 “My business exploded because I went to Inspire last year.”
Words cannot describe what Inspire has done for me, not only business-wise but socially too.
For years I shot film in Los Angeles, mostly editorial (for practically zero money, but lots of exposure), music and families on the side while producing television. When we moved back east after 9 years, I stayed home with my kids and photographed families and kids for a small income. Then I decided I wanted to make money! Hey, there is nothing wrong with making money doing what you love and it took a lot of time to realize that I wasn’t selling out, and that I simply wanted to contribute financially to our family again, while still being home for our sons, one who has autism. So I figured weddings was the way to go. I captured a few for friends and then said to myself, it’s now or never.
So when I jumped into weddings about a year and a half ago, I thought I knew what I was doing. I reiterate…THOUGHT! And then I attended my first Inspire conference last March. My good friend Meg, who I clung too for the first two days, encouraged me to go and I’m so happy she push me to do so.
I received amazing information about not only what I was doing right, but what I was doing wrong. And I needed to hear that. My price lists were wrong, my sales pitch was wrong all of it wrong wrong wrong. But no one EVER told me that. They never came out and said “you are doing all this wrong” What they did do was give encouraging words of advice and were willing to share every single bit of information that helped them along the way. No question went unanswered. Just sitting in those rooms with everyone was inspiring enough. All the attendees that were there encouraged me to be a better artist. They taught me how to manage my time better, get my workflow in order and schooled me on many things I had no clue about. Shoot Q? What the heck was that? I had no idea how to do off camera lighting, I didn’t even know my camera could pull that off. Branding? Never thought of that before Inspire. The whole experience was a crash course in everything I needed to hear and see. The photographers, teachers and now new friends that I have made over the course of the year, after attending are what inspire me. I learn from them every day, whether it’s online in a Facebook format, or getting together at PUGS, I’m constantly inspired by them.
The other thing that Inspire did for me was give me the self confidence to take the skills I’ve learned over the past year and apply them to side projects I usually just day dream about and actually bring them to fruition. I am now shooting fine art photography as well and my latest project was approved by Kickstarter for a show and book I’m collaborating on with a special needs school in Pennsylvania. I don’t think I would have had the courage to take that leap if I didn’t attend Inspire last year. And…..that’s why my 5 ft booty will be going back this year! Can’t wait to see everyone because while it will still be a serious learning experience for me, it will also be social as well.
Kristin
Kristin Chalmers Photography
Here are a couple images from “Broad Spectrum – The Camphill Project”, that I’m working on:
 In this series of blog posts we are introducing people who are speaking at and attending Inspire 2012. We are delighted to introduce Lauren Rutten of Lauren Rutten Photography. Lauren will be teaching a class geared towards mid- to advanced-level photographers called Is Your Heart in Your Art.
What are you most looking forward to in your business this year? My business is in transition this year as I prepare to embark on what I’m calling my swashbuckling adventure. What that means is I’m planning on spending a significant amount of time traveling the world in late 2012-13. I’m in the early planning stages at the moment, so figuring out how to incorporate working opportunities on this adventure is a high priority. I am exploring ways of building business shooting destination weddings and portraiture, as well as in the non-profit sector. I am seeking opportunities to utilize my experiences I’ve gained through wedding, portrait and editorial work, as well as my teaching expertise, in service for documenting humanitarian and community building efforts.
What are you hoping to take away from the Inspire conference? I’m looking forward to learning from all the great speakers. I so rarely have had the opportunity to connect in person to the photography community. I just don’t seem to get out from behind the computer nearly enough! Connecting and sharing with people who love to create… I can’t wait to be inspired! And on a very practical level, I hope to learn more about SEO because I’ve been on the slow end of the curve with this.
What is the most difficult photograph you ever made? Why? The most difficult photographs I’ve created are when I photographed my mother & family during the final week of her life. I asked my family to create an image of all our hands together. It’s our last family photo. The photographs from that time are very intimate and something I treasure though I have rarely looked at them.
What is something you are good at, besides photography? I write a poem or two that I’ve been told are quite good. I actually aspire to be a poet but it’s probably not the best career move for my retirement fund.
