natureslight

I have to agree -- strongly -- with B-Whillans. I help develop promotional materials for non-profit nature and outdoor education programs. Over the past couple of years we're moved away from flyers because...well, they have proven ineffective. People rarely read the text and often toss the flyer within minutes of receipt. As a promotional tool, flyers are simply a no-go, at least in my experience.

Thank you, all, for your input. You've given me a good education. It amazes me that people can hire someone as important as the photographer for their wedding without more vetting! Hell, I write for tourist agencies, travel magazines and in-flight magazines that ask more questions and demand more samples than it seems some B&G's ask of perspective photographers. (and get paid less!) As for the behavior of family and guests...yeah, been there, seen that and it explains why I rarely accept invitations to weddings where it's not required.

 

I'm making notes about all of this and sharing them with my friend's daughter (the one who is to be married next year) about all of this. My thought is to educate her and to suggest she discuss not behavior, but as William suggests, propose scenarios and ask how the perspective pro might handle them. I will also strongly urge the B&G to talk with previous customers as to their experience. As I said, all of this has been and education for me. Thanks again!

My brother is quite upset over all of this largely because the minister (a family friend) expressed her displeasure over what occurred. She has now banned this particular photographer/videographer from further work in the church. Both my brother and the minister are sending letters to the company for which the photographer works. I'm not sure what, if anything, this will mean, but it can't be good for anyone.

 

I agree that if the images and video are good all of this will fade into the background. In the end, what really matters are the images and the memories, which, hopefully, won't include the unpleasantness. My best friend's daughter is getting married in about a year and this incident has me thinking of how to help her avoid a similar situation. As I said above, I've seen some things at other weddings that have left me wondering about the level of professionalism among some wedding photographers (and other so-called professionals of all sort). The one thing I know to do is to talk with past clients about their experiences. I'm now thinking the bride-to-be should also discuss behavior with the perspective photographer, not to insult her/him, but to clarify what is expected on both sides.

Thank- you, William, for your input. I cannot check with my niece and new nephew-in-law because they are on their honeymoon. I did speak to my brother and his wife about their experience. They were angered by the photographer's behavior, particularly the manner in which he spoke to guests. My niece is a bright woman with considerable acumen in business. However, I have wondered how much research she did into photographers prior to signing the contract. The family first asked if I would be willing to shoot the wedding last year. My response -- an emphatic NO -- was met with disappointment and a measure of anger. But I know my weaknesses and knew they would be disappointed with the results had I agreed to act as official photographer. [ I love photography and am fairly competent in my chosen area, but writing is my strength and I don't delude myself into believing my skills would translate into competence with wedding work] I advised my niece to seek feedback from prior clients before making her choice, but I'm unsure if she did so.

 

I have to agree with your assessment of the situation. I hate to admit it, but I'm of an age where my patience with poor manners is very short. I treat my clients with respect and expect the same from those with whom I do business. My reaction to this photographer and his crew was "well, isn't he arrogant." Sadly, you are correct: far too many so-called professionals in many different areas of business seem to share this fault of arrogance. I suppose my idea of having behavior covered in a contract is rather naive and silly. A true professional will always behave with respect. The others...well, they are what they are.

Hi All - I work as a nature and travel writer and photographer. Which is my way of clarifying I know very little about wedding photography. Therefore, it's possible my impression here is totally off. I would appreciate some feedback from those who do weddings professionally so I can better understand protocol.

 

Yesterday I attended my niece's wedding at a community church. This is the third wedding I've attended where something of this sort occurred. My niece and her now husband hired a company to do both their still photography and videography. During the ceremony, the photographer and videographer set up in the main aisle to shoot the proceedings. By doing so, they obstructed the view of the minister and wedding party for a good portion of the audience. In addition, the photographer twice interfered with the proceedings by walking between the bride and the groom and also walked in front of the minister twice - both times while the minister was speaking. He also used heavy flash [There seemed abundant natural life from the glass wall behind the alter, but as I said, I don't shot weddings and the flash may have been needed as fill or to balance the light.] that appeared to blind the officiant and attendants. Meanwhile, the videographer was similarly disruptive and, at one point, asked an entire row of people to move aside so he could relocate his cameras.

