For a little Friday fun, I think you MUST go read the blogs of a couple of my most awesome girl friends. I’ve known both Jenn and Amy since our middle school days, and despite the fact that Jenn and I both started out at different colleges, we all found ourselves in a lot of the same upper level English courses at the University of Tennessee. And though Jenn and Amy didn’t really know each other for a long time, they’ve developed a friendship of their own. Ah, the beauty of the interwebz. Anyway, I don’t get to see either of these girls as much as I would like, but lucky for me they’ve both started blogs, which allows me to stay on top of all their adventures in love, life, and grad school. And I love them so much that I want you to go read them too.
I know what you’re thinking. They’re YOUR friends, Morgan. Why would we be interested in what they’re saying and doing?
Well, I’ll tell you. I DARE you to go read these blogs and NOT pee your pants from laughing. I’m so proud of my fellow English majors and their fantastically dry sense of humor… and their ability to talk about inappropriate things that I could never say here on this blog. ;) They’re the future Dooces of America, and I’m proud to call them friends!
First up, Jenn’s blog: “I Do it For the Joy it Brings.” She’s achieved the perfect balance between the thoughtfully poetical and the delightfully irreverent. Everything from God to grad school… Jenn covers it all. Love this girl.
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And now, my friend Amy. We were glued at the hip for much of our adolescence, and now she’s living in Memphis, going to grad school, and chronicling her adventures in the dating field. She’s had not one, but two, ex-boyfriends who turned out to be gay, so you can imagine she has some pretty hilarious stories to tell. Also, hence the (very clever!) name: “Help! There’s a Gay Man in My Closet [And Other Mostly True Stories].”
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I hope you enjoy these as much as I do! I think their genius deserves to be shared. Love you both!
You can think what you want about her. She’s known for her bizarre, unpredictable, glam rock, fashion-inspired music and persona. There is only one Lady Gaga, and whether you love her or hate her, it’s hard to deny that she has become an unstoppable force in pop culture, a musical icon of our generation. Just this month, Forbes Magazine named her number seven on its annual list of World’s Most Powerful Women. She’s sold more than 15 million albums and 51 million singles. And this has all happened within a mere two years. So what’s all the fuss about? And what can we, as photographers and small business owners, learn from her success? I recently began thinking a lot about this and have become sort of fascinated with her story, so I thought I’d share some of my thoughts on it all. [And I’d like to dedicate this post to my friend Carrie, who inspired me to think twice about Lady Gaga when she began posting very uncharacteristic ALL CAPS Facebook updates in a panicked attempt to get tickets to see her live. That kind of dedication is worth examining, and that’s what has led me to this blog post!]
[source: Entertainment Weekly]
You might remember a post I wrote last year about Brand Dolly. Well, I think Dolly Parton and Lady Gaga, and their respective brands, have a lot in common that extends well beyond their love for over-the-top makeup and fashion, their dynamic stage presence and musical giftedness, and the fact they have been embraced and adopted by the gay community. And here are what I see to be just a few of those things:
Start with an amazing product.
It can’t be denied that Lady Gaga is talented. She’s got some major pipes. And every song she’s released has become a chart-topping hit. Just Dance. Poker Face. Bad Romance. Telephone. Alejandro. They’re all about as dance-y as they come, and, well, people love to dance. The thing is, it’s hard to create a strong brand around a crappy product. It doesn’t matter how good things look on the surface… if there’s no real substance, then you might as well call it a day. Everyone might talk about Gaga’s outfits or her offbeat behavior in public, but when she opens her mouth to sing, she brings it. Plain and simple. The other stuff? They’re all just puzzle pieces that form her image. The same can be said for photographers. Fact is, you can spend thousands on logo design and marketing materials and SEO, but if all you have to show are lackluster images… you’re not going to get hired. Clients are smart enough to see past hype. These things might help you gain momentum in the beginning, but what will REALLY get people talking is your amazing customer service or your lightning-speed turnaround time or your professionalism or your interesting, dynamic, gorgeous images. They’re paying you a pretty big chunk of change to deliver an outstanding product. So do it!
