Hi, everyone! THANKS SOO MUCH for all of your super kind words about this fun new blog! You are all soo wonderful and I appreciate your encouraging words SOOO much!! I did the blog pretty much off of REQUESTS for it and so I was afraid I would come off sounding like I just know it all and felt as though I should share that with you…when really, that is NOT AT ALL how I feel…so I GREATLY appreciate you all recieving it soo warmly and just like I hoped!!! You are the BEST!!!

Soo….I’m off to Vegas and wanted to let you all know that I’ll be back next week with lots of fun stories, news & plenty of pictures!!! Hope to see you there…and if not…I’ll be sure to give a goooood recap for you!!!!

Thanks again to ALL OF YOU!!

Safe travels to all….

jrs

Just in case you have been living in a hole (j/k!)… I thought I would let you know that the WORLD’S LARGEST PHOTO CONVENTION is coming up NEXT WEEK!!!! YAAAY!!!!

WPPI is March 24th-29th in LAS VEGAS BABY!!! It’s one rockin time and if you aren’t going, well, you are missing out…so change your plans and get your butt there!!!!
It’s at Bally’s & Paris right in the heart of Vegas and it’s just such an amazing experience! Every photo vendor know to MAN is at the tradeshow and all the hottest people in the industry are speaking! It’s super INSPIRING and I HIGHLY recommend it!!!

I’m going to be spending my time in the GARY FONG BOOTH…..so stop by and say HEY…and if it’s BONKERS at his booth, like it usually is, BLOW ME A KISS!

Can’t wait to see all you COOL CATS THERE!! CLICK HERE for more info!!!!

LAVALU!!!!! Oh yes, it sounds strange but it’s also known as the HOT NEW THING THAT I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR FOR OVER A YEAR NOW!!!

Lavalu is a company that is a FULL SERVICE EDITING COMPANY!!!! Do you believe it!? I have been doing a MAD SEARCH for well over a year now for an EDITING COMPANY!!! Someone who I can send my images to, give my editing style, preferences & actions to…and PAY TO DO THE JOB FOR ME!!!! (also known as OUTSOURCING!! Thank you Mr. David Jay!!) I have signed up and am thanking MY LUCKY STARS for this company who, I trust, will help me GET MY LIFE BACK and STOP SPENDING EVERY DAY EDITING IMAGES!!!!!

You might be saying….hmmmm…how exactly can you make someone think like you and edit like you, know where you like your cropping, know your percentages of black and white versus color in an image collection…..and I was saying that same thing! HOWEVER, Lavalu has already worked through that and asks for AS MUCH info as you can possibly give them to get the style as much to your liking as possible!! They also refine the style as you submit more weddings, so a few weddings in and any kinks should be totally worked out and you should be on the same page in very little time (especially considering how MUCH TIME you are getting BACK!)!


Here are the GOODS on this company:

Website: www.mylavalu.com
Price:
Rough Edit: (meaning take 1,000 images to 500 by weeding out the bad ones)= $.05 per image
Raw Conversion: (color correction, cropping, brightness & contrast enhancement, application of ACR presets…black & white, etc)= $.19 per image
Artistic Editing: (conversion to stylized b&w, sepia, effects, photoshop action application)= $55 per hour for the 1st hour, $40 per hour thereafter
Album Design: (yes, they even do album design)= $10 per side

*The turn around time is 4-6 DAYS!! (I’m smiling about that, can you tell!???) hehe!!

*They work in complete confidentiality so no one finds out about your big hot editing secret!!!

*They do not work on a FTP server right now, but simply have you send them DVD’s and they return DVD’s right back to you with standard shipping option OR a RUSH option!!

Email MIKE at info@mylavalu.com for MORE INFO!!!! He’s a super nice dude and tell him that Jessica Strickland sent you!

That’s your NEW PRODUCT(or in this case, company!) update for today!!

HAVE YOU HEARD THE BIG NEWS??? The fongmeister himself has created yet ANOTHER amazing lighting product called the WHALETAIL and it’s big UNVEILING is WPPI 2007 LAS VEGAS!!!! Yes, we know it looks like a toilet, so if you were going to say that….well, sorry….its old news!!! SOOO….bring your $$$ to Vegas and GET ONE because it’s like every light modifier/enhancer/prettifier you could EVER want ALL IN ONE!! He has seriously taken every dislike that people have ever had about lighting modifiers and everything they LACKED and fixed ALL OF THAT in this one interesting looking contraption called the WHALETAIL!! You can even add colored filters for color effects & ct correction! It has a flip lid, a locking mechanism so that it doesn’t fall of your flash in the middle of your ceremonies and hit the floor in a way that the ENTIRE ceremony stops so they can STARE AT YOU and if you are lucky, it will get you out on dates! It’s all that and a bag of chips so GET ONE!! (lighting tests COMING SOON! Stay tuned!!!) THAT is your PHOTO GOSSIP for TODAY!!