 

During the early part of the reception, as people were arriving in the hall, a number of guests were attempting to take cell-phone pictures of the reception hall. The person who appeared to be the photographer's assistant arrived and immediately began telling guests they were not permitted to take pictures. She was, imo, quite rude in her approach. I well understand that when a photographer is attempting to work it may be annoying to have "civilians" nearby using cameras or cell phones to capture the same scene. However, this did not appear to be an issue at that point since the photographer was busy with the wedding party. When the photographer came into the venue, he began ordering people around, telling them to get out of his way and ordering staff to lower lights and to restrain from serving food. Again, I could maybe understand asking people -- politely -- if they might move should they interfere with his work. However, this did not appear to be an issue. At the very least, I would have expected a professional to behave in a more respectful manner.

 

I know my niece has a contract with this particular photography firm. The contract stipulates time, location, type images, and the standard clauses concerning payment, cancellation, etc. No one has yet seen the results of the photography or videography, so that is not what I'm trying to address. Since this is not the first time in recent years I have witnessed what I term unprofessional and rude behavior on part of the wedding photographer, I''m trying to figure out what is considered acceptable. Am I misunderstanding the role of a wedding photographer? Is this type thing common? Should behavior be included in a contract, or at least discussed pre-wedding? Any insight into this situation will be very welcome. Thanks!

<p>I apologize for not returning to say thank-you or to update what happened with my flash unit. Unfortunately, life went sideways almost as soon as I posted my question and I've just now returned. After some fussing around, I decided to follow the advice offered and scrapped the unit. I was able to upgrade for less than $150 and everything is good now. Thank-you to everyone who offered advice. </p>

<p>In an effort not to waste your time and effort, let me say unfront I am far from expert. I'm a non-fiction (travel and nature) writer who uses her photography is support of the articles I write. As will become clear, there are large gaps in my knowledge of flash photography and non-natural light shooting.<br>

I shoot with a EOS 5D Mark II and my second camera is the original EOS 5D. My flash unit is the 430EX II. Until this weekend I never experienced an issue using this system. Saturday evening I went into the yard to shoot tree frogs and my flash unit refused to fire. I checked the batteries and they were fully charged. I then checked the unit using the test-fire button and it fired without trouble. I then reattached the unit to the hot shoe and tried a fire using the camera's controls. No fire. I then removed the unit and attempted to fire using a shoe cord and it still would not fire. I tried setting the flash using the controls on the unit itself and through the camera's setting. Nothing. I tried attaching the unit to my 5D and experienced the same problem. After fussing around for a bit it seems as if the camera is not recognizing that the unit is attached. When I attempt to access External Speedlite Controls under the camera menu, I receive a message saying <em>This menu cannot be displayed. Incompatible flash or flash's power is turned off.</em> Other than this issue, the camera is working normally and the flash unit seems to be functional. Any idea of what is going on and how to resolve it? Am I doing something incorrectly? I'll appreciate any insight or help - thanks</p>

<p>Does Micro ship a recovery disk with their card? I know Sandisk includes a rescue disk for their SD cards - which has saved me in the past. Thankfully, I haven't experienced many issues with my Sandisk cards and the only time I needed to use their recovery CD was when I stupidly began reformatting the card in my laptop instead of in my camera. In the process, I erased files I needed. The recovery app worked great. You might check to see if Micro has a similar recovery app. </p>

<p>I'm sure more experienced and knowledgeable folks will chime in here, but as someone who once experienced this issue, perhaps I can offer some thought. <br>

#1. You did not say which lens you used here - lens vary in range of focus and native sharpness<br>