What would be your dream photography assignment? Why? I’ve had this dream to ride my bicycle across America ever since I was about 12 years old. My dream assignment would be to photograph small town life while I take this rambling trip. I’ve seen a fair amount of the country and what I love most is being able to discover the little corner shops and small diners that only the locals know about. I am a firm believer in supporting small local businesses and hope that small town American never disappears. I would love to visit all 50 states and be able to spend time gaining understanding into the way lives are intimately woven together to create those communities. The final part of the dream is to have this paid for and published by the New York Times.
What is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen? I photographed a NILMDTS birth session a few months ago. The mom was going to be having an emergency c-section with twins and they knew that one of the babies was not likely to live more than a very short time. I was asked to join the family in the OR for the c-section in order to create photographs of the babies together. I watched the entire surgery, shot photos as it was happening from both the parents position and as the babies were lifted out. It was truly awe inspiring. I saw this family become 4 and as they were holding the babies together the little boy passed on. The moment was so deeply tender and moving. It was the most present I think I’ve ever been in my shooting life and I will never forget witnessing this family go through something so simultaneously beautiful and devastating. The entire experience has left a lasting impression on me. I wrote a poem about the experience and each time I read it I cry and remember how precious life is.
What artists inspire you? Why? Andy Goldsworthy inspires me for his connection to his natural surroundings. I am amazed by his curiosity and how he explores ideas through the rhythms of nature. I find his work to be profoundly poetic, spiritual and moving each time I experience it. My entire being is engaged and so many questions come to mind when I see his work.
Some of the photographers who’ve inspired me over the years are Keith Carter, Sally Mann, Belloqc, Larry Sultan, and Graciela Iturbide. I find their work both intimate and magical. Each of these photographers impart so much story into a single image that I can discover something new every time I look at them. I also love all the fashion photography of Irving Penn and Richard Avedon from the 1940′s through the 60′s.
What thought or message would you put into a fortune cookie? I want to know what I know.
Lauren’s Website
Lauren’s Blog
In this series of blog posts we are introducing people who will be speaking at and attending Inspire 2012. We are pleased to introduce here Carrie Draghi of Carrie Draghi Photography. Carrie will be teaching two classes geared towards photographers new and experienced alike: Book It! How to Rock Wedding Consults, and a hands-on shooting workshop called Consistent Reception Lighting Using Off-Camera Flash.
What are you most looking forward to in your business this year? It will sound boring, but implementing and streamlining some of our internal processes is actually high on my list. Why would I look forward to that?!?! I am actually motivated for personal reasons, like being able to feel like we aren’t always playing catch up at the studio; I’d like to be able to drive home without a “to do” list following me there! And, streamlining our workflow is going to impact me on the creative side, as well. I hope it will give me more time to pick up a camera for some “fun” projects. I am looking forward to some editorial shoots that I am working on with some amazing vendors. We are not currently using ShootQ at its full capacity. My Studio Manager has done an AMAZING job getting the inquiry tracking “front end” up and running. But, we need some work on the “back end” of our processes. Yes, I know that didn’t come out like I meant it to sound!
Describe an inspiring experience you had recently? I had the absolute honor and joy of photographing a Navy Seal Graduation in Coronado, CA last November. For me, there is nothing more inspiring than to be in the presence of a person who pushes themselves to be the very best version of themselves that they can be. And, I was surrounded by them! I came home and hit the road – in running shoes! It seriously motivated and inspired me to remember that I need to also push myself physically. If these men can complete BUD/S, I can at least make it to the gym!
What is the most difficult photograph you ever made? Why? I didn’t have to spend a moment thinking about this one! Our 2011 holiday rush was fully underway when I got a call from a beloved repeat family portrait client. ”Why, of course, I can squeeze your four girls in for a quick shoot in the studio. And, why of course, bring the dogs! It will be fun,” said I. Next evening: one kindergartner, one 2nd grader, two 6th graders, one GREAT Dane, one GRAND Pyrenees, two LARGE labradors and nine feet feet of backdrop roll! I photographed all the girls together and individually before introducing the pack of dogs! And, am proud to say that there is ONE (just one) perfect photo (nearly the last in the session), with every single girl looking and smiling and every single animal facing towards me. Yes, I had to make a lot of cat noises!!! Our client loved it; it made for a memorable holiday card for them and an unforgettable shoot for me!
