melisa

Chris Uglanica, yes, details. Great shot!

Hello all, here's one of mine...film w/ digital manipulation. Removed some distractions, Kubota sepia filter.<div></div>

Quit that $60,000 a year day job and see how long you'll get by living your current lifestyle...or any lifestyle for that matter. How many weddings do you do a year? It's not always a year round business...unless you live somewhere warm. Now, divide that by 52 weeks. Take off your costs of goods, pay the other costs of doing business and being professional...advertising, top of the line equipment, repair and maintenance of that equipment, office supplies, insurance, employees, etc. Oh yeah, and feed your family.

 

Should it then be considered stealing to call yourself a wedding photographer if you're really an engineer with a handful of weddings under your belt?

 

If an artist buys his canvas for $20 and the paint for $10 is his masterpiece only worth $30?

 

Ya know, I eat at Burger King when I need quick, cheap and processed cheesy...I eat at Trattoria Stella (my new favorite) when I want perfection...a fine dining experience, an insane wine collection, and real Parmigiano Reggiano...it's so worth the extra $ to have it done right!

 

It's a wedding for God's sake...you get what you pay for...every moment must be captured...there's no take backs.

 

"It's only photographs?" This is not the right business for you if that is your attitude. Hopefully your future brides don't catch this thread.

It's great David! Ya know, I might even love it up in B&W...make it even more moody/sexy.

OMG, Colleen, no worries...I think you got me on a good day last time I e-mailed you! In fact, I'm still working on getting pics out to Marc and Jen Selwa from our summer visits...yeah, from July. It's been fantastically crazy! Good luck on your search...pistols, LOL!

After much research and figuring how much I was really going to use a tripod, I went higher on the middle of the road tripods. Cost, weight and speed were my criteria. Bogen 3021BPRo w/ the 322rc2 Ballhead...the pistol grip totally rocks! I like the fact I can also adjust the 3021 to do macro work if I wanted or...ahh, if I ever have time again. ;-) They have the complete system at B&H for around $255.

B&W!! Gorgeous shot.

Hey James, tell Al I'm thinking about him and glad he's OK.

I have the Tamron 28-75 f2.8...great lens. Use it 75% of the time. Lighter than the Canon, gets great reviews and you can buy two for the price of the Canon..you klutz. ;-)

Nice work.

 

How were you using your Lightsphere at the reception? Looks like the ceilings were fairly high. The closer shots look good, but some of the reception shots look dark or underexposed.

I agree, lovely work Paul! Way to go.

Thanks Stacy, I'll be looking forward to hearing from you!

It's a nice picture, the lighting is absolutely beautiful. But, I'm not really seeing "Capture the special moments of my wedding day" on this one. She's kind of ho-hum in this one.

Stacy, I was hoping to hear some thoughts too. The folios look BEAUTIFUL. Over at the other place... their has been some talk about them. Mostly that the Cypress Album is more expensive and while folks like the look of them, they don't sell many. The "C" album, on the other hand, is the one I've been contemplating, I've heard they are very nice and are a more reasonable price for both bride and photographer.

Beautiful work, Reina! After viewing the thumbnails/pictures at the end, I noticed the slideshow crops a bit of detail out, but I still thought it was very nice...your couple will enjoy it for certain. I love pictures to music! :)

Ouch, "breech of contract" was your downfall...no reason for that to have been said to her. Though, IMO, he was wrong to steal them from you and he really should've known better. I would have just given a, "Isn't that nice of him". I would've walked over and gave them a polite, "Can I steal these two back from you, I have a couple shots left on their list and we're getting low on time." Customer service is #1, it's biting your tongue and finding a way to work together. You may have shot yourself in the foot for future referrels on this one.

 

I generally don't let the couple go for formals at all...but I also don't do a ton of breakdowns for my formals. B&G, as a couple, are in almost all the formal shots, then I do smaller groups, like mom & dad, later at the reception. If the father was becoming that ill from the heat, I might have just had him get well and catch up with him later.

I write too slow...ditto David. ;-)

Your picture is not a composition no-no. You used the window as a frame, that's a great composition tactic! The lighting is really lovely, good eye. However, my eye went immediately to the two noses and two lips...had it been just the bride or a better profile of both...you would have really knocked this one out of the park, IMO.

Everywhere I go, I'm observing something...I observe how the light is falling, I observe people, necklines, hairstyles, body styles, clothing, smiles, moods, I observe how the light is falling on the people I'm observing :), I observe the sky, the water, gardens, buildings, trees. Then, I think about the different ways I would photograph them...how could I make this person beautiful or how can I make this different or interesting? I love taking a great portrait...a portrait to be proud to share, but I live for moments captured and real reaction. I find so much beauty & romance in pictures that have been achieved without the person ever knowing I was there. I see my visions in black/white and color, but I tend to "feel" in black and white.<div></div>

Madison Photo Works. Mailers. Turnaround is about a week and a half. B&W and C-41 color--process, print and a CD. Great lab.

That was film, BTW.

50mm 1.4

Yep. It's actually more convenient for me to shoot film. I really don't have the time for learning or doing major post processing right now, I shoot it and drop it off. Just shot 20 rolls at my last event and then I got to spend the whole next day gardening and playing outside with my little man...well, after I packaged up my film to the lab. :) Like Dain, I also get a CD and enjoy playing w/ my images in PS too.

The 50mm is great for just about everything except rooms the size of sardine cans, just zoom with your feet. The extra stop will also be helpful if you get a chance to do any available light work.

 

I've been using my 28-70 more and more with flash, though. It's a good lens. Especially at the reception...probably 'cause my feet are tired. ;-)

I think they're great, Marcin. Pretty colors. A little tip from a rehabilitated "tilter"...try to switch up your angle shots by tipping the cam left & right...notice how all but one of the tilted shots is hanging left. ;-) I totally got busted for that too.