I am actually writing you this time with more than something that says “Writer’s Block”. Since I am righting a wrong (Get it?) allow me to bring a punch to your inner soul with some news. This year’s Justis calendar is done and ready to hit the press and if you care or just want a good laugh at my creative expense I say bring it! Yes I admit, the last two years had a few creations that I look back at and wonder what in the hell I was thinking but life is a series of progressions you build upon. Nonetheless, I have managed to compile a series of images that I worked on when I was one of the following: 1. Bored 2. Needing to practice CS5 3. Dressing up like Greg Sims for Halloween. And since I am doing what everyone else does (blogging) I figured that I would bellow a few noble words and share the goods. Impressed? Hardly you say? That is OK, I am used to my words hitting the dirt faster than a bull rider with no arms. So without further delay, the entries please.....
Jan
Feb
March
April
May
June
July
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Special thanks to those who voluntarily or involuntarily found themselves in the entries I thank all of you for simply being you. Now go warn your neighbors about me! Happy Thanksgiving my friends from all over the globe!
Hope you are enjoying the onset of fall and that with XMAS just around the corner, that you are thinking of sending me a bottle of the "Goose". In the meantime, enjoy some shots from a former TCU baseball player & his college sweetheart. What a day it was despite the fact I busted a $500 flash because I failed to take my head out of my %ss. Life will go on and life is good for one Paul & Allison Gerrish. Great people with amazing families.
As much as I Facebook, it seems blogging is but only a secondary way for me to alert the world to the motions that move both with an against me. I wonder if the person who came up with the term “Information Age” factored how that term would alter our abilities to stay focused on one thing? Haven't heard from someone in 45 days? No problem, read their blog while you pay your bills! In the beginning, I honestly thought social media, smart phones, etc. would enable relationships to grow while helping us stay in touch with long lost friends. Truth is, it has done just that but it has complicated things even more. Seems as though we have a millions of signals streaming down upon us and it can make life tough to slow down as I have found. How ironic that convenience can sometimes become a task in itself…..It stands to reason that my lust for blogging has lost some of it’s luster for reasons associated with other social media obligations that I now carry in my front pocket. So with that said, I give to you my monthly update.
July 29th saw me out in Homedale shooting Matt & Donnae’s wedding on a property that enjoys a view of the Snake River. With Matt fresh out of one of those walking boots, (Torn Achilles) timing could not have been better. This wedding also marked the first time my son (Devon Justis) attended and assisted me at a gig. Never have I been so proud of his work ethic and flexibility but even more telling was his recognition of the energy one uses to complete the job on any given weekend during the summer. With enough heat to melt the Devil, we plugged away at 8 hours of work only to find ourselves soaking in a hot tub for an extended period once we got home. Matt & Donnae are now enshrined into the “Justis League” and for that I thank them.
With no rest for the weary (literally) I did a rare turn-around the following day shooting Dan & Carman’s wedding at good ole’ C.W. Moore Plaza. Unlike any couple before them, these two flew in from their home in Hong Kong so that Dan’s family could seem them marry. What could not have been better was that this gig was went at a pace that gave new meaning to the term easy come, easy go. It just goes to show that the reach of a photographer’s work can and will make impressions across the ponds of the earth. Does it get any better?
With 2 down and 2 more to go, I was off to Garden Valley to meet up with Scott & Kirsten. With my son making a second appearance, we were handed the keys to a golf cart that my son made clear he would be driving. The event was short and sweet but the fun lasted for hours. “Ice Blocking, Golf Cart Racing, and Guitar Bashing were a few of the oddball things we found ourselves consumed with while making pictures for the masses. If you stick with wedding photography long enough, you will discover that sometimes you get a ticket to ride as well. Having fun on "The Day" is what it is all about!
