Ben Finch Photography » Business

2012 Knoxville Addy Awards

Ben Finch — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 12:00:33 +0000

It’s an evening I’ve begun to eagerly look forward to every year… the Addy Awards Gala. I was again humbled & honored to sit beside some of the most talented designers, writers, developers, innovators (& more) in our region. Collectively, we enjoyed great food & drinks, a killer band, & good banter. It was the 2012 Knoxville Addy Awards, hosted at the Crowne Plaza, an evening of recognizing the most outstanding work in advertising. And for some reason, they let me come… again!

This weekend always marks a landmark for me professionally. This year I was honored to receive 5 awards: 1 Gold Addy for my Fall in TN photograph used for the Department of Tourism Brochure; 1 Silver Addy for the Department of Toursim Brochure; 1 Silver Addy for the cd cover photo for Calling Glory; 1 Silver Addy for a photograph I took while working with an Ad Agency in Knoxville (not pictured); & 1 Bronze Citation of Excellence for the ’11-’12 AACA Arts Guide. Below is a recap of some of the projects. [Below Left photo by BOPP]

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At Home TN Magazine | Feature Story

Ben Finch — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:00:22 +0000

I often feel that some of my readers may grow weary hearing of how much I love my job. However, I can’t help but joyfully rave about the fun adventures I am afforded & the wonderful families I have the honor of working alongside. About this time last year I had the opportunity to photograph the home of Danny & Liz King of Sevierville, TN for the December ’11 Holiday Edition of At Home Tennessee Magazine. {If you’d like to view a free digital copy of the December ’11 edition, visit this courtesy link.} Liz was exceptionally hospitable as she gladly welcomed me into her lovely home & their wasn’t a single detail overlooked!

The day of the shoot couldn’t have been more perfect as we woke up to a snowy ground covering. Upon arrival I was able to meet the Interior Designer behind the King Residence, Sarah Bohleber, of Gift Gourmet & Interiors, Knoxville, TN. It’s always a pleasure to meet with designers & hear how they actualize the client’s vision. This was certainly the case for the King family; Liz said of Sarah, “we just clicked!”

I think you’ll love seeing the in’s & out’s of the King Residence… check out this beautiful home! And I think you’ll clearly see why At Home TN chose this home for their feature story.

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Israel: A Photographic Journey now available on the iPad/iPhone

Ben Finch — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:00:46 +0000

Just when I thought it couldn’t get an better, it does. I’m excited to share the news… “Israel: A Photographic Journey” is now available as an eBook for the iPad & iPhone (using Apple’s iBooks app)! And everyone said, “Hooray!!!” With the advancement in technology comes the ability to purchase & have a copy of my travel photography book for a fraction of the cost of owning a print version (although those are available as well!). In time for Christmas & available upon immediate download, you can receive the eBook for $14.99 or pick up/order a print copy for $115. The inventory for the eBooks are unlimited but in order to have a copy of the print version in your hand before Christmas, you may need to act fast. Click here to p urchase. If you are local, I have a 4 copies available if you’d like to pick it up from the studio… contact me directly in that case.

Here’s a description of the book:
“Israel: a photographic journey is a collection of photographs taken from several trips to the ancient land of Israel. Many of the pictures have a biblical theme, yet others are more modern and descriptive of the land today. If you have never seen how beautiful the land of Israel is or have always wanted to visit, yet haven’t gathered the funds, consider Israel: a photographic journey. It will illuminate your perspective on that tiny stretch of land that has the entire world’s attention.”

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Click here to view/order a copy from the publisher’s bookstore.

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And a few snapshots from the contents of the book:

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A portion of the proceeds are reinvested into an account that provides support for those who are seeking to do university campus ministry & foreign missions/aids work. So far, we’ve been able to provide full financial support for 3 students doing work abroad.

