Stop Bullying and Start Educating

I'm not even sure what to say. 

I had posted a blog here the other day but have since removed it after thinking it maybe was the wrong way of going about it. (see i make mistakes too) So here's take 2. 

I am a photographer. Other than that, I am a wife, a mom, and a friend of many. I was not born with the knowledge of photography. I don't think anyone has been. With that being said... photographers EVERYWHERE you need to just look at yourselves. If you're taking part in hurting someone, name calling, disrespecting someone online, its bullying. PLAIN AND SIMPLE. No matter the reason, or the intent. Its bullying. There are parents all over the place who defend beating their child due to the child's actions. There is NO action to cause me to beat my child, so there should be NO reason to bully another human being. You don't know the mental state of anyone whom you're targeting. With all the suicides we see due to bullying you should be ASHAMED of yourselves. How do we teach our children not to bully others or succumb to bullying when you do just that? Teach by example. JUST BE NICE!

This has stemmed from photographers posting images of other photographers with bad, unsafe newborn poses. Now, most professionals know the safety and how to create these images without harming the baby. But NEW photographers may not. There is NO REASON to be mean to these photographers. If you want to help, email them directly and nicely explain and be there to HELP. Not everyone starting out (or even pros for that matter) can afford $1500 workshops to learn proper techniques. If we want to make photographers look better as a whole, we need to be there for the newbies and educate them so that there isn't a horrible accident. If you can, share the knowledge. Post blogs on safety or when you see something...don't post it for all to laugh at or send the witch hunt, HELP THEM. There's plenty of things I did wrong that I had to learn on my own. And I'm sure you've made mistakes too. 

THINK before you SPEAK. If you have nothing nice to say....say NOTHING.

If you are a photographer and need any help, please email me at info@jmpny.com and ill be GLAD to assist in ANY way! I WILL be looking into a way to host a FREE workshop on baby posing and safety in the future.

http://www.jmpny.com

Guest Blogger: Lara White

Id like to first, personally thank Lara White for doing this blog post for me. I am a HUGE fan of her work and what she does to help those of us in the photographic community. If you're not a fan of her Facebook page PLEASE do so now HERE. The inspiration is so great I thought I just had to share it with you all! 

How to Stay Organized with Wedding Editorial Submissions

Have you tried to submit your wedding images to a magazine a few times, only to be extremely frustrated by the process? It can be daunting to put together a submission packet, especially if you havent done it before.

When it comes to the process of getting your wedding images published in wedding magazines and blogs, you'll need to keep yourself organized in a couple of ways. This will be a huge timesaver for you, and by having a process in place, it helps ensure you'll actually submit more frequently.

Start with a Spreadsheet

First, you'll want a spreadsheet that contains all the contact information, submission guidlines and deadlines so you have all the details you need organized into one place. This takes time to pull together, but once you have this list, you'll find it much, much easier to submit regularly. Bonus timesaver tip, if you set the spreadsheet up correctly, you can also print the address labels right from the list, saving yourself time. 

Document Your Editorial Coverage

The second document you'll want to create is a list of everything you've been published in, or are expecting (an editor has told you they are strongly considering a particular wedding).

You also need to keep track of where a wedding has been published so you can be sure to remove it from consideration from other magazines. However, if one magazine is featuring only the cake, it's usually fine to allow another magazine to use an image of the ceremony details. It's mainly the real weddings features that require exclusivity. Keeping track of requests will help you manage this side of the process.

Sometimes you'll get an email from a magazine that they are going to publish something, and then you don't hear anything else from them for 8 months. You might miss the feature if you don't remember to pick up that issue when it comes out almost a year later, and look through it cover to cover. Some magazines will send you a copy of the issue, others don't.

I keep a list of "expected editorial" in my purse so when I'm at a bookstore, I comb through magazines for a particular feature. Often I will find images published in places that I was never told about or confirmed with; always a nice surprise. The point is, it's up to you to track your own press, as frequently magazine editors are working under tight deadlines, and they need an image to introduce a certain story or trend alert.

