Workin' On My Cred. (The "Edited" Update)

Read Part I.


I've never really written a follow-up post. Never really had to. But my previous writings below got more attention than any post I've written. EVER. The interesting part? It was all incredibly thoughtful, insightful, and even empathetic feedback. Aside from the blog comments, I received multiple emails, Facebook messages, texts messages, and even a couple of phone calls. I was overwhelmed, but in a good way. I appreciated every word and sentiment. (I felt like Oprah, y'all!) In response to the response, below is an update:

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A very wise man from ancient Greece once said:

"Gratitude is the sign of noble souls."

- Aesop

Not only does Aesop have a fun name to say ("Aaaae-SOP!"), but his simple words prove to be incredibly poignant... particularly in an age where things aren't so civilized.

Upon publishing my previous post, I discovered that, while my frustrations were justified, some stemmed from miscommunication errors, simple lapses in judgement, or honest-to-goodness misunderstanding of proper (and legal) sharing etiquette. In a time where anyone can purchase a decent camera and call themselves a "photographer" (another post on that issue soon enough...), where often one's online presence and image mean more than one's real-life one, and where things are exchanging in mere seconds over digital outlets, I had to take a step back and realize that technology is moving way faster than the proper and expected protocol can keep up. To many people, a shared photograph isn't thought of as "property"; and being that it's an image, it's meant to be shared and looked at and appreciated. Since writing my last post, here's what I've learned and ways YOU can be more proactive:

• The internet is NOT a bubble. Read the privacy notices. Whether we like it or not, there are people and things who can access our info and every day we're more connected than the next. As terrifying as that is (or maybe I'm the only one), it also means that there are opportunities to stumble on and/or share things we'd never have known about in the first place. If you don't claim where you got something, 1) the original creator loses an opportunity to get credit for their work, and 2) if the original creator finds you using their stuff without asking, you can make someone REEEEALLY angry. Or worse, find yourself in major doo-doo.
  
  
• Be knowledgeable of copyright notices and acknowledge your sources. Whether it's a photo, a link, a quote or idea, if it's not something you created - link it back! It takes two seconds, covers your behind, and rightfully gives credit to the creator - WIN! All those crappy song lyrics your friend uses for FB status updates? Yup, copyrighted. That watermark I put in the corner of published photos? It's not just a fancy name-tag. Just because you crop it out or add your own 'personal' touch, it doesn't mean you now have ownership - not only is that rude (and illegal), but that's like ripping off a famous poem, switching a few words around, and reciting it for your cousin's wedding as your own. Ironically enough, there's a photographer I've been following who wrote a really similar article within days of me posting mine, but her's goes as far as people trying to take pics using her ideas WHILE she's photographing! For anyone going to a wedding or big event in the near future, I highly recommend taking a moment to read it as well as the comments....
  
  
• When in doubt, just ask. From the pros with the serious equipment to the pals with the point-and-shoots, taking a moment to double-check it's okay before you pass on to friends and family or use as FB profile picture goes a LONG way. Not only is it flattering to the person who caught the picture, whether you paid for the session or it's from a random backyard BBQ, but it's also the courteous thing to do. For me personally, if it's just a random shot I caught in passing, I'm not as worried - but if I'm there specifically to capture a moment/event or took the time to give the photos some serious love (again, paid or not), that's when I get a little peeved if it's shared or 'stolen' without permission or credit. And if you plan to use the images for something beyond general sharing - blogs, websites, FB pages, etc - then you REALLY better ask permission and be prepared to agree to the creator's terms. The whole "better to ask forgiveness than permission" in this situation doesn't apply.
  
  
• Remember Aesop? Gratitude goes a long way - not just with photos, but everything that someone takes the time to create or produce: jewelry, fancy cakes, photos, stationary, articles, design work, even blog templates and class outlines and notes. Even if it's one's "job" to do these things and you paid for it, they're still making the world a better place by inspiring the world with their work. And just because they figured out a way to make a living at doing something they love and are good at, we shouldn't penalize them for being talented and sharing their gift with the world by not acknowledging them. And if this talented person just so happens to be a close friend or family member, never expect them to do things for free just because...

