Michael Shattuck Photography

Employee Portraits

2008-06-30T11:44:00.003-05:00

I've been working on employee portraits for a company directory this past week. This is Hunter, one of our customer care reps. Isn't it great to work in a dog-friendly workplace?!

Do your feet a favor...buy some NBs!

2008-06-30T09:00:00.003-05:00

After a great weekend, including time with family, baseball games, and a wedding shoot, I'm back at work. It occurred to me that not everyone knows exactly what goes on here at the NBWeb studio. So, I thought I'd give you a little sample of something I threw together last week.

I'm increasingly convinced that if you need shoes (and "most" of you do!) then you need to be wearing New Balance shoes! I even convinced someone of that a few days ago in a Marshalls! We spend our money on technology to actually help your feet and body...not just on superstars to tell you to wear this shoe or that (no offense, MJ!).

These 1224s will be incredible shoes when they hit the shelves this Fall. Trust me and get your bank cards ready! True love, baby!!

Tired

2008-06-27T09:50:00.003-05:00

I'm working on employee portraits for an online directory and snapped this self-portrait today while waiting for my next appointment. Just feeling a little tired.

Tired is good when it's earned. You know, that feeling of being completely exhausted after a hard day's work. You collapse on the couch or in bed and just know that you've truly accomplished something today. Often that whole sentiment can be summed up in a deep sigh right before thanking God for that day and closing your eyes (only to be awakened by a dog scratching in his crate!!..but that's a different subject, huh?!)

Praise

2008-06-25T10:33:00.003-05:00

If there is anything I have learned over the past several years, it's that we need to approach every day with an attitude of praise. That lesson is engraved in my mind after seeing so many times when God has provided for us, even when it seemed impossible that it was going to happen. However, it's easy to wake up from time to time and forget all about that, instead giving in to negativity. What a nasty downward spiral that brings!

I'm thankful for so much. These are the big things I'm thanking God for today:

My family...my incredible wife, wonderful kids. My mom that has always supported me. My grandma who I adore. I can't imagine going through life without a supportive family!
To have a wonderful job that I love coming to everyday...and for the team we have here in the studio. Such creative minds that are great for challenging ourselves to push the boundaries of quality and productivity.

God's grace is a wonderful thing. We don't deserve anything, yet He showers blessings on us when we give our lives to Him. Part of that is reality and part is perspective/attitude. If we have an attitude of thankfulness and praise, then it's easy to feel like we have EVERYTHING even when the world might think we have nothing.

What are you thankful for today?

Why I love photography

2008-06-19T06:35:00.002-05:00

Last Saturday's wedding was a thing of beauty. I have to admit that I did approach it with a certain level of "holy fear". I knew I am someone that handles pressure quite well...BUT we're talking about capturing moments that are here for a second and gone the next. You have to respect that reality.

As I began shooting, I became increasingly comfortable and rather quickly found myself in that wonderful, creative mode that I love. Sure there were technical issues to deal with. But I'd done my homework. I've studied 100s of images from wedding photographer greats -- I'm named them a million times here. So, I felt so free to work out the images I already had in mind.

Likely, enough can't be said about the bride and groom. They were super open to whatever I threw at them, just wanting the best shots possible. Without that, no way we would have just taken a little walk down the road to figure out some fun locations to shoot. Too fun!

The process continued as I got home and began sorting through all of the images. As is the case with a lot of folks who are starting out in wedding photography, the job was setup to give the couple unedited images on CD. But I wanted to take that a step further and process the images that really speak to me. So, I jumped in and have been working since then to draw out the emotion in those shots. That is pure joy for me!

I love this side of photography...looking for those killer shots that scream emotion or passion. The ones that do something to you inside...maybe they send you back to a special time in your life...or just hold you eye for awhile. I love it.

If you'd like to see the shots I've been working on, check out this slideshow I made for Rachel and Kevin.

Wedding Action!

