“Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows. It’s what the sunflowers do.”
Helen Keller
Fun in the SunFlowers
My fun in the sunflowers up till this year have always included a trip to the car wash and a shower for me afterward because of the dust. There are a couple of public spots around here, usually on a dirt road being used by city folk driving too fast and raising a dust cloud behind them. It’s less busy during the week, and if I really wanted ideal conditions, sunrise is a good time to avoid the crowds.
The sun was shining on me when the wife and I went to the farmers market in Lake St. Louis (Missouri) and one of the produce stands had fresh cut sunflowers. That’s where I met Darrin Hauf of Modakr Farm. Darrin invited me to come out an see his operation which included blooming sunflowers planted in different stages. Brilliant! I had no problem agreeing to compensate him for the use of his sunflowers in my photography.
The only problem I had in lining up clients is that it’s been hotter than hell, and I think the high temps extinguish the enthusiasm for outdoor portrait sessions. (Or it could be that I’m just a crappy marketer.) Regardless, I got a couple sessions in and have included some favorite slides from fun in the sunflower sessions in the slide show below.
The Importance of Professional Portraiture
Life is challenging at best. Fun in the sunflowers gives us a brief reprieve from the daily grind. I’m hoping you are staying cool as we finish out August. And even if you don’t want to get out in the heat, consider having your likeness made by somebody in the business every year or two. It’s something you can enjoy now and leave behind, something your family and friends can remember you by when the inevitable comes.
Peace,
Mike
ps. All my projects whether it’s family portraits or a commercial shoot for one of my corporate clients begin with a conversation. Have an idea? Contact me here.