AKA Clay and Tiffany Just last month I had the pleasure of photographing their engagement session at Riverwalk Park in Clarksville, where they had their first official date. They were married at The Cumberland Room in Clarksville, where my assistant and I went to work on April 1 to photograph their wedding. We were met by Clay in his military uniform, and immediately saw the candy bar set up….with you guessed it….GUMMY BEARS! A definite favorite of both my assistant and mine! Feast your eyes on the gummies, won’t you?

It was a nice warm sunny day, the ceremony was outdoors in the ballroom’s outdoor courtyard, yes we mastered the lighting challenge with the harsh afternoon sun The reception was inside the ballroom, where I went around and captured some portraits of the family and guests, as well as some journalistic candid photos of them. Using that fly on the wall approach helps me get real expression when guests are eating or sharing a drink, during the dances, the interaction of the cake cutting, the kids playing, and in this case the grandmother out dancing everyone in attendance! It was a fun day and an exciting day in their lives, thank you for letting me capture your story!

About a month ago, I bought a Quantum Flash T5DR flash gun and Turbo SC battery pack, good for 400 full power flashes, from Dury’s. I just wanted something with better manual control and with more power than the Canon Speedlites…..also Q flash’s are work horses, and do not overheat in times of rapid use. They are an especially sought after flash for wedding photographers and event photographers especially…..as well as being good for outdoor portraits and being powerful enough to provide fill light in most cases. My particular flash is not a hot shoe flash, it does not have it’s own integrated battery or power supply, it connects to the Turbo battery for power. So it needs to be used on a bracket if being used on camera. The way the center of gravity is, it makes that particular setup very cumbersome and heavy. Especially with having to be wired to the battery. I have used it on camera a few times, and works well, but it’s just cumbersome. TTL requires a separate adapter, which I have….and a special Free X wire receiver and transmitter for off camera TTL use. I do not put much stock in TTL, especially with Canon TTL systems. It does ok in a controlled room without pockets of ambient light. But it struggles to provide accurate exposures with ambient light being mixed in the subject area. Or in cases where you would normally meter for contrasts of skin tones, black tuxedo, and white dress all in the same photo. Often the TTL system will balance it like a grey card and you don’t know what the focal object will be. That’s why I won’t really use TTL especially if I would have to buy those triggers.

I have found the auto mode to work much better. Still having trouble with manual mode, still looking into exposures not changing with fstop setting adjustment. And the flash output is the same each time when working correctly, tested with light meter. The auto sensor is on the flash itself instead of through the lens, like TTL. I decided that going off camera would provide a much better and more directional light than on camera. This could be handy at wedding receptions with an assistant. I would mount the Q flash to my Manfrotto monopod, by screwing it on. The sync cord to a Pocket Wizard receiver is attached to the front of the flash with heavy duty velcro. This would be carried by the assistant, who would have the battery pack in their pocket. Now, on the camera, I’d have my Pocket Wizard transmitter, or transceiver in the hot shoe, with a PC cord from the Pocket Wizard to my PC port on the camera. That way, my assistant and I aren’t hard wired together. I took Nick’s recommendation, from Dury’s and bought an Ultimate Light Box, it’s a small plastic softbox that doesn’t lose as much light as rival modifiers for Speedlites, and does indeed have a less harsh light than the stock diffuser. Here are a few random samples of this off camera setup, in my house. Will update you more as I use it more

This was one of the looks we did, when I was in Atlanta shooting with Angela. One of her outfits, when we were sorting them for the shoot, just screamed parking garage for some reason.  So we found a part of the parking garage near her building that had some empty spots and where people wouldn’t bother us. And off we went! Now I will explain the setup, may sound cumbersome for an on location setup but it took me 15 minutes to set it all up by myself. The result was worth it, and we got nice high contrast lighting with good spill control, and the lighting was directional, as opposed to on camera flashes. There was no light in the garage, except some overhead florescent lights, with a really cold color temperature….but the use of strobes or flashes would overpower any color cast that could be caused by any overheads lights.