Last but not least, I landed right in the heart of downtown Boise shooting a gig at the “Aldeman” for Vachel & Andrea. I must say that for a newer wedding venue, the place is sure to give the competition a run for their money! It is a photographers dream complete with rustic décor sure to make any creative professional smile. Even better, my two confederates we nothing short of a blast to work with while a perfect fit for the urban influenced pictures I had planned. I always have to remind myself to avoid being too greedy when it comes to shooting downtown. I mean seriously, downtown Boise is one of the best places on earth during the summer and a pure joy to shoot wedding clients. I could give you the long and short of my love for downtown but I think the pictures demonstrate what I am getting at. Damn, there are days I wish I had a million miles of wall space to hang some of the images I nail down each summer. Sorta like a “Bridal Hall of Fame”. For what it’s worth, I keep a gallery of my favorites deep within my soul. Having that ensures I remain connected to the blending of light, angles, and available resources into what ultimately becomes something timeless. Now that I have verified that “writer’s block” isn’t an issue, let me give you ten things I think.
10 Things I Think
The hardest part of being a photographer is cultivating a new creative edge for each and every gig.
I am noticing fewer and fewer people jumping into the photographer profession. Not but 2 years ago, I couldn’t walk through downtown without seeing 50 “People with a Camera”.
Best line I have heard in sometime is “When I look into your eyes, I see the back of your head”.
The vendors at the state fair look similar to the faces you see on the Ada County jail roster.
Small businesses are by far, the most important asset to the U.S. economy. Anyone who tells you otherwise, needs to have their head examined. The next time you drive somewhere, pay close attention to the number of establishments you see. My guess is that 97% of them will be establishments with only one maybe two locations thus, small. Appreciate them but more importantly, BUY FROM THEM!
Speaking of the U.S., more than a “rebound”, this country needs leadership with no strings attached. Would be great if a person who didn’t come from millions could rise up and relate to the working class.
The Oregon Coast is a must see for all!
The color pink is really the color red without a tan.
“Unbroken” is the read of a lifetime
Randomly do something nice for a complete stranger when the opportunity arises. People more than ever, need a reminder of how giving their fellow Life Bots can be.
There is just something about the drive home from a gig after you have poured every ounce of your soul into a shoot. The body is drained but even more so, the realm that makes up that soul has not a thing left to offer. I find this to be one of the most satisfying feelings to have at the conclusion of a gig. Like the gauges in your car that give you the status of each critical component, these things I describe are telling me that: 1. I gave my all 2. Money earned is better than money given 3. My chest bore a vest of fortitude that refused even the slightest urge to let the elements get the better of me.
Chelcy & "The Man" Jed
The Amazing & Kind Chelcy Cordova
Desirae Bronson
In St. Louis
Matt & Ashleigh
While none of these things race through my head in any particular order, they no less serve as the catalyst of impulsive satisfaction during the last light of the day. There is no music playing, there are no words spoken, just the serene sound of uniformed air that runs along my arm at 80 MPH. Each moment gets replayed as I chuckle at the moments that lead up to the very last words I say to a family as I depart. That my friends, is connecting with your passions perhaps even, your purpose in life.
My Bro Kory & I Hanging at the Fiddle Festival
With that, I present to you the end result of my three thousand calorie burning days which includes Dustin/Michelle, Matt/Ashleigh, and Jed/Chelcy and a few up and coming musical artists, etc. All of these had their own unique spin but also reminded me of why the art of shooting is best served by a mind and body in shape! Thank you for the flexibility, the ability to laugh, your originality, and most importantly the trust we exchange in our new found fellowship. The summer is here and the grill is making it's mark. The beer and flip flops are the in-between until that next moment, in the sun.
So after a 30+ day hiatus I have finally availed myself to the jaws of my MacBook Pro's thirst to have a new blog typed right into the motherboard. Coming straight out of a time warp the last month has seen me shoot, travel, and shoot some more. Before we get to some samples, I wanna say the world has seen the Mother load of newsworthy events plant itself in the paths of our lives. From Osama Bin Laden to the devastating twisters to hit the Midwest, our sensitivities are all but numb. Polarized and yet energized we continue forward.