2008-06-15T19:06:00.002-05:00

I had the absolute thrill to flex my creative muscles yesterday at a beautiful wedding near downtown St. Louis. The couple was beautiful...the scene beautiful...what more can be said?! This being my first wedding, it was a bit nerve racking to make sure I was on top of it all. But that said, I had a blast. With my wedding photography standards set in the stratosphere thanks to my faves Jessica Claire and Jasmine Star, I had such a good time looking for those unique, dynamic angles to capture. Thanks Kevin and Rachel for letting me be a part of your day!!

Wearing shorts to work!!

2008-05-21T18:15:00.003-05:00

Title catch your attention? It would grab mine. I'm the kind of guy that has one suit in his closet. You know, weddings and funerals. I love dressing casually and being comfortable. Well, on top of having a great job around wonderful people, I'm able to wear shorts to work!!! Oh, the little things in life make it all so sweet.

I haven't written since starting at NB Web Express (now an official "wing" of New Balance). I'm having to get in the swing of things, reorganizing things like my gym schedule, freelance gigs, and even blogging.

It has been great. I'm working on a great team (great=word for the day) and with a really great product. My days consist of getting in to the studio and beginning work on the products that have been prepared and are ready for shooting.

Many of you have been interested in what goes into taking shots of shoes (and apparel). The short answer is that we work on getting a set couple of shots that encompass the entire product and then we go to work capturing the "spirit" of it...the features, technology...the zing! There is a lot of creative thinking that goes into getting the "zing" shots as you're trying to visualize what it's going to look like when it hits the web (or print)...not just what it looks like laying there. I'll try to take my camera up there someday and grab some setup shots to share. That'll give you a good idea of how it all works. Cool?

I've been extremely impressed with our team. It's hard to believe there are so many folks working there who love their job so much. Having heard about how the owner founded the company on Christian principles, it's quite evident that the folks there feel cared about, appreciated. That makes a huge difference...I can tell you.

There are drawbacks...big drawbacks to the job. Imagine shooting great (there it is again) products all day. Shoes. Bags. Clothes. More shoes. I can't tell you how many times I've already thought, "hmm...wonder how much that'd be?" And of course, I've GOT to out fit my family in NB gear...right?! Of course. Well, drawbacks...see what I mean?

Good stuff. I'm so thankful!

Incredible Images - Chris Jordan

2008-05-15T16:38:00.002-05:00

I like to share things that inspire and push us to new levels of creativity. I was dropping off my entry into a gallery competition this afternoon (fingers crossed!) and got to speak for a few minutes with the gallery director, Dion Dion. She shared this link with me to an amazing photography out of Florida named Chris Jordan. Take a few minutes to peruse his work. You'll be amazed.

Beyond the technique, skill, and mind behind those images lies a sad truth. Each represents our cumulative consumption and waste. Isn't it mind-boggling to read his statistics and see those stark numbers displayed in his photos?!

This is art that takes a stab at changing society. It's not just a beautiful piece that a collector buys to hang in a home. These are images that convey a much deeper meaning...one that might cause us to pause and consider the broader impact of what we're doing the next time we're about to throw out our grocery bags, toss out those old dolls, or turn in our prison work clothes (oops).

Enjoy!

News!

2008-05-06T15:18:00.003-05:00

First things first...Vicki and I committed to hitting our knees and thanking God for His provision no matter what the word was on the job front. We have seen God work so much in our lives, showing His faithfulness and love to us even when the situation seems impossible. We trust Him with our lives and know that His way is best even if it hurts.

All of that said, we were able to pray together as a family, thanking God that we were offered the position at New Balance!! We're on top of the world, so excited to see how things progress!

A Big Week

2008-05-05T20:00:00.001-05:00

It's been in my pocket all day as I've awaited the possibility, even if remote, of word coming about the job. But no ring. No flashing LCDs when it was in silent mode this morning at the YMCA. They said mid to late in the week but the waiting is TOUGH! After all of the waiting we've been doing of the past couple of years you'd think we'd be used to it by now!

Perusing the latest news online I came across an article out of China....scary stuff. Even if I'd worked my tail off to get to the Olympics, I just don't know if I could make that trip...especially after this latest report of the outbreak of hand-foot-mouth disease.

Interview update

2008-05-01T21:07:00.001-05:00

In case you're wondering, my interview went great today. I met a couple of extremely nice people who would be great to work with. There are still 4 other interviews they need to do before making a decision sometime mid-late next week.

