Somebody Pinch Me...

The last time I got teary eyed while opening my mailbox, it was due to the fact I was anticipating an astronomical credit card bill brought on by my shoe addiction. I have since been in recovery and it's going well. But last week, I got teary eyed once again when I saw this waiting for me....

It's from Buckeye Color Lab and it is the first thing I have received that is addressed to Lyra May Photography. Somebody pinch me..this is really happening.
Earlier this month I created an account for Buckeye Color and within an hour, I got a phone call from them welcoming me and letting me know that a packet was being sent in the mail. This was my welcome packet.

It included my account number, paper samples and a handwritten note from a gal named Kelly. I was excited but overwhelmed. I immediately decided to call the number on the note and I was happily surprised when Kelly answered the phone...not an automated system...not a secretary...but KELLY herself..the gal whose handwritten note sat on my desk. I immediately felt a connection to Kelly. I wanted to say.."Hey Kels..it's your BFF Lyra May Photography...you just wrote me a note remember?" I refrained from my 7th grade girly antics and tried to keep it as professional as possible.
Kelly walked me through the entire process of how to upload my pictures, how to order, what her favorite items were...it was so wonderful. We live in a world of drive thrus, youtube and one line tweets. Everything is fast paced. And in this moment where I was partially celebrating the birth of Lyra May Photography and acknowledging the fear of taking the next step of my business...Buckeye Color gave me the greatest gift..their time!

My next step was easy...I ordered free 8x10's to test the color and calibration of my monitor. Two days later the test prints arrived in the mail and the packaging for these free prints were just exquisite. I mean, they were in a black folio with silver ribbon. It was like a present for Lyra May Photography.


I am now in the process of placing my first professional quality prints from Buckeye Color. I'm looking through my portfolio (iphoto albums) and finding the perfect images for my studio (basement playroom).
Somebody pinch me..this is really happening..I have an envelope to prove it!

Bobbi Lane and a chance to WIN on the blog!

When I first met Bobbi Lane, she was in the middle of rehearsal for Fridayphotoschool. It was Thursday evening and she was talking to the members of the production team about the content of her show that was going to air in T minus 18 hours. Bobbi practiced talking among the three cameras, she continued to refine the elements of her program and she seemed nervous. This made me INSTANTLY fall in love with her. Here was this woman, a pro in her field, accomplished in her own right, she has presented numerous lighting seminars ...yet she was nervous about this show. I quickly realized that her nerves and trepidation wasn't because she didn't know what to say...she just wanted to say it perfectly. 18 hours before we aired live, Bobbi Lane had one thought in her head...her live audience. She wanted this show to be great...for them.

Needless to say, when Fridayphotoschool aired live...Bobbi Lane hit it out of the ballpark. She is a natural teacher.

As soon as the director said CUT, Bobbi was excited and proud that the show had gone so well. Everyone in the room was feeling an adrenaline rush but I still had some questions.
I'm so new at photography that even thinking about putting a pocket wizard on my camera makes my stomach flip. But listening to Bobbi for 90 minutes made me realize two important things...
1. I can't label myself a natural light photographer because I DON'T KNOW how to work with studio lighting.
2. It's imperative that I learn lighting techniques so that I can have more control of my sessions. I just can't rely on available sunlight all of the time.

Bobbi is so amazingly kind, that she took some time to answer my questions and give me an overview about things that I may have missed during the live show.



On her way out of the studio, Bobbi told me that she was going to send me an essential lighting publication that she contributed to. She told me that it would be a great resource for me to refer back to whenever I got too intimidated by lighting techniques. Instead of sending me one, she sent me MULTIPLE copies and I am giving them away right here on my blog! My first blog giveaway!!

Here's how you enter...Become a follower of my blog and leave a comment below telling me what your favorite lighting technique is. The winners will be picked by random.org
I'll start with mine...My favorite lighting technique is the ONLY one I know right now...bounced on camera flash, set on TTL. Clearly, I need more training!
So...comment away! The contest ends Monday night! The winner will be revealed on the blog and on the Fridayphotoschool facebook page!

AND THE WINNERS are....
#10 Sarah, #1 A place for photographers and #5 Fred!!!
These numbers were generated by random.org.
Congratulations!!

TGIFridayphotoschool

I took this image as I sat in my minivan, arriving 15 minutes early to a 10 am meeting. I don't know what prompted me to mark this moment. But as I stared at the Fridayphotoschool signage, I felt nervous, excited and hopeful that whatever existed behind the other side of the door, was something or someone that could help convince me I had a place in the Photographers world.
I had seen Fridayphotoschool seminars online. I had e mailed Will Crockett and asked for a meeting. I had pinched myself a hundred times when he answered that e mail and invited me to the Fridayphotoschool studio.
How many of us as brand new photographers have reached out to the "pros" in the field?
How many of the pros responded?
How many of these encounters would go beyond a first meeting?

I must be the luckiest girl in the whole world. Because upon walking in and meeting the team... I immediately felt at home. Sure its a bit of a BOYS CLUB...there's cheap shots and burping and sandwiches for EVERY meal. But beneath it all, there's a group of people who love what they do and want to share it with those who want to learn...including me!
As I scanned the collection of Fridayphotoschool and Shootsmarter DVD's at the studio, I realized that there was so much that I still needed to learn. I need Fridayphotoschool to give me some technical guidance. One thing that Will Crockett was quick to point out during our meeting is that I do have some skills to bring to the table...I like people... I love facebook...and I am creative.
And whatta ya know...they wanted me. So I am officially part of the Fridayphotoschool team and I couldn't be happier. I have a multifaceted job that includes monitoring facebook and "chick-afying" the joint! What a beautiful marriage this is going to be!