You have probably heard me say a thousand times how client-based photography is 2 parts relationship management and one part technical proficiency. Being the silent bird hovering in the night sky, I am now keenly aware that an ethos of forced self reflection are being used as a marketing tactic more and more these days. Without using numbers, I have seen countless blogs, ads, pitches, etc. involving somebody trying to sell you something while using questions designed to have you asking yourself; Who you are, What moves you, yada yada yada. Because of this self appointed duty that requires me to splash a little cold water on the faces of many, I must now awaken you from this tactic of novelty. This isn't isolated to photography either. I have seen the aforementioned used for many other goods and services as well. It remains a system of trends that we continually find ourselves in and while I think that is the end result of “Pushing Creation Forward”, it also stands as a platform of commercial manipulation if you will. I am your photographer and by a bond of trust (& Money lol), I am also your official correspondent. I connect with you via this trust and common interests as opposed to having you tell me the things that “move you” in this life. If I am doing my job right, I already know what moves you that being, the other person standing in front of you at the altar who joins you while a sea of loved ones watch on. Pretty simple I think. You bring me into the fold to document, organize, and when necessary, mediate your wedding. That period from consultation to the conclusion of your wedding is a product of what you like about my work, and what you like about me as a person. Nowhere will you find a rule forcing you to swim in my intrinsic pool deeper than say, 3 feet. If none of that makes sense, join the army of ants scratching their heads as we speak.
Enjoy some of the latest odds & ends from the world of Lance Foster & before I close, details of Dustin & Michelle’s wedding will be posted soon.
Every so often, I find myself with a little more time to spend doing engagement pictures particularly, once the rush of weddings has subsided. A couple of weekends ago I met up with Brain & Jen to help them complete the front end of their wedding pics. Since they are getting hitched at an all inclusive place down in Arizona, my three dollar tail won’t be making the trip with em. However, I was still shown a slither of opportunity to work with them when it came to getting those engagements done. After being told we were not allowed to stand on the larger fixtures perched on the steps of the Capitol Building (Rent-A-Cop), we slipped into some alleys, parking garages, and finally Julia Davis Park. With our hunger for dinner kicking us square in the teeth, we packed it up, went our separate ways and headed for kitchens all over the town. Thanks guys and wish I was coming with ya….If you read this, tell your photographer I will be watching him (kidding of course).
Nate Fowler is a subject that has begun to show up in more than just a few portfolios’ of mine. To know this man is to know a guy focused on climbing a mountain with every ounce of energy he can muster all the while singing his latest mix of music. I had the pleasure to shoot his wedding, one of his EP covers, and now I am assuming his newest release. There have only been maybe a small handful of people over the years that I have shot more than twice whereas this was my third and hopefully not last shelling by way of the shutter with Nathan. When you have shot the same person a number of times, I notice that it takes little time to find your rhythm. If you're wondering why it is because we know what each expects from the other the minute we arrive on location. Even better is while Nathan is jabbing away at his producer, I am noticing that I am hitting homers one after the other with each picture snapped. Perhaps it is my bias and desire to shoot bands for a living that has me charged or could just be that Nathan defines everything that photographers desire when it comes to automatic chemistry. Life is a fun ride and our passions generate buzz, hope, vision, and for me thankfulness to be able to do what I do.
My Best Impression of Socrates
My Bud Sam Marvin
My good buddy Sam from LMP Sports trekked up the trails that lead to the base of Mount Cramer just outside of Stanley, Idaho. If you live around here and want to see what the reds, ambers, and greens look like for real, this time of year it is the place for you! Though our legs were about dead after 5 hours of hiking, the pictures we were lucky enough to get will last lifetimes! When it’s worth it, it’s worth it!
Best Movies Seen So Far This Year: 1. Crazy Heart 2.Restepo 2. Shutter Island 3. Book of Eli Now if I can just find time to see Wall Street 2 life will be grand!