We'll see!

Yesterday's Shoots

2008-05-01T07:43:00.002-05:00

I'm extremely pleased to share with you that a very well-known local real estate agent has decided to give me all of her photography business. It felt great to hear that a few days ago when she called to book a couple new listings with me.

It is a very interesting thing to shoot high-end real estate. What else can you do to basically tour extremely nice homes and see how the rich and famous live? After a few of those homes, though, you begin to just see it as "another big house"...it loses the zing of the first go-round. That is, until you do some smaller homes.

What's funny is that all of these homes are WAY over my financial head. And they are all beautifully-prepared...gorgeous homes that we would love to have. But it's just funny how even a 4,000+ sq. ft. home can look small after you've shot a few 6,000-7,000 sq. ft. homes because somehow those big ones become the norm.

The houses I shot yesterday were beautiful. I always find myself thinking, "I'd do that..." if I lived there. Generally that involves finished basements...oh, what I could do with a finished basement!! I'd be fine to let the rest of the family do whatever in the rest of the house...but the basement is dad's! [Insert sinister laugh.]

If you'd like to check out the other shots, you can go here to Dejournet or Crystal Springs.

3rd Interview and "Side Trips"

2008-04-30T09:52:00.006-05:00

After a few days of anxiously awaiting a call from NB Web Express about moving on to a 3rd round of interviews, I heard a strange buzz emanating from my printer yesterday. Sounds random, right? Well, my printer is cell phone psychic as were my computer speakers in Poland. They know when it's going to ring and get all happy about it, buzzing with anticipation.

It rang. I answered. I'm in! So, tomorrow I have a third interview with NB's head photog and their director of creative services. I'm pumped to say the least. This would be such a great fit from what I know. And trust me, our family could really use the stability that this could afford us.

On an unrelated note, I was reading a post this morning on a photog's blog which I frequent. He was asking some questions about Christianity...sort of why we get upset about the thought of death when we say we are going to spending eternity with Jesus. And further, asking what we think we're going to be doing "up there". It made me think a lot.

My thought was that I really live under my privilege so often. I was worried about that phone call yesterday as the end of the day quickly approached and I still hadn't heard at 4:25p (they called at 4:30p). I've been doing quite well in the trusting department but it does get tough. And we are human. We will screw up and we will step away from God. In short, we will sin.

I was reading in Proverbs 4 this morning and in the New Living it said that we should mark out a straight path for ourselves and stick to the path...no "side trips" (my paraphrase). That's a great challenge for me...especially for the next few days as I interview and then hear if I get the job or not. My straight path is knowing that God is in control and that He will provide for my family. Side trips would be to begin worrying and get discouraged and defeated.

The question for us all to consider is what are we missing out on by taking our own little side trip adventures?

Stay tuned for news on the job!

Disjointed Thoughts

2008-04-25T10:25:00.005-05:00

I have a lot of things floating around in the noggin today. So, while there is no way to write about all of them completely, I'm just going to hit the highlights. They are absolutely not in any order.

Gas prices went over 12 CENTS overnight! What is happening?

David Tejada is an incredible photographer that seemingly gets amazing opportunities to shoot incredible things all over the globe. I love this shot from Northern Chile!

After what I saw my dad go through late last year, I hate hearing about people who are battling diseases without proper insurance, and thus without adequate medical treatment. This is not a political statement but rather one of spiritual foundation...it is not right just allow people to die simply because they are not able to afford exorbitant, over-inflated prices. [Ok, that was a bit more than a statement...inspired by this article on cnn.com.]

I will be hearing from New Balance early next week whether or not I move on to a 3rd round of interviews for a product photography position.

My country is obsessed with the elusive pursuit of happiness, thinking that it comes from primarily these sources: money and youth. Without these, we are led to believe that we don't amount to much.

If we desire to see the following things manifested in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, then we need to realize that this is impossible without allowing God to completely control us. Completely...that means 100% in everything. [Scope out the book of Galatians, chapter 5 in the Bible for more on that.]

