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This space is a collection of moments and places that inspired us in some way. Please come back and visit as we add new posts, and join the conversation.
Earchphoto
An Unexpected Makeover
I am nevertheless fascinated by cosmetics, and by the work of make-up artists. I would watch them work and do makeovers for hours. In my eyes, a makeover is a quest to find inner beauty, some sort of a human remodeling project, and you know how much remodeling and modernization projects are dear to my heart. There is something special about the idea of rebuilding, remodeling, reorganizing... it's sort of a moment of extreme honesty and extreme power. First, honesty - because to be ready for a makeover we have to defy the idea of perfection and admit that we are not perfect. And well, I was in gymnastics as a kid, so yes, perfection is deeply rooted in my mind... So, honesty first - strip down the perfection, admit to the brokenness, and acknowledge the need for reconstruction. Second, power: the power to shape and rebuild something innovative, visionary, daring, and fearless. The power to create, to materialize an idea in the tangible world, to find that inner beauty, to build something and watch it grow on its own.
And what in Heaven's name is this blog post about? Business. Yep, business - successful, efficient, streamlined, business. But then, to keep it simple, this blog post could be summarized in four words: Thank You Tamara Lackey. Thank you, really.
Ok, for those of you who have not heard the name Tamara Lackey before... please go visit her website: www.tamaralackey.com Tamara is an amazing artist and businesswoman. And, she is an amazing teacher, speaker, and mentor. What makes her especially awesome is that she comes to photography from a business and communications background, and thus she has a much deeper understanding of business and marketing than most of us human beings :) Earlier this year, in the midst of a work-life-profession-business-everything reorganization, I reached out to Tamara for an advisory session. My expectation was plain and simple to get some good business critique and advice, and a bit of help finding my way through the chaos. Well, yes, that is what you expect of a mentoring session. But Tamarra's advisory sessions are not just mentoring sessions, they are life-changing sessions. In 90 minutes she took a honest look at my whole professional and business life and the chaos just dissolved. Objectives and purposes became clear, business structure changes, branding and divisions of the brand made sense, the website got a complete remodeling, and my mind and belief system got a bit re-wired as well. Yes, it was that simple. We have many old sayings in medicine, and one that I have used very often (and still do) is 'paging is a sign of weakness'. Truth is, at times you come to the sudden realization that you need someone's help. And it may be as much as a conversation or even a word - and finally everything finds its place, and confusion disappears. And, I got to join Tamara for her "Work. Life. Balance" workshop with creativeLIVE in Seattle, which was an amazing experience that I will eternally be grateful for. And another experience I highly recommend as well: watch Tamara's classes on creativeLIVE, and if you have a chance attend one of her talks or workshops. You can find more about her workshops and mentoring sessions on her website.
Photo by Andrea Devisser, who made a small miracle with my BlackBerry :)
Today my company is structurally sound, we have a consistent brand culture and service mission, and I am tying to walk in the direction of a more balanced professional life. All of that thanks to someone who took 90 minutes away from their busy schedule to take a close look at my business and help me sort it out. It takes a special someone to do that. It was an unexpected, and very welcome, total makeover. Thank you Tamara!
E.
Certified. What? Why?Every once in a while I meet people along the way and they ask what is a Certified Professional Photographer, and why in the world someone who has been making photographs for over twenty-five years would feel the need to become certified. A Certified Professional Photographer, or CPP, is someone who wants to stand out from the crowd. In today's market, where the barrier to entry into photography is so low that anyone who received a DSLR for Christmas can walk into a public office and create a new busincess, it is not sufficient to just be a good photographer. The world is full of good photographers. The CPP talls your clients that in a world with over a million photographers, you are one of less than 3000 who decided to take a board-style examination and submit a body of work to a panel of judges from the Professional Photographic Certification Commission for evaluation. It tells the world that you put yourself out there to be evaluated and judged, and you made it out alive with flying colors. It also tells the world that you are keeping up with an industry which is made of constant change, and participate in the numerous continung education activities required to maintain the certification. The principal photographer at Earchphoto is one of the less than 3000 worldwide (and less than 200 in Texas) who elected to become certified. Our decision was also driven by the clients we connect with and represent: our networking crowd is made of architects, engineers, physicians. They maintain a higher standard by passing their boards, and so do we. We believe in education, in maintaining a high standard of service, and in delivering the highest quality products. We believe in professional certification.
Elena Sbrana, CPP Principal Photographer
Health Care Architecture. Why?
I feel a special connection to healthcare architecture. Modern healthcare architecture is fearless, unlimited, and visionary. It stands at the intersection of emotions and power. When a patient walks into a health care facility, they come looking for guidance, healing, and hope. They come from a place of darkness, and they seek light. Architect John Lautner once said that the purpose of architecture is to improve human life. Healthcare architecture is the representation of that purpose. The purpose of healthcare architecture is to relieve the limits imposed by illness. Illness says to the patient that they are afraid, limited, alone, unsafe. Illness takes away hope. Illness says you cannot do what you wish to do. Healthcare architecture responds by providing support and safety, lifting limits, opening spaces, restoring hope and creating connection. Modern healthcare architecture brings light and hope into the healing space by creating an environment which is interconnected with the outside world. Gardens, playgrounds, art exhibits, and starry skies live within the modern healing space. The design brings the outside world within the patient room, and makes them an active participant in their own healing process. The purpose of our photography is for the images to convey this message - the feeling that coming through these doors, walking into these healing spaces, here they will find guidance, healing, and hope.
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