Don’t you just hate it when people you rely on give you a bunch of excuses for not doing something? Well, I am going to allow myself to fall on the sword for levying a ton of excuses for being tardy on this blog. To save us both the grief, I am just going to list them accordingly and you can decide my fate.
1. Massive Home Repairs 2. Photo Shoots 3. Editing (LOTS OF THIS) 4. Slipping off to New Orleans for work related reasons (I admit, some of it was leisure) 5. Long Boarding 6. And many other things not blog related
When you live 50% of your life in front of a screen it is difficult to justify those extra few minutes writing away while hoping to God somebody reads the goods thus making you feel bigger than you really are. Even more, I have now joined the zillions who make up the attention deficit generation of Facebookers. That thing can keep you on for hours and this doesn't include the usage you dive into when you own an IPhone. Nonetheless, sometimes it is nice to have your own space designed the way you want it without the character restrictions thus, the blog is the island I should visit more often.
Did my photo thing for Nathan & Morgan’s wedding which started at the Depot, stopped off at Capital City Church just to say "I do", and then finished things up at The Stonehouse. Hot and muggy day no doubt but was a surefire process of shoot & move. Sometimes wedding schedules just go that way so it pays to be Johnny on the Spot. The “Wedding Gods” were gracious enough to ensure two of my former clients who were in attendance which brings me to my next point. It is truly awesome when surrounded by guests for whom you do not know, a familiar and kind pair of faces greet you while you work. Thanks Ty & Chel for the visit and the help loading my gear at the end of the night. Drinks on me.......
Jon & Melissa made the trek from the confines of Arizona and celebrated their day with perhaps the largest wedding party I have had to tackle to date. Earlier in the year I shot a wedding in Seattle with what I thought were the craziest groomsmen ever only to have that standard toppled by John’s crew. Always a good thing when people can simply cut loose and enjoy a fleeting moment and even better when there are pictures to freeze those moments in time. This wedding also marked the first time I gained access to the bell tower at the Boise Train Depot. If you are a shooter and haven’t shot up there, it is quite the treat if your creative gumption is in high gear. Many thanks to my crew from the “Cactus” state and may the comic relief shared with me that day, be shared with many more in the years that follow.
For those of you who have emailed me and asked for a particular image you have seen say, on Facebook, I am about to make your lives much easier. Here soon I will have a gallery built just for you so that you can get that image, pay for it, and have it shipped right to your door. In times past this was not as much of an issue for me but due to the increase in requests, I am going to make the whole process easy. Even better, the cost doesn’t change but you will still have to email me if you want a canvass or other “specialty" items. Stay tuned, I plan to get this thing up in October. Lastly, I have incorporated canvass prints into 2011 wedding packages along with some other options that may change just a touch more before the end of the year so bear with me, the goal is to maximize the offering to the soul on the other side of my lens :)
What a slamming start to the busiest time of the year for me. Individual sessions seem to be back in vogue and I welcome the challenge. I have been waiting for the opportunity to do a session on the sand dunes just past Mountain Home and come May 2nd that is where I will be. Of course, I will post some pics for ya and let’s hope for a pink sunset….. Man somebody forgot to tell me that the more equipment you own, the more luggage you have to carry around! Perhaps it is time for me to shed some of the weight because it has become maddening. I figure I am going to need the road crew from Metallica to help me lug all this stuff around. The thing is, I bore easily and need new tools at my disposal so that I am better able to try new things. I will admit that some things have worked better than others. Perhaps I will just have a photographer garage sale of sorts this fall. The one thing you won’t see me giving up is the 30x40 light panels from Interfit. If you’re a shooter try em! I promise you that light will never look the same again and they are quite simple to set up however I encourage you to buy a sandbag or two (They catch more wind than a sailboat!). Enough of my rambling, let us begin the 2010 wedding season and I hope to see your shining faces in the warm sun.
