Roll with the Punches

I recently read a blog post titled ‘Why I respect professional photographers’ and it pushed me to put this out there.

As a photographer one is always shooting and improving ones portfolio. This is a very good practice to exercise. Being creative and having lots of ideas is great but little will come from it if you don’t put those ideas and creative concepts into action.

Being spring here Montreal, I have been planning a few creative shoots to exercise those creative muscles. When it comes to fashion creative’s it’s not a question of: ‘ I’ve got a great idea, lets shoot it’

With fashion there is a whole team of people to coordinate with and accommodate. Finding a good stylist is often one of the biggest challenge, due to the heavy workload that goes into a successful fashion shoot. Made all the more elusive when there is no budget or big client paying the bill. Creative’s are collaborating with like-minded people to achieve a common goal. I.e.: strong fresh images for your book.

I am currently working on a very cool concept; I had the production almost all set. A lot of planning goes into a successful shoot. I started scouting locations about 2 months ago. Found an amazing location. We have a great team, set-up creative meeting to let everyone involved discuss the direction and focus of the shoot. Cast models, models are available, hair & make-up is set. Hair and make-up got booked for a half-day paid gig on the date of our shoot, it’s a hic-up, let shuffle the shoot so we use more the afternoon light, that way hair & make-up will be able to work with us, because she’s good! Almost there.

48 hours before the shoot, the location, which is very unique and a very intricate part of the shoot, calls and informs me that we can’t shoot on the scheduled day, as something has come-up. I’m pretty sure the long weekend had something to do with it.

Unfortunately we can’t control what happens to us, however we can control how we deal with what happens to us.

Needless to say after some frantic phone calls and reorganization we have bumped our creative shoot to a new date. Here’s hoping that soon I’ll be able to post the fruits of our labor.

Sullivan's Island

Today we spent the afternoon shooting around a boat house in beautiful Sullivan's Island SC.

Although the shoot is fashion, here are some graphic elements of the location taken with my iphone.

All images ©drewhadley.com

A few Wise Words

I just received these wise words from my Dad, and wanted to put them out there as I feel they are worthy of the 5 min to read them.

Original text by comedian George Carlin.

Isn't it amazing that George Carlin - comedian of the 70's and 80's - could write something so very eloquent...and so very appropriate.

A Message by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, and now we have mobile ‘phones.........but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes.

These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, ' I love you ' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

If you don't send this to at least 8 people.....Who cares? George Carlin

Charleston SC

I've been working in Charleston for the past 7 days on a fashion catalogue. It's my first visit here and I must say that the city is growing on me. It's a wonderful city with historic charm.

The area has grown through some turbulent days, some inflicted by mother nature and some by man himself. There is a dark past here; however we can learn from history if we know our history.

All image shot on my iPhone.

all images ©drewhadley.com

Sullivans Beach, Charleston SC

This morning I took a walk on Sullivans Beach, just outside of Charleston. It was a moody overcast morning, conditions screamed for black & white.

©drewhadley.com

Time Is more Valuable than Money

How many of you spend at least 1 hour a day driving in your car, or traveling to and from work? That time adds up very quickly and by the end of the week it could be close to a full business day or more.

I have been doing this for a while now and just wanted to put it out there because it’s amazing how productive you can be in those hours when you hands are busy but your mind is free.

You can listen to the radio, but you could also put your mind to work and absorb a new language, or listen to compelling e-books and expand your mind.

Think about it.

Now I’m sure there are many out there who do this because it’s so easy to do. However I know all too well that the things that are easy to do are also easy not to do.

We can always make more money, but we can never produce more time.

Use it wisely!

Spin that record

Last week I shot these two great musical talents from Montreal.

The brief was to get some fresh promotional images for their up coming tour dates.

I have shot them many times before and the greatest challenge was trying to find a fresh angle.

I kept it simple as I am a big fan of Frank Lloyd Wright's "less is more"

Dj Sultan and Ned Shepard are currently touring with dates in Brazil, NYC and then on to Miami for the Winter Music Conference in March.

You can check them out at:

http://www.myspace.com/nedshepard

http://www.myspace.com/djsultan