Shooting Your First Wedding - Part 1
So you think that you want to become a wedding photographer, you see a photographer a work at a wedding and think, "Wow, that looks so fun/cool. I bet I can do that." After all your mom says she likes your photos. Or you take photos as a hobby and then you start seeing some of these epic photos that wedding photographers take and want to be a part of preserving the memories of couples forever.
These are all ways that some people start shooting weddings, along with a plethora of other ways; a friend/family member asking you to do it cuz its cheaper and you own a camera or being a portrait photographer and someone liking your style and asking you to shoot their wedding. And suddenly after saying yes you realize that you have your work cut out for you. Hair and makeup starts at 9am, the bride and groom are getting ready 30 miles apart across a busy city, and the reception goes until midnight. Not to mention that the church will not let you move past the first five rows, the DJ has lights that ruin every first dance photo, and after it is all said and done the couple is asking you within a week when they will see their photos. Stress sets in. You cry, you complain, you edit like you are being chased by a ravenous lion, and then they want more photos, or they are unhappy, or they never respond once they are sent. All for $200 (or free).
"I AM NEVER DOING THIS AGAIN."
But do not despair. There is hope.
99% of wedding photographers started cheap, or even free. I shot my first wedding that I found on Craigslist for $500. My second and third were for $1000. My second year I started at $2000. Now, nearly 9 years later we charge somewhere between $4000-$6500 but don't be afraid to start cheap! Build to $3500 as fast as you can, but make sure you have a portfolio first. Also don't be afraid to play around with your pricing several times a year. - Daniel Aaron Sprague of The Spragues
When it comes to shooting weddings there is no such thing as being over prepared. I believe that is it always good to have a small amount of fear and nervousness before the wedding. It means that you are taking it seriously. Many of us photographers have nightmares about wedding days. We dream about forgetting batteries, about forgetting memory cards. About driving to wrong locations, forgetting to get dressed, anything. But preparation will help you. So here are some things that I wish I knew before shooting a wedding. (No particular order)
1. How to properly use my flash/speedlight.
During my first wedding I really had no idea what I was doing when it came to using my flash. I just kinda set things up, made it go off and hoped for the best. Figured I would fix it later. This was a mistake. I brought shoot through umbrellas and light stands, but no sandbags. They blew over and one broke. It was awful. It felt like such a derp.
After that I took the time to learn about them, how to bounce my light, how to use diffusers, what power to use when, and it changed my game. Now there is no situation that I cannot light.
Like the one below. Pitch black yet epic.
See my post about backlit photos HERE
2. HAVE A PLAN - Organize the day
My first year of weddings was awful. I just asked what time they wanted me to show up and showed up. I reacted instead of acting first. There were so many things that went wrong, only because I did not have a plan. Once I started working with my clients to develop a timeline days started going better. I realized that in order to present the clients with the best photos I need a certain amount of time to work with.
I send my couples a questionnaire about a month out and then I use that information to build a timeline with my clients (and potentially the planner as well). I tell my clients this during our first meeting as well as during engagement shoots. You can see my that questionnaire HERE.
Taken during my Iceland shoot.
3. KNOW YOUR GEAR (This should be number 1)
I cannot stress this one enough.
- Know how to switch your settings fast.
- Know how high you can push your ISO and in what light and what you can recover in post
- Know how to use your flash
- Know your card speed
- Know how to shoot a dark church from 20 rows back
- Know what the lowest shutter speed you can shoot and still get useable images.
- Know how open you can shoot and still get an in focus image - for each lens
- Know what to do when your flash breaks and you have to shoot the first dance
- Know what error messages mean what and how to fix them
There are plenty of other things that you need to know before you shoot, but many times people blow into weddings without a full understanding of their gear and how it works. Remember, you don't get a second chance. Your couple is relying on you.
In camera double exposure
4. Be Bold, Yet Tactful
You are hired to capture the photos that the couple wants. Guests will get in the way, wedding planners will tell you no, church coordinators will limit your movement, or try to ;). But you still need to be able to capture the moment and tell the story. This means setting your clients expectations before hand. Tell them that asking the guests to refrain from stepping in the aisle during the ceremony, or better yet suggest an unplugged ceremony.
Talk to the coordinator before hand so you know what they expect. Then communicate this to the bride. If the bride has an issue the coordinator will listen to the bride far more than they will listen to you.
If people are getting in the way of family shots, BE BOLD, take control and get the shots you need. You do not have to be an ass, but be firm. You have a timeline, the couple has a timeline and once met everyone will be happy.
One of the coolest set ups ever
5. Don't forget the details
Wedding days go by fast. They are stressful. I have worked in both construction, landscaping, and kitchens and wedding days are by far one of the hardest things I have ever done. There are many times that a couple will tell me after that they do not even remember a certain moment or event during the day.
That being said they spend months and/or years planning out the details of their wedding day. You are not only responsible for capturing the moments. But also the details. The table settings, the flowers, the napkins, the pin in the bouquet, the list goes on and on. There may even be things that mean something to the family, but you may never notice. So Ask.
Get to know the bridal part
6. Get To Know The Bridal Party
The bridal party can be your best friend or your worst enemy. I arrive really early so that I can meet the whole group and get to know them. Luckily, for the photo above I worked with the groomsdude and knew his now fiance. But we are not always that lucky.
