Jeff & keri all the way from L.A.

Comrades,

Had the pleasure of shooting my first wedding of 2010 on March 7th and as always, I had a blast. Just to be "Anti-Establishment" I will refrain from telling you the days events in chronological order that somehow get the words "Emotion", "Love", & "Feelings" jumbled into the paragraph so that you think I was in this zen state of being with my subjects. That would be fake and one way to placate the memory of my subjects to the point of sounding like a Hallmark card that you always forget to take off the fridge. I digress, Jeff & Kari flew up from L.A. to have a ceremony right here in good ole Idaho. With a glaring sun ready to do battle with me I found myself spending the first 2 hours getting a feel for my subjects. Sometimes it is just like that in photography, you spend a bit of time earning trust for it is not everyday somebody takes 400 plus pictures of one set of people. I almost love the challenge that it presents because being the competitive guy I am, when I have conquered that obstacle whether real or perceived, I get a sense of satisfaction not found in anything else I do.

Given that no two weddings are alike, I am always pleased when a couple isn't as worried about the status quo and I can say that Jeff & Keri were all over that. Even better, I am always blown away when two people are making this huge commitment to one another and yet they come off without a worry in the world. Without a doubt, these two fit that description. The funny thing is, I was probably more the worried than them it was my first gig for 2010. Funny how you have to get your "Sea Legs" after not shooting a wedding for 6 months and yet, I have always found my first wedding of a given year to be the one I remember the most. Of course all that matters are that 1. I am satisfied with the pictures 2. The subjects are satisfied with the pictures. Ok maybe not satisfied but ecstatic! The whole experience was yet one more gateway to another time created by the 3 of us that I can only hope they reflect on down the road. Wedding photography is that one thing where we are allowed to cross the lines of business and friends and with that said I am very happy to have been a small part of a new friendship if only seen through the memories of what we created .

Flying Over Your Mother's House,

Lance

Micha & Carrissa

Comrades,

Excellent engagement session capped by sunny skies and a gentle breeze. Always felt like engagements were the time to work out the kinks and find what fits a subject best for their wedding day. This of course, is like the pre-season for weddings and already I feel like I am in mid-season form. I am ready, are you?

Lawyers in Love

Comrades,

I have always loved the time of year when you know that everything cold is nothing more than a blip in the rearview mirror. We are now as close to springtime as it is to us and I find myself anxious to be outside. Jake & Kassy met me at one of my new locations that I hadn’t tried and based on what we turned out, I will be using that location again. Photographers always keep some locations to themselves not sharing them with anyone. This is because new locations get copied once it is discovered that they produce cool pictures. You’re always nervous when choosing a new location because you are not sure if it will lend itself well to your subjects. Not sure why I feel that way except to say that you are going into an unproven zone and will be working on the fly. New locations are notorious for having snakes, hornets, Pumas etc…. Just joking actually…..Back to Jake & Kassy, two lawyers must equal two soul mates. It was a pleasure working with them and I look forward to what the summer may bring when we meet again.

For those of you that don’t know Justis Photography has a fan page on Facebook and I would love to have you on board. I promise there is no flood of useless advertisements and polls that will come to your inbox from participating. It simply helps my own marketing campaigns become the viral tornado they need to be and that is a good thing given I am not a big fan of placement marketing. If you feel the need to say “Hey, I am a fan of Justis Photography and I want the whole world to know about it”, then get your tail over to Facebook and join the Justis Task Force.
First Weddings for All My Friends,

Lance

Dropping In and Flying the Coop

Comrades,

Back from the 6 feet of hiding I have been indulged in, I have come to hit you wide open with a blog worthy of more than one thought. Throwing my own hat into the fray for 2010, it really shaping up to be a year filled with excitement! Many new brides and grooms and the way things are going, it appears a personal record for Justis Photo is just over the horizon. Been meeting all sorts of new people via Facebook and given the fact many of them are fellow photographers it enables me to see some seriously amazing work from all over the country. I often read posts on photography forums by seasoned pros who are flat out angry with the new generation of photographers. I can never tell if they have a legitimate beef or if they are just pissed off at the newer shooters infusion of skills into this fishbowl we call “The Industry”. Nevertheless I have almost become a voice for these first and second year shooters simply because too many photographers are self-righteous and flat out snotty. I have known a few that have even left brides in tears on their wedding day! Man I hope acting that way is not the benchmark of success.

I relive the glory of my hometown team the New Orleans Saints winning the big game every time I watch fellow photog Julia Bailey’s French Quarter party video. Amazing work it is and it just goes to show that when citizens, armed with a camera are very capable of bringing you the story the same as your local news reporter. Of course with citizen reporters you seldom get the bias or the smokescreen our “professional” media outlets cram down our throats. Speaking of New Orleans, I foresee a trip that way in the not too distant future but first, I must conquer San Antonio with my fellow conquistadors in June.

