This is a big deal..."there's always time for a movie montage"

I'm not comfortable in front of the camera. Especially when its recording me. And especially when I have no idea what I'm trying to say... I make faces, snap my fingers, produce horrible and embarrassing dance moves, and then resort to acting out a movie montage with props instead of actually creating an informative video. OH WELL
We've been dropping hints about some of the exciting things within our new branding; the new facebook page: facebook.com/mauicreative, and some of the stories and images that you'll see when we roll it out. And some of you have mentioned how excited you are, and we're SO GLAD. We are so freakin' excited! We've put so much time, and thought into this that we just can't wait to show everyone!!

The message here is that we're announcing some exciting stuff...and if nothing else, you can see me in all my finger-snapping glory.

Thank you so much for being a part of this with us. We couldn't ask for a better group of supporters. Please always remember that I love comments, on the blog or the fb...we LOVE to hear from you!
Happy Thursday!!

Get it together, kids. How to organize your home office.

I'm so cheerfully pleased to present my new office organization! This one will stick, I swear it!
We've had a home office since 2005 and it has been a work in progress ever since, but this time...we've got a system nailed down!
Check it out!

A head massager is a vital tool in a home office.
Tiny decorative boxes and baskets make a world of difference for decluttering!

Everything I use on a daily basis is on this shelf.
SD cards, Post Its, Biz Cards, Hand Sanitizer, Inspirational Magazines...

I condensed a whole drawer of stationary into one colorful, cute little basket that's easy to access from my chair!

A photographer's office is not complete without a vintage camera. My uncle gave me this one!

Our 'out the door' organizer.
Outgoing mail, stamps, check books, random items to put away or give to people...right at the door as you walk out.
CONVENIENCE is KEY!

A safe box. This is my client product/sample cabinet. I can now put albums, prints, and any other products I have for
client pick up here, save from animals or people!

THE BEST PART!!!!!!
My new equipment closet.
Houses all my gear, bags, shoot shoes and wedding clothes and a charging station!

New chalkboard!!

All of this means a decluttered desk to work at!

My progress board is hidden beside my shelf, and behind where I sit,
so I have a nice clean view of the room and the windows instead of lists.

INSPIRATION!

And of course, a spot for Tyson!

Happy Monday!!!

Elle on an airplane...

On the flight back from Denver last week, I wished I had noise canceling headphones, between the guy behind us telling his life story, and the constant movement of the busy-body stewards, I was more than annoyed in my aisle seat. But one good thing did come of the flight, and that was the article I stumbled upon in Elle magazine. I don't usually read magazines, I get them to take to the beach or on flights and that's about it. I should read them more. But I was glad I snagged this one, it was a relevant article! I looked for it everywhere, but I couldn't find it to tag to, so I'll describe it!

The author, Candice Rainey who is a street-style blog 'addict', so the article says, wrote about how dreadful she thinks she looks in all of the pictures she has of herself. She comments on her over-smiling and even in an idyllic location how her hair still makes her look less than appealing. She states that shes always felt she looks better in real life than in photos.

This is genius. Especially in this age where every single photo you take is posted to twitter and facebook immediately, its like every posted image is one step closer to reaching the unattainable goal of getting the 'perfect' shot of yourself, standing in front of the mirror in the bathroom, or driving down the street. Don't deny it, I do it too.

She goes on to quote John Steinbeck, "I hate cameras. They are so much more sure than I am about everything." And that looking at yourself in photos is like hearing your voice on the answer machine; not what you expected. She states that part of the displeasure of hating images of yourself if because the camera sees you, as others see you. Not how you see yourself in the mirror.

Another new age phenom, is that, and she mentions this as well about a friend of hers, that people retouch and edit their portraits before posting them to facebook, because for single people, facebook is like an ever changing personal ad. She says, which I disagree with, that social media has stripped away the notion that a photograph is a moment captured in time. I disagree. A good photograph that captures emotions, in raw form, is still as meaningful has it ever was. But she says that now a photo is more used as an ad meant to sell a certain idea of you to others, to the popular girl from high school, or to the cute boy at work, or to those friends of friends that you think are cool but have never actually hung out with. So, what does this mean for photographers? That we'll start doing more portrait shoots, styled, and used for personal use on social media networks! Then, rock on!!