In the end, I realized one of the biggest faults was my own. As I operate on a free-lance basis and am more of as an enthusiast than a pro, I never really enforced my wishes or felt that I had the right or authority to do so. After lots of research, turns out that I do. Since then I've been more careful and direct in my session contracts and sharing terms. It's hard to get upset at someone when I haven't fully communicated my terms; and despite being seemingly functioning people, some folks just don't understand the legal and social repercussions of copyright. Likewise, if I'm not upfront and let people take advantage from the beginning, any hopes at doing this professionally are DOOMED.

Listen y'all, I love love LOVE taking/editing/sharing photos. I love seeing people get just as, if not more, excited when images turn out. I love getting feedback and being approached about doing sessions and collaborating on fun opportunities. I love reading about how to get better and pouring over other talented photographers work and wondering what they felt as they did their shoots. I love how I'm in total control behind the camera while also leaving my creative side completely open to the moment when that awesome PANG! of inspiration hits. And often it is flattering to be the go-to gal when pictures are needed, even for simple things, when the intentions and gratitude are fully present.

To conclude, I want to take a moment to show MY gratitude for those who took the time to send their thoughts, who have always been there, and who have always been the kind of people to share their insightful perspectives. It's those of you who remain my constant source of inspiration and motivation.

There. I'M DONE.

Life is moving on and I'll now continue with regularly scheduled blogging.

PS. Did you know as Aesop was a fable writer, the appropriate term is a "fabulist"? HA!

Workin' On My Cred. Get the Picture?

I was hoping the Rapture would kick in so I didn't actually have to write this post. Alas, the only hellfire and damnation I experienced this past weekend was in my gut, thanks to not-so-mild red curry (but Thai, you're ALWAYS worth it). However, due to some pent-up frustrations and reading one-too-many "girl power" articles in crappy magazines (Glamour, you're always worth it, too), I feel compelled to pass my own hour of judgement on some recent not-so-cool behavior.

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So, I'm not a "photographer," per se. I don't take pictures for a living, I don't have an art school degree, and I don't consider myself a full-fledged member of the photography community.

But you know what?

I do believe in photography as an art, I have invested countless hours and money into my enthusiasm and appreciation into my developing work (pun? yes!), and I hold the knowledge and passion that has been shared to me by a few true professionals very dearly in the depths of inner creative being.

In other words?

I'm not "there" yet, but I'm trying to figure out what it takes. The journey has been bumpy and confusing and overwhelming and brilliantly fulfilling. If anything, photography and pursuit of creating interesting images has provided a very much needed outlet and has allowed me to be focused while still being entirely open and in the moment. For a complicated gal such as myself, it's a WIN. And honestly, even if I never even get "there" - by my standards or anyone else's - there's not a single doubt in my weird little head that my glorified hobby has made me a better person.

Can you guess where I'm going?

All flowery sentiment aside (but I do mean every word of the above), it's come to my attention on several occasions that there are others who unfortunately don't share in my regards; and more upsettingly, have taken advantage of my time and dedication for their own personal gain. Since I've started heavily investing myself into photo production, I've time and time again seen people use/reproduce/share/"re-edit" or vagrantly defile my work without permission. Without credit. Without feedback or recognition. Without so much as a THANK YOU. And especially when I do so because I wanted to help capture something special and ask of nothing in return, it breaks my heart to find that instead of gratitude, there is only entitlement.

Am I making sense?

Y'all. It stinks.

It stinks to:

• Have people assume that because I saved my own hard earned money for semi-advanced photography equipment, editing software, and even a new computer to handle the processing and archiving, that I'll automatically be your complimentary photographer. Honestly, I feel like I get invited to things because folks assume I'll show up with my camera and I'm just DYING to capture every gee-flippin' moment. It's like that friend who finally invests in his dream truck, and suddenly he's the go-to guy when you move into a new apartment or buy a new (ugly) couch - why pay for delivery when your friend will do it for free, DUHHH? If you want me to stay behind the camera the whole time for your occasion, at least offer me free booze or a foot rub or to wash my car. It's like assuming your cousin who's a vocal performance major is going to come and sing jazzy ballads as free entertainment. It's embarrassing. And belittling.
  
