It's Sunday morning and as always I'm off track from marketing, business and photography. This is the time when I just kick back and let my thoughts go anyplace they choose. As always Molly the Wonder Dog is asleep at my feet and I can't help but wonder how great it would be if we were all the kind of people our dogs think we are!

For some reason that quote above popped into my head this morning as I read three "Chicken Little" posts and emails this morning. A "Chicken Little" issue is from somebody who every day finds something to worry about and does their best to rally everybody around them into believing the "sky is falling."

Over the years In photography we've had some big ones: Photographers in the fifties who felt photography was going to hell because of color! They had children who believed life photography was ending when auto-focus came into play. (Anybody remember when one of the biggest retailers in photography, Calumet, in the late 80's threw Nikon out because they stopped making manual focus lenses?) But it doesn't stop there because the same people upset over autofocus had kids who complained that imaging was over with the invention of the digital camera! And I'm sure we can find a link to today's challenges with social media, digital files, and the list goes on and on.

Okay, so I stepped back into photography for one paragraph, but here's how it applies to life. I'm so tired of having a conversation with somebody that starts out with me asking, "Hey, how have you been?" and then hearing how the sky is falling! And while we all have friends who truly have endured some horrific days - they recognize that it's just that; a bad day and they wouldn't trade their life with anybody.

So here's my point this morning - let's help those people who have mastered the art of pessimism to morph into something else. Instead of asking them how they're doing let's open the conversation with, "Wow, you sound great today - what's going on?" Let's help them to keep life's daily challenges in perspective and get them to stop writing their lives off because there are too many speed bumps along the way.

I spent a lot of time in Japan in the 80's, and when having a lot of differences in a negotiating session, there's an expression which translated means, "there are too many pebbles in the stream." So, one by one you work to remove each pebble, but nobody ever looks at the stream as a dried up creek bed!

Wishing everybody a Sunday, or Monday if you're on the other side of the world, that's filled with optimism and time with the people most special to you. Always go for those eleven-second hugs and think about how much the person in that hug means to you. And definitely, keep each day in perspective. Not every day is the one you're going to base your life story on, but without those days that are off a little how would you ever appreciate the ones that are stellar!

I started writing Sunday Morning Reflections as a way to step away from the business of photography and remind myself I have a life outside of imaging. It's a way to recharge my battery and touch base with the challenges of finding balance and the multiple hats we all wear.

Now and then, when I have a hard time stepping away from the business, I read Melody Beattie. This morning was one of those days, and she never lets me down. Her July 15 inspiration is called "Delight in Yourself," and I pulled a paragraph to share: 

Be yourself and accept yourself--warts, waistline, and all. You don't have to sit up that straight, be that proper, or fear what others may see. Let your imperfections show...Relax and be who you are! When you do that, your life will be fun and a joyful gift to others. People who comfortably accept who they are - both their flaws and their good points - are healing, delightful, and fun to be around...Relax. Lighten up. Let go of shame and fear. The whole picture is perfect, and perfectly okay.

This past week was pretty remarkable as we launched Excire Inc. a new company involved in developing search software for photographers. In the process, I talked to a lot of photographers I've never met before. One of them introduced herself with, "I'm an amateur and I know my work isn't very good yet, but I love photography so much!" But when I looked at her work, it was stunning!
 
Photography, as my buddy Scott Bourne once wrote, is the great equalizer. Scott's point was that it doesn't matter what your pedigree is, you're going to be judged on the quality of your images. It doesn't matter what you look like, your education, your age, financial status or often, even your gear. The key is going to be the impact of the photographs you share.

And that brings me full circle to my point. Why is it so hard for some of you to just accept who you are? Why do many of you start out with introductions that sound like apologies instead of proclamations of pride for the choices you've made and are making? Isn't today the perfect time to give yourself a big pat on the back and stop wasting time on things that don't matter?

A few years back I did a podcast with Sandy Puc, and we started talking about our definitions of success. By the end of the podcast we had defined success as waking up with a smile every morning. And, that's what loving yourself is all about - accepting and appreciating the choices you've made.

Wishing all of you the perfect day, whether it's Sunday where you are or Monday morning on the other side of the planet. Make it a day of inner peace, time with the people who matter most in your life and don't forget to cherish that face looking back at you in the mirror. As Melody Beattie started things off this morning - be yourself and accept yourself!

​Happy Sunday everybody!

At this point in my life wearing my blogger hat, there aren't a lot of topics I haven't written about. So, when Sunday mornings roll around, and it's time to write Reflections, it gets harder and harder to share something relevant that's new. Well, I think I found a topic this morning more of you need to work on - learning to be a slug!

And this isn't new either - I've written about it three times over the last five years. However, each day there's something new in our lives. Technology, social media, the economy, consumer trends, and our growing responsibilities all contribute to the stress in our lives. Sometimes it feels like we're caught in a nonstop perfect storm.

We all live busy, hectic lives and I'm betting each of you wear multiple hats as photographers, business owners, volunteers in your community, parents, spouses, friends, family members, lovers, and the list goes on and on. Most of the time you're going non-stop. You answer the phone every time it rings and every email that comes in. You comment on issues that come up on Facebook, tweet as often as you can and share images on your website, blog, Instagram, Pinterest and even LinkedIn. Your thoughts are interrupted numerous times throughout each day, and sometimes you feel like all you're doing is putting out fires. Sound familiar?

If you're like me, there are days when you need to pull the plug! And that's precisely what Sheila and I did yesterday - we had a slug day. We did absolutely nothing that would change the world or our little part of it. We kicked back, hung out together, had great music playing all day, floated in the pool, watched the butterflies in the garden, fired up the grill a couple of times and watched a few classic movies, including Animal House! We never bothered to even watch the news, except for tracking the story of the kids trapped in the cave in Thailand.

In my younger days, and I only need to go back a few years ago, I would have felt guilty. In fact, I'd be embarrassed to even write about being nonproductive for a day, but here's my point.
 
