I know it is late,  but Merry Christmas anyway!

Well it has been a busy few weeks to say the least. filling orders, buying food for parties and Oh, yeah buying gifts.  I know I am not the only one doing it, but I still fell behind.  so  I guess I will take this time to wish you all a safe holiday with family and  Happy New year!

www.koppiphotos.com , www.koppiwritephotography.com

Jamie,

It is great to talk to you one on one...finally! 
You have always come off strong and focused. I think people are lucky to get a chance to work with you!  Sorry, before I get ahead of myself.   Please tell the readers who you are, where you work or are located and give me some links so they can find you on the web.

Thanks Patrick!  I have my main photography website at www.koppiphotos.com, from there they can find my boudoir and senior portrait work as well as my blog. 

Thanks!  You are focused!  I can't say it any other way.  I like that A. Adams quote you start off with....  Being in the right place at the right time. You seem to be in the right place now.... I think portraits are the perfect way for people to capture the moment.  Your portrait work just grabs me.  What is your thought process behind a great portrait? And it is just me,  but would you say portraits are your strong suit?  I know you shoot a lot of other styles or subjects.....  Please tell me more about those?

Portraits are my strong suit, but I think because that is what I get the most practice doing.  A great portrait to me shows a subject that is comfortable (even if they hate having their photo taken).  Capturing the subject’s personality is the fun part.  Finding out what makes them relax, smile, and react.  Once you know that, you can work on taking the perfect image.  The best part is knowing the exact moment that you “got it”. 

And like you said, I do a lot of other work.  I classify my boudoir as portraits, just a different type.  Ideally I would shoot 10-15 weddings a year, and that goal number goes down each year as I invest more time in my clients and their relationships.  I love that I am doing wedding photos for my senior clients, and maternity & newborn sessions for my wedding clients.  It is an honor that they come to me to document all of their lives milestones!



After the clients are wow’ed by your images,  what is your secret, what is the icing on the cake that is making them all rave about your work?  Or put another way,  what are you doing differently that is drawing all these clients in?

I have a great friendly business relationship with the majority of my clients.  They don’t think twice before they text, call or send me a facebook message.   I think that is lost a lot with some photographers.  To some it is a job and they leave it at that.  Photography is my passion and that carries over throughout all aspects of my business.  When you come to my studio you are offered a seat on the couch, kick your feet up on the oversized ottoman, feel free to help yourself to snacks and drinks.  You will hear my ipod playing in the background.  It is all very personal, all very ME.  That is what makes me different.  There are a million photographers out there, but I am the only ME.


I think you have nailed it to this point,  you know what you are great at, you are creative, you are your own boss....   What direction do you want to take your business?    

What is your ultimate client like? ... And I know you are a people person. So talking to you is very easy. What type of client makes your work so much easier?

Ideally my business will continue to grow at a steady pace.  I would like to add an associate photographer to my staff next year.  I do a lot of cross marketing and promotion with local businesses and mommy groups and the additional photographer will be helpful in those busy times. 

My ultimate client… Down to earth.  They value custom photography.  They know the difference between a snapshot and a portrait.  They may not know the photographic reasoning, but they know the quality is different and they are willing to spend a little extra money for great portraits. 

I am all over the place both creatively and physically when I shoot.  I sweat, I trip, sometimes I come close to falling in water.  I have to have clients that are ok with that.  I need clients that don’t mind if I get down on my belly to get a shot.  It is even better if they don’t mind getting down there with me because they know I have a vision and they trust my mind’s eye.

   

 I know there are always variables but what is your perfect shoot like? You know, when everything is firing on all cylinders ...... What is that feeling like to you? How does it make your clients feel?  

There are many variables!  Seeing that I am in the south, it gets HOT.  So the perfect shoot would be a day when we are not sweating outside.   I love outdoor portraiture.  There is just something about the lighting, colors and mood that just comes together.  So, a perfect shoot starts with the perfect weather.   Mix in some models, or a couple for an engagement session and I am on it.  Once I in the “zone” there is no stopping me!  Seriously, I could shoot all day and night if my subjects were willing.  I think that my excitement, my joy and vision all come together and the clients get excited.  They just want to see just one sneak peek.  I typically show them ONE shot on the back of the camera.  Usually after they have witnessed me do something tremendously weird (like climb a tree for the right angle).  Once I show them “the” shot that I had to have from that angle and they see that it is awesome, they are revved up and ready.