  
• Ask me to basically give a 30min run-down of everything photography related so that you can, like, take totally awesome pics. No no, it's cool - I would LOVE to wrap up all my late nights reading articles, the afternoons alone practicing, the challenges I've encountered, the reviews I've obsessed over, the embarrassing questions I've had to ask, the locations I've foraged, etc etc etc, into a tidy little one-page 'cheat sheet' for you. What, you want that for free? SURE! It's not like I'm living in a basement and eating Ritz crackers and my hair to stay alive.... PEOPLE. Okay. So, remember that slovenly kid you've seen in class maaaybe twice who comes up to you at the end of the semester and gives some lame excuse as to why he needs all of your notes and handouts and a basic rundown of the last four months so he can pass the class? DON'T BE THAT KID. That's how it feels on my end. Not great.
  
  
• See people using photos I took and carefully edited for their OWN promotions without even the slightest acknowledgement, mention, or even taking two seconds to ask for permission (or offering to buy the rights to the photo like any smart professional would do). When this happens, not only is rude (and illegal), but that's a missed opportunity for me to add to the portfolio and possibly snag another client. It's plagiarizing - it's not your idea, it's not your work, and it's cheating. Just because it's on Facebook or sent in an email or published in an online photo album doesn't make it less mine and more yours. Sharing is one thing. Stealing is another.
  
  
• Have people DEMAND the photos I snapped at an event or outing. Without any compensation. Excuse me? OF COURSE. I would love to stop what I'm doing for you, archive and compile the photos into an easily accesible place or media source for you, and watch you post the photos EVERYWHERE while your willy nilly pals comment on your fabulousness. Is my name anywhere? Nope. Nevermind you didn't even say "thank you," but then you crop my watermark out and PUT STUPID PICNIK "FLAIR" ON THERE?! It's times like that I wish I had an army of flying monkeys to screech and wail until my prop-a-tee is rightfully avenged.
  
  
• Hear people comment, "Your camera takes great pictures!" Yes, the quality is great, and thanks for noticing; but do you really think the camera adjusted it's own settings, composition, timing, and subject? Do you suppose the camera did it's own post-captured cropping, enhancement, and editing? Listen, I hate cliches, but it's true it's the person behind the camera makes or breaks the photograph in the end; just because you buy a race-car doesn't make you a race-car driver, now does it?
  
  
• Ask me to do a full-on photo session for you/your family out of the goodness of my heart. Heart? What am I, the Tin Man? Ladies and gentlemen, it takes time to plan a shoot, do the shoot, then edit the shoot. (Err, the photos from the shoot.) And then tell ME: "Well, this will be a good chance for you to practice." Shoot shoot SHOOT, y'all! Not cool! Do you call up your friend who's in culinary school and say, "Yo, I'ma need about 50 cuh-cakes for my birthday party next week"? I SHOULD HOPE NOT! Let me just say, if you expect me to do a freebie photo sesh, you'll get what you pay for...

[www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com]

Do you... get the picture?

Listen, I'm trying to avoid going all photog'-Nazi and watermark and copyright every single image. I'm not saying you need to fork up cash or bow down to me when you want to use my photos (but will that get you even cooler photos? you bet your fanny!). I never want to stop taking pictures. I never want to stop growing and learning and being excited for when "the shot" comes out leaps and bounds better than I imagined. I do want to share what I've learned and get people engaged in a thoughtful process. I just want to know my time and effort is appreciated. I want to know it's worth continuing.

In other words, I'm trying to make things happen and I can't do that without at least a little respect for my attempts at becoming a professional. In the coming weeks, you'll hopefully see those attempts along with me - hold on to your unda'pants. I promise to always be reliable, affordable, and make sure you walk away feeling like a super-star. I know how it feels to get an image back from a photographer and think WOWZA! For the photos I take along the way, obviously my fly-by snapshots aren't as big of deal; but if I find a gem or two among the albums and take the time to bring attention to it, a hug or a high-five in return is great (and bottles of Nior if you're not the touchy-feely type.)

