surfidaho

<p>Howdy!</p>

<p>Another vote for mpix.com. They are the online subsidiary of Miller Labs, which has been around for a long time.</p>

<p>You can select "adjust" or "no adjust". If you select adjust, it's done by a human, not by some automated color and leveling program.</p>

<p>Finally, they drop ship to customers.</p>

<p>Later,</p>

<p>Paulsky</p>

<p>Howdy!</p>

<p>Investigate Imagenomic Portraiture. It has these effects built in, and you can apply them with a few mouse clicks. I think you will be most happy with it.</p>

<p>In addition to dramatic portrait effects, it has sophisticated algorithms to smooth skin without reducing detail. I use the package to automatically treat every portrait I take.</p>

<p>Later,</p>

<p>Paulsky</p>

<p>Howdy!</p>

<p>If you're worried about quality, just tell her that you would prefer that she go through somebody like Miller Labs, or even MPIX.com, for reprints. Then hand over the images already. Make em nice and easy to print. SRGB JPEGs are fine for most people.</p>

<p>All that said, I'm not terribly thrilled with the brides behavior. That line about this "putting a damper on her wedding memories" is a tired cliche I have heard many times before from other brides trying to squeeze me for an extra print, and it's nothing but a shameless guilt trip.</p>

<p>But hey, you should never mix friendship with business. Just look at what it did to the Corleone's.</p>

<p>Later,</p>

<p>Paulsky</p>

<p>Howdy!</p>

<p>You should definitely get something that's waterproof, so you can hose it down and sterilize it before and AFTER surgery. There's nothing like body fluids on a camera to put a damper on the hospital holiday party.</p>

<p>Later,</p>

<p>Paulsky</p>

<p>Howdy!</p>

<p>I think a translation of the original transaction is in order:</p>

<p>He got out of the car and, yes, wanted to know what I was doing. -<strong> Law Enforcement Professional investigating something unusual, but not necessarily dangerous or illegal.<br /> </strong></p>

<p>"I'm taking pictures of the church."- <strong>Photographer treats LEP like crap by stating the obvious.</strong></p>

<p>"Why?"- <strong>LEP decides to give photographer the benefit of the doubt and gives him a chance to explain.</strong></p>

<p>"Because it's a nice church." - <strong>Photographer continues to treat LEP like crap with smartass remark.</strong></p>

<p>"You just watch yourself." - <strong>LEP decides not to take any more crap from smartass photographer.</strong></p>

<p>Later,</p>

<p>Paulsky</p>

<p>Howdy!</p>

<p>What do you mean by "non-traditional"?</p>

<p>Everybody knows what "traditional" means. But it's hard to define the negative of that. Unless you presented the photographer with images that show what your preferences were, then he had to read your mind, and it must have been really difficult for him.</p>

<p>Another big problem here is that you paid for a traditional portrait session, so you got a traditional portrait photographer. What you probably really wanted was a photojournalist, who could capture spontaneous moments throughout the wedding. But that service does not come cheap.</p>

<p>Now I have worked with couples who had ZERO chemistry during the posed portraits and formals, but who SHINED during the rest of the reception. Even though the formals were a bust, the couple walked away happy because of all the pictures caught in the moment.</p>

<p>If you ever decide to renew your vows (I have, and I think everyone should) then I would advise you to do your own shopping for a photographer, and get one that will cover the whole event in a photojournalism style.</p>

<p>Later,</p>

<p>Paulsky</p>

<p>Howdy!</p>

<p>I would stay off of those sites from now on.</p>

<p>It's not that I have a Long List of Dissatisfied Customers. It's just that people are human, and no matter how hard you try, somebody sometime just won't be happy. And one or two negative comments on a website might not be representative of the main body of your work.</p>

<p>One exception to this rule would be the BBB, but you don't even have to join them to reap the benefits. Just stay on their good side.</p>

<p>I personally consider such contests as the one you describe to be a bit cheesy. The best person usually doesn't win. The contest usually goes to the person with the most marketing savvy.</p>

<p>Later,</p>

<p>Paulsky</p>

<p>Howdy!</p>

<p>Out here in the Old West, a crusher cowboy hat with a flexible brim for my Speedlite is always appropriate for outdoor weddings. (Raffia for hot weather, Felt for cold weather). When I bring the camera up to my face, the brim folds back out of my way. Also, the importance of performance wicking underwear cannot be overstated.</p>

<p>We also have some specific types of weddings which require different attire:</p>

<p>Ranch (or Ranch Wannabe): Jeans, button shirt, and SAS shoes (my feet are too wide for s--tkickers). No six shooter, it's a wedding, not a posse.</p>

<p>Ecotopian: Cargo shorts, Chaco's (river sandals), and Hawaiian shirt for summer. Cargo pants, Gore-Tex boots, and windblock fleece for colder weather.</p>

<p>Formal: Button down shirt, nice slacks, SAS shoes. </p>

<p>Jewish: Same as formal, but with a Kippa.</p>

<p>Scottish: Kilt and associated accessories (rented). Traditionally, no underwear should be worn, but I wear opaque performance wicking underwear, both for comfort and in case I have to stand on a ladder.</p>

