Manual Focus

Blowin in the Wind

Yesterday I spent the afternoon with Steve and his sister out in Brooklyn Heights.

We were pretty lucky to be able to get a decently warm day so that he wasn't freezing his butt off... but being right on the water does bring with it HOLY CRAP WIND.  So we hung out on the boardwalk for a little bit, admiring the views, getting blown around, and then retreated into the brownstones to shoot...

Things you may want to know about Steve.  He's a Colorado boy.  Yet ANOTHER actor from the land of the Rockies [Go Red Sox] out here in the Big Apple ready to make it big.  Steve also runs Starbucks.  Pretty much all of it.  If you ever have any questions about anything Starbuck-related, he's your man to ask.  When we stopped in there to get something and take a little break from shooting he ordered this super secret agent Red-Eye-surprise-Black-dipped-stealth thing in a Large cup.  It was crazy.  Not even on the menu.  Also, Steve just finished playing in Dead Man Walking - Tim Robbins adapted it for the stage.  From what I hear it was a pretty life altering theatre experience.

On with the pics!

seek the joy.

:e:

eric laurits | NYC Headshot Photographer

Nieces and Nephews

Andrew and Bernice [whose wedding is just around the corner in January!]  Had me over on Black Friday to do a little photo shoot with their Nieces and Nephews.  Despite the bitter cold we had a blast and got some really fun images... can't wait for their wedding!

I still have a few dates open if you're in need of some last minute Christmas cards [or gift ideas!]  How about a lifestyle portrait session?  Kids, grownups, teens... don't let these days go by without good documentation!  Contact me on my website for information.

here's a few from the shoot:

seek the joy

:e:

eric laurits | Massachusetts Wedding Photographer

Artistic Wedding Photographer Society

Great News!

I have been invited [and accepted, of course] to join the Artistic Wedding Photographer Society!

The Artistic Wedding Photographer Society is an association of wedding photographers who produce consistently amazing artistic wedding day photography as recognized by their peers. Only wedding photographers who meet the high standards of this organization are members. Membership is by invitation only.

The organization is young but already includes some of the most brilliant image makers working today. What an honor to be included with these folks!  Definitely head over to the site and check out some of the incredible work on there.

It's funny, talking about style.  So many people out there are all about "define your style, define your style, define your style."  Talk of finding your client base, finding your niche market, finding your blah blah blah.  In my mind the best styles out there are the ones that can't be defined.  You can call what I do photojournalism.  But it's too heightened to be just that.  You can call what I do fashiony.  But it's a little rougher than that.  You can call it this or you can call it that but what is it?  Some adjectives come to mind: cinematic, emotive, honest, gritty, touching, artistic... but the theme is constant.  Love.  And don't we all know that love transcends style?  Allow your imagery to capture that - whatever form it takes.

So I guess what I'm really saying is... be bold.  Don't get stuck in your "style."  Let your imagery transcend labels.  That's where the fun is.

And that is what will set you apart.

 

seek the joy.

:e:

eric laurits | Cinematimotivehonestittyfashionjournaistic Love Photographer

Salgado

I just finished reading [for about the 800th time] Workers by Sebastiao Salgado.

Simple, stunning, and impeccable storytelling.

I was turned onto Salgado many years ago when I stumbled onto Migrations in the library one day. [I love the library] Salgado's work infuses brilliant journalism with an artistic touch echoing the likes of Bresson.  I highly recommend you check it out and lean a little more about this master.

He's on my top 5 list... here's why:

seek the joy

:e:

eric laurits | Wedding Photojournalist

Colby 8 60th Reunion

I didn't have a chance to post about this earlier, so I'm doing it now.

Before the :e:treat happened, I was back at my undergrad, Colby College, for a weekend.  While I was in school [1998-2002], I directed an all male a capella group known as the Colby 8.  I know, I know, it sounds dorky, but it was actually a lot of fun and I formed friendships that will last my entire life.

