photography

Time is marching on and I'm not getting any younger. A year ago I decided to start up a photography business with my friend Brad as my business partner. There are several reasons why I would want him as a partner, he's has a avid interest in business, he's a hot-looking dude and has a deep, sexy voice to woo and attract models and clients in general to the business. It would be a great artistic and social outlet for him, not to mention myself!

I started taking photos using a Kodak box camera in the mid-1960s. The camera used a 126 film. I still have the camera though the flash unit is gone. I keep it mostly as a momento of years past and doubt you could even get film for it anymore, and besides, who would want to with digital photography having so many advantages that film cameras couldn't give you. With film, you take the shots and have the film developed. In the end you're stuck with the results and have to pay for them too. Now with digital, its so much easier in that you can delete what doesn't look right or that didn't turn out, and the digital process is also easier on the environment. Think of all the chemicals that are used to develop film that aren't used in digital photography! That's just the long and the short of it to keep it simple.

I'm hoping that Brad does join me but in the meantime, I'm going to get things started, get the ball rolling as they say. I'm out this afternoon with business cards in hand looking for potential models, though it would be nice to have a partner to share the load, and the profits, of course! I'll go it alone for now until Brad decides he wants in. Until then, I'll look for models and work on amassing studio equipment on my own. As I mentioned in the previous post, I saw a guy yesterday that would be perfect. A start would be for me to ask him and then go from there.

I'll look at starting up the new website for the business, the one I talked about last year about this time, as things roll along. Meantime, Brad, you're loved and needed, so get back to me! You'll enjoy this business, the people you meet and what you experience!!!

More on all this coming up soon. Have a good weekend, guys!!! - V

changes

Changes are coming to this blog over the next few weeks as our photography business takes shape and images not our own are deleted from this blog with a few exceptions. Scott Herman will continue to be our feature model and fitness instructor. We plan to post about new models that come to our attention, such as Matt, a prospective model and one on the right track I'd say! So, this blog will be about our lives (Brad and mine) plus other matters of interest, such as keeping fit. What better way to enjoy nature and what it has to offer. We encourage you to keep your fitness level up so you too can hike up mountains or ride your trail bikes on the various pathways and trails you encouter.

Meantime, I've charged up all the batteries for the external flash for my camera and collected all the gear together ready to pack (and there really isn't too much) and will be off to the photo shoot location about 4:30 pm. Its just a 20 minute walk north of my place. I'll likely be taking a cab back home from the shoot location. I'll blog about all this after.

My new external HD is ready to go in time for uploading and editing the photos to be taken this evening. But before all that is done, I plan to clear up my internal HD on my laptop so that all the programs run better and faster. So, guess where I'll be Sunday: at home!

In other news, it was a mostly rainy, overcast and windy day Saturday. At times it was very windy which explained the wind warning that was out that day. Its much better today with cloud but also some sunshine on occasion. Temperatures are somewhat cooler than in February as if the seasons have flipped around somewhat. However, as the daylight hours get longer, the weather will get better.

Its back to work early Monday (I could have had the day off but I opted to work since it wasn't a statutory holiday, not for us anyway). Enjoy what's left of your Easter weekend!!! - V.

dull and wet

Its raining and is supposed to continue that way through the weekend into next week. As a result, I will be spending a lot of time at home but then there is plenty of research to be done on the matter of starting up the business that Brad and I will be involved in. That keeps us both motivated and focused.

The weather is rainy here but where Brad is right now in Nova Scotia its anything but rainy. They've had plenty of snow and I wouldn't be surprised if they are still digging out from under all that white stuff. Brad, we'll trade you some rain for some snow. We'll need colder, snowy weather for the winter olympics anyway!

Anyway, its late and time for bed. There's more coming but do have an awesome weekend in the interim! - V.

business research

The research I'm doing in advance of setting up our business is going along great and once Brad gets here the process should be rather quick to finish up what is lleft to do. For now its a matter of research, finding a name and so on. After the name is agreed upon and its available, the company name must be registered within 56 days. It was also strongly suggested to meet with an advisor for an hour or two plus a lawyer concerning the legal aspects. Then we go on from there. For now let Dolph add some inspiration as we wind down the week. Have a good one! - V.

more rain

The new year has started much as the old one ended: with rainy weather! There was a heavy rain warning in effect here from late Thursday to late Friday. When I got up out of bed mid-morning today, it was raining. I really don't think it ever stopped, or at least not long enough to matter. I am certainly looking forward to some sunshine!

