Meet Sherrlyn Borkgren: 2008 ShootQ Grant Winner

Since we're out in Oregon for some ShootQ business, we had an opportunity to meet Sherrlyn in person! She is a wonderful individual, with evident passion for storytelling and making a positive impact on the world through the power of photographs. It was fascinating to hear about her experiences photographing everything from war to weddings. She has seen a lot in her journey as a photographer!

As you can see, she also has a big heart for animals!

We're looking forward to supporting her as she pursues her project in the Democratic Republic of Congo this Fall.

Stay tuned for dispatches from Sherrlyn and the ShootQ Grant!

Is this on earth?

Today I flew over Owens Lake (I'm pretty sure, anyway) en route from Salt Lake City to Eugene, Oregon, and saw what seemed like an alien landscape in eastern Nevada.

Owens lake is bright red, and was stunning from the air. If you want to read about why it's red, CLICK HERE.

Trip to Mississippi: Fish Camp

For those of you who may not have noticed, family tradition is part of what makes a LaCour a LaCour. So it was only fitting that when Rachel, Jonathan, Lacey and I visited Rachel and Jonathan's grandmother, Sarah Lincoln LaCour that we went to eat a traditional Mississippi fried catfish meal at Long's Fish Camp near Sarah Lincoln's home town of Meridian, Mississippi.

A modest structure, Fish Camp is a cinderblock building standing off a country highway with a sand parking lot. The interior, painted plain white, was lit by bare incandescent bulbs and hunting trophies adorned the walls.

The catfish, served on Melmac plates, was some of the best I've ever had. And, of course, an industrial-sized bottle of Tabasco sauce kept things spicy.






Sarah Lincoln tells Jonathan and Andrew that she'd rather "open her mouth and let the sun shine in" than eat Jello.
The view from the back seat of Sarah Lincoln's Grand Marquis.

Marketing & Branding Workshop Recap

Guest speakers Chris and Katie Torres with 6 of Four talk to workshop participants about their recent rebranding efforts.

Guest speaker Hannah Bower of Bower Communications talks to the group messaging framework.

ShootQ's Jonathan LaCour, and his wife, Lacey, talk to Rachel and Airika Pope.

Jeremy Roth listens to Mark welcome the group to Ecco, one of our favorite Atlanta restaurants.

Veteran LaCour workshop attendee Delaney Holliman teases Andrew for "shooting with his pinky finger up."

Becca Spears and Pam Wirken enjoy the fine wine at Ecco. (Tyler was there too!)

Stephanie Alexander and Skip Adams.

LaCour patriarch Al LaCour (Rachel's Father) and Elaine joined us for dinner.

Atlanta photographer Charlie Pappas.

Occasionally, Rachel's halo comes out.

Rachel and Airika Pope, who came to the workshop from Seattle.

Lacey LaCour celebrated her birthday at dinner.

Our wonderful workshop group! (Sorry to Stephanie Alexander, who left before we took the picture.)

LaCour's first Branding & Marketing Workshop was a great hit! We had participants come from Seattle, Oregon, Kansas City, Denver and Georgia to learn in-depth about branding and marketing. With just ten participants, it was the perfect size for one-on-one and group discussion. Thanks everyone who attended, and look for new dates for this workshop soon!

ShootQ Grant Winner Announcement

Sherrlyn Borkgren, a wedding photographer and photojournalist, has been awarded $10,000 by ShootQ to bring awareness to the abuse of women by militiamen in the Eastern Congo.

With the help of the ShootQ Grant, Sherrlyn will travel to Congo this Fall to tell the story of personal and communal devastation caused by widespread rape and torture throughout the region. She will spend time in the North Kivu area with young girls who are suffering the permanent physical and emotional effects of this terrible injustice.

Sherrlyn comments: "It’s hard to imagine a worse place in human history to be a woman. There are clinics in this region that will treat 8,000 rape victims this year. These are 8,000 women whose lives and families have been ripped apart. Together, ShootQ and my photography will rally awareness about one of the most terrible crises in the world."

The ShootQ Grant was established this year to allow photographers to invest time working on projects that raise awareness about important issues. More than a monetary award, the ShootQ Grant provides photographers with the opportunity to work on a meaningful project with the creative freedom and financial support necessary to produce photographs that raise public awareness about important social, environmental and economic issues.

Powerful images spur powerful action. We created the ShootQ Grant to help photographers use their talent and passion to inspire change. We are privileged to work with Sherrlyn. Her determination and talent will bring hope to one of the most tragic chapters in the history of our world.

To view Sherrlyn's Winning Portfolio and Proposal, CLICK HERE

Last-Minute Opportunity: Seats Available at our August Workshop!

2 seats just opened up at LaCour's Branding and Marketing Workshop! If you're interested in joining a great group of photographers at our workshop on August 18-20, email us ASAP at info@lacourphoto.com

This workshop sold out quickly, so jump on this chance if you can!

ONE: Make Time for What Matters

It's easy to invest in improving photographic technique and business skills, but why does it seem hard to invest in what matters most?

There's nothing wrong with being driven to succeed at business, but how many of us make time to focus on the one thing that matters most at the end of our days, weeks and years — our relationships.

All of us here at LACOUR and SHOOTQ are proud to sponsor the upcoming ONE Conference.

If you are a married couple in business together, you know it's challenging to balance personal needs and business needs.

When Jeff and Julia Woods told us they were organizing this conference, we knew we wanted to support their efforts.

ONE is a fantastic, rare opportunity for couples who are "copreneurs" to spend time delving into the delicate balance of marriage and business. In our experience, it's a constant struggle to NOT be wedded to work! The relationship of marriage is challenging enough, and when you throw business partnership into the mix, it presents a whole new set of variables. But with mutual respect, communication and nurturing, copreneurs can thrive and reach their goals together.

Our industry has needed this for quite awhile and we encourage couples to invest in what matters most.