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Here we go…

A.

New year, same me.

Back in November, I had beautiful weddings and awesome portraits to show you... and yet I chose to forego writing a newsletter. I was very busy and didn't think you'd miss me. And I did the same thing in December... and I almost did it this month.

It's so easy to fall off the horse and to create excuses for yourself and pretty hard to get back on. I must have rewritten the first little paragraph above about 7 times before I found my footing with my own writing. ugh.

Doing this again though, I can tell you: I'm glad I'm back. I missed it. I missed talking to YOU.

Anyways... It's a new year but I won't make empty promises about any "new me" thing that'll last 2 weeks. nobody wants that. It's embarrassing for everybody involved. The only thing I promise is: you're gonna get more of whatever this has been in the past.

... lucky you.

B.

Brett

Yesterday evening was the first image competition of the year at Professional Photogs of SD County. I love and hate them equally. They are great for learning how to get better, and they are great to understand how your style and skills measure up to the real world but I also hate them because how does one compete in something as intangible as art?

I adore this image but I also know by what rules the judges score these images and I take risks submitting images ike that. And as someone pointed out to me last night, my work isn't for everybody. Either people love what I do or it's really not for them.

GOOD.

As proud as I am of this image (because of the emotional impact, storytelling, genuine look of vulnerability, and unusual pose) I was in no way was I expecting to win with this image. Surprisingly, I ended up winning the portraits category.

I am a very happy French man today. If you know any french person, you know It doesn't happen very often... but here we are. weird. ;)

C.

Holy Photoshop Antoine! that's some pretty good editing you did there.

If you've been my client or if we've spoken photography, you know I'm not a fan of Photoshop. I'm not a fan for art reasons, philosophical reasons, and also because --frankly-- that software is so complicated and convoluted, I sometimes feel like it's sentient and it enjoys trolling me.

I really have to NEED it for me to use it. Or sometimes, it's because the clients want something very specific done. Generally, after using that software for more than 30 minutes, I end up in a ball under my desk sucking my thumb and calling for mommy. So, needless to say, I am a fan.

BUT not today... today is not the day I cry myself to sleep after using this darn thing...

my clients (in the picture) want to print this photo and asked me if I could remove the woman in the back. After an hour of struggles, curses, and hair-pulling to remove her from the frame by the "usual" methods, a stroke of genius hit me (I am as shocked as you are): "Antoine, just replace the damn door!"

... and so I did.

"Antoine -old buddy- you did it again. You're a genius."

Newsletter 29