All of us spend our days multi-tasking. To avoid "hitting the wall" and going into overload, you need to take a slug day. You need to recognize when it's time to unplug from your business life for a day. Slug days are about recharging your battery and having an Alfred E. Neuman smile on your face and more importantly in your heart. You don't worry about anything, especially whether or not doing nothing for the day is honestly going to change the world!

Wishing all of you a terrific Sunday, and if you need it, make it a slug day! The business will all be there tomorrow morning, and it's a new week! If you're feeling the stress of deadlines, the challenges of running a business and you're starting to procrastinate more than be productive - then walk away from it for a day. Clear your head and take the time to dream. Build up the energy you need to follow your heart more, and business-logic just a little bit less!

As always, go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs with the people most special in your life. And, don't focus on anything except a smile on your face and having joy in your heart. (I know it sounds sappy, but you'll be amazed at the energy a great attitude can help create!)

Happy Sunday everybody - thanks for joining me!

"Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent.
To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden,
​where doing nothing was not boring --- it was peace."
Milan Kundera

​If you've followed me for even a few Sunday mornings, then you know I start each post the same. Molly the Wonder Dog is always part of the equation. She's always asleep at my feet as I start wandering through my creativity "warehouse" trying to figure out what to write about for Sunday Morning Reflections.

Well this morning the topic is Molly and in turn talking about the dogs in our lives. In one respect we take so much for granted about our furry partners - and on the other hand, we take nothing for granted. They're the purest and most consistent example of unconditional love we have in our lives.

I picked up Molly from a breeder in Modesto, California. I didn't want a puppy factory and found two sisters who had an almond farm and did a couple of litters a year of Labradoodles. I'd researched the breed and put in my order.

The litter came along, but I didn't have the first pick. Fortunately, the couple ahead of me didn't want a white dog - remember this is California where people have been known to give up their dogs when they don't match the new decorating! That was it - Molly was about to become a part of my life.

Her mother was a black standard poodle and father a big yellow lab. The litter was a rainbow, so the we-don't-want-a-white-dog couple had plenty to choose from. Molly was eight weeks old when we picked her up and drove home with her asleep, and later that day introduced her to her first tennis ball.

​Well, that was thirteen years ago, and she's been by my side ever since. She went to work with me every day at Rangefinder/WPPI. She kept me company and often calm during the stress of a divorce, always knowing when I was down. She kept me company on the drive to Ohio when I left California, and it aggravated me that she had to stop to pee less often than I did! LOL She's chased tennis balls on the beaches of California, in the parks and snow of Ohio, on the beaches in Florida and up and down the driveway as recently as yesterday.

Her loyalty is unmatched as I believe is her understanding when I need a hug. She sleeps on her bed in my office all day when I'm working and will pick her head up out of the soundest sleep if I get up and leave the room. And, if I have to leave the house, she gets this look of disappointment over not joining me for a ride in the car - but if I say, "It's just too hot today," she tilts her head and understands.

So, this morning is a tribute to the puppy in my life, who at sixty pounds has carved out her exclusive piece of my heart.  But, it's also a tribute to the pups in your lives because in their own strange, compelling and all-knowing way they help you stay focused. They remind us every day how important love is in our lives. Without ever speaking a word they talk and listen to us all the time.

Wishing you a weekend of peace, love and time to scratch behind the ears of the dog in your life. (It's so strange - as I wrote that last sentence, Molly got up off her bed and came over and just looked at me, waited for me to scratch her back and said, "Finish up already - I need to go out!")

As always go for those eleven-second hugs with the people most special in your life and hug that puppy! You don't need to have an official therapy dog, that pup in your life already has an inherent ability to know when you need support

Happy Sunday everybody!

Note: A big thanks to Nicole Begley from "Hair of the Dog." Together with Terran Bayer, they taught an outstanding workshop on pet photography here in Sarasota this past winter and Molly got to model. The images, where credited, are all from students in their class who captured a few of my favorites. Check out more about Nicole and her workshops at her blog. It's loaded with great content and in the hierarchy of why people hire professional photographers in the portrait/social categories the order is brides, babies and pets! 

It's a typical Sunday morning. I'm working on this post, Sheila's still asleep and Molly is stretched out at my feet. The house is quiet except for the rolling thunder of a storm coming in. It was 6:40 am, and the sun was coming up. I don't usually grab a camera first thing, but the shot above is facing southwest, and the color was amazing, washing the entire neighborhood in the epitome of "sweet-light."  

I started this Sunday Morning Reflections series because it's one of my favorite times of the week. Sunday mornings are always quiet, and it's developed into a time to reflect on the past week. Mostly I do an inventory of the week's memories. Just a few minutes ago I closed my eyes and thought about the last few days.
​

• Shauna Gartz shared a Facebook post about a dream she had about Bill Hurter, past Editor-in-Chief of Rangefinder Magazine who passed away a couple of years ago. We all worked together, and her post brought out one memory after another as old friends responded with their thoughts.
• Earlier in the week, I tracked down Dick Roesler, an old friend from my Polaroid days. I have no idea why he was on my mind or Polaroid going back thirty years ago, but the conversation brought back a long series of smiles about funny moments from our past.
• I recorded a new episode of "Why?" on Friday with Andy Marcus, which will air tomorrow. Andy and I go back to my Hasselblad days, and the podcast got me thinking about everything from Dean Collins to film.
• Last but not least, I had a problem with our wifi and while on the phone with Tech Support at Frontier Communications there was a lot of waiting for the system to reboot. The Tech Rep was based in Rochester, and we started talking about Kodak. My relationship with them began when they were a powerhouse in the late 80's. In fact, if not for Kodak I never would have met some of my best industry friends.

​There's a quote I've shared before by Alfred Lord Tennyson, I am a part of all that I have met.  Well, the memories of this week clearly support that. Everybody we meet becomes a part of us and in turn, create the memories we learn from and cherish the most.

And I guess this brings me to my point this morning - take the time to appreciate your journey and your memories. Check your inventory regularly - don't let special moments slip by as time served, but learn to savor everything and everyone who comes into your life. 