What is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen? My little girls – Keira (5) and Natalia (3). I remember the first time I saw each of them smile. I realize it might have just been gas, but there is nothing more beautiful, regardless!
What thought or message would you put into a fortune cookie? A friend once said, “If nothing changes, nothing changes.” That is a great thought for a fortune cookie! Really, process the simplicity and the wisdom in those five words… if you don’t change your business, you will be struggling with the same challenges for years. If you don’t develop and change creatively, you lose your edge and risk creative burn out. Change, even when it is a little scary, is usually good!
Earlier this week we shared our strategy for getting the most out of a conference in a two-part blog post on Tiffinbox.org. In this post we want to help you figure out which parts of this year’s Inspire curriculum will benefit you the most! Whether you are just getting started, or you’ve been in business for many years, there are many classes that are designed to benefit you at every level of your business.
We want you to leave our conference “inspired”, but Inspire is not a conference where you simply watch slideshows of visually stunning images to “get inspired”. We’ve worked hard to offer workshop sessions and cultivate an environment where one can explore some of the more challenging aspects of running a studio in great depth.
You’ve conquered the first step: booking weddings and shooting for yourself. You may be well established and running a successful business… but we know you want to do more! WE want to do more too! We want to fine-tune our time-management, find new and additional sources of income, and grow a larger healthier studio. We even want to retire some day! Because of this we have chosen speakers who have the tools to help you, and us, do that together.
Here’s a little insight into how our speakers are selected, and how we’ve encouraged them to prepare for you. One dynamic that we’ve observed (at our own conference as well as at others we’ve attended), is that the mid- to advanced-level photographers can be the most difficult group to “teach” to, as far as putting together conference content. Entry level classes aren’t appealing to them for obvious reasons. These folks have areas that need improvement (doesn’t everyone?), but they have enough knowledge in certain areas that they might be called ‘expert’, and could actually teach some of our sessions (in fact, some of them do). In the typical hour-long conference session it’s very hard to present material that has depth and “meat”. So we’ve expanded our conference session time-frame to 1.5 hours. And, we have instructed our speakers to try as much as possible to address the needs of the mid- to advanced-level crowd when constructing their presentations.
No matter how much or how little experience you have, there are some areas of your business that ALWAYS need to be polished! Whether you are just starting out, established, or a seasoned veteran of wedding and portrait photography, here are classes we are offering that can really help you fine tune what you are doing and become more successful:
Visual, Personal and Business Inspiration:
Sales:
Legal & Financial Issues:
Growing and Diversifying your Photography Business:
Balancing Personal & Professional Life:
Marketing:
Portfolio:
Organization and Workflow:
Starting Out Right:
Small hands on/demo sessions focused on working with light with three studios:
Hands on shooting sessions with:
Need more focused help on one of these topics or something else not on this list? This is what our Mentoring Sessions are for. Every conference attendee may choose a 1:1 or Small Group Mentoring Session on the topic of your choice. Mentoring session signups will begin on March 1.
As you can see, there’s something for everyone! No matter what area of your business you’d like to grow, Inspire will provide the space for you to learn. We can’t wait to see you at our 3rd and most amazing inspire Photo Seminar to date!
PS – just because a class has “101″ in the title doesn’t mean you probably know it already! It just means we all need to brush up on these skills!!
In this series of blog posts we are introducing people who will be speaking at and attending Inspire 2012. We are pleased to introduce here Robert Norman of Robert Norman Photography. Robert will be teaching a course geared towards photographers new and experienced alike, called Seeing Beyond Seeing.
What are you most looking forward to in your business this year? I’m planning some major changes this coming year to my business i’ve been working on for months now…so its exciting and scary. I’ve discovered i’m not as flexible with change as i’d like to think I was! It was a bit of a rough year for me personally, and i’ve been at this quite awhile, so it’s a good time to shake things up a bit and try some new stuff–No risk, no gain!
