Photographing for your client.

One of the fun things about photographing weddings is basically the unpredictability of the day. You are never sure what kind of images you are going to be taking.

Well, you now to a certain degree. These would be the Getting Ready photographs. The Ceremony and then the Reception. The best part though is finding those gems amongst everything else that you will be photographing.

It is the constant search for the interesting guest's and the special moments that the couple will be taking when they think nobody is watching.

It is also about the beautiful formal photographs and the opportunity to make sure you get some really individual and special photographs that the couple will appreciate long after you have left.

On other occasions it is also really interesting to test your own creativity. What can you create with the model and the location that you are working in. What works well for one photograph might not always be appropriate for every other photograph in the same location.

For me finding the best photograph is not about clicking the shutter release button a million times. Rather it is about watching your client or model and knowing what you can expect when you ask them to do something. By knowing the reaction or even been able to anticipate the action you can be sure to capture the photograph you are looking for.

Do not be shy to ask questions because it is a great way to elicit some reactions from your models.

All collages created here can become some great wall art for you and your family. Just ask.

Enjoy your photography and think beyond just been the photographer. Rather think of it as the treasure maker and the collage creator or any other name that would be suitable for your chosen genre of photography.

Have a great day.

Denzil

Full-scale Detail: Let the Little Things Shine

Weddings offer a smorgasbord of photojournalistic opportunities. From emotional moments to minute details, to capture an event like a wedding means your eyes always have to be open and searching! So often wedding photographers share the emotional, documentary moments or romantic posed portraits. Today, I want to share how much the details can say about the event without even including the bride and groom.

Following is a collage I put together of images including the aisle decor, bridesmaid bouquet, cake toppers, and groomsman's bow tie from a single wedding. Shown together, these tell the story of the day and give an idea of the sweetness that surrounded this particular celebration. From soft blues and sea foam greens to baby's breath in painted vases, these details were all carefully thought of by the couple. It is images like these that provide context for an album, both online and in print.

Are you a fan of detail shots? You can practice your compositional techniques and play with different types of lenses at relaxed events like birthday parties and holiday gatherings. If you love the idea of shooting a wedding, get in touch with pro photographers in your area to see if you can assist or even second shoot with them (make sure you have portfolio-worthy examples of event shots first so they can see your style). When I use a second shooter, I look for someone who can take care of many of these detail shots while I interact with the couple and guests. In fact, the examples here were taken while I was the second shooter, seeking out the elements that set this wedding apart to remind the couple of all the decisions that came together on their wedding day.

Happy shooting, and don't forget the details!

-Friday Ambassador

Take Risks, but Always Play it Safe!

When it comes to improving your photography, you're going to need to take risks. Sometimes that will mean climbing to a higher vantage point, and other times simply stepping out of your comfort zone. It is imperative, though, that you always keep the safety of yourself and your clients in mind when planning each shot. Follow a photography news blog or two and you will hear of photo shoots gone terribly wrong because the parties involved did not take proper precautions. Following are examples of times that necessitate extra caution, and I would love to hear your additional safety tips in the comments!

Location Photography
When on location, it is important to be aware of your surroundings at all times. For my very first wedding I was second shooter, which allowed me to learn quite a bit and observe how the lead handled each location differently. To capture the below image, we had everyone who wasn't a member of the bridal party help us monitor and control traffic. We first planned out the scene, explained where each person would stand, and then waited for a break in traffic. It was not a very busy area, but we still had plenty of people to line up and briefly stop any cars while we quickly got our shots. It took only a minute to get what we needed since each person knew his or her position. Advance planning for each location will help you get the shot faster and keep those around you safe. Railroad tracks are a whole other ballgame - see this article for more information.

Newborn Photography
There are so many safety considerations to keep in mind if newborn photography interests you. If you see a sweet pose of a baby with his head in his hands and want to recreate it, know that those images are composites. A spotter (Mom or Dad are your best bets) should be gently holding baby's head upright so that it does not tip to one side. The image of baby Carmella, below, was taken with her on a couch with Mom just off camera ready to step in if Carmella shifted in the slightest. Before you take the leap into newborn photography, do tons of research to ensure you're ready to capture beautiful images safely. There are plenty of resources out there like this one to get you started.