“People will always talk, so let’s give them something to talk about.” - Lady Gaga
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Be yourself…. to the fullest extent.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from observing Lady Gaga’s rise to fame, it’s this: she is who she is, and most people either really love her or really hate her. But she has never tried to be a people pleaser. She smartly realized that trying to please everyone would water down her image and leave her putting out mediocre material and wearing predictable red carpet dresses. And if she did those things, she wouldn’t be Lady Gaga. Now am I saying that everyone needs to run out and wear dresses made of stuffed animals to be successful? Absolutely not! It really doesn’t matter who you are or what you like to wear or do or what you think. What’s important is allowing those things to reflect in everything you do. Practice authenticity and honesty always. In building my own brand, this is something I really struggle with. Honestly, I just want people to LIKE me. I don’t want to offend or alienate anyone. I take everything extremely personally. I obsess over every single word I write on this blog and every image I produce and every email I send. And as a result, I’ve made some pretty lame business decisions. I’ve tried to cater to people who, at the end of the day, aren’t my ideal clients anyway. If I had only put myself out there from the very beginning, if I had decided early on that I wouldn’t constantly compromise myself, I probably would never have gotten into these situations. Never mind the fact that all that time spent fretting would have been far more productive had it been invested in clients who were already invested in ME. Photographer Jasmine Star talks a lot about the idea of attracting and repelling. She’s not afraid to talk openly and candidly on her blog about her faith or her relationship with her husband or her photography tricks or her likes and dislikes, because even if these things might alienate some readers or drive away some potential clients, they will that much more attract the kinds of clients she DOES want… ones that share a lot of her same perspectives and values and personality traits. And clearly this has worked, because she’s one of the biggest photographers in the country, adored by both clients and other photographers alike. Same way it has worked for Lady Gaga. She never compromises to try to please her harshest critics, and as a result, she has made her fans that much more loyal to her.
“Well that’s your opinion, isn’t it? And I’m not about to waste my time trying to change it.” - Lady Gaga
“When I wake up in the morning, I feel just like any other insecure 24-year-old girl. Then I say, ‘[…] You’re Lady Gaga! Get up and walk the walk today’.” - Lady Gaga
Another thing that is crucial to Lady Gaga’s success is not only that she is 100% percent herself, no matter how weird it might seem to some people, but that she is also herself ALL THE TIME. Think about it. Have you ever seen a photo of her in which she looks “normal”? Nope. She clearly doesn’t shop at Gap… more like a Halloween costume shop. For even her everyday clothes! Why is this so important? Because consistency is HUGE. It communicates to her fans that this really is who she is. It’s not just a show she puts on a few nights a week… it’s her lifestyle. We always know what to expect from Lady Gaga… and that is something completely UNexpected. This keeps people on their toes, talking about her latest outfit or what she’ll say on Larry King. It’s part of her myth… and everyone loves a myth. A story. A mysterious image. Someone who can’t easily be explained or neatly wrapped up in a little box of preconceived notions and expectations. As a photographer, it’s easy to forget to be “on” at all times. You really never know who’s going to be watching or who will overhear you telling someone you’re a photographer. You never know when you’ll be asked for a business card. So is the person you are at the grocery store and the movies the same person you are on a shoot or at a wedding? Or would it be easy for people to see that the nice, outgoing person who takes their photograph is not the same as the lousy tipper or the rude customer? It’s not an easy feat, this whole consistency thing. But if your brand is YOU (or if a big part of your brand is you), then it’s your responsibility to be a good representation of that brand ALWAYS.
“I used to walk down the street like I was a star. I want people to walk around delusional about how great they can be- and then to fight so hard for it that the lie becomes the truth.” - Lady Gaga
Know your audience. Perform for them. Involve them. Inspire them. Thank them. LOVE them.
“My new album I’m creating […] was written with this new instinctual energy that I’ve developed getting to know my fans. They protect me, so now it’s my destiny to protect them.” - Lady Gaga
Nobody rises to fame (or infamy) on their own. Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes an audience, a fan base, to build a brand. Lady Gaga might never have risen beyond the New York City club scene had a lot of people (and a few very important and influential people) not believed in her. And what I love about her is that her attitude is always one of indebtedness, never one of entitlement. She’s even given a name to her fans- she’s the Mother Monster to her “Little Monsters.” And sure, it might sound totally weird. But the idea that she chooses to be inclusive rather than exclusive, that she has created a family centered around her music and bizarre outfits and performances… well, I think that’s pretty amazing. She knows the key to her success, and that is the support of her fans. Without them, her name might still be Stephani Joanne Angelina Germanotta. (Doesn’t have quite the same ring, does it?) She might still be considered the outsider, the androgynous-looking freak who nobody understands. Or maybe her genius lies in the fact that she still IS that person, and she’s made it her mission to help other kids feel like they’re not alone. That everyone is weird in their own way, and it’s okay to accept and embrace that. I love how much she works toward boosting the self-esteem of her fans, and I think that is one of the biggest reasons they are drawn to her. So how do we apply that to this photography business? Well, I think it’s important to understand that we will never find success unless we always remember where we came from, and that our fans and supporters and clients are the ones who got us where we are. Without them, we would still be shooting as a hobby. Without them, we might be stuck in careers we hate. So with that in mind, I think it’s incredibly important to consistently recognize that and thank those who support us. It could be a card, or a small gift, or even just a simple “happy birthday” post on Facebook. These are the kinds of acts that make our service, our BRAND, memorable. And more than that, they remind us to keep our attitudes in check. None of us are self-made. We are who we are because of the people who love us. And we should love them back. Really, truly, genuinely love them.
