photogen-inc

Photogen Inc. Featured: Women in Business!

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 08:03:31 -0600

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!

I'm super excited an honored to be interviewed by the lovely Davina Fear for her 'Women in Business' feature on her blog! Davina has been making an impact on the photography world through these interviews for quite some time and I absolutely respect her for creating a place for people to learn and share their experiences!

I must say, this is a pretty in-depth interview, which makes it totally worth reading!

The interview is up today! CLICK HERE TO READ THE AWESOMNESS!

LOVEe

Award Winning!!! Hell Yeah!

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:59:22 -0600

As I briefly stated in my previous blog post, I was super excited to find out that one of my prints had won in the 16x20 Print Competition in Las Vegas! I was incredibly excited, but then today I got the official results of all of my prints that were entered - and SURPRISE!!! Not one, but TWO of my prints were big winners! The two famous images are below and come from the fabulous Fine Lines shoot and the lovely Siegfried Wedding!

Entering images in competitions is so much fun - and I also believe it is essential. It is most definitely a way to put yourself out there, and continually hold yourself accountable to creating solid, mind-blowing work. It's also very interesting to go out of your comfort zone and have judges critique your work, which is again, an essential part of growth for any artists!

Competitions can be a pretty penny to enter, and in the end, there is no guarantee that you will win. But I also think it is an investment in yourself as an artist. Not just in the cost of printing and actually entering, but an investment to your creative health. It feels so good to win...and without taking risks....I would never be AWARD winning! (For the 2nd year in a row...don't worry, I'm brushing my shoulder off right now! ;0)

LOVEe

Calling All Models!

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:48:50 -0600

It's casting time!!

I am looking for the perfect woman to be the face of my next big shoot!

I will be holding a casting call at the studio, next Monday, March 22nd, here are the details:

When: Monday, March 22nd
Time: 3-5pm
Where: Photogen Inc Studios
1400 Van Buren St NE
#250
Mpls, 55413

Why: A stellar test shoot that is going to take place April 28th, 2010

We are looking for:

Female
Any Race
5'9''-5'11''
120-135lbs
(Measurements are simply guidelines, not absolutes)

Models with experience are essential, there's no time for bullshit in this industry!

If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me eliesa@photogen-inc.com

LOVEe

Self Styled: The March Issue!

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:19:25 -0600

The March issue of Metro Magazine is on stands now!

Here's a peek of this month's Self Styled Article...I'm loving it!

Remember to support the magazine industry buy picking one up!

LOVEe

For your Saturday Viewing Pleasure...

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:56:54 -0600

Have I ever professed my video love for the awesome Matt Brue before? This dude is a great friend - and an amazing artist! Part of the Photogen Inc crew, Brandon, Liz and Tom, trekked out to Red Rocks National park this past week and Matt captured some kick-ass video of it! The fabulous Spencer Combs was also along on the journey!

I really can not say enough about how great it is to have good friends in your industry and surround yourself with solid people who do nothing but support you. There is also nothing better than collaborating with artists that you truly resonate with.

This is a perfect Saturday video, so check it out!

(And make it full screen for a super dramatic effect!:0)

This video makes me happy for so many reasons! I love you all!

LOVEe

Imma be, The Shit, Baby Check Me Out!

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:08:19 -0600

Team Photogen Inc. traveled to Vegas this past week for the notorious WPPI! This is the biggest photography convention around and kind of like the 'Grammy's' of our industry!

Team Photogen Inc. descended on Vegas and we had SO. MUCH. FUN! It is always so good to see our friends - seriously, it feels so good to re-connect with people.

I decided to not bring my camera this year (except for my Fuji Instax + film camera), which ended up being kind of a weird feeling for me. Yet, I felt a little more free, not being bogged down with equipment, but I did always feel like I was missing something!

Some of the highlights of the week:

Watching the Hangover + Having a Pizza Party with our friends Matt & Spencer & Jeffrey
Sharing the love with other photographers at the Red Cart Booth
Dancing the night away at Airhorns and Lasers
Meeting the uber awesome Red Cart Crew...they are so cool!
Seeing our friends over at SHOOT Q and preaching the love we have for them!
Having dinner with my AMAZING Marfa Girls - and finding out our next trip is in MOAB, UT!
Dancing in Studio 54 with the PG Crew!
Morning breakfast in our awesome Mandalay Bay Suite with the A Bryan Photo crew....our teams have officially met....greatness may be in the works!

Here are a list of our AMAZING friends that we caught up with - and some new ones!