The main / key light was an Alien Bee 800 and a medium softbox, feathered and not direct. It was about 6 feet away from her to her left, with the center of the softbox about even with the top of her head, very little downward angle. She was about 15 feet away from the wall where the blue color gel was feathering it. I placed it slightly further away from the subject area, with the gel covered pan reflector and that strobe right up against the wall. When working with gels, you have to be careful of spill. The distance between it and the subject area eliminated the possibility of getting color spill from the gel. If working in a tighter space, the use of a flag may be necessary. To the subject’s right, from about a 45 degree angle behind her, I used a 20 degree grid, from a c stand up about 10 feet high, aiming down as the rim light to the subject area, about 10 feet of distance between it and Angela. This was to create some contrast and brush light on her, where there would have otherwise been light falloff areas. It was a matter of metering and positioning, especially when working with grids and gels, positioning may take some playing with to get it in the right spot. Oh yea….almost forgot. I used a Pocket Wizard receiver on the key light and the background light with the gel, to eliminate syncing issues, the background light was able to trigger the rim light, so a third receiver wasn’t needed. There was no power in the garage, so I used my new Vagabond Mini on the Key light and the background light, and my old vagabond II for the rim light. This way i didn’t have to run extension cords everywhere.  Hope this helps!

I combine my errands to save fuel. Recently I was out running a couple errands in the area where my gym is, two birds, one stone, and after a workout, I stopped at the Chinese restaurant across the street. It was getting kindof late, I was a little tired and hungry and just did not feel like taking the time to cook that night. I saw these 2 people near the restaurant’s entrance, one was a guy maybe early 20′s and the other, honestly wasn’t sure if it was a guy or a girl, about same age LOL. They asked me if I had any money to spare because they were hungry and needed something to eat. They were polite and humble, yet they usually are. And you never know if they are well meaning people who had hard luck and really are hungry, or if they are just panhandlers looking for a crack rock or a bottle of whiskey. I just don’t like being approached by random people because you never know their intent. I have worked in some bad areas and have heard every story in the book….but again, some may be legit. I just told them, sorry I do not have cash on me but I wished them luck and went on. Which I really don’t ever carry cash, I use debit card for everything pretty much, so I was telling them the truth.

My first instinct as a business owner, that this is not good for business, having their customers approached by panhandlers. So I told the manager that there were 2 people outside that say they are hungry and are asking for money, and it may prevent some customers from entering the restaurant. Looked like he asked them to leave the premises and they did. One way to tell if they were legit, was to invite them in and offer to cover their dinner tab, since it was a buffet and maybe would have been 25 dollars. If they accepted the offer, I’d know they are for real, but if not, I’d quickly know they were looking for their next fix. I don’t believe in supporting peoples’ laziness or habits, when I work for my money…..but also I don’t mind giving the hungry something to eat. Now I kindof wish I did that, not that I have 25 dollars to burn, now especially, but if they were hungry, and I helped feed them, it’s just good karma and it would help them out. Maybe the fact that I thought about this afterwards is symbolic of something, just not sure what, but I hope they got the help they needed, if it was food. Next time that happens, and they say specifically they need food, I’ll offer them food, now that I think about it, I think I should have done that with them.

I have known Angela for 7 years now, and have done many photoshoots with her. Both for artistic and commercial purposes. I’ve always appreciated her friendship, as well as her dedication to everything she does. What separates a muse from a model, is the muse and photographer is a rare combination, where the 2 collaborate, for mutual benefit and certain things are just understood about their arrangement that don’t even need to be discussed, it either falls into place or it isn’t there. To be a muse requires working together on multiple projects and helping each others’ conceptual visions and image overall. This arrangement means we respect each others’ time, and not cancel or waste the other’s time, and comfort / respect boundaries are automatically in place. I have that with Angela. She puts equal effort into every shoot we have done together, even though we have always lived 2-4 hours apart. There have been times where we have shot fairly frequently and also where lapses of 2 years have gone by,  and we didn’t miss a step when we got back on set together. That’s not something to take lightly

She has lived in Atlanta for a few years and has changed her look considerably. Totally different hair and new tattoos…..so she wanted to showcase her new look and get it all captured in detail. And do a shoot with some edge and attitude, as we have always been able to produce together…so I went to Atlanta and shot with her in her apartment, a parking garage and a breezeway, all on a pretty cold day mind you. LOL. So outdoor time was kept to a minimum. I used all natural light with a reflector with these, with nice shallow depth of field. After our shoot, a group of us went out to a Midtown Atlanta club, Vanquish, which was a lot of fun. Yup, I needed that. Satisfying my creative outlet helps me in all I do, and she is also inspired by doing our photoshoots. Angela always brings it, and I am so thankful for our friendship and great working relationship. New adventures are always fun!

