Best Guide for Photographers

I want to share with you some thoughts and things I have discovered through research and seminars. I have found several great resources through PPA such as Delta School and others. I have been a member with them and WPPI for several years now. They are both great and respectable organizations.

PPA however is a better organization for continuing education and support. Lori and I attended last year the SMS workshop. It was a great way for us to learn more about ourselves and our company. I would suggest any aspiring studio to attend an SMS event. PPA was great at keeping up with us and helping us keep better detail of our financial portfolio. Beth and the girls are a truly special and amazing staff.

On a more important note and one of the main reasons for this post. In explaining my support for PPA I have recently attended Imaging USA in Phoenix this past year and while I was there the first half of the week I was there preparing for the CPP exam. This is the become a Certified Professional Photographer. It was one of the hardest exams I have ever taken. I am very excited about working towards my Masters. Here are some fun photo's Lori took while we explored Sedona for a day trip before we returned home. Arizona is an awesome place to visit.

Frist Center - George Eastman Collection Photographic Exhibit

Today Lori and I attended the intriguing exhibit of the George Eastman collection downtown at the Frist Center. The collection was donated by current owners and exhibitors across the country. I have studied and learned a great deal of the history of photography. It was a great treat to see the history and the lesser known or publicized details of the photographic timeline of my craft. I hope if you have time to try and make your way down to see this exhibit while it is in town. 

A busy year ends with a great mission trip to Puerto Rico

The last few months have been crazy for us. I wouldn't have it any other way. :-) We have traveled so much that I recently came home from being gone over 22 days. First to Greenville, SC, then to Puerto Rico (San Juan) back to Nashville for 24 hours then out to Phoenix for a week to the PPA Imaging USA Conference. None of this vacation really. It was great for your normal workaholic.

Many of you know how involved Lori and I are with our church and our teen program. For those of you who do not we have been blessed to be leaders for our teens for several years now. I started off coaching basketball for the jv and sr high boys and it slowly progressed from there. We have been Small Group leaders for the same teens for 4 years. This year they are seniors and I had the privilege of going to Puerto Rico with them for a Mission Trip to a small church community of Caugas. This is where the journey begins. When I left I fully expected to go and help someone build something. Which we did however while their our Church and their Church became Family. I love people but you never expect to make friends and meaningful relationships with people hundreds of miles away living in another country but in this case we did.

We left on the 27th of December and returned on January 5th. It was a long time for 55 people to spend together. We loved every minute of it. I wish, truly wish Lori had been able to come with us but since she was not her ticket was given to someone who could not afford to go so God reigns and works on even when we are not seeing it.

I tried to take pictures while we were there but I became so enthralled with our work and the Church people we were coming to help it was almost an after thought. This is obviously not like me. While I can not describe to you all the words and all the wonderful things and experiences that took place. I do want to show you a little of what we did do by the small number of pictures I have from while we were down there. I have more of our 2 days off than anything but none the less I hope you enjoy.

Feel free and email me to share any thoughts or similar experiences that you have had in the past. It was a great way to give of my time and my love. My team of that week was the "Conquistadors" and our theme was Love Wins. This I deeply believe and I am still wearing the bracelet today. Grace and Peace to you and may God Bless all those who read and see these images. May this motivate you in any way to go out and help those in need.

For a little background on the images. I chose a small variety. The first image is of the Church we came and worked on. We completed more than we guaranteed we could complete and this is what we had done when we left. Our church is already planning another trip in the summer of '09. The second image is of our final night in PR and we were able to reflect, pray and share with each other. The 3rd and 4th are more touristy shots taken of downtown San Juan on our day off. The 5th is a "victory" shot of most or our Seniors on the trip. Enjoy!

Thank you

~JG