As usual, I went searching for an appropriate quote and *poof* I was drawn to it immediately:

Why do we close our eyes when we pray, kiss or dream?
Because the most beautiful things in life aren't seen, but felt from the heart!
Author Unknown

Trust me for a second. Find a comfortable chair and close your eyes and think about the highlights of this past week. No matter how much intermittent stress there might have been, there were moments of brilliance where your soul had a chance just to soar.

We're an industry founded on helping people capture memories they can see and hold on to. However, like the quote I found, your power as an artist isn't really in your photographs. It's in those beautiful closed-eyes moments that tug at people's heartstrings, thanks to your skill set with a camera in your hands.

Wishing everybody an amazing Sunday with memory-making moments that make your heart skip a beat. Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs with the people most special to you, and take the time to appreciate the face in the mirror! Everything you do today is a foundation for something tomorrow.

Happy Sunday everybody!

It's one of those Sunday mornings when everything just seems right in the word. While I know that's not the case; there are times when we all need to search out that one place where we can enjoy the solitude of inner peace.

Okay, I get that I'm even more off track than usual for a Sunday morning, but I was having a hard time trying to figure out what to write about. My Sunday posts are ALWAYS live and off-the-cuff, and I stared at the wall in my office for a long time. Then, like a cartoon character with the lightbulb going off above my head, I decided to move to the back porch.

I not only found peace and solitude but the trickle of the water feature in the butterfly garden set against the sweet light of sunrise brought out the zebra longwing above. I had a camera close by for a grab shot. I had no goal in mind except to capture the moment and a new visitor.

And, in an odd way that brought me to my initial point, if you build it they will come. I had no idea the joy and sense of peace planting the butterfly garden would bring. We all live hectic, stressful lives, and for me, it's sometimes difficult not to get sucked into the day-in-day-out pressure of business.

The first year we planted the garden we got a couple of Monarchs right away, but it wasn't until this morning, a year later, I realized how much the garden had grown, and along with it, brought in lots of new "tenants." It all left me with the incredibly simple realization it just took time and patience.

We're all so impatient for the final results. We live in an instant fulfillment world and most of the time fail to appreciate our growth, or how life always proves true to one of my favorite mantras, everything works out for the better.

And, to my second point - we built the garden because we love butterflies, but I had no idea the sense of peace it would bring to our little corner of the world. We all need to step away from the pressures life throws at us. So, while you might not have a garden to melt the stress away, it's so important to find that one place that allows you to be alone with your thoughts, your dreams, and your goals.

So, at the risk of sounding like a hippie headed to Woodstock - wishing everybody a day filled with peace, love and plenty of smiles. Go for those eleven-second hugs with the people you care most about. Most important of all, take the time to give yourself a big pat on the back for all the growth you've gone through over the last year. 

​Happy Sunday everybody!

It's a typical Sunday morning. I got up at 6:30 and the house is quiet. It's one of my favorite times of day. I love this time to quietly reflect on my life or just this past week and appreciate the journey I'm on. 

Yesterday was one of those perfect days - I completely stepped away from business and enjoyed a day with my wife, Sheila. We did nothing remarkable except appreciate each other and the life we've made. It's so simplistic - we just hung out together.

A couple of days ago a good friend, Jared Burns, posted this stunning image of his wife, Beth. I first met Jared at Skip's Summer School many years ago, and the friendship grew.

Jared was part-time for many years and a year or two ago made the move to be a full-time photographer. Part of my inspiration this morning is all thanks to Beth and Jared and the strength of their relationship and the way they support each other.

But, typical of Sunday mornings, I'm all over the place and while this post started with things to think about if you're about to make the leap to a full-time photographer as Jared did, there's more to it. It's also about being happy and focused on what makes you smile.
  
Since starting my own business in 2009 and becoming responsible for my own destiny 24/7 versus working for other companies, I've learned a lot. Often the lessons have been thanks to so many of you, including Jared!

So, whether you're part-time and trying to decide to go full-time or you're already full-time and need to establish a stronger focus on your business, see if these suggestions make sense:

• If you're part-time, the challenge is to grow your business to a point where you can't afford NOT to quit your day job.
• Take your time! Don't be in a rush, especially if you've got a family. It's important to not underestimate the importance of the benefits of your day job, and that usually means health insurance.
• Do everything you can to keep building your skill set, even in specialties and techniques you think you'll never want to do. Build your skills to be as diverse as possible.
• Building a new business isn't just about a cute logo, the right location, and friends who believe in you. It's about building brand awareness. That means being involved in the community, giving back, networking with associates in photography, other retailers and the people you hope to target for your business.  
• Don't be afraid to share your fears with your spouse or that one singular friend we're hopefully all lucky enough to have in our life. You've got to have full transparency with each other to grow.
• Develop a strong network of support. Get rid of the "Negators" in your life. As a good buddy of mine used to say, "Dump all the Dr. No's" - you know the ones - they're the people who always tell you why something won't work.
• When it's right, you'll know it. Seriously, this is like falling in love. You'll know precisely when it's the right time to head off on the entrepreneurial highway.
  
• NEVER head off on any journey before you believe in yourself! This is where your network of support comes in and can help you build confidence.
• Last but not least, stay on track with the most important thing I've learned from my wife Sheila, and I'm betting Jared and Beth have learned from each other too, "To thine own self be true!"  I've written this before, you can't create images that tug at people's heartstrings if your own heart isn't in it." 

Wishing all of you a beautiful Sunday and time to relax and appreciate everything in your life. If you're tuning in late to my Sunday posts, I read an article many years ago in AARP Magazine - it talked about hugs being therapeutic when they last at least eleven-seconds. So, go for those long hugs with the people most special in your life. And, if I go back to the days when I was a kid, and NOTHING was open on Sunday - make it a day of quality time with family, friends, and filled with smiles!

Your smile is your logo, your personality is your business card,
how you leave others feeling after having an experience with you becomes your trademark.
Jay Danzie

Happy Sunday everybody!