The other benefit to having this list of everything you've ever been published in, over time the list begins to add up, and it's wonderful to be able to put your hands on a list of everything you've ever been published in if you need to.

Once you start submitting regularly...you'll get published. And then you'll get published more frequently. One of the biggest secrets to getting your work published regularly is to submit regularly. Sounds simple, and it actually is.

Do you want to learn more about getting published?I've written a 55 page ebook that goes into great detail, including how to create images magazines will love. It's completely free and available for you to download, so grab your copy now. Get Published: A Guide for Wedding Photographers will guide you step-by-step through the process of submitting your work and getting it published.

by: Lara White

Facebook: www.facebook.com/photominteducation

blog: www.photomint.com/blog

free get published ebook: www.photomint.com/getpublished

http://www.jmpny.com

If I Were Famous

So how many of you have thought, "I wish I were famous!"? I bet quite a few of you. We imagine the life, the money, the homes the notoriety. It all seems quite awesome. 

Well as a photographer I think the same. In the photographic community we have our famous (or how we like to say) 'rock star photographers'. And I dream of it daily. I dream of speaking in Vegas, I dream of the high end celebrity clientele. I dream of the magazine covers my photos can be on. Its all so freaking awesome!

Its also frustrating. Frustrating to not know what it takes. Frustrating to watch those around you get where you want to be. And frustrating that its not you and may never be.

But last night....it REALLY hit me. I had somewhat of a revelation. I sat and REALLY thought about a so-called 'rock star photographers' life. And heres what I thought.... They are always on planes traveling going from town to town even different countries to host their workshops and speak. They are busy working their ASSES off to get in magazines and be the best and entering competitions and being what it takes. They are giving up the ONE thing I hold dear to me. TIME!

I have 4 little babies who need me. They are the reason I do what I do. The reason im able to follow my passion. Because of them Im a better photographer. I love having the freedom to take them to the park, or go play with them when they ask. Helping them with their homework. Even the potty training, spitting up and other messes us parents have to deal with on the daily.... I WANT IT ALL!!! I could never give that up to be a 'rock star photographer'. I could never trade in goodnight kisses for a phone call from a hotel in a far away city. 

So what I realized is that I was chasing something I REALLY dont want after all. Im perfectly happy catering to the wonderful clients I have now, working at a slower pace for the sake of my family. Sometimes its nice to imagine 'what if?' but when you actually think of what it takes, it may NOT be what you want. And so, I may not be in any magazines.....but I will be in my children's childhood memories. <3

http://www.jmpny.com

JMPNY's Best of 2011!!

2011 was a great year! I met some amazing people, made great friends and it was more than I could ever ask for. I hope the same for 2012!

So Im posting here all my faves from 2011!! Its a collection of images from all my clients this year. Heres how this contest will work:

Ive posted ONE image from 2011 as your entry. If you've had more than one session as most of you did... only one image will be here for your entry. If Ive missed you or you're here and wish NOT to be... please email me at info@jmpny.com as soon as you can and ill correct it.

VOTING: 

Each image will be numbered. Voting can be done by anyone as long as they are a fan of my Facebook page HERE. Votes will be a simple comment here on this blog with the number of the image they are voting for. ONLY ONE VOTE PER PHOTO PLEASE. You may however vote for more than one person. Number of image is coordinated with the photo immediately below it. ANONYMOUS VOTES WILL BE DELETED. Please be sure to sign in. Voting will end Tuesday 1/3/12 @ 8pm EST.

WINNER:

The winner will be announced on Wednesday 1/4/12 after votes are tallied. ONE winner will receive their choice of either a FREE Hi Res DVD from their session. (If they had more than one they choose ONE session) OR they will choose a free reg. 1 hour session for 2012. Winner will be responsible for knowing cost of collections (located on my website at www.jmpny.com) if they choose the free session.

So, without further ado... here they are. (In no particular order)

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!