Archive for April, 2010

Saint Louis | MarketSTL | Missouri

Friday, April 30th, 2010

Twitter is amazing, no really you have to understand the power of Twitter!

A week or so ago, I’m on twitter and a friend pops up to ask me if I’m going to MarketSTL? I checked out the link and it looked like an amazing event and then I saw the pictures. So I twittered back to @marketSTL and offered my services, they accepted!

I was so excited to be attending this awesome marketing event but even better was to be able to photograph it and give Will something amazing to show for next years show!

The event was held at the beautiful Luminere Hotel. What an awesome hotel with some beautiful interior design and okay these way cool plastic rocks that light up! How cool is that?

I was also so glad to see my buddy Small Town Girl who came to the event to live broadcast it. So here she was, broadcasting a Marketing event that specialized in social media and awareness and so much more!

This event was first rate with enough information on so many levels I know it had something for everyone. I’m a novice marketing person, but I took notes and I learned a lot, enough to be adding what I learned into my life and online social networking.

You are going to have to check out ______________ and all the great teaching notes and then next year you make sure to sign up for the event!

Make sure to follow @marketSTL for all the news and updates on social media!

If you are a small business and do not blog, get on it, what are you waiting for, I’m sure you have something to offer that people need to hear! One word WORDPRESS, get there!

Here’s the video I created for MarketSTL

ENJOY!

Jackie Joyner Kersee | Church on the Rock | Lisa Nikole

Saturday, April 24th, 2010

I’m privileged to go to one of the best churches around and because it’s pastored by two of the most awesome people around Pastor Blunt and his wife Pastor Kim.

Because of these two people I’ve been exposed to some of the best teachings and greatest people around, I’ve been privileged to photography those events.

A Wed. night a few weeks ago, I got to listen to and photograph Jackie Joyner Kersee, and I’ll be honest, when I heard she was coming I wondered what she could come to share.

I knew she was an amazing athlete and I was very sure she had profound things happen in her life to share. There was a moment in her sharing that I got lost in her words thinking about a woman from East Saint Louis making it to the level of stardom that she did. You know the saying “nothing good comes out of…. (you can insert your own town there if you like). But Jackie gave encouragement and hope and strong conviction of perseverance and life. It was an honor to hear her and to photograph her.

Jackie is considered to be one of the greatest female athletes in history, she won a silver medal in 1984 and gold medals in 1988 and 1992. She is also the heptathlon world record-holder!

Jackie retired from track and field in 2001 and started the Jackie Joyner – Kersee Youth Center Foundation to encourage kids in her underprivileged hometown to play sports.

There was an open question forum where some very interesting questions were asked, ones that came with thought, I enjoyed so much listening to everyone share and especially listening to such an amazing woman!

Barlow Girls | Steller Kart | Vota | Lisa Nikole

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

WOW, what a night. I seriously have not had music THAT loud for a long time. Yes, yes I know I tell you all the time how loud I like my music but WOW, this was loud! But so much fun.

I have so much fun doing what I do I can’t even begin to explain it. I get to meet amazing people and shoot things that are a lot of fun. I enjoy the concerts because it’s such a challenge and so different then what I normally shoot. Can I just say this… red stage lighting… YUCK!

Last week I had a unique opportunity to shoot three amazing bands in one night. This was the Barlow Girl Love and War Tour.

The night opened up with a Q&A with Barlow Girls, three sisters with a unique message that they shared with all the people there, The girls were fun to listen to and shared a lot of their lives as sisters and answered questions from the select group of people that were there to listen to them.

First up Vota Great band, full of energy and a sincere tone is set in the way they perform and command the stage. Energy is one of the greatest things to capture with concert shooting. As the crowd of people got out of their seats to join the band upfront. It proved for some interesting shots and again a challenge to capture the night!

Following Vota was Stellar Kart (as of this posting it seems their website is down, but hopefully up soon!) Steller Kart is a boy band with an incredible sound and dynamics in message and performance. They came out in these really bright colored T’s (which you can purchase). The audience really enjoyed their lively sets and joining in with the band. They also shared a lot of personal (almost too personal) fun facts about each other! Great show!

The reason why they were all there: Barlow Girls!

Someone asked me if I knew who the Jonas Brothers were, of course I did and they told me that these were the girl equivalent to the Jonas Brothers. They are three equally beautiful and talented girls. They brought a strong message for the crowd and gave personal messages of battles in their own lives. One quote caught my attention above all others “I’ve got issues too, but God still uses me” So many people are defeated before they even begin. I thought their message was very powerful along with their singing and entertaining.