Baby Blues

[D._Craig_Flory]

Hi Heather;

Post this everywhere you can ... "I will create extra images on every session for ME and possible competition prints". Then even if a Mom objects about backing up and not having her precious child close up ... back off quite a bit. Even if a Mom doesn't like a nice 3:1 or 4:1 ratio, change the lighting and try some with more snap'. Change and try new things. Tell the client you are just trying to let your creative side out and it costs them nothing but a few extra minutes. They might surprise you & say "gee, I thought I wouldn't like them but I actually love your creative side images".

Now create a hard drive folder and call it "Potential Competition".

[Keith_A_Howe]

You know, it's interesting, I can pour through my copies of PPA Showcase and Loan books and look at those images and go "wow... that is BEAUTIFUL" and I know that that is where those images belong. Then, I look at my own (completely biased, of course) and thing, "wow... I really love this image, I wonder how it would do?" I've never gone into a competition thinking I had a dead-on brilliant piece that would wow my judges - maybe that's my underlying issue! (well, that and lighting, of course)

Signed,
Yet-another-unmerited-print

Back to the drawing board!

And I can sit on a panel and confidently pass judgement on what should merit, not merit or go loan - yet I cannot figure out where my own prints will score. Last year I had an image I wanted to leave out - I thought it would fall about 76-77. Holly talked me into including it. I got a 92 and went loan. A print I was positive would get in the mid 80's - recieved a 79. It's terribly hard to choose your own stuff. You can't help but be emotionally involved with your own work.

Keith