Peace and Tranquility

As X-Mas is fast approaaching I cannot help but wonder at the small beauty that we  miss every day. When last did you just lie flat on your back and look up at the clouds drifting by, or on your stomach, absorbing the bustling life that we walk past every day.

Surrounding us every day is life, green and fresh. Vibrant colours that we miss amongst the rush and stress of every day. Feel the grass in between yur toes. Feel the touch of a soft breeze brushing past your skin. Hear the hundreds of nature calls drifting through the air. Smell the aroma of fresh growth and nurturing ground underfoot.

Our inspiration for every day life should be founded in nature. The vibrant and lively breath that makes our world so beautifull and special. No matter what country you live in, you have an amazing oppertunity to see our world as most cannot. Take that oppertunity and be greatfull.

Sunsets and New Year

As I sat outside yesterday afternoon, soaking in the beautiful sunset that signalled the end of another hectic but satisfying day, I reflected on the year gone by and the new beginnings brought by the upcoming year.

As every other person, I know that there was opportunities missed, goals unreached and adventures overlooked and many tears shed during a year of hard work, financial worries, and time management problems.
I also look at the great things that came about this year. Every proud moment with my children, my personal emotional barriers that I overcame, and the best friends lost and gained. Again, I hope for a better year next year, and this time I had to stop myself from making new year's resolutions.
We cannot plan for the ups and downs that the new year might bring. Natural disasters, crime, financial markets slumping, diseases and all the other potential upsets that might destroy all our neatly laid out plans for next year.

My plan is not to plan next year, I will take every day as it comes, treating as it should be treated: as a day full of potential.

Perhaps then I will look back at the end of the year and not see the disappointments at all, but only see the accomplishments and joy that I experienced on a daily basis.

So to the whole world I say: Merry Xmas, and Happy New Year.

So, the first day of spring came and went. Blossoms everywhere, the excitement of waiting for the Mulberries to ripen. New birth everywhere. And of course great photographic opportunities.

 The flowers, the bees, the baby birds.....and what is spring without that  floral scent in the air. With my excitement came the added opportunity to hand raise a tiny miniature pincher. Angel or like my husband likes to call her, Small Dog, had some really bad moments, and then the joy of her actually making it to the six week mark.

So now, I have this urge to just take photos. Of everything and anything. Not to make money, or promote my photographic business, although I might have given up on that idea for a while.
I just want to capture magic, share it with as many people I can. And who knows, maybe I can inspire others to live out their hobbies with abandon and total expression.





And now, summer is burning in it's full South African glory. The heat, the prayers for rain, the wishes for winter's cosy cuddles. Swimming on lazy Sunday afternoons in the kids blow up pool.

So go ahead, get the photos of the sky, the sunlight glittering off every possible surface...and create memories for yourself.

A Photo in every moment.

If ever you feel like your inspiration has faded away, try this:
Take snapshots!
Take those photos as a mom,dad or whatever. Take that out of focus picture of your childs smile,frame it and hang it up in your home. That image of your dog sleeping, or the one of your favourite tree. These images should be in your face al the time. They remind you why you love photography....to capture the magic that we tend to overlook everyday. Those moments that make YOUR life special.
What else could be a better motivation.

Online photographic communities for the serious photographer

There are so many photographic communities out there for the amateur photographers, and even for the serious professional (one who does photography for a living). What benefits do these site really have for you as the photographer. How many photographers can really say that they have earned clients and solid long term business from these communities? Who is really exposed to your creative work?

These days online magazines, social networks, e-mail and so many other Internet based sources do bring us all closer together, but it is only truly a benefit to your business if it is applied correctly. The Internet has to an extent replace the effort of actually going out there and looking for your clients. The days of meeting up with a potential client and "selling" your skills on a face to face basis seems to have passed and sadly with this passing went the issue of personal client relationships. Clients are numbers, they are potential victims. Clients are very rarely a person, a man/woman with a husband, a single mother, a grandmother.

Customer loyalty is bought with competitive pricing, branding enforcement and "value added services". How about getting back to that "face to face" , "how are you" moments. I would rather have 20 amazing clients that are with me because they value me as a person and vice versa, than 50 wealthy clients that will run off to the competitor the moment that there is a 80% sale!

Photography is one of the few areas where this is still possible. You don't have to take better photos than the expensive pro (one who flaunts their product and training before flaunting their personality). Don't provide your service and think about the potential earnings. Rather provide a service that you would like to receive, and with total empathy for your client and I can guarantee that it will be more successful for your business.
 Photography is after all about the people, art and expression, let your service be such as well.

Succesfull or not

So the great promotional event lasted a whole 2 hours. Funny but it seemed very short. A stunning venue, beautifull atmosphere, but much fewer brides to be than we expected. I met some other suppliers in the wedding industry, some were helpull and welcoming, others were a bit distant and not too welcoming. Not that I was a threat, I am providing a completely different service to what they provide.
Nonetheless, I am very happy I went.

I hope the hours of effort that went into the gift bags at least get noticed. I hope my style of  photography is perceived the way I want it to be. Fun filled adventure for a very special day.
For more samples of my wedding photography visit:
http://www.ericaeaton.webs.com/

The moment of truth for my photography!!

