© Armando Bellmas

Sometimes the best photos from a shoot are made while you’re setting up and testing the lights.

© Armando Bellmas

I attended an AIGA event last night which featured a panel discussion of Charlotte design studio owners. What stuck with me the most was that each studio admitted to a delicate balance between the business side and the creative side. One cannot exist without the other in a successful creative business.

I spend a lot of time running my business (accounting, marketing, etc.). It’s become a big part of what I do and I’m fascinated by it. Yeah, most days I’d rather be out making photographs instead of making phone calls and balancing the books, but therein lies the balance.

I get a great feeling when I know exactly how much (or little) money is in the bank, that all my receipts are accounted for, that checks have been written for the perpetual pile of invoices and bills, and that my own invoices have gone out to the land of “net 30 days” (or 45, 60, or however many days some vendors make you wait before they cut you a check).

I get an even better feeling after I’ve spent the morning making calls and sending emails to photo editors and art directors, setting up portfolio showings and inviting everyone to look at the images on my website.

If I want to make photographs and make a good living doing so those tasks have to be done or I don’t work. Plain and simple. The good part is that I like to do that stuff. Not always, of course, but it’s the yang to my photography ying. Balance.

When I first started taking photographs professionally I admit that I didn’t really plan too well for the business part. I made mistakes and learned from them. I’m still learning and hope I never stop. Comes with the territory.

One creative last night put it impeccably well. He said, “I’m earning an MBA every day I go in to work.” Amen, brother.

© Armando Bellmas

I love to travel (especially when it’s photography/work related). I love the different places, the roads I take there and back, picking a joint to grab a drink or three and some grub, meeting the locals, and the varying types of hotels where I can lay my head down for the night.

I was just in Atlanta again recently for the night after an assignment and I stayed, yet again, at the quirky yet perfectly located and priced Highland Inn. Having never stayed there in the deep winter, I found out that this historic hotel runs on radiated heat. If you don’t know much about radiated heat (and I didn’t until this trip), it’s prone to clanging as it warms up.

Who needs a wake-up call when the radiator can do the trick historically at 7 am (and midnight and 3 am)? Ah, the charms of being on the road.

© Armando Bellmas

Patty (makeup) and Lucas (assistant) standing in during a recent shoot. A real good crew.

© Armando Bellmas

Just got back home from a couple of days in Georgia on an assignment. Spent the first day shooting in the town of Washington, GA. The tiny town square had some of that old Southern charm and tradition with a bit of bohemian color and influence lurking around a couple of corners. Think Athens at about a fraction of the size and without a music scene. It was a great shoot and a neat place to spend a few hours with a camera and creative license.

After the sun went down it was time to drive to Atlanta. Checked into the Highland Inn, locked up the gear, and set out to get a burger at George’s in the Virginia-Highlands neighborhood and many beers at Manuel’s Tavern. Always good to be in Atlanta. It’s one of my favorite cities.

The next day started with some shooting in the morning followed by time well spent at the Marcia Wood Gallery for the Jason Fulford exhibit.

© Jason Fulford

© Jason Fulford

I’ve only seen Jason’s work in books and on the web so I was in awe of (and fell completely in love with) the beautiful 24×24 inch prints on display. Jason’s work makes me want to go out and see differently. It makes me want to explore what’s around me a little deeper and subsequently explore what I’ve discovered a little deeper still. It’s truly inspiring work and I’m so very happy that I caught the exhibit in its final days.

Now I just need to get back down there sometime in the next month or so to catch the Harry Callahan exhibit at Jackson Fine Art.