Jill, president of Jill-e Designs, asked if I could create the cover for their next catalog
while we're in Vegas next week.

How can I NOT help create the cover for my favorite camera bag's catalog!?!

Jill hadn't decided exactly what she wanted for the catalog cover,
so we started going over ideas for the catalog, tossing ideas back and forth.
We ended up with something really fun, and you can be in on it!

Whenever I arrive in Vegas for WPPI, my tradition is to always go to the
Bellagio Brunch Buffet before I start my WPPI craziness.
I usually meet a few friends there, we have a fun time chit-chatting and relaxing,
and enjoying the yumee yumee food -- I get dessert first, just because I can!

This year, Jill is joining me for brunch, and you can join us, too!
After brunch, we're going to hit the strip around Bellagio & Paris,
and we'll have a fun time shooting the cover photo for the new
Jill-e 2009 Spring/Summer catalog!

Here's last year's:


Dana helped me shoot that in La Jolla last year -- she's awesome!

This year, we're going to hit the strip, and you can help shoot the Jill-e cover!
Bring your camera and a smile -- because if you want to help shoot the cover,
the only requirement is that you must be willing to step in FRONT of the camera
for your turn at modeling the bags!

If you don't have a Jill-e bag, that's fine! Jill's bringing the ones she wants on the cover.

After the shoot, you'll email your best shots to me (by Fri 2/20),
and I'll get them to the Jill-e catalog folks so they can choose the cover shot.
I'll be sure that the photographer & the model get credit!

We'll meet around 10am on Sunday, so if you want to join us, EMAIL ME at barefootmemories@gmail.com
and I'll get you all the details!
Just for our own sanity, we're going to limit the group to 8,
so email me quickly if you want to come!

Sorry, the brunch isn't included in this fun morning, but I'll do my best to get Jill
to bring some coupons or deals or fun stuff for us!

See you soon!

~Carey

There are only a few days and one photo session left until I leave for WPPI 2009!

Last year's WPPI convention was a TON of fun.
I did a Platform presentation, and that was a blast.

If you've never been to WPPI, here's what a "Platform talk" looks like:

There are some REALLY good Platform talks this year!
Photographers talk about all kinds of stuff -- photography, business, and some
crazy Platform presenters talk about how to make the best fart noises:


When I was planning for WPPI 2009, I had a bunch of phone calls with
Mpix & the WPPI folks. (Planning for this stuff happens WAY in advance,
so this all happened back in late Spring & early Summer last year.)
Based on the layout of the presentation rooms & classrooms & the expo space for WPPI '09,
we decided that I would work with Mpix and my other sponsors in the tradeshow expo.
My sponsors wanted to reach as big of an audience as they could,
so we decided that focusing on the expo would be the best way to go.
Fine by me! That Platform talk was fun, but it's refreshing not to have to plan one this year!
There will be even BIGGER STUFF happening for WPPI 2010!
It's amazing how far ahead this stuff is planned.

So, this year, I'll be talking to photographers in the Mpix booth at the tradeshow expo.
On Monday and Tuesday, I'll be there at 12:30pm.
On Wednesday, I'll be there at 1pm.
It would be great to see you, so come on by and say hi!

WPPI is going to be a super fun photo party!
I talked to Skip (BBQ Smackdown runner up & president of WPPI) earlier this week,
and he's stoked about how how many photographers from ALL OVER THE WORLD
are making their way to Vegas!
The executive team at the MGM Grand demanded a meeting with the WPPI execs
because they want to know how on Earth WPPI did what NO OTHER convention
has been able to do in the last few years:
The MGM hotel is TOTALLY SOLD OUT for the week of WPPI! That's just unheard of these days!

WPPI is going to be HUGE!
There's always so much to do and see, and so much fun to be had!
When I can carve out some free time, I'll be having some fun at the craps tables,
but not too much fun.
Any other craps-lovers like me out there? Drop me a line, and we can take over a table!

~Carey

If you've got a Valentine who's a photo enthusiast,
you may be struggling with gift ideas for Valentine's Day.

There's still time to get a really cool gift!

Right now, there is one slot left for the myFUNcamera beginners' workshop on 2/21,
or you can go for a 2-hour private mentoring session for even more in-depth learning.

If you purchase before Friday at noon, I can send you a jpg certificate
that you can print and frame.
You'll be a Valentines Day hero!

Check out myFUNcamera.com.
While you're there, check out the new myFUNcamera blogsite!
I've redone myFUNcamera.com so it has a blog layout now.
When I have lessons, tips, suggestions, a good book, or any other photo-stuff to share,
I'll put it up there for you!

Enjoy,
~Carey

The very first picture of mine that ever won an award is "Daddy's Little Bird."
You can see that picture on the "contact" section of my website:


That picture is still one of my favorites of all time!

Last week I got to play with this family again in Imperial Beach,
on a bright sunny day this time, instead of a moody stormy day like last time!
Boy oh boy, has Daddy's Little Bird grown up, and so has her twin brother!

They no longer need dad's strong arms to have fun at the beach:


Instead of kids flying, the boys opted for rocks.
Check out this throwing form!



Just like in my family, the brother seems to have sucked all or most of the athletic ability
from mom's womb, leaving only trace amounts for his sister.
We had to duck & cover more than once when Lauren tried her hand at rock throwing.
I could only laugh (while ducking) at the hilarious similarities to my own kids back at home!

Enjoy!!

~Carey

As you may know, for the past few years, I've been the owner of EZPhotoSales and Aftershutter.
I started EZPhotoSales as an online sales solution for myself and some online friends,
because all of the alternatives were either too expensive or just plain fugly.
We wanted to sell images on our websites, so folks could order what they wanted,
and the photographer could fill the order. Simple as that.
Problem was, it wasn't (and still isn't) so simple.

Fast forward a few years, and we come to the time in my life
when I'm passing the online sales baton.

I can't adequately descirbe the huge weight that has been lifted off of my family!
I never planned to be in the software business, and although I embraced that new
challenge with all of the energy I could, and I was very passionate about
providing an affordable functional tool for my fellow photographers,
I just needed to make a change for the sake of my sanity and my family.

What I'm most grateful for is the group of friendly people who have surrounded me
with encouragement and understanding at such a hard time!
"Giving up" on a business is not an easy thing! There were a few people who
were (maybe still are) pretty angry with me. That's really what made my
decision so hard -- knowing those folks would be out there.
In my mind, I haven't "given up." I've made the very best decision I could
for my family, and that is what is most important to me.

My eternal gratitude goes out to the kind people who know my story,
who understand how hard this has been on my family,
and who have sent their blessings and kindness my way.

If this is confusing to you, I apologize!
This is all a lot of photography shop talk about EZPhotoSales,
and if you're curious to know a bit of history, you can check out
EZPhotoSales.com or AfterShutter.com
If you scroll down, you'll see some YouTube videos there
where I explain the whole history of EZPhotoSales and what would have been AfterShutter.

I've shut down EZPhotoSales and passed the baton to Zenfolio,
and I know they'll take good care of the photographers who choose to use their solution.

I love my new gallery system, and it's working very well for my clients, too.
If you'd like to check it out,
you can go to BarefootOrders.com



~Carey