As we move from engagement session, to booking and shooting season, the dynamic changes. The relationship between vendor and client changes as we move from talk to action. This is my favorite part of the process. Initially it’s about presentation, and showing the customer why I am the right photographer for the job, and showing them my work, print presentation, albums, and help them structure their package. I would hope that if they book me as their wedding photographer, they feel confident in their decision. This is why the brides where price is their only concern, let them book any of the others on Craigslist who are cheap, and unqualified to do so. It produces a much better result when they book me so I am the one telling their story about their lives and their wedding. Once the retainer and paperwork is over, they need to remain confident in their decision, based on the business reputation and stability.

As the time to “put up or shut up” approaches, whether actively planning with my clients, doing their engagement session, etc. is to me, where the biggest thrill begins. That is one reason I love doing a couples’ engagement photos before the wedding…..we all have a chance to work together and learn each others’ personalities etc. and I have the chance to exceed their expectations by delivering the goods, before the big day. Sure, it’s a lot of pressure, and a lot riding on it….but I thrive on it. It’s my shot to drive home in my clients’ minds that they hired the right photographer who can get the job done, as well or better than they expected. This also increases the couples’ excitement for the capture of their wedding day! I just think it changes everything when after months of planning, and talk, the camera comes out of the bag for the client.

I realize not every person has FTP, file transfer protocol, which is used to transfer / share files from user to user, in large or small quantity, any format. The standard for delivering files / images, whether to a client or a model,etc. has been burning to a disc and sending by mail since digital media became the norm. In more recent years, file sharing websites like www.yousendit.com and www.dropbox.com have surfaced, and become quite popular. They are to share high resolution files with other users, where email is not a sufficient space option, as many email services have file size limits that most modern day digital cameras’ high resolution files exceed. Yousendit is nice, and it’s easy. However, if you are a free user, you can send one zip or photo at a time, and there is a 7 day expiration on the download link the person receives that you send it to. This is why I am favoring Dropbox more lately. It’s free, and as you share it with others more, and others start their account after you share yours with them, you get more space added to your account.

This would not be a feasible option for delivering large amounts of photos, like a wedding photographer provides the client from the wedding. But for a portrait or engagement session, model photoshoot, etc. where select photos are provided, it only makes sense to use this option as opposed to being stuck in 1998 and mailing CD’s. Of course the disc does have one advantage, the archival value. Again, never trust any one form of media for backing up important files. Backup hard drives and discs are good, redundancy is good. There is no excuse for trusting one computer as the only source of keeping important photos and documents. How Dropbox works, is I can start a folder and title it, then invite anyone I like, even multiple people but entering their email address in the share folder option box. Only those people have access to the folder, and everyone invited can download the files they want, and they are not compressed or downsized in this process of uploading them to Dropbox. Plus it’s instant. The people who have used it love it, I honestly don’t understand the problem, why some haven’t tried it when invited to a folder through Dropbox. Anyone who can do apps on a phone or use a computer somewhat competently can accomplish this. It’s a very easy, and time efficient way of sharing files, I encourage you to give it a try.

I have had the pleasure of meeting this very nice young couple a few months ago when they booked me to photograph their April wedding. Very recently I met up with them in their hometown of Clarksville, TN. to shoot their engagement photos. Americana at it’s finest….Tiffany is an accountant specializing in tax preparation, and Clay is active duty military, stationed at Fort Campbell. They met, and had their first date at Riverwalk Park, on the Cumberland River, right in Clarksville. They wanted to keep it simple for their engagement session, one casual wardrobe selection that represented them on any random given day…..and they thought, hey, what better place to do our engagement photos than where our first date was? I couldn’t agree more.

