A Dream Realized: Professional Print Journalist Becomes a Professional Photographer!

This post has been a long time coming. I wanted to tell you guys the good news as soon as it happened, but I think I had to really accept that my dream had finally come true before I could share. I took a buyout from the Denver Post in November, ending a 15-year career as a print journalist to pursue my photography passion full-time! My last day at the Post was 11-29-11. I grew up at the Denver Post; experiencing some of the greatest accomplishments of my career to date. In 1997, I received several awards, as well as a 1997 Pulitzer nomination for "Breaking the Cycle," a personal column I wrote about my childhood experiences growing up on welfare. And I was among the DP staffers who shared the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for our breaking news coverage of the Columbine High School massacre. Heck, my friends at the Post even sent me a huge bouquet the weekend I closed on my first new house in 2004. And when the tides turned, they helped me weather some of the worst tragedies of my life, including my mother's untimely death at the age of 48, and a recent car accident that would have claimed my life had I not been granted a miracle and a guardian angel.

Apparently others knew long before I did that my destiny would one day take me away from the Denver Post where I had fully expected I would retire from. When I sat down to speak with Denver Post Editor Greg Moore, he told me this: "I knew you were leaving the Post." I asked him why he thought that when it hadn't occurred to me to ever become a full time photographer until a few months ago. "I could see your passion just by reading your Tweets and your blog posts. You were learning something new everyday, and you were totally excited by it." Many years ago Greg hired me to shoot his family's portraits. I remember the look on his face when he pulled out his check book and asked me how much it would cost. When I said, $150, he did a double take and my heart sank because I thought I had charged the head editor of the Denver Post too much money (can you say FIRED, anybody?) "You aren't charging enough for your work," Greg said. "The fact that you drove all the way out here to shoot these portraits in our home was worth $100 alone, and that's not even getting to the time you've spent shooting and what you will be editing!"

WHEW!!!!

That was my first lesson in pricing for the value of my work, something I am still struggling with now especially in a bad economy when photography is considered a luxury item. A few years later Greg paid me $150 for one framed print of "Teri's Rose" after he saw it hanging on display at the Heidi's Deli in the downtown DP building. He hung it in his office until his secretary told him he should probably remove it since Teri worked in our office as an editorial assistant! ;) Always loved you for your willingness to do that, Greg. You rock!

It still shocks me to say that I'm not working for the industry that has been such an integral part of my personal and professional development. I was just a wee lass when I started as a news intern at the DP in 1996, fresh out of college with my degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of Iowa. Once I was hired full-time, I worked in the news department covering nightside GA, then on to numerous city beats including Denver Northeast neighborhoods, Boulder and Aurora. I spent my last 8 years working my first dream job as a features reporter in the lifestyles section. I honestly believe that the work I produced in the last three years of my Denver Post tenure featuring articles about sex, dating and relationships were the best written work of my life, where I had finally found and embraced my own voice. One of my last relationship articles about GPS-enabled smart phone dating apps appeared on the Front Page of the newspaper, definitely a crowning achievement. The skills I gained there are far more numerous to count, and will continue to give me credibility and a solid foundation as a writer.

You want to know how I was able to make this transition that started five years, ago back when I was too afraid to take my camera out of its box because it cost more than $1,000? Well, it was one big thing and a lot of little things leading up to it.

When I survived my car accident in July, it forced me to think about my mortality and question if I had been living an authentic life. Somewhere along the way, my love of photography had become equal to or even surpassed my life-long love of writing. And my desire to focus on this new creative adventure wasn't going to be denied! I often dreamed about studio lighting setups and shooting subjects in far away locations. It was time for me to take the next step...and you know me...I'm not just gonna stroll...I'm gonna RUN!!!

I would like to thank Eric Strom for his patience in teaching me aperture, and helping me master the basic skills I initially struggled with in my first digital photography class. To think that I almost thought about dropping that class because I couldn't understand the concepts. Eric's tutelage resulted in my "Aha moment!" when everything clicked, and I suddenly knew I had the ability to speak photography! Just another push from my first photography instructor Efrain Cruz sealed the deal for me when he told me not to drop the class, that I DID have an eye and that if I stayed the full month with him, he KNEW I would be able to do it! Thanks for your belief in me even then Efrain!

