Welp, the 10 day re-brand launch and scramble is finished. Of course, we all know one is never truly finished with a re-brand. Keep checking back for minute tweaks, alterations, and promotions.
That being said, for now, the coding is finished, spell-check has been completed, and you guys have sent me come amazing feedback on our new "skin".
It's been an interesting couple of weeks. Gearing up for this launch forced, or rather, gently suggested that I spend a minute looking back over the last 5+ years of building this photography company here in Salt Lake City. 5 years is a long time. I mean, in the grand scheme of things, of course, it is nothing. However, here and now, during a time when a facebook status from 3 days ago is considered archived- 5 years is a long time.
I am of the belief that one of the things which haunts small business owners is the (in)ability to see subtle progress along the way. For example, I once had a good friend ask me what I want? Where is there? When will I feel like I "got there". I had a really hard time answering that. I tried to explain that I viewed my "success" on a sliding scale of sorts. Meaning, when I hit a goal or actualized something I have been working for, my new goal pushes the slider further down the scale to another goal. I tried to explain, that the "goal" always moves forward, so I couldn't tell him where there is. It is fluid and elusive. There is there- you know, out there somewhere, something to keep moving towards.
His response was, "That is tiring."
I laughed.
I think we were both right. It can be tiring, especially, if we as small business owners can't see the little victories as they happen. I guess that is the basic premise I wanted to spend a minute thinking about today. So for those of you out there that are tired, take a minute to look back at where you came from and realize where you have come. Things may not have moved to the pace you had anticipated; even better, you may have ended up somewhere that you would never have predicted when you stepped foot on your journey. Good.
For those of you out there that ride horses (one of my other passions), I think keeping life (and business) in perspective is a lot like approaching a big jump. Keep the momentum (leg-on), balance, head high (sit up), and have a soft eye. Look up and forward at where you are going, but keep a soft eye to see where you are right now and have a solid awareness of where you came from. Don't forget to breathe and thank your horse. Oh, and for my 3 Peas in a Pony- Embrace the flop.
Ride on, kids.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Saturday, November 5, 2011
10 Days of Torture END NOW!!
The time has come. I know the last 10 days have caused much excitement, as well as anxiety, for some of you! Thank you for sitting, glued to your facebook accounts, staring at the big orange numbers, waiting, hoping, and eagerly anticipating the marvelous launch that has been sure to happen after the countdown hit zero.
I would like to say two things:
1) From here on this post may have language that is not appropriate for the faint of heart.
2) I hope you have noticed that the blog you are reading looks a little bit different.
So, without further ado:
HAPPY FUCKING BIRTHDAY, SYNERGY IMPRESSIONS!!
That's right! Synergy Impressions has had it's official 5th birthday. There were a few years of muddling around in the world of exposure compensation and the like, but we have, officially, seen our 5th birthday with Smugmug. (If you're a photographer and don't know what that means- you should)
Other than cake, balloons, and keg stands- what better way to celebrate a birthday with a healthy dose of spa treatment??
Yes, you guessed it. Synergy Impressions went to the spa. The treatments included a full re-brand overhaul and a eucalyptus massage. What you are looking at is a whole new website, new logo, new blog integration, and a new streamlined interactive experience. It's so fresh and so clean, clean.
10 days.
You have to know that none of this would have been possibly without the brilliant web design stylings of Adam Record of OKEE. A huge thanks to him for making it possible to go from concept to launch in 10 days!
In addition, none of this would have been possible without you. You, my friends, clients, and support crew. The support you have shown me over the past 5 years is nothing short of amazing. Hell, none of you would let me quit- even if all I wanted to do was liquidate all my gear and go live in a hut on a beach somewhere. Thank you for that. Although a hermit-like beach existence would also be kinda amazing, the fact that every time I became frustrated (what business owner hasn't) a new client would be there with a giddy smile plastered to their freshly scrubbed face, awaiting that "click" of the shutter that we all love so much.
