Capturing the Casual

I've recently started a process of redesigning my professional website. The old version is still up, but I'm working on new content and thinking about color schemes and things like how to effectively bring my personality to life online. I expect the new site to launch sometime in January, which intellectually seems a long way off, but in reality time is flying and 2012 is just around the corner.

There are a couple of things I'm learning through this redesign process, the first being that it's good sometimes to take the time to really do something right, rather than leaping into it headlong. I tend to be a little impatient with things like this--once I decide I want a new website, I want it NOW. So, I end up throwing something makeshift together, and not being super happy with it in the end.

A second (related) thing I'm learning is that sometimes it isn't good to do everything myself. Sure, I'm tech savvy enough to get by on a day-to-day basis, and I'd consider myself more web-literate than the average person, but I'm nowhere near an expert. So I've finally taken the much-needed leap of hiring a professional web designer (hooray!).

A third thing I'm learning through this process is how difficult it can be to let go of control over something as important as my online image. My website, really, is my most important professional "face," because most of the people I interact with are spread around the country. As such, I'm struggling to develop web content that I can hand over to the designer and say "This is what I want; this represents me."

Images are very important to capturing that essence, but really great photos are often difficult to come by. I've determined that I need to be more proactive--not just taking a camera along on big events, but carrying one day to day and having my picture taken as I go about my ordinary life. Special occasion pictures often turn out well, but if they don't, there's no do-over. On a day to day basis, I can wear different outfits, try different poses and espressions, and really figure out how I look best, and what defines ME, visually.

I'm trying to capture the casual, so if you ever run into me in real life, don't surprised if I impose upon you to snap a few quick photos!