To those of you who have shared your thoughts, lent me amazing support, given me overwhelming recognition, prayed for successes and laughed over the failures, sung my praises, ensured appropriate credit, fought for my right to be treated as a big kid, and simply appreciated the outcomes... it's my turn to say thank YOU. It's those moments that overshadow the negative ones, and it's those moments that make the journey absolutely wonderful. I know I've got a long way to go... but that's the exciting part.

Do I feel better now?

Yes. Yes, I think I do.

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(PS. Special shout out to THE most amazing dude in the world, John C., for being the biggest supporter of them all. I couldn't have done it without his help and expertise in the world of gadgetry and techy-techness. I couldn't have done it without his constant reassurance and thoughtful feedback. I couldn't have done it without those pizza nights where I blabbed his ear off with all my chaotic thoughts and ambitions. I couldn't have done it without him pushing me and inspiring me to realize how much I can do if I prove how badly I want it. I'm a darn lucky lady.)


Read Part II on this post - click here....

Summer Has Its Etiquette

Sweet Lincoln's mullet, Readers!

The summer's already 'heating' up (pun intended...duhhh); and after sitting down to do my daily/weekly/monthly agenda and list of summer To Do's, I realized it's going to barrel down to Funky Town faster than couponing moms to the super sale at Sams. My summer ambitions, family plans, school responsibilities, fitness classes, and general need for a chance to BREATHE and catch up on four months of sleep have considerably added up, and I hope I'm as effective as I intend to be... while yes, still being able to get in much desired time with friends I've so horribly neglected and a certain handsome young man of my mine who now bears the additional letters "J" & "D" at the end of his name. (I'm dating a lawyer now, y'all!)

Also? I've returned to Facebook. After ten weeks away and lots of inner debates on whether it was worth signing back in or not, I took the plunge. Despite there being little positive change in the usual FB craziness after 2.5 months, I was happy to see updates and photos of friends I haven't been able to keep up with much through my difficult semester (and of course, Scrabble is now back in full force). But as my cyber networking anxiety kicks in again with the onslaught of frou-frou summer status/photo/link sharing implosions, I have to wonder if I'll find myself regretting my reattachment to the land of Facey. To help you or fellow 'Friends' maintain a festive though unpretentious summer existence in the land of Facebook, here are some tips to keep you on track.

.:: C's "SHORE" WAY NOT TO BE A SUMMER FACEBOOK TOOL ::.

(mtv.com)

1. Uploaded phone pics: One is cute. Two is okay. Two-hundred is not.

The grainy, blurry photo of you "in the moment," real time on the beach with a bevvy in hand can be fun. It gives us a chance to see that 1) you've arrived safely to your destination, and 2) okay, you get a chance to relax and enjoy yourself. But after that, you should take to putting your phone in your beach bag and picking up a good read. Or even a bad one, at that. Either way, after about two photos, the rest of us wasting away at our desks or in the library take it as a kick in the gut. Jealous? We're past that. We start to resent you and your cheap booze (that you're not even supposed to bring on the beach anyways), and we hope you get eaten by a shark. Or you at least get stung by a jelly fish.

2. Speaking of phone pics: "Sexy" myspace-esque pictures of you in your 'new' bikini...

... are lame. Nothing chaps my bottoms more than 1) sunburns and 2) girls desperate for attention. It's not cute, it's not endearing, and Lord knows most of the people posting these kinds of photos should do about a trillion jumping jacks before even considering putting on anything that draws attention. For the fellas, this is just as bad when you're posing in your tie-dye hibiscus 'board shorts' and putting on your tough guy face. UMNOTHANKYOU.

3. Daily status countdowns until your "totes awes' vacay" aren't necessary.

We can't wait until you leave either. STOP IT.

4. The return-from-vacation statuses... yes, it's over. Move on.

"Siiigh, most amazing time in the _magical location_ with the best _family/boy friend/husband/wife/dog_ ever! Back to the real world..."

