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!

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.

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.

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!

THE DETAILS: This is a two day event, on April 15 + 16, 2012. The first day is a general session where admission is not capped. We’ll be covering the following:

Modern Weddings: Working Smarter

• Learn how to work less and make more money
• Three things you can do right now to increase sales with clients you already have booked
• Work more efficiently and have more time for your life
• Moving forward in the modern economy + relationship marketing

Giving Your Clients More: Adding Audio

• Why audio is important
• How adding audio will increase bookings and sales
• How to add audio to your existing coverages
• Equipment needs, etc.

The Business of Wedding Photography

• Plan for success
• Inspired image making
• Turn ideas into revenue streams

The cost to attend on April 15th is $99 (yeah, you read that right!).

On April 16th, we’re offering an intensive  experience unlike anything we have done before.

Participants will have the chance to work with professional models and will be able to work one-on-one with the Bebbs on some of the assignments that will be handed out at the beginning of this workshop!

9am
Arrival and introductions.

9:15am – 12pm
The class begins with a combination of slides and hands-on presentations that focus on the elements you need to make a fantastic and compelling photograph. Some topics in this time will include: different kinds of light, what to look for when making an image, working with clients, posing, elements you can capture in camera, getting it right in-camera to minimize time in post, and more.

Students will get a start of their assignments before the lunch break.

1– 2pm
Students will finish their assignment and begin the download/selection process. Each student will submit their top 5 to 10 images to the instructors.

2 – 3pm
The class will, as a group, go through submitted images and choose keepers. This gentle critique will focus on why each photographer captured his/her image the way they chose.
One image from each student will be selected for post work.

3 – 4pm
The class will finish image editing and then and move into a discussion on streamlined workflow (with tips and tricks.)

The cost to attend April 16th is $549 + tax and includes admission to Sunday’s class as well.

For all the details and to sign up, click here! Vistek is handling everything, so if you have any questions, please get in touch with them directly. Of course, if you have any questions they can’t answer, we’re always available.

I could say that we have been extra -super busy, which is true. I could say that we had a boatload of our 2011 weddings promised to magazines and blogs, and therefore could not blog them ourselves (also true). I could say that I’ve been writing another book and that has taken a big chunk of my time (true as well). I could say a lot of things to justify the crickets that have taken up residence here…

…but I won’t.

I’ve received your emails and messages – thank you. I hear you all. And I feel that I owe you an apology for my lazy, ok non-existent, blogging in 2011. So, if you’ll bear with me, I will do my very best to catch up, keep things going, and revive this barren place of words and images.

You have been so loyal, so wonderful about checking in – thank you for that.

In the meantime (while I flex my writing fingers and get ready for a blogging marathon) I have been writing here and here. We’ve been shooting, we’ve been planning conferences and building something incredible, we’ve been speaking all over the world, and we’re about to speak some more, and in Canada too, and we’ve been busy restructuring our business and pricing to better serve you, our incredible clients.

And because we are photographers, I would be remiss if I didn’t post an image. This is from a wedding we’ll be sharing very soon!

And if you ask, WHAT IF how often do you follow through with your idea? I’m guessing there are a lot of great “what ifs” and a lot of them get lost in the minutiae of daily life. Heck, we have a whole series of notebooks devoted to this very thing. We call them our Idea Books, and after 12 years in this business, we have over 50 of those books.

Every so often we revisit them and comb through our ideas. Some ideas surface again and again, with more detail each time. Others are one line, one very vague line, that challenges us to even recall what excited us about it.

What is all this about, you wonder? Why this post? Why now? Well, it’s about the power of WHAT IF and about making your WHAT IFs a reality.

You see, something is missing in the creative world – a way to conference and collaborate with other creatives, that isn’t staid and, well, stale. Too many conferences employ a formula, one that worked for years, where a speaker stands on a stage and pontificates at the crowd. Some speakers are really engaging and inspiring, others not so much. The speakers themselves aren’t really to blame for this model – the attendees are. We keep going back year after year after year. And by feeding the beast, we are keeping it strong and alive. Why change when tens of thousands of you flock to it time and again?

Change is here. It’s time to put your foot down and say enough is enough. The days of someone speaking at you and telling you to be just like them are gone. Gone like the Dinosaurs are gone. It’s not about that anymore, not if we want to succeed and thrive in the coming years. The world changed and we refuse to be left behind.