Street Photography
The genre of street photography is especially intriguing to me because I love to observe people. However, it can seem out of my comfort zone because I am terrified of confrontation and dislike the idea of annoying others by photographing them when they are unaware. Esteemed photographer Bruce Davidson has discussed this topic at length, and Eric Kim has collected some of Davidson's best advice on his blog. Being aware of your surroundings and anyone who is eyeing your gear will help keep you safe, and asking for permission to take a photo or to use it after you've already taken it will keep you in people's goodwill. I loved seeing the below scene unfolded with the pigeons following the woman who fed them daily while the businessman continued chatting on his phone as if there were no birds flapping in his face. I spoke with the woman after capturing a set of images and sent her a link to the final product so she could see it through my eyes. This kind of photography can result in all kinds of new connections!

Happy Friday, and Happy Independence Day (be sure to stay safe around fireworks and sparklers)!

-Friday Ambassador

Works Cited:

Darcy - Life with My 3 Boybarians. "Recognize Composites & Safety First. "Life with My 3 Boybarians. Darcy - Life with My 3 Boybarians, 2012. Web. 3 July 2014.

Kim, Eric. "15 Lessons Bruce Davidson Can Teach You About Street Photography." Eric Kim Street Photography Blog. Eric Kim Street Photography, 9 Oct. 2012. Web. 03 July 2014.

Peterson, Lori. "Railroad Safety for Photographers - Digital Photography School." Digital Photography School. Digital Photography School, 2014. Web. 03 July 2014.

What a Difference Experience Makes!

No matter how many weddings I shoot, I get the same nerves today that I got the very first time I interned as a second shooter. The day before, I meticulously look over my checklist again and again, making sure all batteries are charged and lenses are clear. Because I am naturally anxious (thanks, genetics), even knowing that all my equipment is prepped is not enough to calm the nerves! When all else fails, it helps at least a little to look back at my early work to see how far my work has come.

On the left you'll see a shot from my very first wedding. Luckily I was second shooter, because check out those blown-out highlights - eek! While it is a sweet enough pose, the positioning of the couple could have been far better (just a few feet to the left for a fully green backdrop and a little more space over his head) and the moment a little less stiff overall.


Fast forward a few years to a recent wedding. The photo on the right is so much more natural, properly exposed, and shot with a far better lens! The framing has more interest and shows off the location (which the couple selected for a reason - it was gorgeous!). This was a moment in between poses, when the couple was laughing and enjoying themselves instead of worrying about where to put their hands or how real their smiles looked. Viewing these images the day before a wedding reminds me how far I've come and at least helps me beat a few nerves to get some sleep!

Before you trash those old photos that no longer reflect your capabilities, put a few in a folder that you can look back on when you start to doubt yourself or turn into a big ball of nerves. Whether it's a commercial shot with amateurish lighting or a super stiff portrait cut off at the wrists, be proud that you have learned from your mistakes and remember that we've all made them!

It would be so fun to see some side-by-sides of your "then and now" examples. If you have any to share, head on over to the PSPN Google+ page to show how much you've grown as a photographer! 

Top 10 Photographers to Follow: Wedding Photographers

1: Chrisman Studios

Why to follow them: Ben and Erin Chrisman, along with their colleagues, revel in the unexpected and aim to surprise. With multiple awards from organizations like the Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA), they bring a great deal of creativity and ingenuity to the table.

Where to follow them: Their images are best viewed on the Chrisman Studios blog, but you can also find Ben Chrisman on Google+. Be inspired by how they find interesting ways to shoot a scene, and soak up the amazing locations they get to visit!

2: Kevin Weinstein

Why to follow him: Maybe I’m a bit biased since I chose Weinstein to shoot my own wedding, but his vivid color images are so full of life and his wry sense of humor comes through in his posts. His mobile captures are equally as bold as his DSLR images.

