Website: http://shawnreeder.com, http://shawnreedermusic.com

Location: I live in Bishop, CA, but am local to the whole Sierra Nevada including Yosemite and Lake Tahoe.

Tell us about your family/pets and your life: I don't have any pets, and my entire family is in the East, but I'm living my dream life (it'll definitely be way more dreamy when I find someone to share it with, but for now I'll just have to settle for the current level of dreaminess).

Describe your photography style and your photography music business: Its hard to put words to an artistic style. Natural, organic, real, these are words that try to describe what I strive for, although its really just words. I want to capture the essence of my subject whether it be a person or a landscape. My photography tends to be an interpretation of how I see the world, and since I try to see the beauty in everything, I hope this comes through in my work. My music is pure feeling for me. In all parts of my life, I tend to think about things, but when I play music all thinking seems to turn off and it allows me to just "feel" and "be" present in the moment. My Photography and Music business allows and helps me to share beauty with others which is one of my favorite things in life. And I'm really excited to have partnered with other great musicians to bring the professional creative community awesome new royalty free music!

What inspired you to start your businesses? I got inspired to start my photographer business in 2001 when I was hanging out in Yosemite all the time with some of the most talented and famous rock climbers in the world. I had just gotten my first slr about 2 years prior, so I was always super excited to be shooting. I started getting really cool shots of my friends climbing, and since a lot of them had sponsors, they suggested I start submitting my images to magazines and companies, and that's how it all began.

I got inspired to start my music business when I started posting slideshows online last year. I realized that it was illegal to use popular music, and as an artist I wanted to use my own music anyway. So the very first slideshow I ever did I used one of my songs and got an overwhelming response from people that I should make my music available. Thats when the lightbulb went off in my head, and a year later I just launched Shawn Reeder Music.com!

Who is your target market? My target market as a Photographer is people who really appreciate nature and the finer things in life, Mountain Elegance you could say. People with a passion for Yosemite and the Sierra, and an appreciation for natural, organic, coverage. The target market for my Music Business is Professional Creatives, including photographers, videographers, and web designers.

What inspires you? Lately I've been incredibly inspired by a live show at Radio City Hall in New York that Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds did that I have on DVD. I'm always inspired by people who live and share with others unconditional love.

Give us one of your best marketing secrets: Be yourself, care about others, and be genuine.

The biggest challenge for new photographers is: Learning how to run a business. I was in the outdoor industry for some years just barely getting by financially when I decided to take a small business class at the local community college. This opened my eyes and really got me on track. This was also when I decided to incorporate weddings into my business as well. At first it was just a business decision, but I've really come to LOVE shooting people In Love.

Tell us about your latest song or about one of your favorite songs and how you were inspired to made it happen: One of my most recent songs which is very much a favorite is In The Early Light. This song was sooo cool to come up with, because it was such a magical experience. Literally one day, a saturday if I remember, I just woke up in the morning, and I KNEW I was going to write one of my favorite all time songs that day (this was only just over a month ago). So I spent all day playing music and the song just came together like a dream. Now like most of my favorite songs, I may have written the song in a day, but it took me over a month to record, mix, and master the song, and I just LOVE how it came together!!!

Show us your latest favorite image, and tell us why you love it and how you made it happen: My most recent favorite image I would love to share with you, but I shot it on assignment for Climbing magazine so I can't post it till the article comes out! I can say we got a great shot at the cover though! This image is another favorite from a few weeks ago, a gorgeous sunset. I love it because it was just a killer sunset that had amazing color and depth. I didn't have to do anything to make it happen, I just captured it. Although in Photoshop I did help the depth out a little bit by lightening some of the shadows below so it wasn't all black silhouette.

Give us a tip on how you keep your business organized: I'm just starting to learn how to use GigBooks and I'm really excited about it!

3 things you can't live without: Love, good friends and family, and the ability to play outside and move through the mountains.

What one item in the kitchen best describes you and your personality? The Chef's Knife; artful, delicate, sharp, strong, and precise.

What is the most important branding tool that photographers tend to forget about? I don't know, it seems like photographers are all over branding these days, but I would probably say stationary and printed materials. I bet a lot of photographers (myself included) have nice branded and informative pdf's, but not any printed materials or stationary.

Your favorite actions: The only actions I use are a few that I made myself and Kubota's Magic Sharp; 1 for adjustment layers, some different batch sharpening actions including Magic Sharp, and a Blog Resize and Border action.

