Harrigan Tales

Well I started I started a new job a few months ago.  It’s only part-time but I have summers off and basically the same vacations as my kids.  It’s perfect for me at this time as it allows me to continue to grow my photography business.    

Which brings me to the photography.  It has been a passion for such a long time but the practical me kept telling myself that I couldn’t earn a “real” living doing it.  Many people along the way have told me I should pursue.  I have just recently started to pursue this just beyond a hobby.  I have done a few sessions and even a wedding a few weeks ago.  No I am not a “wedding” photographer as many of them are simply amazing and very talented and wouldn’t even begin to put myself in that catergory.  This was a very casual wedding where the bride and groom just wanted some candids.  I charged very little for the event as it was not my specialty.  It was raining and a dismal day but that didn’t stop the multiple smiles I was able to capture for the couple.  I thank them for entrusting me with such an important day.

Since venturing with the photography through Facebook I have virtually met so many wonderful and talented photographers.  Many of them live and work across the country and some live overseas.    The learning curve for me is huge and I have been lucky enough to get some guidence from some wonderful people that I have never even met but are more than willing to help someone from a far.

Stayed tuned to see how this evolves for me.  It is foreign to me to be able to do something that I enjoy and get such satisfaction when the even is completed.  The clients have been appreciative and grateful.  Coming from an entirely different industry this too is somewhat foreign.  

People that know me understand that I love music and love photography.  I am lucky enough to have the use of my ears and eyes to enjoy both.  As I am learning from other photographers that I find through Facebook I am amazed and in awe of the talent that is out there.

I find that music often can enhance what you can visually take in.  This is why I often will create slideshows of my photos and add music to help create the mood or feeling.  Picking the appropriate song is sometimes easy and others not so easy.  Sometimes words fail where music can fill in the blanks of those moods we experiencing.

In networking with my Facebook Page I have virtually met many wonderful photogs out there.  Many of them share the same passion for photography.  There is one woman who has taken beautiful photos that just take your breath away.  I have been looking at her photos and you can tell that she appreciate everything that surrounds her.  It’s appreciating the smaller things in life that make each and every day special.  It shows in her photography.  What’s even more amazing that through her status’s she revealed that she was indeed deaf.  Most people would consider that a handicap but for this woman at the young age of 20 she has empowered herself to show others what she see’s and unveils the beauty she sees every day.  It’s not always the big things but the small things that you have to stop and look in order to see.  I strongly urge you to go to her site CJP Photography and see what she has created.

Here are a few projects that I have created through the use of photos and music.  The first one is of my boys over the past few years.

The next one is of the horrific storm that we experienced in the fall of 2011.

One of my favorite that I made was of Walker’s 3rd grade year and Peytons kindergarten year.  It was the first year after I was laid off and was able to help with their classes as much as I did.  I created the video’s for the teachers as a keepsake.  I will not post them as I do not have permission for the parents to post.  

These are just a few of the ones that I have made but hope you enjoy them.

This ad ran during the 2013 Super Bowl.  Growing up on a farm and being raised by my father I can tell you it rings much truth about farmers.  My father raised us three kids and ran a dairy farm on his own.  We were much better off being raised by a man that had such a work ethic and set an example not only to us kids but kids in town as well.    He taught us to be independent and how to fend for ourselves.  I have tried to instill the same values in my own children.  At the age of 6 my son was making his own lunch and packing his own snack for camp everyday.  Could I have done it for him?   Absolutely, but that would not be teaching him to do anything for himself.  Teaching your children to take care of themselves is the responsible thing to do.  

My dad used to listen to Paul Harvey year ago.  I played this ad for him as he missed it during the Super Bowl.  No truer words rang true to describe what a farmer goes through day in and day out.  You have to love what you do as you do it because you want to not because you feel you have to.