics, Professionalism, Client Privacy – they are all prerequisites.

My Blogging Future

My Blogging Future

Did you notice the new banner above?

Every time I change my banner it’s a reminder to myself of the direction I am moving.

Blogging has become a mainstay in my professional life. The idea of keeping a daily working portfolio works for me. I like the idea of my progress as an artist to be documented…daily. I like the idea that my readers and clients get to follow along on the journey.

The future of my blogging holds a slight change in style. The professional side of my work will become apparent in the blog. A focus on Pittsburgh wedding photography will become a weekly topic. The themes of marking and generating whole web thinking will also move to the forefront.

The things that I love will stay – Photo of Week, Ambient Art, Pittsburgh at Night, Moment, Rants, 5 Question Interview, Short Stories, compositions and general life topics.

Why the change?

I have been writing and rewriting “Purposeful Blogging” the seminar that I will teach next week. The time spent researching and re-examining my own work has sparked new passions. I have uncovered some good maturity in my work and some areas that I have fallen short. That has been the purpose of this daily working portfolio to never stop discovering what needs to discovered. Listed below is a short list of the “what & why” of the new topics that I will write and be photographing.

Pittsburgh Wedding Photography – This is who I am or truthfully this is who we are. Elizabeth and I are two people who love photographing wedding. We embody passion about wedding photography. As a married couple we feel blessed and thankful that we get to share this consuming passion with each other.

Professional Development Education – I like to talk. I like conversation. I like to learn. People ask “what are you interested in” my answer is always the same…I am interested. For twenty years I have been a working artist in Pittsburgh. I have lived all the glory and splendor and at time heartbreaks of being a working artist. Now I want to share what I have learned with you. Look for more seminars and consultant services to come.

Art Galleries/Exhibitions – This is the goal (I just subscribe to “Art Form” magazine). It feels like the right time for this pursuit. With the audience generated from the blog and the photos from my Flickr page popping up all over the internet there seems to be interested in the work being showed. A big thank you to Creative Commons for the opportunity to license my work as I see fit.

That’s the update….thanks for reading and sharing my work.

Peace ~ John

Pittsburgh Wedding Photographer

“Real Wedding” on The Knot for Another One of Our Brides!

Mike and Nicole were TERRIFIC to photograph. So funny. So cute. So much fun. Click HERE to view a few pics from their Real Weddings site on The Knot! Enjoy!

You can also visit Elizabeth's previous blog post about this wonderful couple as well.

Taking Off

~ See you on July 6

Photo of the Week - Ambient

Camera: Nikon D200
Exposure: 0.6
Aperture: f/3.2
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV

Sharing is Good

Destination Guide Atlantic City published one of my vacation photos (SEE HERE). This is why I love Creative Commons. Family vacation photos turn into marketing and advertising.

~Sharing is good.

Moment

Current Reading: Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut
Current Music: White Album by The Beatles
Mood: Good
Sounds: Wind
Smells: Coffee & oatmeal
Temperature: 69 degrees
Thoughts: Rainbows, cherry, and lollipops…

Pittsburgh Wedding Photography

Craig Photography
Wedding Blog

Music

Wednesday evening I watched The Music Instinct: Science and Song. Next week I will watch The Musical Mind hosted by Oliver Sacks. The effect that music has on man is a wondrous marvel. I have read numerous books on the subject asking myself, why seek an answer when the answer is not needed? Music is good. Music heals. Music is purposeful. Why seek a deeper understanding? I do, no idea why but I search for a deeper understanding of music.

The world is divided in different ways – we are either born to the west or to the east. Our politics either lean left or to the right, we either follow the teachings of evolution or the faith of creation and in the end we all sing, dance and celebrate life with music.

Man was the last thing to appear on this Earth. First there was land, then plants then animals. Then man was created to complete the natural world. Music was last. Gary Snyder writes – “we are here to entertain the rest of nature”. I think he is right. In times of war send the musicians in first. I like that.

With music I can condition myself on multiple levels. This morning I was up at 6am, showered, yoga and then practicing Bach. I listen to music while doing yoga to focus my breath and lower my hear rate. I pick up my guitar and practice Bach because I am compelled to. I get in my car and listen to the music of Edgar Meyer while driving to relax my mind.

My daughter dances, she listens intensely to music at the age of 3 ½. It is part of who she is. My wife sings lullabies to calm her, songs to get her to pick up her toys, songs of play and songs of time to eat. My daughter will ask me to play my guitar fast then slow then “let me try” as she bangs and strums.

Music is good.

Pittsburgh Wedding Photography

We were excited to see that TJ & Jamie turned in some of their photos to The Knot! They were chosen to have a gallery on the My Real Wedding page. Go (here) and read about their wedding and see a few photos we took.

