While being a photographer is a creative profession, there are still many parameters when working for a client. And I’m certainly not complaining about those parameters because I’m always thankful to be working. That being said, it is nice when I have some downtime to fully pursue my own creative endeavors. One of my favorite creative outlets is to walk around Chicago and find inspiration. Today, I expanded on my photo series ‘How I See Chicago‘ by adding Volume XIII. For this volume, I confined my physical location to a one block radius around Michigan and Jackson.

For my second photo, I walked west to the brown line. Typically, I prefer to be more photojournalistic, but something about this photo screamed – combine a stylistic look!.

Some artists claim that everyday life is more interesting than anything we can create. This image is proof. Upon leaving the interior of a South Michigan building, I immediately encountered this lunch time smoke break.

It’s easy to get caught up in the macro world of Chicago, but it’s important to find solace in the micro beauty too.

Wrapping up the photo series is an image I simply found amusing. Someone bought a stairway to nowhere.

Check out Volumes I-XII on Flickr.

As mentioned in my social media blog, I wanted to dive more in depth to each of the social media sites I use for Mark Campbell Creative. This one is devoted to the most obvious for my business: Flickr.  Below is a recent headshot of a Chicago actor which was recently uploaded to Flickr.

Not familiar with Flickr? It states 2 goals: helping people to make photos available to the audiences they choose, and enabling new ways of organizing both photo and video. As a photographer and videographer, this is my paradise. As my business has grown, I’ve been able to continually add new photos, add new types of photos, and then organize them to showcase the full range of my portfolio. Besides being able to share my photos and videos with the Flickr community, I’ve also been able to interact with other photographers (both professional and amateur) from all around the world. Through groups, other users, contacts, and simple perusing of the wealth of content, I am so inspired by others’ work and excited when I get feedback on my own.

What is great about Flickr is that photos require no words. While a caption is great, it isn’t necessary. The Flickr community is global, and it is incredible to see the work produced all over. Flickr also enables you to “favorite” or comment on photos, which is a great tool for photographers. I’ve interacted with professionals – asking how they set up, shot, lit a certain photo and I’ve also helped out some amateurs, who ask for feedback or advice on photos. And it’s certainly not one-way: I’ve gotten my fair share of comments and questions, from people met only through Flickr.

While I don’t upload every photograph I take or video I produce, it is a great way to house my work in a place where the community is especially receptive. Even the groups I’ve joined that are contests based on a different theme each week are supportive of each others’ work (even if secretly we each want our own photo to win).

Be sure to check out my collections, sets, and photostream, along with my Favorites from other Flickr users. Got a question or thought on something in Flickr? Let me know below.

Recently, I had the pleasure of photographing Derek and Aya‘s wedding at A New Leaf, which is a beautiful, contemporary venue with an outdoor courtyard, interesting metalwork throughout and a multi-level interior with exposed brick. They had around 90 people at their intimate wedding. Because of this, the couple was able to talk and interact with all of their friends and family casually. It also allowed me to get to know more of the guests than I typically am able to at larger weddings.

Derek and Aya and their wedding party were a blast. They were open to silly photos, but could focus for the formal photos and you could tell everyone genuinely cared about the couple.

To cap off this fun spring wedding in scenic Lincoln Park, three of the groomsmen performed an original song with a ukulele about the story of Derek and Aya which was true to the whimsical spirit of the wedding. This was a great couple to work with and I wish them nothing but a lifetime of happiness. You can see more photos on of the wedding on Derek and Aya‘s site.