NoTHiN but the TRuTH

 Photography is an art.  Whether you're taking beautiful scenic shots to be displayed on someone's wall or family portraits to be displayed in someone's wallet, its an art.  Trying to make a living as an artist is a difficult task, as I've learned from both the photography and the music business.  Most artists spend tons of time perfecting their art, their technique, and talent - and not enough time developing their business.  I've been working in the photography industry for my whole life.  From processing rolls of film as a child in my family's 1-Hour Photo Lab to taking portraits of soldiers graduating boot camp, I've always been involved with the business of photography.  I've had access to the best photographic equipment my entire life, and never taken advantage of it.  Until recently, all I could see with photography was dollars.  A living.   Now, however, I'm starting to see the art.  Just taking a camera with me over the weekend and having fun. 

The moral of the story is that - taking the best pictures on earth does no good if you can't market them.  I'm a photographer by trade and for a living first, and as a hobby second.  I am blessed to have been raised in this industry and have a solid foundation of business.  But many aspiring professional photographers are photographers as a hobby first, and by trade second.  Pretty pictures don't put food on the table.  So make sure you spend as much time developing your business as you do developing your art. 

That being said, these are some of the first "artistic" pictures I've ever taken.  Being a professional photographer for over 4 years, that's kinda sad lol.  But I figured I'd start off taking pictures of things I love.  The first shot is a picture taken at the Columbia fair grounds while photographing a BBQ cookoff for a children's home charity.  I just looked up and saw a beautiful scene and snapped a few shots.  I've always loved industrial scenery.  And then the beautiful sky just set it off!  The second picture is a pic I took of my car behind the Pastime movie theater in Lexington.  I did a whole photo shoot of my car that day, so more are to come.  I just really liked the angle and colors.  These were taken on a 1DS and a 40D.  I took several different shots of each of those scenes and hope to make both into collages for big prints to hang on my walls at home. 

So remember, photography (for profit) is a balance of art and business.  Most photographers are unbalanced in that their business is underdeveloped.  I have the opposite problem of not focusing enough on my art.  Well hopefully that is changing, and I'll keep posting so you can watch as I grow!  Stay tuned and hit me up with any questions or comments!