I am a professional photographer, the question I am often asked is if I do photography full time, and I wish I could say yes. However, in an economy where professional photos are a luxury many, many professional photographers have a second job for a steady income. So the question becomes how do we make time for photography when we have other jobs, family, and social lives to maintain too?
I sometimes like to look at quotes, any kind and ruminate on them and see how the meaning can be applied to my life or just in general. I have a lot of quotes I love and most of them are not about photography, a lot come from what many find to be terribly boring books—biographies. All of them speak to me.
As the year comes to a close so too does the fun horse shows at the Belmont County Fairgrounds. These are languid days of riders out playing with their horses in non-traditional classes such as panty hose races and egg and spoon.
It has been a great horse show year and in large part that is due to the re-opening of Grizzle Ridge Arena in Jerusalem, Ohio. Back in May when they put together their first show and was looking for a photographer at the last minute I wasn’t sure what was going to happen with this arena.
Eight Years… That’s right everyone Eight Years. I have been building this blog and on more than one occasion beating my head off my desk to come up with ideas for this blog when photoshoots weren’t plentiful to show off what I had been up too.
Last year my very good friend and his partner started a Dahlia field and business. They invited me up to spend a day among their flowers and just take whatever photo captured my interest of their blooms after all their hard labor. It was a great relaxing day spent with my friend doing what I love in a no pressure situation that lead to some great images including an international honorable mention.
It isn’t often I get to use my design skills but when I do I have a good time creating something visually compelling. Even when it is tricky because emerging my artistic eye, marketing mind, and images into something that also satisfies clients can be very tricky.
One of the fun sessions I had this year was meeting and photographing a very cute, two year old stallion named Iced Out Casamova whom I was tasked with capturing to create his very first stud ad.
Back in July there was a Longhorn Cattle show at my local fairgrounds. The photographer in me really wanted to show up for the show and take all the pictures but ultimately I decided to attend one day with my niece and later brother in law and sister who joined us to scope it out.
Because of all of this 2024 was unexpectedly fantastic and has allowed me to start planning newer, bigger goals for 2025. Some of these goals have been swirling around my head for a while I just didn’t have the time to bring them into reality or properly research how to make them happen.