november newsletter 2014
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NAPCP november newsletter 2014TRANSCRIPT
Featuring
N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 4
Mandy Blakeof Mandy BlakePhotography
B Y NA P C P
Industry News &Announcements,
Workshops,Updates andmuch more!
INSIDEA look at a few newgoodies in the NAPCP store
N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F P R O F E S S I O N A L C H I L D P H O T O G R A P H E R S
LATESTThe
INSP IRED
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‘Tis the season for counting our blessings, sharing little moments with loved
ones and giving thanks for goodness aplenty. First up on our list? Each of you, of
course! Thank you for being a part of our family and believing in NAPCP. In the midst
of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, when the “thank you” seems to start
falling flat and in between the presents and wish lists for Santa, know that we are
grateful for each of you and the contributions you make to the NAPCP community!
As a way to show you our appreciation, every NAPCP member will receive
a FREE $25 credit to the NAPCP store! Stocked with new holiday templates, free
downloads and goodies galore, we hope you’ll select something that will make your
lives easier… Kris Kringle insists, and so do we!
Always on the “nice” list, Mandy Blake of Mandy Blake Photography is this
month’s featured photographer! A firm believer of simplicity and someone drawn
to the intimate moments shared between families, Mandy’s goal is to provide clients
with beautiful reminders of life’s precious, fleeting moments. As an active member
and mentor in the NAPCP community, she aids other photographers in finding their
workflow balance and refining their personalized style. Get ready -- she’ll be joining
us at the winter retreat, speaking on these topics and offering advice to her peers!
Ah – speaking of, we have only a few slots left for the NAPCP Retreat! Come
join us in fellowship and fun after an eventful holiday season. Register online before
it’s too late! We’ll even be serving up hot chocolate with marshmallows – have we
convinced you yet?
While you continue to trump through tree trimmings, festive parties and
even Jack Frost’s wrath, don’t forget to take time to sit, be still and reflect on what a
beautiful life it is. Give thanks and hug your loved ones just a little bit tighter.
Wishing you all the most wonderful time of the year!
Hello friends!
SincerelyThe NAPCP Team
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Pg. 5.............Featured Photographer: Mandy Blake
Pg. 21 .................................Camera Bag Essentials
Pg. 25............................................Video Resources
Pg. 26................................. Apply For Membership
Pg. 2 ..........................NAPCP Store: New Products
Pg. 4 .....................................NAPCP Retreat 2015
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L I M I T E DS E AT S S T I L L
AVA I L A B L E
Register now!
Images by Mandy Blake of Mandy Blake Photography
FEATUREDPHOTOGRAPHERM A N D Y B L A K E
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andy Blake of Mandy Blake Photography is our November
featured photographer! Believer in “letting your happy shine,”
Mandy has surrounded her life with positivity, laughter and lots
of joy. Drawn to moments that are tender, wild, silly and a bit
quirky, her photography captures the raw emotion of families
and children while they, too, let their happy shine. When she’s
not photographing, she’s busy being a mother to her daughters,
enjoying the water and refining her trivia skills – challenge her,
if you dare! Read on to see Mandy’s happy shining through her
clients and to experience a glimpse of her wonderful talent.
M
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1. Started photographing when? I started photographing family and friends in 2010.I started outsource editing in 2012.
2. Officially opened business?November, 2011
3. Favorite camera? Canon 5D Mark III and my iPhone
4. Lens of choice? Canon 35mm 1.4
5. Favorite Editing Tool? Curves!
7. Favorite place to relax? Our family cot-tage in Tobermory, Ontario on Georgian Bay
BEHIND SCENESBEHIND SCENESBEHIND SCENESAT GLANCE a U
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Mandy Blake
8. Favorite musician? Sarah McLachlan is my all-time fave, but I listen to just about everything while I am editing all day
9. Favorite movie? Beaches
10. Recent favorite read? I love the Outlander series by Diana Galbadon andre-read it constantly!
11. Favorite client product? Artisan State albums
12. 3 things you can't live without? My iPhone, ginger ale and books
BEHIND SCENESBEHIND SCENESBEHIND SCENESAT GLANCE with MANDYBLAKE
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F L I P T H E P A G E F O R O U R
Exclusive interview with Mandy Blake!
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Tell us your story. How you started and how your photography, brand, and
business transformed over the last few years?
Before pursuing photography, I was a registered massage therapist for nearly
10 years, while also teaching massage therapy at a local college. While this
career was fulfilling, I was battling repetitive strain injuries which got worse
with every massage treatment I gave. I decided to go back to college for pho-
tography and started a 3-year program in the fall of 2009.
In 2011, I met Hilary Camilleri and she took me under her wing and taught me
the ropes. I was so fortunate to have someone who was willing to open up her
life and business to me and to show me how to become a stronger photogra-
pher and business owner.
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After graduating from photography college in 2012, I started to take on some
outsource editing for Hilary and others and quickly learned that I really en-
joyed and had an eye for retouching. By the following year, I had launched
Flow for Photographers to offer training, actions and presets and started
teaching Photoshop and Lightroom to fellow photographers. I haven’t looked
back since!
