It’s the middle of the summer, you get your questionnaire back from your couple and it reads, “Ceremony 11:30-12, cocktail hour and group photos of our 16-person bridal party from 12-1.” Panic. Or at least that’s how I felt when I first saw this message a few years ago. Then, I started praying for clouds and shade. Obviously, clouds and shade would make this an easier task, opening up infinite possibilities. Obviously the weather gods don’t always cooperate though, and as professionals we must be prepared to deal with the light we’re given. The excuse, “It was too sunny, that’s why your photos are ugly,” doesn’t make sense to non-photographer clients. And it’s just unacceptable. This summer, though, when confronted with this exact situation, I had a
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Wedding Day Problems: How to Troubleshoot Them!
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 enough. Although my mentor handled these situations with grace and professionalism, I vowed to address these problems with my brides before their wedding day and develop a plan of action in case it not only went south, but blew out the window with hurricane force. 1. The Hotel Suite: I Can’t Find the Bed Have you ever walked into a bridal suite to find beds covered in clothing, suitcases, shoes,
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 shaped me not only as a photographer but also as a teacher. I was a student that year but have since been involved in every workshop since – all eight of them. The Foundation Workshop is for wedding photojournalists who have no photojournalism experience or those who want to learn the art of visual storytelling; it is run by some of the best wedding photojournalists in world. When I attended
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 and when I’m standing in line at 7Eleven, I’m just trying to get out of there as fast a possible!! We pay MORE for things that we value, things we feel connected to and things that give us warm fuzzy feelings inside. I don’t even drink coffee but I bought a Pumpkin Spiced Latte from Starbucks on the way home from a shoot last week just because it’s fall and
How Photographers and Planners Can Work Together to Build a Dream Team
col·lab·o·rate: (v) 1. to work jointly with others or together especially in an intellectual endeavor It takes a team to create a stunning, memorable event, and collaboration is one of the hallmarks of great teamwork! We got the chance to ask Angela Young Proffit, the owner of Elegant Weddings by Angela and Events by AP in Nashville, TN, about some of her tips for collaboration to help make the wedding day as smooth as possible. 1. What can photographers do to be most helpful to coordinators prior to AND during the wedding day? Communicate! Discuss order of preferable picture order. Discuss what is important to the bride and the vendors. 2. What makes you want to recommend a photographer to future clients? If my clients
Inspired by an Old Master: The Importance of Lighting
Sometimes you should stop looking at photographs. Look to other artists for inspiration, especially the old masters. Touring the Rembrandt exhibit at the Minneapolis Institute of Art recently reminded me of the importance of three things: His lighting style stands the test of time. No fad, here. Most people have heard of it. There’s something to be said about a technique that has stood the test of time by a few hundreds years. It’s good to know that wedding photography today won’t be shunned in 50 years. He shared as much as he created in painting schools. Like, he had ‘followers.’ His creative school shaped his vision. This blog shapes mine. I’m a proponent of the philosophy “Create. Share. Sustain.” He created portraits of people flattered
Love is Gender Neutral: Shooting a Same-Sex Wedding
I recently had the pleasure of shooting my first same-sex wedding. I had shot one other same-sex wedding, but as a second shooter, never for my own clients. I remember meeting with TJ and Marcus at a coffee shop, in which I nervously had crème brûlée and coffee at a quiet corner table while waiting for them to arrive. They came in with so much energy and laughter, some of my favorite types of clients…full of life. I pulled out my wedding albums, all full of women marrying men. I remember thinking, “There is no way they are going to book me, there are no same-sex weddings in my portfolio.” This didn’t seem to be an issue at all for TJ and Marcus. They looked right past
Is it Really the Clients’ Fault, or is it Yours?
Have you ever had a client who was upset because their images didn’t look as good as they expected? You’re not alone. I see comments like these frequently on forums and I have had this discussion numerous times with other photographers, including photographers on my staff. Sometimes clients are challenging and are looking for ways to get a deal. More often, however, it may be your fault. You may have fallen short of expectations in one or more of four categories: The Creative Side of Photography: “The couple didn’t have any chemistry” or “those kids were so difficult to work with” may be true statements, but they are not excuses for why you didn’t deliver great images. If you are being paid as a professional photographer, it
Relocating Your Business: Tips for Starting Your Business in a New Location
Relocating your business can be a daunting task. Like Idon’tevenknowwheretostartmaybeIshouldstaycurledupinthisfetalpositionthisseemsnice scary… if you let it. I should know, I practically just finished unpacking the last of my shoes into a new home on the island of O’ahu. I left a city where my business was established and past clients were referring me for a new home where nobody knew my name. Along with deciding on new curtains, I was left to decipher how to pick my business back up and get to work. Here’s what I learned in the process: Spread the word: Let the world know when and where you are moving. Blog it, tweet it, change your city on LinkedIn. Okay, that last one was clearly a joke. The more people know that
Wedding Day Portraits, Part 2: Quick & Dirty Solutions to a Common Challenge
Rarely are we handed THE perfect wedding day (at least not in New England!). We’re always going to face challenges. Try as you may to help clients and advise them as they plan their wedding timeline, more often than not, wedding photography is as much about problem solving as it is about capturing moments. As in, how can I make this situation as beautiful as possible, given the conditions I’m facing? Rather than try to think of every possible variable that could go wrong, I’ve picked a common situation that often challenges me and described ways I’ve dealt with it in the past. As with all my articles, it’s not rocket science, but hopefully you can take away one or two tidbits that will help