Sarah Rhoads
Millie Holloman
Lauren Clark
Kelly Moore
Brooke Schwab
Lyndzee of EP Love
Jesse Chamberlin
Shannon Sewell
Studio 509
The Solars
Jose Villa
Daniel Chin
Ajit Singh
Jesh De Rox
The Into The Darkroom Team
Mind I Castle
Ben Harrison
Jory Cordy
James Moes
Sergio Mottola
Andrew Vick
Biff
The Smilebooth
Brent Holloman
Mathieu & Molly
(if I forgot anyone...soooo sorry, we love you too!)

I also won another national award!!!! I won in the 16x20 Print Competition for images in the Finelines Shoot! WOOOO HOOOOO!!!!!!!

Cheers to Vegas!

LOVEe

LOVEe Consults Presents: MINNE-SHOPS!

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 14:37:43 -0600

WHOOOO HOOOOOOO!!!!!

I am SUPER excited to announce the first-ever MINNe-SHOP!!

2010 is all about giving back and educating photographers all across the country and also right here in the MPLS!

The MINNe-SHOP is an afternoon for Minneapolis photographers to get together and really learn about a specific part of photography.

The first topic will be all about creating amazing images using the Tilt Shift lens! This has become a big trend in the industry all around - and with any trend, there are good and bad ways to use this tool. My goal is to pump up the volume and really help photographers feel comfortable using this amazing piece of equipment!

Agenda:

Tilt Shift Talk
Live Shooting / Practice with T/S lenses
Group Critique of Images

We will be renting T/S lenses for the attendees to try out and practice your mad-skills!
Food and Beverages will also be provided throughout the day!

TO SIGN UP FOR THIS AWESOME DAY, CLICK HERE!

FAQ:

How much does it cost?

$125/person and this includes the class time, lens rentals and food!

What will I learn from this MINNe-SHOP?

This first-ever MINNe-SHOP will be focusing directly on Tilt Shift Photography. We will cover everything from the technical reasoning behind the lens to how to use it to create an EPIC image!

Will I actually be able to use a T/S lens?

Yep! We will be renting T/S lenses for both Canon and Nikon Cameras. If you have your own, absolutely bring it along! We will also be having real couples as your subjects to practice on!

Will the group critique be scary?

No, no, no. Group critiques are meant to help you grow as a photographer! No one is going to beat you down to the ground, this is all about encouragement! I am a big believer in critique...in fact, I think it is essential!

What is the difference between a LOVEe Consult and a MINNe-SHOP?

LOVEe Consults are one-on-one, 8 hour mentor sessions. During these days, we cover anything and everything about your photography business. MINNe-SHOPS are mini-workshops designed for groups and we will only cover a specific topic during the afternoon.

Will there be future MINNe-SHOPS?

Absolutely! Do you have a topic you want covered? E-mail your ideas to me:
eliesa@photogen-inc.com

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE FUN!

I'm Sooooooo excited!

LOVEe

The Photogen Inc. Crew and You!!

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:40:25 -0600

It's that time of the year again! Each year, photographers from all around the world descend upon Las Vegas for the biggest photography convention out there! Our days are filled with learning, partying, trade-showing, partying, testing new equipment, partying, seeing old friends, partying and making new friends!

Do you see a trend?

Vegas is absolutely all about having fun and rocking out with the best in the photography industry!

I've received a lot of e-mails from photographers requesting to get together and meet our crew! The best way to hook up with us is to follow us on twitter to see where we are and and the shenanigans we are up to!

We will be in Las Vegas March 7-10.

Follow eliesa on twitter: @photogeninc
Follow the Photogen Inc. Assistants on twitter: @eliesaspeople

On Sunday night we will be attending the Airhorns and Lasers Party, which is bound to be the hottest part in Vegas this weekend!

We will also be hanging out and showing our love at the Red Cart Booth (#1121 - right by Midwest Photo Exchange) We will be there:

Monday: 1-4pm
Tuesday 1-3pm

Make sure to stop by, give us a BIG high-five and check out how awesome Red Cart is!

Also keep your eyes open for the awesome stuff that our friends over at Into The Darkroom will be up to! They have a secret promo team that we will also be a part of and there are some MAJOR PERKS & PRIZES involved!!!

See you all in VEGAS!

LOVEe

We are Invincible!

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:09:52 -0600

So, last night, I went to the John Mayer concert. It. Was. Amaaaaaaaazing!

For some reason, whenever I am at concerts, the lyrics hit me like a ton of bricks and I have these big realizations about life, love and business!

The last song Johnny sang is called 'No Such Thing' and as the song started, my friend Erin (who I went to high school with, but we were never friends-until-after-high-school-sort-of-thing) said to me, "Wow, Eliesa, think of how far you have come..." I didn't know what he meant by that, I mean, yeah, I have a successful business and I love what I do, but he's on a fantastic journey of his own through school, why would he say that?

