Super cool and useful iPhone camera case accessories are finally here! I have done a bit of research and found the Phocus Accent to be the best and most user friendly. It fits well in your hand and pocket too. It is very lightweight. I actually have been wanting such a case that would protect my phone if I dropped it. Ok, when I drop it. The standard “Accent” case comes with the case and a two piece lens and when attached it is wider than the normal iPhone lens which is a nice feature. If you unscrew it you can use the base part of the lens for macro or close up photography on it’s own. It’s a great starter kit for a photography enthusiast and it is only $99. Being a professional photographer I of course want to have an entire arsenal of lens options so I opted for the two extra lenses for a very small additional fee. One is a fisheye and the other is a telephoto. These combined with my small tripod in a nice little bag makes up my advanced kit.

The case also has a mount for a LED light for pictures and video at night as well. Smart Phocus even has a Nikon and Cannon adapter rings so I can put my professional grade lenses on my iPhone. There are countless benefits to all this for me. When I am going to a event, party, or place that I know I will be taking more than just a picture or two then I bring my small lightweight iPhone bag to be able to have access to all my tiny gadgets for what ever opportunity arises. The case has three different tripod mounts making almost anything possible.

When on a photo shoot for a client I can now capture files with my Nikon D4 and work on them for the client when I get back to my office before I deliver them. But, when on location for the shoot I can duplicate what I will be giving my client with my iPhone and send it to them right away for layout purposes, Facebook applications, or what ever. Awesome!

As the phones get better and better I think we will be seeing a lot more of Smart Phocus and it’s products in the future. The link below will take you directly to their site and please tell them I sent you in the comments box and get started expanding your iPhoneography.

I myself as a Phoenix commercial photographer am in the middle of doing a year of coaching with Sarah Kay Harrison owner of Live Evolution who specializes in high end life and business coaching. We met over a year ago when doing the Forum Class at Landmark Education. Landmark Education does similar type of coaching but in a classroom environment where Sarah does a more personal one on one coaching with a longer commitment. I am working with her for a one year contract where we meet once a week and do continual work on my goals, my business interactions and avenues of growth, and my personal interpretations and interactions with the people in my daily life. I am a advocate of taking classes and having a person on your side on occasion through out your life to continually help keep you on track to reaching your goals and dreams. These things can be hard to do on your own and easily forgotten as time quickly passes by. Sarah specializes in giving individuals, groups & organizations the razor edge on success. She works to give you the tools, training, and education you need to become your own greatest asset. She invests in you. Coach Sarah personally shows you how to get results in any area that you lack satisfaction.

Life coaching is a practice with the aim of helping clients determine and achieve personal goals. Life coaching uses multiple methods that will help clients with the process of setting and reaching goals. Coaching is not targeted at psychological illness and coaches are not therapists.

Life coaching differs from counseling in that it is primarily focused on the present and the future. It may be necessary to look back to find the root causes of some unhelpful thinking patterns, and then untie some knots, but the process returns to the “where are we now?” and the “where do we want to go?”

Life coaching is for anyone who wants to improve some aspect of their life. There are 4 main areas of focus in coaching agreements; Success, Health, Relationship, and Growth/Wisdom. Under each of these areas fall most challenges, opportunities and new possibiities on which to focus. For example, you may want a promotion, to write a novel, to find your perfect partner, to find new self confidence, or get rid of a destructive habit. Alternatively, you may want to create more balance between your work or private life or you may have an unrealized goal to start your own business, find the focus necessary for passing important exams or it may simply be you are unhappy without knowing why.

Whatever you want to change or create, coaching can probably help. There are a couple of notable exceptions. One, if you have a mental illness or a hard drug problem, then coaching is probably not the best primary option for you.

I am all about more people being happy and reaching all of their dreams making the world overall a better place to live for everyone.