I want to thank Elana Jefferson, one of my editors for trusting me to shoot images of her family, including her daughter's sunflower portraits, a Halloween party and holiday photos. Can't wait to do the candy store shots we had planned with Edie, Elana! Thank you for being a constant cheerleader, going to bat time and time again to have my photography appear in the Denver Post. And I believe it was her advice that broke through the din in my fearful mind when I agonized over whether to take the buyout. I'm talking not sleeping, barely eating, crying in the bathroom stall at work kind of anxiety about if this career move was feasible. I was afraid that I would lose everything I had achieved including my house, my car and the prestige of being a reporter. Even though the industry is suffering an identity crisis right now, readership is low and advertising is nearly gone, folks have to admit that it says something when you can say "I'm a reporter at the Denver Post." And that's not even counting the loss of a getting a definite paycheck every two weeks! One co-worker couldn't stop the words from escaping her mouth: "Are you CRAZY????!!!" Of course she tried to downplay what she had uttered, but she was only saying what I know so many people were thinking. Hell, I was thinking it too!

"It's a no-brainer," Elana told me. Not only had I been tirelessly building my photography business behind the scenes for five years while I still cranked out copy for the DP, but Elana said it was extremely wise of me to have garnered a new skill set at a time when journalism is so wounded. Nothing is forever. Nothing is sure. Don't let your fear stop you from taking advantage of this opportunity. "Take the money and run!!!" she said. Long time Denver Post reporter Jeff Leib was the nail in the coffin, so to speak, that finally gave me peace of mind when I turned in my paperwork to accept the buyout. I remember being afraid that just saying I was interested in the buyout would blacklist me among my co-workers. Jeff reassured me that the union protected its members from things like that. And that all I had to do was ask myself: What makes you happy? Right now, nothing makes me feel more alive than when I'm practicing my new craft of photography. I had to take the risk or forever regret it.



I remember times when I would come into the office and find photography books on lighting and posing that just randomly appeared on my desk. No note, nothing to let me know who left it. Just an unspoken angel who encouraged me by acknowledging that my passion for photography wasn't a passing notion, but something solid, something real. I kinda think it might have been the features editor, Suzanne Brown! Thank you Boss Lady! On my last day at work, Suzanne gifted me with these two books she had been saving for me, Night and Low-Light Digital Photography and Boudoir Photography, both must-haves for the type of photography I love to shoot! I also appreciated the emails I often received from co-workers passing along information about an upcoming seminar or workshop that might help me improve my photography -- yet another gentle push to show that maybe I did have something worth pursuing.

And last but not least, all hail to Cyrus McCrimmon, one of the best features photogs ever. Cyrus always took my photography seriously, answered all of my stupid noob questions and allowed me to watch him work his own magic whenever I was lucky enough to get paired with him while writing my articles. I will never forget the pride I felt when page designers mistakenly thought that several photos I had actually shot were taken by Cyrus. That was the day my photos appeared as a full page spread in the lifestyles section featuring a Fairplay dome house, right next to the section cover article that also bore my byline. Talk about a one-two punch!



"Not many people are gifted with the wonderful ability to use both word and visual images - you are!!" said Barry Staver, a former DP staff photographer and owner of Barry Staver Photography.

On top of all that, I think what's going to help propel me and set me apart professionally is yet another skill set I gained while at the DP: social networking. I learned how to blog, Tweet and Facebook -- anything to drum up new sources and more readership. It started with the DP's Homegirls blog that I co-wrote with Elana, which is now called "Weekend Features." I remember having a hard time learning how to blog and foolishly thinking to myself, "Blogging isn't REAL journalism!" Boy was I ever wrong...it's now the future of the community journalism movement.