What are you hoping to take away from the Inspire conference? I’m hoping to see old friends, meet some new photographers and hopefully be able to impart some useful information to anyone who is interested in listening to me babble on. Inspire is such an open venue for learning and meeting people—i’m not really great at going up to people I don’t know and saying ‘hello’, but the vibe at Inspire makes that a lot easier. ( thats a hint to come up to ME if you wanna say hi…)
What would be your dream photography assignment? Why? My dream assignment would be to be told : “Go to to whatever country you like, shoot what you please and we will publish it and pay you.” I LOVE going new places, discovering the feeling of a new location, and trying to convey that in my photographs. What I try to come back with when i travel is not always an EXACT documentation of a place, but rather how I FEEl about it. So to do that and get paid—what could be better?
What is something you are good at, besides photography? I’d like to think i’m halfway decent at Italian cooking but you’d have to ask people who have eaten my food. I make a mean brownie from scratch too…
What is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen? The mountains in The Canadian Rockies (near Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper National Park) in the right light, are enough to nearly bring me to tears. No joke. Moab Utah and Arches National Park, while completely different, are a close second.
This is part of a series of blog posts featuring people who will be attending Inspire in March of 2012. Introducing here: Sandra Costello, of Studio SMC Photography
Website www.studiosmc.com
Blog http://studiosmc.blogspot.com
What are you most looking forward to in your business this year? I have many goals for the new year but there are two I’m totally psyched to watch unfold. My business is fueled by positive energy, personal stories, and bringing happiness through photographs and kindness. My first goal is to really grow my community by partnering with other businesses and individuals. The second is to share the love. I feel as connected to the people I photograph as to the work itself and can’t wait for my life to be further enriched by the stories I capture.
What are you hoping to take away from the Inspire conference?
I am excited to meet and learn from other local photographers who are doing great things with their business and creating amazing art.
Describe an inspiring experience you had recently?
This past fall I photographed the wedding of two women. Same-sex marriage has been legal a little over seven years in Massachusetts but for many couples and their families this is all new territory. These women moved to Massachusetts not long ago and many of their guests were traveling for their wedding. They were committed to working with vendors who they connected with and who were willing to create a very personal experience for them and their guests. I have never seen such forethought go into a wedding that wasn’t directed related to pretty place cards, fancy linens or staged sets. Don’t get me wrong these ladies were all about the details but that was not the real focus for them. They wanted their guests to feel the same love they felt for each other, and let me tell you, that was big! It made me treasure why I do what I do and how my work impacts people’s lives. It also made me appreciate where I live and how lucky I am to be married to the love of my life.
What is the most difficult photograph you ever made? Why?
One of the first people in my adult life to die was my dad’s mother. I felt very close to my grandmother despite the fact that we spoke different languages. However, food is a universal language and that she spoke fluently. When she died I decided to go into the dark room and produce b/w prints of her to display at the funeral home and to give to all of my cousins. I was so glad I had captured her portrait but it was not an easy task to produce the prints after her passing. She was a very lively lady and to see her so still, so quiet, was difficult.
What is something you are good at, besides photography?
I am a pretty good hugger and a very enthusiastic dancer:)
What would be your dream photography assignment? Why?
I have two dream assignments: I think I might pee myself if I ever got to shoot with Annie Leibovitz, and I would love to shoot a bridal session just like the one for Vogue in Sex and the City. I don’t often express my love for all things girly but that bridal session was gorgeous and over the top and I loved it!
What is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen?
A number of years ago I photographed a friend during her pregnancy. It was fun and different for me and she was thrilled to have those photos. But what was really meaningful was when this friend actually gave birth. Holy cannolli. I have never seen such an amazing breathe of life as I did in that moment. It forever changed me.
What artists inspire you? Why?
There are a couple of photographers whose work I find to be inspiring and original and at times a little unnerving. Angelica Glass out of NYC is pretty cool. Her work is edgy and sexy and intimate. I love visiting her blog and wished she would update it hourly:) Diane Arbus has always been an inspiration for her unique perspective and intimacy with various subcultures. Her work is real. I guess that is what I like about Angelica’s work too. I aspire to produce work that is true and beautiful no matter who you are or what your story is.
What thought or message would you put into a fortune cookie?
Life is short. Get out there and do what you are meant to do.
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amber - YAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!
that’s all.