Of all the Arizona event photographers, I have been lucky enough to photography Carroll Shelby and his wife quite a bit the last ten years. I have also photographed him with all sorts of other people as well with the range including starting with Sammy Hagar all the way to Muhammad Ali. He lived life well, long, and charitably. He was Born on January 11, 1923, in East Texas, and is considered one of the truly great American success stories of the 20th century. Race car driver, WWII “Flying Sergeant”, philanthropist, automotive entrepreneur and racing team owner, he came to embody the ingenuity, tenacity and grit needed to win during his 60+ year career. In just a few short years, he became a dominant figure on the racing scene. He was courted by the top car manufacturers in the world to drive for them, including Ferrari. Shelby captured three national sports car championships in the United States, earned a spot on the Aston-Martin team in Europe, won the 24 Hours of Le Mans and set land speed records at Bonneville Salt Flats. Twice, he was named Sports Illustrated’s “Driver of the Year.”

Still in his prime, a heart condition caused him to abandon his driving prematurely in 1960. Instead of reeling in self-pity, Shelby turned his attention and talents to race car design and automotive manufacturing. At the same time, Shelby’s operations turned out the Shelby 289 and 427 Cobras, as well as a succession of Mustang-based Shelby’s created at the request of Lee Iacocca at Ford Motor Company. He scaled back his California operations in the late 1960s when new government regulations and insurance rules began to affect the sales of performance cars. For several years, he operated businesses in Africa until civil war in the region closed them down. He was also a pioneer for modern licensing programs in the automotive industry. Beginning in the 1960s, he began licensing his name and designs for various products. Unfortunately, he was forced to assert his right to his famous trademarks and designs many times over the years, too.

He spent 50 years establishing and protecting his name, trademarks and car design rights, and in the 1980s he established Carroll Shelby Licensing, Inc., which licenses companies worldwide to manufacture, market and sell everything from the best and fastest muscle cars on the road (e.g. the 1960s Shelby Cobra 289, 427 and Daytona Coupe, and more recently the Ford Shelby GT-500) to premium Shelby memorabilia.

He considered his greatest achievement to be the establishment of the Carroll Shelby Foundation™. Created in 1992 while Shelby was waiting for a heart transplant in the hospital, the charity is dedicated to providing medical assistance for those in in need, including children. The Foundation also supports educational opportunities for young people through automotive and other training programs and benefits the Carroll Shelby Automotive Foundation.“Carroll formed a foundation to give something back to those who have not been as fortunate as him, in both medicine and education,” explained Carroll Shelby Foundation Board Member M. Neil Cummings, Esq. “The Foundation is well endowed to continue Carroll’s vision.”

Carroll remained active in the management of each of his companies and the Foundation until his death, even though he endured both heart and kidney transplants in the last two decades of his life. An innovator and pioneer, he achieved an almost mythical status that never diminished. He traveled the world, socialized with movie stars and beauty queens, made and lost numerous fortunes, won races, built cars and lived large.

I have always loved shooting food photography. Probably because I know I will be eating really good on those shoot days and will most likely be taking some home as well. I recently did professional commercial photography of about a dozen of the featured specialties at The Wrigley Mansion. I also photographed many images of the infamous Sunday buffet there as well which is acknowledged as one of the best in Phoneix. The Wrigley Mansion has an eclectic synergy, blending elements of the 1930’s art deco style with the energy of today. Enjoy signature cocktails or a light snack, while viewing the best sunset in the valley. With the view as dramatic as the atmosphere, you should go and experience the passion and history of the Wrigley Mansion. tWe had to have the entire shoot done before the restaurant opened on a Sunday morning for the spectacular buffet.

The first plate out to me was this amazing presentation of a caesars salad and I knew it was going to be a tasty day. It was followed by plate after plate of beautifully laid out edible pieces of fantastically tasting art. We had lights and everything set up in the other room as well waiting to shoot the infamous Sunday buffet right at the last minute before it was completely set up and before the first customer was to would walk in.

I would recommend checking it out whether to sample some appetizers, to have an elaborate meal, or indulge in the Sunday feast. And, if you can do it on a day when they have the guided tours of the mansion you will get the most out of your experience and visit. Aaahh, some of the benefits of doing professional commercial photography in a city with such great food as Phoenix, Arizona are priceless.