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If you’re looking for a coffee table book rich in historical/spiritual meaning, check out Israel: A Photographic Journey. Buy a book = help support good things. In case you missed the link, it is: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/245716

Live Radio Interview {Katie’s Community Connection}

Ben Finch — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:57:00 +0000

I first met Katie when she attended my Social Media Seminar back in August. With her magnetic personality, there is little wonder why she’s been so successful on & off camera as a journalist. Her background includes working with Fox News in San Diego, Wealth TV Network, America’s Dumbest Criminals, The Dove Awards and a few others. In 2007, she won Best Newscast from her peers at KGFN radio in Southern California. Now she hosts a weekly Community Radio Show for Southeast TN called Katie’s Community Connection. And now she’s stuck talking to me… ha!

Well, it wasn’t just me. My good friend, Jason Wallis, was in the studio as well. Jason is a writer, illustrator, communicator, Student Pastor & self-proclaimed Comic book Fanboy. I’ve known Jason since middle-school & his knack for creativity, coupled with artistry, has always been apparent. Plus, he’s crazy funny!

Friday afternoon Jason & I met up with Katie to be interviewed on the topic, “Risk Taking Entrepreneurs.” When Katie first contacted me I had to warn her that it could get out of hand. Ben + Jason = ridiculous. However, we did manage to keep it somewhat together & successfully complete the interview. For those who were unable to listen, I was eager to make it available, click here for the recording.

Thanks Katie for the opportunity! I had a great time.

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Social Media Seminar {Speaking Engagement}

Ben Finch — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 01:00:20 +0000

What a great afternoon! Today I had the opportunity to speak to the wonderful group who attended the Social Media Seminar, an educational & inspirational seminar sponsored by the Athens Chamber of Commerce. I was humbled by the substantial turnout & the crowd was enthusiastic as they were engaged with the presentation. I had a terrific time as I shared insight, stories & strategies to Social Media that have literally changed the way I approach business. Thanks so much to those who took the time to attend! What stood out to you? What was most helpful?

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For the attendees & those who were unable to make it, I promised to provide you a link to download the presentation slides. Click here to access slides.

{Special thanks to Braska Jennea Photography for taking the photo above… great shot friend!}

Social Media Seminar {August 30, 11:45am-1pm | Athens, TN}

Ben Finch — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:30:31 +0000

Hey friends! I want to invite you to a special (might I add FREE & includes lunch!) seminar that I’ll be teaching next week. The Athens Chamber of Commerce has graciously invited me to speak at their next “Lunch & Learn Seminar” next Tuesday, August 30, at the Tennessee Technology Center from 11:45am-1pm. The seminar focus is Social Media: What Is It? Why You Need Strategy & How to Get It. I’ll share personal insights and inspiring stories from others who’ve literally rewritten the rules of business by harnessing the power of social media. If you’re going to make it you’ll have to make reservations by this Friday, August 26. Call the Chamber office at 423.745.0334 to reserve your seat. I’d love to see you there. I’m going to block off some time afterward to chat; please come say hello!

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Brock Dental {Brand Design}

Ben Finch — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 11:00:31 +0000

It’s been a busy season around here. It’s my first day back at work since the birth of our little girl, Molly. Having your third child is drastically different than having your first. I remember when Brennan was born, we practically sat around & looked at him for the first few days. I still find myself venturing through the house to Molly’s room to peek at my little miss as she sleeps, yet I’m usually attacked from behind by two crazy Finchlets, aka Brennan & Knox. It’s fun… wild, but fun! Btw, I’m going to shoot her newborn session sometime this week, stay tuned!

On a separate note, my good friend & photog side-kick, Alan Brock, happens to be the proud owner & Dentist extraordinaire of Brock Dental. A few short years ago after returning to the Motherland (East TN) from the nether-regions of Memphis, TN, Alan purchased a dental practice. Earlier this year he knew it was time for a fresh, updated look… a brand. So, we discussed the scope of the project, said “hasta la vista” to the old, & have been rolling out the new identity for the Brock Dental crew. We have so much more in store (e.g. website, signage, decor, print collateral, etc.), but here’s a peek at the new style. I so dig it! So much so that I sport my Brock Dental shirt around town often.

