My First Book

Well, I've actually published a book. I was asked to make a book for my Mom, and I found an online photo book publisher, Blurb. I like them because they allowed me to create the book in InDesign, which I'm very familiar with, being a graphic designer. That way I don't have to follow some template that restricts what I can do.

During the process of making my Mom's book, people were encouraging me to make my own book, so I decided to do it. I took some time assembling some photographs, putting in some minimal text, and figuring out a title. And here it is:

And There was Light by Larry LaCom | Make Your Own Book

It's 40 pages, hardcover, 8 1/2 x 10 inches, and they're for sale online on the Blurb website.

Has It Really Been That Long?

I just looked at this blog for the first time in - well, a really long time. I guess it hasn't been too important to me to write anything here, so, well, I haven't. But I just got inspiration to, so I'm gonna do that.

I'm actually pretty happy with the development of my photography skills and abilities over the past couple of years, but I obviously still have a lot to learn.

Case in point:

I did a portrait session for a family who we're friends with - not close friends, but they're good people and we're in the same general circle of Christian friends who know each other in the Western San Fernando Valley. Anyway, they wanted me to come over to their house to do a bunch of family portraits before two of their three kids go back to college for the spring semester. Probably their last chance to get a family portrait before their oldest son gets married in March and their family structure starts to change into something different.

Technical weirdness kept happening. First it was the fact that the D2x I had borrowed to do the job wouldn't be recognized by the tethering function in Lightroom 3. So I had to use the D200, which I was fine with, but I had hoped to use the D2x because of its higher pixel count. But I think the D200 is also better in some ways, so no problem there. Switched camera bodies, and everything's fine.

But then I had problems with the lights. I have these cheap studio lights that are really sort of entry-level lights, and they didn't seem to want to work right. I'd move one into position, and the thing wouldn't fire. I'd move it away to where I didn't want it to be, and it fired just fine, but when I moved it to where I needed it, it failed. Couldn't figure that out. Finally after the whole thing was done and I was packing up my stuff and everybody changed back into their regular clothes, the dad helped me figure out it was because the recessed lights in the ceiling were pointing straight at the light's optical trigger, rendering it useless. If I had just had the presence of mind to turn off the overhead recessed lighting, it wouldn't have been a problem.

Oh well, live and learn. I toughed it out and kept improvising with some smaller strobes and reflectors held by my trusty assistant Zack (see photo above), and got what I think is a pretty good session out of the time spent there. But I have to kick myself for not recognizing the source of the problem when I could have saved myself (and probably the subject family) some grief, and I'm sure more than one quizzical expression like "Does he really know what he's doing?"

More Time Has Passed, More Stuff Has Happened

Where do I start? So much has happened. I've been getting some pretty major recognition as a photographer at my regular place of work, and it looks like the position of Chief Photographer, if it opens up after the current guy retires, is mine. That might sound presumptuous except for the fact that I filled in for him for three months while he recuperated from a knee injury, and have spent a bunch of time teaching him about digital workflows and post processing techniques. My name is definitely in the mix regarding a succession plan, that much is sure.






I got another two sessions done for the dance studio, doing the individual dancer portraits and the summer performance. All that went well, and some really nice images have come of it. And, on top of it, I got to do a headshot of a musician who has some pretty major credentials in the business, like he has toured with Earth, Wind and Fire. His name is Claude Woods, Jr. His photos came out nice. They'll probably be on his next album cover.

Man, I've been really bad at keeping up with this blog. So much has been going on that writing about it has been the last thing on my mind. God is still on His throne, however, and I don't expect that to change anytime soon (or at all, for that matter), so I'm still trusting in Him.

On the photography front, I've had bigger and better opportunities thrown my way. For example, Hannah Carmichael (nee Brown) recently agreed to let me shoot her in her wedding dress for a fun and free foto fest. Her mom, Diane, came along, as well as my daughter Rachael. We had a blast, and the pictures came out pretty good too. Here's one example:



But potentially bigger than that is a full-time photography position with my current employer, whose single staff photographer is getting ready to retire. I've been showing him stuff about digital workflows and he's been noticing my abilities. He's been telling upper management I should be his replacement when he retires. Then something unexpected happened. In December, he broke his kneecap in 5 pieces, and has been out getting fixed up and healing ever since. And who's been asked to fill the void? You guessed it - yours truly.

So we'll see what God has in store for that story. Stay tuned.

Valley Revolution '09

Superchick


Kutless

This weekend I got to shoot the Valley Revolution '09, a Christian music festival in the San Fernando Valley. Lots of people, local bands, and big-name Christian Bands such as Seventh Day Slumber, Fireflight, Superchick, Relient K, Kutless and a lot more. This was a great opportunity to give back to the community I live in as a volunteer photographer, and I have to admit, it was cool to walk around with an "All Access" pass and a bunch of camera gear hanging off of me. My ego was probably a little overinflated, but the sore back and shoulders compensated for that. God was reminding me that I'm just a nobody who thinks he's somebody without Him.


Relient K

I was able to go backstage, onstage, in front of the stage, on both sides of the stage, under the stage (just kidding). I only got my wrists slapped a couple of times by the stage manager and the main sound guy for overstepping their boundaries, but I still got to shoot from pretty much anywhere I wanted. I was also, as far as I know (I might find out differently) the first to upload photos for the event. Those can be viewed here.


Kutless


Kutless lead singer

The Busyness Continues

From the Dance Studio Portrait Session - Angelica Abrams clowning it up

I've been sick for the past couple of days, which is both a result of how busy I've been and something I have to work through, precisely because I'm so busy.



Michelle Pillar at the Pregnancy Resource Center benefit concert

A partial list of recent shoots: The Bat Mitzvah party, the Track Meet, the Pregnancy Resource Center benefit concert, the Christian Performing Arts Center dancer portraits (that was a big one, which I still have to process). Then there's what's coming up. Tomorrow evening begins the Valley Revolution (www.valleyrevolution.com) which goes for three days, plus on Saturday morning Peter's Boy Scout troop is meeting at 6:30 am to go down to the Veteran's Memorial in Westwood, which I will shoot because I can (if I'm not too sick). Then Monday evening (Memorial Day) an engagement session at the beach with a bride and groom whose wedding I'm shooting in July.

During all this time I'm processing the shoots, editing and adjusting, uploading to my website, processing print orders, and emailing links to clients. Adobe Lightroom has been a boon. But I've been so busy. I guess God is showing me that I'd better be careful what I ask for, I just might get it. I'm getting it.

All of a Sudden, I'm a Busy Photographer!

What's up with that? I don't get any paying photography jobs for several months, then suddenly I have almost more than I can handle. Senior portraits, an engagement session and a wedding, a product photography gig, a Bat Mitzvah, track meets, concerts and more! My prayers are being answered!



If this trend continues, by the grace of God, I'll be able to pay off some old bills that have been bringing me down for a while. And do some fun stuff with my family!