It's Sunday morning, and I'm especially off-track, but with a topic so many of us can identify with. I woke up to another day of storms in Florida and the first tropical storm warning of the season. That got me thinking about the fear the media keeps creating and in turn how we all deal with anxiety in general.

Well, it's a Melody Beattie morning, and ironically she wrote about fear for today, May 27. If you want to read the whole meditation, you'll have to buy the book since I've only selected a couple of paragraphs.

It's time to stop punishing ourselves. Time to stop beating ourselves over the head with fear.

This is the scenario. A fear enters our mind. Our mind takes it and runs with it. Something bad is going to happen. Something terrible and traumatic is on the way. We quickly review the traumas of our past and make the determination. Yes, it is very possible that this devastating event will happen.

So we sit crouched in the present moment full of fear and dread. We worry the worst that could possibly happen, probably will. We begin to believe that it is most likely waiting at our doorstep, ready to pounce on us and steal our joy, our peace, our place and rhythm in the universe.

She expanded the concept more and then closed with:

Recognize and acknowledge your fear. Then release it. Let go of the energy. Stop punishing yourself. While life's seasons may not always be fair, they are trustworthy. And within each day, each moment of each season, there is a way of peace and joy.  Do not allow fear of what if to ruin the joy of what is.

And here's my point this morning.
 
An old friend from Peru, Mario Fernandez was here last night. I haven't seen Mario in over twenty years, going back to his days as owner/publisher of Foto Imagen magazine, then based out of Miami. It was a great visit as both of us wandered up and down Memory Lane and our ever-changing lives and careers. Over and again we shared stories of events, projects, accomplishments and adventures that never would have happened had we given into fear and not taken a risk here and there.
   
​Well, I'm a year older today, and with each birthday I find myself reflecting on how much my life keeps changing. Don't let fear slow you down. Appreciate that gut feeling you get, respect it, but don't let it drown you in a sea of regrets. Embrace change, embrace those new opportunities that come into your life, and most of all remember, if it weren't for change there'd be no butterflies!

Wishing everybody a beautiful Sunday, or Monday if you're on the other side of the world. Make it a day without fear and as Melody Beattie wrote, don't let anything ruin the joy of what is - this moment right now. Always go for those eleven-second hugs with the people most special in your life and appreciate the simplicity and the deafening silence of peace.

Happy Sunday everybody!

The trick is not how much pain you feel - but how much joy you feel.
Any idiot can feel pain.
Life is full of excuses to feel pain, excuses not to live, excuses, excuses, excuses.
Erica Jong

For several years now I've made it a point to run amuck on Sunday mornings and dive headfirst into any topic outside photography. It's getting harder and harder to find something to write about that's different from a thousand plus Sundays of the past. 

This past week I caught up with an old buddy who commented on how over all the years we've known each other I haven't changed. We laughed over a few of our past adventures, and as I sit here writing this morning, I'm thinking about whether or not I have changed.  

The truth is I've changed in a lot of ways. I've made mistakes; have regrets and have isolated moments where I wish specific things were different. However, the one core that drives everything I do is my ability to be an eternal optimist. Part of this is learned, but it's also in my genes.

I grew up with Grandmothers who loved expressions like, "Don't cry over spilled milk." "A stitch in time saves nine," "Every cloud has a silver lining," and the list goes on and on. My Dad, at the height of dealing with my mother's Alzheimer's once said, "I'm going to squeeze every drop of joy we have left and never let it go!"

And then there's my wife Sheila, who's known more pain than anybody I know. Twenty years ago she lost three brothers and her parents over a five year period. She was the one person in her family to have the strength to bury them all and still have a belief in life, God and the pure joy of just being alive. And that's a big piece of what I fell in love with - her zest for life.

When we put in our butterfly garden, we wanted a water feature, and that's the three monoliths in the photograph above. The feature is a memorial to her three brothers. That's "Alan" in the middle, "Wally" on the right and "Jimmy" on the left. It was my idea because while I never knew them, I know they're watching over us. As sad as it is to have lost them, it's a tribute to them and life.

So, here's my point this morning and Erica Jong said it best in the quote above, "Any idiot can feel pain." Just like me, you have a choice in your perspective about today and all your tomorrows. If you want to be miserable, it's your choice, but what a kick if you can teach yourself to wake up smiling every morning. Then, take whatever comes along, whether good or bad, as another component in a pretty amazing life...yours. And if you're buried in excess baggage from the past and at times feel like you can't get out of your own way, then remember one thing, "broken crayons still color!"

Wishing everybody a Sunday filled with joy and lots of color. Never miss an eleven-second therapeutic hug with people who are special in your life. As photographers, we all love the feel of a well-printed black and white photograph, but fortunately, life isn't black and white. Make today a day where you appreciate the love around you, the peace in your life and especially your power to change the world - even if it's only your tiny piece of it. That' where all the color is!

Happy Sunday everybody!

On Sunday mornings I always step away from photography and hit on something more personal. With today being Mother's Day, there's plenty of material to write about. At the same time, I've written about my mother on plenty of other occasions, so I've been sitting here thinking about how to make today's post different.

Well, here's where I want to go this morning.  Growing up I was always closer to my Dad than Mom. Mom was the disciplinarian in the family and Dad just wanted to be the good guy. As I got older, the gap widened and then at some point, well into adulthood, the relationship changed. My mother didn't have kids around and took care of Dad. The older I got, the more I appreciated their relationship.

We moved to Florida in 2011 to help Dad, who by then was taking care of Mom. She had Alzheimer's, and Dad was 89 - it was a lot to manage. Moving down here was the best thing in my life I've ever done, and it gave Sheila and me quality time with both of them. 

I remember going out with Dad for lunch one day after our meeting at the Thursday morning Caregiver Support Group at the Friendship Centers. We were quietly arguing over his need to take a break from caregiving, because he would not leave her side except for these short excursions. He ended the discussion with, 

"Look, your mother has taken care of me all these years. Now it's my turn to take care of her!"

As you get older, you see the world differently. You start to understand things you couldn't comprehend when you were younger. The older I got, the more I appreciated how much my mother and father were dedicated to each other, and yet still found time for their family. They built a life on love, honesty, and commitment. 

