Well, I was planning to end the Secret Blog with a bang; but I was too busy. I think this is actually a fitting end though. I was always too busy to keep this thing up like I wanted to.
So after you read this, turn off your computer. Get up from your desk. Stretch your legs. Rub your eyes. Head outside for some fresh air. Deal out some 'good game' butt slaps to your coworkers on your way out the door.
As for me, a new job awaits. Today is my last day at the studio. Tomorrow is my first day as the pastor of a church. I know what you're thinking: "What the mess?" I know it sounds crazy; but God works in mysterious ways.
Thanks for reading. And thanks for keeping this whole thing just between us.
*That's me on the right. No more awkward side hugs at LP after today.
*When we watched this in the studio, a fly buzzed up to Aaron's head at the exact same time as the fly in the video buzzed up to Uncle Rico. They swatted at the exact same time.
With slight repositioning of the hand and relaxating of the face, you can convey two very different messages to your audience.
Pose #1 says to a new acquaintance, "What a happy turn of fate that our paths should meet on this lovely fall day. Let's spread a blanket upon the dewy meadow and have tea."
Pose #2 says, "I will use my eyes to probe the deepest crevices of your soul."
Transitioning between the two can be tricky. We recommend starting with Pose #1, then very slowly relaxing the face and letting your gaze grow dull. If you transition slowly enough, your new acquaintance won't even realize it's happening.
Special instructions:
To position your hand properly while striking Pose #2, imagine that you're holding a phone to your ear. Your new acquaintance's soul is on the line and it's divulging it's deepest secrets to you.
Be sure to let us know how it goes by leaving a comment below.
We ended it due to lack of reader enthusiasm; but here's one more for the road. Be the first to guess correctly in the comments section and you'll get a chance to see your picture in one of the final posts of the Secret Blog.
This one was drawn by Aaron and Scott (Cindy's husband). Parental caution is advised due to the graphic nature of Aaron's interpretation of the object.
There's no easy way to say this; so I'll just plop it out there like a raw pork chop: we're ending the Secret Blog on December 23 - next Tuesday.
CALM DOWN.
Let me explain. The SB was my (Matt's) pet project; and now it's time to gracefully put it to sleep. We promise, it won't feel a thing.
I'll no longer be at the studio in 2009 and everyone else actually works while they're here. Thus, no one will be available to chronicle LP secrecy for you.
But dry your eyes. We've had a good run. 133 posts leading up to this one and plenty of laughs and good times along the way.
Stay tuned between now and the 23rd. We'll be capping off some of our more popular features, purging the Secret idea archives, and wallowing in fond memories. There may also be an intensely emotional farewell message at the very end.
Please feel free to leave lots of comments during the next week as we close out the Secret Blog. They'll make us happy. And tell your friends to check it out. Let's end on a high Google Analytic note.
Thanks for reading this silly blog and if you have any questions about this post, feel free to ask in the comments section.
You experience a number of emotions under the sweaty wing of Aaron Byrum.
Joy.
Sadness.
Rage.
Confusion.
Revulsion.
Surrealism.
Photosynthesis.
All these emotions add up to one thing: life-altering education. There's nothing quite like it.
Just look at what his past students are saying:
"I'll never be able to scrub some of those images from my memory, no matter how hard I try." - Anonymous "I [love] Aaron's guts. If I ever see him in a dark alley, I'll [hug] the crap out of him." - Anonymous
Please take a moment to watch this inspiring slide show of Aaron hard at work repairing the crumbling infrastructure of America's youth:
We're still too busy for much secrecy around here; but I do have something to tell you: our Mini Session gift cards are in.
I know, I know. You don't read this blog to get advertised to; but we still want you to know about this in case you don't look at the other blogs or website.
$10. Neat little gift card in a neat little gift card tin. Entitles the recipients to a 30 minute mini session during which they'll have the time of their life and get awesome portraits that will make their heads explode with joy.
Interested? Give us a call (704.888.2881) or shoot us an email (info@littlephotography.net).
Oh and here's the kicker, buy four and get the fifth one free.
We really need to post something awesome soon or you're all going to stop checking in on the Secret Blog. You'll probably get hooked on this oneinstead and we'll never see you on our Google Analytics again.
Good morning SB Readers. Thanks for checking the blog. It does our hearts good to see people reading it every day. Makes us want to deal out some hugs. Drop by sometime for yours.
In the meantime, we want to do something super cool: Staff Interviews. They'll be kind of like staph infections, but with enjoyable videos of us answering your questions instead of bacteria and irritation.
Aaron dug this up at his house. It's a button he got way back while we were in high school. So many hilarious inside jokes sprouted from this seedling.
We were flipping through the latest edition of Wholesale Crapnobodyneeds and spotted someone we recognized.
Take a look:
I had no idea our bud Chris was modeling again. He was doing a lot of modeling work a few years back until he sprained his face working on the new Flobee ad campaign.
Due to contractual red tape with the modelling agency, we had to black out the company info. But it's great to see him back in action. And what a product!