So here it is, one of our biggest WHAT IFs to date:

A Conference for  Artist-preneurs using their vision to make a living, this ain’t your average conference. Not by a long shot!

You can find all the details (and there are plenty) at the WHAT IF website, but here is a quick and dirty run down of what’s up:

This is a Conference for Creatives, by Creatives. Each one of our Innovators is also a Collaborator, helping to develop WHAT IF into more than what you expect. There won’t be any pontification from the stage. There won’t be any short cuts to success. There won’t be any “buy this and you’ll be rich” going on.

What there will be is facilitation from our Innovators, collaboration from all our attendees, and a community environment created from the moment you arrive. With some of the most important learning you can get taking place outside the classroom, we have structured spontaneity after each session.  From the Idea Wall to the Daily Assignments to activities that lead to Inspiration outside Photography, and so much more, you will be immersed in a community and setting that will help you find your own success, on your terms.

Hosted at an all-inclusive resort, WHAT IF subscribes to the “no photographer left behind” philosophy. Whether you are an introvert or someone who likes to get in the middle of things, there is a place for you. For all of you.

As Steve would say, there is a lot of “flowery language” here and words that sound big and important. In the interests of keeping it simple, it’s time to get off your butt, and make your WHAT IF a reality. This conference will help you do that. Boom.

Questions? You know where to find us.

xoxo

There are a few other things that make the perfect wedding, in our opinion, and strong attachments to family and friends is one of those. In the end, the decor, the location, the details don’t matter as much as the people who have asked us to be there on that day.

Because that’s what it’s all about, right? A wedding is about two people formalizing a bond that already exists. A wedding is about two people choosing those closest to them to witness this public commitment to each other.

Anita and Sam are the kind of people who remind us why we love weddings and why being part of a wedding is such a gift to us.

And so, on a Tuesday in June, we loaded the car and began the drive to Tofino, BC. It was our first time there, which is surprising given it’s not that far away. Both Steve and I were excited to finally get there, and we weren’t disappointed. As we pulled into Middle Beach Lodge, I was taken with the greenery and misty ocean view that surrounded us – it reminded me of the cottage we had growing up, perched much like this little town, on the edge of perfection.

The place was chosen for its importance to Anita and Sam – and that made it extra special to us. They made a wedding day full of personal touches, heart felt words and embraces, and joy all while surrounded by their extra guest – the location.

Here are just a few of our favorite images:

Sam played (he hadn’t done so in years) to walk Anita down the “aisle”.

Sam’s sister and mother both spoke directly with Anita and Sam during the ceremony – a great idea!

Though it was an emotionally charged ceremony, I simply loved how happy Sam and Anita were, and how they infused laughter and humour into an otherwise serious moment (like the rings).

This is one of my personal favorites from the day – Steve was perched way up high to get this one and it’s breathtaking:

After photos, we all headed down to “the Wick” for dinner. Here are just a few images:

We also want to give a huge shout out to Sheila at Rare Earth Wedding Event Production – she did a fantastic job of keeping us all on track. We’re looking forward to working with her again next year!

Taylar and Peter are two people that we will be friends with for a very long time. Not only are they one of the sweetest couples around, they are grounded by the strength of their family bonds and friendships. Beyond beautiful, these two are humble and gracious, loving each other without reservation.

It was almost impossible to narrow down the wedding images, and even now I feel like I left so many of my favorites out of this post. But that’s ok, because Taylar and Peter have their own website where a much larger sampling of the images can be found! And, just to make sure all our favorites are here for you, we’ve included their image showcase, made by ProShow Web, at the end of this entry – you’ll have to read and look at everything first!

Peter and Taylar – thank you! You, your family and friends, are a gift we cherish and we can’t wait to see you two again!

As I mentioned, there were so many wonderful moments it was tough to choose, but here goes…

On the way to the “First Look” before the Ceremony…

Peter waiting…

It was worth it! Both Peter and Taylar surprised each other with what they wore and it was a magical moment.

Photo Time…

Here are a few from their Photo Booth. To say it was a hit would be an understatement, as you will see. It was more fun than, well, just about anything!

And here it is, the Image Showcase we created for these two! Even this doesn’t do the imagery of the day justice – there are just too many wonderful moments! We hope you enjoy and leave a comment for Peter and Taylar to see!