Rant

Things that have been on my nerves lately- Socialism…I am so tired of hearing everybody talk about the fear of being ruled by a socialist government. The bulk of our tax dollars are spent on defense…defense of keeping society safe. I like being safe. I like that I never had to fight in war. I like that I do not feel the threat of being attacked by a foreign land. Although I do not trust Australians, to quiet of a nation, watch your back.

I do not care about Socialism…because we already are, and have been, a socialist-run nation for the past fifty years…at least. We are a socialist nation who spends our collective tax dollars on going to war or preventing war or perpetuating the idea of somebody going to war. War makes people rich…ask Dick Cheney.

Dick Cheney…a man who has made his fortune in the private sector running companies who’s profits are derived from the United States being in war. No war, no profits. Now can you understand why Dick is on TV selling national security to us? He is trying to stay in business. For the past eight years he has been a media-ghost of the vice presidency. No need to talk when profits are bombing (no I did not mean booming).

People hate the term socialist and they hate the idea of government-run business. I get that I am a business man. I do not want the government telling me what and who to photograph. I hate the capitalistic business of war. I hate war. I hate that my tax dollars help to make Dick Cheney richer.

Here is the part where this rant develops into a dream…stop going to war. If we stop going to war every other decade and keep the tax structure the way it currently is we could have healthcare and education for all. That’s right. Our government tax structure could remain in tact. If taxes do not go up I bet you people will not care how our government is labeled.

I like capitalism especially when people with capital care about society.

p.s. – The opening sentence in the constitution is “We the people”, it is not I the person. I hope that those of you who wish to criticize this rant do so. Please refrain from quoting Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity or Glen Beck; they are entertainers not journalists, nor academics. They claim to be good Americans yet they do not claim to be good human beings.

p.s.s – If you really hate socialism what you can do as an individual is refuse social security and Medicare when you retire. I bet the drug addicted, heart patient Limbaugh will accept that gift from government.

Photo of the Week

Camera: Nikon D200
Exposure: 0.4
Aperture: f/3.5
Focal Length: 18 mm
ISO Speed: 1600

Pittsburgh Wedding Photography

To see an overview on all her vendors (including us!) go here to The Knot message board and take a look!

Moment

Current Reading: Art / Work by Heather Bhandari & Jon Melber
Current Music: Big Whiskey & the GrooGrux King by Dave Mathews Band
Mood: Concerned
Sounds: Quiet hum
Smells: Coffee & lemons
Temperature: 79 degrees
Thoughts: Good luck Ella at your first day of summer camp. We love you!!!

The Fountainhead

I finished reading The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand last night (thank God). I loved it, I hated it, it made me think and it made me angry, it’s a damn good book, I am glad that I read it. Rand’s words will stick with me. They will not influence me but they have effected me. I object to objectivism and selfness is not a virtue no matter how well you argue it. Rand argued it brilliantly. The book is a classic and well deserved. It’s an anthem of thought more than a novel of ideas. The book is a soap opera argument to the work of Friedrich Nietzsche. I am guessing that Rand could care less about what Zarathustra spoke.

Howard Roark, the hero of novel, seems to be influenced by “Beyond Good and Evil” by Nietzsche. I could be wrong. If I am let me know.

The one thing I did take away from Rand’s writing is – if you object to this rant of mine I do not care.

I’ll be reading Atlas Shrugged next after some light reading on art.

Ambient Art - Mosaic

Elizabeth Craig Intimates Goes LIVE!

Big announcement from my wife:

I am so excited to announce that I have finally gotten my official Intmates Photography site up and running! It’s been a work in progress and I’m thrilled to make this announcement.

So take your time and peruse my site! Elizabeth Craig Intimates welcomes you! Drop a line and tell me what you think.

Pittsburgh, PA at Night

Explore & Fountain

I spent last week glued to the TV watching this show about two friends exploring the world and following a map. It’s the story of a girl and a monkey who are both bilingual in English and Spanish. They romped around the globe getting into all types of adventures. What’s in her backpack is her only aid for keeping out of trouble. Here’s the link to the show (HERE) oh yeah…my daughter was a little sick last week also, just an FYI.

In between being coughed on and snuggling with an angel I have been reading “The Fountainhead” by Ayn Rand. Last year I gave reading this a try but had to put it down after a 100 pages. Currently, I am about 100 pages from completion of this mammoth work.

I am still not sure if I like this book but Rand’s words have been making me think. Howard Roark, the noble and indifferent man who chose to work and live within society vs. Henry Thoreau, the noble and indifferent man who decides to leave society to work and live.

You can read my past thoughts of Rand’s work (HERE). In the end I still object to objectivism.