I have had weddings though where I have left feeling like I am friends with the bridal party. They will dance with you, they will hug you, some may even friend you on social media.
But when they work with you the results are amazing.
One of my favorite bridal party photos.
Pro Tip: Lightroom Metadata The Easy Way
Lightroom is an amazing program. For those of us that process a massive amount of images Lightroom is the way to go. But there are some things that you can do to help with efficiency, as well as to protect your images and boost SEO.
Many of us use Lightroom presets to speed up our workflow, but how many use metadata presets? This quick setup will help you with applying metadata on import.
In the library module select the Metadata Menu on the right.
Once the menu is expanded, click on the preset sub menu at the top. Once opened select "Edit Presets"
Once you have selected "Edit Preset" this screen will pop up. Fill out the information.
DON'T FORGET TO SAVE
When you import your photos select your metadata preset to apply on import.
Intimate Couples Session - Standley Lake Colorado
I recently relocated back to Colorado since moving back there are a lot of places that I knew that I wanted to shoot at. Rocky Mountain National Park, Red Rocks, Downtown Denver at night, and one that I had the opportunity to shoot at last week. Standley Lake in Arvada.
I met Stephanie through Instagram. I ran a short giveaway and she entered and much to her excitement she won. Unbeknownst to me we both have a common thread in our past. We are both graduates of UNC (The University of Northern Colorado).
Stephanie is a dietitian here in the Denver metro area. You can find her website here coloradodietitian.com or on Instagram here .
Her husband Casey works in the oil industry here in Northern Colorado. They are both extremely fit people and this led to them meeting at the same gym while Stephanie was at UNC. She mentioned while we were shooting that she grew up in Orange County and moved out here and married a country boy and now owns chickens. Oh how love will change us.
I seem to always get these couples that tell me that they are going to be awkward and look weird in their photos. But as you can tell, these two were making that up. I think that they wanted to try and give me a challenge. But when you have two people who looks this good and have such great chemistry with each other, they make my job easy.
They also gave me the opportunity to work on my video skills. I have started including these short Instagram videos with my couples and my engagement shoots. Something that is unique, short and fun. Check their out here!
If you are interested in shooting a couples or an engagement session in the Denver/Boulder area or worldwide for that matter. Hit me up. Lets create together.
A Rented Market Place - Shadow banning, paid ads, and followers.
Years ago there was a man who came to a new land in search of a better life. He had a dream of a home, land, and a family. But when he arrived the money he had worked for his entire life was only enough to either build a home or purchase land. In his haste he rented a small plot of land, and built his home. The dream was happening, he was on his way to the life he wanted. A few years later the landowner sold the land. The new owner wanted to build his house on the same spot so the man was forced to move.
For many people Instagram is am amazing platform. You can share your photos and get them seen by people all over the world. You can follow the lives of celebrities and friends alike, or at least the lives that people want you to see.
For many photographers, they built a decent following, gained clients, and grew their business for free. But along came Facebook, the platform that many had moved from due to decreased interactions, the loss of free marketing, and paid ads. Instagram slowly became more and more like Facebook, photos filtered by algorithms and many lost interaction and followers and saw their once mighty home withering.
Photographers who once relied on hashtags to be seen were at a loss, people took to the streets of their Facebook pages screaming "I have been Shadow banned." "I am no longer having the likes, and reach that I used to." So what is to come? How are we to survive? How will we stand out within this market place of others who copy, undercut, steal, and "thrive."
The fact that all of these companies have started charging is not bad. When used properly this can be good and beneficial for your business.
YOUR MARKETPLACE
We as photographers are actually in a better place than we have ever been. We have the ability to stand out if we work hard. Everyone has a camera in their pocket, but not everyone knows how to use it well.
The story that I started with was to illustrate a point. When one buys a house, they also purchase the land that is underneath it. No one in their right mind would build a house on rented land. So, why would you build your business on a rented marketplace? By rented marketplace I mean, Instagram, Facebook, or any other social platform where you do not control how your brand is sent out.
So, what is your marketplace? Where do you own? Your website, your domain. The WWW. that IS you. Key's to this are
- Your Blog (probably your biggest market place)
- Your specific landing pages
One of the biggest factors in SEO is consistent relevant content. So rather than putting all your fish in one net like Instagram or Facebook. Build off of what you have, then utilize the social channels as best as your marketing plan allows.
By building on the land that you own, you will be setting a strong foundation for the future. All the other platforms can fail, they can stop being free. But your content will not fade.
Wedding Day Shots Lists
Shot lists. So many bridal blogs write about them. So many photographers dread them. But why? Copy and pasting a list and sending it to a photographer has to be helpful right? Maybe? Well, lets look at this. Many of the lists are written by people who are not wedding photographer. It would be like me telling a golf caddy how best to do whatever it is that they do. I have no idea. But...
You the bride have for days, months, and years, been dreaming and planning your wedding. Every detail, the flowers, what colors the ribbons will be. What font will the invitations have, who to invite, and who not too. All this money is spent and you do not want to miss any detail, or person, or moment. And I don't blame you. So you go to Pinterest and search for advice.
