Just wanted to share with you some of the websites/blogs that absolutely brighten my day, inspire me, educate me and just plain rock my socks off.

Charles & Marie – My absolute favorite online store to shop from. Totally trendy, absolutely mod and wonderfully creative – these products are uber hot.

The Lookbook - The photography related product I’m just dying to get my hands on! I think all of our photographers should carry these with them for the moments when the light bulb of creativity just won’t click on.

Twistori – I am addicted. I could spend hours watching these Tweets scroll up in front of me. Caution – don’t check this out unless you’ve got some time to kill.

We Met In A Bar – Sometimes to escape the world of photo blogs, I check out a bridal one or two to clear my head. This one is very refreshing and witty.

Gig Posters – For those of you who are as big of fans of rock poster art as I am – you have to check out this site. Search for your favorite band and check out the cool designs.

Tofurious – When I need a little extra information on a topic, a little inspiration for the blog or a fun new product to try I check out this site first. These guys have it going on!

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My Funky Camera sent me radtastic wrist and neck straps to try out so I could tell you all what I think about it – and all I have to say is WOO HOO! It’s classy, fun, adds some color to my gear and it feels incredibly well-made. The seams are perfect, the materials are high-quality. I couldn’t be more thrilled with a camera strap than this one! I’m not normally big on using neck straps but this one is so hot I just might change! The wristlet is my favorite new toy though!

WIN FREE STUFF: 2 Winners will get one camera strap of their choice from My Funky Camera! So here’s the details on the giveaway – to enter to win, you have to send us a photo of you holding your camera (be daring, go strapless!) and doing something funky. Yes, we will be judging on the very subjective FUNK level in your image. Entries should be e-mailed to katie@fotoworkspro.com. Entries will be accepted until Friday April 10th at 12:01 a.m. The winner will be announced Friday afternoon. (P.S. – by sending us your entry, you release the rights to us for use on on our blog!)

Good Luck!

- Katie

P.S. Big shout out goes to the fantabulous men at Tofurious.com for sharing the details on the new WordPress slideshow plug in. For more details about how I got this fresh new slideshow, check out their Tofurious Blog. I also HIGHLY recommend signing up for their newsletter and following them on Twitter. They’re consistently entertaining AND educational. We LOVE Tofurious!

I used to want to be a rockstar. I’ll settle for being a microcelebrity in the photo industry. Still get the attention, the swag and the notoriety without the paparazzi and the booze-fueled tours. Wait, on second thought… just kidding.

“Microcelebrity is the phenomenon of being extremely well known not to millions but to a small group — a thousand people, or maybe only a few dozen. As DIY media reach ever deeper into our lives, it’s happening to more and more of us. Got a Facebook account? A whackload of pictures on Flickr? Odds are there are complete strangers who know about you — and maybe even talk about you.” By Clive Thompson on The Age of Microcelebrity

I love having a Twitter and Facebook and getting to know our clients and potential new clients through them – what I didn’t realize I was doing was building my own little fan club. A small support group of interested strangers who encourage and support me and offer amazing advice. While no where near the fame of Jasmine Star or Jessica Claire – I appreciate my small amount of microcelebrity.

Microcelebrity can be a powerful thing – as the two aforementioned women have shown. They have used their adorable personalities and photographic talent to boost their businesses and create their personal brands. I haven’t quite found the niche for how to use my microcelebrity yet – but I know that someday it will play into marketing in a way I haven’t yet thought of.

How are you building and using your microcelebrity? Are you using it as the powerful marketing tool that it is?

“Make no mistake about it, when it comes to social media, authenticity and personal branding matter. I’m also a big believer in the concept of microcelebrity. And when we’re more concerned about being on the social media superhighway than we are about being authentic to the people in our virtual community, people will notice.”   FC Expert Blogger Shawn Graham on Social Media & Authenticity

Image of Katie above courtesy of AltF.com 2008

Seth and Dionna from Braedon Flynn on Vimeo.

You can choose to hear the title of this post in whatever tone you wish. I mean it both ways. On a positive, light-hearted note, I mean that the above video shot by the fabulous Braedon Flynn is absolutely gorgeous & breathtaking – a fabulous example of fusion. But if you can imagine my voice dripping with sarcasm, I think the whole concept of fusion is fan freaking tastic.

Maybe I’m just a little down on the whole thing right now after watching the Photo Fusion tour video – it got me a little freaked out. “You will not be hired” if you don’t shoot both video & stills. Wow. Pretty ballsy claim if you ask me. But, I understand their point about falling behind the times and technology and well, they want you to go to their workshop. (And I am not knocking their workshop in any way – I’m dying to go!).

What are your thoughts on where the industry is headed as we begin to combine video with photography? Do you have a plan for it? Are you already incorporating it?

I realized early this morning that I have a unique perspective in the industry to offer – I’m 22, I was engaged and had to pick a photographer and have been through that process. I’m pretty darn close to your target demographic and I’ve already been through the ringer of wedding photographer hunting. I’ll start sharing some of my insights on all of that as the days go on, but today I have to tell you – if I were booking my photographer today, I’d demand this “fusion” thing. I’m not too into my whole day being captured on video, but the first kiss, first dance and maybe even the bouquet toss? Oh yeah. I so want that on video. So a photographer who could offer me dynamic coverage of my wedding with their dramatic images and a little bit of video is the one I would hire.

In other news, today is the first day of Spring. Hope you all enjoy the weekend!

All the Best,

Katie Johnson