Back from Boston

Well, it was a crazy busy weekend, and my body is a bit mad at me for as little sleep as I've given it these past few days, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. I flew out to Boston Thursday night, right after a final presentation for a class, and didn't get to bed until about 1:30. But I was up bright and early in order to meet the students from Suffolk University and see the city before we all went to a community center in Boston for this year's Help-Portrait.

If you aren't familiar with Help-Portrait, it is a pretty simply movement:

1. Find someone in need
2. Take their photo
3. Print/Give them their photo

It's an extremely simple concept, but it's effects could move mountains. If you'd like to check out more information, check out their website. www.help-portrait.com. Incredibly inspiring, and I am very excited because I am meeting Jeremy Cowart, the founder of Help-Portrait on the 17th in Atlanta.

Boston was great, all of the students from Suffolk University were amazing and played great hosts to our four students from Kennesaw State University.

The event went extremely well, and I was lucky enough to have a great number of students willing to help, some even took behind-the-scenes photos and videos, so I will definitely be creating another video from this year's event. Lets hope I can top last years video!

In case you missed it (I'm not sure how you could, I've got it plastered everywhere on the blog) but here is last years video.



Couple of iPhone photos from Boston:

Near our hotel, near the USS Constitution

 Heading Home

 Outside our hotel, the Constitution Inn

 Beacon Hill near Suffolk

 Neighborhood near Suffolk University

 The Community Center we held the event at

And, just to entice you to come back for the video, one of the stars of the photoshoot.

I haven't gone quiet!

First off, I have to apologize. I have gotten so busy over the past few weeks that I haven't had anytime to fill you all in on all the craziness! However, my lack of communication is not due to lack of effort, more a lack of time.

November proved to be quite an exciting month for myself and Michael Knowlton Photography as a whole. As the end of October approached, I sat down at my computer, with what seemed like a gallon of freshly pressed Dunkin' Donuts coffee, and began to write my strategic plan for 2011-2012. All throughout my time at the Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University, my professors have hounded on the importance of having a plan. I have never felt my vision clearer than when I finished this upcoming year's strategic plan. However, I also realized it meant that I just gave myself mountains of work to do. Among those things were to legitimize the business with the government and the tax man, re-brand the company, create my first ever print portfolio and the like. May not seem like a lot of work, but it definitely took some time.

I can now officially say, that Michael Knowlton Photography, is recognized as a Limited Liability Company in the state of Georgia.

Very exciting news! In addition, I have began to finalize the new branding material for Michael Knowlton Photography, LLC as well. Here is just a small sneak peek.

All of the other material, CDs, CD Case, model/print release, letter head, etc will be uniform to the above designs.

And lastly, what I've been devoting most of my time to, my print portfolio. It is ALMOST done. I picked up the prints last week and cut them to size, however, when I put it all together, it became clear to me there is genre of work I am missing. So as of right now, I have 7 photoshoots planned for December to correct this so I have a complete, and cohesive body of work that I can then begin to show. Just a sneak peek for now.

On top of all that, I have two weddings and a senior shoot to finish editing and blog about, as well as some exciting new programs I am currently developing. But, I will be flying out to Boston on Thursday for another Help-Portrait photoshoot with my partners The Center for Student Leadership at KSU(@KSU_CSL), and Suffolk University in Boston.

In case you missed last year's Help-Portrait video, or are unfamiliar with the movement, here it is!

Help-Portrait from Michael Knowlton on Vimeo.

Blush Kennesaw Commercial

If you remember a couple of months back I had a photoshoot with the wonderful ladies of Blush Kennesaw along with some amazing models. When we shot those images with shot them to be used in a couple of different mediums, one of which being a commercial they were in the process of producing.

I just saw the final cut of the commercial and I am very pleased with how the photos look.

If you haven't already, be sure to check it out!

As promised earlier this week, I was able to find some time to sit down and edit a few of the photos from one of this weekend's photoshoots. I got together with Imran and Veronica on Sunday in Atlanta to take some promo shots. After being watched by a security guard, we decided to pack up from the first location and leave before we got kicked out. The shoot was unfortunately cut short, however, we were still able to walk away with some great images.

Let me know what you think!

Couple of teaser photos

This weekend was one of the busiest on record for me. Here are two shots from one of this weekend's shoots.

Expect a full post later this week.

Laura and Justin: Atlanta Engagement Photographer

 I had the opportunity to get together with Laura and Justin a couple weeks ago on a beautiful Sunday to take a couple photos of their recent engagement. The changing of the seasons always presents a couple of challenges due to the time changing. It seems like it happens over night almost. One day, its bright outside until 9:30, the next, its dark out at 6:30.

I wasn't taking any chances with this shoot, so we scheduled it to start around 5. Which ended up being perfect. Not only was the light beautiful, it was starting to cool down, AND we could take our time with every look.

The entire shoot was shot in about the area the size of a football field. The light was just too beautiful and there were too many areas to shoot to leave.

I think they both killed it. Laura especially, if teaching doesn't work out, go ahead and give Vogue a call, they won't turn you down. Scouts honor.

Chasity and Joe: Atlanta Wedding Photographer

  As a photographer, I read a ton of blog related to the subject. And one of the most prevalent questions the established photographers get is, "How do I book my dream clients?"

I suppose I am one of the lucky ones that has never had to ask this question, and when working with couples like Chasity and Joe, you'll see why. What started off as a friendship, soon developed into a working relationship. And whoever says, "Don't go into business with your friends", is wrong. Well, maybe they're right, but not when it comes to shooting their weddings. Chasity and Joe are just the dream client. Chasity and Joe not only gave freedom to be creative, they also allowed me to be a part of the planning process, which inevitably allowing me as much room to be creative on their wedding day.

Not only were they the perfect couple/client in that regard. As a wedding photographer, when you shoot a couple who is in love as Chasity and Joe, it simply makes your job so easy. Its next to impossible to miss those shots where they are staring deeply into each others eyes. Why? Because when you are as in love as these two, you never look away.

I'm switching it up a bit on this post. Not too many photos, instead, I'm going to let the slideshow do the talking. But just a warning, you may want to get a kleenex handy.

Be sure to watch in HD and Full-Screen