I wanted to capture the couple with a journalistic feel, the whole mood as in their natural lives, talking and interacting, and displaying their love for one another. I love these kind of photoshoots because of how connected the photo subjects are, makes it very telling about how well connected they are in real life. The way they walk together holding hands and talking / laughing, without a care in the world and the breeze blowing / sun shining is part of that candid mood I wanted to capture. As well as them sitting and talking, kissing, watching the river and enjoying the sun, makes time stand still. I hope they enjoy these photos for a lifetime, I am certainly pleased with them. Very soon I will be shooting their wedding. The couple is to wed in April, at The Cumberland Room in Clarksville, a combination of indoor and outdoor. I look forward to capturing their wedding and I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with, and get to know this very nice couple, congratulations guys!!

So, what’s one got to do with the other? Lots of brides planning their own wedding often want to know this. The only dumb question is one not asked I have had several inquiries about my basic starter wedding photography package, which is meant for small one location weddings, with maybe 30-50 guests. Ceremony, a few setups with bride and groom, wedding party and immediate family….and maybe some limited reception coverage, maybe….depends on the group and bride and groom photos, and length of ceremony. But that package suits the needs of some clients….and I have captured some sweet and intimate moments at those small weddings, so they are nice to do sometimes. But that small package is not designed for weddings with multiple locations or many guests. The logistics just don’t work out for that time block.

Number of guests does affect the cost of most wedding vendors, whether photographers, caterers, venue rates, etc. When the part of the discussion comes around about their wedding, and giving them the proper price quote and which package fits their needs best, there is sometimes surprise when they tell me they have 150 guests and they are interested in my starter package. If all they want are ceremony and some bride and groom and family photos, and no reception coverage, it would work out fine. But to cover a reception with that many guests takes a good 2 hours by itself. Between the different events and capturing the candid interactions of the guests, that takes time…..and I try to get everybody I can. These are people who are important to the bride and groom, and these are the photos they really enjoy seeing. Natural element of social interaction, hence my journalistic approach. Plus, life is short. Grandparents and guests unfortunately can pass on in the future…..and couples are always so thankful to have those photos.

I understand these are tough times. They are for all of us. But you have to think what is worth cutting corners on and what isn’t. A perfect example is my farm wedding. They really didn’t know the cost involved originally but they knew exactly the story they wanted told through the photos. They didn’t have money to burn but also didn’t want to short change themselves….and wanted to make the people they loved part of the story. That’s why wedding clients hire me, to tell a story. Too much abbreviating can water down the story. A wedding is a once in a lifetime event, and certain things you can’t do over again. I never advise going into large amounts of debt or overextending yourself, but to have a clear idea of your expectations and needs going into it. What lasts and what memory fades. When going through the expense of hiring a wedding photographer, it’s better to sacrifice some 6 dollar cups of coffee a few days out of the week, and after a period of time, you have the money for ample coverage. Definitely a lot to consider when planning your guest list, and how that affects other expenses and planning aspects of your wedding. I hope this helps.

Before doing this last bridal show, I was faced with the dilemma about where to find display lighting that wouldn’t break the bank. I really didn’t know where to look….stopped at the hardware store. They didn’t have any small display lights that clamped on…..Nor did Home Depot. My friend told me to look at an office supply store. I did not see them at my local Staples. I tried the Kmart up the street from me so I could trade locally instead of ordering online. They had 3, I needed 8. I asked at the service desk if they could order me 5 more. The guy tells me I have to wait until the next stock order to arrive and he didn’t know when that would be. So, let me get this straight…..I could probably go on Kmart.com and order what I want, and you can’t order something from them? Mkay…..see ya.

