Everyday People

For years I just shot babies and kids and families. Not that I couldn't or didn't shoot other things, but that's what the advertising agencies, branding companies and those with the $ hired me for. Every so often a distant relative or a very stressed account executive would give me that odd assignment to shoot a head shot, interiors or food. Loved it. But I never promoted it on my web sites or showed my agents because I was taught a photographer has to have one voice or you'll confuse the public. If you show everything then they'll hire you for nothing. I bought that and honed my craft and created a zillion images of babies and kids and families that were unique and definitely not the typical. Life was good, I thrived within the industry and also my retail commissions grew through my reputation along with the images I delivered.

Then the recession hit a few years ago, as we were in the midst of the digital revolution and everyone had a camera and no one had any budgets. Wow, life changed but I was lucky I had my retail commission clients who were loyal and I gave incentives for them to book me. I also shot anything, for what ever $ or prestige I could squeeze from the assignment,  just to keep my trigger finger in shape and continue creating. I started Suburban Bliss, a blog about a passion, or an idea ( can't really differentiate between them)  that highlighted my take on fashion and the "burbs" just to let everyone know what was really on my mind. Love it. I have a trillion ideas and tons of suburban moms that want to participate, I just have to find the time to produce and shoot every story. I mean, I am a business and the the blog thing is not a money maker but I think through this blog and Suburban Bliss people have been noticing I am capable of so much more then shooting babies and kids and families.

This past spring I got the oddest assignment from one of my retail clients. Would I shoot her husband and his workers at their factory in Bayville, NJ ( I swear it looked like deliverance as we were driving there). I'm still not sure why they needed the shots. They make some contraption that seals the bags and that keep potatoe chips crunchy? She said it was to create images for the factory ( which is enormous) and I have been waiting since the spring  for her to give me some direction on how she wants them fabricated.

These images highlight an extraordinary moment in my current life as a photographer for hire. One that shoots much more then babies and kids and families. As I wait for direction from my client I thought I’d share some tough characters that opened their hearts and let my camera in. LMK your thoughts...