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Wednesday, January 26, 2011

The Pre-Portrait Conversation

Hiring the wrong portrait photographer is a bummer. It’s certainly not as disastrous as hiring the wrong wedding photographer, but when your expectations are not met, it can still be upsetting.

I approach portrait photography a bit differently than many photographers, and I know it’s not a perfect fit for everyone. For this reason, it’s important to me that I’m well-matched with those who inquire about my services. To be sure we’re on the same page, I’ve created a list of questions to discuss before scheduling a portrait shoot. There are no right or wrong answers – these questions are simply designed to get the discussion started.

Who will be a part of the session?
Where do you envision the shoot taking place?
What are you planning to wear? Formal or casual?
What do you expect from me during the shoot?
What is the goal of the shoot – is there a particular reason you are scheduling it now?
What type of end product do you want from your session (prints, digital files, etc)?
Have you visited my website?

This last question is huge. So many people contact me about portrait work from a word-of-mouth referral without looking at anything that I’ve produced. It’s critical that you see what type of work I create before we go any further with scheduling a session. It we aren’t on the same page, you’ll know right away. If we are, you’ll have a greater trust in what I’ll create for you. View full post »

1 comment

John Bosley - January 26, 2011 - 10:05 pm

Great idea! Having a good fit between a photographer and subject is so important!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

January Boudoir

Apparently I say weird things while shooting boudoir. Things like “You have awesome cleavage!” and “It’s a much better photo when you can’t see your face.” Things that make sense in context, but sound so odd when you recall them later. Fortunately, clients usually laugh (either right as I say these things, or when I comment on how odd it is that I just said them.) Then I can get a great shot of them laughing. So I guess my unfiltered commentary works in my favor :)

Here’s just one shot from last weekend’s boudoir shoot. For those of you who contacted me about the January shoot but thought it was too early for your New Year’s Resolution workout routine to have kicked in yet, I’m looking into scheduling an event in February. Contact me for more details.

Happy Tuesday!

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Wednesday, January 19, 2011

High Point Academy Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

After four years of learning in temporary mobile units, the students of High Point Academy finally have a building to call home. And what a spectacular building it is. I had the pleasure of photographing the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at High Point Academy last week, and I must admit I was impressed by the quality of schools these days. Smart boards in all of the classrooms? How cool is that! Congratulations to everyone who worked hard to get this school built and running – job well done :)

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Tuesday, January 18, 2011

The Logic Behind the First Look

The tradition of bride and groom not seeing one another before the ceremony is, honestly, a bit outdated. While I fully respect the decision to wait until the ceremony, and will never go against someone’s wishes for their wedding, I happen to think the benefits of a First Look heavily outweigh the more traditional alternative.

So what is a First Look? It is a moment on your wedding day, before the ceremony, in which you and your fiancee privately see one another (with a photographer nearby to capture any emotional reactions, of course.) I usually direct couples to a private and beautiful place, have the groom turn his back, and allow the bride to sneak up behind him. I stay far away with a long lens, capturing reactions and expressions. After you’ve had about 5 minutes to chat and connect, we move on to taking portraits.

Why would you choose do this? Usually, the First Look is intended to maximize the time you’ll have for photography. If your schedule has you going straight from ceremony to reception, it’s nice to do your photos earlier in the day so that you don’t have to miss any part of the party. It’s also helpful for evening ceremonies, as taking photos earlier in the day will make better use of the natural light.

Another bonus is that you’ll both be calmer for the ceremony. Those pre-ceremony nerves will be soothed by seeing your fiancee before the big moment. You’ll also have a moment with your soon-to-be-spouse to chat with one another about what the day has been like and how you’re feeling. If you see eachother for the first time at the top of the aisle, there won’t be much time for chitchat :)

Worried that when you walk down the aisle it won’t be special? Don’t be. In my experience the First Look View full post »

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