I'm not a rear-view mirror guy, and I rarely look back. However, I wish I had told my mother how much she meant to me. I wish I had taken the time BEFORE Alzheimer's to sit and talk with Mom more often. 

So, here's my point: Live your life with no regrets, especially where your mother is concerned. Take the time regularly to let her know how you feel about her. Life is full of surprises, not always good ones. Life is too short, and you don't want to be looking back saying, "I should have..." or as Sheila puts it, don't should on yourself.
 
For all you Moms out there, Happy Mother's Day. For most of you, you're the mortar that holds the bricks of your family together. You wear a long list of different hats as a mother, wife, friend, lover, business owner, photographer and the list goes on and on. No role compares with your never-ending commitment to motherhood!

Mothers hold their children's hands for a while, but their hearts forever.
Anonymous

Wishing you a day with no regrets, time with your family, time to be appreciated for everything you do and lots of love. Add a few more seconds onto those eleven-second therapeutic hugs and make today a memory-maker, especially for your Mom.

Happy Mother's Day!

Photo Credit: Cantrell Portrait Design

There are dreams of love, life, and adventure in all of us.
But we are sadly filled with reasons why we shouldn't try.
These reasons seem to protect us, but in truth they imprison us.
They hold life at a distance. Life will be over sooner than we think.
If we have bikes to ride and people to love, now is the time.
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

​Now and then I sit down to write on a Sunday morning, and I have no idea what I want to share. Well, this morning is one of those times where I started out without a topic but thinking back over recent events, it became obvious.

Being older than many of you, I've become acutely aware of my body slowing down. I don't feel any older except for my body creaking for ten minutes when I get up in the morning! At a time when so many of my friends are retired, I'm just having too much fun to slow down. There's that old line about if you love what you do you'll never work a day in your life. That's me! I love what I'm doing and the way our industry keeps creating new products and projects for me to sink my teeth into.

And, that brings me to my point this morning, age is just a number, and often it works both ways. I've met young photographers with so much passion and creativity their images grab me as if they're an old master. At the same time I've worked with people older than I am who look at each day as a gift and an opportunity to accomplish something new in their life.

The bottom line is that "age doesn't matter unless you're a cheese!" This is also the title of the book where I found this morning's quote. The authors, Kathryn and Ross Petras have bailed me out more than once on a Sunday morning.

Recently a new friend from Facebook commented on something I had written and asked me how I keep coming up with things to write about. I didn't have much to say except that at this point in my life, it's thanks to my readers, friends, and associates. My passion for this industry is about my love for what we do - help people capture memories, and I've shared hundreds of images over the years both personally and professionally that all lead to one point, and it's right there at the top of the page.

I consider author Jodi Picout's quote one of the very best about photographs. I've shared it numerous times before but put together with this image, it truly hits home.

A lot of families have some dynamic that's surprising and seems wrong. I have no idea how the issues in my family would rank because everything we feel and do is relative to our own heart and situation. The image above is of me walking with my son and his three boys. It's one of my most favorite family images, even though circumstances don't have us in each other's lives today. My grandmother used to say time heals all wounds, but I suppose that depends on whose watch you're wearing.

So, on this beautiful Sunday morning, I wish you the most special time with family and a day when any click of your shutter captures Jodi Picoult's sentiments about her love for photography. Photographs don't lie, even if they only capture love and joy for a heartbeat.

As always go for those eleven-second hugs today. Remind the people in your life how special they are and make it a day loaded with memories. Even a little memory has the chance to sprout and grow into something bigger and better down the road.

Image by Cantrell Portrait Design

​It's one of those Sunday mornings when I'm having a hard time finding a topic to write about. Several times over the last few years, I've turned to Melody Beattie for a little inspiration for myself as well as to share. As always she came through!

I've only shared part of her reading for April 22 below. She's an amazing writer and if you need a little brain food, click on the cover of her book to the right. It's well worth having when you need inspiration to get through life's challenges.

On the Other Side of Fear Is Joy

Climb over the wall of fear. Fear can be like a brick wall on our path. We may say we want to move forward - we want to feel better, do something new, live differently, go to the next place on our journey - but if we have unrecognized fears about that, we may feel like we've hit a wall. We don't know we're afraid; the fear is tucked and hidden away. All we can see is that, for some unknown reason, we can't seem to move forward in our life. We're in the dark.

Or we may be conscious of our fear, but be refusing to deal with it...There are time in life when real power comes from being vulnerable enough to say, Yes, I am afraid.

On April 1, 2009, I resigned as president of Rangefinder Publishing, which included AfterCapture magazine and WPPI. I remember a conversation I had with Sheila about going out on my own. We weren't married yet, but she knew me well, and we'd been dating for a year and a half. She asked me, "What are you afraid of?" With no hesitation, I answered, "Failure!"

Well, nine years ago tomorrow I arrived at Sheila's house in Ohio, and a new adventure in my life began. For years I had lived vicariously through all of you. I admired all of you as I watched your fight to succeed as entrepreneurs, but fear of change held me back. 

If you're being held captive by your fears, it's time to cut loose. Over the years I've learned there's no such thing as failure as long as we learn something from our mistakes. Mistakes are merely part of life and business. I've made plenty of mistakes over the last nine years, but each one has sent me down a new path of growth, experience, and even a few new friendships. 

It might seem easy for to say, but getting over fear is one of the greatest gifts you owe to yourself.  Don't let fear stand in the way of your dreams! Life is too short.

Wishing everybody a fearless weekend filled with peace, friends and family and plenty of love to help you chase your dreams. Never pass up an eleven-second hug with somebody special in your life and don't let anything get in the way of the life you want to have!

Happy Sunday!

Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air…
work, family, health, friends and spirit.
You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball,
But the other four balls – family, health, friends, and spirit - are made of glass.
Brian Dyson, former vice chairman and COO of Coca-Cola

It's a typical Sunday morning, Sheila's asleep, Molly's sleeping at my feet, it's still dark outside, and I'm typing away after finding the quote above earlier in the week. It got me thinking about how often I think the work "ball" is made of glass. I get so wrapped up in being pulled in different directions by the business; I forget the other balls I'm juggling in the air. And, I know I'm not alone.

