Finding North

I haven't blogged about my goals in quite some time and I thought it would be a good time to get back to this practice. Although I am still learning Photoshop and didn't officially get published in 2009, it was still an outstanding year!!!!! I did 4 weddings and several other shoots that have really helped me grow as a photographer and in my ability to engage clients. I got a chance to travel and do a wedding in Negril-Jamaica, Spokane-Washington and a couple weddings closer to home. I met and photographed a two tour Vietnam Veteran, Ms. Island Mokihana 2010 and shot a slew of other people who graced my camera with their presence. It was a very good year and I am excited about what’s next for me and the business.


There are way to many professional photographers and other people to list here who have helped me along the journey. They all know who they are, I have already thanked them personally and will forever be in their debt. As you can see, I am back from my blogging hiatus trying to catch everyone up from the work I’ve done this year. Stay tuned for more; you can also find me and my fanpage on Facebook at www.facebook.com/davidnbeasleyjr


I’ll be Blogging you…


Beas..


1. Consistently pray before getting out of bed, starting any shoot and ending my day – In progress


2. Shoot two weddings (1- second shooter and 1 primary shooter or some derivative of the two) – Done; shot four wedding in 2009; one down and two more scheduled for 2010


3. Do a shoot with another professional photographer – Done; Bloomington Shootout and Macy’s Fashion Show


4. Streamline client meetings – Done


5. Identify someone with marketing and graphic design experience that can help me with plans, logo and designs for website, Blogs and print materials. – Done and still in progress.


6. Develop logo, branding and other marketing materials for business – Done


7. Develop new business cards with new logo and theme. – Done; rebranded my old one a bit


8. Develop theme for business – Done (“FOCUSing on what's most important!”)


9. Add new innovative and creative elements/offering to the Blog – Done but accomplished through my website. www.davidnbeasleyjr.com/flash


10. Identify opportunities for small impromptu shoots – Done and have leveraged to diversify my portfolio


11. Improve comfort level with on/off camera flashes, strobes and umbrellas. – Done; thanks Carlos Baez and Zack Arias


12. Refine my photo editing processes in Lightroom and Photoshop – Done and I am still growing


13. Refine process for managing (archiving/backing up)images – In progress but I am in good shape


14. Get work published in print (book or magazine) – In progress and I have had several pictures that are magazine quality right out of the camera


15. Make time to post to other photographers Blogs – Fell off the wagon on this one a bit.


16. Start new innovative project leveraging photography - Done “The Model in You – The Beauty in Diversity”


17. Start new Blog – Done  http://www.themodelinyou.blogspot.com/


18. Consistently “Thank God” for giving me the inspiration, ability, creativity, insight and strength to pursue photography and bless others through my work! – Done, he is present is all my accomplishments and carrying me through all my struggles.

Macy's Fashion Show - Sneak Peek

Did you get em off the hard drive???  My Best Friend/Frat Brother (Dr. Willis Lonzer III), and I have a long standing joke started by his wife about getting our work off the hard drive; but I won't go into that right now...  I just finished uploading all the photo's from all the Macy's Fashion Show practices and event to my computer and I have over 4,500 shots.  That's a lot of pictures to backup, edit and get "off the hard drive" to all the wonderful models.  Whew!!!  I am headed to rehersal and dinner for a wedding I am doing tomorrow but wanted to leave you guys with a picture from the show of one of our "still" models; the lovely Nickki O. 


Be blessed!!!

Beauty and Elegance Becomes Her!!!

This is one of my favorite shots from a wedding I recently finished editing. I tried something new with my editing which almost doubled my editing time but I learned from that experience and a little about double RAW processing photos to get detail back in a brides dress. Live and Learn!!!


David

Macy's Annual Fashion Show

This past weekend our Bloomington/Normal Macy's store hosted a fashion show for the local community.  I had the honor of being among three other photographers (Angel Sallade,Chris Sallade and Monte Holiday) to shoot the event which was coordinated by Mrs. Sofia Reed of Macy's.  It was an awesome fashion show and our professional models (Terrance McSwain and Isoken Uzamere) as well as the local models (kids and adults) did an outstanding job!!!

I was at almost all of the practices where I took over 2,000 pictures and have a lot of editing to do in the coming weeks.  As I was importing the photo's, I came across this one which I had to edit real quick and put on my blog.  The next few weeks are going to be a challenging as all the models want to see pics, I have a wedding to prepare for on Sunday and a trip back to the East Coast to see my family and do a shoot in Atlantic City.  For now, enjoy this picture from a practice the day before the show.

David

Relax, Play Games, Take Care of You

I paid a quick visit to Chicago this past weekend to do some shooting for my portfolio.  I always love seeing different parts of the city from different angles, etc.  I actually got a chance to see one of my favorite views from the other side and I LOVED it.  Sometimes we miss things in life because we pay too much attention to things from JUST our perspective...


While I was there I paid a trip to a park in one of the suburbs and took this picture.  I am fresh from seeing the movie Eat, Pray, Love and I when I looked at this picture I thought about the movie.  This summer has been busier than heck and it's easy to forget to just relax in the midst of everything going on in life. I also thought about the joy of playing games. Doesn't need to be anything special as the main ingredients are family and/or friends and FUN!!!  Sometimes the simplest games suffice. Last part is taking time for yourself.  We do and we do and we do and we often forget to "Take Care of YOU"... 


So with the summer ending soon and all the back to school stuff around the corner, taker time to "Relax, Play Games and Take Care of You". 


David

Who Dat?!? - Man Behind The Lens

If you know me, I am not one to take pictures of myself so why should I mess up a good thing at this point?!?! This past Fall, several of us "Pros" got together and did a "shoot out" here in Bloomington/Normal.  While we were just playing around and acting goofy; one of my favorite things to do, "Dr. Eric Codrington" took this picture of me.  It's a very cool pic and want to thank him for it from the bottom of my heart. 

Beas

Party Like it's 1969

Yes I am a Prince fan but this post has nothing to do with him or his music but has all to do with this "1969" Jacket from "The Gap".  I fell in love with this jacket from the moment I saw it and I couldn't help myself; had to shoot it.  I started my shoot having the mental picture in my head of what I wanted and I got my vision down for the camera after a few minutes.  I just LOVE this shot and how the buttons punch out against the jacket.  I hope you guys enjoy this.

David

Macy's 1st Annual Fall Fashion Show

I have the distinct pleasure of working with Macy's and some of the most fashionable kids and adults in the community for Macy's 1st Annual Fall Fashion Show happening August 28th at the Bloomington/Normal store. The theme of the event is "Fall into the Magical Essence of Macy's".  These local models have been working hard over the last few weeks getting their runway "Model T" pose and fierce walks on.  Last week were were graced with the presence of Chicago's own "Terrance L" (renown model) who took the group to another level as he coached and demonstrated how to wear and walk into that "Macy's Magical Essence".

Come join us on the August 28th to see some exciting fashions here in our local Macy's.

David 

I LOVE Adobe Lightroom 3

A few weeks ago I was doing a shoot for a local restaurant (Station 220; formerly known as Central Station) and I tried out one of the new features in Lightroom 3; shooting tethered.  I absolutely loved it!!!. The head Chef and Manager got to see the pictures as they were coming out of the camera and I was able to keep on shooting in the process.  Adobe, thanks for the two home runs you guys have hit with Photoshop CS5 and Lightroom 3.

David

Faith

The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen...

I had such a great time with this couple and their engagement pictures.  The wedding is going to be very exciting as the union of this awesome couple comes together. More soon on this.

David