You are a fantastic iPhoneographer, can you share some of your tricks?
I think that biggest tip I could share is to look for fantastic light and then use
it in an interesting way. The people I tend to follow on Instagram who are
amazing iPhoneographers are those who really play with light and shadow.
Also, using editing apps like VSCOcam and Afterlight can be really useful for
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taking what otherwise might be a snapshot and turning it into something kinda
cool. Play around with editing your phone images and see what you can come up
with!
Would you rather be photographing subjects or editing images? Why?
Well, it really depends. I love being out photographing families and weddings and
even boudoir, which feeds my need to chat and laugh with people. But I also love
the quiet, steady pace of editing, where I can listen to my favorite tunes or a great
history documentary while making people look their very best. It is too close to
call. Can I say both?
You are so passionate about teaching people how to find their own style, and
then helping them create an editing process to match. Tell us more about that.
I am really passionate about helping people finding their own style because when
a photographer can find his/her own unique voice, it can really help to set him/her
apart in an industry that can sometimes lean towards homogeny and trends. And
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while editing alone cannot define or create that voice, it can play a huge part
in helping to mold the final image. And any chance to play with Photoshop or
Lightroom to find a new way of doing something is a good day in my books.
What does your typical work day and work week look like? From sunrise to
sunset…. After working until 1:00 am on editing images, I get out of bed at 7:30
am to get my girls ready and off to school. Sometimes, I get home from drop-
ping them off and catch a quick nap, but usually I grab breakfast to eat at my
desk and settle in for a day of editing. Pick up my girls 3:20 pm and then work
for an hour or so afterwards before heading off to whatever activity they have
on that particular night of the week. My hubby takes over for bedtime duties
and I head back down to my computer at 8:00 pm until around 1:00 am again…
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Hit repeat 5-6 days a week, throw in a couple of photography sessions per week
and that’s my life!
Where do you see your life 5 years from now? I hope that in five years I will be
travelling the US and Canada (and maybe beyond) teaching Photoshop/Lightroom,
as well as continuing to photograph families and small weddings. Or maybe writing
a book in a cabin in the forest. I will keep you posted…
What are you most grateful for?
I am most grateful for both a supportive family and a wonderful group of photog-
raphy friends. My husband is infinitely patient and hardly ever rolls his eyes at
my crazy work schedule. My girls put up with me asking them to jump in the lake
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Thank you so much Mandy!
over and over to get just the right iPhone underwater shot and my parents step
up often to help out when I need a babysitter or a hot meal after a long day of
shoots. I am pretty darn fortunate to have them all.
I have an amazing circle of photography friends who are there to give me hon-
est opinions on my work, celebrate my shining moments and console me in the
low moments. Hilary has been an unceasingly kind, generous, supportive and
inspiring mentor and best friend who teaches me something new nearly every
day. She is the Oprah to my Gayle. Dana, Michelle B., Martina, Sandra, Kate,
Lisa, Michelle S. and Elisabeth are also people whom I trust to help guide me
through the highs and lows of the photography world. Love my peeps.
To see more of Mandy's work, please visit her site here!
Camera Body
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C A NON 5 D M A R K I I I W I T H M Y G O -TOL E N S , T H E 3 5 M M 1 . 4
CAMERA BAGESSENTIALS
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M Y B E LOV E DI P HON E
C A N DY FOR B R I B E S
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BEHIND SCENESBEHIND SCENESBEHIND SCENESBEHIND SCENESWe asked Mandy to give us a peak into her busy day to day life with a few of her favorite Instagram captures. Enjoy a behind the scenes look at some of her favorite moments!
BEHIND SCENESBEHIND SCENESBEHIND SCENESBEHIND SCENESWe asked Mandy to give us a peak into her busy day to day life with a few of her favorite Instagram captures. Enjoy a behind the scenes look at some of her favorite moments!
WITHMANDYBLAKE
WORKSHOPS
NAPCP’s July 2012 International Image Com-
petition opened on Monday! The purpose of
NAPCP’s Image Competitions is to recognize the
accomplishments and creative excellence of our
members, rewarding their talent with medal-
lions, priority listing on our directory, vendor
endorsements, member points, titles and pro-
fessional recognition. Members each receive
a total of 2 Competition Credits per Competi-
tion with their Membership. Details are online!
They say a picture is worth a thousand words …
and yours November be featured in our next
press release. For the past two International Im-
age Competitions, the winners announcement
highlighted the names of the competition win-
ners and received great exposure – collecting
thousands of views, postings to other websites,
and search index hits. Wouldn’t you like to see
your name and photo sent over the wire too?
Members, you can start submitting your best
images here!
Start Submitting Now!
WORKSHOPS
please visit napcp.com or email us at [email protected] with questions or inquiries.
MembershipInterested in applying for
membership? Learn more
about the benefits of a NAPCP
membership on our site!
Directory
Looking for a photographer in
your area? Visit our exclusive
NAPCP Member Directory on
the site today!
DIRECTORYAPPLY NOW
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