The lyrics go something like this:

"Welcome to the real world", she said to me
Condescendingly
Take a seat
Take your life
Plot it out in black and white
Well I never lived the dreams of the prom kings
And the drama queens
I'd like to think the best of me
Is still hiding
Up my sleeve

They love to tell you
Stay inside the lines
That something's better
On the other side

I wanna run through the halls of my high school
I wanna scream at the
Top of my lungs
I just found out there's no such thing as the real world
just a lie you've got to rise above

So the good boys and girls take the so called right track
Faded white hats
Grabbing credits
Maybe transfers
They read all the books but they can't find the answers
And all of our parents
They're getting older
I wonder if they've wished for anything better
While in their memories
Tiny tragedies

I am invincible (x3)
As long as I'm alive

and suddenly it hit me...we are living in a completely different world now.

I am also reading this fabulous book called Linchpin by the one-and-only Seth Godin and it talks all about this new world we are living in. His major point is how we have all been trained to think that our lives are suppose to go a certain way. We go to school (which is very structured), continue on to college, graduate, and go on to work for a company who will determine how much money you make - but alas - they will give you health insurance and really 'take care' of you. We've been raised to think that this process is the way to happiness.

Yesterday I also had a conversation with a friend who told me her father just got laid off from his job and he is having to face a world that he never thought he would have to learn. The world of computers. Her father literally has to go back to take classes to learn about the internet, because that is THE only way to apply for a job. It's not easy for my friend to see her father, who she has always envisioned as a strong leader to be back at the level of a 5 year old - and I am sure terribly aggravating and frustrating for him to be back at square one when he is 'suppose' to be enjoying these years.

As the song above was playing, I kept thinking about the book, my conversation with my friend and the comment that Erin just made about how far I've come and the BIG realization I made was that in other people's eyes, I have constantly gone against the grain. I have always done the opposite of what I was 'suppose' to do and I most definitely did not take the easiest route to get where I am. But I believed in myself, in my craft and in my dream. To other people, I have not just built a business, but I have shown other people that following your dream and being successful at is IS A REALITY!

The world that we are in now is not structured and safe. It is essential for everyone to look inside themselves and figure out how to be indispensable - to be sooooo good at what you do that people can not look away! There is no longer the guarantee of health insurance or a high paycheck out of grad school. This doesn't mean that I think everyone should go and start their own business, just because I did, but whoever you work for - it is still up to you to 'seize-the-day"! Think out of the box, challenge others, get creative and be a leader in everything you do. I'm a big believer the our mindset and world views are going to need to change in order to adapt to the new, fast world as-we-know-it.

There are no longer rules - get use to it and enjoy it.

Embrace the change.

With this new world comes new opportunities for you.

What are you going to do?

LOVEe

Brad and Kristan: Married in Mexico!!

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:52:28 -0600

Brad and Kristan are a big part of the Photogen Inc. family, so I was thrilled to be asked to photograph their wedding in Mexico!!

The thing I absolutely LOVE about destination weddings is the fact that everyone gets to really know each other so well that by the time the wedding rolls around, everybody feels like family! We all spent a week down in Mexico and had a blast together - and the wedding was absolutely stunning!

Brad and Kristan have a sense of humor unlike any other couple I have met! They are so much fun and one of their friends said it best," There is no better couple than Brad and 'Stan', these two are a perfect match!"

I couldn't agree more!

¡Felicidades!

Congratulations to Brad and Kristan!!

LOVEe

Kristi and Ande: A NYC Engagement!

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:56:27 -0600

Kristi and Ande are amazing. I mean these two are SO great as individuals, but then you bring them together as a couple and it's like WHOA! They truly compliment each other in such a great way, you can not help but fall in love with them.

Love is a funny thing. Kristi and Ande knew of each other in high school, hung out around some of the same people and were in some of the same activities, but never dated. Years later, they re-connected and the sparks flew! I think that is the great thing about love. The way that people find each other is so unpredictable, yet precisely planned at the same time!

Love is truly a very cool thing.

For their engagement session, I traveled to NYC and we had a BLAST walking around the city! It was also double-the-fun, because my great friend and New York photographer, Ajit came along to shoot with me! I had an incredible day in the city and I love the images!

Congratulations to Kristi and Ande on their engagement! These two will be getting married in the fall - and there is no doubt about it, it's gonna be the shit!

LOVEe

Travel Whirlwind!

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:30:18 -0600

I'm in the midst of the 'slow season' - WAIT, let me re-phrase that. I'm suppose to be in the 'slow season', but things are anything but slow around here!

