This first image was taken from this really great engagement session here in San Diego.
The other image was from a wedding in Ramona a few years back.

Another photographer who I really admire gave me some encouraging words after the competition and reminded me that my clients paid me for my creativity, they loved the photographs, and I get to do what I love and grow and stretch my creativity.

I guess that was the best lesson in photography I learned that night.

William Bay is a Photographic Humble Pie.

A month ago I announced that I would be doing a 365 day project. Well, after giving it some thought and looking at my schedule for the year, I’ve decided to bring it to a more do-able project.

So instead of everyday, I’ll be posting at least once a week. 365 dropped down top 52.

What is on the books for 2011?

2011 is lining up to be a great year, and I’m excited about the opportunities that are lining up.

• I am in the process of forming an Internet Marketing and Development company. As some of you may know, I’ve designed and built websites for many years, including my own. And I’ve had a number of people lately approach me about designing and creating websites. I finally embraced it, and am looking forward to creating some amazing websites for my clients.
  Because I am very selective with my photographic clientele, running the other business won’t pose schedule conflicts. I tend to shoot once a week at my busiest anyway which is great for giving my all to those clients and proving the best photography I can.
• On a similar note, it looks as if I will be teaching quite a few workshops on WordPress this year too. I already have a program scheduled in Las Vegas on the 26th and 27th of January for the Vegas Pictage User Group. I’m currently in talks to come out to the San Luis Obispo area, and NYC!!!
• The Wedding Season is just getting underway and just in time for a new look on the website. My very close friend Dona Foltz created a beautiful new logo for me and I couldn’t be happier with it. After a few tweaks to the site, I think it’ll be all geared up to book the brides that are looking for that perfect wedding photographer here in San Diego.
• I’m also pushing myself to continually experiment and create new styles of photography for portrait work and fine art as well. So keep an eye out.
• Other things I’m excited about this year is new levels of health and fitness, lots of surfing and spending good time with friends, and paying off my truck. Maybe a personal trip or two wouldn’t be a bad idea either.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to a great and prosperous 2011 for you and your loved ones.

William Bay is a 365 has turned into 52.

The Design

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about who I am as a photographer lately and I’ve come to the conclusion that my current site doesn’t reflect what my photography is about. The current design has been up for almost 2 years now and that also has me clamoring for a redesign.

As of now, I have a very close friend of mine working on a new logo, and I’m in the process of a complete website redesign. The redesign will be a ground up, everything: logo, look and feel, navigation, the photography displayed. It will all be new.

The Challenge

A 365 Project is in the works too. A photo and blog post everyday for 365 days. This will officially begin in January and stretch the entire year. But I’m ramping up my posting now so it’s not that much of a shock to me when I have to post every single day.

William Bay is a New Design Coming, and a Personal Challenge.

I’ll be covering a lot of information about blogging in general, how to get started, the benefits to WordPress as your blogging and website engine, search engine optimization, and quite a bit more.

I will also provide a critique and comment period on the attendees websites and how they can improve their site, blog and search engine rankings with easy tweaks.

Whether you are a wedding photographer, portrait photographer or anything else, you won’t want to miss out on this event.

To register, go over to the PPSDC website and pay online. Space is limited and we expect to have a full house. So sign up early.

The cost is $25 for PPSDC members.
And $35 for Non-members

William Bay is a Come See Me Talk About WordPress.

At PPSDC (Professional Photographers of San Diego County), we hold 5 print competitions per year with a full panel of Master PPA Judges. And I truly love submitting my work, and hearing the critiques and discovering where I can get better in my photography.

And this year, it just so happens that I am responsible for putting the whole thing together… Yikes, what a responsibility! This year also happens to be a unique transition period, in which the Board has made the decision to convert over to digital display rather than actual prints. There were and are plenty reasons for going that route, and of course there are reasons for staying with traditional prints, but I won’t really get into that here.

I will say that I think we put on one hell of a show that night. Amy Dawnelle helped me with running the competition, and there were so many other people that helped set up and manage the flow of the night, including our Print Competition Chairperson from last year assisting with the handful of actual prints that a few members had submitted. Yes, we’re officially hybrid and people can submit digital or prints.

