Andrew Niesen

The second edition of the LaCour workshop, The Business of Storytelling, has gotten off to a great start. We have been blessed yet again with an amazing group of photographers from all over the country (and Canada!) who have already inspired us in so many ways.

We first met up Sunday evening at the LaCour studio for a welcome party. The real work kicked off Monday, when we shared our marketing and sales strategies, and discussed how to build systems in your workflow for more efficient and consistent productivity.

We have lots of great stories to share about this group, so check back later this week!

Kristin Byrum, with her husband, Aaron, talks with Andrew & Rachel during the one-on-one consultations.


Mark talks with Alice Gung during the one-on-one consultations.


Terrell Clark listens during Andrew & Rachel's marketing discussion.


Jenna Walker contributes to the discussion during the sales presentation.

"Grow old along with me the best is yet to be, the last of life for which the first was made."
— Robert Browning

Meet Ed and Jo. They are in love. They are my amazing grandparents who just celebrated their 60th anniversary!

Rachel and I spent the weekend with Grandma and Granddad Niesen in St. Louis, my hometown. The party wasn't elaborate or grand. It was a simple celebration of love and loyalty. It was a perfect representation of my grandparents' commitment to each other.

Happy Anniversary Grandma and Granddad! Thank you for leaving us a legacy of love and loyalty!

Celebrating with Greg Gibson, Matt Mendelsohn, Brooks & Leigh Whittington, Tyler and Pam Wirken, Joanna Pinneo

It’s the question.

“What did you learn during the whirlwind WPPI week?”

And there is one thing –– maybe the most important thing I will ever learn.

Pepper Nix and Mitch Burt challenged me to think about it. My husband and business partners demonstrated it to me with continued acts of patience (even when I didn’t deserve it!) Me Ra Koh reinforced its meaning with her infectious warmth.

It is at the core of business, particularly a business built on a foundation of relationships.

It is the true meaning of community.

The word “community” is often used to describe a group of people who are linked by geography or by a common interest. True community, however, is much deeper –– and quite rare. True community is a group of people who, regardless of their backgrounds and beliefs, are able to accept and transcend their differences, enabling them to communicate effectively and openly.

I believe the most important business principle is to love people without any expectations. When we don’t expect anything in return, we understand what it means to love unconditionally. And when we understand what it means to love unconditionally, we discover the true meaning of community.

In my opinion, a fulfilled life is one lived in community, rooted in unconditional love for each other.

"What life have you if not life together? There is no life that is not in community…"

-- T.S. Eliot

John Harrington is one of the most savvy business men in the photography industry. He runs a great photo business blog which is worth bookmarking.

He just wrote a great entry about taxes, which most new photographers (and too many veteran photographers) don't fully understand.

**Click Here to see his recent post about how much the government actually takes of your profits. As I read this, I kept thinking that these numbers don't even include what we pay in sales tax every day!

I love this photo of Emilie Sommer and J Sandifer I made last night at the Pictage party. They are both wonderful people, good friends and completely in love with each other. J will be at the liveBooks booth today all throughout the tradeshow at WPPI, so stop by and tell him you saw him and Emilie all googly in love with each other.