My first internet order came through Friday evening and I am processing it today. I am thrilled and the software is working well so I'm starting to feel like all the fretting with setting up my website was worth it. Please go check it out: http://www.spruittphotography.com/.
Saturday I went to the Ice Den here in Orlando where Richard Gump was taking team and individual pictures of the Youth Hockey League. It was a terrific learning experience for me and I hope to be able to participate in more events. It is an honor to spend time with these youth, helping document their lives and witnessing the energy and enthusiasm they bring to their sport.

Orlando Fine Art, Event Photographer - Updates to website, Fast Track

It's official! I'm never going to make a living as a web designer; but that's OK since my passion is photography! Still, the perfectionist in me struggles with not getting my website to look like I want it to.
I finished reading Fast Track by Dane Sanders, an accomplished wedding photographer from California. Dane spoke at Imaging USA about committing to being "All In" in the new year. I had heard the term "All In" used by UGA's Gymnastic team when they were on the hunt for their 10th NCAA championship title. They were "All In for 10" and they won the championship finishing the season with only one loss. Until I heard Dane speak I had never applied the mantra into my own endeavors; now, I'm "All In for 2010".
Fast Track is written to encourage the reader to look inside themselves and decide if they want to be a Free Lance Photographer or a Signature Brand Photographer or a hybrid of the two. The purchase price includes an online test that helps define where the reader is in their path and offers guidance as to the type of photographer they want to be. He also describes the Signature Brand photographer as one who centers their marketing around who they are not around the photography itself. The book is applicable not just to wedding photographers, but to all types of photographers. I'd certainly recommend it to anyone considering becoming a professional photographer or existing photographers wanting to refocus their business.

Orlando Photographer Website Updates

Back from Nashville inspired and excited about my photography business. I realized while at the Imaging USA conference that I really enjoy event photography, including weddings, and fine art photography the most. I enjoy the one on one relationships that portraiture entails, but for now I feel that it is important to focus on the areas I am most passionate about. High on my to-do list is updating my website with pictures from my portfolio. However, this is proving quite frustrating! I'm seriously considering starting over with a local webdesigner. So if you go to my website, http://www.spruittphotography.com/ you will find that it is indeed in need of some expertise that I can't seem to harness.

Imaging USA in Nashville

I'm off to Imaging USA, the annual conference for the Professional Photographers of America, this weekend. It's exciting to have the opportunity to be surrounded by all those talented people. I hope to learn a lot and really get myself motivated to make 2010 the best year ever! My new mantra is "If it's going to be, it's up to me; I will make it happen".

I finished reading "Three Feet From Gold" by Sharon L. Lechter and Greg S. Reid last night. What a great book! It made me realize that while I have the courage to start new projects, goals, etc., I don't always have the courage to see them through to completion. Definitely something to work on in 2010. A good example is my website and blog. This is my first post since last June, and granted, there has been a lot going on with moving to Orlando; but how hard is it to sit down and update this blog at least weekly? I'm not sure if I'll have access to a computer while I'm at the conference, but look forward to me posting when I return from Nashville on Jan. 13th.

I've updated my website to include some fine art photography photos. I'm still trying to figure out the website host's templates and how things are displayed on my website, but please take a look: spruittphotography.com. Click under Galleries tab and on "Sample" event.

I can't believe how long it has been since I posted to my blog! I should pay more attention here than to my Facebook page, but I do like the ability to connect with long lost friends on FB. It has been a busy year so far, photography wise. I am working as a free-lance photographer for the local newspaper, the Athens Banner-Herald, taking pictures at community events for their website "Spotted.onlineathens.com". I have also entered a couple of juried shows this year; the Georgia in Bloom show sponsored by the Madison Art Guild in Madison, Georgia and the Athens Photography Guild's 1st annual juried print show in Commerce, GA where I won third place! My Spotted work has been very rewarding as it gives me the opportunity to hone my skills and have my work published on a website for the world to see. Two of my pictures have been published in the printed paper to help bring attention to the online venue.
Certainly, I feel that I have grown a lot as a professional photographer and artist. I want to learn all I can and continue to develop this gift from God.

January 3, 2009 - Shooting the Decorations

Today it was foggy and gray out, and the designated day to take down the Christmas decorations. But not so fast, I sprayed canned snow on the front door and brought the weary poinsettas out to the front porch, turned on the tree so it could be seen through the glass storm door...and I took lots of pictures. Then I went out to the mail box and gave it a good dusting of "snow" and took some more pictures, some with the house in the background and some without. As soon as I figure out how to publish pictures to the web without them being copied I'll add some here. I enjoyed the process of "setting the stage" and then taking the shots. As fate would have it, the deer that frequent our front yard seem to have moved to Texas, they were no where to be found. Thanks for reading!

January 2, 2009 - First Post

Hi, this is my first blog entry. All this technology is "makin' me crazy"! I plan to use my blog spot to document my journey as a professional photographer. It is my sincere hope that I will be able to bring some enjoyment to others through my craft. Thanks for reading my blog, commenting on my work or writings...and of course.... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!