{"id":882,"date":"2009-02-03T00:07:24","date_gmt":"2009-02-03T07:07:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/x.jimanddoni.com\/?p=882"},"modified":"2009-02-03T00:07:24","modified_gmt":"2009-02-03T07:07:24","slug":"who-am-i","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jimanddoni.com\/?p=882","title":{"rendered":"Who Am I?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Ever since I made the decision to start a photography business, I have been headed down this path of artistic self discovery.?? My taste and style is??evolving and I don’t know “who I am” yet – exactly.?? :)?? And then the question presents, what if I end up somewhere and that isn’t where anyone else really wants to be??? LOL.?? When you consider your “market” – it complicates everything.?? So today I kept asking myself, why really do people hire photographers in the first place??? What are they really after??? Do they want a big wall mount to hang in a prominent spot in the house??? If so, does that picture need to blend well with that room (ie. colors in neutrals)??? Do they want a coffee table book showing “the life in a day”??? Pictures for family distribution??? A few for hanging and some for the picture box??? And what style do they want??? Classic\/Traditional??? White\/Black\/Neutral backgrounds that make a picture “hangable” anywhere??? Photojournalistic…capturing THIS moment in time??? Home environment??? Outside??? Urban??? Grungy urban studio with vibrant colors (see picture above)??? What? What? What?<\/p>\n

I am such a picture lover that I can’t answer this question well because my answer is all the above.?? I want it all.?? But before I headed down the photography road…what did I want back then??? I’ll be honest.?? I did hang pictures of Tanner when he was a baby but that isn’t really what I was after.?? I was doing what first time mom’s think they are supposed to do.?? Taking my child to a picture studio every 3 months his first year and every six months his second (and then I discovered my passion and never brought him back lol).?? Why did I really want them though??? Memories.?? I knew they wouldn’t be hung forever.?? I just wanted to have them – to always have them.?? Even now, I don’t frame a lot of pictures.?? I back up my favorites, play some on my TV slideshow as a single album sometimes, and….print my favorites and just keep em.?? But they are precious to me so having GOOD ones that capture this moment in time is important to me.?? So for me, anything goes.?? I like classic, grungy, urban, outside, photojournalistic.?? I like it all.??<\/p>\n

But what do people want to PAY for when they hire somebody??? I don’t know the answer.?? The reason this question is on my mind is because this morning Liza and I had a conversation about the above picture.?? She said she could see it as a large wall mount in a contemporary house with white couches.?? :)?? I agree – that would look cool.?? But most people with kids don’t have ultra contemp homes with WHITE couches (and if they do I may question their sanity hee hee).??<\/p>\n

So what percentage of people would want a picture that is something other than “classic”??? My style is headed very non classic.?? I like texture.?? I like color.?? BIG color.?? I like??babies in sinks and bathtubs and in playrooms – that just show off a moment of??a day in a beautiful way.?? I love OUTDOORS.?? I love grunging up an urban wall.?? (And for the record, I do have several urban pictures on my fridge :).?? But what about you??? I usually don’t beg for comments but would love to hear your opinon.?? My question is simple really.?? If you hired a photographer…what do you really want?<\/strong><\/p>\n

??Because I love vibrancy and texture and don’t want to head to downtown Phoenix every time I want something edgy and urban, I decided to try an urban grungy in studio look.???? I have been seeing this look with a lot of senior shoots and I love it.?? Why not for babies and toddlers too??? Am I the nut thinking this is way too fun and a “must” have??? Maybe I am just super cool and aging backwards??? LOL.?? So maybe this wouldn’t be your top pick for the 20×30 over your fireplace because your room colors are plum (though I could make it plum :)…but isn’t it WAY more fun that classic white and black?????? I really love white and black backgrounds – they draw all the attention to the subject…but doesn’t everybody need at least SOME fun??? Tracking with me on this or have I lost you??? Will you say “Ooohhh that’s cool…I like it…for YOUR kids?”?? Hee hee.??<\/p>\n

This is one of those rare times I had an idea in my head of the end product and it worked out just like I wanted.?? I sat back and said “yes…this is me”.?? Exactly the look I was going for.?? I made a crazy blue and green background too so you’ll see more of this style this week.?? (Don’t be worrying about me running out of pictures – I have trouble deciding what to post every day hee hee).?????? Tomorrow I will post pics of Tori in??an outfit my mom made me as a baby…OR maybe her bath pictures….OR maybe more of Blakes pictures….??? ??I want to do A LOT more outdoor pictures.?? The outdoor shoots this year have been my favorite.?? It’s hard to get my own kids out though with schooling but I am going to try more this month.??<\/p>\n