So I found them on Staples.com under clamp lights. They have a halogen bulb…..some bulbs may pop out in shipping, but it’s only a matter of unscrewing the top and placing the bulb back in……but do not touch the bulb with your fingers, as the skin oil may cause the bulb to overheat and break…I used a small paper towel or something. These lights are great for providing nice accent light for photo and art displays, and clamp on any solid object and can be aimed. I used it to illuminate my photo and banner displays at the show….I eventually want to have some photo displays in my studio and use them to light up the printed work. Many people also use them for reading lights. The cord could be longer but I have extension cords, lol. The price is right, here is a direct link. http://www.staples.com/V-light-Halogen-Gooseneck-Clip-Lamp-Black/product_850821

I have had business card discussions on this blog in the past, explaining my new direction with business card design after my designer created a company logo for me. But never really touched on to go with images or no images on photographers’ business cards, and the advantage to either. So that is what this particular article is about. After my logo was created a couple years ago, part of the branding exercise my designer suggested we create, was to help make people familiar with this logo, in connection to my company name and image….meaning a clean design would be to my advantage. In the past I have had 2 or 3 images on my cards, which was ok, but I was glad to get away from that.

First, I will address why some photographers place images on cards. It shows the viewer a taste of their work and hopefully the audience will visit the website and see more of it. Also it may get the attention of the viewer faster. People always enjoyed my previous designs with images…..but they NEVER got the reactions that my current design, clean with logo and a few subtle captions and design elements get. Many people these days, it’s hard to get them to type in a website to look at your work, so you really have to make an impression for them to go that extra step. Having images on the card can work against you that way…..they often judge a book by it’s cover, and in their mind have seen your work. This is why, either way, it will depend on 2 major factors, as to which way you should go as a photographer. The type of clientele and genre of photography you are marketing to…..and also if you are hobbyist or professional photographer. The feel of your card should be made to cater to your specific desired demographic and clientele.

The reasons besides making my logo and branding stand out better, that I got away from images on my business cards are really quite simple. I have had commercial clients tell me that they find images on a card to be borderline tacky and amateurish. Of course not everyone is out to get commercial clients, but even if not, it’s a very valid assessment. As they are very discerning clients, with generally a larger budget. Like the commercial says, what’s in your wallet? LOL. Also, the design has to be changed more frequently, as the same images can quickly become old news as a featured marketing material is concerned. Another thing to consider, if the prospective client doesn’t like one or all of the images, they may not bother looking further on your website or print portfolio. Which brings us to this. My website is a larger scale than a small square on a tiny business card….my work looks best in large format and in print. I’d rather have my prospective clients view my work in it’s correct context. Whether you are a commercial photographer, wedding photographer, portrait photographer etc. you have to make a statement with your business card. This is why self made designs seldom compete as far as attention commanded from the viewer….and is one thing that shouldn’t be skimped on. Many other photographers in Nashville alone, so I want mine to stand out. So far the feedback on these is better than ever….from the logo, the feel of the stock, and overall appealing design makes people want to see more.

Thank you to all who came out, it was a pleasure to meet so many great brides, and also the grooms who braved it, it was nice to see your dedication and meet you as well! My assistant and I got my booth well decorated with some great mounted prints, sample albums and small antique furnishings….and it all fit in my little Honda hatchback, lol. One nice thing about these shows are getting face time with these couples, and they can see your product first hand and establish the value themselves. I am happy to be in communication with several of them about providing for their wedding photography needs. The bridal dress and mens’ formalwear fashion show halfway through the show is always fun too, attire was provided by Street’s Tuxedo and Bridal Country in Smyrna.

I also really like the unity between vendors at that show, and the loyalty we all seem to feel towards the show coordinators, Here Comes The Brides. They truly care about their vendors’ needs and want to see us all succeed and come back. No hint of indifference or elitism. I have gotten to know some of the vendors there and form friendships, and hopefully working relationships with them as well…..which is another definite benefit to being part of these shows. It keeps people relevant to your name and image. Was a fun time. My friend Dan even came with his fiance, and snapped this photo of me at the booth, LOL.

Most of my wedding photography inquiries come through email, and some by phone. I try to give them the information they ask for, which is not meant to cover every detail….it can’t. It’s just the beginning of them qualifying me, and me qualifying them….regardless of the media they use to contact me first, I try my best to spark their interest to encourage further discussion….so I can SHOW them, and not just tell them why I am the right solution for their wedding photography. Sometimes I hear back from them, sometimes I don’t. Now….what to do next? There are different schools of thought here. And each business person may look at it differently.

