I LOVE office supplies. I’m an addict. Office Max is just as dangerous for me as Target. Perhaps it’s a good thing that I went into a field where office supplies are necessary. Then again, probably not as many office supplies as I have.
Read MoreCairn vol. 18 // Feeling Like a Fake
I’ve been a business owner for 3 years. I’ve been a designer on a professional level for 5. I’ve been a photographer for 11 years and doing it professionally for 7. I started my life as a creative in 2006, thirteen years ago. And you know what? I still sometimes feel like I’m not enough. I still feel like a fake and a fraud. This month, all of these feelings came to a head and I was forced to confront them. One of these moments came in the form of a creative breakdown where I realized that I hated what I was shooting, erased the card and went and cried my eyes out in the bathroom till I felt sick.
Read MoreTrip Report // Devil's Tower, WY
Being a guest at a wedding is always a difficult task for me because I’m so used to shooting weddings that I’ve forgotten how to be a guest. I was eyeing the photographers with envy. It turns out when you’re a guest, there’s not actually a lot to do. You just relax and enjoy the party.
Read MoreThe Role of The Second Shooter
Wedding photography is hard work. We’re on our feet all day, sustaining ourselves on a nibble of trail mix here and a sip of water there, all while being the vendor closest to all the action. Many times we are responsible for keeping the timeline on track, and getting people where they need to be. This is one reason why we hire a second shooter: that’s a lot of work for one person.
Read MoreThe Power of a Good Creative Brief
Hiring a designer should be very little work on your part, right? Right. Clients tend to have little interest in being heavily involved in the design process. They are busy people and have work to do and companies to run. They’ve hired a designer so they can avoid doing extra work. So why the hassle of a creative brief, and is it really necessary?
Read MoreOn The Road // West for the Weekend!
My friends Hanna and Alex are getting married this weekend at Devil’s Tower National Monument, and my significant other and I are headed out on a road trip. Tonight we are crashing in Sioux Falls, SD. Tomorrow we’re going to visit Badlands National Park and then make our way to Gillette, WY.
Read More3 Lies I Believed When I Started My Business
You have your degree, you have some work experience, and you’ve decided to make the leap into self-employment. You went to conferences and networking events and you’ve been cleansed of the 9-to-5 by inspiring speakers, waxing poetic about “the grind,” “the hustle,” and how your product will sell itself if it’s worthy of the market. You’re beaming with starry-eyed confidence, you’ve been inspired by people who have made it, and you’re ready to dive in. There’s only one thing: the inspiring people who’ve been there may have misled you.
Read MoreTrip Report // South Dakota Bike Race
It’s not everyday that someone who owns exactly one Toyota Corolla and zero motorcycles gets invited to photograph a bike race. My friend Amanda asked me months ago, and I agreed. It was new and exciting, so it wasn’t hard to say yes. On June 7, I packed up my bags and went out to Greenfield and met Amanda at her house. We loaded up her truck and headed out for South Dakota. I had no idea what I was getting into.
Read MoreWedded Bliss // Johnny + Megan
WEDDING // Johnny + Megan Graham. August 10, 2019. Living History Farms. Clive | Over the weekend I had the privilege to photograph Johnny and Megan’s wedding. They were so much fun to work with! From the time I photographed their engagement to the time I left their reception, it was clear to me that they are the best of friends and their love is the real deal. They were married August 10, 2019 at Living History Farms. Second photographer: Aundrea Eilers of Aundrea Eilers Photography.
Read MoreIn My Bag // Graphic Design Edition
About a year ago, I promised a look inside my bag and what I carry as a graphic designer. Amazingly, I got to how I travel as a freelancer before I got to posting that. What I need as a designer varies from day to day, depending on the project and what I am working on, so this post could really be a short chapter book. To narrow it down, I’m going to cover what I take to a meeting where I will be working at the meeting location afterwards.
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