… and everything else is a piece of cake. - Pat Salvatore.
Cade.
Expression, expression, expression. A photographer friend of mine recently told me ‘In real estate its all about location, location, location. And in photography its about expression, expression, expression.’ So much of what I do is capturing just that… an expression that can be looked at and interpreted by all those who see it. This is one of the most odd yet charming ones… It’s not your typical baby shot… but I suppose not too many of mine are!
I will admit to some questioning about Jack & Bobby and Taylor Swift as inspirations but will stand by West Wing, my most favorite show (or at least tied with The Office… yep, completely similar shows?) as a serious inspiration for me and ELP. Though I make a lot of dramatic statements, often involving my domination in fantasy football, my queso-eating abilities and my lack of patience in temperature extremes here’s a statement that has no drama just truth: West Wing has A LOT to do with the success of erika LEIGH photography.
The show is amazing, and unlike the other show on this list, it lasted past two seasons and thus can fill my mornings with two glorious syndicated episodes. Like I explained in the Jack & Bobby explanation, I have to have television on in the background to actually focus at work… this is in accordance with my tendency to always to two things at once, read and twirl my hair, iPhone solitaire and Internet surf and the ever dangerous, text and drive… my friend calls in ‘driving while intexticated’… so true, so true. And this one goes a step further in having to have GOOD television on, not just sound or crappy talk shows, it has to be of substance. Enter West Wing.
Everyday from 8-10 in Atlanta I can be found at my desk (sometimes in bed even) hacking away at the computer at the days work as this chimes in the background… its like instant fuel, coffee for your ears… or mine at least. The opening credit music alone inspires me but then you get an hour, I suppose 43 minutes of strong dialogue, addicting characters and beautiful imagery all laced upon a common theme, all set in President Josiah (Jed) Bartlett’s (played by Martin Sheen) West Wing. I’ve spoken of it many times on this site… it is a must see show, for me it is a must see for business as in those first two hours of the day I get my whole day started and planned, my emails responded too and my life situated… it is a must see for life as it has this warming and humbling affect on me. It focuses on large scale issues obvious for the executive branch and small personal battles from the staffers… it creates this empathy for political figures and, though I recognize it has fiction, it makes us feel, like I and many of us want to believe, that politicians do have heart.
I watched occasionally growing up but never during the time when the shows story line could align with remnants of the reality, though they can always be applied and remembered: the War on Terrorism, personal scandals among public figures, the battle of good yet still politically strong in the race to win the White House. The simpler, more personal issues of losing loved ones, hard days at work and unpleasant addiction can always be applicable. Today I watch it for its exquisite writing and strong character development… both, paired together affect me in a way I can’t really explain (I know, weird… that I don’t have words for it). I think though the best way I can explain my love for it is that maybe this is my hope for all (yes I still realize it is fake) and for this country. As a chick I vote (admittedly) on personal conviction, the way one carries themselves, the heart I feel for them… I want to know that public responsibility has an undertone of virtue that came from long ago in a life lesson not just from what the polls say. Though in most of my past posts my inspiration has a particular trait or quality I can really point out as inspiring… this is just the show in general that makes this blond so touched and dreamy from 8 to 10 am so I can keep erika LEIGH photography pumping… may BRAVO never see a need to change its morning lineup and may all my friends and family band together for my Christmas Gift: West Wing – The Complete Series Collection… IMAGINE WHERE ERIKA LEIGH PHOTOGRAPHY WILL BE WITH 24 HOUR WEST WING ACTION!
Party on Wednesday. Giving away a FREE PORTRAIT SESSION tomorrow or Friday! Love free things… erika@erikaleighphotography.com!
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