No one likes to just let business go, and let clients slip away….I certainly don’t. But it’s also ineffective to repeatedly pester clients, and it will piss them off if they think it gets pushy and persistent. So, now the question is finding the balance. I will usually send a brief email or quick courtesy call (if they first called me, if not I will stick to email.) Something to the effect of “Hi _________, thanks again for contacting us and inquiring about us providing photography services for your wedding. I hope the information I sent was helpful, please let me know if you have specific questions or I can be of further assistance, I hope to earn your business.” And provide contact information. I have found, after that it’s usually useless to contact them again…..that’s the cusp of it going from a courtesy contact, to being a pest, and coming across as desperate and overly persistent. I say this because sometimes these people are at the beginning stages of gathering information, and I have heard back from some people months later, when I thought they surely booked elsewhere by then. Also because if a client really wants to hire me, they will.

I noticed when I did my first bridal show, most willingly gave me their contact information, but some were concerned about getting bombarded. I just told them I’m not forcing them to provide it, I was just going to send a courtesy email and thank them for stopping by my booth, and provide them my contact and website information. They seemed relieved to hear that. I know if I were the client shopping for a product or service…..I would do business with someone I liked, who delivered a product I liked. I’d appreciate a follow up, but if it were on a repeated basis, I’d get annoyed and turned off. In my opinion, one further follow up is sufficient, more can be read as pushy and desperate. Just my 2 cents.

Models and talent agencies are not always predictable as far as supply and demand, who they sign, etc. Pretty has little to do with it….it’s about the look that goes with the commercial or fashion style of the ads they will be working, clothing they are modeling, etc. Sharpness of facial features and proportions are the most dominant factor. One agency may or may not have a need for more talent of a certain look, proportion, etc. when another one might. This is why it’s best not to get impatient, and do your shopping for an agency that will sign you, that you have been referred to by someone you know. The look each agency wants may vary, so that’s one reason it’s best to find your agency before hiring a photographer to do your headshots and model portfolio images if applicable.

Another reason is that for teen models especially, showing up to an agency with professional photos may make you look prepared and show effort on your part…..but it can also scream stage mom to the agency, which is not good. Sometimes first submitting amateur photos, otherwise known as Polaroids, may be best for teen models especially, until signed. The stage mom stereotype isn’t always true, but it’s just how agencies often think. Their concern is sticking their neck out to their clients and for it to turn out their talent isn’t very dedicated and it’s really their mom pushing them into modeling or acting. Once you find your agency, they will tell you what you need……then it’s time to hire the right photographer who shoots the style needed. Assuming commercial headshots are needed….a photographer with good clean work and lighting skills, who has a commercial style is the best bet. Don’t sell yourself short by hiring a Craigslist jewel who really has no understanding of what you need, just to save a few bucks. What you get will likely be useless. What you see in their body of work represents what you will get. Also watch for bad Photoshop like oversmoothing skin, over whitening teeth and eyes, HDR attempts, selective color, mixed saturation, etc. All that is useless for agency headshots and other agency model portfolio work. Good luck!!

This particular article was a requested topic from my Facebook business page. Have you liked my business page yet? If not, what’s taking you so long? :p www.facebook.com/jayfarrellphotography This is something that can take a bit of time. The first thing you have to figure out is what kind of photography are you most passionate about, and what interested you in photography to begin with. That’s your map for your course. This is targeted not so much for the soccer mom who loves photographing her family, but more rather the serious enthusiast and aspiring professional photographer who hope to make a partial or sole career with photography. I do encourage making the first baby steps before trying to make a business out of it. It isn’t good to have ambiguity and no solid direction as a business model. The first thing is to shoot, shoot, shoot what you love, polish your skills. Learn composition, read books, attend workshops, learn about using natural and / or studio lighting depending on your direction. Become one with your equipment, and know how to be in the driver’s seat, having manual control.