For me, it was a pretty big deal getting into that group.  I'm honestly not much of a singer [having some pretty serious pitch problems] but I really wanted to overcome my fear of singing in front of people. Honestly, I may be even more terrified of it now than before... but that's a different story for a different time.  So I worked my butt off, auditioned, and was shocked to receive an acceptance letter in my student mailbox.

Dear eric,

We regret to inform you that you audition was most impressive.  It is under these unfortunate circumstances that we would like to offer you a spot in the Colby Eight.

Yours in harmony,

C8

So after getting into the group and realizing that I was so completely unqualified to be a part of it I sat down and did a little self assessment to think about what I had to offer.  Certainly wasn't my pitch.  Nor my range.  BUT... I do have a great sense of rhythm and am a strong leader.  I also found out that I have a certain knack for music theory.  I decided that i would take it upon myself to learn how to do vocal percussion [no pitch necessary!]  and I started arranging for the group.  By the time my sophomore year came around, I was running the show.  Under my tenure the group grew musically in a direction it never had before and we put out a CD that was truly unique. You never realize how difficult it is to be a teacher and leader among your peers.  Give me little kids any day.  Being Musical Director was one of the most difficult things I have done and I learned more about myself from that experience than from any other of my varied life walks.  The most valuable lesson I learned: respect your elders. 

The Colby 8 is steeped in tradition beginning 60 years ago when a bunch of guys just wanting a little break from academia decided to get out the old Yale Songbook and sing down a few tunes.   One get together quickly turned into weekly rehearsals and they started performing to the college audiences.  As their popularity grew so did their audience, traveling to various universities throughout the country and even performing abroad.  Much more than the destinations, concerts, debauchery, and hijinx, though, was the brotherhood that formed between the men.  As I sit here typing I think back to the original members of the group, most of whom have passed on, and thank them for the foundation that they have laid for lost souls like me to find a home within harmony.

I didn't take any pictures of the event.  All I had was my little point and shoot anyways.  I did, however, capture a couple of little quick videos that I'd like to share. They are from the registration dinner we had before the weekend began. [You can even hear my dorky side commentary]

This is the Colby 8 from the 50's.  There are three members from the original Colby 8 singing and then some men from their decade.  They're singing Mood Indigo, which is our song. [NOTE because I'm an idiot, the video starts halfway through the piece, but you get the idea]

This is the current Colby 8 singing the same tune.  It's so amazing that all of us can unite through the harmony of this one piece.  Sure the arrangements fluctuate as do the tempos, but the essence of the piece is remarkably unchanged.

It was an honor and a blessing to be a part of this weekend and reminded me how much we owe the people who laid the foundation we now stand on.  Do you have someone you should say "thank you" to?

Early Eighters

 

Freshman Year

Sophomore Year

You can read the college newspaper's [brief] article about the event HERE.

yours in harmony,

Squaric, C8MD '99-'02

Anna in the Not-So-Tropics

It didn't seem so cold when I walked out the door.  I swear.  But, then again, I was dressed for the weather... Anna had to get her headshots taken... no sweater and scarf for her!!!

Today's destination was Astoria Park - fun fact: in NYC ever gets the Summer Olympics the High Dive competition will be held at the Astoria Park Pool.  For those of you who have seen the pool, it's about 3% chlorinated water, 97% little kid pee.  Go Louganis.

Anywho, Anna is awesome.  Maybe my new favorite Astorian [yeah, she lives here too.] Quite possibly the most coolest thing about her is that she runs professional scavenger hunts for grownups.  Hotness, I know.  She's the middle child in a family of FOUR GIRLS!!! Poor dad. Anyway, one of her sisters just got engaged - YAY!  Congrats to her...

So despite the fact that she spent the entire session shivering, she took some fantastic pictures... check them out:

this is hilarious... oh, so cold.

Yeah.  Good times.

Seek the joy.

:e:

eric laurits | NYC Headshot Photographer

the :e:treat | post 4 [finale]

What a wonderful week I just had hanging out with some pretty fantastic people.

My last day with everyone started out in South Portland with Emilie, J, Mark, and Erin.  AND a very intent on spooning Dakota.

The day began with a healthy dose of CNN.

J and Destin

We had breakfast at this really awesome Maine diner, Becky's. 

