NEW HIRE! /  by Glenn Fajota

Accounting, Billing, Emailing, Scheduling, SHOOTING Photo and Video, Editing, Public Relations, Social Media, you name it, I did it. Although I would contract people throughout the years, HIREGFP was pretty much a one man team, working 12 hour days for years. I never complained because I knew what the end product was and that I loved what I did.

Many of you always asked how I made it all happen all while keeping a high end brand with high end clients. Well the truth is, even though I'm hanging off cliffs and traveling around the world, the workload back home was only getting deeper and deeper. Do I stay home and knock out the work or keep traveling to my clients and do what I do best. It was and still is hard for me to find a balance between the two. If I stayed home, I would get a lot of work done but then I wouldn't fulfill my clients needs. Now, if I traveled to shoot for my clients, I would satisfy their needs and my brand BUT the workload back at the home office would only grow.

If you have been following me on social media over the years, you know that I travel a lot. 4-5 days every week or to put in a year's perspective, I would be gone nine months of the year. I try to meet deadlines and correspond in a timely manner but it is impossible even if I was only traveling two days out of the week.

Well, I've finally succumbed and realized that I can't do this all by myself. My strength is behind the camera and in order for me to do that, I have to relieve myself of the pre and post production. There was only one solution, to expand and hire someone. Someone who knows my brand and values it just as much as I do.

Join me as I say bye to the 80 work weeks and say hi to Mary Anne Matel! She has worked with me over the years and understands why and how I run Glenn Fajota Photography. A handful of people applied but none fit the position better the she does. I am truly blessed to have her on board full time as the Production Manager at Glenn Fajota Photography.

The caveat of her position, is that she will be doing it all, including writing her own paychecks and being her own human resource department haha. So from here on out, please send all compliments and concerns to maryanne@glennfajota.com (;

Glenn Fajota
Owner, Photographer
Glenn Fajota Photography

HIKING GEAR : Osprey Kestrel 32 Camo /  by Glenn Fajota

It's that time of the year where I am doing a lot of hikes to scout for future hikes for (landscape/wildlife assignments). So there isnt really a set time that I'll be out there but I'm hoping it wont take me longer than three days to scout a location.

To help scout the landscapes/wildlife, I decided to bring a load out that consisted of a camo, multicam, coyote, olive drab items. This will help me blend in the natural surroundings without disturbing the natural feeding for these wildlife we are scouting.

Safety is always first. My projected campsites, routes and return time are always left with someone at home and at the office. And although Ill be camouflaged with the environment, I am taking safety precautions by marking my campsite for humans (if there any) and I am also equipped with a whistle and GPS/radio devices, in case of an emergency.

Enough of that chatter, lets get to the gear list!

Osprey Kestrel 32
Catoma IBNS
Klymit Inertia X Lite Ultralight Backpacking Pad
Outdoor Research Dry Compression Sack
The North Face Aleutian 50 degree bag
Cocoon Hyperlight AirCore Pillow
ENO Camo Hammock and Tarp
Mechanix Tactical Original Gloves
Patagonia Rain Shell
Hultafors 19" Axe
Joby GorillaPod
Vargo Ti Boiler Cook Kit
Pipe Hitters Union Glow in the Dark Nalgene
ZPacks Roll Dry Sack
Outdoor Products Food Bag
The North Face Fleece
Lowepro P&S Case
Canon G7X
PETZL Headlamp
J5 Flashlight
Ditty Bag of Paracord
The North Face Ground Tarp

 

 

 

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APRIL /  by Glenn Fajota

Yes, the 2016 train has started rolling with no stops for awhile. This past weekend we did part two of the landscape photography workshop at Elliot Knob. Before we hit the road, everyone grabbed gloves and a trash bag and we cleaned up the trailhead for our part in Earth Day.

Earlier this month, flew to LA to shoot portfolios with a few agencies and also spent a couple of days out in Joshua Tree National Park chasing the stars. We will be back in LA again next month shooting with agencies and trying to fit an overnight hike in. Hit me up Floss Angeles!

We also spoke at Coleman Place Elementary for their career day. I hope that after the 700+ students that came by, one of them will become a photographer and give me a shout (=

 

 

 

 

MARCH /  by Glenn Fajota

Even though February had an extra day, it seemed like there were only 2 weeks in that month, it flew by so fast. From the Studio Lighting Workshop to the Spike's Tactical Shoot for RECOIL Magazine, we were busy behind camera and studio lights.

As we head into our first full week of this month, we are preparing for our portion of class where I teach the students of TMSSR (www.themakeupschoolsr.com) how to work on set as a makeup artist. Also part of the program, I shoot their branding headshots as well as two of their first portfolio images as a working makeup artist.

