Kristin Partin Photography

darn, I missed it. post number 304. That means another giveaway is in order. I am leaving for london in TWO days so that means this lucky winner will get something extra special from far far away. To be entered to win, email me one photo that if necessary, you could stare at forever and why it’s important to you . Your very very very favorite. It doesn’t have to be one you took. Just a photo that you thoroughly enjoy. If it’s a photo that I took, you juuuuust may get double points. That would make me feel special. I will draw the winner when I return and then the lucky winner will be mailed their lucky something.
kristin@kristinpartinphotography.com
(please include your full name & mailing address in your email)

Since I won’t be near my family for my birthday, we celebrated kourtneys birthday and mine together. We had a good ole’ time.

birthday shoes

Kourt bought me the most elegant citrine ring…

I am leaving for London on Wednesday….so excited! I’ve run into several issues along the way but apparently God really wants me to go because he gracefully & graciously worked all of them out. One of the things that slightly concerned me while preparing for my trip was my camera equipment and how to transport it. I didn’t want to stick it under the plane with the other luggage and wanted it to be safe…so I turned to Jamie Delaine and asked about her travel bag of choice. She referred me to the awesome Think Tank Photo Bag….while super nice, super ridiculously expensive. I mean really people…give us a break. apparently it is compatible with the Bazooka Tripod Case….whatever that may be.

what’s a traveling photographer to do…..?! Use your noggin’, that’s what. Mom & I came up with a ‘brill brilliant’ (as the english would say) compromise with a start to finish total of $61.

Total savings: $270ish.

So, in case YOU are traveling internationally (or nationally?), here’s how you can have one of your own.

Start with a generic suitcase..preferably one with extra storage compartments and a second zip compartment. This one happens to be Swiss Army.

The inside of the bottom layer will be filled with two pieces of foam. The first piece (depending on how large the suitcase) I used was 1″.

The second, .5″

Layout your equipment on top of the foam until you’re satisfied with it then trace your items with a super terrific sharpie. I love sharpies…

Use a razor blade to cut out your compartments. If you become injured during this process, this blog post will self destruct leaving no evidence that it was my idea.

Since this looks kiiiiiind of ghetto fabulous, I used a lavender pillowcase to hide the g-f’ness.

Gather the pillowcase a tad around the edges so that there is room for it to snug the compartments. Shove the foam into the bottom half of the suitcase….mine fit perfectly. I don’t suppose everyone will have that great of luck, though. There you have it, friends. Safe, much less expensive, pretty nifty camera bag.

Since I’m using this as my carry-on, I was glad to see that it had room for my laptop and a change of clothes. You know, juuuust in case.

inspiration:

1. Stimulation of the mind or emotions to a high level of feeling or activity
2. An agency, such as a person or work of art, that moves the intellect or emotions or prompts action or invention.
3. Something, such as a sudden creative act or idea, that is inspired.

There are 7 blogs I check daily (I’ll share those with you another time). Some for inspiration and some because what comes out of their lens is just brilliance and I want to see it. Some photographers mistake having zero originality for inspiration and that’s just not cool. Keeping up with other photographers and their story is necessary to being dedicated to your art….keeping up with them via pen & paper stealing their stuff, isn’t. Can you tell I’m kind of passionate about this? Yowzas. Sorry to be all heavy, just needed to say that. Or maybe it’s that I wanted to say that. Either way, its said. bam!

I’ll discretely segue into the fact that I LOVE when photographers post behind the scenes photos. It just makes my whole week. Seeing them in their element is just so inspiring. One day when I’m rich & famous (kind of like saying never hehe) I’ll do this totally awesome behind the scenes video and use a kick-butt song. So yeah. Here’s my awesome team that I adore doing what they do best showing you why being a photographer is fun.

1. you can mix business with pleasure.

2. laying in a field of yellow flowers is perfectly acceptable

3. going to the beach is a ‘business expense’

4. making art with shoes, rings, flowers, dresses, food…etc. is all part of our saturday

5. you can walk down the aisle as many time as you want.

6. you get to wear handmade things.

7. making people laugh

8. you can kiss your imaginary groom

9. and hold his hand

10. and at the end of the day, know that you created memories that would have been forgotten had you not been there.