I have never had any desire whatsoever to go to Las Vegas. Gambling, no thanks. Gaudy shows, ehhh. The food and partying... ummm, well maybe, a little bit. (AIRHORNS!!) This year I went to WPPI in Vegas not exactly sure what to expect from the experience as a whole. The last time I went to a convention of this type I did not have my own business, so while a lot of the speakers were interesting to hear, I couldn't exactly implement any of that knowledge into my own business.
This year... whoa, talk about business changing. Life changing.
Jesh de Rox's talk was inspiring, moving, self reflecting, it was the first class I attended. It really set the tone for the entire trip for me... thinking about the powerful energy in that room, is bringing me to tears while typing this. I sometimes say to myself or others, dude, it's wedding photography... it's not that serious, chill out. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love what I do, it has given me confidence, opportunities that I've that nothing else in my life has offered. Ever. My photography is helping me become the woman that I've always wanted to be. Until listening to Jesh on Monday, I never thought that it, photography, could make that same weighty impact on my clients lives. It's going to take some hard-work and time, but I am determined to bring what I learned from him to as many couples as I can. If you were in that class... you know what I'm sayin'.
I kept referencing back to his photo love philosophy when deciding which other speakers to hear, which may have both hindered and aided my sponge of a brain. Justin and Mary's class was another one that shook me up and I am beyond stoked, totally overwhelmed to put what I learned from them into motion.
So Vegas... OK, perhaps I will visit you again. If I can experience this every year by putting up with your smoky Casinos and overpriced margaritas ($14 @ the Wynn... really?!?!) then I'm down. It's a deal.
Once I can extract everything I've gained from this trip out of my stuffed brain, I'm going to rock my couples worlds... here's to 2010!
My monster of a camera stayed home. She needs to chill out before wedding season. Instead, i had my iPhone and shot one roll of T-Max which will be developed in the next couple of weeks. My random iPhone photos can be found here: http://marywyar.posterous.com Also, to make this trip even that much more enjoyable, I had two rad roomies and fellow Toledo photogs Carli and Joshua. Special thanks to you two for being patient with me when I was a pain in the arse trying to find a not so, ummmm, working girl, outfit to walk down the strip in :) AND these fabulous shots Joshua took of me... Yeah I have red hair AND bangs.
Oh 2010.... you're oh so very... unpredictable. This has been one strange week.
I found myself watching hours of CNN, feeling helpless, crying until my face was red for the people in Haiti. Feeling incredibly guilty for spending $8 on lunch, for being able to fill my dogs water dishes up until they over flow. Watching CNN scroll the statistics on how incredibly impoverished that nation is... feeling like an idiot for spending money on silly things. If I had any sort of medical training I would be there in a heartbeat, but I don't, so I donated a bit of money to the Red Cross. It's what I could do at that moment.
Then there is the late night debacle to lighten the mood. For the record, I am Team Conan in the Leno/Conan battle. However, when it comes to late night programming in general, my heart belongs to Jimmy Kimmel... his response was pure genius.
Today I found myself needing to take my eyes away from CNN & the computer, so I took up a challenge that my photog friend Joshua White had posted on his blog "Take 50 photos in one day"... below are the results... some good, some great, some not so great, and some just to make you smile.
Hope everyone has a great weekend and is constantly thinking about how beyond lucky we all are to live in this country.
Click on the first thumbnail then use the arrows on your keyboard to scroll through the images... enjoy!
I love the couples I was able to photograph in 2009... thank YOU for allowing me to do what I love! Thank you for trusting me to capture the most intimate and special moments in your lives. All of you are the ones who make me want to challenge and push myself further out of my comfort zone with every shoot. It is truly impossible for me to express in words how lucky I feel to have the clients that I do, you're all amazing people.
Here's to 2010!!!
For quite some time, I thought that there would never be a group of Toledo wedding photographers who could become friends or even form our own little photog community. It always bummed me out that there was the sense of competition or paranoia that prevented friendships forming between people who actually have a ton in common. A few months ago, a small group of us got together, had drinks, shared stories, laughed a lot until 2 a.m. I left that night feeling this sense of calm and joy that, hey, we're not realllly in competition with each other. There's only one Mary, there's only one Carli + Joe, there's only one Jordan + Amber, and only one Joshua + Gregg. We each have our own perspective that no one else can duplicate. Sure we may get common inquires, but we also send each other the business that we can't shoot, look out for one another when an issue arises, give advice... we got each other's backs. I rather send out business to one of the above mentioned than try to horde everything for myself.
As seen in the previous post, I recently photographed Carli + Joe of Shutterlove. A couple weeks prior to that Joshua + Gregg of Love is Greater than Photography photographed Phil + myself. We had an absolute blast with them, and who am I kidding, I love being photographed almost as much as I love photographing others. Here are a few of my favourite shots that they got. Thanks again you two!!!
As seen in the previous post, I recently photographed Carli + Joe of Shutterlove. A couple weeks prior to that Joshua + Gregg of Love is Greater than Photography photographed Phil + myself. We had an absolute blast with them, and who am I kidding, I love being photographed almost as much as I love photographing others. Here are a few of my favourite shots that they got. Thanks again you two!!!
2 comments so far
emily Smith says:
First of all - (and I keep saying this!) but I LOOVVVVEEE these pics - you are gor-g-eous!
Secondly, there's such truth in what you've written above. I just had a conversation today with new(er) photographer and I was telling her that it's important to find your 'voice' and style and allow it to be what it is in the market... It's important to understand your strengths and weaknesses in both your 'voice' and work... and be okay turning down jobs and referring when they would better suit another photographer in your market. It's such a hard but good lesson! You're awesome mary.
Mary says:
thanks emily!!! you're added in that mix of who i send business to as well! :)
A few people have asked me, 'Who took the photos of you at the top of your website?' well I needn't look far to find someone to take photos of me... my amazing husband, Phil, can certainly hold his own with a good ole 5D Mark 2. Now I know that I use the word amazing a lot... and I am always sincere when I do use it BUT Phil is, well, oozing amazement. He is extremely supportive, in every sense of the word. I am like the crazy hot sauce on a burrito that you're not too sure you can handle UNLESS you have some sour cream... and Phil is the sour cream... haha, that analogy was completely off the top of my head, could you tell? He calms me down when I feel like I won't be able to get anything done... tells me to write all the stuff swimming in my head when I can't sleep at night and when I come home from a wedding he has a glass of my favourite wine waiting... I really couldn't be any luckier.
So Mary Wyar Photography is that unofficial husband + wife team. Phil behind the scenes making sure my batteries are charged Saturday morning, making me a huge water jug, and making me double check that I have everything. He looks at all of my blog posts, whether he is all that interested or not, and will tell me if a shot isn't that worthy of being on the blog.
You have met my adorable puppies, here is my hot hubby...
So Mary Wyar Photography is that unofficial husband + wife team. Phil behind the scenes making sure my batteries are charged Saturday morning, making me a huge water jug, and making me double check that I have everything. He looks at all of my blog posts, whether he is all that interested or not, and will tell me if a shot isn't that worthy of being on the blog.
You have met my adorable puppies, here is my hot hubby...
1 comments so far
Nikki Wolfe says:
well that explains A LOT! It is amazing how much more you enjoy life when you have someone so great to share it with and someone who supports you and your dreams! You are very lucky Mary, Here is to a wonderful team!