“When I’m writing music, I’m thinking about the clothes I want to wear on stage. It’s all about everything coming altogether- performance art, pop performance art, fashion. For me, it’s everything coming together and being a real story that will bring back the super-fan. I want to bring that back. I want the imagery to be so strong that fans will want to eat and taste and lick every part of us.” - Lady Gaga
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Let’s face it. Not all of us can be Lady Gaga. Frankly, the thought of wearing a dress made of raw meat makes me gaggy. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t think we have a lot to learn from the empire she’s built. Let’s bring the super-fan back. Let’s love on our Little Monsters. Let’s give ’em something to talk about.
Heidi-You definitely have me thinking of her differently, that’s for sure! Great post.
Angela Fairbanks Photography & Design-Well said Morgan! I just got back from the Blog World conference in Vegas and this is a lot of what they talked about. People want to buy/listen to people they know-people who are authentic. No one cares to be manipulated or have messages/products/photographers thrown at them. GaGa definitely owns herself and that is a good lesson for anyone. And as always, you’re inspiring! :)
It was a Sunday in July. I was working at Starbucks (LETHAL combination already). I was having a crappy week. Like, a REALLY crappy week. But then something happened that turned it all around… just like that. I got a call from Sarah, who is a friend of Susan and Lane’s (whose wedding I shot back in April). She had seen the slideshow of their wedding images, and she was planning her own wedding, which would be in October. In Portland. As in Portland OREGON, not Portland, TN, where I’ve grown up visiting my grandparents my whole life. As in Portland, land of perfect rainy days spent at Powell’s Books drinking coffee and hoping to run into Donald Miller. And Sarah wanted ME to come shoot her wedding there. Yep… that turned it all around… just like that.
Sarah and Orion’s wedding… well, let’s just say it was right up my Morgan Trinker alley. For one, everything took place in The Governor’s Hotel, which is right in the middle of downtown Portland and in walking distance of Powell’s, Anthropologie, and an entire city block’s worth of food trucks. Magical. On top of that, this hotel was something straight out of Clue, which just so happens to be my favorite board game. There was a library, a billiard room, a ballroom, hallways lined with black and white tiled floors… you get the picture. Basically a photographer’s dream. For two, I got to shoot with my long time pen pal Carly, who completely rocked it out as my second shooter, providing me with moral support, letting me bounce ideas off her, and of course…. giving me some excellent shots to add to this lovely collection. For THREE, Sarah and Orion’s style… fantastic. I didn’t know this until dancing time at the reception, but apparently Orion once had an illustrious career as a hip hop artist, and that reflected in his attire, all the way down to his bright purple leather sneakers. Oh yeah. And Sarah? She’s a lover of color, which made me totally giddy. I loved how perfectly coordinated everything was, without being overly matchy-matchy. And boy, was there ever COLOR. We’re talking pink and orange and green and purple and yellow and blue… oh yeah. Right. Up. My. Alley.
This wedding was full of firsts for me. It was my first trip to Portland. My first rainy wedding day (which was totally fine since everything was indoors, even our awesome locations for shooting the bridal party which you’ll soon see). My first semi-Buddhist ceremony. My first ballroom reception. But none of these things could match the obvious love that Sarah and Orion have for each other. They’ve been together for TEN YEARS. They’ve survived a pretty scary experience together (Sarah underwent a pulmonary thromboendarterectomy several years ago… I wikipedia’d it, and man, it sounds just as intense as the name would imply). They’ve seen plenty of ups and downs, and more than one person struggled to give them marriage advice in their speeches, as they’ve already been through more than most married couples go through in their entire lifetimes.
So without further ado, here you have it. Sarah and Orion Get Married.
The programs and menus were designed by Sarah’s friend Emily. How adorable are these? They were folded into paper airplanes and shot into the air as Sarah and Orion came down the aisle. Cute.
