Hey everyone! We’re getting close to that busy time of year—for photographers and everyone else—with the holidays just around the corner. It’s hard to believe we only have about 8-9 weeks left in the year. Where did the time go? As we dive into Q4 and things get busier, I thought it would be a great time to take you behind the scenes. Let’s look inside my “camera bag” and see what I’m working on, plus some of the unique tools I’m using to wrap up the season strong.
Recent Projects and a Busy Season
So, I recently wrapped up a series of seasonal shoots, and I’m finally catching my breath from the whirlwind! These sessions are fantastic for clients—they’re quick, fun, and a chance to get those seasonal photos in before the holidays. They’re also great for business, bringing in a mix of familiar faces and new clients who are looking ahead to their 2025 needs.
Beyond that, I’m diving into some exciting 8x10 film work over the next few weeks. 8x10 has such a unique presence and depth that’s hard to match, and I’m focusing on it as much as possible. Over the weekend, I finally carved out some time for test shoots on 8x10 black-and-white film, using CatLABS 80 II for outdoor environmental portraits. I’ve also got some Ilford HP5 arriving in 8x10 this week, which I’ll be using for evening shots that I can’t wait to capture on this large format. Shooting twilight scenes on 8x10 adds a whole new layer of complexity, but it also produces those incredibly rich, atmospheric images.
Integrating the Vintage Process Lens Prism
One of the most exciting additions to my setup recently is a vintage Process Lens Prism from Nippon Kogaku, the company that eventually became Nikon. This piece isn’t just a typical lens—it’s a relic from a time when process cameras were used in industries that demanded the highest possible precision. Think of massive, room-sized cameras engineered for tasks like printing and high-end reproductions. These lenses were crafted with extraordinary sharpness and clarity in mind, built to capture every possible detail with stunning accuracy.
Back in the day, Nippon Kogaku was known for producing top-tier optical equipment, primarily for industrial and military use. Their standards for optical quality were incredibly high, and each lens was crafted with meticulous attention to detail. This particular process lens prism was designed to produce images with supreme sharpness, which is exactly why I’m excited to use it for upcoming client flat-lay projects.
I’m looking forward to seeing what this prism lens can do. Let’s just say, it brings something different to the table—exactly what that looks like? We’ll find out soon enough.
Film Stock Selection: Segmenting Formats for Year-End Projects
While I’m focused on 8x10 for a lot of my work as we wrap up the year, I’m still using these “smaller” formats—4x5 and 120—for specific projects. Each film and format is matched to the look I’m going for on different days. Some of these combos are dedicated to specific projects that call for their unique characteristics.
For instance, Kodak Ektar 100 and Fujifilm Provia 100F in 120 format give me those rich color tones and contrast I want for one series, while Ilford FP4 Plus and Rollei Infrared in 4x5 bring the classic black-and-white look and dramatic effects for another. It’s all about using the right tool for each creative vision, and having these formats ready keeps my setup adaptable.
Getting Ready to Send a Little Something Fun
I like to send out some fun prints to clients, past clients, and a few others at the end of the year—it’s a lighthearted way to share some visual flair without it feeling too serious. Right now, I’m in the prep phase, making sure everything’s ready to go. Judging by the size of the box, I might have gone a bit overboard on the printing, but hey, better to have too many than too few, right?
For now, I’m just showing the behind-the-scenes of the print prep, not the actual designs. I’ll keep those as a surprise for the people receiving them—it’s more fun that way!
Planning Ahead: Setting the Stage for a Strong Start
With the holiday season approaching, everything moves fast—and before you know it, the pace slows down for a bit. If you’ve got ideas or projects in mind for early 2025, planning now means we can jump right in come January, without the need to play catchup.
A bit of prep goes a long way, and setting things in motion early helps ensure a smooth, focused start to the new year. Let’s make sure your vision is ready to come to life, right on schedule.
A Glimpse Behind the Scenes
That’s a bit of what’s going on here as I prep for the months ahead. No rush, no pressure—just sharing some of the creative gears in motion.
Here’s to keeping the momentum going and seeing what unfolds! (And if you’ve got an interesting look, you might just hear from me for some upcoming conceptual projects to keep things dynamic.)
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