Rainey points out that any time a lens is pointed in her direction, she gets all -oh-someone's-watching-me-awkward, and "I better act cool-ish" She said she puffs up her chest like a peacock, and attempts to avoid the double-chin roll by straining her neck out. I feel like clients could take some notes from her actions, and NOT do that. You've got to feel comfortable in front of the lens, that way it sees you exactly as you really are not something you're trying to be.

So, long story short...she goes on to quote a few books, and other photographers in basically saying that its our own fear and suspicion that keep us from enjoying the way we look in images. As soon as the camera is on you, you fear that you'll look fat, or fear that your hair is a mess, and you suspect that the person behind the lens is seeing all of those flaws. When you're so worried about trying to pose, and control how others see you, you end up getting inauthentic photographs. You don't look yourself. 

The last thing a photographer wants, and she mentions this as she describes a photograph of her parent's wedding, is for the subject to be "aping" for the camera. I like that word. It makes me think of the way the apes and monkeys at the zoo perform for the viewers, they act ridiculous. We don't want that. 

She says she has a prized possession in her office, and its the photo of herself dancing with her father at her wedding. She describes herself as looking "pretty and unaffected", her eyes are closed, but shes smiling, and her dad is laughing. She said looking at it mid-day makes her want to pick of the phone and call him. Now, that's magic, a moment, one tiny little moment in time, captures a life-time worth of nostalgia and love!

So a recap, for your reading pleasure: don't stress over making yourself look a certain way, just be yourself, own it, rock it. Don't worry about what others will think,the camera doesn't lie, it doesn't fake it! Be comfortable with what you've got and confidence rather than a lack of authenticity will shine through!!!!

Reads:
Camera Lucida, Reflections on Photography
Camera Ready, How to Shoot Your Kids
Photographers mentioned:
Scott Schuman

2011 is going to be a great year for Maui Creative Design & Photography!!

I've always said, that this business is my passion, so for peace of mind, I keep the business end simple.
Packages:
So, with that said, I feel the need to add an addendum, prequel, whatever you wanna call it, to the pricing and packaging for 2011:
After releasing a pretty vast selection of packages to choose from for 2011, I realize that some clients may be looking at the prices and feeling a bit of sticker shock. Those packages are set up as recommendations only. The items in the packages are offered at discounted pricing opposed to selecting them off the ala carte menu for the purpose of simplifying the process. Customized quotes, as well as ala carte options are readily available and recommended for those interested in items not found in a package, or for those interested in building something specific to satisfy specific needs.
www.mauicreativedesign.com

Videography:
I am super-duper excited to be offering videography. Justin is just as thrilled as me, because this artform is more up his alley than still photography. At this time, we are NOT offering videography solo from a complete wedding photography package. I am a photographer, and the videography concept at this time includes highlights and will be more artistic and creative than a documentary style of video capture. For that reason, we felt it best to offer the two combined, rather than becoming a videography company as well.

Online Scheduling and Service Shopping: 
This is awesome to me! One of the largest imaging companies in the country has solved my problems! When I told Justin all that this online service provides, he asked if it was going to make me breakfast too, HA!
We are proud to offer to our fabulous clients the ability to shop for services online, select services, and schedule appointments online as well as pay for those services via paypal. So, for example, you have an urge to book a session, because you just spent 2 hours looking through all of the hundreds of galleries of baby photography that google has to offer, you go to my website at 3am and book a session for yourself! And before you can change your mind, because you remember that you're 7 1/2 months pregnant with twins and will probably not feel up to the task of getting pretty tomorrow, you pay for the session online! YES!!! Now its up to me to make your memories, and ensure that no matter how you feel during your session, your images turn out beautiful!!
Well, that's just one scenario of why this service is awesome. Another is, no mailing of checks, no texting or emailing back and forth to find an open appointment time, no lost phone numbers or addresses for me...its a beautiful thing!!!

First 2011 Special Offer:
In attempt to increase the number of fans that follow the facebook page, I am offering a special to maternity clients/newborns.

refer 5 fans to my page, get an image disk when you book a 30 minute session
refer 10 fans to my page, get an image disk and a 20% discount on a one hour session
refer 15 or more fans to my page, get a free session!!
Message me for details on how to participate!

www.facebook.com/MauiPhotography 

Thank you to all those who follow, fan, or have supported us in 2010, but here's to 2011!!!