Bebb Studios

Nervous excitement…that’s what I feel when I think about my upcoming solo adventure.

Yep, solo.
Alone.
Just me…no Steve.
No safety net.
No ying to my yang…well, you get what I mean.

I tried this once before, this solo speaking thing, and it was kind of fun. And scary. So when the chance came to try it again, I didn’t think – I jumped.

That’s what I do, I jump…then I figure out how to make it happen.

So, from May 29th – June 10th I’ll be on the road. 9 cities in 13 days with the Sallee School. Use the code “Jen” and get yourself a discount on an already amazing price. And come hang out – I’ll be there to chat + answer questions before and after the program.

I’m excited, really excited, about the chance to talk business with photographers – especially some newer photographers who may not be thinking about business seriously yet. For those of you who have more established businesses, I have lots of ideas on keeping those fresh and interesting also.

Yes, business can be creative, fun and interesting. It really can!

That’s just one of the things I’ll be sharing – how to make a creative business. After all, we’re creative people, we should use that creativity in our businesses, not just our art. Here is a very short synopsis of some of the things we’ll be covering for y’all:

1. ALLOCATION: Budgeting for Business What kind of choices are you making in your business that are hurting your bottom line? Discover some of the mistakes business owners make in allocating the funds they have, and what you can do to keep more of the money you make. What will make you more money and what will not (this might surprise you).
2. ACCESS: Getting your clients to work for you In 2012, there is only one kind of marketing that makes sense – conversation. Learn to engage your audience by interacting, not interrupting. Relationship marketing, customer evangelists and more.
3. ACHIEVEMENT: Now What? Complacency is the enemy of success for any small business. We’ll chat about the importance of movement, innovation and change once you have achieved success. This is where creativity and innovation come into your business development.
4. ANTICIPATION: Build something bigger than you dreamed. Dreams, goals, ambition are the cornerstone of all creative businesses. We’ll chat with you about how to find room to dream, why you should go after your WHAT IFs and more. Do you have a plan for your business – a vision of what you want to build? Let’s do this together and make something incredible.

All this really means is we’re going share ways to get more clients and make more money. I am so very passionate about building businesses that work, businesses that are successful and help give you the life you want. That means no more working until 2am or putting off time with your spouse or kids. That has to stop – we are professionals and need to build businesses that reflect that.

Here are the places I’m heading:

If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below and I will do my darnedest to answer those for you. Or, feel free to send me a message at info@bebbstudios.com. Can’t wait to see you all on the road!

Rian + Grant were married last summer at Hycroft Manor in Vancouver. On a day that was simply perfect, with a couple so totally in love, it would be so easy to get caught focusing solely on our couple.

But a wedding is about so much more than two people. Yes, it is a wedding day and, as such, there is a celebration around that. Yes, the couple is always at the center of attention. But we have never worked with a couple who did not want their entire story told – each has wanted to see what they miss, what happens when they aren’t looking. Their job, as the newly wedded pair is to have eyes for each other, and they trust us to pay attention to everything else (as well as them).

Rian + Grant have stunning portraits of the two of them, there are dozens, of images from the ceremony and reception that focus on them alone. We could share those with you here and you would Rian + Grant’s day, but in this post we want to show you the day enjoyed by everyone else (with a few of our wonderful couple in the mix).

We love details – the dress, the shoes, the flowers. But we also love the details of the place. The WHERE of a wedding is such an important consideration (along with those other wonderful details).

One of the challenges I give myself at each wedding is to photograph the shoes in a different way. It’s a tough challenge, but one I try to meet every time. I still photograph the shoes in a way our bride expects, but it’s fun to play with the juxtaposition of a dirty backdrop and a gorgeous pair of shoes.

These kinds of moments make my heart melt. I LOVE how happy Rian’s mom is. I don’t think the smile left her face all day – even through the happy tears you could see it.

These kinds of moments with the guys are some of our favorites. We try to be as inconspicuous as possible, but find it works really well with the groomsmen. These are the kinds of moments our couples don’t see or experience.

And, of course, a first look…

A first look is almost always followed by the photo session. It’s a time when emotions run high and the nervous energy and excitement create amazing tension and intimacy in our images. While we obviously make portraits of our couples, we’re also interested in the subtle things that make them unique.

Working with the bridal party is another part of the portrait session we love. We keep thing light and fun, looking for the connections between them all. Often we find simply encouraging them to “talk amongst themselves” creates the mood we’re looking for. We choose the light, we choose the location – the rest is all them.

Couples go to great lengths to personalize their events. Everything from the floral to the way a table is set to signature cocktails and the choice of canapes is subject to our lenses.

One of our favorite parts of the day happens during the reception. We love the speeches. We love hearing the stories told and learning a little bit more about our couples. And we love the reactions people have to those speeches. It can sometimes be challenging to photograph those reactions – you have to keep your eyes open, move fast, and think even faster. In a dark and crowded room the challenges are obvious, but even in a relatively open setting like this it can be tough. We have rules about this kind of thing – we will never block someone’s view for more than a moment, never walk in front of the person giving the speech and never let them see you watching them (it changes their reactions when they are camera aware). If you work hard and pay attention, though, you can do it.

Once the dancing begins, Steve and I like to explore the venue, looking for people who slip away for a moment or two. Invariably, while the girls are all dancing, the guys head outside for a drink, a cigar, and conversation. We like to find them, photograph them, and slip away unnoticed.

Why do we do what we do? Is it just about making pretty pictures? Really, if we (collectively, not just us) wanted to make nothing but perfectly posed, pretty pictures, we probably wouldn’t choose weddings.

Weddings are messy, they never go as planned.  Weddings are filled with spontaneous moments. Weddings are a unique collection of people. Weddings are about so much more than two people. Weddings are glorious and exciting and filled with challenge for a photographer.

Weddings are pretty too. There is nothing more beautiful than a couple in love, starting a journey that will take them to unexpected places. Weddings are the beginning, the mark of something new and untested. Weddings are the public manifestation of a love story.

Weddings are why I am a photographer. Weddings are why Bebb Studios was started. Weddings are what drives us to create, to document, to push ourselves to greater heights.

We are storytellers. We tell the story of a wedding, through our cameras. We share what happens, as it happens. We use light, shadow, emotion, composition and more.

At the end of the day, though, we are telling a story.

Those stories, your weddings, are unique every single time. They have to be – every couple is unique. And so, we approach those stories with an open mind and heart, aware that YOU and your wedding is completely different from every other.

Sometime the story is in the face of the mother watching her daughter in the final prep for the day.

Sometimes the story is in where the wedding takes place.

Sometimes it’s how he holds her in his arms – unique to them.

Sometimes it’s how she holds him.

We tell stories with our images. We tell stories about you.

It’s here, ready to go, waiting for you. A place for artist-preneurs of ALL GENRES to come, learn, build community and grow together.

WHAT IF Portland builds on the lessons and success of our Cabo adventure. This is a conference for anyone who considers themselves a CREATIVE. That means photographers, writers, musicians, designers, and more are welcome (and are signed up) for Portland.

Are you a creative? Are you interested in a community of other creatives? Are you looking for inspiration? Are you filled with WHAT IFs and afraid to make them happen? Are you a dreamer? Are you a doer? Are you interested in more? Are you willing to let go, to trust and to embrace the possibilities of more? Are you ready for something that will change your life and your business?

Join us in Portland, July 23 – 26, for the WHAT IF Summer Session.

All the details are right here!