A COLD BEER & A VINTAGE LENS.

MAN, IT'S BEEN A MINUTE!

Well if you're anything like me you have a full time job, kids, a pet or two, and loads of other cares or troubles that you would love to forget about over a pint. (Pshhht-pop! I’m having a Guinness right now.)

 But you have to take a moment and let the inner kid out, breath, taste chocolate caramel character of the greatest drink to come out of Dublin. I do this by having a camera in my hand. What camera you ask? Why I use the Fujifilm XT4 for the majority of my shooting! 

 No, I don't care that it’s an APS-C camera! No, I don’t care that the auto focus is about as accurate as I am after 4 pints of the black nectar. No, I don't care that video specs are meh. Do you know why?

It’s because I’m poor! I’m just kidding. I have a very blessed life, thank you Lord! But seriously, if you’re anything like me you have to spend money on other things like, car maintenance, home repairs, school clothes for the kids, Christmas gifts. You know, “adulting.” But because of this, when I have some extra cash that I can burn I invest it in affordable manual focus lenses. 

Have you ever heard the term, “git gud,” before? If you haven't, that's okay! You were probably doing something more productive than being destroyed by a teenager on Apex Legends. But I got good with manual focus lenses. 

Specifically the Pentax Super Takumar lenses the 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm, and the one TTartisans 35mm f0.95. (My favorite lens for Fuji x-mount). 90% of the photos you see on my website were taken with this range of lenses. 

You are just as good of a photographer as the “greats.” Just take the time to “git gud” at your craft. Experiment and play with angles and crops to create fun images that make you feel happy. 

 We aren’t going to hit it big on YouTube. But we can pop a Guinness and blow off steam with our manual lenses and crop sensor cameras. Merry Christmas!!

Sic Parvis Magna my friends. 

Dispatch 1: Hello Dear Reader

COME ON IN. 

Hey everyone, thanks for joining me. It's been two months since I took the leap and started this photography side project, something I've been dreaming of for years. Right now, I feel like I'm in the early stages of building something special, kind of like the training montage in a movie where the hero is training under a waterfall or being yelled at by J.K. Simmons circa 2014’s “WHIPLASH.” 

Starting a business has its challenges, and building a client base takes time. But I'm not letting that discourage me. I've been busy creating a portfolio, getting my marketing materials together, and honing my skills. I've even got business cards printed up (thanks Vistaprint!) and I'm working on offering prints soon.

In the meantime, I'm finding these dispatches to be pretty therapeutic! (I mean it's got to be cheaper than therapy, looking at you BetterHelp.) Next time, I'll share why I didn't name my business "Blaine's Photography" - turns out, that's not always the best strategy.

So come with me as I build something out of nothing. I'd love to hear your thoughts on building a photography business. What are some challenges you've faced? Share your tips in the comments below!"

Sic Parvis Magna!