I highly recommend the pancakes with a side of homefries smothered in cheese. mmmmmm...

J had to go home to help photographers be better [and by the way, he NAILED one yesterday... congrats, J!], so Mark, Erin, Em, and I went out to Portland Head Light.  I feel like I'm a bad Mainer 'cause I've never been there... Em was telling us it is basically engagement shoot central!   The rain started pounding  right when we got there so I only snapped off a few frames, but  it's a pretty sweet place...

The Lighthouse

I call this one "Stormy Em on the Rocks in the Sky with Diamonds and Pearls"

After bidding our farewells to Maine we headed back to Boston.  Before getting to the airport we stopped at a local favorite, Border Cafe.   Mark snapped this hotness of the neon outside...

inside the Catina

Mark, Erin, Chris, Katie, Rachel, Andrew, Emilie, J, David, Linda, John, and everyone else we encountered on our ways, thank you for making the effort to gather together.  Why is it so infrequent that a bunch of photographer can hang out and not be surrounded by internet and cell phones and annoying work things? I really value the time that I get with my friends because it is so rare.  Thank you all for your energy, your spirit, and your constantly making me laugh.

Make sure you take some time to say thank you to your friends just for being who they are. You are, in part, who you are because of them.

Thank you all.

Be Joyful.  Seek the joy of being alive.

:e:

eric laurits | Friend

the :e:treat | post 3

day three.

Dear Diary,

I love my friends.  They are the most coolestest folks in the world.  LaCour, 6 of Four, emilie inc., J, and J Biddy [formerly known as jbiddyrules].  When we woke up today Andrew and Mark had to go to a ShootQ setup party.  Silly boys, always working. Well while they were out ShootingQ, the rest of us were tearin up Portland until they were free. They were finally released to the world, so we stopped by Emilie and J's to hang for a bit.  Them we ate at my favorite restaurant [the Flatbread Company], hit up the local kind-of-live music scene, then made a midnight run to L. L. Bean.  All in all it was pretty way cool.

love eric.

ps.  I learned a new phrase today.  In Georgia when asking someone if they sell postage stamps for mailing postcards it is appropriate to say "heyyallyallgostams?"

The day began at Dunkin [Congdons is closed on wednesdays]

then the ShootQ party began.

BTW - I wanna take a second and tell all you photographers out there how AMAZING ShootQ is.  I honestly had no idea that running my business could be so incredibly seamless.  Before I had ShootQ I was very organized but all my information was in 10 different places.  This program has virtually eliminated all the time I used to spend on filling out paperwork, bookings, scheduling... etc etc etc.  I used to use Sucessware but now that ShootQ has entered my life, It has taken the place of all my business software.   CHECK IT OUT!

Mark ShootingQ with Linda Murray

So while they were all doing that... we took over Portland

Rachel and the magic wall

We ate at a little place right on the dock

Get some.  You know you need it...

Today was Try-on-Funny-Hat Day

We even stopped by Salt

So after Portland, we all met up at Emilie and J's.  So here's the deal... all the folks from Georgia looked at me like I had lobsters coming out of my ears when I mentioned whoopie pies. I was under the impression that whoopie pies were a national phenom but apparently it's only a New England thing...

anyways, here is mark tempting Emilie and J's dogs with the thoughts of whoopie pie goodness...

Destin

Dakota [more on this beauty tomorrow...]

pics around the house

from there we headed off to Flatbread!

J

Emilie

the gang

after Flatbread we walked next door to hear our favorite local musician J Biddy.  Actually, we just wanted a place to hang and he was there with his acoustic guitar.  This guy was a champ, though.  I gotta send him mad props - we threw some curveballs at him and he didn't skip a beat - Thank God I'm a Country Boy, Georgia on my Mind, Hey Ya, Country Roads, Lola... AND

You Shook Me All Night Long - Apparently Chris dedicated this song to Katie at a wedding.  You would think that was cool... until you found out that they were SHOOTING the wedding, not guests at the wedding.  From cool to awesome.  6 of Four kicks some royal butt.  AND they can tear up the dance floor...

then came L. L. Beans. Open 24 hrs.  'Nuff said.

