Back in the Saddle?

My cousin Dana got married last month! Soon after she got engaged she called and asked if I'd do her engagement pictures. Of course I said yes and offered to do them and her wedding day as a gift. It was a small wedding so I knew it wasn't going to be super stressful. I actually really like to do weddings. I've done 6 or 7 and as far as I know everyone was happy because they all passed my name on to others. I've never really advertised myself as a photographer. All my jobs have been word of mouth which I take as a huge compliment. To this day I still don't have a website and when I started my photo blog 2 years ago I didn't know anyone who had a photo blog. Now all that's changed. I still don't have a website and I haven't updated my photo blog in 2 years. The truth is that I've been on "hiatus" (that's what we say in the film industry when you're not working...you know...I'm on "hiatus" wink wink). I had a quiet but booming little business in LA with most of my clients overlapping with swimming lessons. It was perfect. When we came to UT the plan was to be here for 2 years and then high-tail it outta here. Well, that is not happening and I find myself enjoying the life I have here in "Happy Valley." (I really shouldn't say that out loud.) There are things I miss about CA. Ok LOTS of things, but I've got great friends (see post below) and a little townhouse that I love, Spencer is loving the work he is doing and Ryan loves to see cows and horses everyday. Couldn't get all that in LA.

ANYWAY, it was GREAT to do pictures for Dana and Adam and be behind the lens again. I am contemplating getting things rolling again. (Words of encouragement would be appreciated.) Here's the thing: I am an old school, film trained photographer. Digital is rocking my world and I don't like it. With film I always knew EXACTLY what I was going to get based on what film I was using. No checking the LCD, setting the white balance and NO Photoshop. I'd take my film to my favorite lab and voila! beautiful pictures. Perfect exposure, perfect color, perfect framing. Thankfully digital hasn't changed my ability to compose a shot. However the color and exposure aspect is extremely irritating. I DO NOT like to edit/process photos on the computer. Honestly where is the craft in that (no offense to anyone). I believe that if you know your craft you don't need a computer. Enter the Digital Age. UGH! Needless to say I am learning Photoshop and I do think some of the stuff is cool, but it will never, never look as good to me as a true film print. So here is my debut using Photoshop on a job. I'd like to know what you think. You can check out my photoblog here. None of the pictures have ever been edited. Some are film and some are digital and there aren't very many because I got tired of scanning and digging up photos.