#2. You did not use a tripod. When shooting closeups, a tripod is almost always essential for maximum sharpness. Camera shake happens even when we think we are holding the camera and lens perfectly still.<br>

#3. I prefer to use manual focus when doing closeups because auto rarely gets it right when up close. This seems to be particularly true when attempting to capture any type of writing. <br>

Learning to focus correctly is a process and one, for many of us, that can be frustrating at times. When I began using my tripod more often, the difference in sharpness was marked. i'd suggest trying to shoot using more than one lens (if you have more than one), using a tripod and not and shooting at different speeds and depth of field. This will help determine whether the issue is "photographer error" or equipment error. </p>

 

<p>For me there is no better resource than Scott Kelby's books. Which depends upon your version of Photoshop and, of-course, how you learn best. </p>

<p>I did a photo tour back in the late 1990's. It was okay, but not as great as it was promoted. BUT (and this is important to know) I've spent a lot of time in and around Yellowstone over the years. I cannot say I know every place in the park, but I do have something of a feel for the place. These type things are highly individual. What are your goals for such a trip? How long do you have to spend? What time of year do you plan to visit? I find fall and early spring to be the best times because (a) the park can be crowded mid-summer and in the winter it is often tough to get around and (b) the chances of seeing less common wildlife is greater when fewer people are about. In spring you are likely to see babies and in the fall you will see rutting elk and moose. The "greater chance" to see wildlife isn't something I associate with guided tours. Frankly, I've seen more wildlife when on my own. Again, this is me and may not be the same for you. The question I would ask is whether the person leading the group has naturalist training or if s/he will be accompanied by a naturalist. Understanding wildlife is important for maximizing photo ops.<br>

I looked at the tours you are considering and, based only on my experience, the price seems fair for what they provide. There are other, more expensive trips that may or may not offer more. I think it is important to ask questions up front before you make a reservation. Only you know what you hope to see/do and whether this type trip will help you achieve you goals. You might ask if the group can hook you up with someone who took the trip and could share her/his experiences. Yellowstone is an amazing place. There are so many photo ops you will go crazy just trying to choose what to shoot and when. Having guidance from someone familiar with both the park and photo basics might be of great help. <br>

I hope this is helpful. If you have specific questions, feel free to ask me. Yellowstone is one of my favorite places in the world! </p>

<p>Hi -- I grew up not far from there and have traveled the road many times. The first thing you need to determine is time of year. The road is often closed until late June/early July due to snow at high elevations. I've heard the area didn't get much snow this past winter, so this may not be an issue. (I now live on the east coast) The road is generally well maintained, but it can get hairy at times. There are often limits to the size of trailers permitted -- mostly due to either weather or maintenance. If you are coming from the Billings area toward the BT and YSNP, you can check on road conditions in Red Lodge. There are also updates on the state highway site. https://www.mdt.mt.gov/travinfo/map/mtmap_frame.html<br>

Other factors to keep in mind: there are not many pull-outs and some are shallow. The summit has parking where your trailer should easily fit. The views from the summit are lovely, but not quite as spectacular as other places along the road. Most of this is season dependent, btw. If you reach Red Lodge and find the road is either closed or you cannot travel with your trailer, you might consider going to Cody Wyoming and heading into YSNP from that point. This is a beautiful drive and one that will be easier. There are some amazing photo ops along this part of the highway, both to Cody and from Cody to YS. </p>

<p>I'm very far from expert, but I use my 5D and 5D MKII outside in sub-zero weather with no issues other than battery power. I keep two extra batteries in an inside pocket and switch as needed. On very cold days or when I have to be outside for hours, I put a hand warmer packet in with the batteries. The camera itself and lens seem unaffected by the cold as long as they are kept dry. As for condensation, I've always used the bag method and never experienced any problems. </p>