It’s perfectly normal especially early in your journey to be all over the map, style wise. And that’s ok. It’s like being a child….you grow, you learn, you mature, and survive the awkward stages…..and even when you are an adult, you don’t know everything, you don’t control the world…..but *hopefully* you have become more consistent and wiser, and make better decisions as you get older. So, even when you reach the professional photographer level, you have to embrace the fact that you can never know everything or be perfect. You’re never done learning and growing, and you have to stay hungry for the next shoot, and concept executed. During this time of developing your style and brand, it takes being open to, and seeking critique from more senior photographers especially. By doing this, and getting lens time, and evaluating your results on a regular basis….you will eventually know where your passion lies and your style will reveal itself on it’s own for the most part.

For me, it all started with street photography, an often wrongly judged and misunderstood genre of photography. I loved capturing natural emotions and moods that can’t be captured the same way any other way. Capturing peoples’ souls is what portrait photography is all about….not just a pretty picture. Throughout my journey, I have developed interest in fine art/ figure study photography and using shadows and dramatic lighting…..but also went back to my roots and capture wedding photography with a more journalistic approach, to capture those natural candid moods and be less invasive. And my love for capturing souls and unique style of capture and lighting are what helped me find my brand, that people know and come to me for. It’s a much better foundation to have people come to you for you, than because of being just another neophyte with a cheap price. There are tons of photographers out there….surviving this process and knowing how to find your audience is what separates you from the masses. It’s about patience, dedication, and commitment. Most do not have enough of that to make it. That’s ok. We all have natural aptitudes….it’s good to get in touch with them, and use them. For example….appreciating fashion photography doesn’t mean you can be a fashion photographer. You have to be up on all the different fashions and styles and love capturing it. Knowing how to successfully capture your genre, and commanding the attention of your viewers is what it takes to be successful at it.

At least those vendors who are involved with the whole event, like the wedding photographer, this issue can come into play. It will vary by photographer……but most of the better photographers do have some minimum in place, and some brides I have talked with don’t understand why. I believe if a customer asks a question, it’s our job to answer it. Small and short weddings are becoming more prevalent due to the economy and budget of some of the couples getting married these days. Understandable. It’s better that, than expecting a 50 thousand dollar wedding for 500 bucks, LOL I try to accommodate people as best I can, and personally am fine booking a 2 hour wedding, which is still a small wedding. If done right, you can have a simple, yet elegant / intimate wedding in that time, and it’s still a booking to me. The 2 hour wedding package is my minimum. Here is why.

There are some people who want ceremony only, with maybe a few wedding party photos, for a one hour time block. Ok, it may sound good in theory. Oh, work for an hour, go home, get paid, done. Not exactly. Whether it’s a large or small wedding, the same prep work goes into it….charging camera and flash batteries, getting memory cards ready, checking backup equipment and charging those batteries, loading vehicle, going on location, shooting and then driving back and unloading. All part of the job, but by the time you do that, you’ve made a day of it even for a small wedding. The reasons for the minimum booking, is the commitment to that client, no matter what else comes along. It all boils down to how busy that photographer is, and the risk of losing a larger wedding by taking on smaller ones. Most of my weddings are 4-6 hours or so, but am also fine with booking some 2 hour weddings to accommodate people with those needs. Some have worked out very well for me, so I don’t want to deny them. But for a one hour wedding, it’s not worth it to me for those reasons. If hiring an assistant, it’s not worth it to them to clear their day for one hour’s work, that still takes over 2 hours with travel and load in / load out. This is why as my packages get larger, the customer saves more and gets more for their money. We’re already there, and we can tell a better story if we’re not cut too short

With a model so nice, I had to feature here on this blog twice She’s a new model, and is getting used to camera time, and learning expressions, angles, etc. So….there’s no teacher like experience and doing it, and enjoying it in the process. We did our modeling headshots to get her ready for some Nashville agencies, so after that we just did some funny more expressive photos to help her with range of emotion on camera, and characters are welcome here too   It’s fun for me as well. I helped her bring out those different expressions, some of which were encouraged by random conversation which sparked those emotions / expressions….that makes it all look more real and less staged / forced. One key part of being a successful portrait and headshot photographer is bringing out those genuine moods and personalities. So even after the amusing photos, we decided to have a little more fun with it and give her some camera time….and give me a chance to use this building that was gutted, before they finish it. The fuller body photos, and me working with her helped her know better about angles, twisting and bending of the body, position of arms and hands, etc. With time, she’ll only develop even more of a knack for it. This was an important start. The main thing is helping bring out the aptitude and being able to take direction on set, or in time, know what direction to go if needed.

