Giterdone!!!

So, I shot a wedding on November 3rd and the photos were due to the couple on December 15th.  Somewhere between procrastinating, being a perfectionist and my insane work schedule I ended up being really close to the deadline.  I wasn't worried because I know I could hunker down and get it done even though it was 12/14.  Well ... 12/14/13 was the day that my monitor died (are you kidding me?!?!?!?!?).  I'd gotten an email from the groom earlier that day about meeting on the 15h to get the photo disk from me, I delayed responding because I was just going to go to Wal-mart and get a new monitor and work hard that night.  I run to Wally World, get the monitor and some ink so that I can print onto the CD.  When I get home, I find that the monitor needs a CD to install.  That does not work for me because my CD drive hasn't worked in months; then it hits me, if the CD drive doesn't work, I can't burn the images to a disk to give to the client ... uh oh.  I sit there with my lip poked out for about 20 minutes.

So the next day, I call the client and get the ok to Dropbox them their photos (not what I prefer, but they get what belongs to them).  Then, I go to a pawn shop and get a monitor (plug and play, no disc) and I have the client their photos by 7pm.  Sometimes, things just go wrong, sometimes you make mistakes, the bottom line is to overcome and get the job done.

Go to www.asharpphoto.biz to see more photos from this wedding in the clients section.

Beautiful Sunsets

While photographing sunsets take some technical know how, its more about being in the right place at the right time.  I shot this while on a cruise.  My wife and I had a cabin with a balcony so I was normally able to get the sunset or the sunrise coming and going.  Yeah, I had to wake up early while on vacation but it was so worth it!  Occasionally the boat would be traveling East/West so I had to actually put on clothes and go topside to get my shots.

When you love what you do, you are not working :).  Go to www.asharpphoto.biz to see more and to purchase prints.

Super Moon

I love this photo!  I used an application called, The Photographer's Ephemeris to get it.  As a computer application it is free but there is a charge to use this program on an android device or an iPhone.  Anyone can find out what time the sun or moon rises or sets by going to weather websites.  What is different about this program is it uses google maps so that you can pinpoint a location and it will tell you exactly where the sun/moon rises/sets in relation to your location.  This helps you plan shots based around using the sun or moon.

Since I knew what time the moon was going to rise and where it would be, I was able to get to my location prior to the moonrise and plan my shot as I waited for it to come up.  I took a few different shots that I wasn't particularly enthused about and then I started rotating around my location until i saw the moon through some trees and moss.  I knew that it was a great shot!  But, I always take 2 or 3 more just to make sure I got it.  Sometimes you may be unsteady or your focus may be off so always take multiple shots.

To see more, go to www.asharpphoto.biz

Jessy Felix

I had the pleasure of working with this model and wow!  As a photographer, it is important to know what you are doing technically and it is important to know how to bring out the best in people.  Everyone that you work with will not be a model and will not know how to pose, how to communicate with the camera or how to give you what you want.  I actually bought a posing app for my phone!  Sometimes, I don't know where to start and neither does the person that I am working with.  Some ready-made, standard (or non-standard) poses at your disposal can give you some great starting points.  But with all of that, it is great to work with someone that knows what they are doing.

You see someone attractive and sometimes you think, 'they should be a model.'  But like anything, it takes work.  Professional models actually stand in front of a mirror and practice their posing.  They also take care of their bodies and skin.  Jessy Felix was dynamite and she really knew how to project herself into the lens.  If you are trying to build your portfolio, I would recommend that you work with an intermediate or professional model.  Some photographers may disagree with me, but paying a model is not a bad idea at all.  If you are building a business you will have to make investments.  If you can get something for free or low cost, awesome; but never be afraid to spend some money to grow your business.

Click here to see more photos of Jessy Felix

Broken yet Beautiful

This is one of my earlier photos.  I would be lying if I said I really knew what I was doing when I took this photo.  My wife sent me out to get some Chinese food and they had a broken window.  I asked if they had a problem with me photographing it, they didn't so I took a few shots and Voila!!  I didn't do anything with the photo for a while because it was just a part of my daily photo project.  Months later when I had a better understanding of photography, I looked back and realized that this was one of my accidentally great photos.

When I decided to put this in my art gallery, I had to name it.  Being the philosophical dude that I am, this photo made me think about people and things that we encounter that are damaged in some way.  We normally equate brokenness with ugliness but sometimes, when things are broken the right way something beautiful can be born out of catastrophe.  If you feel like the very foundation of your life is crumbling, don't worry; that's just God making you into something beautiful to put on display.

Go to www.asharpphoto.biz to see more art.

