new site update....and some thoughts from a grumpy old (wo)man...

It took a while, but I finally gave my portfolio website an overhaul and updated it.  You can check it out here, or just click the image--

There's still a kink or two and I plan to add more photos soon, but overall, I'm happy with it how it turned out.  It's a fresh and clean design, not a lot of fluff, just pictures..which is really all there needs to be.

warning: i get cranky in the next few paragraphs....

I struggle a lot with the idea of "web presence".  Obviously, it's essential for a photographer of any genre to have a good web presence---it's how the majority of us get our businees, where we store our portfolios, etc. But the variety of presence can be daunting.

First, there's your website, then blog, then facebook...and tumblr, flickr, 500px, google+.  Almost every photographer I know has at least five of these things if not all (I have all, and then some)...so then there's the decision of WHAT to post WHERE.  Do you put commercial work on one site and personal work on the other?  What if the truly creative and artistic work overlaps with the professional jobs? 

Where do you put it all?

Then there's the branding---which is a HUGE word in the world of lifestyle wedding & portrait photography. All those guys seem to care about is "branding".  "Build your brand" you hear them say all the time.  But what does that even mean?  I mean, I know what it means....but it's all just so...meaningless, I'm beginning to think.

I think part of my problem is that I'm getting old and annoyed with the wedding photography industry.  When I took my first photography class back in the 80s I thought "I WILL NEVER EVER BE A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER" because....it was the 80s and wedding photography was so boring and lame.  Then slowly, some really creative photographers began to break away from the pack and began shooting a little differently, then with the advent of digital cameras....everything changed.  Suddenly, wedding photography became this fresh, new, creative thing and soon after EVERYONE was doing it, and certain photgraphers were making tons of money off of other photographers just thirsty to get their feet in the door.  The age of the "rock star" wedding photographer was born---with their own fanbase to stroke their egos.

I'm not necessarily criticizing--- it was an exciting time, and I got caught up in it too (just dig thru my archives and you'll see me drinking the koolaid wayyyy back on my blog).  But as digital camera prices came down and equipment more accessible to regular people, it seemed like every day a new photo business was born. Someone got a new camera for Christmas and by Spring, they were charging $2K to shoot a wedding. It's ridiculous.

Now here I am....sounding like that grumpy old photographer.  And I'm really not because there really is a lot of great talent out there. But there are a lot of schmucks out there too.  People who don't know Diane Arbus and Robert Frank. People who've never heard of Edward Weston or Gordon Parks Sr.  And I don't care if this all makes me sound like that grumpy old photographer---these photographers are truly the MASTERS and have shaped how I see the world and have influenced me personally and artistically for the last 25 years.

So when I see other wedding photographers all like "OMG PHOTOGRAPHY IS MY PASSION AND MAKING YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL IS ALL I'VE EVER WANTED OUT OF LIFE AND OH YEAH LOOK AT MY NEW SHOES AND MY SHINY NEW LENS AND GO COMMENT ON MY BLOG AND LIKE MY CRAP ON FACEBOOK AND OHHH LOOK AT THE PICS I TOOK ON MY PHONE OF MY PUPPY".... I kind of want to throw up a little bit.

I still love wedding photography. I love being with families on such a special occasion---it's really an amazing experience.  But it's not all I do and it certainly doesn't define me.

I'm a photographer. Through and through.

There are the things I photograph to make money. And there are things I photograph to feed my soul. On the best occasions, some of those things serve both needs.

So when it comes to my "web presence" I struggle with how to represent all that I do.  The wedding world is so separate from the Art world and rarely do the two mix. I seem to have a foot...or maybe just a toe... in each world but to be taken seriously in one, it often feels like you must forsake the other. And I can't do that.  I won't.

Art photographers have no (or little) respect for wedding photographers (sometimes deservedly so). Wedding photographers think Art photograhpers are pretentious jerks (some are). Photojournalists think they're better than everyone and Music photographers are just busy acting like they're cooler than everyone.

I'm left here in cyberspace trying to cohabitate with all of it.  Because I really love all of it. I love all photography. And since I was 15, I've done a little bit (or a lot) of everything so I can't let me web presence signify just one facet of the artist that I am.

A long time ago I met a working photographer whom I admired.  I was just barely getting started in the photo scene here in Columbus, just trying to get my feet wet, get a little bit of experience here and there. I'd met some great photographers along the way.  I remember asking this guy if he knew another really cool photographer that I'd just recently met. He told me no and said that he didn't really hang out with other photographers... most of his friends were other types of artists: painters, sculptors, writers.  He said he loved the inspiration they were all able to draw from each other.

I think about that a lot.  There's some real wisdom there.

Unlike what others might say and very unlike what others might do-- there's no formula to becoming successful as a photographer. And there's no one way to establish your web presence or to show your work. You don't need a certain type of camera or a certain blog template or fancy website to make it in this business. 

You just need a little creativity and a lot of authenticity.  And just shoot what you like.

At least....that's what I do, and so far it's been working pretty well.  I'm just gonna keep posting my pics and making random updates and hope that sooner or later, I get it right.

they're having a baby!

