What's in a name??

So this topic all started of with me sitting here pondering to myself at two a.m. about my name. Jamie Cleveland. That's it that's all. That's my name. Jamie Cleveland. I find the more I frequent forums (for instance) I usually go by J Cleveland. A little mysterious, a little more simple, maybe more professional? and basically looks nicer when I sign my name lol. So after I pondered this for a few moments, I got to thinking about this 'career' in photography. A lot of photographers go with their name as a business name (i.e. Jamie Cleveland Photography \ J.Cleveland Photography), OR photographers go with the more cheeseball approach (i.e. LifeTouch, Precious Moments Photography, In Focus Photography, something of the sort). I find lately I refer to my photography as InlovewiththeWorld Photography. That's right. Usually one long word Photography. A big debate in the photographer world while naming yourself\your business is potential customers googling you; and losing business if they can't find your website online 'cause your name is too difficult to remember. So is InlovewiththeWorld something too difficult to remember? (with or without spaces lol). Does it even make sense? To me the name means a lot to me, I guess you could say. Anyway I'm kind of looking for some opinions on that one. I like it.. But YOU as a "potential" customer. What does that name say too you? In Love with the World Photography\InlovewiththeWorld Photography. Comments and Critiques muchly appreciated.

Jobless or just a solo career path?

So that time of year has come. The season's over, the work is complete. That's right folks, I'm jobless!
It feels wonderful, exhilarating, marvelous, and stressful! I'm definitely still working on finding another job,
whether for just the summer or permanently, only the right job will tell! I've got to say working for Lifetouch
has opened my eyes to how much I love 'people' photography, whether it be a posed-studio or photojournalistic
approach, people really get my gears going! There's just something so satisfying about "capturing" a moment of
somebody's essence. Wow that sounded cheeseballish! But I suppose until that moment actually hits
you, you have no idea what a penetrating thrill it is. Honest to goodness it nearly gives me chills every time.
So back to being jobless. I've been applying like crazy to jobs, jobs I'm over qualified for, under qualified for,
crummy jobs, amazing jobs, every job that I can pretty much find! Since I've had so much time on my hands
the last two days I've been thinking more and more about getting out there and focusing more on taking
MY own photos, not *property of Lifetouch\Lifetouch's poses\Lighting\Rules* photos. MY OWN. I make the rules,
I decide what I like and don't like and I have a say! I can actually be a photographer not a poorly paid person
who clicks the shutter release (that apparently I "don't use properly" according to Lifetouch).
I shouldn't be so negative! Oh well, I just feel free at last! Well perhaps only until fall, when I may go back.

Needless to say if you or someone you know is looking for the following:
-Couples\Engagement photos
-Portrait parties
-Individual portraits
-Graduation\Senior portraits (dress and so forth or just casuals)
-Familes (big or small!)

Get in touch with me! Because I'm a newbie at doing this solo I'm basically charging next to nothing for my time, and minimal charges for prints! Also you get to choose a location, if you are interested give me a call 290.5511 or feel free to contact me via email (j.cleveland@hotmail.com), facebook (search Jamie Cleveland), heck even knock on my door! If you're looking for something a little different than mentioned above, call me! I'll see what I can do!

Lens

Recently I had posted an ad on Kijiji; for a lens for my Pentax K-1000. The lovely camera I had gotten for Christmas many moons ago but didn't have a lens that I (quite frankly) knew how to use. So upon placing my ad on Kijiji I had received a message from a lovely young chap stating he had a 50mm lens (what I was looking for) for sale for only $30. Quite exciting indeed. So tonight I had gotten in contact with him and made the deal official. I google maped his home address and went for a drive. I drove around the block about 4 times until I finally figured out which house was this guys' (nice neighborhood btw). Picked up this dainty lens and sped home. So once I got home I spent about half an hour just taking photos of myself. The lens is nothing fancy but simple enough for everyday use. Boy am I pumped to use my camera.

a portrait.

So as some of you know I frequently sit on photography forums, posting photos, critiquing others, having comments posted regarding my photographs... Needless to say I had posted a photograph of Victoria that we had taken in the studio; I had done some MINOR editing. And a day after posting it I got comments like the colour and so forth was washed out. It's so frustrating to me, cause it looked fine on my computer (then again it is a Mac AND it's a lap top)... So either a) I have to re-edit the majority of my printed photographs b)I have to figure out a way to calibrate my computer, but have no idea how or the dreaded c) I'm a horrible photographer. It was just petty comments, that were really easy to fix, but it just kinda stabbed me hard for some reason. Normally comments like that don't bug me, I hear it, and fix it and away I go.. I guess the problem is, is that it made me second guess myself. and I hate that! Oh well I guess it's not really a biggie, but it did make me re-evaluate my ''talent'' which I may or may not have. A lot of people apparently don't like my style per-say. Anyway practice makes (almost) perfect right?

how do i look??

So I'm doing one of those 365 day projects.. Photo projects that is. Basically for you folks who live under a rock all it means is that I'm taking a photograph of myself everyday for one year. I started on my 20th birthday. So by the end of the project I'll have a years worth of photographs of myself. Thinking that it'd be easy, I started on my birthday no problem... and only 13 days after my start date, I've already missed THREE!!! arrrggghhhh. So aside from the fact that I only have 10 days worth of pictures so far- today I put on Chris' reading glasses. I thought they looked pretty snazzy in 'em. I've always told Vicky that I wanted to get glasses just for looks, but now I *really* want glasses just for looks. They make me feel smart and important. Just like my un printed business cards =).
All of the sudden I have this new found excitement for life; adulthood; bills; health; work, everything in general I suppose. Well maybe excitement is too grand of a word, but a new positive attitude towards work and so forth. (boy was that random or what?) I think it's the glasses. looks like I'm getting glasses! Small things amuse small minds right lol

Business Cards?

Lets just start of by saying, business cards make a person feel important.. So to feel important I decided to go online and 'create' a business card.... Well several cards. It's truly a shame I don't have a business to go along with the card. I just felt like sharing a few that I came up with. As you'll notice, it's the same layout but with different fonts. Comments and critiques are muchly appreciated.

Bills Bills Bills

So my blog today was going to be in regards to bills.
This evening I came home (with a new shelving unit as well)...
decided to open that lovely little metal mail box, and aha! There in that little cove of junk mail was my very first Sasktel bill! At first I was excited... Woohoo my very first bill... Then perplexed, "wait," I thought, "I already pay bills..." Well technically I give Chris money and HE pays bills. Needless to say it was my first mailed bill that I have to take care of. So my lovely internet and Max promotion cost me in total $59.12 this month. Now I haven't actually paid it quite yet, 'Cause I'm not sure how.. I suppose go to the bank? I was kinda wanting to get into the whole 'ebill' thing to make things 'simple' they say, but simple?! I don't think so. On the back of the bill it seems easy to set up. Going onto my Scotiabank account online is another story. Sheesh. I guess I've just been lucky so far that other people physically pay the bill, I just have to cough up the dough.
Anyway I just wanted to share my first experience with a snail-mail bill addressed to only me.