Huge success!

I am so proud of the students in my mentoring group, their exhibit opening was a huge success and the show looks so professional. A lot of commitment and growth went into the past 12 weeks. Kudo's to all of you.

"It Works" a photographic exhibit. Mentoring students with Ted A. Cutsumpas from the Danbury Mayors office

Today is the day. The mentoring students did such an awesome job, what an experience for all.

It Works...

Over the course of twelve weeks, eleven students have delved wholeheartedly into the world of photography under the guidance of professional photographer, Laurie Klein. They have learned all of the elements for taking a unique and moving photograph; and put that knowledge to use through evaluations and critiques to explore why something "works."

Finding why an image works, or does not work, has been a major focus over this mentoring program. Telling an artist that you "like" a piece of their work does not contribute to their learning process, and will usually tell more about the viewer than the work itself. Instead, discussing what makes the picture strong, will further the student's knowledge about themselves and their art.

With that, we invite you to view the works of these talented young artists with an opening reception at the Mayor's Office in Danbury.

Thursday, December 17th

4:30-7:30 pm.

The Mayor's Office is located on 155 Deer Hill Avenue in Danbury. The showing will be on the third floor, and parking is available in their lot. This event is free and open to the public. Please come and celebrate these students' incredible accomplishment. Refreshments will be served. The exhibit will run for three weeks and will be up until January 7th during business hours.

Students who are involved in the project:

Arthur Hauser ~Bethel High School

Matt Valenti ~Bethel High School

Christina D'Arco ~Brookfield High School

Danica Caroll ~Brookfield High School

Jamie Gustavson ~Brookfield High School

Mike Rupp ~Brookfield High School

Eric Hoffman ~Newtown High School

Haley Russo ~Newtown High School

Kateleen Foy ~Newtown High School

Nicolette Waterhouse ~Newtown High School

Katie Kelly ~Wooster High School

"It Works" Exhibit Snapshot

An excerpt from a collection of photographs taken by Kateleen Foy. Please come to our mentoring group's exhibit "It Works" on Thursday December 17th from 4:30-7:30 to see the rest of Kateleen's images, as well as work by ten other photographers. The exhibit is being held at the Danbury Mayor's Office on 155 Deer Hill Avenue. Refreshments will be served, and all work is for sale.

Monday Morning Inspiration

"Life shrinks and expands in proportion to one's courage."
~Anais Nin

"It Works" Exhibit Snapshot

An excerpt from a collection of photographs taken by Jamie Gustavson. Please come to our mentoring group's exhibit "It Works" on Thursday December 17th from 4:30-7:30 to see the rest of Jamie's images, as well as work by ten other photographers. The exhibit is being held at the Danbury Mayor's Office on 155 Deer Hill Avenue. Refreshments will be served, and all work is for sale.

"It Works" Exhibit Snapshot

An excerpt from a collection of photographs taken by Haley Russo. Please come to our mentoring group's exhibit "It Works" on Thursday December 17th from 4:30-7:30 to see the rest of Haley's images, as well as work by ten other photographers. The exhibit is being held at the Danbury Mayor's Office on 155 Deer Hill Avenue. Refreshments will be served, and all work is for sale.

"It Works" Exhibit Snapshot

An excerpt from a collection of photographs taken by Erik Hoffman. Please come to our mentoring group's exhibit "It Works" on Thursday December 17th from 4:30-7:30 to see the rest of Erik's images, as well as work by ten other photographers. The exhibit is being held at the Danbury Mayor's Office on 155 Deer Hill Avenue. Refreshments will be served, and all work is for sale.

"It Works" Exhibit Snapshot

An excerpt from a collection of photographs taken by Matt Valenti. Please come to our mentoring group's exhibit "It Works" on Thursday December 17th from 4:30-7:30 to see the rest of Matt's work, as well as work by ten other photographers. The exhibit is being held at the Danbury Mayor's Office on 155 Deer Hill Avenue. Refreshments will be served, and all work is for sale.

"It Works" Exhibit Snapshot

An excerpt from a collection of images taken by Nicole Waterhouse. Please come to our mentoring group's exhibit "It Works" on Thursday December 17th from 4:30-7:30 to see the rest of Nicole's work, as well as work by ten other photographers. The exhibit is being held at the Danbury Mayor's Office at 155 Deer Hill Avenue. Refreshments will be served, and all work is for sale.

Monday Morning Inspiration

The holidays are fast approaching! Take time for the little things to find joy and happiness in everything that you do.
Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy. ~Thich Nhat Hanh

"It Works" Exhibit Snapshot

An excerpt from "Mood within the Photograph" taken by Arthur Hauser. Please come to our group exhibit "It Works" on Thursday December 17th from 4:30-7:30 to see the rest of Arthur's work, as well as work by ten other photographers. The exhibit is being held at the Danbury Mayor's Office at 155 Deer Hill Avenue. Refreshments will be served, and all work is for sale.

My article in Professional Photographer Magazine

THE OTHER SIDE OF BURNOUT

Yes, there’s light at the end of the tunnel l BY LAURIE KLEIN

“I attacked my burnout like it was war. I was going to battle to win back me.”

the morning. It brings calmness and a feeling of connection to my source. Quiet moments of meditation or doing yoga help you hear the voice of the muse inside you. It took me a few years to get quiet enough to hear her, but she’s coming in loud and clear now!

I believed I couldn’t take time for myself because I had major responsibilities. But the truth is, I discovered, that when I take time for me, I’m more effective and happier. So are my kids and my business.

I was also convinced I had to change everything and start over to be happy. Well, I changed my mind about that, at least, and asked myself what had worked in the past. What it was it about my business that I loved, that excited me? What impassioned me about photography when I started out, so passionate I couldn’t wait to start the day? What inspired me in the past? I started a list of what was working for me. Try doing the same thing, only add things that aren’t working and things you truly don’t like about your business or photography. Jettison what doesn’t work to make room for what does.

You might consider finding or starting a group that will support one another, and hold one another accountable for the goals you commit to.

Perhaps the most uplifting bridge to the other side of burnout was mentoring high school kids. It’s like a shot of adrenaline. They’re excited about everything. Mentoring rejuvenated my passion, and it may do the same for yours, too.

Creative people need creative tactics to get off the burnout track. It takes years to get to burnout, so give yourself time to work through it. There’s life after burnout— fantastic, fulfilling life! However bizarre it sounds, my burnout was a gift in disguise.

Laurie Klein Gallery is in Brookfield, Conn. (www.laurieklein.com).

©Laurie Klein

One day my youngest son asked me, “Mom are you happy?” I felt a stab of pain in my stomach.

Then he asked “Do you like what you’re doing?”

Did he know I wasn’t looking forward to going in to work?

Then the crusher, “Is there anything besides us you feel passionate about?”

No, no and no. Ouch.

I’d wanted to reinvent myself for some time. I felt I wasn’t growing as an artist. I’d been doing the same thing for over 20 years and I needed a change. I forgot how to nourish my soul, because I was so busy taking care of everyone else and supporting my family with my photography. I was suffering from burnout and it took a month of mulling it over to see that I had choices, that I could do something about it.

I attacked my burnout like it was war. I was going to battle to win back me. Any changes

had to happen inside myself—working from the outside had been disastrous. I started listening to the advice I had been giving others, and resolved to retake control of my life.

If you think you’re in the same boat, read on. Start by making a commitment to carve out time for yourself. One of the first things I did was to commit to taking at least one photograph a day just for myself, not to make money. I wouldn’t show it to anyone unless I wanted to. Just the act of using the right side of your brain will feel so good. It will reconnect you to your creativity.

After that baby step, I started feeling better inside. It dawned on me that in nurtur- ing my personal artistic work, I would become a stronger commercial photographer.

Exercise more than your creativity; go out into nature for a walk, even if it’s only 5 minutes a day. I also do a breathing medi- ation for 5 minutes before I get out of bed in the morning. It brings calmness and a feeling of connection to my source. Quiet moments of meditation or doing yoga help you hear the voice of the muse inside you. It took me a few years to get quiet enough to hear her, but she’s coming in loud and clear now!

I believed I couldn’t take time for myself because I had major responsibilities. But the truth is, I discovered, that when I take time for me, I’m more effective and happier. So are my kids and my business.

I was also convinced I had to change everything and start over to be happy. Well, I changed my mind about that, at least, and asked myself what had worked in the past. What it was it about my business that I loved, that excited me? What impassioned me about photography when I started out, so passionate I couldn’t wait to start the day? What inspired me in the past? I started a list of what was working for me. Try doing the same thing, only add things that aren’t working and things you truly don’t like about your business or photography. Jettison what doesn’t work to make room for what does.

You might consider finding or starting a group that will support one another, and hold one another accountable for the goals you commit to.

Perhaps the most uplifting bridge to the other side of burnout was mentoring high school kids. It’s like a shot of adrenaline. They’re excited about everything. Mentoring rejuvenated my passion, and it may do the same for yours, too.

Creative people need creative tactics to get off the burnout track. It takes years to get to burnout, so give yourself time to work through it. There’s life after burnout— fantastic, fulfilling life! However bizarre it sounds, my burnout was a gift in disguise.

Laurie Klein Gallery is in Brookfield, Conn. (www.laurieklein.com).