If I ever need a heart surgeon, I sure hope he has a surgical cap this patriotic.
My friend Bryson asked me this yesterday. Until then, I didn't realize that it had slipped to the back burner again.
Why?
Stuff I guess.
I think one part of it is the fact that my wife told me to stop bringing my camera to work because I tend to break things.
I know, this is a photography studio with several mega-nice cameras around. But I don't know how to use those. I end up having to ask Aaron to set it up for me like a little kid. It's embarrassing and uncomfortable for both of us. He cried a little last time.
Another reason is that we actually do have a lot of work to do. People always say, "I can't believe these cats have time to mess like that and still be so phat!" I'm going to be honest, it's hard to mess and remain phat.
In conclusion, we'll schedule more messing time, because in reality, messing leads to phatness 90% of the time, if that.
Let us know what you think about all this by leaving a comment.
It seams most people suspect that either Aaron or Chris perpetrated this unimaginable act.
But who did it? Aaron or Chris?
Some hints:
Aaron often puts tuxedo mannequins and life-size posters of people around the studio in unlikely places to scare his staff.
Chris has never actually been to the studio and doesn't have opposable thumbs.
What happened: Aaron propped the mannequin on the toilet envisioning that I would come in the next morning, open the bathroom door, shreak like a little girl and wet myself.
Instead, before Aaron left the studio that night, he heard a crash coming from the bathroom, but thought, "I'm sure it's fine." He didn't check.
The mannequin had fallen off the toilet and the heavy brass thing that goes in the mannequin neck smashed a big hole in the sink. The mannequin remained sprawled out on its back for me to find in the morning.
I figured it all out pretty quickly having known Aaron for a long time. Though I am usually the one to break things, he's usually the one to recklessly prop tuxedo mannequins on toilets.
Wow. It's been a while since we've posted any secret goodness hasn't it?
Well, we've been renovating, okay. So back off.
But don't worry; we have some absolute gold coming your way. So stay tuned.
You'll get the chance to solve a curious murder mystery involving tuxedo mannequins and a toilet. You'll get to see some new painting techniques - Jackie Chan/Circ Du Soleil type stuff. You'll get to see Haley do mental math. AND you'll get a first glimpse of the new studio look.
This is Haley. She is a person, just like the rest of us. And she suffers from CRUMBS*.
We're here to dispel the myth that CRUMBS is contagious and plea for compassion for dozens of people like Haley who live with the discomfort and humiliation of CRUMBS everyday.
We've put together a list of tips in case a loved-one has a monkey bar episode.**
1- Stay calm. 2- Prevent injury. During the episode, you can exercise your common sense by insuring there is nothing within reach that could harm the person if she struck it. 3- Keep onlookers away. 4- Do not hold the person down. 5- If the person thrashes around there is no need for you to restrain them. Remember to consider your safety as well. 6- Do not put anything in the person's mouth. 7- Contrary to popular belief, the person is incapable of swallowing their tongue so you can breathe easy in the knowledge that you do not have to stick your fingers into the mouth of someone in this condition. 8- Do not give the person water, pills, or food until fully alert. 9- If the episode continues for longer than five minutes, call 911. 10- Be sensitive and supportive, and ask others to do the same.
"I have CRUMBS. But I'm still a person."
*CRUMBS: Chronic Raging Unbearable Monkey Bar Syndrome. **This list was adapted from a "What to do when someone has a seizure" list. CRUMBS is very similar to epilepsy in many ways.
I read a lot of marketing books and we thought it might help some of our Secret Blogadeers if we posted brief synopsiviews (one part synopsis. one part review. all parts awesome).
I know some of you are photographers trying to make it happen and others are trying to make other businesses happen. Maybe this will help a little. Maybe not. We'll see.
The first book: Word of Mouth Marketing | Andy Sernovitz
1) be interesting.
If there's nothing special going on in your business, there's nothing to talk about; which means no one will hear about it unless you spend a ton of money advertising. Who wants to do that?
2) make it super easy for talkers to talk about your biz.
Link to anything and everything where clients might want to talk about you (review sites, your blog, Facebook, etc.)
It's a quick and easy book. Once you read it you'll give birth to pages of idea babies.
A couple of mine for example: - started responding to blog commentators (let's them know we care about what they're saying) - started the teacher discount (great clients who talk about us) - slapped a subscription form on the blogs (makes it easy for people to stay tuned) - started free high res Flickr images (clients use them in their social site profiles) - started pre-session questionnaires (now we can turn each session into a magical unicorn ride of portrait fun) - encouraged testimonials and online reviews. (linking to them. making it mega-easy)
Aaron is organizing the equipment closet today. Cindy is editing like a machine (I don't know how she focuses for so long). I'm researching this and that.
Vote by leaving a comment under your favorite image. You might win a $15 iTunes gift card. You WILL win a free piece of secret flair if you include the super secret code: (SB) at the end of your comment.
Don't know what I'm talking about? Click here and learn.