I had more to post but after reading it decided it was better left unsaid. Let’s just say that our church lady in Meridian who currently resides in Haiti was in my sights. I will add that if you are the reading type, you will find that Motley Crue’s book entitled “The Dirt” is a well written, well spoken, and a flat out open door to the world of over indulged rockers. More to come soon comrades so stay tuned…….

Lance

New Website

Comrades,

Though it has been a long time coming Justis Photography has a new look and feel. The website is much more condensed and to the point so I hope you find it as refreshing as I do. My excitement is hard to contain over the advancements made and I want to send a special thank you to Jenna and Katie at the “WhiteSpace” in Boise for their hard work in making it happen. Oops I almost forgot Wyatt who developed and refined much of the sites layout. Excellent work guys and I thank you for the new home for Justis Photo.

New Website Coming Soon many thanks to "The WhiteSpace"

Comrades,

Gearing up for a new website is more work than I ever could have dreamed. I find that spending time in front of the computer editing the text and placing the pictures grows old in a hurry! Are you tired of hearing me complain enough? Well the good news is that Justis Photo as you know it on the web is changing for the better in the near future. Easier navigation, simple design, etc. will be the rule not the exception. I am really excited about the portfolio galleries that are so in your face it is almost impossible to miss them. In the past you had to click a link to get them to open whereas in some cases, clients may have missed them altogether. No more I say!
Attended the local wedding shows and met some really great people and potential future clients. I really love meeting and speaking with the masses especially when we are talking pictures and what goes into making them. The wedding season can’t get here fast enough and this year looks to be a vagabond year of sorts. With gigs that require some travel I am going to earn my miles while lugging tons of gear in the process.
When I hear people say that this country is doomed and that people will never spend money again I cringe not with fear but with disgust. Why must we think so negative? Thinking and knowing are two different things and I am here to tell ya that I know we will ALL make it one person at a time. Training ourselves to choose not to think all is lost is only the first step but a vital one. Yes change is inevitable for all industries but from that change we find our own innovations and create new paths. I know this from my own personal story (I won’t bore you with it) but KNOWING from firsthand experience we will all still smile, still laugh, and still cry regardless of our financial dispositions. So if you want to jump into the reality boat I say come aboard you are all welcome. Money is material and to be human is life lifting. Now tell me which one of those inspires you more?
Been taking some pics on random occasions and like every winter, the weird just keep getting weirder in terms of pics. I will admit, I am running out of places to get pics and I need to stretch my boundaries a tad. Until then, keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel……..
The New Orleans Saints should be Super Bowl bound the next time I write or at least they better be. Hail the city of New Orleans and the fortitude of a tragic yet entertaining franchise woven in the fabric of the population it depends on.
Fleur De Lis For All My Friends,
Lance

P.S.
I learned this week that photographers are in fact better picture takers than writers. Lordy some of the blogs I read were laced in scribble that a 2 year old could make sound more eloquent. Did we forget to teach people that “i” is capitalized when refereeing to one’s self in a sentence?

Picking Fights with Santa

Comrades,

TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!!! I come before you tonight to wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy/Safe New Year. Drink some for me as I will most likely drink some for you. I cannot even begin to say just how much fun I had with each and every one of you this year and I felt as though I absolutely made some things happen that I had not tried before. I could sit here and list all of the cool things that we did but it would take a writing longer than the bible! My gratitude extends to you, the person on the other side of the lens and your families for the support and flexibility. Before I fade off into what is left of 2009 I figured it would be appropriate to give you some holiday tips. Read with a grain of salt, a grain of Tony C’s, or a grain of sand the choice is yours. Just remember, I love what I do and love the music we have all collectively made together in 2009. May 2010 see another eclipse of ideas and visions with new faces and new found friends.

Your 2009 Holiday Tips

1. Cats like trees and XMAS trees are no exception. When all else fails, pull out the BB gun.
2. Open each present like it is the first one you ever received even if underwear two sizes two big lies beneath the wrapping.
3. Tell a cop Merry XMAS if you see em working on the 25th. This doesn’t work if you are being pulled over for I have tried and failed.
4. Enjoy a movie
5. Burnt cookies make great hockey pucks.
6. Avoid planes for this is the time of year when they fly in circles making you think you are getting closer to your destination only to realize you have barely left Boise’s airspace.
7. If you do fly, ask the TSA where they got the trucker shirts.
8. Fill a stocking up with mustard and let one of the kids dig off in it. The look you’ll get is priceless!
9. Pray for my Saints
10. Lastly, remember that even if 2009 was tough for you know that no matter how cold the winter, there is always a spring time ahead. I relate and know some of the same challenges many of you have faced of late. Find a passion I say and you will notice that life begins to leave you alone more often. Regardless, if you can’t smile I will gladly do it for you and once the sun shines back at me I will ensure that warmth finds its way to you. Caring is not a sign of weakness, it is what makes us fight through the bad while taking measure in the good.


Free Photos for Whoever Laces Santa’s Sleigh with Paintball Pellets,

Lance