So what am I going to do next? I plan to combine my talents into a new umbrella company called Picture Your World Communications. It will of course feature Picture Your World Photography, but will include two new divisions: one for contract journalism services such as editing and writing press releases, etc and hosting blogs. DenverSistahDating.blogspot.com launched this week, and you can expect CountertopCook.blogspot.com to be going online very soon. The well from which my writing flows is long from dry. To that end, I will seek opportunities for freelance writing. I just turned in an application to write about sex, dating and relationships for examiner.com (wish me luck on that).

So the moral to this long-winded story: I still am in woeful need of a copy editor. ;) No, but seriously, don't ever question the impact you may have an another person's life just by doing the little things to let them know they are cared for, supported and uplifted. Everybody I've mentioned in this post plus all the others I didn't helped make me become who I am becoming. I can go all the way back to when my elementary school principal used to oversee me walking home from school so the kids wouldn't bully the new girl (they used to run behind me throwing rocks, ala "Run Forest, Run!)But I won't do that. A little more recently a kind elderly couple from Iowa took me under their wing when I went to college and are now my adopted grandparents for life. And even more recently, the "someone" who left photography books on my desk like pearls of wisdom and growth.

It all matters. You matter. Thank you!

You've come with me this far. Let's keep it moving...

Photo by FMJ Photography

Get the Job Done: A photo spread in the Denver Post!

Sorry I've been remiss in my blogging duties! Usually this is my slow time of the year. But late season senior portraits and the success of new alter ego photo session projects with Independent Consultant Lisa Young has kept me so busy that I'm even thinking about hiring an assistant to help me stay on top of my work schedule.

But today's post is such great news, I had to take the time to share it with my readers! Five of my photos appeared in a Denver Post photo spread on Saturday! Last Tuesday, I drove to Fairplay to do an article on the "Bristlecone Dome" home owned by Keith and Sylvia Wortman. Since it was a quick turnaround (ie the article was due by end of business on Wednesday) my editor asked me to also take photos that would run with the article. I love with when my day and night jobs intersect so beautifully!

To keep both the written and photographic aspects of my journalism job separate, I spent about an hour interviewing the Wortman's on the phone and about an hour going on a tour of their amazing 4,000 square foot. Then after a quick lunch, I took about another hour wandering through the house taking photos. Because the house has such amazing views and a ton of windows, I had plenty of afternoon sunlight streaming through for some great naturally lit shots with a just a touch of fill flash. Here are the photos that ran in the Denver Post, on page 4D of the Saturday Oct. 16 Feature's section "Inside Out."











Want to see the rest of images that the page designers had to choose their favorites from? Check out this gallery. The password is: Wortman.

Turns out 700 people toured the Wortman house over the weekend after they read my article! Love it when my articles have such a great positive impact. Can't even begin to express the pride I felt in having both an article byline and a photos credit! The lovely page design helped make my article one of the most widely read lifestyle articles all weekend long and my editor told me my ability to write and shoot at the same time on a tight turnaround was one that "only a true pro could handle!" I'm just glad she had the faith in me to get the job done! Ultimately I'm hoping that with more work and more time, one of my photos can appear along my story on the cover of a section front!

On Assignment: Working with a Denver Post Photographer and Photo Stylist

I'm thrilled to be going on assignment this morning with Denver Post photographer Cyrus McCrimmon! He will be shooting a model at REI today for a fitness article I'm writing for the newspaper on plus size activewear clothing.

For the past month or so I've been sampling new extended sizes from 14W and up in technical performance clothing from various retailers including REI, Athleta and BornFit. As a size 16-18, I as well as other larger athletes, have a harder time finding activewear that conforms to our curves and provides the same features as other smaller size performance wear like sweat wicking, breathable mesh panels, or anti-chafing. I can't wait to have the article run on May 24 because it includes a list of places where curvy women can shop to find workout clothing that suits their frame and dresses them appropriately for activities like hiking, biking, yoga and pilates, running, and competitive volleyball (my personal athletic addiction!) Take a look at the Lolly 38 "Taffy" line, one of the lines I will be featuring in my article:







My editor has supported and encouraged my involvement in just about every aspect of this article, including choosing a plus size model with an athletic build and look to wear the clothing in a shoot. I'm pretty excited to be working with a photo stylist for the first time. I've been blessed to work with several outstanding makeup artists such as Jett Middleton, on numerous shoots, including last Friday's sunset shoot. It will add dimension to my own growth as a professional photographer to see a talented photo stylist at work. A photo stylist plans a shoot, setting up schedules and contacting suppliers to lend us their garments, shoes and accessories for the shoot. I have three outfits that I want the model to wear: one for biking, hiking and yoga. The stylist and I discussed a location that would allow us to shoot all three scenarios in a seemingly realistic environment and settled on the REI building in downtown Denver. I will be meeting her at 9:30 this morning so she can look over the clothing and make sure the accessories she has will work.

I can't miss out on an opportunity either to watch a master photographer at work. Cyrus is one of the best photogs at the Denver Post and it's an honor to be working with him. And of course I'm going to be bringing my camera and shooting a bit too!

Get the Job Done: Check out my photo in the Denver Post!

Photo by Sheba R. Wheeler, The Denver Post

A portrait shot I took of restaurateur Ifiok Etuk appeared in the Denver Post today! Etuk is the man behind "Iffy's Kitchen," an Auora nonprofit program dedicated to ending childhood hunger. Today Etuk, a 36-year-old native of Nigeria, will host the second annual Celebration of Children at his restaurant, the Hessini Roots International Cafe. The two-part event includes a free hot meal for kids during the afternoon and evening entertainment to raise money for future anti-hunger efforts. Read Kat Valentine King's article here.



This was an amazing experience for me. I got to work alongside news reporter Annette Espinoza who interviewed Etuk while I shot photos of him in his cafe. I felt like a real photojournalist. But at the same time, I felt like a portrait photographer, scanning the scene for the best possible light (which ended up being in direct light from a nearby from the window storefront) and looking for opportunities to showcase the cafe surroundings as well. I used flash bounced from the ceiling and indirect sunlight for all of the images.





I really appreciated getting feedback from my assigning editor, Elana Jefferson, on which photos she liked and which one was ultimately chosen. Her insight will help me improve my shooting whenever she needs an image again and our newspaper staff photographers aren't available for the shoot.

An Aside: Local photography instructors in the news!

Photo Credit istockphoto.com

An article I wrote in today's Denver Post "Inside & Out" section features four local photography instructors! My editor thought it would be a great idea to write an article explaining to readers how to take better vacation photos. And since I'm the budding photog in the department, she thought I would have the perfect perspective to help demystify the process.

I turned to nature and people photographer Russ Burden, who's weekly photo tip appears on my blog on Mondays, Efrain Cruz, the director of Illuminate Workshops, Jeffrey Rupp, an instructor at the Denver Darkroom and Greg Cradick, executive director of the Working With Artists photography school and gallery. What I found interesting about these interviews was how each photographer was able to offer a specific piece of the photographic pie in an easily digestible format.

Breaking News: The Rocky Mountain News Shuts Down

Word streaked through the Denver Post newsroom just a few minutes ago bringing with it a mixture of sadness, relief and anxiety at my day job: Our competitor, The Rocky Mountain News, two months shy of it's 150th publishing anniversary, would be producing its final edition tomorrow.

"Today the Rocky Mountain News, long the leading voice in Denver, becomes a victim of changing times in our industry and huge economic challenges," Rich Boehne, chief executive officer of Scripps, said in a prepared statement. "The Rocky is one of America’s very best examples of what local news organizations need to be in the future. Unfortunately, the partnership’s business model is locked in the past."

I have worked as a staff writer for the Denver Post for 13 years, spending eight of those last years running neck in neck in a race for survival with The Rocky, which has been in a joint operating agreement with The Denver Post since 2001. The arrangement approved by the U.S. Justice Department allowed the papers to share all business services, from advertising to printing, in order to preserve two editorial voices in the community. But when The Rocky announced it was being put on sale in December, rumors abounded of its imminent demise.

I want to say how sorry I am for my colleagues at The Rocky Mountain News and their families, and express my blessings that the Lord protect and keep them during the harsh economic times that has crippled the journalism industry. The Rocky's reporters tireless fight challenged us and kept all of us on our toes here at the Denver Post. Denver and Colorado will never be the same.