Where to follow him: See his vibrant style on Instagram or follow him on Facebook.

Source: Weinstein, Kevin. "Chicago Wedding at The Ivy Room : Jeannie & Chris." Jeannie Kao and Christopher Zuehlke Chicago Wedding at The Ivy Room by Kevin Weinstein Photography. Kevin Weinstein Photography, 12 Nov. 2013. Web. 06 Feb. 2014.

3: Mike Olbinski

Why to follow him: Olbinski’s posts are not exclusive to wedding photography. His storm chasing posts are just as intriguing as his beautifully lit portraits.

Where to follow him: Add him to your Google+ photography circle to keep up with his latest posts.

4: Morgan Lynn Razi (Morgan Lynn Photography)

Why to follow her: Razi beautifully combines color and black and white images into her portfolio. See how she maintains a consistent feeling across both styles with candids as well as formal portraits.

Where to follow her: Razi’s blog and Facebook page are consistently updated.

5: Katie Stoops

Why to follow her: Stoops’s branding and consistent photographic style may inspire you to work on defining your own.  

Where to follow her: Her Instagram feed is full of bright, playful images that give a great sense of who she is as a photographer. She shares both DSLR and iPhone images on her feed. Check out her blog to see how she tells stories with her images.

6: Salvatore Cincotta

Why to follow him: Those of you who follow the wedding industry at all have likely heard of Sal Cincotta. With too many photographers trying to make a buck off of others by holding talks just to hock their products, Cincotta actually has a ton of worthwhile information to share.

Where to follow him: His Behind the Shutter blog and magazine are free (though there is an option for a paid membership that comes with various privileges) and bring together pros sharing business tips in addition to photographic techniques. You can also follow his Facebook page to see his work as well as industry news.

7: Pradeep Sanyal

Why to follow him: The Indian weddings in which Sanyal specializes are full of color and liveliness. He is also a talented street photographer!

Where to follow him: His active Google+ stream shows off people and places from his point of view.

8: Matt Miller (Diamond Eyes)

Why to follow him: Miller’s time spent in a punk rock band managed to translate into a quirky and fun photographic style. Watch as his new business gains traction and you might get some great business lessons for your own studio!

Where to follow him: While much of his recent work was with a larger wedding photography team called Our Labor of Love, he’s branched off on his own and will be posting on his studio’s Facebook page.

9: Roberto Valenzuela

Why to follow him: Valenzuela’s posing techniques could fill a book. In fact, they do! Posing is something that takes practice and understanding of various body types, so studying the images of people who know what they are doing is quite helpful.

Where to follow him: Follow his Twitter feed and read his blog to see how he makes posed couples and groups look natural.

10: Andy Brown

Why to follow him: Based in New Zealand, Brown’s images are filled with lush landscapes while his work showcases a multitude of different lenses. His images don’t stop with the weddings, though. He also shares images of his finished albums, giving glimpses of contemporary layouts that will get you thinking of how to help clients tell their stories.

Where to follow him: His website has a blog-like feel, and his Instagram feed features recent work.

Have anyone to add to my list? Leave a comment with a link for us all to check out! You can also feel free to see some of my work on my blog or keep in touch with me on Facebook.

-Friday Ambassador

Work Cited:

Weinstein, Kevin. "Chicago Wedding at The Ivy Room : Jeannie & Chris." Jeannie Kao and Christopher Zuehlke Chicago Wedding at The Ivy Room by Kevin Weinstein Photography. Kevin Weinstein Photography, 12 Nov. 2013. Web. 06 Feb. 2014.

*Please note that I am out of the country with limited Internet access, so I may not be able to respond to comments today. However, I really want to hear your thoughts or questions and will get back to you as soon as I am able.

Play with your Food!