I submitted two photos. Only one merited (received an 80 or better) with a score of 81. This image might look familiar to some, as it comes up on the first page of my website.

Look out in November for my next competition pieces. I’ll definitely be sharing them.

William Bay is a September PPSDC Print Competition.

When I found The Professional Photographers of San Diego County, I knew I had found the right spot. They are the San Diego guild for the PPA (Professional Photographers of America), and dedicated to education, maintaining professionalism in the industry, and developing the skills of it’s members.

I was naturally very excited when they asked me to join the Board as a Committee Chairperson. But was recently asked to step in as 2nd Vice President, why 2 VP’s??? I’m still not sure really. Just kidding.
The 2nd Vice President’s job is to manage the job of Print Competition. It’s a pretty big job, and the 1st Vice President has a pretty big job too. So, that’s why we have two VP’s.

In addition to the VP job, I have taken on the roll of Marketing Director. It’s a pretty huge task, as membership has been dropping due to economical concerns, amongst other things.
My mission is to grow the organization from the 60 or so members into a thriving community of 150 very successful photographers.
Needless to say, if you are a Photographer in San Diego, call me and I’ll give you all the information you need to join or come to one of our meetings.

It’s going to be an exciting year for PPSDC and my own photographic journey.

Thanks for reading!

William Bay is a I’m the new 2nd Vice President of PPSDC.

Honestly I was hoping to be writing this blog post in celebration. And maybe I should warn you, I may come off as a whiny, spoiled and misunderstood artist as you read this. And, I know a lot of you have been waiting to see this big secret I’ve been brewing since I was in Austin

But… I’m incredibly upset by what happened at Tuesday night’s PPSDC, (Professional Photographers of San Diego County), Print Competition…

Maybe it’s my fault for expecting to walk out with Best In Show, but I received the highest score out of all entries. I thought it was a sure thing. Then I find I get bumped in the first round of the “play-offs” like my Green Bay Packers… Only I had scoreboard…

I suppose I was way too close to the image. I had this planned for about at least 9 months and was only just able to execute it when I was in Austin back in November. And I was so wrapped up in this image I’ve had in my head… It just really stings to see it lose so badly after scoring so well. And, not to take anything away from the Photographers that received Best of Class and Best of Show that beat it, but when multiple members and one of the Judges comes up and says that I was “robbed,” it really hurts.

So… I’m going to finish my beer that I’m crying into, and move onto “what’s next” tomorrow.
I would like to say a quick “Thank You” to Kareena (my model in this photo), Chris Lin for assisting, and BWC for printing the exquisite print I entered in competition. I don’t care what the judges say, this is a great photograph, and there is no way I could have done this without you guys.

William Bay is a Robbed!.

I’m really looking forward to the opportunities in the group. I’ve already got ideas lined up for the website, and I’m getting excited to network with other wedding photographers.

And for you San Diego photographers out there, if you’d be interested in taking your photography to another level, and surrounding yourself with some really powerful photographers, you should join. It’s only $90/year. And there are a ton of benefits to joining.

William Bay is a I was accepted into PPSDC..

I joined the Austin PPA (Professional Photographers Association) two months ago. I figured in order to get my name out there as a legitimate wedding photographer in Austin, I needed to belong in the professional organizations, network with other photographers, and continue my learning process with the guest speakers they have every month.

Last night was my first foray into the print competition though. It turned out to be a very competitive night. There were about 12 entries and after seeing each one I was really thinking I’d be lucky to place.

As it turned out, I took the Red Ribbon! I just nudged out a maternity shot with very pretty lighting, and my photo BFF Maria Bernal nailed First Place with an exquisite fashion portrait.

I actually owe Maria some credit on this photo. She offered a little critique that really pushed this portrait from good to great.

And thank you to Seasha McKay for being a sport and climbing up on this stump, and basically doing all the crazy things asked of you, including swimming in a dress that had to weigh sixty pounds wet.

William Bay is a Woo Hoo! I got 2nd Place at the Austin PPA.

I’m putting together all the best Wedding, Portrait and Fine Art Photographs in large slideshows to wow you as you watch.

I’m hoping to have all the bugs worked out by next week sometime. Until then here is a teaser picture of the upcoming design.

William Bay is a A teaser for upcoming design changes.