What are the results? 
Pure joy.  Getting back to the studio and downloading the images is the longest 20 minutes of my life.  I just want to see them in full color 14 inches from my face on my 22” monitor.  I don’t even have to edit them right then… I just want to see them.  However; I am one of those “same day” editors.  I usually get sneak peek up on facebook before the night is over.

What do clients need to do or think about to help make the shoot go smoothly?
I think clients need to have a little faith and/or trust in my vision.  That is what makes it successful.  Having the friendly relationship with my clients helps that more than you can imagine.  We might not have even met in person before the session, but they know me.  I am open and honest and don’t hold much back so they have seen my work, my abilities and trust me. I don’t mind when a client comes to me with a specific vision, but I LOVE when they say I have full creative control.

I know your kids and having a family are important to you.  How do you feel that has helped you in photography?  Other than families being able to relate to you better.  I see more passion in your work.  Is that where it comes from?

I am a child of God and that is first and foremost, then my family is next.  Without that, photography would be pointless.  I believe that having my family and experiencing the joys, milestones and moments through the eyes of a parent, I know how a parent would want that moment recorded through imagery.  That helps.  Every wedding I am taken back to my wedding day.  Every newborn brings me back to my babies.  Every family brings me joy.  High school seniors allow me to be young again and take me back to the days when I first met my husband.  It helps that I relate every session to something in my life.



What is your latest project?


Gosh… which one?  My brain moves in so many directions it could have its own road map.  I will be teaching boudoir photography to my awesome mpixers in April.  I have been working on a marketing kit and boudoir posing guide for my class participants. I give my time to a few charitable organizations and always have projects working with them.

But the MOST exciting project I am working on right now is my high school senior model search.  It will launch in January and is very much inspired by ANTM.  There will be voting, a high fashion shoot, and ending with a fashion show where the winner will be announce by the unveiling of the cover of the a fall 2011 fashion catalog.  Very fashionista!   Can’t wait for it to fully kick off, been working on the “behind the scenes” details the past few weeks.

Jamie, I don’t want you to feel I missed something.  Open forum!  What is on your mind that you want potential clients to know about you that I did not ask?  And since you work with seniors and that age group also,  Please give me your FB page and twitter so people who want some original, hot photography can get in touch with you.
I am always on facebook: www.facebook.com/koppiwrite

Any other ways they can reach you?  Blog? twitter? etc.....

My New blog is: www.koppiwritephotography.com

Find me on twitter: @koppiwrite

Thanks for your time.   “ Koppi write”... That kills me every time I see it...... Awesome!

....... Please say Hi to the family and I hope to see them all if you are ever in Chicago.  Or if I ever get back to Texas for work.

If you live in her area, go talk to her about your photograpy needs.

I have been working with my friend Adam  on redoing the shoot kit video.  We shot last week, right before the storm. Since I felt like we were snowed in on Sunday, I was able to work on the video editing. Let's see how it turns out.

Photographers! Neil van Niekerk is looking for the better workflow tips. A perfect chance to win a ShootKit.
http://ping.fm/wTnVZ

Happy holidays everyone!

I finally got the website up and running. My "@partrickphotography.com" email is also fixed. Be sure to visit my site AFTER thanksgiving.... when you can't stand to see another turkey.

New Web site coming soon. It will be like Warneka 2.0. either way, I have been working on the site. Remember I am a minimalist.... clean lines...lots of white space.... this is what you will get. :)

Great News! A new store is coming to town. Strictly Locals. A new hang out to see some great artwork from local artists. More later... You can check my work out there too!
http://ping.fm/xMcJ8

Just a quick post to wish everyone a happy, safe fall season. Like my other posts mention, I was in Cancun and had a blast. Got a little work done and the rest of the time was mine. I am now back in the middle of fall trying to enjoy it. Not that hard.... Beautiful colors all around. :) Get out there and enjoy it while you can.