After pinning several more flower arrangements, centerpieces, and fawning over all the things that you want. You stumble upon a shot list. It looks something like this.
► The first look
► Room shots at ceremony
► Wedding party and parents walking down the aisle
► Bride walking down the aisle
► Groom’s face as he waits/sees her
► The vows
► Close-up of the exchange of rings
► The first kiss as husband and wife
► The recessional
► Room shots at reception
► Close-up of seating-card display
► Close-up of centerpieces
► Reception entrance
► The first dance
► Father/daughter dance
► Mother/son dance
► The toasts
► The cake cutting
► Bouquet and garter toss
► Parents of bride dancing
► Parents of groom dancing
► Couple’s departure
Or this
http://www.modwedding.com/2015/01/4-wedding-photography-checklists-capture-greatest-moments/
Immediately you pin it and save it so that once you book your wedding photographer you can remind them not to miss a moment. All your bases are covered.
The Photographer
So as a photographer I have received many shot lists from brides. I always read them, and they are nearly always the same. Sometimes there are unique shots like "Grandma Ring that is around the bridal table centerpiece." Something small that we photographers may miss. Other times it is something like "Grooms father whispering last minute advice in his sons ear." How do we know that will happen? Do we need to fake it? Why?
So here are some thoughts from a wedding photographer on shot lists.
1. Hire A Professional
So what do I mean by this? 99% of the shots on these lists are ones that a professional will already be taking. Are we really going to miss the first dance? Or the cake cutting? My hope is that if you hired a professional that we will not miss this. Many times we skip bathroom breaks, water, and food, to make sure that we do not miss a key moment. Again, if you hired someone who does not do this professionally than these are not always true. Also, there are tho occasional odd balls that just don't care about getting the shots. But they never last long. Just because I put on my own tailpipe on my car or I cut my own hair, does not mean that you would hire me to work on your car or cut your hair.
2. Trust
I know its hard. But there are many of us photographers who are in this because we love it. We care about providing you the best experience and images that we can. For myself I work to communicate as much as possible with my couples. I realize that, not only are they spending a decent chunk of change on their wedding day, and that they probably have
- Never planned a wedding
- Never been married before
So a lot of this is new to a couple and they are just trying to make sure that they get what they pay for.
3. ASK
When in doubt ask a photographer about shots. Ask to see a whole wedding do a check list yourself and see if a photographer is able to capture what you are looking for. Ask questions. I love when couples ask questions, it does not bother me if couples ask about gear, lighting, situations, or any other questions they might have. I want them to trust me.
When it comes to the shot lists, they are not bad. When used correctly. But if you are expecting to have your photographer walk around with a sheet all day and check of which photos they have taken and which they have not, they will miss many moments that are unfolding before them.
Personally, I prefer when a couple lets me know about certain elements that they would like captured. If a bride spends a tone of time working on the decorations, or the table settings and wants a ton of detail shots, that is great to know. If the groom has cufflinks that have been passed down generations, it lets me know that I need to get some fun shots with them.
These are all things that I do any way, but knowing what is important to a couple is beneficial when it comes to capturing the wedding day.
Make your list unique to you and your day, but remember that we as photographers have done this many times before. Let us do our thing and chances are you will be more than thrilled.
If you insist on having a shot list, then add a second shooter to your wedding packages. This way you can have a photographer that is focused on what is happening in the present moment while someone is helping with the list.
When working with the photographer to create your timeline, factor certain parts of your list into the day.
Relax and have fun. The day will pass you by faster than you realize. I have often had brides come back and tell me that there are so many photos of moments that they do not even remember happening. Be present, make the memories that you want happen and we will be there to capture them.
New Hope Photography's First Senior Rep- Geneva - Red Rocks Colorado
So since I moved back to Colorado, I was excited to start shooting seniors again. In my last state senior photos were not a real big thing. I really love workign with seniors because each one is different and unique, they all have their own interests and passions and we get to use these to create some amazing photos for each one.
Last month I began a Senior Rep program which I was super excited about. The problem was I really didn't know any seniors to pitch it too. But my cousin Mindy has worked with teens for years, and when I was talking with her mentioned that she knew someone that would love to shoot.
So I would like to introduce Geneva. Although she graduates this year, she was super excited to be involved.
Geneva attends Columbine High School, in Littleton Colorado and is an upperclassmen mentor. It does not stop there, she likes to keep herself busy with dance, singing, teaching dance, photography, working out, writing, modeling.
She was a 100% natural in front of the camera. Even the test shots were amazing. We decided to shoot at Red Rocks in Morrison Colorado. I have always wanted to shoot here and never had the opportunity. Although I grew up in Colorado, I did not start photography till after I had moved away.
Check out the rest of her session below.
Interested in being a Senior Rep? There are some pretty cool perks! Check out the application here.
Family and Photos - A Personal Post
Most of the time I write about photography, marketing, past sessions, but I do not really get personal. But today I really felt like writing about family, mainly my Grandparents.
Right now my Grandmother is in the hospital, which for our family is nothing new. We all thought that she may have been gone 20 years ago. But she is a short stubborn southern lady. My theory is that she has so many things wrong, and they are all trying to get through the door at the same time, so they are all stuck. That and she has an immense love for her kids, grandchildren, and now great grandchildren. She has invited all of the grandchildren's spouses into the family with welcoming arms and really become their Grandmother as well.
