Discrimination Is Everywhere

First, I would like to explain that because of frigid weather involving a spell of heavy snow, the youth models' photo-shoots, that were scheduled for the weekend of February 15 through 17, has been postponed until a few weeks later. Hopefully, it won't be much longer before they have their official portfolio shoots of the new year. To try and raise money for the project as to purchase clothing for a modeling wardrobe, as we'd like to call it, I'm going to put up a few sets I had been able to take in the past years.

Second,

Something happened, quite briefly, yesterday, and it got me to thinking. The story goes like this:

We had an incoming call yesterday in the late afternoon. As usual, my mother's boyfriend is quick to pick up the phone. The caller asks to speak to me, and while I would have liked to take the call myself, once my mother's boyfriend told the caller that I was hearing-impaired, the caller immediately hung up.

If anyone thinks that someone who is hearing-impaired, let alone deaf, would be horrible as a photographer, let alone a human being, they should be ashamed of themselves. In five years' time, I have grown as a photographer and as a human being, working with and being around for the children and teenagers if they needed someone, and trying my best to get out there and do more pictures, and I'm quite proud of what few achievements I have done.

If you're someone who can be a potential customer, but you would have issues with a deaf photographer, then you aren't worth my time. Part of my family, my closest friends including the children, and I myself can guarantee that, while I still have a lot to learn, I'm good at photography.

If you'd like my services, or to donate to either photography or youth modeling project, e-mail me at hoggardphotography@gmail.com . Thank you!

I recently posted this on my Facebook page. I was not all pleased about the caller's rude reaction, whether it was because of my hearing-impairment or something else.

Recent Shots and Upcoming Shoots

College isn't fun when it keeps you busy day in and day out, but hopefully the work would be worth it in the end. Recently, Blake came over for the night and we were able to do a quick shoot. Though we could have been more prepared, the shoot was actually a spur-of-the-moment situation where I just wanted to take pictures. We hiked in the woods near town and found a nice area and started preps. Because we didn't have an authentic costume for a “forest nymph”, which was the idea I had in mind, we just used the makeup I had at hand and quite honestly, this was the first time I used actual makeup on someone, let alone a boy.

We hope that we will have a next time for the forest nymph, maybe even with another model in the shoot, and if so, we would be more prepared.

Please keep an eye out for new portfolio shoots of the DJ Models coming soon; we hope to do the shoots near the end of the month so it shouldn't be a long wait!

I'm hoping to promote my business more often this month, too, now that I'm going to get business cards officially done and post flyers around town. Not sure what I'd do yet; I recently purchased blank business cards from Walmart but can't get the printing aligned properly. Hopefully I will figure something out soon!

If you'd like to donate to my photography or the project, please email me for information at hoggardphotography@gmail.com . Thank you!

First Portraits of 2013

Last night, Shadow and I talked about his name in the project, and after careful consideration, we both decided to change it to Blake. In various places where I already have posted pictures of him with his former name, I will work on changing them to his new name, but it will be a slow progress because of college and my focus on the modeling project.

Ace and Blake came over last night and we had a blast through the night. We played games, watched some funny clips, and even took some very good pictures; I have included two of them in this post.

There are some good things that could happen for the project; it's just the matter of making it work financially that's our main concern. The website will be constantly updated, but to get the best information at once, you should follow this blog. I also have started considering a Twitter account to further promote my business, but it isn't decided at the time.

After browsing around on Flickr, I also found inspirational pictures that have given me new ideas. You can count on seeing a lot of new pictures this year, some of the models and others of other stuff. Hopefully I will get to do some traveling this year and take some great landscapes as well!

As I say often, if you would like to help me out as a photographer, or to donate to the project, you can always send me an email to hoggardphotography@gmail.com !

Oh, also, official links! ; ; ;
http://semper-iuvenis.deviantart.com
http://desjeunes.zymichost.com

Des Jeunes Website

After hours of frustration with the codes and learning of issues with the host's server, I finally managed to finish the new design for the website built for the youth modeling project. It took me some time but it was worth the effort to see the much better style befitting for a youthful atmosphere, compared to the gloomy dark gray scheme that I used before. The graphics are better and things are more organized in the new look, too. Hopefully, the models' page won't stay empty long. We have been discussing possible shoots soon, but we just aren't sure when, and we are trying to find decent clothes they can model in. If you'd like to donate some, fine by us! Just send me an email.