Cancun Wedding

Cancun Wedding

I just got back from Cancun.  I was actually hired for a private family event.  I had to photograph a family on vacation and doing a few other events.  But Here is the fun part!  I saw a couple walking down the beach on one of my days off. the woman was in a white, long, sun dress the man in black shorts, and a white top.  I said they look like they just got married. I noticed that as they walked down the beach they handed their camera to strangers to take there photo. it is not that uncommon, heck, I even do that.  But they did it a lot more often as they walked.

  I watched them stand on a small jetty her dress  and long brown hair blowing  in the wind behind her as the waves crashed in. He stood in front of her as they took turns taking photos of each other.    IT DROVE ME CRAZY! I said to my wife, "I have to shoot this couple!"  I ran over and asked them for their P&S camera.   It turns out they were just married and were from the Russian Federation.  I  pointed to myself and said  Professional photographer. Her eyes lit up and handed me the camera.  I sent them out on the jetty of rocks, wind blowing their hair and dress back, waves crashing in, blue skies and teal colored ocean behind them....   and I shot, and posed them a little at first, and shot and shot and shot......  I was waste deep in the surf almost being knocked over by the waves...  but I was having so much fun. They kissed and hugged.... and I shot and shot.  I just let them be a "couple"  and I shot around them.

It was interesting to see that we did not have to speak the same language to work together. But on the other hand, that is one of the reason's I LOVE photography.  I am not good with languages, and my writing is even worse.  but my photos do all the talking for me.  I felt as high as a kite after taking about 50 photos with the couple from Russia.  I hope they enjoy the photos.  I realized, I really love what I have a chance to do with my photography. Make people happy.

I saw the couple the next day while we were checking out. I gave the groom my business card and said  Please email a photo.  He smiled and thanked me again. I wished them good luck and many happy years.  I know they did not understand my words, but they got the meaning.    

It is not the paper the photos are printed on or the camera that I use that makes photography so exciting to me.  It is the fact that I get the chance to capture people in a happy time in their lives and record it so they have it beautifully documented for themselves and the next generation. 


If you are having a wedding in some far off destination, and not sure if it is worth having a local photo on the trip please give it some thought.  I and willing and able to work with you to make sure you have to best photos of the event for yourselves and your family to share for years to come.

We just wanted to wish everyone out there a Happy 4th of July. Please have fun,but stay safe.

Happy Birthday America!

I had to put this skyline photo up. Go Hawks!

Just a short note. It seems odd but I am having a great day. I guess focusing on a project really helps.

Since I have some followers on this blog,  I thought I would let you see what I have been up to lately.
I am very proud to show you The Shoot Kit   www.shootkit.com

The video is a rough draft,   I am in the process of shooting the final version in HD.  I would love to hear what you think and I hope this interests you enough consider picking one up when they come out.

Obviously, the site is not finished.  so please keep that in mind.  it will only get better.


Best,
Patrick

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My friend and Photographer Saundra was over  and we were talking about everything, business, life what not... It was good to see her again and I have to tell you,  If I had a child and wanted photos. I would go to the best!  If you don't know Saundra's site yet. It is time you visit  http://www.saundrakarol.com/. Her studio is cool and  her work rocks!   Moms get your kids infront of Sandy's lens, Fast!

editing photos from the wedding this past weekend. trying to narrow it down a bit.

I just wanted to leave a quick note.  I visited the factory that I might use for a neat little item for photographers to use.  It will store neatly in your bag and I think you will find it will make you a hero at any shoot.   Keep an eye out for this one.  It will be perfect for you.

I love this photo from an event I shot in Chicago the other day.This photo is of a CEO going on stage for a town hall meeting.   I just love the way it looked.

Found this fun photo,this couple was so much fun to work with!

It is good to see business coming back strong. I picked up a new client this week for some corporate portraits. Just remember me when it is time to update your photos. I am easy to work with, I always stay withing budget and I deliver on time.

Happy New year!

We will start shooting again in a few days. It was a nice break and I am not sorry to see 2009 going away. We want to wish you all the best in 2010.