Today I'm doing some more cleaning and organizing around the apartment. I'm taking the empties over to the liquor store across the street to tidy up the cupboard and then clean up the bathroom and kitchen when I return. That and some work at the computer about describes the day.

During the night I was thinking (or was I just sleeping on it?), a time when my thought processes seem to work best, and arrived at a conclusion by morning. Given Brad's great business sense I thought it best to have him take the lead in our business venture but we'll each do our part and do what each of us do best. This allows me to focus on what I do best: photography! Brad will be continuing with the business after I'm done and gone, so he may as well make his stamp now since it'll be his alone later.

For now there are thousands of images to choose from for use in producing greeting cards, postcards, calendars, posters and such. This is even before we work on amassing model photos and branch out into video! - V.

domain name

Things are moving quickly and it looks like I should have a new domain name selected and purchased by the end of the year if not sooner. It did seem like it wouldn't have been a reality until mid-January or so but things have been moved up. Once I have the domain and have selected a template, I'll work on setting up the new website for Bradley & Volker Art Photography. So, Brad, if you're reading this, things are looking good.

That leaves get the business cards early in January. I plan to purchase my first studio lights this as early as this weekend in time for the January start of the business. This blog and the other one will continue just the main focus will be on the new business and its companion website! There's more happening but I'll have more news later. Meantime, we're fast moving toward Christmas but the holiday season won't put a damper on my work. More later! - V.

looking for male models

We have started an active search for prospective male models. The basic details are found at the bottom of this webpage but if you're male, over the age of 18, are in good to excellent shape, interested in modeling and live in the British Columbia lower mainland, then we'd love to hear from you. This would allow someone to expand their portfolio while allowing us to expand our own and benefits us all. The best photos would be posted on this blog (and the new website to follow). See the contact information at the bottom.

Brad's email address, which has been activated, will be included once he is ready to begin his part. We both look forward to this new challenge with great excitement. We're looking forward to hearing from you!

Contact:

volker.bvartphotos@yahoo.ca

Thanks!!! - V.

venture

As you might have come to understand, photography is a major interest of mine for years and has been most of my life. I love nature and the life in it as well. Getting people in candid moments is great too. Photography is a natural way for me to bring this interest to life plus share it with others.

I began some blogging on MySpace in 2006 but this expanded in a great way when I set up my own blog on Blogger back in February 2007. That was Haliaeetus where I began to present some of my photography along with commentary to help people know what they were looking at. Then in early 2008 I began another blog (Saltwater Blood Meets Spirit Mountain) featuring my life and that of my partner Brad. Brad has posted a few times but I am looking forward to his posts blossoming. He has his own contributions to make in his own time and in his own way. We'll just have to be patient but he did indicate to me that he plans to post soon. They're coming!!!

There's a long, steady movement forward. Each step is important and followed by more action equally as important. The next step is purchasing a domain name, setting up a new website and presenting more of my photographic efforts there. This will include my interest in land and seascapes along with the flora and fauna encountered but the plan is to venture out into taking photos of models, male models in particular. Some of the latter will presented on this blog but most of the best will be seen on the new, yet to be established website.

In all this, Brad is my partner in many ways, including my business partner. We both love traveling, and I certainly know he does, so this gives us both an opportunity for fun and excitement plus we can enjoy making money at something that really is much like work to either one of us. I'm sure he's excited as I am to get this started.

Meantime, there's studio lighting to purchase as well as other equipment. I plan to buy some basic lighting equipment in January and then add more equipment as the funds become available.

The business name has been chosen plus the emails have been established and activated. Both of us have our own email addresses where guys interested in getting into modeling can contact us but we don't plan to limit ourselves to modeling alone. We look forward to building their portfolios and helping to advance their careers as we advance our own. The start date may be as early as January 2010 but that depends on circumstances. Meantime, when the name of the company, along with the contact information, appears in the right sidebar, you'll know that it's all up and running.

As far as social networks are concerned, I continue to post on both MySpace and Facebook. I do have a Twitter account but have yet to use it. Circumstances may bring about a change here. More news on all this to come! - V.