Hat Day. 

by the end of the day, some folks [ahem, Katie] were so tired they just passed right out.  In the sleeping bag display crate.

so late... so tired...

It was another wonderful day with wonderful friends.   Stay tuned tomorrow for the final instalment and recap...

Maine rules!  [so does J Biddy]

seek the joy

:e:

eric laurits | Boston Wedding Photographer

the :e:treat | post 2

Today, much like yesterday... much like every day in Maine, actually, was wicked good.

Add to the mix of LaCour and 6 of Four Creations, J, Emilie, John Santerre and David Murray... so awesome

It began [just like yesterday, actually...] at Congdons Doughnuts [a landmark in Wells, ME]

Mark and I were especially excited to notice a little deal they had going on Thursdays...

From there we drove a town over to Kennebunkport where the incredible David Murray gave us a pretty rockin tour of his studio, and then had us over to his house on Goose Rocks Beach.

Erin noticed that I matched David's studio... awwww....

On the way to Goose Rocks, we stopped for a photo field trip outside the Bush Compound.

David provided an AMAZING lunch of steamed mussels!

David's wife Linda let us play around with her brand new FLIP today... these things are cool... in about 3 months everyone's gonna have one... get yours now!

Mark and David with the FLIP

John uploading the video we just shot...

So we decided to head down to the beach for a walk in the afternoon sun. Rachel thought [you know, just to be on the safe side] that she better wear a little floaty just in case she fell in.

J and Em.  These two are just awesome.  I can't wait to spend some more time with them tomorrow!

David

I told them that just getting your feet wet doesn't really count as "going in." But they didn't seem to understand that.  Newsflash everyone... you have not gone swimming in Maine yet.  You are not allowed to leave until you do...

"warming up" inside

Leaving David's house I saw a nice moonrise and snapped a quick one.

We headed back to my cottage and ate a hearty meal which was followed by some even heartier Monopoly.  I would like to state for the record that I am much better in real life than in Monopoly land... anyways, I got eliminated pretty early and after a few hours, only Mark and Rachel were left standing.

The game wore on and on.  Take a look below... Rachel owns all the properties with hotels... Mark owns all the others and has mortgaged them all except for Boardwalk...

While the game wore on into the wee hours some slept...

Others coped with their loss by drowning their sorrows in whipped cream

Rachel wins.  Mark is not pleased.

just kidding, those are eye drops.

The evening ended with Andrew serenading us with a lovely homemade concoction of melody and supposed guitar playing.

check out the LaCour BLOG for some more wicked awesome pictures.

more fun stuff to come... stay tuned!

seek the joy

:e:

eric laurits | Maine Wedding Photographer

the :e:treat | post 1

Howdy, Y'all...

Right now I'm in Wells, ME having a rockin time with some friends... joining me are Mark, Erin, Andrew, and Rachel from LaCour, and Chris and Katie from 6 of Four Creations. I think it was in the height of wedding season I decided that we all needed a break and we should spend some time hanging out up here... Our schedules are all so crazy, we thought we'd never find some common time that would overlap, but we did!

Garrett and Joy unfortunately got sick last week so they couldn't join us... we miss you guys!!!

Here's a few photos from yesterday's adventures...

what Andrew reads on vacation:

What Rachel reads on vacation:

What Mark reads on vacation

Mark: ever the connoisseur of fine eyewear

What photographers take pictures of:

skipping on the beach in Maine... Mark and Erin

Chimps

"Hey eric, Do you think anyone will notice if I just wear this out of the store?"

"No, Andrew. You're in Ogunquit."

Antiquing in Ogunquit... like no place else...

Katie and her fabulous hat

Erin, Katie, Mark, Andrew | [band name TBD]

We hit up Nubble Light in York

Mad Ninja photography skills

Chris: photographer extraordinare

Stay tuned for more!

Are you taking the time to hang with friends?  I hope so, 'cause it's kinda awesome.

Be Joyful.  Seek the joy of being alive.

:e:

eric laurits | Boston Wedding Photographer