When I started second shooting at weddings, one thing became incredibly apparent. The well thought-out, fine-tuned, photography timeline often went south. The shooting environments, which could have been ideal, were often impossible to utilize for a variety of reasons. And I discovered that detailed consultations with the bride prior to the wedding were often not
Archives for October 2012
The Best Thing I Ever Learned
Sometimes the best lessons are simple, one-sentence thoughts that often seem trivial at the time but turn out to be monumental. I came across one some eight years ago; it forever changed not only my photography but also my business. I was a student at the Foundation Workshop (FW2), an annual workshop held in Texas that
Splurging : Convincing Clients That You’re Worth It
Why do we go to Starbucks when we could get the same coffee for $3 cheaper at 7Eleven? Some would say it’s because it’s BETTER coffee while others would argue that the coffee is the same, you’re just paying for the brand and the experience. It’s true, I feel sophisticated, modern and important in Starbucks
The Power of Photography: It’s Not About The Pictures!
Gasp! Did I really just say that? Yes, yes I did. Why, you ask? Because a couple of weeks ago I was personally reminded where the power of photography truly lies. The power of photography is not in the pictures; it’s in the time you give your clients to spend together. It’s about giving them
The Most Valuable Skill a Mentor Can Teach You
A few months back, Drake (@drake) tweeted: The first million is the hardest. Moments later, T.Boone Pickens (@boonepickens) replied with: The first billion is a helluva lot harder. To which draked responded: @boonepickens just stunted on me heavy. This recent event reminds me of a classic quote: “A mentor is someone whose hindsight can become
Backup Strategies: Cover Your Ass!
A few weeks back, Amazon’s web services had a major outage in their Virginia data center that took down some of the web’s heavyweights like Netflix and Instagram. People took to social media with pitchforks in hand immediately denouncing The Cloud and its ability to keep your data safe. One such pitchfork welding photographer stated
A Photographer’s Journey to Find Purpose and Meaning In Expanding Horizons
“It may be that when we no longer know what to do we have come to our real work, and that when we no longer know which way to go we have come to our real journey.” –Wendell Berry I have been a commercial photographer for about 16 years, but my journey as an artist—even
4 Tips to Creating a Successful Photobooth
While the life of a photobooth photographer may seem glamorous, I assure you – it is. With that said, here’s your guide to creating a successful kick-ass photobooth. 1. Supplies Backdrop – either a 5 ft or a 9 ft backdrop can be bought at your local camera store (serious camera store, folks, not Ritz) for $25-$50. I’ve
Lighten Your Load: 4 Tips to Reduce Gear on a Shoot
How do I reduce gear on shoots? I ask myself this question almost weekly. Since I shoot 100% out on location (most requiring travel), what’s in my bag can either cost extra baggage fees or save my keister on a shoot. Just because I can lug a three-light setup, doesn’t mean I should. My key:
Giving Families a Slice of History: Make a Wish Foundation
I didn’t get into photography for the art of it; nor did I get into photography for the passion of it (which isn’t to say I’m not passionate about my art). I got into photography because after moving to Los Angeles to write for television, and doing that (and then not), I needed a job.