Favorite non photography site: Well right now I would have to say http://shawnreedermusic.com as I check it constantly, and especially since the Radio feature went in I'll go and do a search for music and then just listen to the radio while I work and do other things. I also love Sean Jones site, a talented rock climber and dear friend I work with a lot. This was actually a hard question because pretty much all my favorite websites are photography sites.

If Galen Rowell came to visit, I would be sure to hide nothing, especially since he'd be be making such an appearance. I have nothing to hide.

What has Flosites done for you and why did you choose Flosites? Flosites is making me an awesome custom new blog! I'm so stoked. I really wanted something custom, functional, beautiful, and unique with some custom features, and Flosites is listening to all my requests and delivering the goods! We're still working on it but its so exciting and can't wait for it to go live. I came to Flosites because I love the work they're doing and I had heard nothing but great things about Ross and his crew, and they really live up to their reputation!

Sorry for the lack of posts on the blog, we are working on the new site and blog for Flosites and will have lots of new things in store, however I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for your continued support of Flosites.

We have been very fortunate recently with the overwhelming amount of inquiries and new orders, however our main aim for Flosites is to provide a good customer service and final product to our clients. In order for us to do this we are afraid that we can no longer take any new custom blog, site or identity/branding orders until the start of July.

Once again we thank you for your continued support, If you do have any inquiries or questions please don't hesitate to contact us by click here.

Ross

Flosites Founder.

Name: rad

Website: http://www.radproductions.org

Location: Cleveland, oh

Tell us about your family/pets and your life: I am a father of two and soon to be three. my wife is pregnant and due in june, the middle of wedding season! whoops.....

Describe your photography style: clean, fresh, fun

Who is your target market: rad couples

What inspires you? my family and other photographers

What would you be if you weren't a photographer? a janitor at my daughter's school for obvious reasons

Give us one of your best marketing secrets: the b school. that guy is rad

Best workshop you've ever attended: pictage partnercon. I have a list of ones I need to hit up but been too busy.

The biggest challenge for new photographers is: the business side of the industry. if I can recommend one thing to new photographers is get an assistant/office manager. let them deal with the business side and you do what you do best. shoot.

Show us your latest favorite image, and tell us why you love it and how you made it happen:

we were shooting in this garden and my assistant a-train pointed out the birds kissing and next thing you know, it's everyones favorite image.

Give us a tip on how you keep your business organized: we are lacking in that dept. that is why we are going to be using shoot q asap!

What was your most difficult photography moment: when I had to do a spot color photo for a client.

What photography organizations are you a member of: wppi

3 things you can't live without: full house, music, 85 1.4

what one item in the kitchen best describes you and your personality? the snack drawer. additive and fun for all ages.

Where do you shop for camera gear: bandh

Your favorite actions: Kubota magic sharp, totally rad actions, dj's showit effects and some that I made.

Favorite non photography site: www.slickdeals.net

If Jessica Claire came to visit, I would be sure to hide: my poker chips. she will take them all.

What has Flosites done for you and why did you choose Flosites: when i decided to brand my company i wanted to use a young, fresh company that had the reputation to deliver the goods. i can honestly say that ross and flosites met, and exceeded my expectations. from the initial contact with flosites i felt the professionalism and excitement of a company that i believe would do an amazing job. ross took time above and beyond to help me along the way and allowed us to work together making the final product exactly what i was looking for. being readily available and punctual i found a design company that will continue to have my business. just do not ask how old ross is as it will upset you that he is so young but so damn good.

Name: Lea Dales

Website: www.leadales.com

Location: Charleston, South Carolina

Tell us about your family/pets and your life: I am a mother of two teenagers. AJ is almost 16 and Veronica is 13. We have a cat named Tiger, two bearded dragons, Cooper and Chipper, and two Beta Fish whose names change occasionally and we are not sure why! My husband Mark and I have been married for 17 years and we moved to the Charleston area in 2002 from Virginia. I own two photography companies so between those and my family I stay pretty busy. Oh, I can't forget - I am the PTA president of my children's magnet school.

Describe your photography style: Pot pourri! Not sure how to spell that... I don't have a style per say. I love to keep things simple and natural. My little tag line ready Simply Beautiful. I do love to throw in the photo journalism style and fashion....back in the day I was a model for Ford in New York so I learned a lot from those photographers as well as a dear friend and pretty famous stock photographer Bob Llewellen in Charlottesville.

Who is your target market: I do mostly weddings, family and children and some corporate work

What inspires you? The arts and beautiful things. I see God in so much and that excites me.

What would you be if you weren't a photographer? An actress, a singer, a dancer, a poet, a writer...

Give us one of your best marketing secrets: Ask for referrals ALWAYS

Best workshop you've ever attended: Sadly I haven't taken any.