When asked in an interview about where I get my inspiration to create from, I gave an answer. But now, I think it was incomplete. My complete answer would now be that I am inspired to create by trying to find beauty in the things around me -- anything from the mundane to the exotic. The direct quote escapes me but I recall reading something from Brian McLaren about how all of creation is like art that God has displayed for us to enjoy. If you think about that, you can truly find beauty everywhere.

Back from LA

2008-04-22T09:03:00.005-05:00

Got back from LA yesterday and it was GORGEOUS! If it weren't for constant traffic (one of my mortal enemies), I might think about how great it would be to live out there. Yes, everything costs a fortune and it's crazy crowded but look at that beach! And the sun...oh, the sweet sun (it's storming here in M-O...again). You can see a few more pics here.

It was a great weekend. We met some wonderful people who are making huge impacts as they live for Christ. I love hearing stories of transformed lives...and there was no shortage of that where we were able to speak.

I also got some great news while I was there concerning our Life Celebration Photography services. One of the things that I've been having to wait for is to find an album publishing company that would work with us to get memorial albums printed quickly and in high quality. After sending a quick email to Jasmine Star asking if she knew of anyone out there that might be able to help, she connected me with what seems like the perfect partner! We'll still need to work out the details in coming weeks/months but it looks like we're in good shape to get rolling!

Heading to Cali

2008-04-16T18:12:00.001-05:00

I've never been to California so I'm excited to have the opportunity to head out to Inglewood tomorrow. I'm going to a conference that runs through Monday, speaking in about six churches in two days. Not quite sure what they have planned for the other few days, but I'm sure it will be interesting.

I'm entering one of my photos in a competition exhibit at the Art St. Louis gallery next month and have been thinking about entering a second...just don't have any that pop out in my mind for the theme, "Pixels and Patterns". Maybe I'll find something in CA!

Today I had the chance to shoot a real estate listing for a new client who wanted to try me out. The house was nice (here's the slideshow) but the owners were wonderful. They aren't from the US but wanted to come here to allow their kids an opportunity to have the benefits our country offers. If you know my family, you can see how we had a lot to talk about!

Amazingly, as I was wrapping up, I noticed that the husband had disappeared. About the time I was closing my gear case, his wife mentioned that he was back and that he'd gone to buy me lunch!! I couldn't believe their hospitality as he helped me out to the car and handed off a bag of food and drink.

I know I've said it before and I'll say it again...I'm very blessed. You don't have to look hard around to see God's touches on your life. They come in so many ways...through so many people. It's really beautiful.

See you in a few days...I'll try to post some shots from Inglewood!

Yesterday's shoot

2008-04-15T07:30:00.003-05:00

A bathroom? Oh yeah! I'm proud of this bathroom. Let me explain...

In real estate photography bathrooms can be a nightmare. They are generally not large, open spaces which, of course, makes it difficult to get a good angle that shows the major features of the room. There can be large mirrored walls that make it difficult to hide equipment (and yourself!). And while they aren't always the brightest rooms, they need extra "help" which can be tricky to do subtly as not to make it obvious that you're popping off a few flashes in the room.

Let me tell you about this shot. First, I had to address positioning for my tripod/camera. There was really only one position in the room where I could capture the vanity and shower (2 of the 3 major features of the room - I left out the ordinary tub) while also being able to show how it's situated in the floor plan between the master bedroom and office.

The next issue was lighting. I needed to pump up the lighting in both the bathroom and adjoining office. So, I've got a flash high on a light stand pumping out serious power in the office, a flash in the bathtub that is bouncing off the back wall into the bathroom, and one more flash on a lightstand that I had to hand hold out below and in front of the camera to fill some shadows left by the tub flash. I told you it was tricky! If I could change anything, I'd get some light in the shower to brighten that a bit.

This was a great property with a fun, open floor plan. You can see more photos from yesterday here. They aren't all as exciting as the bathroom though! :-)

"I Love"

2008-04-14T08:55:00.001-05:00

I read several blogs everyday. Some are informational, others artistic. It helps me catch up on the world while gaining insight and inspiration from some folks I respect.

Just one of those blogs is photographer Jasmine Star's. She's a brilliant wedding photographer that regularly posts incredible images from her recent work.

