Return to the lens...

     Well, the picture a day for a year proved too much for me to handle while also being thrust back into the work force.  To those of you working full-time, taking care of your children AND finding time to still shoot on a daily basis, my hat is off to you.  I find myself back in retail, as it was the easiest to enter after a long stint of not being in the workforce.  What this means is that now my life must revolve around a ever-changing work schedule.  And even more so at my new place of employment, as management tends to change schedules after they are written without informing you of having done so.  Vigilance is paramount.

     Anyway, enough of that.  I am once again in a photo class.  Last month was time spent in a much needed Lightroom class learning basic editing and workflow.  This month, Wedding photography!  I know, the picture was a dead giveaway, right?

     Truth is, I still have no desire to be primary shooter at a wedding.  Second, absolutely.  I rather enjoy it.  But my confidence and my "worst case scenario" mindset creates unnecessary anxiety.  However, when I'm a second lens, I can relax, shoot and provide the primary with different angles and takes on the same moments and memories we record for the happy couple.  So I figured I'd take the class to get some more pointers and polish what I already know a little bit about.  Plus, it's lens time.  With someone that's not always ducking out of the way of my aim, complaining that he or she is too fat (eyeroll) or stuffing his or her hand in the direction of  my lens when they see it pointing their way.  So...yeah.

     Oh, and if one of my friends is reading this and thinking, "Why, this stuff is good enough for me! Michael will you shoot my wedding?"
"No."
"But, Michael, you really are good...or good enough anyway!"
"Well, thank you, I think.  But still, no.  However, I have a recommendation!  And she would probably hire me as a second. Hint, hint."
Seriously, I do have  people I would recommend should you find yourself in need of a stellar photographer for that special day.  Check out http://deniselundyphotography.com/   I fully support her work.  And I am not ashamed to say if I get her enough bookings, maybe she'll bug me for a second shooter, should you want one at your wedding! (What? I never said this was entirely altruistic.)  Heck, she's shooting my baby sister's wedding this summer.  THAT is how much I appreciate Denise's work.

     As for the class I am enjoying it.  It's a bit different than my other classes thus far, in that there isn't as much camera time.  But I really like that Sami is covering so much of the business side of things.  And this is the second time I've worked with our model Sarah...so she gets my stupid sense of humor and I can actually get her laughing this time. Which makes for great candid shots.  Well...if my little prime would focus better in low-light situations.  We'll chalk it up to a PEB-CL problem.  (Yes, I bastardized the IT world's "PEBKAC" for camera related people.  The Problem Exists Behind Camera Lens.  Don't worry, I'm working on it.)  I'm learning how to fix and hide things I don't do perfectly.  I really think once I upgrade my camera body I will worry less about the high ISO noise and really focus on steadying my hand and building my confidence.

Thank you one and all that actually come here, read and follow my progress.  Losing my identity as an at home Dad for one of "I work in retail...again" has been difficult.  Trying to wedge myself into identifying myself as a photographer will take some work and confidence.  But I promise you, I have a goal, I will start my own photography business.  And I plan to ask Karen to be my manager. :)  I mean, she has done a pretty decent job managing me all these years already.