Recently we moved them down to Vail, Arizona from Fort Collins, Colorado. While they were staying with my Aunt and Uncle she took a fall, potentially due to a small stroke, she has a brain bleed that got infected, and every day we wait to see what will happen. We all know that she probably does not have long, but the hardest part is knowing how my Grandfather is dealing with it all. He has been sitting by her side, talking to her and repeatedly telling her "Norma Lorraine, I love you."
October 11th 1952 - 65 years of marriage
They met while in Russian class. She was taking Russian so that she could work for the NSA, he was in Air Force intelligence, 6901st support squadron, Suitland, Maryland.Over the years together they lived in Libya, Virginia, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Texas, and Colorado. He served for 23 years in the Air Force and had a tour of duty in Vietnam from October 1966-October 1967 and retired as a Master Sargent. Most notably he was awarded a Bronze Star for his service in Vietnam.
My Grandmother raised their three kids during this time, My dad and his brother and sister. When she was working she worked in the banking industry and learned bussed all the kids to all their sports games. She has always been a fighter. Fighting umpires about the rules in baseball, the referees about the rules in basketball. At one point she received a technical foul as a fan. But her Southern spirit has always been alive and strong.
Here is how this all ties in with photography. My Grandmother is all about memories. She has a mind like a steal trap. When telling stories she would often mention mundane facts like what was eaten for dinner, or what hotel they stayed in, things that no one really cares about. She also had albums of photos, whenever they moved she brought dishes and furniture that they have had with them since they got married. She created, captured, and harvested memories.
We have always had the ability to create our own stories, to go out and do what makes us feel alive and happy. If we are not happy and do not feel alive we can change that.
We now have the ability to document our stories as we are living them. Become someone who lives their story, who captures and harvests memories. Do what makes you happy. Life is short. Find someone that will be your adventure buddy, that will travel the world with you. That brings you joy. Find the person that will sit by your bed day in and day out holding your hand, and whispering "I love you."
I for one couldn't be happier. I have that travel buddy. A woman who has more patience, love, and grace than anyone I have ever met. She keeps me centered. She calms my soul. She brings me more joy than I ever thought possible. When I look at my grand parents, now I get more and more excited to grow old with this lady.
Most of these photos of my grandparents were provided from my Aunt Vicki. She always claims she is not a good photographer, but these photos have so much meaning it doesn't matter.
How To Create Epic Backlit Wedding Photos
So in the beginning of my wedding photography career I attempted to make sun-flare photos my signature, but the more weddings that I shot, the more another type of shot became my signature photo.
The backlit photo.
I love shooting this type of photo because the creativity is unlimited. It involves both myself, my knowledge of OCF (Off Camera Flash), knowing my camera settings, and my clients working with me to create these epic images. So below is a collection of some of my favorite backlit images, the story behind them and, as far as I can remember, the set-ups that I used.
This was one of my first successful backlit images. I remember trying them before this and not quite getting what I wanted. Later I realized that I did not understand the correlation between aperture/shutter speed/ISO and light as it pertained to OFC.
This image was shot with a Canon 5D2 and a Canon 16-35 at 16mm. I was standing on a wet hill, soaking wet and trying to not fall. I was using a Yongnuo flash system (they were super cheap like $30 for a flash so I wasn't worried about the flash getting wet). The flash was set at about 1/2 power and was about 5 feet behind them. During this wedding we shot several backlit photos, because this couple was amazing and wanted to create some super rad photos. When we were walking back to the venue, I asked if they were down to try some other photos. So I snapped a quick one where they were posed, and then I asked Landon (the groom) to give me a heel-click jump. We probably tried it 3-4 times before getting this image. Nailing an image of someone in the air with a flash is mad difficult.
For both these images I set the flash at full power and it was about 15-20 feet behind them.
The photo below was actually shot in the evening, where there was still plenty of light. I set my aperture at f22 so that I could simulate a darker environment, and set the flash at 1/2 power. You can still see the ambient light in the sky, but I like this image because you can see the detail and the expression in their faces.
The more I experiment with backlit photos, the more I try to challenge myself. I try and find elements in the landscape to include as a way to enhance the image. When I arrived at the venue for the image below, I knew that I wanted to include the fountain. Backlighting the water with the silhouette of the couple would create the extra pop to the image that I wanted. The flash was set at full power so that it would be light enough to capture the fountain and the couple. This was shot on a Canon 5D3 with a Canon 16-35 set at 16mm. The flash system was the YN600.
The photo below is in my top 3 favorite photos. I was on the beach in Narragansett, Rhode Island. The tide was going out so there was wet sand with very shallow "puddles" of water left. I placed the couple on an "island" with the flash about 5 feet behind them at full power. I used full power as there was nothing to reflect the light down and I wanted a good spread to the photo. Again this was a 5D3, with a Sigma 24mm Art lens and the YN600 flash.
While I love the drama in the photo above, I always try to get a couple poses so that when I get back to the computer I have more to work with. Some look great on the back of the camera, then they just don't work on the screen. The photo below is a little more cute and fun.