Sorry. I'm pretty tired and I get snappy when I'm sleepy.
This is an exciting week at little PHOTOGRAPHANTASTICAWESOMENESS (possible new studio name we're toying with).
The senior portraits are starting to flow like milk and/or honey.
We're sprucing up the studio.
I got a new coffee mug.
Everything is just clicking.
And here's another random video:
By the way, you can read and make little comments corresponding with certain points in the video by clicking on the scroll bar as it plays. Pretty neat.
I had a birthday last week. Aaron picked out the perfect card for the occasion. It's not too late to celebrate. Send late birthday presents to 302 S Central Ave, Locust, NC.
E-cards go to matt@littlephotography.net.
Skywriting accepted between 9am and 5pm over Locust, NC.
Ponies and/or magicians should enter through the back door of the studio.
Who thinks they can guess how old I am now? Give it a shot on the poll to the right. You can see what I look like by browsing through old blog posts.
I thought I was going to be taking care of business on my own today; but Haley showed up out of nowhere.
We have a lot going on these days. To-do lists rolled out like red carpets all over the place.
My big thing today is taking pictures of equipment we no longer need and plan to sell. Any photographers reading, check back soon because we want you to have first dibs. It's all in great shape, we just don't need so much of everything.
Back when the studio shot weddings with a bunch of photographers, they had to have multiple sets of everything. This is no longer the case now that LP is streamlined and focused like a laser beam of awesome portraiture.
So that's what we're doing. What are you up to?
Oh, and here's a random video from yesterday:
How do you like my hair cut? I just got if from good 'ol Jim's Barber Shop.
I think I look like some kind of gargoyle cancer patient. Darn you Cindy for being at the beach when I needed a hair cut!
I posted a new poll to get your opinion. It's over to the right of the screen.
Denise guessed it! Veggie Tales: The Good, the Bad, and the Silly.
Aaron was actually reading this to a little girl who came in for portraits. I know you're all amazed at my trick videography skills that made it look as though he was just sitting there, reading it to himself.
Aaron received an extra double cheese burger during a confusing transaction at McDonald's. He gave it to me.
Cindy couldn't eat the rest of her chicken salad sandwich from Panera*. She gave it to me.
Neither of them knew about the other. And people say miracles don't happen anymore. I believe these two bags of food atop my desk are evidence to the contrary.
*There isn't a Panera within 50 miles of our studio...Where did she get this sandwich?
Here's what my Facebook bulletin board is looking like. "Good job." is the enlarged button.
If you want some secret flair - go cast your vote by clicking on your favorite image and leaving a comment with "(SB)" at the end.
If you don't want some secret flair, you must not understand just how awesome secret flair is.
This should help:
Secret flair: - will make your virtual friends drool* with jealousy - will increase your secret awesomeness** by roughly 10% - will decrease productivity at work - will confuse and bewilder online predators - can be used like dull ninja stars AND tiny dinner plates***
*literal drooling **secret awesomeness - awesomeness that no one knows about or believes when you tell them about it ***no it can't
This pose was originally meant to replace the wink. In situations where you would normally wink, simply tug at the brim of your hat and wink with your face using a charming smile and lots of eye wrinkles.
If you're not the hat wearing type, just keep one tucked away in a bag, or a satchel of some sort. Whip it out whenever you need to Pose 10 someone.
Don't carry a satchel? Hide a hat down your shirt or pants. But make sure you can get to it fast. The moment passes quickly. If it takes too long, the person won't remember what you're talking about anymore. To them, you'll just be standing there wearing a hat you pulled out of you pants and a creepy smile.
What type of hat works best? Glad you asked:
Happy posing! And remember, it's a fine line between charming face-wink guy and creepy pants-hat guy.
I'll finish the post with a shot of Aaron striking Pose 13. He loves medieval equestrian dogs. It's a hobby of his actually.
Send your pose pictures to info@littlephotography.net and be featured on the secret blog. Your friends will never look at you the same way again.
We're excited to tell you about some new ways you can experience the little PHOTOGRAPHY Secret blog (yes, I just copied and pasted this from the regular blog, but there are some minor modifications...).
1) look to the right of the page and check out what the LP Team is up to: real time!
2) also on the right of the page, subscribe to receive new blog posts right smack in your email inbox.
We've been really busy at the studio lately. I realize the contradiction of saying that, then posting pictures of us all out in the backyard playing with a frisbee; but life is full of contradictions. Plus, these were taken weeks ago, before it started getting up to 178 degrees every day.
This is Haley, our newest addition to the team. I kept promising that we would give her a formal introduction on both blogs; but I don't think that's going to happen (too busy...). So this will have to serve as her official introduction.
What's she doing? Your guess is as good as mine.
Here's Cindy throwing and/or catching the frisbee.
Here I am retrieving the frisbee after I threw it onto the roof. Probably didn't need the dust pan.
Here's Aaron demonstrating what Haley was tyring to do.
This is why we don't allow ourselves to go outside and goof off very often. Things get out of hand.