The biggest challenge for new photographers is: believing in yourself, your abilites and patience

Show us your latest favorite image, and tell us why you love it and how you made it happen:

I love this little hand almost touching the flower. I met this family at Middleton Place one day while my mom and I were walking around. This lovely woman was there with her two children and she was trying to take their photos. Her camera malfunctioned and she saw me with mine and asked me if I could help her. I fixed her camera, we chatted and I snapped some photos in the process. This was one of them! We are now very dear friends. God works in strange ways

Give us a tip on how you keep your business organized: I am a total OCD person. I love to organize just to reorganize a "better' way (haha) I never go to bed until I have completed what I needed to do that day. Put things in their place immediately, especially paperwork. Your accountant will thank you later.

What was your most difficult photography moment: I shot a wedding in December on the beach. It happened to be a very damp muggy and cold evening and my cameras did not like the moisture. One by one they refused to work....thankfully I had 5 of them and I hung on til the end!

What photography organizations are you a member of: none

3 things you can't live without: my Bible, my family and my friends

what one item in the kitchen best describes you and your personality? What is a kitchen?

Where do you shop for camera gear BandH mostly

Your favorite actions Dezember is suppose

Favorite non photography site not sure what you mean Online...David Yurman or Michael Starr

If (Bob - my real mentor) came to visit, I would be sure to hide: I don't know - maybe my wine!

What has Flosites done for you and why did you choose Flosites Flosites has taken my website and blog to a whole new level. After being here over 5 years and feeling like I have really paid my dues I was ready for a fresh start and Ross really captured me, my spirit and my whimsy. His attention to detail and help are beyond words. I am thrilled with Flosites and we are excited about the SEO help he is giving us now.

Image by bobbi+mike

Name: Rebecca-Linh Rodgers

Website: rebeccalinhrodgers.com
rebeccalinhrodgers.com/blog

Location: Houston, TX

Tell us about your family/pets and your life:
I'm happily married to an amazing chef and we have two beautiful daughters. My life revolves around my family, great food, and photography and I feel so fortunate that I have had the support and opportunity to make a dream a reality.

Describe your photography style:
Laid back and fun. I try my best to not do anything twice so I love being creative and try to bring something new to each client.

Who is your target market:
Anybody who wants to have FUN and be creative!
I love all aspects of photography- I started out with babies, children, and families... and now dabbling and thoroughly enjoying photographing couples and weddings.

What inspires you?
my family, new camera equipment, magazines, other photographers

What would you be if you weren't a photographer?
If I wasn't a photographer- I would love to try another round of being a stunt person.

Give us one of your best marketing secrets:
No secrets- work hard, learn your camera-tap into who you are as a person what your photography style is.

Best workshop you've ever attended:
I haven't been to any yet!
I'd like to eventually so on my wish list are-
The Image is Found - shootshop
Zack Arias One Light Workshop -sad it was sold out here in Houston!

The biggest challenge for new photographers is:
Achieving your own style. Don't be intimidated on what you don't know- find a way to achieve how to learn more. It doesn't happen over night- take your time and ENJOY the experiences.

Show us your latest favorite image, and tell us why you love it and how you made it happen:

My favorites change quite frequently- but this one is currently putting a smile on my face!This mom happens to have a huge "fan club" of friends and family so this shot of she and her newborn was a fun little teaser to show off before I had all the images of she and her lovely baby ready.

Give us a tip on how you keep your business organized:
Trying to keep my house clean. I know, totally unrelated, but the more organized my home life is- the more clarity I have spend time on my business. (and vice versa). Uncluttered brain leaves way more room for creativity.

What was your most difficult photography moment:
Recently second shooting at an evening wedding in a really low light church. First time ever shooting in such conditions that it really tested me!

What photography organizations are you a member of:
OSP

3 things you can't live without
iced coffee, macs, family and friends

what one item in the kitchen best describes you and your personality?
My French press- Good things come to those who wait.
(Yes, I am one of "those people" who can't function without coffee.)

Where do you shop for camera gear:
I am a huge fan of supporting the local camera shop:
Pardee's- Sacramento,CA
Houston Camera Exchange
Houston's Camera Coop

Your favorite actions:
Kubota, TRA

Favorite non photography site
thebabywearer.com
etsy.com

If (any photographer... or anybody really....) came to visit, I would be sure to hide:
My itunes account-I have got some shameful taste in music on there (but I LOVE it!)

What has Flosites done for you and why did you choose Flosites
Flosites has turned a small gesture into an outstanding business relationship. Their customer service is outstanding and they really have worked one on one in creating my custom blog.