Neil February 8th, 2008
how do the details that we shoot add up?
how sensitive are we while we are shooting?
Liesl was picking up on the eyes that Christine was giving her man during cocktails. If you care for someone, you know their moods during a party, you keep your eye on them, maybe you give them ‘eyes’ across the room to spice it up, maybe you keep tabs on whether they’re ready to go, maybe it’s the simple things that really show love, and maybe it’s these deeper more sensitive details that you’ll be able to cherish from your wedding photos when you hire a careful and sensitive artist like Liesl. It’s not an earth shattering picture, but it’s one that shows what your real-ationship looks like.
Maybe we need to go to the extra effort of helping you illustrate your feelings for your spouse, by facilitating time for you to find that special spot of being held by the one you love. As we earn your trust, you can give yourself over while we are working with you - and the magic is made.
Sometimes the photographer has to be the ‘bad guy’ and ask you to have a moment to yourselves on your wedding day!
Tomorrow I’m off to shoot an engagement session, and am asking myself and my clients the same question “what does your relationship look like?”
You can answer in the comments if you like - or wait until we ask you when we shoot your engagement session.
Neil February 2nd, 2008
Tanya’s thank you card design:
When Tanya ask me for ideas for her thank-you card I recalled the sign welcoming her guests to her reception tent shown in unaltered form below and above cleverly pixel pushed to show a “Thank You” where it used to say welcome (and the pole disappeared).
I believe that the long-term value in my photographic services resides in their documentary strength. To expand that thought I believe that the images you will cherish in 12-13 years when your daughter finds your wedding album will be the gestures of love and tenderness your family extend, and the details captured at your event from every angle with those acts as the centerpiece of the stage. It’s somewhat funny, and somewhat depressing, but I often ask clients what their favorite image is from their wedding and it always surprises me! Every wedding I’m proud of a few images for artistic reasons, documentary reasons, and unintelligible reasons. But after a few years of entering contests, and winning, I quit entering for these last two years because I felt ’shooting for the contest’ was warping my approach, and could take me too far away from the images my clients hold most dear.
Out of this breakdown, came the new business and redoubled approach that I needed to re-build our business into “Make Love Real”. The pictures my clients love most are the simplest ones, the truthful ones. So is PhotoShopping an image truthful?
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Neil January 30th, 2008
I hesitate a little to bring this up, but I think it bears breaching the topic for conversation. First, let me introduce a few opportunities for free wedding photography from across the nation and the blogosphere.
New Traditions: response to the Celebrations Studio debacle
My friend and college Jason Groupp a photographer in the New Jersy and Manhattan area, is giving away one free wedding to a couple who was wronged by the closing and bankrupcy of Celebrations Studios. The Celebration Studios problem is big news in the wedding industry as there may be as many or more than 2000 brides who’s photographer will not be showing up at their wedding this year. That’s a big problem and if you’re looking for someone in the NJ or New York - Manhattan area we have a special rate for you up until June, so just contact us.
Vrai: You can make an impact!
Christina is a wonderful button of a photographer based in the Chicago Illinois metro area but willing to shoot a wedding anywhere in the US if you are choosing to make make the least impact on the environment and the most impact on the community on their wedding day. Sounds like a great deal to me!! The submissions begin now and end by 10 pm (CST) on February 10th, 2008. Submissions can be mailed or emailed (info at vraiphoto.com) and must include the plans already made or ideas to implement, a 5×7 photo of the couple sized to 300 dpi (1500 px by 2100 px), and your wedding date (must be no later than 12/31/2009), any other information is helpful in making final selections. (mailing address on her site)
A chance to show family and friends that social responsibility can still have style, elegance, and beauty! The online poll will begin no later than 10 am the next morning and voting will last until 11 pm (CST) on February 13th. The winner will be announced on Valentine’s Day.
Jessica Claire helps those who help
Jessica a photographer out of Orange county, has a nomination process each year on her blog, which you can read about in three parts. First the call for entries, second reading the stories of the entrants and finalists (I find this one most interesting), and third announcing the winner. Looks like a Louisianan couple who grew up together gets the free shoot.
I also google’d ‘free wedding photography’ and came up with Robin DePaula’s blog, Punam Bean gives a few shots, Gulnara Studios contest, Free photography in Madison WI from a beginner trolling on wedding bee, there’s of course Craig’s listings even including ‘retouching’, one free wedding a quarter!, Jason’s give back project, and photographers wanting to travel.
Ok ok, so onto me…..
In 2005 I shot a wedding in Thailand of a couple who was prohibited from marrying by the Chinese government.
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Neil December 8th, 2007
So it’s been a while since I’ve discussed a picture, and I thought this would be a good one to talk about. I shot this image at a recent November wedding with it’s bride only counterpart. I enjoyed creating this image in an empty lot next to Christina’s (the bride’s) parent’s home where she prepared for the wedding. The enjoyment came from being able to create mood and style easily in the early evening that comes in November. The frame above was made at 5:03:22PM between the ceremony and reception. The early sunset gave me the chance to control the lighting in the image by using my strobes instead of relying on the mood of the natural light.
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