Hello world wide web, thanks for visiting =) Here you'll find all sorts of fun posts - about my photography, my traveling, and random thoughts.
If you're here to look for a recent wedding or event I photographed, you can look through the archives or use the search bar.
Take a look around and don't hesitate to contact me! I will always love getting coffee, whether its with good friends or someone I've never met - so definitely send me a line.
I just got done photographing two weddings this weekend – one in Seattle, Washington and another in Fort Collins, Colorado! They both were really good friends (Washington was family as well!) and I had a blast shooting them. There will be more pictures up later on my website http://www.joshnewton.smugmug.com/ – but enjoy the sneak peak!
Just photographed an AMAZING wedding in Seattle, it was the first family wedding I’ve ever photographed! I got the chance to be in some of the family formals, definitely a different experience =) Absolutely love these two, congrats Abby and Peter!!
So… Haiti. I just got back a couple weeks ago and it was an incredible trip. I have SO much editing and organizing to do, but my life is always crazy! Check out the videos and photos here if you haven’t already.
Super secret right now… but just in the past couple hours I’ve written over 60 emails to people about this crazy idea.
CAN’T WAIT to show you all, but we have a lot of sponsors, musicians, and photographers already said they’re in!
Stay tuned =)
I keep on telling this guy to stop horsing around… but he just doesn’t listen.
Thanks to Montana Dennis for the photo =)
I got the chance to photograph a really cool musician a bit ago and I thought I’d share it with you all =)
He actually came to Santa Barbara and performed in my dining room before the shoot – I was completely blown away… he has a lot of talent and will make it really far in the music business. Labels are chomping at the bit to sign him right now, SO stoked to hear a full CD when he comes out with one! For now check out some of his stuff on MySpace, you’ll be stoked you found him before he’s entirely famous!!
Here’s a picture I took that he’s using for his main page – I’m completely honored!
In the next few months, I will hopefully be going to Haiti to help Child Hope International and Discover the Journey – whenever the airports open up and some roads are cleared. If you’d like to help these organizations out, I will be bringing them any donations given to me and putting it into their hands. This is a real chance to help and make a difference over there. Email me at photos@joshnewton.com if you’d like more info.
Haiti is considered a fourth world country. They don’t have many natural resources and consequently can’t import or export many goods. They have an extremely corrupt government, their health care system is lacking in so many ways, there are very few good paying jobs, and most residents have a hard time just finding food and water. So when a disaster like a 7.2 earthquake hits a country that is already desperate, utter devastation ensues.
But there is Hope.
I visited Haiti a couple years ago and stayed at a friends house where they are running two orphanages. I was completely overwhelmed by these kids love for each other and for God. They had such amazing faith and understood Him in a way that blew me away. They were not in the best circumstance when it came to their living conditions, but they have a inner peace and joy that is unexplainable.
There are so many things I take for granted here in the states, and I am completely humbled when disasters like the earthquake in Port-au-Prince happen. It really makes me think about what matters in this life – what I need to put my energy into and what I shouldn’t. I develop a new appreciation for being able to get a good nights rest, have drinking water wherever I go, and know that I have a government that wants to protect me.
Direct ways you can help:
1 – Donate to an organization running two orphanages
When I was over in Haiti, I did a lot of photography for an organization called Child Hope International. It was started by a couple good friends of mine and its truly an amazing organization. They’ve raised about $80,000 already but are going to need a lot more to rebuild parts of both orphanages and also help their neighbors
2 – Help raise awareness
I worked with a phenomenal videographer name Jonathan Olinger while I was in Haiti. He has started a non-profit organization called Discover the Journey. He’s been to over 50 countries the past couple years and has told the story of so many kids that are in dire conditions. He’s risked his health and life many times to help make a difference in this world. I love him dearly and will always have a special place in my heart.
He is in Haiti right now and you can follow his journey there on twitter or donate here.
3. Red Cross
This is a really easy way to help – SMS text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross relief efforts. They’ve raised over $6 million via text messages and this is always a great organization to help.
4. Pray continually
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
-Proverbs 31:8-9
I’ve made a couple of new years resolutions this year, and I’m excited to see where these ventures take me throughout the year. Part of my drive to change comes from recommendations given to me by friends and associates, another part is just trying out a couple new ideas with a belief that it will help my business in the long run.
So the thing is, I travel a lot. And by a lot, I mean that I feel like the airport is my second home. I usually try to be somewhat productive on flights, but adding books to what I already have to lug around can be a real drag (ha!). So this Christmas I asked for a Kindle! And I’ve already downloaded my first book wirelessly through amazons whispernet and it’s pretty sweet.