Years ago I met Ed Foreman, an outstanding motivational speaker who presented a program at a Polaroid meeting I was attending. He gave a scenario that went like this - it was over thirty years ago, so my apologies for paraphrasing a little.

One spouse turns to the other and says, "Honey, just wait until the kids are older and then we're really going to have some fun and take that vacation we've always wanted!"

A few years go by, and they have the same conversation, "Honey, just wait until we move into a bigger house after my promotion and then we're really going to have some fun and take that vacation we've always wanted!"

Ten years later, "Honey, just wait until the kids are out of college and then we're really going to have some fun and take that vacation we've always wanted!"

Ten more years go by, "Honey, just wait until I retire and have more time and then we're really going to have some fun and take that vacation we've always wanted."

Then, a few years later, that same spouse, is in a coffin on the way to the cemetery and realizes, "Oh my God, I forgot to have fun!"

So, here's my point this morning. Your health, family, friends, and spirit all deserve to be at the very top of your priority list - starting with taking care of yourself and your spirit.  Pay attention to the signs of burnout. There's no excuse for missing them because down deep you know when you're about to hit the wall. Having a great life is all about relationships, starting with your own heart. Learn to listen to it.

Stop making work the "glass ball" and focus on everything that's more important. You know how to focus on your subjects when there's a camera in your hand - well, the essential components in your life are no different - just that there's no auto-focus - it's all manual, and you have to be the one to keep everything in the image sharp!

Life is for laughing, loving and living!
Ed Foreman

Now and then the process of trying to figure out what to write about for Sunday Morning Reflections starts days earlier when something hits me that seems perfect for a topic. That's the way today is, as I head into one of those forbidden zones in blogging and get personal. 

Over the last ten days, my folks have been on my mind almost every day. I've had moments where missing them was so intense I just cried, and then minutes later been laughing about something from the past that was such a vivid memory, it was as if it just happened. Sheila's seen me up and down like an emotional yo-yo and she's been instrumental in helping me through these oddly timed stretches of grief.

This morning, literally right now as I'm writing this, I finally figured out where the seeds of what I'm feeling were planted, and it's all thanks in part to photography.

Every year for the last four years I've been the emcee at a fund-raising dinner here in Sarasota for the Friendship Centers. At the one two years ago, my Dad was still alive and joined us. Then, last year and this year fun stories about him and my Mom were topics in my monologue whenever I was at the podium.

This year my good pal Erin McLeod, the CEO of the organization threw me a curve ball and included a short section of the script that was a sunset toast to our elders. From my script I said,

"We have all had someone we can say shaped us, guided and mentored us as we grew...an elder who saw potential, offered instructions and encouragement. Just for a moment, as the sun sets right out these windows overlooking Sarasota Bay, please join me in raising a glass to that elder and to all the elders. Mine are right here on the screen - my parents."

The image that came up is the one above.  Even though I knew it was coming, it set off a wave of emotion that was tough to keep together. And, here I am this morning still on the subject.

So what's my point? 

First, all of us have people in our lives who have passed away, and we miss, but it's thanks in part to our career choice, photography, their memories stay so much alive. I'll spare you my lecture on the importance of never compromising on the quality of an image, but that doesn't change your responsibility every time you click the shutter for a portrait.

Second, is letting yourself go with whatever emotion pops up when you're taking that stroll down Memory Lane. After a whole round of tears the other night, sparked by a scene on Grey's Anatomy reminding me of the night my Dad passed away, I apologized to Sheila for my little outburst. She hugged me, laughed and reminded me that missing loved ones we've both lost and then sharing that pain is a crucial ingredient to the strength that holds us together.

So, today's post is as much about what I'm feeling as it is about you. When you've got those moments where a flashback catapults you into the past, just go with it. Most of us put those feelings in a box, and put them away, embarrassed by the potential moment losing control. But, whether you're lucky enough to have a partner as I do, or you're just by yourself, enjoy the moment and recognize the pain you're feeling is a good thing and deserves to be savored and appreciated.

And to Mom and Dad, who I know are together, in a place of peace and watching over us - I miss you guys - Thank you for continuing to always being by my side, and in my heart.  

Wishing everybody a beautiful day and regardless of whether you're celebrating Easter or Passover, make it a day filled with love, peace and the people in your life who keep your heart beating and a smile on your face! And as always, if you can go for a few seconds longer than the usual eleven-second therapy hugs - like Nike's tagline - JUST DO IT!

​Happy Sunday everybody!

Family isn't always blood.
It's the people in your life who want you in theirs; the ones who accept you for who you are.
The ones who would do anything to see you smile and who love you no matter what.
Author Unknown

I was recently asked how I keep coming up with something to write about each day. In all honesty, just like many of you who are constantly in search of the ultimate image, I'm no different with topics to write about. It really comes down to loving what I do. 

As photographers, at least those of you who have been at it a few years, you love what you do. Images often come together naturally. Your creativity starts to flow, and you begin framing a new subject and composing images in your mind's eye long before you click the shutter. Well, it's no different with those of us who love to write.

It's a typical Sunday morning, and I had no idea what I wanted to write about until I sent a text to a terrific friend, Suzette Allen and at 4:00 am her time she responded. That set off a hysterical volley of text messages that started with me asking, "Why are you up now?" And, it gave me the perfect topic for Sunday Morning Reflections.

​This isn't a new topic for me, just a reinforcement about the best part of this business, that aspect of our friendships where we help each other. Helping each other, contributing to each other's lives and watching each other's backs is all part of being in this industry, and the longer you're at it, the better it gets. You eventually get to a point where it just becomes part of your daily process.

At the risk of embarrassing Suzette and husband,  Jonny Yoshinaga, here's how it's all rolled up into one terrific friendship over the years:

Suzette and I have known each other for probably twenty plus years, but the friendship was just a friendly hello at any conference we were both attending. The friendship started to ramp up when I got more involved with Panasonic, and she was one of the first LUMIX Ambassadors. 