What do you think?!

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AACA 2011-2011 Arts Guide {Design}

Ben Finch — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 12:20:53 +0000

In case you didn’t know it, I’m a designer too. It’s my other business… what I do when I’m not behind the camera. Design is something I really enjoy, especially the process of having an idea concept become a business’s identity or brochure or website. In the future, I’ll give you previews of some of my projects. For now, check this out.

This year’s Arts Guide for the Athens Area Council for the Arts demanded something entirely different & unique. For last year’s guide I went for bold, colorful & eclectic design… it was a smashing hit & resulted in two AAF Addy Awards… holla! The pressure this year seemed intense as I was expected to surpass last year’s design. This year my concept was a huge departure from last year. I chose 3 main colors that repeat throughout the brochure & on occasions brought in a 3rd color. Plus, I decided to stick with black & white photos/images to keep things consistent. As I received my first copy on Saturday I was thrilled with the outcome. Cheers to the completion of one of my favorite annual design projects! Let me know what you think.

If you have yet to attend an Arts Center performance, you are missing out on some serious fun times with great people. I’ll see you there!

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Meet Alan & Jenn

Ben Finch — Fri, 13 May 2011 12:15:16 +0000

Drum roll please…….. I’m so excited to make an official announcement today. Meet Alan & Jenn Brock, the new addition to the BF Photo team. All attempts to describe these two fall short, they’re simply wonderful. Rarely do you find a couple so talented & fun-loving. For crying out loud, not only is Alan my dentist but also a pilot. And Jenn spends her days in the classroom as a teacher & rumor has it that she’s quite the wake-boarder too. They’re both crazy talented. And to top it off, they’re very good photographers. Coupled with their creative perspective & standards for excellence, I am more than pleased to have them a part of the team. They’ve already become such an integral part of Ben Finch Photography & I knew you’d love to get to know them better. If you have any questions for Alan & Jenn, go ahead & ask. I did, so I thought it would be fun to do a bit of an interview followed by info about their services; feel free to comment or respond (especially to one of Alan’s particular music interests):

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What are your top 3 favorite musical artists?
Alan: 1. U2: this is self-explanatory as they are the greatest band in the history of the world. 2. Flight of the Conchords: hands down, the best folk parody band I’ve ever heard. 3. Justin Beiber: is it weird that a 29 year old male is a fan of The Beiber? Yes it is, but I’m taking classes to hopefully cure this.

Jenn: 1. Dixie Chicks: even though they have questionable ways of sharing their opinion, their music is fantastic! 2. Matthew West: his songs reach me in the darkest and brightest times, leading me to worship my God in any situation. 3. Jeremy Camp: I first saw/heard Jeremy when I was in college..my friends “dragged” me (I was in a rough spot during this time, and they were trying to help me get out of it) to here this unknown artist in a small coffee shop. After hearing his testimony and songs written from those experiences, I was hooked!

Top 2 movies of all time…
Alan: 1. Braveheart: although Mel Gibson has now gone off the deep end, his “They can never take our freedom” speech gives me chills every time! Also, I’m a fan of bagpipes. 2. Forrest Gump: When Forrest is talking to Jenny’s grave, if this doesn’t make you tear up, then I suspect you may be a robot.

Jenn: 1. 8 Seconds: This movie has been a favorite since my “cowboy boot, wrangler-wearing” cowgirl days. Those days are long gone, but this movie still remains a favorite. 2. The Lion King: who doesn’t love singing along to “Hakuna Matata” and “Can You Feel The Love Tonight”???

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I Like…
Alan: flying, the color blue, Canon, my steaks cooked medium, a flat lake and a slalom ski, novelty t-shirts, YouTube, Yorkshire Terriers, PC’s (Edit: Alan has since seen the light and switched to Apple!), Modern Family, naps, Tom Clancy novels, golf.

