Okay, it’s 2:00 a.m. and I’m wide awake and just can’t seem to shut off the day.  So, as pathetic as it sounds, I’m actually sitting in bed with my laptop writing Thursday morning’s blog.  In a few minutes, just like my mother reads to fall asleep, I’m going to wrap it up and fall back asleep, but I’m really curious as to how many of you out there have the same challenge?

Here’s the big issue that’s keeping me awake…there’s so much cool stuff going on and I can’t stop thinking about it.  Think about how you felt before your first wedding/portrait or commercial shoot.  A better analogy is a little kid on Christmas Eve, having to go to bed and knowing morning is just around the corner.

So, come on guys, what are the tricks of the trade my fellow insomniacs use to get to sleep?  How do you shut off the excitement of the day?

Like so many of us in the photographic industry I’m working harder than I ever have in my life, but there’s the biggest smile on my face almost all the time, because whatever decisions I make each day, they’re mine.  Maybe we need a giant chat room for photographers who can’t sleep and we’ll start our own “midnight madness” program!

So, here’s an idea coming out in the middle of the night…May 1st last year MEI was incorporated.   Two of my most favorite events of the last year have been Summer School and Charity Fest here on the blog.  Summer School is already in place for this August, but I think it’s time to do another Charity Fest.

Here’s the concept – I’m looking for guest blogs from all of you on great things you’re doing in support of your community, various non-profits and charities.  And I’m also looking for other companies who are giving back like Pictage  has been doing.  Doug Gordon told me not long ago about the incredible amount his company has given to local charities and I was blown away.

Charity Fest last year brought out some amazing stories with a wide variety of different concepts, from working with your kid’s local school to NILMDTS and everything in between…send me your stories and while there’s no guarantee every single one will get published, you’ll have a chance to help thousands of other photographers who just don’t know how to get started with their own program of giving back to their community.  And if you have trouble writing it yourself or explaining it in print, send me a phone number and I’ll call you and we can write it together!

I’d love to launch Charity Fest again for a week – all guest stories, each one different and posted on this blog, but I can’t do it without you…send them to skip@mei500.com  and remember, it’s not about how much you’re giving back, it’s about the passion for helping people and no project is too small to talk about. 

Anybody else have a change jar, where you throw your loose change every night?  Well, all those pennie, quarters, dimes and nickels really add up when you finally empty the jar – in the same way, all the things so many of you are doing add up and creates an incredible contribution photographers are making back to society!

Thanks…now I think I can get back to sleep!

PS And if there’s a typo here – don’t tell me – half asleep it all sounded good!  hehehe