Then we were all teaching in Nebraska at Marathon's MAP Getaway. More quality time together and the first time we were all able to have dinner together several times, including the night after the conference was over when Bruce Hudson was also there, adding to the mix of friendship.

 Last year we started working on a project together, sharing her photography tips, especially on hybrid videos for Photodex here on the SCU blog.

If there was a turning point where she and Jonny became "family," it was last year when, after a conference in Florida, she and Jonny finally accepted an invitation for the weekend at "Skip and Sheila's B&B."

A couple of years ago I made a new year's resolution to get more quality time with good friends and getting them here for the weekend was all under that umbrella. Well, this is where Jonny and I got our first quality time hanging out together too.

During that weekend I released a post featuring Molly the Wonder Dog in her own short 4K video, thanks to Suzette filming. And, just like they say you become a better tennis player when you play with somebody better than you, hanging out with Suzette and Jonny at the Saturday night drum circle on Nokomis Beach added another dimension to the friendship.

Since then we've worked together on the LUMIX Ambassador Album - a stunning oversized album thanks to Marathon Press. Each double page spread features the work of another LUMIX Ambassador, and there are twenty-five in all. 

And that brings me full circle and finally to my point this morning; great friendships are a testimonial to the individual investment of time we all need to make more of. Your network is essential, but it's the people in that most inner circle you're closest to where there needs to be a little more care and feeding involved. Life often gets in the way, but if you make a stronger effort to stay in touch, it's amazing how rich your life can become. 

Wishing all of you a wonderful Sunday and one filled with time with those people most important in your life. It's those friends who have become family who give our lives more substance, meaning and plenty of smiles. Take those eleven-second therapeutic hugs whenever the opportunity is there and don't waste a minute today thinking about Monday morning - this is your day to kick back and chill!

Happy Sunday everybody!

PS The reason I sent a text to Suzette was to help another good buddy, Kevin Gilligan, who had a question about LUMIX cameras and 4K video. I consider Kevin a very good friend even though we have yet to meet face to face, but enjoy a friendship that's been built on a foundation of phone conversations, emails and his support of SCU with several terrific guest posts. We're an industry that revolves around each of our extraordinary friendships.

Yesterday morning, like I do every day, I hit the birthday notices on Facebook. It's a great way to keep track of what's going on in the lives of friends. Carl Nunn came up, and as I went to wish him a happy birthday, because I hadn't caught up with him in over a year, I clicked on his FB page first. Several people had posted birthday wishes, and then I scrolled down a little farther...

It's probably fifteen years ago I met Carl via a phone call at Rangefinder Magazine. It was late, and everybody had gone home when the phone rang. I did what I usually do...answered it. It was Carl Nunn. He had seen a cover of Rangefinder and was calling to find out how he could submit work. We talked for a long time, and that kicked off a new friendship. (Bill Hurter, then Editor-in-Chief loved Carl's work, and we did a feature story on him a few months later!)

Over the years we'd catch up to each other at the PPE convention in NYC, even grabbed lunch one time. But then, as life often does, time just moved at a rapid speed, and we lost track of each other. Carl wasn't traveling, and I've missed the last couple of PPE shows.

So, here's my point, the best things about our industry involve the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft. Life is too short to let those special friendships just die on the vine like a vineyard in a drought. You need to Invest a little time into growing those friendships, and keeping them healthy.

As I'm writing this, there are bittersweet tears in my eyes - bitter because I didn't stay in touch with Carl and sweet, because he came into my life all because I answered a phone. He was a remarkable artist, but even more important as a man. He and I would easily spend an hour on every phone call talking about the industry, photography and here and there personal challenges we both had in our lives. He had a huge heart and was one of the kindest people I've ever met.

I've shared this in other posts: Tennyson wrote in Ulysses, "I am a part of all that I have met." Well everyone who comes into our lives for whatever reason contributes something to who we become. I'm going to miss my conversations with Carl, and I'm sad we didn't talk before he passed away, but I also know he's at peace and I like to think he's hanging out with other great friends our industry has lost over the years.

And that brings me to my usual close of wishing you a spectacular Sunday, and reminding you to go for those eleven-second hugs with those people who are special in your life. Do something today that makes this Sunday just a little more special. Take five minutes and dedicate it to one old friend who you've lost touch with. Find the time to pick up the phone and call them. Time goes by way too fast - don't let old friends disappear like I did Carl. 

Happy Sunday Everybody!

Sunday Morning Reflections couldn't be easier to write this morning. After getting back from WPPI this week, I know exactly what I want to write about.
​
It was nine years ago I resigned from Rangefinder/WPPI just a few weeks after the convention. I gave my notice on April 1, 2009, and by the middle of the month was packed up and headed to Ohio to start a new chapter and adventure. Why I threw in the towel at the time I did isn't important. But what I've learned since, is perfect for this morning's post.  

The economy was in the tank when I decided to start my own business, but that didn't change my desire to stop living vicariously through so many of you and see if I had what it took to be an entrepreneur. Family and friends were convinced I was nuts, and looking back I'd have to agree.

I've written about this before, but it's so relevant to my thoughts this morning. I remember talking about my concern over leaving to Sheila. At that time we were dating, but already the very best of friends. She asked me, "What are you afraid of?" There wasn't a second of hesitation in my answer, "Failing!"

There are so many things we fail to do because we're afraid to take the risk. We're insecure about betting on our own hearts. Dreams of things we hope to do someday are delayed because it's safer to procrastinate.

"If you wait for all the lights to turn green, you'll never get started on your journey."
Zig Ziglar

Walking the show floor at WPPI, I was reminded again and again of the entrepreneurial bond that holds us all together. Bumping into old friends and making new ones, I found myself thinking back to that first year in business for myself and the fear and insecurities I had in listening to my heart.

