Shaving At Warren Township High School

Would you shave your head? Recently, a bunch of students and a few teachers at Warren Township High School, in Gurnee, accepted the challenge in the name of cancer research. The event, affiliated with the St. Baldrick’s (pun intended) organization, was a treat to photograph.

Students and staff solicited donations to shave their heads. And local businesses (including myself) donated their time, services and razors to the event. Over $20,000 has been raised!

Of course, for some students, it was just another haircut. But to many, it was a rather big decision. What a wonderful cause!

Show Me Your Headshot

Once upon a time, only actors and executives thought about headshots. Now we all do.

Your Facebook profile photo? Your Twitter avatar? Your LinkedIn photo? They're all headshots. The context might have changed a bit, but many of the old rules still apply:

Rule #1. There’s a huge difference between a great headshot and a lousy one.

Rule #2. Get a great one.

My new headshot was taken by Peter Hurley, a world famous headshot photographer, at an incredible workshop this past weekend. Just weeks after I moved to the Chicago area, Peter happened to be in town offering an intensive weekend course for photographers. My wife volunteered to hold down the fort and watch the kids, and I got 20 hours to study with Peter.

The workshop included great lectures and plenty of time both behind and in front of the camera. Being in front of the camera — actually sitting there getting my own picture taken — was illuminating. Literally. It was blinding due to Peter’s intense lighting. But his true gift isn’t his fancy equipment. It’s his ability to pull rich expressions from anyone who steps in front of his camera.

Peter describes himself as “90% therapist, 10% photographer.” Watching him work, it’s easy to see how the dynamic between subject and photographer makes all the difference. The human element in his work is incredible. No matter where technology takes us, I don’t believe a computer will ever be able to product expressions with the authenticity that a talented photographer brings every day to his craft.  

I learned so much at the workshop, and I’m already putting new techniques and tricks to use in my own sessions. Drop me a note and let’s get to work on a new headshot for your social media presence. Everyone can benefit from a bit of profile therapy.

PS - Here's a quick tip for your next selfie — Check out Peter's video on the Squinch. Now, take that photo!

Houzz

Next time you’re doing a little web surfing on the couch, check out Houzz.com. It’s a site I stumbled on while researching options for setting up our new home in Chicago, and it’s already earned a spot on my list of favorite web resources.

Houzz is like Pinterest, but built specifically to connect professional contractors, designers, and architects with the people who might hire them. It’s great for finding inspiration and for communicating ideas visually with the people who will help bring them into reality. Photographers are welcome too because all those creative professionals needs great images of their work. I went ahead and set up a profile—check it out!

If you’re looking to do some remodeling or just need some decorating ideas, you’ll want to start browsing Houzz. I found a great designer for help with our basement project.  Cathy Zaekse has put together a fantastic plan. She’s been recognized on Houzz a few years running. Even if you’re not in Gurnee or the Chicago area, she can help you.

Is hiring a professional designer worth it? I really think so. Here’s an example from our (now former) Florida house. Our kitchen breakfast nook features a fantastic lake view just the right amount of tree cover.

There’s designer detail at work here that you may not even notice — we didn’t either, at first. With a west facing view, the Florida sun can get pretty intense in the late afternoon. The trees provide just enough shade without obstructing the beautiful light and water. Our next door neighbor has no trees, making the afternoon sun too harsh to enjoy.

Just a small decision can make or break a view, or transform the usability of a room. A professional’s insight can be key to enjoying your corner of the world.

We've Moved!

It’s official, I've relocated to Gurnee, Illinois! I plan to serve the northern Chicago suburbs. And there’s a bunch of them, Libertyville, Grayslake, Lake Villa, Lake Bluff, Lindenhurst, Mundelein, Lake Forest, Long Grove, Lincolnshire, Ivanhoe, Indian Creek,Vernon Hills and Highland Park. The list goes on...

If you’re in the area, drop me a note, I’d love to hear from you!

Dancing Back in Time

Many years ago, in high school, I photographed a dance class for my friend Lori. I was always impressed with her talents, especially since I have zero ability in the dancing department.

Can you tell that these images were captured on film? The aged and grainy look is all natural. Shooting film was lots of fun, a whole different experience really. But it did have limitations. Today, an iPhone would likely produce technically better images in the same light, especially for the action shots. But the film definitely brings out a great feel.

A few years ago I scanned a lot of my old film images, and I’m glad I did. When Lori sent me a note asking about those pictures, I was able to load them right up. I’m sure the negatives are around somewhere, but I couldn’t tell you where.

Today’s tip: Scan your old photos or negatives.

I’ve used a service called ScanCafe on several occasions. The process is a simple, just box up photos, negatives, or even video tape. They’ll scan it and send you a link. You can then review the scans and purchase what you want. This feature alone is great because you don’t have to spend time deciding exactly what to send. Just ship it all in and then decide later online.

Go find a box of old photos and send in a few for scanning. Your family and friends will be glad you did—after getting over the embarrassment of your next #tbt post.