The Post did not leave this battle with out deep scars and worries of it's own. Last week, six high ranking managers were laid off and the union is shoring up the final stages of an agreement that includes pay reductions, forced furloughs and cuts in benefits for staffers like me.

And while some may find relief and hope that our jobs are safer now at The Denver Post, we can't forget that we have a major battle ahead of us: The Denver Post won't survive unless it can capture a significant portion of Rocky subscribers. In order to do that, Post big wigs have got to be progressive and learn how to leverage the internet for more readership and advertising dollars. I think it's the best time we've ever had to challenge ourselves to take on more ways of covering the news, from blogging and Tweeting to combining skill sets like I am doing with both my print reporter skills and my growing photographic ways to tell a good and accurate story.

Management said they intend to hire several marquee names from the Rocky staff, which will be key for holding on to specific reader bases. Those include: Vincent Carroll; Mike Littwin, Tina Griego, Bill Johnson, Penny Parker, Dave Krieger, Burt Hubbard, Lynn Bartels, Kevin Vaughan, Gargi Chakrabarty, Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Judy DeHaas.

But I think the best think the Post can do is change it's format from the traditional broadsheet to the tabloid format that Rocky Mountain News subscribers have enjoyed for more than a century. It's a bold move, but I can't tell you time and time again how many times I've heard that the only reason why some people read the Rocky over the Post is because they think the tabloid is easier to read. Denver Post management should listen, change the format and reassure Rocky readers that we are listening to their needs. So far the powers that be have said they will not do this....but if we can't capture at least 80 percent of those Rocky readers in the next six months, The Post could be in trouble next.

Get the Job Done: Photos Published on Denver Post Blog

Several of my photos appeared on the Denver Post Home Girls Blog last week. My editor, Elana Jefferson, asked me to take pictures while she toured the 33rd Junior Symphony Guild Designer Showhouse, an event gives decorating divas a chance to peak inside one of the city's most celebrated homes, the Phipps Mansion. The above pic is my favorite from the set, featuring a stenciled, leafy, art deco pattern by painter Cathy Gibbons near a brick entryway leading to an outdoor patio.

Overall, I enjoyed this assignment because it was a great chance to try blending my print and photography journalism skills. While reporting and taking notes, Elana pinpointed some architectural features and furnishings she wanted me to shoot so the images could accompany her blog entry. I dig design myself, but getting to photograph it was a challenge under these circumstances because I had to navigate between tour participants who always seemed to be in the way of my shots.

Working with flash indoors continues to vex me. I really need to work harder at learning how to blend existing ambient light with flash. There was a tremendous amount of natural sunlight filtering in through the windows throughout the mansion, but I still needed to use a touch of fill flash to fill in shadows.

Get the Job Done: PUBLISHED!

I've known about this since Monday, and it was nearly killing me to keep it a secret until today....three of my photos were PUBLISHED with one of my Denver Post articles, and one was selected as lead photo of the Room Section Front Cover!

Friday, before I went on vacation in celebration of my first year of photography, I had to interview luxury kitchen designer Bill Ohs in his mountain cabin retreat in Boulder County. My editor told me if I took some good portraits of Bill, they might be selected to run with my article in today's issue. I took my trusty wide angle 16-35 mm with me since I also wanted to get some shots of the interior design of Bill's cabin. Three of my shots, including the one above, were chosen.

I asked why this wide angle shot of Bill relaxing in his living room was chosen over more traditional head and portrait shots. It was explained that since the "My House" series of articles profile a subject based on how they chose to live in their home, the above shot was the best "journalistic" display of how Bill interacts with his personal space. I have to admit, it took a while for that explanation to sink in. I was just trying to get Bill and his living room to all fit inside the same frame. ;)

Being slow on the draw is proof of why it's going to take many more years of experience before I can be an affective, storytelling photojournalist. Until then, I'll just stick with the simple concepts that I can follow.....hey, I was PUBLISHED!