<p>Later,</p>

<p>Paulsky</p>

<p>Howdy!</p>

<p>I use it for shooting wedding ceremonies from the balcony or the back of the hall on a cropped frame camera. It's sharpness wide open and fully zoomed is not as good as it's siblings (the non-IS 70-200 f2.8, and the 70-200 f4) but it's versatility in low light situations, and the ability to handhold it if necessary, make it indispensible.</p>

<p>Later,</p>

<p>Paulsky</p>

<p>Howdy Nadine!</p>

<p>Enough said. ;^<)></p>

<p>Later,</p>

<p>Paulsky</p>

<p>Howdy!</p>

<p>Thank you very much! Apology accepted. And no, I've never been to one of those other establishments in Paris, so I don't really know what they're like either. ;^<)></p>

<p>As luck would have it, my wife is from a tiny hamlet near the Carpathian Mountains named Khotin. But I'm pretty sure there's no such place as R.A.L.S.</p>

<p>Later,</p>

<p>Paulsky</p>

<p>Why shouldn't I take it personally?</p>

<p>Ok, Benjamin's work reminds me of a Parisian brothel. Now we're even.</p>

<p>Howdy!</p>

<p>On another thread, somebody mentioned that they never stick around past the cake cutting. I always stick around until I wave goodbye to the happy couple in the limo, or if they are staying at the reception venue, until the party dies down.</p>

<p>Does anybody else take this approach?</p>

<p>Later,</p>

<p>Paulsky</p>

<p>"Of course, we are never around past the cake cutting."</p>

<p>Why not?</p>

<p>Howdy!</p>

<p>Benjamin, I understand you live in Paris.</p>

<p>I grew up in Boise, but I've been to Paris. I prefer Boise. There's fewer snobby people here (at least one fewer...)</p>

<p>Later,</p>

<p>Paulsky</p>

<p>One more thought: I arrange a "first meeting", where the bride walks up the aisle while the groom has his back turned to her. When he turns around, there are several wonderful moments to capture.</p>

<p>Regarding the "choked up look" on the grooms face, I've rarely seen it. Most of the time, it's "Deer in the Headlights" as he practices his line (I Do, I Do, I Do ...)</p>

<p>Later,</p>

<p>Paulsky</p>

<p>Howdy!</p>

<p>Doing all the formals before the ceremony has very little to do with The Photographer's Convenience. When you do split formals, you hold up the reception, thus keeping the guests and caterers waiting. It's much better to leave the church and go straight to the party, and that's how I sell it to my clients. I have never had a client refuse to do all formals before the ceremony when I sell it using this approach.</p>

<p>Later,</p>

<p>Paulsky</p>

<p>Howdy!</p>

<p>I tried a friends Pentax camera, and I was pleasantly surprised by how ergonomic and well thought out it was. It has fewer features than an equivalent Canon, but it didn't leave out any critical ones, and it has several features (such as true ISO priority) that I would love to have in my 40D.</p>

<p>I started out with Canon in 2005 because they had active CMOS sensors, and nobody else did. Now that most camera manufacturers have them, I would visit dpreview.com and see which camera fits your needs.</p>

<p>Also, Canon's indoor automatic white balance is just as bad (if not worse) than Pentax.</p>

<p>Later,</p>

<p>Paulsky</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Howdy!</p>

<p>F8 Is Great. Shooting groups at f2.8 is asking for trouble. Go at least F5.6. Use a flash if you have to.</p>

<p>Later,</p>

<p>Paulsky</p>

<p>Howdy!</p>

<p>All of the above are good suggestions for the immediate future. But if you're serious about doing this long term, get another 40D, a 17-55mm f2.8 IS, and a 70-20mm f2.8 IS.</p>

<p>You need a backup body anyway, and if you have two cameras with two lenses which cover the vast majority of situations, you will never have to switch lenses ever again.</p>

<p>Later,</p>

<p>Paulsky</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Howdy!</p>

<p>Aside from the name (Joxer D'Mighty indeed) doesn't it seem rather incomprehensible that a person would go out and purchase the signature cameras and lenses for fast wedding work, yet not know what setting to use?</p>

<p>Ok, just in case the OP is indeed as clueless as he/she sounds, here's my favorite shooting mode:</p>

<p>Lens cap off.</p>

<p>Later,</p>

<p>Paulsky</p>

<p>Howdy!</p>

<ol>

<li>In morning, carry cameras to car.</li>

<li>Place cameras on roof of car.</li>

<li>Drive to gig.</li>

</ol>

<p>Later,</p>

<p>Paulsky</p>

<p>Howdy!</p>

<p>The only time I ever had any equipment stolen from my car was when I was taking a dip in one of Idaho's many primitive hot springs (attired as nature intended) and I neglected to lock my vehicle. Somebody liberated a Rebel XT and a 70-200mm f2.8 (non-IS) lens.</p>

<p>Fortunately, I had equipment insurance, and I also had written down all the serial numbers. I reported the theft, collected the insurance, and upgraded to the IS version of the lens and a 40D. The missing equipment showed up in a Montana pawnshop about a month later. The thieves were duly prosecuted and given a just punishment.</p>

<p>Therefore, although not packing your car the night before is a good idea, I think that it is even more important to inventory all your gear, keep the serial numbers in a safe place, and carry insurance on it. You cannot stick with your gear at all times, no matter how much you may try.</p>

<p>Later,</p>

<p>Paulsky</p>