Assistant (PAID). From the long list, second shooting, BTS video/edit and room to grow with GFP as well as build your own brand are the main requirements for this position. I don't babysit or go back and forth. If you want to join the GFP and work on brand too, then give us a shout (=

*Still uploading images to the galleries and working the layouts, so check back.



 

FEBRUARY /  by Glenn Fajota

January flew by so fast! With trips to the mountains, Shot Show and new branding for 2016, it has kept us busy and not to mention we had our first workshop of the year, which was a blast! We were flooded with emails and messages the next day with great feedback as well as those who weren't able to attend, asking what and when is the workshop. As you saw from the pictures, we had a full turnout, just like all our workshops so make sure you reserve your seat early!

That leads us to this month's workshop, Studio Lighting! This may be the most informative workshop for any photographer using lights. I will show the difference between light outputs from softboxes, beauty dishes, and even speedlights. There is a lot of 'loose' information on what brands work best, how many lights, etc but I will clear all that up at the workshop.

Over the next couple of weeks, we will be uploading our environmental headshots. Anyone can shoot on a backdrop so we kinda skipped uploaded those headshots. We like to put our clients in their world, in their element. From the presidents of the local colleges to tv personalities, they always trust our vision.

Check us out on Instagram @glennfajota for BTS images from the last workshop as well as the new Lowepro Streetline 250 which we were lucky to get before its release last week (=

 

#HIREGFP /  by Glenn Fajota

WELCOME TO THE NEW SITE!
We are still uploading our favorite images but there are a bunch in the food gallery. The food gallery is an opening to our first workshop of the year which will be held on Sunday, January 31, 2016. 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER :  Food Photography

WEDDINGS
For any wedding inquiry that I receive, I get real happy since all are from wedding referrals. I don't advertise and have never posted a wedding gallery on the website and yet I still average 25 weddings a year, which tells us me, the GFP team is doing something right (= Although I shoot a majority of destinations weddings, I still shoot a select few here in the Virginia/DC area. I approach all weddings with a flair of fashion, editorial and travel, which you can see in the wedding gallery (=
(coming in the next few weeks)

WORKSHOPS
There are photographers of all levels that message/email me about photography daily. Some schedule a private lesson at our studio and some even travel with me to assist and get hands on experience. Even though I answer the same question over and over, I don't mind it all. It's all about giving and watching growth in another individual sharing the same interest as you. I feel bad when I can't reply to everyone's email, tweet, YouTube comment because I simply don't have time since I travel a lot.

To combat that, each month I will be hosting a workshop at the end of the month where I will cover a different topic. We have great success during our summer week-long workshops which always sells out and go way over time, haha. Sharing 15 years worth of knowledge over a course of 5 days is just not enough so we are going to break it up over a course of 12 months.

The structure for the workshops start with instructional time and then hands on shooting where each photographer gets to participate in a live shoot and walk away with portfolio ready images. Lowepro, B&H Photo and The Pelican Shop, our sponsors are VERY generous by giving tons of products for prizes and giveaways and are usually more than the registration fee. Also everyone leaves with a prize (;

#HIREGFP
To see where we are in the world, what we are shooting or what gear we are currently using, find us on the internet with #HIREGFP
 

Here comes 2016! /  by Glenn Fajota

Hello!

2015 is a wrap, well almost. I have a few more weeks of travel left in December, then I can finally take a break. Traveling 4-5 days a week for most of this year, really put me to the test in trying to make deadlines, make time in front of the computer but most importantly, finding time to myself. And on top of the work schedule, after 10+ years having my office in Downtown Norfolk, I moved to Virginia Beach where I work closely with the students of TMSSR. However, the office move did not stop the demand of my clients, since 90% of my work is travel based. On the few days that I was in office, I was teaching workshops and photography courses. If I was few days late in replying to you, most likely I was high up in the mountains or in front the classroom. December is my catchup month (=

Over the years, I have picked up more and more travel/tourism projects and clients which had a big part in Glenn Fajota Photography's rebrand. The 81% black and the current HIREGFP logo will still appear until I slowly phase it out later next year and that's where I'll introduce the full rebrand throughout all the collateral (letterhead, website and client list). GFP has a pretty full schedule in 2016 and will be limiting our wedding bookings after 2016. So if you or a friend are getting married in the next couple of years, better send us an email to make sure we get the date locked in!

As we prepare for the next calendar year, what better way to do so then with our annual Glenn Fajota Photography Travel Edition calendar! Proceeds will to go to World Wildlife Fund and National Park/Forest Services which will safeguard and educate the general public. Makes a great stocking stuffer!

Thank you to my current clients for being patient and understanding my demanding travel schedule. And to my future clients, let's go do some work!

2016 GFP TRAVEL CALENDAR

http://www.glennfajota.com/store/2016-calendar

 

Your photographer,

Glenn Fajota