JAMES HODGINS PHOTOGRAPHY

Finally had a chance to open some goodies that arrived for me last week.  The award on the left is from my 3rd place win at WPPI.  The award  in the middle is for “Best Group Portrait” from the Professional Photographers Of Canada – Ontario for the image “This is what happens to crappy print judges” and the one on the right is a “Judges Choice” Award for “The Big Catch”.  Both these images have been sent off for the National Print Competition next month in Mont Tremblant.  Entering Print competitions is very beneficial to any photographer and I will be speaking about this during my presentation in Chicago next week.  It helps us strive to create the best image possible EVERY TIME which is  beneficial to ourselves and our clients.   The judges look for such thins as Storytelling, Composition, Presentation and what I like to call the WOW Factor.  Having your images critiqued by your peers can  give you an eye opener to your photography (good or bad) but either way it’s a learning experience.

Heading to Chicago tomorrow afternoon for the Inferno Convention so see you next week.

Well I am back in the office today after completing our www.photographymarketingbootcamp.com tour.  What a blast we had meeting photographers from all over Canada that share the same passion as us.  As you can see from my previous posts that I did not return unharmed (my nose still hurts) but I did make it home non-the less.   I want to thank EVERYONE who took the time to come out to our events.  Sorry all you Saskatooners who didn’t get a chance to attend due to mother nature, but there will be more opportunities in the future.  We finished off the tour with a packed house in Toronto which was a great venue.  Thanks again everyone.

Here we are at our T.O Event

Especially when you have been traveling for over 20 hrs straight, sort of like a trains, planes, and automobiles type scenario.  I am home safe and sound now, arriving at 3:37 am, tired, sore (my nose is now sore from the window) and dissapointed that we had to miss Saskatoon.  I think the highlight of my trip though was the flight home last night with Rob sitting beside me crying.  He was really tired and cranky, and I think his lack of sleep was getting to him.  He cried the whole flight…… and not just a simple scream, but the ear peircing, needles in the eyeballs scream.  Don’t beleive me?  Well I videotaped a small snippet for you all, this was at about 2:30 am, and even with my earbuds on with the volume on the highest setting, Rob the screaming banshee still got through.  He did this the WHOLE FLIGHT!

Heading to Chicago Friday for our NoBs Photo Success Convention

Sitting in the Calgary airport waiting to catch our flight to Saskatoon for our workshop.  It was an eventfull day (usually is when Abbas is driving…………FOCUS!).  Learned that Starbucks employees don’t  speak English, only the Starbucks language and that to order a coffee flavoured coffee is…………………….rude.  Oh well.  Here are some group shots for you and another video of the window escapade.

MAYBE, I should focus 4 feet in front of me.  I am in Edmonton on our NoBs Tour and Rob is speaking at the moment.  I am sitting here………my face hurts………..and my knee hurts even more (painfull to walk), but I am a tough cookie, and I will present in 2hrs like nothing happened.    I WISH I had video of this as it is freakin funny, but this one will have to do and if you use your imagination you can picture it actually happening.

Here is some more Hodgy Humour for ya. Monday morning when Rob and I were driving to T.O we stopped at the Petro/Starbucks in Parry Sound.  As Rob was pumping gas and I was reading he opens the door and says “Hey, there’s Bill!”.  I like up and sure enough Bill the Dj was just getting into his car.  I JUMPED out of the car and sprinted towards the car (sneakily).  Just as Bill was about to close the car door, I push it open yelling “GET THE $%&(@#%* OUT OF THE CAR!” with my imaginary “hand” gun.  Well Bill FLIPPED OUT………………because it wasn’t Bill.  I turn to see Rob peeing himself laughing.

Then, at about 3:30 am today I get up to use the bathroom.  Just as I was about to walk in Abbas was walking out (in his underroos).  I scream like a girl and say “Crap Abbas, you scared the bejesus out of me” and I look away (cuz he’s in his underroos) waiting for him to go by.  But he doesnt.  And I am getting uncomfortable.  Until I realize that it is my reflection in the bathroom door mirror. DUHHHHH!

That’s it for the moment.  Now I need to get heavily medicated.

H

P.S  Did you notice the big red goose-egg on the top part of my for-head?  Watch the video again.

Sometimes I don’t know what “scenario” I am going to have my subjects in when I complete the final images.  Sometimes though, it will come to me when the shutter clicks or when they pose in a certain way.  I knew right away that I wanted to add something with musical notes as the pose Stephanie was in reminded me of the begging of a dance performance or recital.  The way she was looking down at the floor and way her dress was feathered on either side was a compliment to the way she was standing.  After that it all sort of fell into place.  We only have a few slots for our Pin-Up Day and it is first come first server.  Check out all the detail at Sudbury Pin-Up Perfection Day

I am gearing up for my cross Canada Tour with NoBs and Album Epoca.  We are starting in Vancouver on April 6th and finishing in Toronto April 12.  If you are in or near any of these cities make sure you sign up for this amazing event.

Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon and Toronto

www.photographymarketingbootcamp.com

Well I just got back from WPPI Vegas and it was a blast.  We networked, we played, and we got inspired.  I will have more on Vegas on Monday when I work the images and get the stories straight as some of them I can’t remember hahaha.  I did however want to get right back into my Sudbury Pinup Perfection so I can hone my skills further.  The below image was shot last week, but the background was inspired from a walk in the malls in Vegas.  We checkout some pretty cool stores that had even more  interesting signage.    Stay tuned for more Sudbury Pinup Perfection.

“Bosun & Chase”
I wonder who Chases who?  Bwahahaha.  It’s Sunday.  I need Coffee.

DON’T FORGET TUESDAY MARCH 4TH WE ARE GIVING AWAY $5200 IN GIFT CARDS

My Niece Piper came into the studio today while Mom, Dad & Brother were out to play.  Like typical Piper style she gave me a whopping whole 10 minutes to photograph her before she had enough.  Luckily with this one, you just can’t go wrong and yes I am being biased.  The yellow hat and sweater were knitted by Piper’s Great Grandma so of course I had to photograph her in that.  Then it was out with the Piper Pickle Purple background (I think that is what I am going to call it now) which I was aloud to photograph her for a whole 6.23 minutes.  Oh my little sweetheart, Uncle Jamie is going to wear you down over the next few years.

Don’t forget we are giving away FREE 50 Gift CARDS!  104 of them to be exact.
More information here
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