With my sincerest appreciation for allowing me to create a lifestyle from a passion, I look forward to the future frustrations, challenges, achievements, and "ah-ha" moments with you. In years to come, I know I will look back at this day and smile. I will remember the 10 days of people asking me what the hell I was up to. I will remember the speculation about the launch- which includes everything from getting married to moving. I will remember you. Always.
Now for the love of coffee, wipe your misting eyes, stop reading this mushy-ass blog post, and go look at my new website!!!!!!
Oh, and while you're at it- make sure to "like" my facebook page. I have another secret... but that will wait until tomorrow. One day at a time.
NOW GO, DAMNIT!!!
www.synergyimpressions.com
ps... I would love to hear you're feedback. (hint hint)
I would like to say two things:
1) From here on this post may have language that is not appropriate for the faint of heart.
2) I hope you have noticed that the blog you are reading looks a little bit different.
So, without further ado:
HAPPY FUCKING BIRTHDAY, SYNERGY IMPRESSIONS!!
That's right! Synergy Impressions has had it's official 5th birthday. There were a few years of muddling around in the world of exposure compensation and the like, but we have, officially, seen our 5th birthday with Smugmug. (If you're a photographer and don't know what that means- you should)
Other than cake, balloons, and keg stands- what better way to celebrate a birthday with a healthy dose of spa treatment??
Yes, you guessed it. Synergy Impressions went to the spa. The treatments included a full re-brand overhaul and a eucalyptus massage. What you are looking at is a whole new website, new logo, new blog integration, and a new streamlined interactive experience. It's so fresh and so clean, clean.
10 days.
You have to know that none of this would have been possibly without the brilliant web design stylings of Adam Record of OKEE. A huge thanks to him for making it possible to go from concept to launch in 10 days!
In addition, none of this would have been possible without you. You, my friends, clients, and support crew. The support you have shown me over the past 5 years is nothing short of amazing. Hell, none of you would let me quit- even if all I wanted to do was liquidate all my gear and go live in a hut on a beach somewhere. Thank you for that. Although a hermit-like beach existence would also be kinda amazing, the fact that every time I became frustrated (what business owner hasn't) a new client would be there with a giddy smile plastered to their freshly scrubbed face, awaiting that "click" of the shutter that we all love so much.
With my sincerest appreciation for allowing me to create a lifestyle from a passion, I look forward to the future frustrations, challenges, achievements, and "ah-ha" moments with you. In years to come, I know I will look back at this day and smile. I will remember the 10 days of people asking me what the hell I was up to. I will remember the speculation about the launch- which includes everything from getting married to moving. I will remember you. Always.
Now for the love of coffee, wipe your misting eyes, stop reading this mushy-ass blog post, and go look at my new website!!!!!!
Oh, and while you're at it- make sure to "like" my facebook page. I have another secret... but that will wait until tomorrow. One day at a time.
NOW GO, DAMNIT!!!
www.synergyimpressions.com
ps... I would love to hear you're feedback. (hint hint)
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Separation Between Church and State
This blog was intended to be an extension of my company. The posts were to encompass insights into the inner workings of the building of my soon-to-be-empire, to inspire, to share relative information, and to (let's be honest) continue to generate that eternally sought-after web traffic. Often our intention blurs the line for what is, instead, necessary- this blog is no exception.
I haven't written posts as frequently as I promised myself I would. More importantly, I am finding myself leaning towards writing posts that graze over the relative content of a photography company based in Salt Lake City, Utah. I thought I would be writing a post gushing about every photo shoot, offering teasing examples of images that would be sure to lure you to my overly stocked website. No, that was not the case. Although I'm quite certain you would have been irresistibly drawn to my site, I started writing about what drew me instead.
