I was asked twice this week how I choose which images I post on Facebook, Instagram (both Jeff Norris Photography) and/or this website. Interesting, but it’s really just two simple factors. First, many clients specifically ask not to have their shots posted on a public site, and second, I simply don’t have the time to post as much as I otherwise might.

This week, as an example, I’ve got six jobs. As I’m shooting and editing those, I’ll be into the following week(s) and will have six more jobs…. It’s a not-for-the-faint-at-heart career (and I wouldn’t want it any other way!).

We just stole away for a quick five-day return to beloved Route 66 for the week leading up to and including Father’s Day, taking my dad on the portion of the Mother Road from Chicago to St. Louis. Last summer we drove him on Route 66 from St. Louis to Santa Monica, but he’d missed the Chicago-St. Louis portion, and very much wanted to have completed the entire 2,448 mile journey.

We hit all the highlights of the beautiful road, including Dell Rhea’s, the Gemini Man, the iconic gas stations, the wonderful museum in Pontiac, the incomparable Cozy Dog, Deck’s Drug Store and, of course, Ted Drewes and the amazing concretes. We even tossed in a Cardinals/Cubs baseball game in St. Louis….

Interesting to look down on my calendar and see “Summer Begins” on the page today. I feel as if it’s been summer since May 1st, and have already had a glorious one, at that. Let, I suppose, the actual summer now begin….

Far more blessed than I have any right to be…. The gift of travel, and even more so on top of everything else I’ve been given, is a grace that I appreciate to my core.

Ten days exploring the gorgeous western-Michigan iconic shoreline, and particularly the four days in Mackinac Island, were extraordinary beautiful. The Grand Hotel is an incomparable jewel, and it’s now a part of my life in the same way that is Key West and a few other deeply personal, special locales.

Wrapping up the work week and smiling as I finish my final shots from a recent wedding.

Now, it’s time for a quick round of golf, a long run, dinner with dear friends and packing for Mackinac Island! Life is a brilliant journey.

This past week or so has been memorable in my life.

I’m surrounded with love while working (photographers definitely see — and at our best aid in enhancing — a lot of joy), while relaxing, while serving others and while pursuing personal hobbies. It’s interesting to occasionally be reminded of, and affected by, the equally ever-present element of hatred and mean-spiritedness that exists in other people. I’m blessed that throughout my life, when confronted by the latter, I’ve been able (emotionally, financially and intellectually) to walk away. We all need a guide/purpose/lighthouse in our lives. My personal guidepost — a mixture of a few absolutes — includes turning my back on weak, cowardly influences.

Joy feels better than does negative personal agendas. Love feels better than does small-minded scheming. Photography, running, playing guitar, traveling, reading, writing, watching films and basketball, listening to music, spending time with family and friends, serving those who appreciate, wandering and working with fascinating clients — that’s the world in which I find my soul. To grow, on occasion you’re reminded to shed.

From senior pictures and graduation ceremonies straight into wedding season in full force! Heading out the door in a couple hours to shoot my third wedding in two weeks (IU, a barn and a church!). Shuffle into the mix a marathon, a brilliant concert, the Big Ten Track Championships, coordinating the launch of our new golf course and a couple Board meetings, and it’s been a mesmerizing May, already!

I absolutely love life. I’m thrilled with the possibilities of each day. I’m even more thrilled when the new day is accompanied by coffee (he typed, sipping away….).

I’ve carved out large blocks of this summer to travel. That said, I’ll be in Bloomington a hodgepodge of five or six weeks between now and September, so do call or message me if you’d like to get together for a shoot!

Exhale….

What an exhilarating senior picture and graduation season this has been! High schools still unfolding, but IU wrapping up. I politely bowed out of IU commencement photography, as I’m off to run a marathon this weekend (an odd trade, no doubt!).

Brandon is a budding Artificial Intelligence expert. We had a wonderful shoot talking about his upcoming career. The world is unfolding at astonishing pace, and we’re blessed to have young intellectuals ready to step up and lead the process.

Whew…. Senior Picture and Commencement season is in full force, and I’ve been all over the region, camera in hand. Such a wonderful adrenaline boost working with so many bright, interesting and inspiring students at the Southern Indiana high schools and Indiana University.

I love thinking, as I’m working with these kids, how they’ll look back on these images in the decades to come, knowing then what they can’t yet know now.

Springtime…. Graduations…. Hot sunshine…. What a blessing this season is, and how much more poignant it feels each successive cycle.

Road Trips.

The key to a fulfilled life, I'm certain.

God Bless Yosemite, the Majestic Hotel and the blessing to travel, of course.

A raised glass to determination, perseverance and gratitude.

Midway through a whirlwind weekend, and taking a moment to stop and appreciate the good people I've worked with this past week. I adored Kelly, and am always inspired to talk with like-minded folks who launch businesses after having had successful careers working for others. 

Courage and perseverance and confidence and determination are glorious partners along life's amazing hiking journey.