San Francisco Clicks

Picture this: a group of fabulous women walking the streets of a sterling city, sharing, laughing and basking in the glow of their sisterhood. No, I’m not talking about a scene from Sex and the City (although I have already seen it and LOVED every minute of it)-I am talking about Clicks in the City, and you’re invited to play a staring role. Heels optional. Cameras a must.

A few of us Sisters are going to be attending the ever-popular BlogHer Conference this summer where we will be hosting the first ever BlogHer PhotoWalk. It's all very exciting. Personally, I’m giddy with the idea of getting outside, taking in a little of Union Square through my lens and clickin’ with a group of women passionate about photography (meaning all of you).

So, who’s in? You heading to San Francisco with us? Share your thoughts in the comments and if you are considering joining us please pop over to get the details at the PhotoWalk post at BlogHer and let the ladies of BlogHer know you're coming. And there’s a button to grab while you’re there to help us spread the good Sister word. Let’s show the world what a photo force we are, shall we?

Look out San Francisco. Here we come.

Sisters Share

Kate and I are all geared to share with all of you on the big radio show tonight via Blog Talk Radio. We’ve selected a few questions from the list that we will be answering but we also want to encourage you to call in to ask anything else that’s on your mind. Or just to say Hi. We’d really like that. Don’t forget-the women who posed the questions we ask on the air will be getting $50 at Snapfish. Yay.

So, here’s your official invitation:

What? Tracey and Kate talk photography and Shutter Sisters on Bog Talk Radio with Kristen Chase of Motherhood Uncensored.

When? Tonight, Wednesday from 6-6:30pm PST (that’s 9-9:30pm EST.)

How? Tune in and listen. Or, to be a part of the program you can call in or use the handy chat feature online.

Why? Why not? It’s not everyday you actually get to hear the voices of your internet friends. Am I right?

And since sharing is the theme of the day, I want to send out a big thank you to Jill of Blue Poppy Jewelry for allowing me to share the above photo. I had the pleasure of shooting for BP and I just love this shot of my sister friends. And these rings pictured (which will be available on the site in Early May) as well as her others. Beauty.

And if you are so inspired, feel free to share a link to any photo you’d like today here in the comments. We’ll just call it a free for all day of sharing! Sound good?

on the radio (uh oh)

We ask a lot of questions around here at Shutter Sisters. What inspires you? Are you up for a challenge? What images would you like to share with us?

I think it’s high time we give you a chance to ask us a question or two.

On April 16^th at 6pm PST, Sister Kate (it makes me giggle when I get to call her that) and yours truly have been invited to join the lovely and very clever Kristen of Motherhood Uncensored on her Blog Talk Radio podcast where we will answer your questions live on the air. Crowd goes wild.

Here’s what we’re proposing—you offer up your questions here in the comments and we will pick a few that we’ll address on the show. If we choose to use your question on the air, we’ll be sure to extend a little token of gratitude (gifts TBA) if that’s any incentive. *

So ladies, fire away. What is it that you want to ask us? We’re all ears.

* edited to announce that our little token is a BIG gift card to Snapfish. We've got 3 - $50 cards for the lucky winners! YAY!

When There is No Plan B

Even as an Art major in college I knew I would never make it as a fine artist. It was never the Plan. I always knew in my true little artist heart that I would do something creative in my career but I also knew that creating fine art and trying to get it into galleries or even more, sell it was not that something for me. Plan A was graphics. But when I found out the graphic department was impacted and highly competitive, I bowed out of even trying to get in. I didn’t have a Plan B so I just went with the knowing that I would do something creative in my career part and decide that was enough as I set out to get a BA in Art, of course.

I guess from there the steps aren’t really important because now I am doing a million creative things in my career(s) and my experience has been better than I could have ever planned. The best part to having a no real Plan is that you can wander anywhere your path leads you without fear of not following the Plan. It’s pretty great and can really work to your advantage (she’s says speaking from experience).

As far as not wanting to get my work into galleries, I’ll admit, I have had my moments of giving that a whirl with hit and miss results. For the few times I have been accepted into a show (and they have been tiny shows mind you) what grand experiences they were! There is nothing like having something you created on display in a sacred space along with work from fellow creatives, wine in hand, celebrating each other and sharing something magical. I’m just relieved that I didn’t have that kind of thing in my Plan because now, these kinds of events have been moments to savor, like a extra icing on the cake of my creative life.

How about you? Have you ever put yourself out there and tried to submit something to an exhibition? It can be unnerving I know, but as inspired women looking to share our unique perspectives from behind our lenses, we have nothing to lose but an entry fee. And if you did enter a show and a photograph that you shot was chosen to hang on a gallery wall, wouldn’t that just be the sweetest thing? If you are nodding your head yes, then I challenge you, on this leap day to take your own leap and waiver from your Plan; even if it’s only long enough to enter one of your beloved works of photographic art into The Art of Photography Show. You only have until Monday so leap to it. Thanks jpg mag for the head up on this one.

So, I’ll see you at the opening! That’s called positive thinking. *wink*

The photo above is what I would probably consider my very first successful photo projects (a polaroid transfer of one of my sculptures)—my signature is even in my maiden name. It hung in a gallery for six weeks a long time ago and today it hangs in my entry way.