Yesterday she posted this post entitled "I Love" and I wanted to share it with you all. Go and take a read...it's short.

I, this is me now, love hearing people talk about things that are so full of meaning for them. I love hearing that passion in someone's voice (or writing). It's electrifying to me.

Since Matthew has been sick, he and I stayed home from church yesterday morning and we had our own version of church for ourselves. We read the creation story and about Adam and Eve. I can only dream of the passion God had inside when He finished creating and took in everything He had done....the passion when He walked through the garden with Adam and Eve. "Have you seen the stars at night??? Aren't they incredible??!! I did that so your breathe would be taken away every single night as you looked up, thought about the enormity of my work there, and then remembered that even though I put so much into that my real passion is YOU!"

I do wonder about those conversations in the garden. Wow!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy Jasmine's post. It definitely touched me.

What's happening?

2008-04-11T19:33:00.001-05:00

A good bit is happening. We had a great time yesterday at the St. Louis Association of Realtors' Education Expo. The weather was HORRIBLE which kept a large number of folks away. But it went well, nonetheless.

Growing a business is an interesting thing. It's fun to see growth as I've moved from just one job every few weeks to 4-5/week. Sure it needs to grow more to become full-time but there's time.

I did pickup one shoot from someone at the Expo and another that I did this afternoon after getting a call this morning. Today was a treat, working with a veteran agent that loves God. We had a great conversation while capturing that unique property.

Photography is very challening and rewarding. To walk into a room and try to master light in such a way that you can produce an image that will jump out at people without looking artificial is tough. But when you get there...when you produce those images you first feel great that you've delivered what a client was wanting and second realize that next time you need to do it even better! Like so much of life, the more you know, the more you realize you need to learn!

I'm hoping to get my promo materials for the "Life Celebration" services soon. I continue to look forward to that, getting involved in folks' lives when they so need to feel God's love and compassion which so often comes through us.

Great stuff!

Blessings

2008-04-09T21:34:00.003-05:00

Driving away from this shoot today, I thanked God for the opportunities He's given me already in photography. I get to meet some wonderful people and take photos of some extremely gorgeous things. How incredible! I haven't finished processing all of those images yet, but I will share them when they are done.

The other blessing today was hearing back from New Balance that I'm moving on in the hiring process. I have my second interview on Wednesday the 23rd. I'm looking forward to the opportunity to meet the HR folks and share my portfolio. Very exciting stuff!!

1st Baptist Ellisville Seniors

2008-04-07T12:53:00.005-05:00

I took this shot yesterday for the student ministry at First Baptist Ellisville. They have been using these kinds of selective color photos for their senior group shots for the past several years, so I was happy to oblige. A couple of tips to give you for shoots like these: (1) guys don't really care to act crazy if you want to get funny, candid shots and (2) shoot quickly to keep the masses happy and comfortable.

If you're into these types of shots, they're fairly straight forward (or can be) to produce. You will need to be using photo editing software like Adobe's Photoshop or equivalent because you need to do some layer masking. Not counting retouching, color correction (if you need that), cropping, and all of that jazz, you're just looking at two steps to produce selective color black and whites:

First, you've got to convert to black and white. There are a gazillion ways to go about this. Starting a couple of versions ago, Adobe made it super simple to get easy results in Photoshop using adjustment layers. Simply put, these allow you to alter an image without messing it up for good -- you can modify these adjustments layers, add more for different effects/results, or trash them if you don't like what you've done...and all the while not touching the original image. The black and white adjustment layer palette gives you several B&W processing options to get the look you're after. So, if you don't want to deal with other methods, this is an easy option that does give great results.

Second, you've got to mask off the portion of the image where you want the color to shine through. This is the same concept as using masking tape in your home to keep from painting window sills, etc when you're painting your walls. If you've used an adjustment layer in Photoshop, you can simply edit the associated layer mask to reveal the area you have chosen (in my case, the car).

