As the end of 2010 grows nearer each day, I’m starting to reflect over this year’s accomplishments and failures (which there are plenty of both), and I feel that I’m a little bit closer to my goal, not as much as I would like to be, but more than I was in 2009.  And a lot more than I was in 2008.  Some of the things that I’ve learned this year have started to shape the path that I’ll forge ahead on next year, and each year after that.

For one, I’m not as sure that I want to continue doing weddings, the past couple of years, I thought that that would be an area that I really wanted to make a major focus in my business.  This year I really experienced what I would like to refer to as “wedding photographer lite”, I second shot 5 weddings for a studio.  And while they were fun, they were physically demanding on me, and this was just doing it part time, not as a full time gig.  I couldn’t imagine doing 15, 20, or 25 weddings.  And I’m glad I found out about it the right way, assisting someone else.  Who knows, I might try and work my way back in it again, but as of right now, I’m shifting my focus to other areas.

I’m seeing a future with film slowly creeping its way back into my life!  I’ve run across alot of film shooters who are 100% film and I’m loving their work.  I want to get to a point where I’m 60-40 Film to digital.  Digital has it’s place, but I don’t think that anyone can deny the beauty of film, and now is the time to stock up on film cameras.  Almost all the cameras I dreamed of one day owning back when I was in high school and college are available for pennies on the dollar!  Well….all except for Hasselblads.  And it seems that Ebay is just full of people selling lots of film these days…not just like “3 rolls of Fuji 400H”, it’s more like 10 pro-packs of Fuji 400H.  And I am looking forward to relearning, unlearning, and learning to be a film photographer again!

And I’ve found what I believe to be my light modifier company for life!  Creative Light, which is a division of the MAC corporation (which has little known companies such as Mamiya, Profoto, Pocketwizard, Sekonic).  Light modifiers for anyone living the Strobist hot shoe/white lighting / alien bee lighting lifestyle are pretty important.  We’re all getting by on modest means so what we shoot with has to be dependable as well as affordable.   Which Creative Light is both.  I only have a few of their products (two white/silver reflectors, one small softbox and a 3ft Octobox), and then I have speedrings for my AB1600 and then a Speedlight adaptor, which I absolutely love shooting with.  And Creative Light’s customer service is nothing short of awesome.  Twice I’ve emailed them for replacement parts for this ring:

I lost the cold shoe that attaches to it.  Emailed Creative Light.  “What’s your address Mr. Stevenson?” and a couple of days later, brand new shoe.

I stripped the screw that attaches the ring to the lightstands.  Emailed Creative Light.  Couple of days later, I get this in the mail:

A little thing to some, but this type of service is the kind of thing that builds loyalty.  Some companies would have charged a small amount for the replacement part, or if they didn’t charge for the part, they would have charged for the shipping.

Hmmm…I see a couple of more speedrings, and striplights, and grids in my not to distant future!