Anytime that there is a little rain, I love to go out and get a backlit photo. The reflecting of the light on the raindrops ads just a little extra element to the photo. The photo below was shot with the Nikon D750 and a Sigma 24mm Art and the YN 560 IV. The flash was about 5 feet behind the couple, and set at 3/4th power.
The photo below, was snapped during our 3.5 seconds of rain that we had on this 98 degree/ 400% humidity day. I don't think that my shirt was dry at all during that day. If there was a wet t-shirt contest, I would have won. But anyway, we wanted to get out there and use the arch in the backlit photos. As we were setting up the rain started and I snapped this photo.
I am adding the photo below, because it was slightly different for me. Most of the time I use the bride's dress to block/diffuse the light. It is so much harder to block the flash with just a leg or some other element that is present in the frame. The bride in this image was holding her dress up so that it did not get wet. So I placed the flash further back than normal. Usually I set it at 5-10 feet. but this time I set it at about 20 feet. I was going to use their torso's to block the light. But when I got back to the computer, I liked the photo where the light was sneaking between them and created more of a flare. Due to my settings the light had a slightly red tint, so I accentuated this in the editing of the image. The flare and the placement of the light created a nice circle of light around them.
As I said, I always try to up my game when it comes to backlit photos. I almost never think of using it for a detail shot, but when we were out creating photos for this wedding, I realized that utilizing this super still puddle to capture a unique backlit photo would give me some epic results. For this photo (Nikon D750/Sigma 24mm Art and YN560IV) I actually set the flash closer to the couple than I normally do so that I could get more of the reflection in the puddle.
Originally, I was going to use the puddle for the full length portrait as well, but I felt like that lacked creativity and was too similar to what I had just created. So with the help of Steve, who as you can see has some serious hops, we created this photo. It is number 2 on my list of favorite backlit photos.
We used an alley right next to the venue to create this photo. There was a little rain fall from the trees above us that was left over from the downpour earlier. I set the flash at full power about 15 feet behind them. I love this photo because, due to the amazing sensors in the Nikon cameras, I was able to recover some detail in Steve and Kelsey's faces. Talk about a couple that is stoked to be married.
The photo below was shot just a few minutes after the arch rain photo above. For this photo I utilized a piece of copper pipe and my flash to create this "ring of fire" photo. (The idea was first introduced by Sam Hurd). The placement of the couple in relation to the arch and the flash was pivotal. I had the flash, set at 3/4 power with the head angled up slightly about 5 feet behind the arch. I placed the couple about a foot in front of the arch so as to not have any bounce from the flash affect the couple. I was in live view on the camera so that I could see where the copper pipe was in relation to the couple. It took about 5 shots to get the ring where I wanted it in the photo. ( Nikon D750/Sigma 24mm Art/YN560IV)
I created this photo at my last wedding of 2016. I had seen this gazebo earlier in the day when we were shooting bridal photos and knew that I wanted to use it for the backlit photo later in the night. The beauty of this one was that my second shooter was a stand in while I figured out the best settings. For this photo the flash was set about 2 feet behind the couple, at about 1/2 power with the head of the flash angled almost straight up. I knew that the gazebo would bounce the flash giving me fill light on the couple, and I did not want to go full power as I wanted the light concentrated within the gazebo.
The image below is my favorite backlit image I have ever made. I love it because it was a combination of the couples boating skill, daring, photography knowledge, and hope. For this wedding I knew that we were going to attempt a backlit image of the couple in a canoe, in the water. So I wore pants I did not care about as I knew that I would be wading in the lake to create this image.
The set up for this photo was more intense than any other backlit image due to the fact that I had to get my flash out into the water at a distance that was far enough to give me the light spread that I needed. So I brought a light stand and waded into the lake until I was chest deep. I placed my flash so that the head of the flash was about 12 inches from the surface of the water. The flash itself was one click up from parallel to the water. The flash was 1/2 power so that it would not blind the couple. I waded back to the shore grabbed my camera (Canon 5D3/Sigma 24mm Art/YN600 flash) and then waded back out until I was just over waist deep. I had the couple float by the flash at a distance of about 5 feet and fired off several frames. We did this several times until I knew that I had enough to work with. After retrieving my equipment, and wading back to shore, soaking wet, I headed to the car, and changed for the drive home. When I looked at the images on the computer I knew that to achieve what I wanted I would have to composite two frames in order to have each couple properly lit. So below is the result of that waterlogged foray into a lake with $3000 of camera equipment hovering just above the water.
Below is a diagram of the basic lighting setup for these images. The flowers have no relevance, I just wanted to add a little extra fun.
Things to remember when creating images like this.
1. The angle of the flash head affects the spread and any bounce. If there are trees or a building or a gazebo, remember that there will be some bounce, adding fill to the image.
2. Practice with aperture/shutter/ISO to learn the correlation between them and flash. Here is a great article that explains this. http://www.thephoblographer.com/2013/04/12/useful-photography-tip-52-how-aperture-affects-your-flash-exposure/
3. Don't blind your couples. Tell them to close their eyes, or pose their heads away from the flash.
4. get risky, try things, tell your couples that you want to give them something unique.
5. Have fun.
Email me with any questions!
Tanis & Alicia + Rhode Island Party
This day was absolutely beautiful. Alicia and Tanis live in Ohio, but decided to celebrate their marriage at this small yet amazing barn in Rhode Island.
