C.C. Chapman's Blog, page 14

Shooting My Son’s Senior Portraits

As a photographer, I love to be out shooting with my cameras.

When on assignment, the stress factor always goes up a bit. Will I get the shot I need? Will the talent work with me? What if something goes wrong?

All of those are natural and part of the photography business.

It is one thing to be taking casual snapshots on your phone and something completely different when a client is writing you a check for the work you create.

Yesterday, I had all of the stress with none of the money.

That is...

A Simple Weekend

The majority of the weekend was spent feet up in the sun room reading The Accidental Life: An Editor’s Notes on Writing and Writers on my kindle.

The stories and style hit home and fuel my desire to write more and fear less.

There were pork chops on the grill and fresh corn beside them. Cold beers giving a moment of salvation from the soupy sludge of the humid August nights.

Sunday morning breakfast at our usual spot. Iced coffee bought from Dylan at work.

Preparing for my most daunting photo...

Remaining Positive in a Less Than Happy World

Turn on your television or look at a news site and you are guaranteed to see something that upsets you.

It doesn’t matter which side of the aisle you lean, team you root for or flag you salute. There is a never ending stream of bad news that will bother you.

I’ve talked before about how throwing more hate, anger and frustration out into the world helps no one.

There has been an endless stream of tweets and status updates I’ve thought about creating.

But, whenever I’m slamming the keys in fru...

Family Fun at Revere Beach Sand Sculpting Festival

The beach is the last place I personally go for family fun during the summer.

Sure, the ocean is beautiful and there is always endless people watching at the beach, but sitting on a blanket, melting in the sun is not my idea of a fun day.

So, when I partnered up again this summer with Fidelity and MEFA to cover one of their UFund Dream Tour stops I’m not sure why I chose the Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting Festival.

I mentioned to our neighbors that we’d be going to this and they a...

Being Prepared To Fear Less

The other dayI placed a new order from Serepick because I wanted a set of lock picks in my car.Upon arrival, I added them to my ITS Trauma Kit that I keep in mycenter console.

I was discussing this with some in my family and received a familiar smile and head shake. I ignored it and moved on.

Yesterday morning I saw a friend tweeting about coming across a jogger who was having medical problems.

They mentioned that no one around them was comfortable enough with CPR to do anything and they all...

Giving the Cobbler’s Kids Some Shoes

We all know the old story about the cobbler being so busy making shoes for customers, that his own children had none.

When it comes to online strategies and marketing programs this is how it has always been around here for me.

Always helping clients set up and execute things, while neglecting my own.

Today that changes.

Yesterday, my friend Jason from GORUCK let me know that the tool I was using to send out new blog posts via email was a pain to read on the phone.

This is something I’ve mean...

Death Inspires Living

July was a rough month all around me.

It began with the tragic death of a nineteen year old and ended with the peaceful passing of a seventy eight year old.

Two ends of the spectrum of life. Leaving behind heart broken friends and family.

Reflection is part of my daily life. I think about things. Looking behind and forward. Pondering what comes next.

These deaths have had my mind in overdrive. I’ve planned my funeral, wondering what people will say and knowing that I don’t want it to come any...

Rough Streets of Neverland

I arrived home and walking up to the front door I saw this on our stairs.

A pipe cleaner Tinker Bell.

She laid there on the cement. Shadows being cast around her.

My assumption was that she was the latest artistic creation of my daughter. Probably done at Science Camp that day to entertain the kids.

As I took the photo, all I could think was, “Must have been a rough day on the streets of Neverland.”

Eulogy vs. Resume

Earlier this week, I attended Bentley University’s Center for Business Ethics 40th Anniversary Conference.

One of the speakers was discussing the concept of virtue in the workplace and during his talk he raised the question, “are you more concerned by your resume or your eulogy?”

That stuck with me. It hit home.

Last night as we sat watching television,a text from my Dad arrived letting me know about the passing of a long time family friend.

I was overcome with grief and began to cry. Dylan a...

When The Muse Screams

If you are a creative, you’ve heard the scream of the Muse.

Not the simple whisper in your ear or tickle on your heart, but the full blown cry out to be recognized and used.

This morning she yelled in all of her fury.

Reminding me that while I’ve been spinning, strategizing and sipping, I haven’t been creating.

There are blank pages that need to be filled.

Images yet to be captured.

Spaces on the bookshelves of people around the world where a combination of my thoughts and dead trees would ma...