I didn't intend for this to be a step-by-step tutorial or anything...just sort of an overview to the technique used to produce these images. You won't see selective color used much in high-end photography or fine art since it is somewhat gimmicky. But given the right circumstances it can be quite effective in focusing the viewer's eye on a particular feature or a photo. I remember the video version of the technique used in Schindler's List when the camera was following a little girl in a pink (or red?) coat around the streets.

Parents' relationships and kids' activities

2008-04-05T22:09:00.001-05:00

I've got a question to pose to you all. I brought this up to my family when we got together this past week for Rachel's birthday and something on tv brought it back to mind.

Kids are busy these days...I mean BUSY! We have heard stories about kids being involved in multiple sports teams, dance classes, academic clubs, working, dating, being involved in church activities...and oh yeah, that little thing called school. Unreal! And what does this mean for parents? A lot!

Parents, at least around here, are constantly on the go. Someone has to take the kids to all of those activities, especially when they're starting to get involved in all of this when they're so young (4-5 years old). If a family has more than 1 or 2 kids, the parents might even have to end up tag-teaming, splitting up to take the kids to their "appointments", running all over the place to meetings, practices, games, etc.

What do you think this does for a marriage relationship, let alone family relationships in general? It can't do a lot of good. It seems that families are becoming so busy with activities for both kids and parents that they are losing out on actual time together. Who has time for date night, something that is of extreme importance to couples...spending time together?!

As the divorce rate steams ahead, over 50% in and out of the church, I'm sitting here wondering if a part of the problem are the over-bloated schedules of our kids. Is it possible that we're allowing them to run ragged and at the same time hurting our relationships, with the kids we're working to develop AND with our spouses?

I'd love to get some opinions on this.

NB Web Interview

2008-04-05T09:48:00.002-05:00

I had a phone interview yesterday with New Balance's web division. What a great conversation!

They are hiring a photographer that would be taking their products from photo concept phase through publishing. The position itself sounds like it would be a lot of fun as they are always trying to push the quality of their work higher, while desiring to approach their work from a fresh, creative perspective. It sounded great!

On top of the actual position itself, the work environment sounds very exciting. The staff gets together once a month for a shared meal...they have a casual, "fun" atmosphere in the office...offer flex hours giving the opportunity to work 4 days a week. They evidently do such a great job at engaging their employees and showing how they care that their retention rate is in the high 90s. How refreshing!

Well, the deal is that candidates will hear on Wednesday whether they are being invited to personal interviews. While I certainly hope to be given that opportunity to continue exploring the possibility of working there, I know that if it doesn't pan out there is definitely a great reason for that. God is good...all the time! I'm so often reminded of how Jesus described the Father's love by pointing to the birds. If He takes care of them, won't He take care of us??!! YES!

We'll see how things develop. I'm excited...to get word on Wednesday AS WELL AS to see how this journey continues to unfold as time moves on.

Gas prices!!!

2008-04-03T21:09:00.001-05:00

I'm trying to find something on the web about how "someone" is going to do something to cap the rise of gas prices...but alas, nothing.

While we were out this morning, the price of one gallon went from $3.17 to $3.29!! Over a dime per gallon in the course of just a few hours!!! I don't get it.

What is the deal? Seriously. Are there checks and balances? Is there some kind of accountability for the people making the price changes?

[Excuse me while I go freshen up the bicycle that's been rusting in the garage.]

Interviews

2008-04-03T20:29:00.001-05:00

Some more interesting things happening in the search to expand "Michael Shattuck Photography."

I had an preliminary interview (more like an informational group interview/meeting) today at a well-known, St. Louis-based modeling agency. I haven't been in an agency before. I wonder how it would be to work with a large number of children and their parents who are looking to make it big in that field. The job would be part-time, doing mostly headshots for prospective models. Easy work with the possibility of different "angles" in the future.

Tomorrow I'm excited about a phone interview (1st stage) with New Balance...yeah, the shoe company. They're hiring a product photographer. The position sounds like it would be a lot of fun. They describe the atmosphere as fun and "running shoes are welcome". Nice touch.

While these two things reflect working for someone else, I can't help think about how interesting and challenging it is to go out on your own, starting your own business. It's a journey of faith that is new for us. Once I get the biz rolling and I'm too busy to write, I'll tell you all of my secrets. :-)