When I showed up I was blown away by how gorgeous the venue was and how much time they took to set it up to be absolutely perfect. The best part was that they were down to create some amazing photos and as you can see they both are absolutely stunning. It was so amazing to see the love that was poured out from friends and family.
My favorite part of the night was after the first dance, we went out to take some more photos and I just asked them to dance and sing to each other just like they had during the first dance.
Now that I am back in the Denver/Boulder, Colorado area I am 100% open to shooting more same sex couples! Love is Love.
Just dance
Rhode Island Wedding - Kait & Heath - Pin All The Things!!!
Ok, so as I mentioned in the last blog post, Kait and Heath had a wedding that was beyond beautiful. The amount of time that Kait spent on her wedding details must have been years. So feast your eyes on these details.
Rhode Island Wedding - Kait & Heath - Trust Me. You Will Want To Pin This
The best man during his speech mentioned that Kait had probably been planning her wedding day since the day she was born. I might be inclined to agree. The amount of thought and details that went into this wedding deserve their own Pinterest board.
I tend to try and take a creative photo with the dress. Usually this is next to a wall or a tree, somewhere that I can hang it and not worry about the dress falling. Because then I might be out of a job. But to date this is by far one of my favorite dress photos.
But enough of that lets get to the people images.
I had the opportunity to shoot Kait and Heath engagement photos down in Westerly Rhode Island. It was a crazy foggy day, but we created some super rad photos.
Kate's wedding day came and from the moment I walked in, I could tell that this was going to be an amazing wedding. One of my favorite parts of a wedding day is the first look. You get to capture some awesome emotions. It also provides more time to take photos together and helps relieve some of the stress of the day.
The ceremony took place outside at The Towers in Narragansett Rhode Island. This is probably one of my favorite wedding venues in Rhode Island. The ceremony location looks out over the ocean, and the reception is inside an amazing room that has the feel of an old castle.
These two had a hell of a party. One of my favorite parts of weddings is getting to see people surrounded by their friends and family. Community is something that is huge in our lives and being able to celebrate this is an amazing opportunity.
Below are a few of my favorites from the day.
Stay tuned for the blog post of details from this wedding.
Wedding planner/Coordinator : Michaela Lamb - www.idohappilyeverafters.com
Caterer: Wendy Cobb with Glorious Affairs - www.gloriousaffairs.com
DJ: Band - East Coast Soul - http://eastcoastsoul.net/ - Arthur Felluca( run logistics ) - afelluca@eastcoastsoul.net
Florist: Sharon Elizabeth - Heath's Aunt Sharon - www.sharonelizabeths.com
Hair Stylist: B Lovely Beauty - www.blovelybeauty.com
When food fights happen - Part 2.
Some people are afraid to fight in marriage. They feel like if they do then it means that their marriage is failing and they will split. But this is not always the case. You have to fight for things that are worth while.
This was not one of those fights that you need to be afraid of. This is one of those fights that brings you closer.
Food is about community, When we eat together we bond. So why not bond by spreading it all over each other.
These two just let them selves go and had so much fun. Once Jen had Brent on the ground we know who won.
They both did.
After it was all said and done, I managed to squeeze in a few cutesie photos. But I think Jen was okay with that.
When food fights happen - Part 1
So, in my time as a photographer I have gotten to meet and shoot some really rad people. Two of these people are Jen and Brent. When we were discussing their couples session Jen said that she didn't want anything all "lovey dovey." Well, I tend to shoot a lot of this so I had to get in my brain and see what I could work out. So, I asked them what they enjoyed as hobbies.
They mentioned music and that Brent liked cooking. So my immediate thought was a food fight theme. From shooting Jen before I knew that she would be down, and Brent was immediately game. So we talked logistic and went all out.
While they started tame the photos got a bit more intense towards the end. Obviously these two were into getting their kitchen a bit dirtier then most of us would.
Stay tuned for part 2 of the food fight next week.
Emotional photos and quality
One of my favorite comments among photographers in my photo groups is about the sharpness of their photos. We tend to be obsessed with sharpness.
"Is this lens sharp? Facebook ruined the sharpness! My photo has soooo much grain."
These are all comments that come out on a regular basis. I am not writing this as a means to bash those photographers that are looking for sharp images, I look for them too. But rather I am writing this to remind people that sharpness is not everything. People connect to images because of emotion. Yes, those of us in the photography world look at theses epic images of people and think wow that is incredible! One of the eye opening experiences came early on in my career after I would choose these epic landscape photos to share, the ones where the people are tiny in the photo, like the one below.
Shot in Iceland. Tiny people big landscape.
But I received a comment on one of my images from a mother of the bride who asked "Your photos are beautiful, but do you have any photos where we can see their faces."
This hit me, I was posting for other photographers more so than the friends and families or the people in the images. While I love these epic photos, I have never had someone come back and purchase a canvas or large print of one of them. What captures people is emotion.
So I sought to incorporate more of this into my images.
One photographer that influenced my work majorly in this aspect is Candice Zugich of The Blissful Maven Check out her work because she is rad. But she loves to get close to her subject. When I first came across her work I asked her about what lenses she uses as she gets so close. I figured she would use like a 70-200mm, but she only used 35mm. (In turn it is not about the equipment, but because she gets close in person not with a zoom, she connects with her couples) So when you see her work you realize she is inches away from her couples, and in turn captures great emotion.