The other day I spent some time with a great couple who are expecting their first baby. It was one of those amazing cool & breezy summer afternoons. We only had to dodge a few raindrops!  But the photos came out great and I'm really looking forward to photographing their new BABY in about a month.

Jihyun & Seung Ho....congratualtions and I can't wait to see you again soon!

Street Ballet

Yesterday my daughter and I spent a few hours doing what we both absolutely LOVE: Me- shooting, her-dancing.  What better way is there to spend some quality mother/daughter time, than to merge our two passions, right? 

She's so incredibly strong and talented.

I love the idea of these fluid, feminine dance poses up against the urban backdrop.  For me, it epitomizes strength and beauty in unexpected places.

We shot a lot yesterday but we both have more ideas and locations where we'd like to shoot, so we'll be at it again.  I plan to compile it all into a project that I'm calling "Street Ballet" for now....until I think of something better.

Family

I'm extraordinarily productive for a Sunday afternoon, and I have to get ready for a really great photo session later today...but I just really wanted to post this...

You see, every now and then someone will ask me why I wanted to be a wedding photographer and the truth is: I never wanted to be a wedding photographer. I just wanted to be a photographer. 

Recently I wrote about how I tend to doubt myself as an artist and how I often don't feel like my body of work is about anything. But on better days, I can sort of see what it's all about... I like to photograph things that are meaningful in some way. Whether it's a moment in a child's life that's so incredibly fleeting, just to freeze that innocence and that moment is priceless; or maybe it's the way the Sun hits a tree trunk, casting a shadow in a way that won't ever happen again since the Universe is constantly moving, constantly changing. I feel like my work is about preservation, holding on to things that will soon pass, things that are important, that are valuable, and that ought to be remembered. 

If, decades from now, someone comes across a pile of my old photographs and attempts to make sense of it all....if THIS is what they take away from what I've tried to do, then I'd be happy with that.

The images below illustrate exactly why, among the many other things I photograph, I choose to shoot weddings. A wedding is more than just a marriage of two souls, it's the creation of a Family. And I think we can all agree that few things are more important than family.  Below we see a moment. A moment that began with a dance between father and daughter, but the love was so overpowering, so overwhelming that the bride's sister was invited to join in. And we see the groom dancing with his new mother-in-law, both lovingly smiling and watching. We see a Family, simply enjoying each other, simply celebrating their union as a whole.

Capturing moments such as these, freezing time, THIS is what it's all about.

NOW BOOKING SENIOR SESSIONS!

To contact, feel free to leave a comment below, click the CONTACT tab just above, or just email me at chantalstonephotography@gmail.com

the best thing ever...

Tuesday night I got to see one of my FAVORITE bands ever perform in Louisville: HARPER BLYNN.  If you haven't heard of them you NEED to listen to them. Go to their website and download thier newest album for free....it's easily the best album of 2012! Madi Diaz, an adorable singer/songwriter with an amazing voice, opened up for them and about half way through their set, HB brought Madi back onstage and they sang Fleetwood Mac's The Chain. Omg...it was freaking incredible! I almost died. Thankfully, an awesome person in the audience in Chicago recorded it there and promptly put it up on YouTube (for which I am eternally grateful!)

Check it out:

I'm currently writing about Harper Blynn and their new record, Busy Hands, for one of the websites that I write for...and I'll post that soon. In the meantime, check them out, listen to their music, GO CATCH A SHOW IF YOU CAN.  I may be a little biased but I can honestly say this: I've been to a TON of shows in the past year...around 30ish, and both Harper Blynn concerts I've been to were among the best. They were absolutely THE BEST, hands down. Do yourself a favor and go see them.  And give Madi Diaz a listen too, she's awesome. Her latest Daytrotter session is a MUST DOWNLOAD.

Shauna & Raynor

Here are a few photos from a recent engagement session I had in Columbus' German Village. It was a beautiful day and seriously...look at these two. A photographer couldn't ask for a more gorgeous couple. They have a really great wedding planned for next year and I can't wait to spend more time with them!

something new!

I've made a few changes here....and some more will be coming soon...

Meanwhile, I'm writing a book and you can read more about it HERE. Or simply click on the BOOK! tab at the top of the page.

idk~

i'm at a crossroads.

i feel changes coming....

here's a random picture to look at:

Meghan & Brian

One of the great things about the slower winter months... besides warm tea under a blanket on a chilly afternoon... is that it's a great time for me to get caught up on all of the projects I'm working on and then blog them.  One of my favorite events of last year was Meghan and Brian's gorgeous wedding.  The wedding itself was absolutely stunning, but add that to the fact that I photographed Meghan's sister's wedding just two years before (almost to the day) and that just makes everything more special. I LOVE THIS FAMILY. And to be with everyone again, with the inclusion of Brian's incredible family...it was just a million reminders of why I love what I do.  I'll stop rambling and let the images speak for themselves...and there's a slideshow to follow...

 

**I have to thank my two 2nd shooters, Deb and Leslie, who helped me with this wedding.  They are both so fun and talented and amazing.  I'm so lucky to have great people to work with!!  Love you, ladies!! xoxo