Morgan Trinker

I’m on a blogging ROLL this week, so I thought I’d kick off this gorgeous Wednesday with a Stuff I Love post. As always, these are things I can’t get enough of. Hopefully I’ll introduce you to something YOU can’t get enough of. :)

First up, my latest obession: Pinterest. I can’t believe this hasn’t been invented sooner. My friend Kelly sent me an invite a few months ago (it’s still in its beta stages, so you have to have an invite from someone who already has an account in order to join- let me know if you need one!), but I resisted for a long time. I mean, I already have enough sites that I’m addicted to, so throwing one more on the plate just seemed unnecessary. But a couple of weeks ago, I decided to give it a go and just see how it worked… and I was immediately hooked. The great thing about this site is that it serves as a visual collection, an archive, of all the things that inspire you, from interior spaces to fashion to photography to food to whatever. As someone whose bookmarks tab is entirely too long and sort of useless because I forget what the links even go to, this is a fantastic tool. Anytime you’re on a site or a blog and you see an image that you love, you can click the button you install on your bookmarks bar called “Pin It” and it pulls up a screen where you can select the image from that page you like, and then select the board you want to pin it to, as well as any personal remarks you want to add. It automatically attaches the link where you found that image, so that you always have that on file, and so that when it is shared with your Pinterest friends and followers, they know where the source is in case they want to check it out. I personally feel like this great for photographers, because one amazing image can be pinned and repinned and spread like crazy, so it can be great exposure, with your website always a click away if someone really loves it. But it’s also great for wedding planning, because you can create collections of inspiring ideas and images and keep everything in one place. So much better than a list of bookmark tabs or a folder of random images with no links! And it’s useful for creatives of any type… you can create folders of inspiring hairstyles or paintings or typography or whatever.

My favorite part of it all is looking at my pins as a whole. It’s amazing how seeing a collection of seemingly random images can suddenly turn a mirror to you and say hey, THIS is your style. If you’re having trouble branding yourself or finding your artistic voice, this might be a great place to start!

Next up: Starbucks VIA. Back when I was actually working at Starbucks, VIA was a four letter word for baristas, because we had to sell, sell, sell the crap out of it and it got really old, really fast. But now that I’m not there anymore, and no longer have unlimited free beverages at my disposal, I’m learning to love these handy dandy packets. We hardly ever break out our coffee pot because a) we always end up making too much and wasting it, b) for whatever reason, the filters never get cleaned out and it makes a mess, and c) I prefer my coffee iced. VIA solves all these problems- the perfect amount, no mess, dissolves instantly even in cold water- so I can have my black iced coffee any time of the day without having to make a trip out of the house and spend a ton of money. And despite what coffee connoisseurs might have you believe, it’s actually pretty delicious.

Ever since we got an Apple TV, Jamie and I have become Netflix instant streaming junkies. We’ve found some of the most obscure and random films and documentaries on there, and one in particular that has been permanently engrained in my mind is one that Jamie stumbled upon the other night: The President’s Photographer. It is one of the most fascinating things I’ve watched in awhile. National Geographic spent several months following Pete Souza, the official White House photographer, as he documented history unfolding in one of the most important spots in the world. It really made me realize how much in common we photographers have, whether we’re tasked with shooting a President’s speech or an intimate backyard wedding. It’s about recording history and creating the images that will burn into people’s memories as a representation of how things happened. It’s about earning trust and being granted access into private moments and situations, and about learning how to become “invisible” in order to capture the most natural and candid moments. It’s about never missing a moment and being uncomfortable if we’re too far away from the action. It’s about looking for the elements, the compositions, the facial expressions, the details, the lighting, that will best tell the story. It’s about always knowing exactly what gear to use for a particular shot- knowing how you want to frame it, light it, focus it, expose it. It’s about freezing the nuances of life to share with your audience. So many things Pete said (and that others said about Pete) really resonated with me and reminded me of the importance (and the stress and excitement and challenge) of this job. I highly recommend it not only to fellow photographers, but also to those who are interested in a behind-the-scenes look into how history is documented in these modern times. Plus, Morgan Freeman narrates it. Enough said.

Here’s a preview if you’re interested. (And don’t forget, it’s streaming for FREE on Netflix right now!)

And even if you don’t watch it, you have to at least go take a look at the White House’s Flickr stream. It is where the best of Pete’s shots are collected and shared with the world. I think it’s incredible that we, as ordinary citizens, are given this kind of intimate access to the President, both in his professional and personal life. There are some really amazing and moving images here, so go take a look!

Hope you found this edition of Stuff I Love helpful and/or interesting in some way! Please feel free to let me know what YOU’VE been loving, and if you love any of these things too. :)