Sheila's response when I said "Failing!" was to remind me of things she knew I'd done already. She reminded me of the network I had in the industry and how much support I had going forward. She asked me questions about other things I'd done in my career before she was in my life. With each answer, I realized my timing for a career change was perfect.

And that brings me to a series of lessons that continue to be reinforced over and again:
​

• Everything always works out for the better.
• Fear is a non-productive emotion and needs to be respected but not allowed to guide you.
• Your true friends will always be there for you.

• As you get older you redefine success, and it's not about money, but waking up every morning and smiling.
• The best thing about attending a convention is the energy in the air created by a group of passionate people all on a quest for new ideas, education, and guidance. 

It's been a fantastic journey thus far, thanks to so many of you. It's not always easy, and we stumble along the way, but what a kick to be a part of this community and have each other's support.

Oh, and one more thing I've learned. Sheila, after picking up the flu at IUSA decided not to go with me to WPPI this year. It was only the second time in nine years I was at a convention solo. I've learned that it's a lot tougher to remember people's names without her by my side. She's my "shill," and always steps in recognizing the signs when I'm talking to somebody whose name escapes me!

Wishing everybody a beautiful Sunday with lots of time to just kick back and reflect. I shared a quote on Twitter the other day that seems so appropriate.

So, make it a day without objectives and take the time to do something pointless, which in reality there is no such thing. Even being pointless has its rewards in the appreciation you enjoy having a day without a roadmap. And as always, make those eleven-second hugs part of the day with the people you care about most.

​Happy Sunday Everybody!

I've started this post three times in the last hour trying to figure out what I wanted to write about for Sunday Morning Reflections. A minute ago, just like a cartoon character with a light bulb going off above his head, I realized I've been sitting on the topic all along.

The challenge is, what do you do when the creative juices just don't flow? Which is followed by the pressure we put on ourselves to ALWAYS be on our game. And, there it is, this morning's "ah-ha" moment. It's hardly earthshaking, but we all have days when we just hit the wall. Nothing seems to connect. We don't like what we create. We spin our wheels like a car stuck on ice in a snow drift, (sorry, just trying to be relatable to all my friends dealing with winter! LOL)

On those days when things just don't flow you need to step away and find something else to do that requires minimum stress on your thought process. For me, it was going for a walk with Sheila.  

Every day we put so much pressure on ourselves to get things done; to discover something new; to continue the momentum from the previous day or week. While I write about this all the time, it's not always easy to walk the talk. I get frustrated when my brain doesn't kick into high gear. In the process, I make matters worse because the harder I try to find the start button for my creative genes, the more they disappear.

So, the next time you hear in your head "start your engines," and you turn the key and the battery is dead, take a break and walk away. Do something you enjoy or take a slug stretch and do nothing except ponder the meaning of life. Take the time to kick back and chill.

Most of us live on overload. We wear too many hats, and there is no autofocus helping us decide what direction to take next. That's the time you go for one of those eleven-second therapeutic hugs with somebody special!

Wishing everybody a terrific Sunday and a day filled with peace and a smile here and there. If you're headed to WPPI, safe travels - see you there.

Happy Sunday!

Unlike most Reflections' posts, I went to sleep last night knowing exactly what I wanted to write about this morning.  

My mother died of Alzheimer's almost five years ago and tomorrow would be her 92nd birthday. Alzheimer's is a horrible disease. It's like a burglar breaking into your home, robbing you of a loved one. There's no police report to file and no hope of ever getting your possessions returned. Little by little, over seven years with Mom's battle, we watched her disappear a bit more each day.

But my purpose in writing about this today isn't to relive the pain, but some pretty special moments.

First is the importance photography played in losing Mom. Dad passed away two years later, but thanks to photographs the smiles live on. The contemporary images in this post are all thanks to Bambi Cantrell spending most of a day with my folks. It was just before the Alzheimer's truly took hold. She captured the love they had for each other, and with each photograph, I can "hear" Mom's smile.

And there's my first point this morning - NEVER compromise on the quality of an image! Being a photographer is a huge responsibility. Your clients are putting all their trust in you to capture images that are more than photographs! Even the most routine series of images, depending on the situation, can become a cornerstone of invaluable memories. 

My second point is to remind you that in dealing with Alzheimer's, you're never alone. So many of you are dealing with it now or may be in the near future. There were some things that helped us through the storms a lot.

• Get yourself into a caregiver support group. Dad and I would go to the Caregiver Support Group every Thursday morning. There were 20-30 people there, all dealing with Alzheimer's affecting a family member. Dad learned it was okay to be angry and feel betrayed, and both of us learned ways to support Mom instead of arguing with the disease.
• Pick up a copy of "The 36-Hour Day." It's written like a series of case studies, and I've suggested it to everyone I've met who's dealing with anything under the dementia umbrella. It helped me understand what Mom was going through. Click on the thumbnail to the right to find it on Amazon.
• Savor the good times. Dad commented in the Thursday group one morning, "I'm going to hang on to every good moment we get and squeeze every drop of happiness out of it." It couldn't be cornier, but that's precisely what he did. Things Mom did or thought that just weren't logical but were funny became private stories he stored in his head and went back to over and again when times were tougher.
• ​Nothing beats "Throwback Thursday" photographs with an Alzheimer's patient. Mom loved it when we pulled out the old albums. While her memory was disappearing daily, the older the photograph, the more vivid her memories. She didn't remember eating ten minutes after lunch, but she could name all friends from college and memories from growing up. If you're dealing with Alzheimer's, pull out those old albums and "treasure chest" shoeboxes!

And that brings me full circle to the fun of this morning's post. Photographs keep us in touch with our most special memories. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss my folks, but my very best memories are reinforced thanks to the industry we're all a part of. Even the battle with Alzheimer's had moments that were easier to handle thanks to photography.

Wishing all of you a beautiful Sunday and a day filled with memory-making.  If you're a photographer, think about the things you should do to make your skill set the very best it can be. There's no room for lack of quality in your work and mediocrity is a dirty word! Go for those eleven-second hugs and remind the people you love the most how vital they are in your life.

Happy Sunday and Happy Birthday Mom - sure do love ya!