The book I decided to get for this flight was recommended by David Jay on his twitter, it’s called Trust Agent. I already can’t wait to blog about what I’ve learned so far, it has a lot of epic info!
Another amazing business decision was getting showit sites – it is an amazing tool that now allows you to publish content to facebook and tag people in that content. Talk about viral marketing at it’s best! Showit is a great tool that can so easily “tell people about who we are and convince them of our value, even if we’re not there.” It can now utilize the social capital of facebook even better.
Dang, that David Jay is such a stud trust agent.
What systems have you put in place to improve your business? Great things come from small changes, don’t ever be afraid of trying new things. Even if it sounds as ridiculous as blogging about a random idea from your iPhone in the Phoenix airport after getting inspired by an electronic book, then tweeting about it.
So Alaska is always a TRIP when I come home for Christmas. There are many familiar people and places – it definitely feels like home – but Alaska sometimes seems like a dream it’s so beautiful. I don’t understand how any of the Californians I now reside with have Christmas at 80 degrees and green. Today it was an awesome 5 degrees and theres nothing like a little climate change (especially coming from Cambodia and Thailand) to make your body entirely confused!
I woke up the other morning and my friend texted me saying there was a lunar eclipse happening soon. I asked her when and she responded “NOW!” =P So I grabbed my 70-200mm 2.8L IS and got some shots while I could. I miss you all in California, so here’s an Alaskan hello! (Yes, I do live here about a month and a half out of the year!!)
The mountain above is called Mount Susitna (Sleeping Lady) and it can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. It’s VERY Anchorage-ian and is a trademark of being home =)
That’s our downtown =) I’ve never been that impressed with it (Sorry Alaska!)… but this year I did a number of fashion and engagement shoots downtown and I’m now in love.
The picture above looks like something out of Lord of the Rings but I had to include it =) its Mount Denali, which is the tallest mountain in North America and a 6 hour drive away! You can still see a “hush” of a moon in the left. Pretty sick!
Well, its true. I have a new blog. I don’t have ANYthing setup, but I couldn’t be more excited about it! My new years resolution is to try and blog 3 times a week… and if I’m going to do that, it has to look good, right!! Thanks to Katie Lewis for the blog recommendation and Bobby Earle for the inspiration/hounding.
On to what this blog is really about – Cambodia and Thailand!! I just got back a couple days ago from the sweetest trip EVER, so what better way to start the year out than an epic teaser post! I had an amazing time, I can’t wait to hang out with all the RPTE people again in China =)
So, my good friend Bobby Earle (and AMAZING photographer that I love and adore who is married to someone much more lovable and adorable 
) recently blogged about twitter, and I found his blog rather interesting. His main thoughts pointing out the benefits of Twitter were thus:
A couple weeks ago, Tim Nosenzo helped me out big timeby responding to something I posted on twitter. I had been looking for a very hard to find lens for about 6 weeks. Because of my twitter updates on the matter, Tim kept his eye open for the lens and emailed me when he found one. Long story short, I got the lens!!
Another time, I was headed out to Australia. I asked if anyone knew of a place within five hours of Sydney where I could find wild Kangaroos. I got a ton of awesome recommendations, but my friend, Steph (from New Zealand), responded and told me about Morriset hospital with thousandsof wild kangaroos! It was a dream come true for me (spent every day in Oz at that hospital – one of the best experiences of my life!)
My friend and fellow photographer, Luke, lives out in Australia (if you’ve never heard of it, it’s a small island off the coast of New Zealand – that’s for my Kiwi friends
). It’d bereally expensive for me to text him all the way out in Oz. We catch up all the time on there – and then mutual pals likeAmanda in Canada or Bob in England can freely join in on our chats to each other – almost like free group texting! It’s so valuable for this feature alone.
His philosopher friend Garrett Miller (also a bud of mine) wrote a blog in response and here’s what he said:
Bobby’s benefits are genuine fruits of Twitter and worth acknowledging as such, but
Bobby’s benefits ought to be recognized as valuable largely because of their usefulness to Bobby and
that Bobby’s benefits depend strongly on his popularity.
What do you think? It’d be beneficial to read both blogs, they’re full of really good info!
And what is a blog without a photo =) my friends Christie and Brittany decided to come through Santa Barbara on their way up to Seattle, so we had a little photoshoot!
by Josh Newton
3 comments
add a comment link to this post email a friend