So I broke out of my comfort zone and started to get close. And the results were awesome. My clients and friends and family loved them, and I loved them. It was really hard at first, but in being close to my couples, I had to be comfortable, and this in turn made them comfortable.
So what about quality?
As I mentioned, many times photographers get caught up on sharpness and not about the content and emotion. My absolute favorite photos is shot by the war photographer Tim Hetherington. His biography Here I Am is an amazing read, In the early days of digital photography, Tim chose to shoot film, both medium format and 35mm. For awhile I had this image as my background and then I had a copy of it next to my desk, but I keep it there as a reminder that emotion trumps all.
The emotion in that is captured in this image always makes me stop and just take it in. But I also think about how as far as quality many photographers would throw this out due to how blurry/out of focus/ and the grain in the photo.
So I guess to sum up, when "Aunt Jean" or "Uncle Bob's" photo gets more likes than your's remember that they have an emotional tie to the photo and the people in it. Do what you do and keep on keep'n on.
Communication Part 1
Having been a part of quite a few photography groups, I get to read a lot about frustrations and issues that many photographers have with clients, or prospective clients. Many times these frustrations are warranted, but could have been avoided with good communication.
So let me start by saying that, like all my blog posts, I do not claim to be an expert, but rather, I just attempt to help others in my profession.
Many times the issues that I see come up are from lack of a contract. This is an issue, not only legally, but also because you do not have the opportunity to set expectations. I am a firm believer in that there is no such thing as over communication. I think that as photographers we honestly believe that clients know and understand all that we do about photography, not in the technical f-stop and bokeh sense, but rather, why a quality photographer charges $250-1000 for a portrait session.
A lot of this is client education and setting expectations before the shoot takes place. As I said before a contract will help, but many clients do not take time to read the entire contract, and may think that times are approximate or that there is no limit to images, or that you are with holding images because of an imaginary limit. So…
SET EXPECTATIONS
Not just in the contract, but in emails, and verbally. At any client touch point for communication enhance your brand by telling them what they are getting and why. When I meet with clients I talk about why I prefer to offer all day coverage for a wedding versus hourly. When I talk about the engagement sessions I mention that we have 2 hours, and we can do whatever locations, but drive time is included. Things that I include in my contract are
· Safety (If a guest threatens me I can leave)
· Schedule (For weddings I create a photo timeline and they agree to it a week prior, if things change during the day I approach the friend and tell her what is happening and give her options to chose from and outcomes)
· Time (Shooting starts at agreed upon time with or without the client)
· Travel expenses and limits
· My responsibilities (Highlighting things that are out of my control, weather, lateness of clients, obtrusive guests, and venue limitations)
· Venue Limitations (Clients may not know that a church will not let you move during the service or any other crazy limitation, bring it up, and when you arrive if something happens that is unexpected, communicate it with the bride. She has more power in the situation than anyone).
· Food (I need to be fed or have time to get food on a wedding day)
· Permits (not my responsibility)
· Model Release
· Limit of Liability
· Capture and delivery (I cannot be everywhere at once and cannot guarantee any images)
· Post, editing and Archiving
· Time limitations
When I meet with the client I highlight items during my conversation. By doing this, not only am I setting the expectations, I am showing them that I am prepared and knowledgeable, which in turn gains them trust.
If they ask about gear and editing, I tell them. If they ask about Pinterest photos or lists, I tell them why I do not do them. I will look at their photos ideas, but I tell the client that I will put my own twist on the photo. They are hiring me for me, not for the other person. My line for this is that if they have they expectation of recreating certain scenes or photos, they are setting all of us up for disappointment.
Stay tuned for part 2.
Pirate weddings are rad.
I have known Deanna and Chris for over a decade. Chris was my first tattoo artist, and I was his first public client. In college I started helping pout at the shop that he worked at and became friends with him and the others that worked at the shop. A year or two later, Deanna started her piercing apprenticeship at the shop and since she attended the same university that I did, we also became friends. Over the years I have created some amazing stories with these two.
Chris and Deanna got married at Deer Crossing Inn, which is located in Castro Valley California. We all spent three days hanging out, and getting ready for the wedding day. This was a great time because all of us pitched in and worked on food and decorations. instead of a DIY wedding it turned into DIWF (Do It With Friends) wedding.
Deanna and Chris are definitely creatives. There were so many incredible detail shots to get.
As someone who has a decent amount of tattoos, I love when my couples have them and want to show them off. Not only are they a part of who you are, but they tell a story. Brides always have an choice of wether to hide them or not. But with Deanna's tattoos, this would have been a little harder. I love it.
When it comes to photos, both Deanna and Chris are professionals. They could probably even make some side cash on their weekends modeling. Well, that is if they could find time between being business owners, tattoo artists, and the other 50 different projects that they work on as well. The best part about their wedding attire is that most of it was custom made. Check it out.
One part that was pretty awesome was Deanna wanted to recreate a photo from her childhood. She had a friend recreate the sweater so they could recreate the photo.