I wrote before about finding your niche and taking advantage of opportunities that come your way, never writing anything off as “not for me.”  Versatility is SO important as a photographer, because when it comes right down to it, you may not be raking in the dough if you focus on just one type of subject.  Trying out different genres and getting comfortable with a variety of subject matter will make you much more marketable.  For example, weddings are a blast to shoot but in Chicago, wedding season does not last all year.  The months of May through November are relatively busy, but the winter months can be quite slow.  As a wedding photographer I need to fill in the slow periods with other work, and I have found success with lifestyle family photography and even some commercial product shoots.

One genre I never thought I would try out is food photography, because you have to be (or hire) a food stylist to really make the best possible food photos.  You know, the ones that make you want to pull the food right out of the billboard or magazine because they look so real and tasty?  I had classes with a super talented woman named Peka, and her Mowie Kay-esque work inspired me to play with my food!  I picked out some recipes, hit up Trader Joe’s, stopped by World Market for cheap dishes and surfaces, and got to work.

What I found about shooting food was surprising.  Of course shooting food can help a photographer become accustomed to shooting commercial work in general, but the lessons I learned could so easily be applied to many other genres.  Interested in shooting landscapes?  The elements of a meal can be looked at as a miniature landscape, and you can play with light to see how it casts shadows in crevices and highlights different colors and textures (Carl Warner takes this to another level with his foodscapes).  Practice with aerial views and you will get used to seeing how a scene changes based on perspective.  

Do you see yourself shooting weddings and events?  You will definitely need to be able to make food look good, whether it’s served in a church basement or a lavish ballroom.  You can work on expressing different moods with your lights and backdrops and take all the time you need instead of feeling rushed because of a model's schedule.  Getting used to styling a food- or drink-centric scene now will prepare you for when the pressure is on.

Food photography is such an easy way to master your equipment when you aren’t able to work with a human subject, or when the weather ruins your outdoor shooting plans.  Who knows, you may end up shooting the next cookbook of your favorite chef!

Need inspiration?  Check out the G+ Food Photography community to see how others are composing and styling their food images, and to share your own work.  There are photographers of many skill levels there so don't be afraid to join in the fun!  I'd love to know how you practice your skills when you are stuck inside or don't want to work on portraits.  Tell me in the comments below!

Works Cited:

Kay, Mowie. "Mowie Kay: Food & Lifestyle Photographer." Mowie Kay: Food Photographer London. Mowie Kay, 2014. Web. 28 Jan. 2014.

Warner, Carl. "Foodscapes." Carl Warner. Carl Warner, 2014. Web. 31 Jan. 2014.

Google+ for Photographers Part 2: It's Good for Business

Last week's post focused on getting to know Google+ (G+).  Now that you have a feel for the interface, let's talk about how it can help your photography business.

The single most valuable aspect of bringing your business to G+ is the fact that Google is one of the most-used search engines out there.  With the backing of Google's SEO analytics and various tools and apps, you can be in control of how your business appears when people search for your type of photographic services.  By adding your business address to Google Maps and completing a sleek profile on G+ with high quality images, your brand will look better than those that do not take the time to set up a profile.  Remember, anyone can post anything about your business at any time, and you can take control of your brand identity by making sure your social media profiles are complete and relevant.

Once you have the basics set up, you can search for communities that interest you.  These can help you with networking, continuing education, or even connecting with potential clients.  Try a search for local communities for more specific networking, but these offer a good starting point:

• General photography community: Google+ Photographers
• Wedding photography community: Wedding Photographers
• Fine art photography community: Fine Art Photography
• Photography education community: School of Digital Photography

Using social media to connect with other service providers and vendors is a wonderful way to get some free publicity.  G+ allows you to create circles to connect with others and be specific with what you share with whom.  Connecting a post to another business's G+ page gives you exposure to potential clients.  This is especially relevant to the wedding industry, in which word of mouth plays a huge role in booking clients.  Vendors love seeing professional photos of their product or service in action and will be excited to share it with their current and potential customers.  If I post this ring image on my G+ business page, I will want to be sure that the venue (a golf club, hence the tee and grass used to showcase the ring) and the jeweler both see it.  It is also an appropriate image to share with current, former, and potential clients.  If I wanted to post a discounted print offer to current clients, I would share it only with my "client" circle so as not to clutter the G+ feeds of the vendors to whom the post is irrelevant.  By creating circles, I can select any post to share with clients only, vendors and clients, all my friends, everyone on G+... the possibilities are endless!