<p>Thanks again for your help. If I understand correctly, the alteration in the import resolution is meaningless. I'm not editing in Bridge, but in ACR. I can wait until ready to print the image before adjusting the DPI. I'm not sure when the change occurred, or why, but it doesn't seem important to overall image quality. At any rate, I haven't seen any change in the final image quality as long as I set DPI appropriate to final image size. I spend my life being confused by stuff like this, but thankfully, there are always people here to set me straight. Thanks again!</p>

<p>Thank you, William and Larry. I'm not on my desktop right now, but when I get back to the office I'll take a look at what you suggest. I'll probably then have more questions -- it's always a learning experience. Thanks again for your prompt help.</p>

<p>Hi -- I haven't been here for months, but I need some help figuring out what is happening with Photoshop and Bridge. I'll try to make this clear, but please keep in mind: I'm self-taught and have huge gaps in my knowledge. <br>

This is in regards to Photoshop CS 5. Recently, when I upload images from my CF card something happens between Bridge and Photoshop and the image resolution changes from the set 244ppi to 7.5ppi. In Bridge the metadata reads correctly at 244, but once the image is open in Photoshop it shows as 7.5. This is a new issue and I have not consciously altered any settings. (I say consciously because there is always the chance I accidentally altered some setting) All new images open at the lower PPI. I shoot in RAW format and edit in Bridge before opening the image in PS. I have used the same procedure for several years and have never run into this issue before. I work on a Windows 7 desktop. My cameras are Canon 5D and 5D- Mark III. <br>

I hope I've made the problem clear, but if not, please let me know what other info will be helpful. Thanks for any help. </p>

<p>Thank you, Robert. I was hoping it fit the Minolta 7D because my vet owns that camera and could use the grip. Oh well...guess I'll put it on e-bay or pass it along to someone who can use it. </p>

<p>Hi - in the process of cleaning out the attic, I came upon a brand new, unused Minolta VC-9 vertical grip. I switched to Canon about ten years ago and have no use for this grip. I'm having difficulty finding what camera(s) the grip might fit. I suspect (based only on the fact that the only Minolta camera I ever owned was a film camera) the grip was meant for a film camera. However, are grips ever interchangeable or must they fit only a particular camera? Also, if anyone can point me to a website where I might learn which camera(s) the grip was designed to fit, I would be appreciative. Thanks! </p>

<p>Ditto. The first year they gave the print magazine and I received two months instead of the full year. This year, I have received nothing. No magazine, no response from PP. Oh well...</p>

<p>Hi Gary - fall color in New England is always something of a guessing game. Northern Vermont (By the Canadian border) can peak as early as late September. The color progresses southward and southern New England can peak as late as mid-November. If you are considering western New York around the lakes district or next to Champlain, my best guess would be the early part of October. Here are a few websites where you can check peak dates: for NY: <a href="http://fallgetaways.iloveny.com/INDEX.html">http://fallgetaways.iloveny.com/INDEX.html</a><br>

VT: <a href="http://www.foliage-vermont.com/">http://www.foliage-vermont.com/</a><br>

This has been an unusually warm and dry summer in much of New England. This means the color may be less vivid than on better years. My favorite places for fall color (other than my own backyard or nearby) - in Vermont: Stowe, Newport, Quechee and my absolute favorite is to drive Route 5 from White River Junction to the Canadian border. In New York: I love following Route 9 north of Lake George to the Canadian border. There are many side roads leading to incredible views if you have the patience to keep looking. </p>