Yes, being a responsible, functioning adult is less than ideal. Yes, it would be more ideal to frolic through the sand and wake up late and only drink from glasses with little umbrellas and fruit stabbed with tiny, plastic swords. But guess what. For those people making your daiquiris and punching your tickets at tourist attractions and fluffing your hotel pillows and dancing like a lunatic in a humiliating costume in a lame themed restaurant, it IS the ever lovin' "real world." Having worked retail in a busy tourist area, I saw how people assume you'll bend over backwards to make their time "special"... or maybe they thought they could be a complete a**hole because they'd most likely never see you again. I was lucky I managed to wriggle out alive and run for the boring hills of academia. But I worked alongside people who's everyday survival depended on catering to entitled vacationers, and it's a kind of patience I'll never have. So be thankful for the time you had. Be grateful to be able to go on vacation in the first place. Yes, you earned it. But you didn't earn the right to be a tacky tourist jerk.

5. Does your photo album REALLY need to be 438 pictures long?

(You were only there three days.)

Before I even heavily got into photography, I was always annoyed when flipping through 'Friends' albums and noticing most pictures were haphazardly taken and often times it was the SAME photo, just the shooter turned 30 degrees and snapped, turned another 30 degrees and snapped... and then I almost snapped. That, or it looks like they didn't even go through their camera photos at all and uploaded EVERY single picture: the good, the bad, AND the ugly. What really gets me cranked? "Jumping photos" that took you 897 tries and you insist on putting up every. single. one. BOR-ING.

Even when I spent a freakin' magical summer studying in Greece in undergrad (you can read that blog by clicking the link in my reading list), there were times I had to put down the camera. It's easy to get caught up and not want to miss what could be a great shot, but then you end up missing the actual life happening around you. And even when I was face-to-face with monuments and old temples and magnificent sites, I often ended up buying the $0.50 post cards because 1) the photo quality is always better, 2) it helped keep track of places I visited, and 3) I could use the back to write down quotes from the day or other random tidbits.

Fodor's has an excellent article on vacation photography you should check out.

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The bottom line? Sharing is caring, but not when you're using your la-la land vacation brain as an excuse to rub in how totally rad your life away from the monotony is. We want to be excited for you and we want you to enjoy yourself so you can finally come back rested up (and finally quit being such an uptight, stressed-out super beast). We want to know about your fun times. We want to see them in a festive posted album. But what we don't want is a detail by detail account, spoken or visual. Keep some memories for yourself and the people you shared it with.

And with that, I've now got to go pack for a mini-retreat down the coast to see my fam' and send my sister off to her study abroad trip. I sure hope she's reading.

Fare thee well!

-C

Outta the Woods & Into the Hazy Unknown...

... so somebody fix me summin' strong!

(**Update: So blogger apparently had a little hiccup that turned into a 24 disaster, and lots of people's blogs were screwed around with... I was one of them and it ruined several updates and posts I worked so very hard on. It also deleted all the comments from this post right before I got a chance to read them, as well as any comments I left on fellow blogger's posts... UGH! But life carries on and I'm sorry for the inconvenience!)

.::SUMMER!::.

It's like, one of my all-time favorite things. Like, IN THE WORLD.

I am by all accounts a warm-weather gal, and I would much rather sweat* than shiver any day.

(*Ahem! Excuse me: Glisten.)

So I survived my long and overly dramatic festival of academic doom, John's law school graduation (upcoming post on that later), and slow re-entry back into the land of the living. I've spent the last three days reorganizing my big kid duties and cleaning up the explosion of stupid that happened throughout my apartment... aka, doing (not kidding) over 2 months of laundry (holy monkey junk, how many clothes DO I have?!... or how many times did I re-wear that bra, exactly?), grocery shopping (no more pickles & hummus dinners for me!), and - get this - even defrosting and cleaning out my refrigerator (and I thought exams were rough). I'm embarrassed to say I'm not actually even done with school 100% = still finishing up my internship research paper, which I promised would be in tomorrow; and then I get approximately 72hrs of non-academic bliss before my summer class begins on Monday. Oh joy.

But never-mind, that!

Summer class is but a pithy detail.

So what are some things about summer I really love?

SO GLAD YOU ASKED!

A sassy bathing suit.

Do I really need another one? Probably not. But I've been thinking about investing in a one piece lately; not sure why, but there's something about a solid & structured one-piece that screams sophistication (something I desperately need). Check out this one I've been obsessing over from White House Black Market.