The integration of Google's many apps, its keyword optimization, and the power of its name in the search engine business make G+ an important tool for your business.  For G+ tips straight from the experts, follow +GoogleBusiness.  If you already use G+ for your business, do you have any tips or techniques to share that have been successful in promoting your work or connecting with clients?  Please tell us in the comments!

Good luck getting started with your business page!

-Friday Ambassador

Nerves and Nuptials: Making Couples Comfortable with your Camera

Working with human subjects can be intimidating, especially once you begin taking professional, paying jobs.  It is incredibly important to get the hang of it while you are still a student.  One subject is hard enough, but trying to capture a couple's intimacy is extra tricky.  When I took my first engagement job, it was for two friends who knew my experience level and were just happy to get photographs for free.  We spent three hours walking around the city where they met, finding backdrops that meant something to the two of them and making time for several outfit changes.  They were comfortable with me and in front of the camera, which is not usually the case!  The majority of wedding and portrait clients are pretty camera-shy.  Knowing how to work with nervous clients has been one of my biggest assets since I began taking on paid jobs.  

Meeting with clients ahead of the shoot is ideal, but not always possible.  Imagine you get to an engagement shoot on a day that is nearly freezing.  There is no time to chat and get comfortable with one another, so you have to find another way to make the couple feel at ease in front of your camera.  What do you do?  One option that has worked for me is just to step back a bit and let them interact, allowing them to get the feel for being the center of attention without having the added pressure of a camera three feet from their faces.  One reason engagement shoots are so valuable if you choose to shoot weddings is that getting your couples used to you and your camera will make the wedding photos easier and more natural.

Having an engaged couple hug or kiss while you're farther away is less awkward than being a few feet from their faces:

Soon enough, your clients will relax with you a bit closer.  While it may feel weird to ask them to move a certain way or put their hands somewhere specific, I've found that the more nervous they are, the more they want your help!  Make suggestions like "if you move your hands just a little lower you'll look more natural and relaxed" so they understand why they are making those small adjustments.  

Encouragement goes a long way - make sure you let your clients know that they are looking great and be enthusiastic about your compositions!  Showing them one or two images along the way will invest them more in the session and get them excited about what you are creating together.

Once they loosen up, you'll be able to get in close without making them uncomfortable. 

Do you have questions or concerns about working with models and clients?  Have you found successful techniques for photographing couples?  Leave a comment and let us know!

-Friday Ambassador

Do the Unexpected

Saturday Ambassador

I am an industrial photographer: I shoot architecture, mining and manufacturing operations, transportation, products, industrial equipment and such. This is what I love and where my greatest talents reside.

Spark Plug, Deva Mayorga-Malone, 2011, Composite Photograph

 

However, I believe that it is imperative for a photographer to explore avenues other than their selected genre, as well, to build skills and learn the techniques inherent to different areas. In accordance, I often photograph nature, travel, even portraiture.

 

 Wasp-7, Deva Mayorga-Malone, 2012, Photograph

 

One of the most educational opportunities you can seek is to shoot a wedding or two (I’ve shot three, to date). They are fast-paced (when you are the photographer and need to be in three places at once), and the couple has every right to expect that you will capture all the pertinent aspects. You need to shoot details, such as the rings, cake, flowers, the bride’s dress and shoes, et cetera. You must capture arrivals, the ceremony and the reception, as well as formal portraits of the couple, the wedding party and the family members. Be prepared to work all day and into the night, starve (because, although they’ll offer you food, you won’t have time to eat) and spend the next week editing the images.

 

Biggs Wedding, Deva Mayorga-Malone, 2013

 

Shooting outside the scope of your professional aspirations can be an enlightening and exciting experience. Do the unexpected to broaden your horizons and do it well. Strive for excellence in everything you do.

 

~Saturday Ambassador