Just an FYI to all of my clients and blog readers...I'll be embarking on a bit of a travel whirlwind for the next three weeks! On the roster is a NYC Engagement Session, Mexican Wedding and the yearly mecca to Las Vegas for WPPI!

Along the way I will be seeing a TON of friends and (hopefully) have some time to blog about it all!

See y'all when I get back! Keep checking back to see updates on my adventures!!

LOVEe

The Little L's!

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:44:36 -0600

I would like to introduce you all to Lily and Liam...also known as the Little L's!

I hardly ever post baby/children/family photos on my blog, but these two have a very special place in my heart and I just had to share a couple images with you all!

Kelley and Nate are two of my all-time favorite people and I am just SO happy for these two! Not only are they amazing friends, but they also make THE most adorable babies!

A little fact-o: Lily and Liam are 2 months old now, but weren't suppose to be born for another 3 days from now....they were super-preemies, but they are sure strong little buggers with a lot of personality!

Congratulations to Kelley and Nate on the new little ones!

LOVEe

MN Photostars!!

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:25:36 -0600

MN Photostars!!!! What is this, you say? It's a little group I put together back-in-the day with the uber-awesome Sara Montour, who has since moved to Seattle! Our vision was to create an environment for the raddest photographers from Minnesota to just get together, have fun, grab a beer and chill! We hosted a few of these, but since Sara moved, I kind of put it on the back burner until Stephany lit a fire under me one day and said, "Hey! We should still do this!"

Hence, a new generation of the Photostars is born and I am thrilled to say that we had THE best turn out EVER at Photogen Inc Studios! These events are an open invitation to any and all photographers in the area. Experience level doesn't matter, your niche in the industry doesn't matter - all that matters is that you BRING the FUN!

I have this vision of putting MPLS - or the Midwest for that matter - on the map in the photo industry and let me tell you, we have some KILLER talent in this town!

We also have some killer looks...obviously!

Thank you SO much to everyone who came out to the event! I foresee many of these in our future!

To view all of the photo booth images, click here!

LOVEe

LOVEe Consult : Emily Steffen!

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 11:58:45 -0600

I absolutely love my job. Sometimes I can't believe that my work is to create, inspire and empower people! And then I realize, yes, Eliesa, this is your work, but it is also deeper than that - it is my purpose.

This past fall, I launched LOVEe Consults, which is my one-on-one mentor session for photographers (or any small business owner for that matter), and I am simply smitten with these days! Yes, they are all about learning, but again - it's deeper than that. They are more about having conversations, exploring our deepest secrets and dreams and developing a plan to create the best life possible for us! Just as much as I teach the photographers who sign up, they teach me so much more!

This past week, I had a LOVEe Consult with the lovely Emily Steffen. I absolutely love this girl! One of the best things I adore about Emily is the fact that she gathers inspiration from SO much more than images. Many times we talk about looking at magazines, ad campaigns, labels, websites, branding, etc. to be inspired, but in Emily's case, she doesn't seek inspiration through any of those visual aesthetics. Instead, she is majorly inspired by crafting, knitting, sewing, gardening, baking and simply loving. I realized in our conversations that sometimes, as working artists, we forget to be creative in the sense of creating. Maybe that statement doesn't make sense. It is SO important to have other outlets of creativity besides just taking photographs (or painting, drawing, etc - whatever your art might be that you get paid for!) I realized I really haven't had another source as a creative outlet for quite some time, and I am empowered to do so!

The essence of who you are and what you love = happiness.

Another awesome conversation we had was about how stinkin' far behind the Midwest appears sometimes. We are, in fact, not far behind in Minneapolis, but sometimes people's mentalities are when searching for a wedding photographer and how we need to educate our clients on our shooting styles. We talked about how funny it is when (usually the older generation) make comments about your photos, such as, "Oh, isn't that nice." or "Yes, these are sure...different." Emily put it into the perfect quote, " In our state, when people call your photos 'different', that is Minnesotan for 'suck'!" The fabulous part about this statement is that when you do find your perfect clients - the words/feelings/comments about suckage will absolutely never be an issue - ever again! I am also a firm believer that there is some KILLER talent pumping out of the Midwest now that is truly remarkable - and I am SUPER stoked for this revolution!

There is no doubt in my mind that Emily is going to do some really amazing things in her life! In her own words, her goal is...

"To share the love and effect the world in a way that I can to make an impact. I want my life the be simple and I want to live my life to simply inspire people."

LOVEe

My consultations are more than a how-to-be-an-amazing-photographer, they are truly meant to be life-changing.

If you are interested in more information about a LOVEe Consult, click here!

If you are READY for THIS, e-mail me: eliesa@photogen-inc.com