And before I forget again…my email is <\/strong>doni@jimanddoni.com<\/strong><\/a>.?? Use that to search for my facebook account<\/strong>.?? Realized later that some people had trouble finding me.?? My picture is the one holding Tori in her pink bunny costume.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Above??picture is the same as the top picture but I processed it differently.?? Made it more crimson and a tad grungier.??<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Like texture??? Some people don’t but if done correctly – I LOVE it.?? (And yes I do realize that “done correctly” is subjective \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I also love black and white pictures.?? Processing them has been a challenge though.?? There is a certain look I am after.?? Must be very contrasty without totally blowing highlights everywhere.?? Cannot be too grey or blue.?? Like it warm – almost chocolatey.?? I have tried so many conversion methods.?? Have used lab mode methods, channel methods, calculations, desat with custom curves, gradient mapping….so many ways to do it.?? But last night, I had a break through.?? Made a little action so I wouldn’t forget it and it seems to be working pretty consistently (with tweaking) on a variety of pictures.?? It was a combination of methods that I hadn’t tried yet.?? For months I have been aggravated with not getting what I wanted with BW’s so last night I was pretty happy to feel like I had made progress.?? I think I am liking these conversions.??\"\"<\/p>\n

I named my lil’ action “German Chocolate” – do ya feel it?<\/p>\n

*********Now for a few “real” words —- gosh I am chatty tonight***********<\/p>\n

When I post a blog titled “Who Am I”? – it makes me wonder how many read that and suddenly became very self reflective.?? I am not asking that question just as a JSO photographer.?? Also as a woman.?? A wife.?? As a mother.?? As the daughter of the King of Kings.?? Learning to live loved is tough business I tell you.?? I am on a road of discovery that is changing so much of me – I find myself asking “who am I”??? Lately I have noticed the question in the eyes of others when I have answered questions completely differently than I once would have “Doni who are you”??? In photography, I am trying to branch out – past some of the basics and find myself out on the edge.?? It’s freeing.?? In life…I am returning to the basics.?? “Jesus loves me this I know”.??<\/p>\n

I was trying to explain where I am “at” to someone I love lately and they said “so where does all this end up?”?? I don’t know.?? I know what I hope though.?? I hope that my present journey will produce a woman who prioritizes the greatest of all commandments – to love first.?? At the end of my life, I want those I knew to be able to say and mean “she loved me”.?? There is a lot of self interest at stake and learning to shed that is no small task.?? It has me being very quiet these days.?? Saying less.?? Hearing more.?? Trying to kick a critical spirit to the curb – get past ME – let mercy reign.?? (That doesn’t mean as some have mentioned in conversation to me, that I have no boundaries.?? I’ll save that topic for another day.?? Boundaries are important.?? Forgiveness is a must but forgiveness and reconciliation are two entirely different things.?? The former can happen without the latter and sometimes, sadly, that’s just necessary.?? I found a great description of that in a book – I’ll share it one day.?? This said for the benefit of several girlfriends who have??asked the “what about when..” questions lately). <\/em><\/p>\n

Finding it hard to put my thoughts into words these days because my basic beliefs have not changed…but the way I practice them has and I don’t have that all figured out yet.?? At the risk of thoroughly confusing you…I’ll save the rest of my chatter for future days.?? This song is on my heart though as I type this.?? If you have never heard it, look up “Who Am I” by Casting Crowns on YouTube.?? Pretty good summary of my heart tonight.<\/p>\n

Who Am I – By Casting Crowns<\/strong><\/p>\n

Who am I – that the Lord of all the earth
\nWould care to know my name
\nWould care to feel my hurt
\nWHo am I that the bright and morning star
\nWould choose to light the way
\nFor my ever wandering heart<\/p>\n

Not because of who I am
\nBut because of what you have done
\nNot because of what I’ve done’
\nBut because of WHO YOU ARE<\/p>\n

I am a flower quickly fading here today and gone tomorrow
\nA wave tosed in the ocean
\nA vapor in the wind
\nStill you hear me when I am calling
\nYou catch me when I am falling
\nYou told me who I am<\/p>\n

I am YOURS<\/strong><\/p>\n

(Jesus – sometimes I can’t believe it.?? Why would you want me??? MEEE??? But you do.?? You call me “yours”.?? You engraved me on your hands and heart.?? Yours??? Really??? Y O U R S??? Wow.?? Always speechless and humbled at the thought of it.?? How utterly unbelievable though I must embrace it or call you a liar.?? I don’t want to care about the “why” – the “why” makes me want to “do” something to earn it.?? I can’t.?? Falling falling falling – but your still catching.?? Always catching.?? Your daughter is loving You tonight and oh so very grateful.???? Ahhhh…now I can rest…that’s what I really wanted to say all day.?? Who “I am” isn’t relevant.?? Who you are is.?? You are the “I AM” and…..you are MINE.)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ever since I made the decision to start a photography business, I have been headed down this path of artistic self discovery.?? My taste and style is??evolving and I don’t know “who I am” yet – exactly.?? :)?? And then the question presents, what if I end up somewhere and that isn’t where anyone else […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[55],"tags":[26,24,28,27,30,25,29],"class_list":["post-882","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mamas-diaries","tag-boundaries","tag-facebook","tag-grunge","tag-love","tag-studio","tag-tori","tag-urban"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jimanddoni.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/882","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jimanddoni.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jimanddoni.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jimanddoni.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jimanddoni.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=882"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/jimanddoni.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/882\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jimanddoni.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=882"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jimanddoni.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=882"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jimanddoni.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=882"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}