Yesterday morning my daughter Ellie walked outside and said, DAD COME SEE! This image was right before the sun was rising in the distance.  This is the time frame that mimics a sunset because the ball of light isn't in the sky just yet. It's almost like the universe is showing you a preview of what kind of day is to follow.

Naturally I ran to my camera and snapped a quick image showing the beautiful radiant colors the dawn sky had to offer.  You hated to see it go as the sun rose over the horizon, but it was a simple reminder to take in all the beauty around you WHEN IT HAPPENS! 

The one thing I have always cherished with my job as a photographer was having the ability to notice everything around me.  I see the world in many different angles.  I notice a lot of emotion within people, nature and animals.  We all have this crazy place in the world where we need to evolve, thrive and survive. Somedays I just want to enjoy the the colors in the sky ya know.  :)

I truly don't have a better title than "I'm so Angry" right now.  The world lost another wonderful soul today and he was in his early 30s.  Cancer was the demon that stole a young photographer and husband from all of us.  Lee Lopez was a positive force that saw people for who they were and treated you like a best friend when you were the real deal.  I'm blessed to have our recent family portrait created by Lee because his memory will forever be seen in our images.  Our smiles in the portrait are there because we were smiling at Lee.  In our midst of crazy family chaos Lee had a sense of humor that made you smile, relax and smile some more.  Photographers like Lee share a gift that cannot be duplicated. I will NEVER understand why bad things happen to really good people?  I truly thought Lee would prevail in his fight but the good Lord had bigger plans for Lee.  
Lee- you will be missed but NEVER forgotten because I know our smiles in our family portraits were all because of YOU!

Please pray for his lovely wife, Hilary as her world is forever changed.

I was at the beach last weekend and all I could think about was how difficult life can be.  I had an entire vlog I wanted to create but I found myself creating something inspirational.  I figured someone needed this video today.  Please let me know in the comments if you needed it today?  :)

Events that come to New Orleans are always unique to say the least.  I get to see industry leaders talk about their business and future business plans.  I think it's so cool that the same conversations we are having in my business is the same types of discussions in theirs.  We are all setting the pace to move forward and change with the times.  This is an important factor to every single event I cover.  Keeping up with the times is more difficult now than ever before.  Whether you like or dislike social media, as a business you better be doing it.  

I love being an event photographer here in New Orleans because I make friends with people from all around the world.  I just direct them to my Youtube channel and follow along.

Recently I watched someone get talked down to and it made my blood boil.  Just because you have more money than the other person does NOT give you rank! Even if you did have rank, speaking to another person in a demeaning way isn't cool.
What and How your words come out of your mouth is exactly how other people will remember YOU. I had to make a video so you can share it with someone who needs it.  :)

Well, it's another school year and I have to say, I'm not ready for this chapter.  When your kids are all in school life is hectic yet easy.  They all live under your roof. We all share meals together.  We laugh at the dumbest things when everyone is being silly....all of this will be different sooner than later.   Elizabeth and will look at each other a certain way when the kids are doing something memorable and we both know times are changing.  I remember being younger wanting that larger than life story to happen for me. 
I used to think of all the time in the world I had to make any dream come true in my future.  To think I'm living that future right now is exciting and scary.  Do you ever feel like you aren't exactly living your dream life as an adult? 

I can tell you this for certain..."Today is the first day towards the new chapter in your life IF YOU WANT IT TO BE!"

I know self motivation is the hardest thing in the world sometimes, but only YOU are in control of YOUR LIFE.   If you want a new job start searching and stop complaining about the one you have.  If you want a new car but you are broke, stop buying coffee and put $5 a day in a jar for a down payment on the car you really want. If you are tired of you...then create a NEW YOU! You don't need a gym to get fit, just go outside start jogging, cycling, walking fast, push ups on your front door step, etc.

The coolest thing about us humans is how we can literally change our surroundings when we want to.  You are the most talented and gifted mammal on this planet and you dwell on is what you don't have in your life.  Today, my life starts a new chapter with the kids back in school.  Julia is a high school senior.  Ellie is a freshman in high school.  Jack is 4th grade.  I am getting older yet always reinventing myself.  Life is good.

It's not my fault I'm aging but my inner soul is still that younger version of me who wants to create everything in life I deserve with hard work.

"Today is the first day of the rest of my life!"  Today I choose to attract the positive and destroy the negative.
Let's do this thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!    

When your first child enters this world, words cannot properly describe your emotions. This is one of those moments when a picture is truly worth a thousand words.  You hold in your hands someone who can change the worlds way of thinking or be the next creator of an invention that can altar our worldly universe.  I know that's deep but you get where I'm going with this.  NOBODY will ever love your child the exact same way YOU DO! 

These are the emotions I love to capture within seconds during a session.  The lighting, the background, the tone of the image, means NOTHING if the image does not speak to you emotionally.  This is something I cannot teach because you are equally living the moment with your client.  When that baby smiles at dad after crying for what seemed like forever, and the parents both light up with smiles...that's the shot to get.

​At times you may feel like you are just taking pictures...but are you really?

I enjoy being able to capture real-estate photography when I get the call.  This house was a pleasure to capture.  If you are interested in viewing the house, please contact the owner:
John J. Driscoll
Phone: 504-329-6310
Email: jjdmetla@bellsouth.net

On Youtube today I posted the video on food photography and the delicious food of Lakeview Harbor.  My vlogs are fun to do because I get to just be myself and talk to you.,..the camera...to thousands of subscribers...and mostly just you.   :)