The wedding itself was short and sweet. Cash, the dog, escorted Chris and Mez (the officiant and one amazing tattoo artist) down the aisle, where Chris and Deanna where married under a ships mast.
Following the ceremony, Deanna "tattooed" her parents for the first time, and was later joined by an aspiring tattoo artist. (I even received one on my neck from her).
After the first dances, Chris and Deanna walked the plank to a drumroll and were joined by several family and friends in the pool where we were created some rad photos with the smoke machine.
By far this was one of my favorite weddings, not only because of the theme and details, but because I was able to be a part of two of my best friend's wedding. I was able to hang out with some of the best people that I know and spend several days helping create an unforgettable experience.
Check out Deanna's work here http://www.graphicward.com/
And Tattoo Boogaloo here http://tattooboogaloo.com/index.html
Wedding ceremony& reception took place at: Deer Crossing Inn
Dress designer: Ordered from JJ’s House
Suit/attire: Custom made by Al’s Attire
Flowers: DIY
Photographer: Matt Ritscher of New Hope Photography
Hair & Make up: My Mother
Cake: Macaroons by Chantal Guillon, Chocolates by CocoaBella
Any other businesses involved? Video: Edward Michael of EM3 Films
Brevite Camera Bag Review
So I picked up this bag about a month ago and it has been my daily bag since then. I have had a few people ask me what I have thought of it, so I decided to write a review.
Brevite ( Pronounced Brevity) is a different than any other bag that I have owned. Like many photographers I have a camera bag addiction. I think at the moment I have 6. Mostly because I have had yet to find one that fits my needs. For the past few months I have been using my messenger bag with a camera insert. This worked not that well. I could not fit a DSLR and my laptop and a text book. I am in Grad school, so I need to have my books and laptop with me most of the time, but I also like to have a camera. Many times I will be studying and have a shoot later and because I bike commute, I do not have a car to keep everything in.
I saw this bag when a buddy of mine was reviewing it over on SLRLounge, I loved the way it looked so I ordered one. So here are my thoughts.
First look, I was a was a little irked that the leather on the bottom looked plastic. I was hoping that it was just the images I had seen, and that the leather was a better quality. But as I wore the bag I realized that this may be on purpose in order to keep the bag from getting wet through the bottom. I have ridden through several rain storms, and the water comes right off.
This brings me to my next thought. The bag has an optional rain cover. It is $20 more but after getting caught in a few rainstorms I wish I would have picked it up. I will probably order one soon. However the bag did well. My laptop and camera stayed dry.
There is plenty of storage, two pockets on the front that have slots for pens and such, a small zippered top pocket, perfect for sunglasses or headphones or storing the rain cover. The bag is comfortable with breathable padding and the straps fit well.
There are two buckles so if you need the extra support for hiking you have it. Two nifty features on the straps are 1. A strap to hold your sunglasses or a bluetooth speaker and on the other side there is a lens cap holder. This feature is interesting, but I have yet to utilize it as the holder is for a 58mm cap. It would be nice if you could order to fit your most used size, or if there were attachments available. As I said this bag has been my daily commuter for about a month and riding 8-12 miles a day it still feels comfortable and sits well.
The bag also has a removable insert for your camera gear. I love this insert for several reasons. First it fits my DSLR with a lens with no issues. Which for everyday use is all you need. This leaves room for me to fit an apple/banana or other snacks and have them protected and not get totaled. I need snacks with me and this bag has room for all of them.
As you can see it is also roomy. I can fit two SLR bodies with lenses and a small mirrorless. Or if I want I can fit my Mamiya 67 in there. (Those of you who have held this know what a beast it is). Last week I took this bag on a styled shoot with me and was able to fit all I needed in it. It almost fits all I need when I shoot weddings, but I will still be using my shoulder bag for convenience sake on those.
Brevite also thought to add this side access pocket. It seems nifty, but it is hard to get the camera out. If you are shooting mirrorless or a smaller camera this will work, but it takes a minute to get a DSLR out. But the good news is, when you are taking an image of the bag in Yosemite, and have the bag on a rock, your camera body probably won't slip out.
The rear pocket has a padded sleeve for laptops, my 13in Macbook fits fine and Brevite says that a 15in will fit in there as well. I usually have a textbook/iPad and laptop in the large pocket and have no issues with room.
If you need more room there is a pocket that attaches to the compartment that contains the insert. I usually carry my Kryptonite lock in there with some snacks. But if you need it, you could fit film, a moleskin (or field notes), smoke grenades, your favorite Star Wars action figure or any other hipster items you need. I guess you could fit non hipster items, but whats the fun in that. You may even be able to fit one of those southwest style blankets for your models to pose with in there. :)
The bag also has a mesh side pocket for a water bottle or a tripod as well as straps to hold the tripod. If you prefer you can also attach a tripod on the side.
Overall I would highly recommend this bag. Not only is it versatile and comfortable but it is practical. I also like that it looks like any other backpack out there. No one may guess that you are hauling several thousand dollars of gear in it. I am curious to see how the leather holds up over time. But I am happy with my $160 investment. I feel like my gear is safe. Especially once I purchase the rain cover.
If you would like to purchase one check them out here. http://www.brevite.co/brevite-bag/
Till later. Keep shooting!
* I was not paid to write this. These are my opinions.