That being said, some people might ask where the models' pictures are. Because we haven't done any actual portfolio shoots recently, there isn't much to show at the time. There will be as soon as we can get some shoots scheduled and done, though! Most of the pictures I have of the current models; of Ace, Freckles, and Shadow, were taken back in 2011, with a few of the rest being taken last year. Now that I have recently purchased a new camera and they are officially signed in the project for the next year, we can expect quite a few shoots from them, and hopefully from more models along the way!

Here's the link to the website; 
http://desjeunes.zymichost.com/index.htm  

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone! Welcoming 2013 was fun, and this year I plan to really get out there as a photographer.

Recently I heard from Lagoon's mother and she decided to wait until he was older. It was a unfortunate loss but at least there's a chance he will be in the project in the future.

However, I'm proud to say that Ace, Shadow, and Freckles are officially signed into the Des Jeunes Youth Modeling Project until December 31, 2013. I look forward to doing more work with them this year, and hopefully they will continue to enjoy the work as always!

For now, we are trying to raise money to expand the project, purchase necessary equipment, and to travel, and to advertise as well. It will all take time but hopefully it will all work out.

Again, happy new year to everyone, may 2013 be a great year for you!

Welcoming Lagoon?

The Des Jeunes Youth Modeling Project is still in development, being off to a slow start. However, we might welcome some new models into the project soon, hopefully beginning with four-year-old Lagoon. His mother and I quickly arranged a short photo-session shortly after meeting and, quite honestly, I was amazed by the little tyke's good behavior. He followed instructions well and provided some great pictures! Being four, I'd imagine that he would be rumbustious, but I was proven wrong! Though he had a hard time understanding me, he enjoyed the session and I look forward to working with him again.

Not only that, but he had two little brothers, twins, with him and they were so adorable. They kept us all laughing with their silliness and their maniacal giggling. Being only one year old, they couldn't be in the project yet, but I hope to work with them when they come of age, which is four, to be in the project! Here's a great picture from that session, possibly my favorite of the whole trio!

There are a few other children and teenagers I have been discussing the project with, and also discussing it with some parents. Whether they are in or out, it hasn't been decided and probably wouldn't be until next year. Hopefully, they will enter the project and help it expand to where it needs to be today.

In a previous post, I explained that Ace and I were planning to do a movie. However, after realizing the amount of time and effort we would need to put into making one, and seeing how shorthanded we were, we decided not to continue with the movie. We do intend to still create the story and maybe turn it into a photo-shoot, and possibly one day, a play.

If you'd like to help donate money, clothes, equipment, or props to the Des Jeunes Youth Modeling Project or just simply my photography, you can email me at hoggardphotography@gmail.com for more information. Until next time!

Returning Soon

Again, it has been a while since I submitted a new post for my blog. I have been so busy with college that I hadn't thought much about it. I'm currently majoring in Business Administration so that I could improve my photography business, and so far I'm doing good in my classes. This is Final Exam Week, so I have been studying vigorously. Fortunately, I'm almost done with this college and then I can move on, possibly to try and obtain a Master's in Photography. My minor will involve making movies.

Recently I purchased a new D-SLR, and so far I have been enjoying the opportunities I get to use it.

Speaking of making movies, one of my youngest models, Ace, and I are possibly going to shoot a movie soon. When and how, we aren't sure yet.

The youth-modeling project is still under development but we are doing good.

Some of the pictures I recently took with my new camera are posted below;

We are hoping to expand the project soon and for my business to pick up in 2013, too. If you'd like to help us, we need plain clothes to build a suitable wardrobe for the children. If you'd like to donate some, you can email me at hoggardphotography@gmail.com. 

To check out more of my work;

http://www.facebook.com/sidneyhoggardphotography
http://semper-iuvenis.deviantart.com/
http://500px.com/semper-iuvenis
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shoggardphotography/