How stinkin' cute is THIS?! A cute ruffly plunging neckline with an unsuspecting low-cut back... yes please! Shoot, y'all. If Kate can bring back sleeves, I can bring back the one-piece. Let me at it!

A riveting read.

It's amazing how I've spent the last nine months drowning in reading assignments and yet all-I-wanna-do is find a blistering hot place in the sun and throw down a fabulous piece of literature. You know what, it doesn't have to be fabulous = it just has to be good. Enjoyable. NON-ACADEMIC. The sad part is I'm woefully behind on my reading list that I gave up and now I don't know where to start. I'm turning to you, faithful readers, to share your suggestions (books to avoid are just as helpful).

A jazzy playlist.

Y'all, I created a "Billie Holiday" station on my Pandora and it's UHH-mazing. Dean Martin, Louis Armstrong, and yes, even Old Blue Eyes shows up a lot as well. Really, I can't get enough.

A smokin' backyard BBQ.

(from Mad Men, image found on crushable.com)

I really am a sucker for backyard parties with char-grilled goodies, cold bevvies, and inappropriate adult conversations while kids blast each other with super soakers. There better be plenty this summer. HECK, I might be the Backyard BBQ Crasher amongst the uppity neighborhoods close by. There's little I won't do to get a plate of smoked ribs and potato salad.

A sunny sundress.

(with Minh - center, and Anne - right, after our BBQ & Blues Cruise, summer 2010)

I have about 86 of them. They're THE perfect summer outfit: throw it on and GO. No pants, no complicated hipster layering nonsense, and no stopping what accessories you can use to glam it up or tone it down. YEAH-YUH.

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I really, really am hoping this summer I can get myself together and start making the changes and taking the challenges I know I'm capable of. Despite the lazy, hazy days of the genteel South'un summa' months, I'm desperately seeking a little invigoration and soul searching so I can quit being a slave to my doubts, insecurities, and barriers I create for myself.

And if that invigoration requires vodka and time spent poolside, so be it.

And if you want to join, I am taking applications for summer adventurers.

Stay tuned!

-C

Is That Any Way to Behave? (No Really, I Don't Know.)

In a quick lunch break from studying today (last exam commences tonight... BOOYAH), I took to reading up on the latest news... and what a bizarre few days of media-worthy craziness it has been. As I'm sure most of you woke up Monday morning to find the news of Osama Bin Laden, if you weren't already in the know when it happened Sunday night, my initial reaction was anything but positive. It gave me a nauseating feeling, brought on by that weird sort of head-spinning confusion that comes with not really knowing what emotion or opinion is appropriate or even applicable... I was stunned, if anything.

I remember exactly where I was on September 11th: 10th grade math class at my rinky-dink little school in the middle of Nowhere, South Carolina... after the 2nd tower went down, the whole school entirely stopped its work for the day. For the students who weren't frantically picked up by their parents, we sat there and watched. All day.

I didn't know anyone personally who was involved, but it's still one of those things that leaves you feeling completely different. I'll never be able to comprehend the magnitude and horribleness of that day. But I do know it took a long time for many to find hope.

While a perfect excuse to climb on to my very well-worn soapbox, my feelings on the current situation are muddled. I haven't had a single good feeling about it over the last 24 hours, and it seems to get more confusing and flat out ridiculous as more unfolds (not to mention nothing really seems to add up). The news I read this afternoon also seemed multi-opinionated, and there are far better writers than myself who did use the opportunity for soapbox issues. One I read that struck the biggest chord is by Pamela Gerloff of the Huffington Post:

"The death of Osama bin Laden gives us an opportunity to ask ourselves: What kind of nation and what kind of species do we want to be? Do we want to become a species that honors life? Do we want to become a species that embodies peace? If that is what we want, then we need to start now to examine our own hearts and actions, and begin to consciously evolve in that direction. We could start by not celebrating the killing of another."

Read the rest of the article here.

Overall, at the heart of the issue, this was the big take-away for me.

And I'll leave it at that.

Any reactions you saw or heard that made you cringe?

Or, maybe, that gave you hope humanity isn't all lost?