Gorgeous. Thank you Carly for your dress-shot-location-scouting skillz. :)
Did Carly and I totally obsess over Sarah’s Kate Spade shoes? Why yes. Yes we did. I think all the girls found it quite amusing. (p.s. If there is any brand that best represents Sarah’s style, I would definitely say it’s Kate Spade. LOVE her. Can’t afford her, but LOVE her!)
And speaking of killer shoes….
Thank you Quince for providing such AMAZING florals and decor! Definitely drool-worthy.
Whoo-hoo Sarah and Orion for choosing to do a First Look! This allowed us to get sooo many fantastic images with that little bit of grey Portland light we had before it was gone for good. Plus, I just love this moment:
Fierce.
Woweeee. Sarah is gorgeous, the light is beautiful… mmmmm.
See what I mean with the Clue?!
Absolutely ADORE this shot that Carly grabbed. Every single part of it. (The camera she’s using? Yep, it’s a Super 8. TOLD YOU this was right up my alley!)
So perfectly Portland. :)
Right across the street was this amazing little yarn shop called Knit Purl. Sarah’s a knitter, and as we’ve clearly established, a lover of color, so this was pretty much perfect. As we were leaving the store, Sarah yelled out “Thank you Knit Purl!”, which made me feel like we were on Project Runway (“Thank you Mood!” anyone? anyone?).
Meanwhile, back at the record store, Carly took the guys (and girl!) off to do some more shooting.
Two things I loved about Sarah walking down the aisle. One: she chose to walk with both her parents. Two: she really took her time, stopping every now and again to look around, smile at all the guests, and really soak in the moment. I’m sure she’ll never forget it.
So Sarah hadn’t really cried all day, but when her friends began to play a version of “Such Great Heights”, she just looked up, and I saw her eyes full of happy tears, and it was all I could do to not start boo-hooing right in the middle of the ceremony.
LOOOVED the use of the festive paper goods!
And this one might just be my favorite shot of the whole day. Right before Sarah and Orion were introduced at the reception, I spotted them between the crack in the door doing this. And it was beautiful.
Maybe if her hair weren’t covering 90% of her face, you would recognize Susan. (They were guests at the wedding! It was SO GOOD to see them again!). But this is one of my fave shots ever. Love the movement and how her hair is just perfectly swishing across her face, revealing only her “yay we’re dancing!” smile. :)
This wedding was just FULL of lovers!
Sarah, did you really expect those paper balls to not be used as dancing props at some point in the night? :)
Naturally, there was LOTS of old school hip-hop played. It was HYSTERICAL to watch everyone gather in circles and rap together. Especially Orion, in his pimpin’ suit.
“Hip hop hooraaaay, hooooohhhh, haaaay, hoooooohhhhh…..”
I asked Carly to take a shot of me with Lane and Susan. And yes, I had to stand on the stage to be anywhere close to the level of their heads. I think they’ve got about 14 inches on me. :) Also, please pardon the end-of-the-wedding-chaos that is my overall appearance in this. Keepin’ it real, folks!
And I couldn’t resist throwing in a few shots that Carly and I took of each other throughout the day. I just love behind the scenes!
And finally, to see more of Sarah and Orion’s wedding, watch the slideshow below. I used Iron and Wine’s cover of Such Great Heights on account of S & O’s love for them, as well the song, which was played during the ceremony. Hope you enjoy! And congratulations you two!
ute -BEAUTIFUL - once again! :) the yarn shop is great!!! I love project runway! auf wiedersehen! :)
[email protected]-and love…but thats no surprise. I LOVE THE YARN! LOOOOVE IT!! Favorite is the sneaky one you caught…gooood yob!
Debbie -WOW! I love the bright, bold colors they picked! And what an incredible hotel! I mentioned in the preview pics I especially liked the yarn shop shot - now I get it! What a fun time this wedding must have been. Congrats to the very happy couple and to the photogs. You two make quite the pair! Sensational!
Emily -bee-yoo-tee-ful
carly-So happy to see this up! And so grateful to have been there to watch you in action. You are inspiring and a wonderful friend. I am sure Sara and Orion are STOKED about what you did, Mo. Well done, well done… :)
Brandy -absolutely incredible photos. bravo!
KanzlerFoto-Awww, so nice to see Lane and Sue. I miss them like they were old friends.
the wedding « A Lustron Life-[…] has a terrific blog where she has posted a lovely (and manageable) selection of photos. There is also a slideshow set […]
Sara+Orion // Portland, OR » carlybish.com -[…] I love you, Morgan. You are adorably cute. Be sure to see Morgan’s full post on Sara+Orion’s wedding here. […]
Hi! I'm Morgan, and this is my little corner of the internet.
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