Lucky number thirteen

I've always had a pretty set rule that I don't want to shoot the same person more than a couple times. Keep things dynamic and not have the same face over and over and over again. So I try to constantly find (and quite often cold-call) all kinds of people to model for me. It keeps things interesting on my part as well. Usually two or maybe three times at most is all I'll do. Except for this one girl...

I met Shanon completely by accident. As we started talking, it was a natural connection. She modeled, I shot, we knew we had to get together someday and play. Plans were made, and we had our first shoot, just a little over four years ago. (even though it seems much longer than that) Since that amazing May evening, it turns out we have shot thirteen times. Last night being the most recent.

It was kind of fitting to draw summer to a close with this. This year has been a weird one for me, lots of changes and some big decisions. Really pretty much the last four years have been I guess. It doesn't seem to matter what is going on in our own lives, when Shanon and I get together time slips by and we make awesomeness. In all thirteen shoots there have been images that I consider some of my very favorites. Some have won me awards and they're always popular when I post them. Ideas tend to flow between us, our thought processes are so similar. As we plan, just like with anyone, the original idea gets turned into a common one. With some people, this takes a lot of negotiation and concession. But with Shanon, it seems like we end up in the same head. That's a really important thing for me. I know what I see in my head and I hate to compromise too much. Once I deviate far from my original vision it becomes less mine (if that makes any sense.) With this girl though, we share a brain.

(Those of you that know my work may notice that I didn't necessarily use the most popular images from each shoot. Some of these have never been made public before now.) More shoots are already being planned.

Enough of that, you get it. Here's one from everything we have done, including last night. Enjoy!!!

Our very first shoot, May of 2011 out at Wildcat creek park.

Shot in the super not-so-secret-anymore alley in downtown Manhattan.

This was a concept shoot that I don't think we ever published any of.

One of the infamous group shots from the days of The Factory. I miss these.

The duct tape shoot. So much cold, but so much fun.

This was from another group shoot of The Factory.

Our play day on the streets of Junction City.

What better way to trash a wedding dress, go out to Milford lake!

This is still one of my all-time favorites. That truck and those legs.

Our homage to Marilyn.

Everyone calls this the mermaid shoot. I see it now but at the time it was just fun with rose petals.

The marionette. We initially started to conceive this set way back at the duct
tape shoot. Many attempts and different setups planned, it ended up taking a
good three years to finally get it.  

And then there's this. I think last night will be tough to top. Nah, not for us. Until next time...

Throwing in the towel. Kind of.

Well, I have been struggling with this for a while, but I have decided I'm done doing paid work. Granted I haven't done a huge amount of it lately, but still. I did the math and I've been shooting for 26 years, some off, mostly on, and it's been a wild ride. Of those 26 some odd years I think I've been shooting for money for a good maybe 23 or so of them and some of the things I have had in front of my lens I have no words for. There's been a pirate wedding, at least one cowboy wedding, so many moms and dads to be, countless couples... The thing I actually miss the most is the music photography and the artists. Every time I would shoot a profile on an artist it would be a learning experience. Who ever knew there were so many processes, and each one different.

I will still be shooting, don't think I could resist if I tried. And there will be certain things I will never be able to say no to. I plan to take care of my past clients, within reason and my discretion. But for the most part all I will be doing is stuff that interests me. I need this. The old adage that you shouldn't make something you love into work, or you'll hate it, that's happened to me in the past and I've worked through it thankfully. But in a way I can feel it coming on again but this time slightly different. I'm seeing the possibility of it and if it did there's no guarantee it wouldn't be the end of my shooting days altogether and that is not something I'm willing to risk.

In past blog posts there have been rants from me about the decline of my beloved industry. From the overpopulation of inadequate shooters, to the ones that devalue everyone by charging too little, the "you want how much? so-and-so will do it for x."... I could go on but I will spare you. All of these things have played in to my ultimate decision but really and honestly it comes from a place of self-preservation. Eventually I know something will come along that will coax me back in, and I welcome that. The foreseeable future for me though is to make art, be with my family, and enjoy life. Not that those things aren't already happening. They are just a motivating factor as they should be. Most things I end up shooting take place in the evening or on weekends, both of which mean I'm sacrificing time with the ones I love. As crass as it may sound, nothing I can do for any of you is worth that to me. Not anymore at least. It comes down to a hard-learned lesson on the value of my own time.

I have worked with some amazing people and gotten to know many of my clients very personally, that's just me. I've worked for about every news organization in the area. Those are the things that made it so hard to decide to walk away. In the end, I have nothing bad to say about shooting for money, except that I hate the money part. It's not for me. I'm one that has always had trouble selling myself,  always underestimating and even berating my work. They say that's just an artist thing, maybe I'll get over it someday. There are no plans in my head to stop trading with people. If you have an idea you thing might intrigue me, speak up. Those are the things that have kept me going this long. So much of my head is consumed with concepts that need to come out and this will allow me the time to do exactly that.

In closing, I leave all of my past clients with the biggest thank you. It has truly been an honor to be a part of all the events of your lives that you've allowed me to participate. I hope I have done well and produced the best work I possibly could have for you. The interactions we have had will stay with me forever. I want you to know that there is no way I could ever repay you all for the things  you have taught me (mostly good) and for this I am eternally grateful. But in the verbiage of people way younger than myself, I think I'm just gonna sit back and do me for a while. Much peace and love.

Terry.