CLICK HERE for more info!!

I often get the question, “what is your FAVORITE shooting lens/the lens you shoot MOST of your work with??” My answer will always be the same, the 85 1.2 CANON L LENS!! I know this is OLD news to alot of you…but this will save a few emails for me! The 85 is a ROCKSTAR lens….and is truly among the VERY best lenses ever made!! Not to be a debbie downer, just being straight up….. it’s heavy & a little on the slow side…but that is just ROCK solid construction, with amazing precision…in my opinion!! It has bokeh that will rock your world and the depth of field speaks for itself….and ultimately this lens just creates the MOST gorgeous images EVER!! I have also had alot of people ask, “why not just go with the 85 1.8 and save the money” and I always say….honestly, it’s just SUCH a different lens that I don’t think you can compare them! I’ve shot with both and it’s NOT about the fact that they are the same focal length and the same general concept of a fast shooting lens, it’s the QUALITY OF THE GLASS!!! The simple fact that one of them weight a quarter of what the other one does is PROOF ENOUGH! They are just totally different animals, in my opinion. The 85 1.2 retails at B&H for $1800.

Second runner up to favorite lens…the BRAND SPANKIN NEW 50 1.2. That is one AWESOME lens….it’s has that same AMAZING WOW FACTOR that the 85 1.2 does, but it gives you a nice wide shot, with awesome focusing distance (minimum of 45 cm) and it’s FAST!!!! I was actually surprised at how fast it is! It’s also a good multi purpose lens….you can shoot a couple….and a group….then reception details and dancing shots…all with this one lens! It’s actually become my new FAV reception lens….because it’s just good at such a variety of stuff!! THe 50 1.2 retails at B&H for $1400. (cheaper than what I bought it for! errrr!!)

I will REALLY caution you, though…JUST because they are 1.2 lenses doesn’t really mean you want to SHOOT at 1.2. Unless you are STEADY EDDY…because otherwise, you will have like a 100th of a millimeter in focus and noone can actually see that it’s in focus anyway! I shoot my 1.2 lenses at 1.8 or 2.0. You STILL maximize the natural light and get the quality of the glass and AGAIN, that is what really makes the difference.

My next purchase is the 135 2.0. I’m not sure why but I’ve wanted this lens for a while! It was either that lens or the 24 1.4 and I’m not a super wide angle shooter(sometimes…not all the time), so I opted for the 135 2.0. My uber smart friend told me to WAIT(not words I like to hear) until Vegas in case they are running a special!!! SMART GIRL, she is!! I didn’t even think about that! I’m not sure why, considering that they were practically selling 5D’s for 50% off last year! I couldn’t BELIEVE how great the prices were! Too bad I couldn’t justify a 3rd 5D!!!

The other lenses I shoot with and love ARE: 16-35 2.8L, 70-200 2.8 IS L & 100 2.8 Macro. That is a ROCKIN macro lens!! I’m definitely a prime lens girl…but that 70-200 can sure help me in a pinch, as can the 16-35. If you own the 24 1.4 and feel i REALLY SHOULD HAVE IT….please comment and tell me why…causing I’m still on the fence about getting that one. I guess having the 16-35 is really the reason why…but again, PRIMES ROCK!!

Welcome to the fancy, brand spankin new JRS PHOTOGRAPHERS BLOG!!!!

Check back WEEKLY for the most current JRS news, Hot tips & tricks, Slick new products, FAQ answers, JRS favorite things, Photo gossip, Special announcements, and SOO MUCH MORE!!!!

We’re SOO glad you are here and hope you become a regular!!

OH…and BOOKMARK IT, BLOGLINE IT, RSS FEED IT, DO WHATEVER YOU GOTTA DO: www.jessicastrickland.com/photographers

Love & peace….

JRS

Ever since I posted the modern guest book on my regular blog, I’ve been getting FLOODED with UBER nice emails from all of you rockin folks, saying TELL ME MORE!!!!!

SO HERE IS THE SCOOP…….

Where do I get them: LEATHER CRAFTSMEN
What exactly are they: 3500 Series Books, sized as the 7×10 Guest book
How much are they: that 15/30 book was roughly $350
How am I handling the signing: I’m asking Leather Craftsmen what pens to use on that paper and buying those
Are people buying them: YES…two so far….and about 7 other inquiries since they went up last week!

In case you have no idea what I’m talking about, THIS IS IT and I love it!!: