Starting and then running your own bis can be tricky. There are a lot of things to learn, know, and figure out. The way you

planned it may not be the way it starts or how it ends. Bis is an ever moving and ever changing ocean that we try and to move and change with the ebbs and flows that it hands us.

As I constantly look for examples of that I can use in my bis from my friends the Navy Seals. I am an admirer of the way they work, move and transition. An ever changing landscape in the face of changing odds.

With Photography I always feel that it is changing. that you can not plan too much or too little. Plan for things to fail, then plan on how to fix them. I feel that as the Captain of the TR22 brand, I am responsible for its safe navigation and ultimate success. So how do I run it?

I run each photo session as a planned military assault, Plan, practice, exacute.

SO this is what I learned.

Meticulous planning
From a management standpoint, one of the greatest lessons that can be learned from Navy SEALs is their skill of being highly effective and meticulous planners. They focus on the importance of time management, on-target execution, and completing the mission. They operate with a backup and contingency plan in place for almost every scenario. One of the most practical skills taught in this branch is clear and direct communication. Most people think that the military teaches direct, one-way communication—but what’s less obvious to nonmilitary folks is the importance SEALs place on listening. SEAL Commanders listen and formulate an opinion that incorporates as many ideas and experiences as possible to form a solid plan. A big difference between Navy SEAL and civilian leadership is that once a commander’s decision is reached, the discussion is over—then full support and backing is given and a unified front is presented. Ultimate accountability rests on the commander’s shoulders.

Clear expectations
Navy SEALs focus on a very clear set of objectives, where significant importance is placed on defining the goal and motivating the team to follow. Even with highly complex operations, each SEAL has a clearly defined role, and expectations can be recited by each team member. Similarly, articulating a compelling vision and aligning people with priorities are vital areas in business, but these are often overlooked by many leaders. The SEAL’s rules of engagement (how they respond when confronted) are clearly established before each mission, and modifying these rules could negatively impact the entire operation. The rules of engagement for businesses (what is acceptable employee behavior and what is not) are very often ill-defined or nonexistent. One of the biggest disconnects we see in business is the gap between a company’s strategy and the aligned expectations set for the employees.

During a recent conversation with a SEAL commander, he offered tangible advice that can be applied to almost any business:

1. Teamwork is your top priority. 
A mission cannot be successfully executed unless the team is functioning as one. The SEALs continual emphasis on teamwork corresponds closely with the daily requirements of the business world.

2. Early leaders are good leaders. 
This opportunity is unparalleled in the corporate world, where an employee may need 10 to 15 years to reach a position of significant leadership and high level of responsibility.

3. Excel at ethics. 
In the world of business, the ethical leader is sometimes a rarity, and truly esteemed.

4. Stay calm. 
The military trains its team to be more comfortable taking risks with incomplete information. This is the daily function of a CEO, but it is rarely passed down to employees.

5. Hard times help you adapt—quickly. 
Young executives who go through hard times should learn to appreciate them, recognizing that those times will not only strengthen them, but truly train them to properly and successfully lead their own teams when battling the competition.

6. Ambush the competition. 
In an ambush, always take out the radio operator and the unit leader (usually the guy next to the radioman). Without leadership or good communication, the enemy is forced into disarray and can be picked apart. A good lesson for all leaders and their organizations.

7. Study Darwin.
Survival is not about who’s the strongest or fastest, but who can best adapt to change. Navy SEALs are masters of adaptation, being able to operate in jungle, desert, or artic conditions. In comparison, CEOs must adapt to the ever-changing market conditions they face daily and should train their staff to do the same.

Hey all, It is not secret that I study and learn all I can from the Elite.

That does not exclude the US Navy, or the Elite seals. I ran upon this info and wanted to share it. How can we incorporate

each of these 10 points into our daily life. I think success is based on how we are as a person. Always evolving but also always pushing to be better. We can all get better.  enjoy

1. The lesson of the bed.

“If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.” Making our bed seems simple, but if we don’t do the simple things right … well … you know how that goes! Bed making is strictly enforced in the military for this reason. After we all get up in the morning, we look at ourselves in the mirrorand decide how to “make our lives.” So if we can get the bed part of our day right every morning, maybe we can get our lives right too!

2. The lesson of the group.

“If you want to change the world, find someone to help you paddle.” Are we changing “my” world or “our” world? Humans tend to do stuff together. Getting along with each other takes time and patience and perseverance but in the long run, it’s worth it. So paddle away and ask for some companionship. Get some more Navy SEALs! The more paddles the better!

3. The lesson of the heart.

“If you want to change the world, measure a person by the size of their heart, not the size of their flippers.” I have a theory about height and size. Seems like the shorter folks I know tend to put more effort into everything they do. They have a bigger heart inside their smaller body. I never ever want to cross a person who is shorter than I am. And two-year-olds can eat my lunch if I am not careful. Motivation seems to trump intelligence and if we work at strengthening both, we can change the world.

4. The lesson of having a bad day.

“If you want to change the world get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward.” Some days no matter what you do, no matter how hard you try, things will not turn out as planned. Failure will be experienced, and because we are not perfect as human beings, we need to prepare for that situation. The “sugar cookie” exercise in Navy SEAL training is designed to put the trainee into this environment to learn how to push through to the end of the day and survive the ordeal. So when we have a bad day, push through it and look forward to having a better day tomorrow.

5. The lesson of doing the extra work.

“But if you want to change the world, don’t be afraid of the circuses.” When you fail a daily physical training event, the Navy SEALs’ “circus” is having to do two hours more of additional calisthenics — designed to wear you down, to break your spirit, to force you to quit. But that extra training actually can help build strength and stamina if you don’t quit. We all live though our own “circuses” in life and they can be exhausting, confusing and sometimes downright depressing. Many times, we can glimpse insight and perspective during those trials, if we are looking for them. When you do the extra work, you become stronger, more experienced, and more confident. Doing the minimum is sometimes not enough, so practice the maximum! Go the extra mile. That pivot to a more committed and prepared approach can sometimes be life changing!

6. The lesson of overcoming your fear.

“If you want to change the world sometimes you have to slide down the obstacle head first.” Twice a week an obstacle course was required for McRaven’s SEAL training. One of the most feared obstacle course challenges was the “slide for life.” It was dangerous and it put the SEALs at risk. In the movie “Dune,” the character Paul says to himself, “Fear is the mind killer.” It’s true, because while it’s good to be wary, if fear paralyzes our intellect and our motivation, then we are truly lost. Sometimes we have to take that chance and “risk” it. But it needs to be with purpose, resolve, and awareness.

7. The lesson of confronting “your daily shark.”

“So, if you want to change the world, don’t back down from the sharks.”Like it or not, we will be living our lives “swimming with the sharks.” McRaven’s lesson #6, above, reminds us that fear can diminish our capacity. But if we prepare for the “shark” encounter, our response may surprise us.Top survivalists know something about the predator’s mindset. Attackers prefer to attack the weak not the strong: “Don’t ever behave like prey and run unless that is your last resort.” Your shark could be a physical attacker, so self-defense classes (personally I prefer Aikido) can give you some confidence so you can avoid being easy prey. But your more common “shark” attack is likely to be verbal. Now here is where you can adequately prepare your response. Lock in on your values and ethics. The “Win-Win” response is a good place to start, particularly if you are in a group setting. Getting ahead at the expense of someone else needs to be examined, so take a stand for yourself and others may follow suit.

8. The lesson of being your best while experiencing your worst.

“If you want to change the world, you must be your very best in the darkest moment.” Some of the Navy SEAL training missions require them to perform dangerous underwater operations in complete darkness. All of their training needs to carry them through that moment. No one knows when we will take our last breath. We may not have SEAL training but we do have our values, our spirituality, and our relationships to pull us through these darkest moments. It’s not how you start but how you finish that counts!

9. The lesson of raising your voice.

“So, if you want to change the world, start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud.” The ninth week of McRaven’s SEAL training (a.k.a. Hell Week) consisted of six days without sleep, continual physical and mental harassment, and a hellish day at the Mud Flats between San Diego and Tijuana. This was one of the most difficult Navy SEAL exercises of their training. Often, many SEALs quit right here, but some find a way to get through it.

While McRaven’s group were up to their necks in mud, one such SEAL started singing through the ordeal and others joined him in chorus. It was something that gave them hope. It was an affirmation of what can be not what is. So you can use your voice in music (no matter how bad it is) to transform a dark moment into hope so long as you seize it. So shout it now:Carpe diem!

10. The lesson of ringing your bell.

“If you want to change the world don’t ever, ever ring the bell.” Any time a Navy SEAL wants to quit their training and leave, all they have to do is go up to the bell and ring it. The question is, “What is our bell?” Let it be our last breath and let each of us have a life worth living … again!

The question as a freelancer is always, Whats Next?

 

Whats next, it can be scary, it can be fun, it can be unusual, but it will always be something.

The fear is there is nothing next. How do you cope with that.

You don’t, you keep your head to the sky and your feet on the path. You keep breathing. You just keep livin’.

I work hard for the next. I work hard at not pigeon holeing myself as a “blank” photographer.

I work on my skills as any craftsperson would. Whats next is not always easy.

You probably ferret out people you want to work with and those you don’t.

I try and give it a go when I can, but the right connection equals a endless possibility of whats next.

Each Next has a road, there are the long roads and the short roads. Each road has turn offs and turn ins.

Choosing the Next is the tricky part. You either do the next or you end the road. Sometimes Ending the road is okay.

Not everyone is going to be a Next. If they do not see the value in the product, you will never convince them of it.

For me I keep a high standard to my product. My photos all say the same thing.. Clean, Crisp, Clear and Vibrant, But they are

all based around the client and the possible next.

So what is Next?

its an adventure, Its a dream, Its a romance, its whatever it needs to be. It is a Ride to the unkown that makes you love where you are at, realize where you are going, and seeing that the journey is unmapped.

 

Whats next right now is not known to me, but I guarantee that I have been walking the foot paths to have a next.

Its exciting. It will always be a challenge, but one with great reward, and hopefully a great destination.

Whats next? is the question, but if your not working at creating the next, it is not coming.

Photography is much more than the study of light.

its the study of the world around us, and how things interconnect within it.

 

There are a lot of different criteria that go into making a good photograph.

from composition to subject matter, all this is crap if there is no connection.

 

What is a connection?  It is the way the photographer and the subject are intertwined. What was this connection?

 

It could be as simple as being in the right place at the right time, most gripping News pics are this way. OR

It is the way the photographer leaves the perch of watching and starts interacting. Creating a friendship or even

a simplistic relationship between photographer and subject.  That makes an awesome photo.

 

Stop looking and shooting, and start investing in the relationships you are capturing. I assure you the photos will become

Images, and will be timeless, and not the throw away media we are entrenched in now.

 

 

I have always been very happy with the fact that I do not place blame on others, or pass the buck. I do not pass my responsibility or my mistakes on to others. If I do something and do not do it correctly, I take the blame and then figure out how to fix it. Most people throw others under the bus. I do not think this way. I never have. I am an action person. Not a wait and see kind of dude. When I make a mistake, this also has fingers, right, so I hire someone to help me with something, an assistant, a second shooter, if they mess up I mess up. They are a reflection of ME, I use them because I feel they are competent enough to do the job they are assigned. If they mess up, they mess up, but ultimately I messed up.  It was their issue there failure, but as the “team leader” I am ultimately responsible. This goes from not on task, not getting shots, not speaking properly. It is my issue to deal with. Weather I ever hire them again, or just speak to them about the situation. They usually know if they messed up, and this gives them the opportunity to take ownership of their actions. I already have with the client, but I want to hear the reason, I want to hear them own their actions. If they are excuse people I do not need to keep them around. I want my team to be doers, problem solvers, and “coachable”. I want them to see every job as one they booked themselves. I want my team to be a team of Mes.  Success then is based on my communication and my handling the failures. It will not always be easy for those I work with. I expect a lot, and I expect problem solving. But more importantly I Expect to lead by example. I will never ask someone to do something I am not willing to do myself. I will never ask anyone to do something I am unwilling to do.   Above all I am honest in my work and dealings with others, and that in itself should be respectable.   I have a love for photography that I want to be infectious, I want every shoot to be fun and fast, and client driven. Now there will be a lot of planning behind every shoot, but the client does not need to know that. We will plan for things to change, and fail. What are our plans? What is the lighting? What is the goal? What can go wrong?  these are the common whats, but then there are the questions like How can we fix it? What are we going to do to make this pic awesome? How can we push this to give it the most pop, bang, and impact? We do this with everything. There is research in every photo. EVERY PHOTO. But this philosophy goes beyond my field of bis. This is how I think, and I think this will help most people in there bis dealings. Water trickles from the top down. IF you have poor leadership, the followers will only be as strong as the dude in charge. A lot of the time I am a team of one, but I am always working for a someone or something.  

1. Always pay attention. Situational awareness can save your life and your sanity. Learn from others for both the good they do, and also their mistakes.
2. Be quick to take responsibility. It’s easier to take blame than it is to get the silent treatment from your teammates for blaming them or some sinister cabal that’s been sapping your precious bodily fluids.
3. Act as if you believe you’re an asset to the team, you will often behave as an asset. If you start to worry that you’re a liability, well… the same rule applies.
4. Always be building rapport and making allies. This works even better if you are genuine and sincere. You never know who may come to your aid in times of trouble. But you also never know if that person you pissed off last week may just let you hang yourself because you acted like a prick.
5. If you’re worried, talk to a brother. You may be pleasantly surprised by their honest assessment of your performance. Likewise, you may be disheartened by that same honesty. Regardless, your desire to see the truth in yourself tells your teammates you want to improve.
6. Lastly, and probably most importantly: be quick to forgive the mistakes of others. I’m pretty sure Jesus had some good reasons for this maxim, all of which apply in this situation as well.
7. take with it what you will, but I am sure if you work like this you are an asset.   Keep on Livin’ Trevor  

Well, I figured if I do not toot my own horn no one will. hahaha.

Now I have been doing professional photography sense 1998. That is when I shot my first wedding and the dream began so to speak.

Now I run my own studio, based on In client space pics, Meaning I go where I am needed. I have backgrounds, lights, everything I need is set up to travel. I am building the TR22 brand one client at a time, and my resume’ I feel is impressive. I am going to take this time to list the places I have been published.

I am an award winning photographer.

I feel that it speaks to the level of awesome we create here at TR22 Photo and Design.

1. ESPN and ESPN.com

2. Sports Illustrated and SI.com

3. Goal.com

4. Dime Magazine

5. Slam Magazine

6. Soccer America

7. USA Today print and online

8. Draft Magazines NFL NBA

9. Washington Post, print and online

10. Chicago Tribune, print and online

11. Indy Star, print and online

12. Bleacher Report

13. Fansided

14. ransports

15 Fox sports

16. ESPN FC

17. Numerous athletic fan sites

18. MLS main page

19. MLS team sites

20. Adidas advertising

21. Budwiser advertising

22. fathead

23. NCAA.com

24. Trading card companies

25. NASL

26. INDY Eleven

27. NASL teams

28. Duke University

29. Notre Dame Athletics

30. University of Tennessee

31. University of Tennessee at Martin

32. Jackson Sun.

33. Atlanta Silverbacks

34. New York Post

35. MLS photo store

36. Studebaker Museum

37. Ball State Credit Union

38. USA Soccer materials

39. WUSA Atlanta Beat

40. Ferris Property Group

The list grows and these are not all the publications I have been in. .. I have worked for and with some great entities. I create the images people want, not the ones I think they do. I work and shoot based on client needs.

I rock what I do so you can rock what you do. I will help you create and push your brand. Contact us today and lets get the ball rolling.

 

Regards

 

Trevor

 

When taking a photograph it is more of seeing the world differently then the norm, showing the world through your perspective, taking a picture is just a point and click.

Often I see other photographers (people who charge, not the weekend warriors who own a camera) shoot from a non interesting angle. I look and dismiss them as being a good photographer.  Why?  Because they are shooting exactly like that of the weekend warriors. They show no type of skill or thought behind the photo they are creating.

If I shoot exactly how a non trained (a lot of photographers who call themselves pros) why would someone hire me to shoot for them.

The difference is lighting, training, seeing whats going on, and seeing it differently than the average person. Taking a photo to the next level should be what all PROs shoot for. But they do not.. Sometimes they have just bought a decent enough camera, photoshop, and hot lights, and poof. Now they are pros.. They have no Idea about relationships from foreground to background to subject, and they have no idea what an F stop or shutter speed is for or what it is. They rely on Photoshop to save images.

Really, Photoshop to save images. Shouldn’t the client, who is paying you, be able to use the raw image without all the photoshop saves?

Do not get me wrong, I love photoshop and sometimes it is a plan to merge and change things.. But it is a plan, not a save. Just like some special effects in movies are done CGI and not in real life. And yes there is a difference in Quality of a plan and a save.

Real Pros do things on purpose.

There will always be items that funnel choice in a photographer, price.  You get what you pay for. Why not pay a bit more?  Because what you are really paying for is the knowledge and the experience, not the photo. The photo by a real pro will always be awesome, and what you are looking for, not the limited knowledge of the fake.

But in this bis, you get what you pay for, and Yes everyone can take a picture, but only a few can create “The Photograph”.

The Navy SEALS and  TR22 have a lot in common. I still work on these everyday.

1. Be loyal. Team loyalty in the corporate environment seems to be a dying philosophy. Loyalty to the team starts at the top. If it’s lacking at the senior executive level, how can anyone else in the organization embrace it? Loyalty is about leading by example, providing your team unconditional support, and never throwing a team member under the bus.
2. Put others before yourself. Get up every day and ask yourself what you will do to add value to your team, such as simply offering your assistance with a project. The challenge is overcoming the fear that your team member might say: “Yes, I really need your help with this project…tonight.”
3. Be reflective. Reflective people often spend too much time analyzing their actions. But imagine if you could harness this talent into something highly valuable? Reflecting on your mistakes, such as mine in Iraq, ensures you never repeat them.
4. Be obsessively organized. Some of us innately have this ability, often to a fault, and some have to work at it a bit more. You have to find a process that works for you. I’ve known people who will put something on their to-do list after they did it and then cross it off to feel a greater sense of accomplishment! Whatever your system is, make it work for you.
5. Assume you don’t know enough. Because you don’t. Any effective team member understands that training is never complete. It’s true in the SEAL teams, and it’s true in any elite team. Those who assume they know everything should be eliminated. Those who spend time inside and outside of the workplace developing their knowledge and skills will provide the momentum for their team’s forward progress.
6. Be detail-oriented. Attention to detail is one of our company’s values. Do we get it right all the time? Of course not. Imagine, though, if all members of a team are obsessed with detail in their delivery? My lack of attention to detail in the incident in Iraq could have had catastrophic results. Don’t ask yourself what you are going to do today to be successful; ask how you are going to do it.
7. Never get comfortable. Always push yourself outside of your comfort zone. If you do this continually with every task you take on, that boundary will continue to widen. This process will ensure that you are continually maximizing your potential, which will positively impact your team.

With the 2014 season starting for the MLS and for NASL I feel really stoked to be a part of

both. I will be shooting for the MLS and for the Indy Eleven this year. I had a pretty good year last

year as I was able to sell 2 images to Fathead.  One was the Crew forward Dominic Oduro and the Other

was New York forward Theirry Henry.  Which I was super stoked about due to the fact he played for my Favorite club

Arsenal. He is also that clubs leading goal scorer of all time.  I had an image picked by adidas for their ads. So that is cool too.

This year I hope to have the same success. But more Importantly I want to fill my summer with My number one sport

of Soccer. It will definitely be fun.

I love being a part of such a growing sport. I have shot every aspect of Soccer in America and I love the MLS.

I have been lucky enough to shoot a lot of the stars of today when they were just fledglings in college.

So I hope to see some of you at the games.  Enjoy the pics, Because I am going to enjoy taking them.

just really blessed to be able to do this.

There are a few things that I really enjoy. The first is my family, the second is a good Story, the third is a good Movie. Now all of that is trumped by taking a great photo. I love being where the action is. I love the connections the camera allows me to have. I love shooting timeless photos. I love sport, any kind. My favorite, my shooting zen is when I am at a soccer match.

I have simple things I live my life by. I would not say its a code but it kind of is.  I am always progressing to be the best me, the best shooter, so that means I am never satisfied with the photos I take. I can always learn and get better. I want to be awesome for my family. My key to everything is Just being happy to be here. I want to be here. Most importantly Just Keep Livin’. I think all of these help me serve my clients the best I can.