And sometimes its easy

It is great to work with professional models.  It looks like something everyone can do until you try to do it or you watch a model in action.  Models know how to move, they know how to make their face and body look best and they know how to communicate with the camera.  Trust me, it is a skill and they are not overpaid.  But every now and then you work with someone who is not a model for their day (or night) job but they are good nonetheless.  Paris was one of these individuals.  She wasn't scared or nervous about being photographed and she effectively poured herself into the lens, so to speak.  You can do it to!  The main thing I tell people when I photograph them is to think something.  If you are looking at me waiting for me to take a photo, you will look like you are looking at me, waiting for me to take a photo.  If you have a thought in mind when you look at the camera, it comes through.  I also recommend creating personae and bringing them to the session.  Sometimes it is easier to respond to the camera in different ways when you are someone else.

Click here to see the rest of the photos from the session.

Attention to detail

So I did a session with the beautiful Devra the other day.  I took loads of great photos and couldn't use most of them.  UGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!  In one of the settings, I had her standing against a wall, she ended up getting dust all over her arm but; looking through my viewfinder, being far away and bright sunlight helped me miss the dust. The idea was great, the model delivered but that minor detail ruined the photos.

Also, as a photographer, it is my job to make sure people look their best.  There are many photographers out there that just show up with their camera, take pictures and go home.  If a photographer has a concept, they may make recommendations about what to where but they should definitely tell the client what not to wear.  Woven patterns aren't good for photos because with the right light, you can see right through them.  Taking photos is not as easy as it looks on either side of the camera.

Click here to see the rest of Devra's photos.

Quick and Easy

So this was just a 30 minute headshot session.  The young man I worked with is a professional and he just needed an updated photo.  I'm telling you, perfect practice makes perfect.  I have worked with and continue to work with clients without getting paid.  When I do that, I put in the same amount of time, effort, thought that I put in with paying clients (like this one).  That way, I never have to adjust what I do.  Everyone gets the best I can give.

In the past, I'd been using a silver reflector to bounce light onto the client but most people struggled with sunlight in their eyes.  Well, I have this huge 3x2 piece of white foam core that I just keep forgetting to take and use.  I took it on this day and I loved it!!  The light it bounces is soft and even.  But, I will probably get a new one because mine is crumbly so every time I move it, there is popcorn everywhere.  I also used an index card as a bounce card for my flash; hey, it gets the job done.  Lastly about gear, I loooooooove my light meter!  Takes all of the guess work out and it usually gets me where I want to be in terms of camera settings.

Most of the headshot sessions I do, I work with Chris Greene.  He does a phenomenal job working with my subjects and bringing that 'something' out of them that actually makes the photo.  I try to pay attention to him so I can use what he does when I am working on my own.  You have to do more than just push the shutter button, you have to find a way to make your subject convey an emotion and connect to create a compelling image.  And it doesn't hurt when you are working with someone who knows what they are doing, like this guy :).

Click here to see the rest of the photos from this session.

My session with the Millers

So this session was different than other work I have done.  As the Millers are pastors, my focus had less to do with attractiveness and more to do with presenting an air of authority and dignity.  I tried to accomplish this by shooting up at Mr. Miller and using slightly dramatic lighting.  I was also conservative in my post processing of both Mr and Mrs Miller but more so with Mr. Miller.  Unless the client wants it, you don't make a man over 50 look like he's in a boy band with super silky smooth skin.

I am still working on paying more attention to people when I photograph them.  It would seem like common sense but I pay more attention to the technicals instead of making sure that both eyes are open or identifying a person's best side, etc.

Oh, and the day before the session, my wireless transmitters stopped working so I was limited in terms of placement of my light.  While it was a frustrating situation, it was less so because I had found that out the night before.  Always do a run through of your equipment before you go to work.  I would have been so thrown off had I arrived at the shoot and found things not working.

Click here to see the rest of the photos


:)

My full time uncooperative model

My wife is in no way, shape or form interested in being a model.  I remember that every time I try to take her photo for more than 5 minutes.  As difficult as she is, she teaches me that I need to have the concept in mind before I start working.  Not to mention, my wireless trigger finally quite on me so I was unable to do wireless flash like I wanted to.  I ended up triggering the flash with a flash on camera.  It took a little doing for the flash behind her to 'see' the flash on my camera.

Some people are really into the process and enjoy taking photos, allowing me to experiment (aka flounder).  But if I run into someone who does not really want to be photographed, I need to know how to get what I want quickly.  No, there is no gallery of maternity shots of her on my site but feel free to click here and take a look at some of my other work.

:)

Rosetta Stone Session

I had a great tme doing this session with Rosetta Stone.  I told her she made me look like I knew what I was doing :).  Truthfully, I didn't really think about the fact that I was shooting right at sunset so the light was beautiful. 

You can see more of the photos here in the gallery on my website.