Well, the opportunity has arrived. I have been invited to an open day for brides at a local lodge, as a preferred supplier. This is the moment to represent my work, and get the exposure that I need to take off.(I have to be positive :))
So now for the preparation, sample photos has been taken and must be printed. Discount vouchers from industry related businesses need to be collected. Business cards and pamphlets need to be prepared. Gift packs should be made up and decorated. I have 2 and a half days left, but the adrenaline and excitement keeps me moving forward. My day job is a total distraction, but I will make it!!

My nerves are shattered, I can barely contain the concern that I am not going to be prepared enough. Will they like what they see? Will they want to make use of my services? Once I am established I can quit the job that takes me away from my family sometimes 9-10 hours a day, 7 days a week. I can be there for the kid's athletic events, their hardships with homework, and I can be there for them the way I want to be.

So here we go.....it is time to make my mark and move up in the world. Thank you for the blessings and the opportunity..... I will make the best of it!!

Technology and it's ups and downs

To my utter disgust I discovered that my website has been down for more than 4 days! What a disaster! A photographer uses a website as a portfolio. If it cannot be seen, you are not seen.
With some ups and a lot more downs, I eventually decide that I would change my hosting company.....typically then, the website suddenly became available again.

I cannot explain the panic of that moment when I realised all the hard work that had gone into my website, might have to be done again.Yes, I could start up a new, more flashy flash website.....but I like my site.
It is homey and cosy and says exactly who I am. There is no clinical precise layout, it has personality.
Most of these new flash player sites have a lot of things in common. It seems to much to be like a SHOW. And while we as photographers should show the best of our work, we should not let the website layout and design compete with how we want to represent ourselves. Our own unique style and interpretation needs to be visible. You cannot follow a "recipe" for a website as a photographer. Eventually all photographers will appear the same, with the sames styles and character reflected in flashy, sparkly websites.

Perhaps I am to old fashioned but I do believe that the story is more important than the cover page. There is where it should be experienced. Through the story of your work.Visit:http://www.ericaeaton.webs.com to see for yourself.

The human factor.

What makes a person leave a dog by the roadside. What makes a person drop of a puppy to fend for itself in the bush. I can understand that the SPCA has limited resources here in South Africa. I can understand that there is no point for them to "rescue" a dog that doesn't trust humans, they wouldn't be able to get close enough to catch it, and if they were lucky enough to do so, they cannot rehabilitate the animal either. It would most probably be put down.

BUT......I am sure that would be better for the animal than leaving it where it is......sitting in the middle of the road, unaware of the heavy duty trucks that are speeding around the blind corner,already injured by a previous car. I do not blame the motorists, this road is very narrow, winding and, roadside bush makes it impossible to see far ahead. By the time you see the poor animal in front of your car, it will be too late......., and yes, you could swerve into a ditch to the left, or even into oncoming traffic to the right. But what risk is that to you, your spouse next to you and your children in the back seat of the car? What risk is that to the tour bus full of french tourists, coming towards you from the opposite side of the road?

What are your choices?
We chose to pull of the road, direct the traffic around the dog while trying to lure it with food. We struggled for about an hour.....to no avail. This dog was terrified of humans, hungry, injured and confused. I don't even think it saw any of the cars around it. Traffic officers soon arrived and asked us to stop obstructing traffic and go home. We had to leave it there.

I cried......not because I was sad, but because I was angry and felt helpless. I blame the human factor. That small factor of people that don't mind dumping puppies in the bush. That small factor of people that would hit a dog with a car without a care and continue driving as if nothing happened or even worse, speed away and try to hide what you have done after people identified you. That small factor of people that would own a dog just for the sake of OWNING it. That small factor of people that buy puppies and discard them when they are all grown up and not so cute anymore.

I guess that human factor is not as small as I would like to believe, perhaps the "good guys" are almost extinct. Is there any hope for the human nation?

There is hope as long as I believe that I as one person can make a difference. May this inspire others to feel the same. Do something good every day. You don't have to volunteer at an animal shelter, or donate money. Just treat every animal and person that comes across your path in life with the respect and kindness that you would deserve in the same situation. Perhaps then, there will be as chance for the human factor to triumph!

Some of my Favourite Photographers

I often see amazing photographers doing amazing work and yet, they are not well known. The following photographers are not necessarily labelled as po's but they do the job just a s well

All of these photographers sell their work in print. A link to their profiles have been added.                   Please visit them and add your support by leaving a comment.

Gene Praag

                                                http://photojunky.redbubble.com/

                                                         
                                                              Natalie Manuel

http://www.animusphotography.com/

Maureen Grobler

                                               http://maureengrobler.redbubble.com/

Hougaard Malan

http://www.redbubble.com/people/hougaard

Inspiration is BACK!!!!!!

Wow! 2 Weeks after the loss of Cheeky, my inspiration is back again. Thank goodness!!!! My mind is buzzing with new creative ideas and thoughts.I am so excited, I don't know where to start.
I have had a lot of time for soul searching and exploration, and I have discovered a few important things.

1. People will disappoint you, no matter what your expectations, so....don't expect anything.
2. You determine your own happiness, nobody can make you as happy as yourself, take control of your passions and live it out to the fullest. Do not depend on others to give you what you can give yourself.
3. Do not wait for the right time for anything, it will never come by itself. You have to just go ahead and make the right time now.
4. Love everything in your life with no boundaries, borders or expectations.........that feeling is irreplaceable.

Yes, these things are easier said than done.......but all good things require hard work......so work hard at being positive and happy.

Find the flower in every moment. :)
VISIT: http://www.ericaeaton.webs.com/