<p> I have the great advantage of having spent many of my younger years living less than an hour outside of Yellowstone, so I know the park fairly well. I’ve done both snow coach tours with friends several times and they are both very good. The question you need to answer is what you hope to see, wildlife, thermals, the canyon, artist’s point, etc.? The problem with answering this question is that some of what determines the relative value of one tour over the other is weather related and, of-course, we have no idea what next winter will bring. If you hope to photograph wildlife, the tour from Old Faithful is your better bet, especially if it is a rough winter. If you are interested in photographing thermals, then the tour from Mammoth Lodge would be your better choice. Both tours will offer you varied subjects, wildlife, thermals, the canyon and other features. The possible advantage of Mammoth is the likelihood of seeing elk and Big Horn Sheep up close and personal. The advantage of Old Faithful is the lodge itself and the likelihood of seeing bison up close, as well as Old Faithful and the smaller thermals in the immediate area. Old Faithful Lodge is beautiful and well worth photographing. Mammoth lodge doesn’t have the same appeal. </p>

<p>I don't know if any of you know about the organization "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep", but they are an amazing group that tries to ease the incredible burden of losing a child at or close to birth. I hope that some of you might be interested in donating your services or at least passing the information on to other photographers. <br>

<a href="https://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/">https://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/</a></p>

<p>Every year is different depending upon snow cover and other environmental factors. Keep in mind that last summer was dry, so this year’s blooms may be less colorful. We’ve had a high average amount of snow cover and the temperatures have been average to low average. March has been and is predicted to be slightly below average in temperatures and average in precipitation. All of this points to a wildflower season beginning in mid-April through early June, depending upon altitude. Definitely plan to drive the Kancamagus, stopping to hike some of the trails along that route. You will need to purchase a parking permit to park in any of the National Park lots. You can buy he permit at the Saco ranger station where NH Route 16 meets the Kanca in Conway. A very short hike where you may see wildflowers in profusion is the SabbadayFalls trail midway across the Kanca. It’s a short enough and easy enough walk to carry your tripod, which you may need if you want to shoot the waterfalls and some of the flowers growing alongside the small river. The other, slightly longer hike that I love is the Greeley Ponds trail about 10 miles east of Lincoln at the western end of the Kanca. The wildflowers along the trail are often gorgeous and the ponds are stunning. CrawfordNotchState Park has good trails ranging from less than a mile to all-day challenging hikes. <br>

You may want to check this website for information on hiking in the White Mountains. <a href="http://www.everytrail.com/best/hiking-new-hampshire">http://www.everytrail.com/best/hiking-new-hampshire</a> <br>

As for equipment: bring everything you can easily carry and be prepared to use it all. You’ll absolutely need a polarizer for the sunny days and remaining snow – think reflections and weird light conditions regardless of time. I never go without my tripod, but that’s me. I can’t figure out why a beanbag would be better than a sturdy, but lightweight tripod, but again, that’s just me. Definitely pack clothes for cold and wet weather, as well as for warmer days. As you probably already know, the Whites have the reputation for extreme changes in weather within the same 24 hours. </p>

<p>I can only share my own experience. Last year I was working in Pennsylvania and made the expensive and very annoying mistake of leaving one of my LP-E6 batteries in a motel room. (Fits my Canon 5D-MKII) I saw a Battery Warehouse and, although I was unfamiliar with the company, I was desperate and purchased a replacement for the lost battery. Comparing the BW battery to the Canon, I can say that I was extremely grateful for having invested in a car charger! The original Canon batteries held their charge through a busy day of shooting. The BW battery lost it’s charge within two hours of on and off shooting. Other than the batteries, the shooting conditions were the same. I haven’t talked with anyone else who has used BW batteries (we don’t have the store in my home area), so it’s impossible to say if my experiences are the norm or not. Personally, since most of my work is outside, often in extreme weather, I prefer to work with a product I know and trust.</p>

<p>I took several online classes at Better Photo and found them very helpful in the early stages of my learning. I took another online class - on another site - last year, but found it didn't meet my needs or standards. I think it is tough to recommend a class to someone because we all learn in different ways and at different speeds. Personally, I found my BP instructors to be well skilled in their areas and very supportive of the students in my classes. It may be worth a glance - <a href="http://www.betterphoto.com/home.asp">http://www.betterphoto.com/home.asp</a></p>