Jenn: Any time spent with God, Hot Chocolate, McDreamy, chocolate and strawberry milkshakes, Thirty-One products, time with friends, traveling, spring cleaning, snow skiing, wakeboarding, teaching, jewel-tone colors, TLC and Lifetime channels, camping, fresh sheets, late nights, mongolian food, flip-flops, organizing, dancing, time on the lake, trying anything once, and all electronics.

I Don’t Like…
Alan: waking up early, turning 30, green beans, people who take advantage of others, driving slowly in the left lane, soccer, bees, the last season of 24, taking Board Exams, golf

Jenn: mornings, mice, tomatos/onions, snakes, ESPN, laundry, coconut, high-heels, reruns, stress, and fantasy football!

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Jenn’s Personality is…
Alan: impossible to describe in one word. She is patient, always faithful in God’s timing. She is resilient and strong. She is fun, always being a great counter to my dry sense of humor. Last, she is loving and unfailingly loyal to God, me, her friends, and of course our dogs!

Alan’s Personality is…
Jenn: he’s kind-hearted to everyone, loves to be around people, has a deep love for Christ, is my voice of reason (always reminding me to think before I speak), loves anything that requires competition, has a desire to constantly grow by way of new hobbies, prefers home-cooked meals to eating-out, has a quirky sense of humor, loves me the way that God asks a husband to love his wife. He makes me want to be a better person.

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My Approach to Photography is…
Alan: “Let’s have some fun today!” I have developed such a deep passion for photography that it spills over, and I want to share it with others! As a photographer, I love soaking up every bit of information I can get about all different types of photography and helping others out along the way. When shooting, we try to create a fun, relaxed environment, and we strive to capture the moments that describe our clients. However, most importantly, we want everyone to have fun with it all!

Jenn: My favorite thing about photography isn’t the actual moment of photographing, but it happens right after. It’s when you go to view the pictures and see the moment of time that you caught forever. It’s when you see the customers reaction, and hear the ooohhh’s and aaahhh’s while viewing their pictures. It’s the times when you know you’ve made someone else happy just by being there to capture their special moments. I strive to create a fun-loving, relaxed environment where real, authentic personalities can be captured forever.

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I’m stoked to be able to offer Alan & Jenn’s services through BF Photo. I have utmost confidence in these two resulting from dozens of hours with the pair photographing at my side & facing the dozens of challenges that come along with photography. Whenever you see the “Alan & Jenn” signature on an image, you’ll know who was behind that fabulous photograph. Booking a session with Alan & Jenn, you’ll be assured the same incredible service, editing & colorwork, featured blog story, access to exclusive products & more. They are currently available for both weddings & lifestyle sessions. If you’ve considered BF Photo & want a more affordable entry cost, they are a great option. Feel free to contact me; you’ll love getting to know these two!

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AACC Dept. of Tourism {Guide Design}

Ben Finch — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 14:34:14 +0000

I’ve been eager to show this brochure I’ve been working on for the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce’s Department of Tourism. The Chamber approached me in 2010 to plan for the upcoming 2011 launch of the Athens Area Dept. of Tourism. We decided to develop a promotional brochure highlighting some of the area’s attractions. It was a pleasure to provide the design work, photography, & some copywriting. I think this will be an excellent opportunity to bring awareness to our wonderful town. Athens is nestled in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains & Cherokee National Forest, resting just between Chattanooga & Knoxville. If you’re heading toward the East TN Valley, you should definitely consider stopping here for a few days. When you head this way, feel free to give me a ring & I’ll show you around. Or, the Dept. of Tourism is now located off Exit #49 of I-75 in one of the incredible gallery homes of Tennessee Log Homes. They’d love for you to stop by.

Check out the brochure & let me know what you think:

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