This became a pondering moment for me. Do I maintain a separation of church and state with my blog? That is to say, do I post about SEO, photo-geeking, promotional paraphernalia, and other selectively chosen topics to embrace my photography company all whilst writing in a cheerleader-ish rhetoric hoping and withholding the full extent of my personal opinions? Dare I share information or thoughts or rambling or concerns or nervousness or any other non-marketable trait on my own blog?
I wrote one post. I wrote another post. Then, I wrote one that I loosely tied to photography, but the real fervor behind the post had more to do with conquering life in general than it did with aperture settings. It was this one: I reject your reality. Though I believe I did a decent job in bringing the blog post back full-circle, you know, to a marketable point... my voice was starting to come through.
I had more comments on this post, than any other I had written. It didn't teach anything per-se, it didn't describe the tangible elements of design, nor SEO, nor even shared a photo from a shoot. Yet, it somehow spoke to people.
This is what I want to do now. Speak to people. I have wanted to do that all along through photography and videography. At times, I have been successful at it. In a strange manner, it seems I have hid behind my photography and videography to do so. There was a time (a long, long time ago) when I was quite literally- a motivational speaker. With such a background, why has it even been a hesitation to do the same with words, here?
I can only assume that we, as visual artists, get used to out work "speaking" for us, such that we stop using our actual voice (in this case- writing) to speak for us as well. It is almost as if the necessity of speaking (or writing) suggests that our work hasn't spoken loud enough. Gasp!! I have to describe the feeling I was going for while shooting in black and white, soaking to the bone, in the freak Utah hail storm?! That pain should have been clear!!
Yea, that pain is. But the inspiration that might have been possible by just talking about why you even thought to do that shoot, or what complications happened, or why you chose to put cream in your coffee that day... also might have been well-received.
So, for the record, I drink my coffee black.
I haven't written posts as frequently as I promised myself I would. More importantly, I am finding myself leaning towards writing posts that graze over the relative content of a photography company based in Salt Lake City, Utah. I thought I would be writing a post gushing about every photo shoot, offering teasing examples of images that would be sure to lure you to my overly stocked website. No, that was not the case. Although I'm quite certain you would have been irresistibly drawn to my site, I started writing about what drew me instead.
This became a pondering moment for me. Do I maintain a separation of church and state with my blog? That is to say, do I post about SEO, photo-geeking, promotional paraphernalia, and other selectively chosen topics to embrace my photography company all whilst writing in a cheerleader-ish rhetoric hoping and withholding the full extent of my personal opinions? Dare I share information or thoughts or rambling or concerns or nervousness or any other non-marketable trait on my own blog?
I wrote one post. I wrote another post. Then, I wrote one that I loosely tied to photography, but the real fervor behind the post had more to do with conquering life in general than it did with aperture settings. It was this one: I reject your reality. Though I believe I did a decent job in bringing the blog post back full-circle, you know, to a marketable point... my voice was starting to come through.
I had more comments on this post, than any other I had written. It didn't teach anything per-se, it didn't describe the tangible elements of design, nor SEO, nor even shared a photo from a shoot. Yet, it somehow spoke to people.
This is what I want to do now. Speak to people. I have wanted to do that all along through photography and videography. At times, I have been successful at it. In a strange manner, it seems I have hid behind my photography and videography to do so. There was a time (a long, long time ago) when I was quite literally- a motivational speaker. With such a background, why has it even been a hesitation to do the same with words, here?
I can only assume that we, as visual artists, get used to out work "speaking" for us, such that we stop using our actual voice (in this case- writing) to speak for us as well. It is almost as if the necessity of speaking (or writing) suggests that our work hasn't spoken loud enough. Gasp!! I have to describe the feeling I was going for while shooting in black and white, soaking to the bone, in the freak Utah hail storm?! That pain should have been clear!!
Yea, that pain is. But the inspiration that might have been possible by just talking about why you even thought to do that shoot, or what complications happened, or why you chose to put cream in your coffee that day... also might have been well-received.
So, for the record, I drink my coffee black.
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