So, now off to the gutted service station / car lot. The textures and walls, and open roof /windows really introduced some nice available light. Natural light was all I used…..it was a perfect overcast day, maybe 60 degrees, and we weren’t supposed to be there in the first place, so we didn’t want to make spectacles of ourselves by bringing lighting in there, LOL. First I made sure the building was structurally safe for her to go in and looked at the floors to make sure there were no hazards. All was pretty clean. But this was an important opportunity not to miss….the building would only be in this state for a short time. I shot at F 2.8 with my 50 MM prime lens. That way there would be at least some shallow depth of field, but not as much with a longer focal length lens….but this lens was perfect for the size of the area, and the depth of field I wanted. We got to use the walls and textures to help her incorporate poses, as well as to make it a dramatic part of the photo. For an added bonus, I had my old Canon 35MM SLR, which also had a 50 MM 1.8 prime with an FD lens mount. I will share a sample of that as well….good old Tri X 400 speed film, manual focus the whole shooting match to bring some retro into the shoot and capture her lovely dress in more vintage flair…..she took one for the team that day by stepping out of her element, risking getting her expensive dress dirty, and being chilly. (I told her wah wah wah and to suck it up, it was like a Spring day, LOL) and she did, but it was a fun day, and everything was done for the love of the photo.

The digitals.

And the 35 MM

I can remember the first time I met with Alex and her mom to discuss getting her started with modeling and finding an agency….some time has passed and they have become dear friends of mine…..school happened, college is happening, but she’s ready to make the leap. The first thing I explained to them is that she will need to attend open calls at different agencies.  That way they can learn how each agency works, which would be the right one for them, and which ones has the greatest demand for her particular look. Here in Nashville, agencies are geared towards commercial modeling and acting, as opposed to fashion that the larger areas cover, in fashion hubs like LA, New York, Europe, etc. The main ingredient is a good clean and well lit headshot, and a resume’ . I advised her to steer clear of the agencies who try to send her to a multi thousand dollar “modeling school” What a bunch of utter bullshit. Models are born, not made. Being offered workshops / trainings is another matter, do what you can afford and what benefits you. It’s normal for the agency to take 15-20% of the income from the work they get their talent, and to charge some website maintenance fees annually, etc. But shelling out thousands with no guarantee of getting any work isn’t an option for most people. Nor a smart one. Sure, there is some investment required, but like anything, it’s about taking steps.

A good modeling headshot should have well done makeup and hair, but it’s best to have it be your regular look so casting directors know who they’re hiring. Investing in photos, hair and makeup, and wardrobe, as well as maintaining personal care are expenses and tasks models do have. Also they will have to make a resume’ and invest in bulk quantities of headshot prints / lithographs. It’s best to let the agency make suggestions where to have them done for consistent results of their talent. Also to ask them if further portfolio material is needed. Most of the time with young models, the headshots need to be updated as often as twice a year. It’s important to find this out first, because some agencies and photographers pad these “model portfolio deals” that can turn out to be fluff, and useless….and needlessly expensive. Not to say that you don’t have to invest in a modeling or acting career, you do. But it’s better to go in having done your research rather than get taken. Here is Alex’s headshot. Simple, yet a great representation of her look and personality. This is uncropped, there’s enough negative space left in the frame to crop to 8×10 / 9×12 successfully, boo-yah!

I recently had a client call me and explain to me that she was pursuing stage / broadway play acting and trying out in New York as well, and needed a theatrical headshot in Nashville, where she lives. The look she was going for was different from a commercial modeling headshot that you would use for Nashville based agencies. We stuck with a non distracting selection of wardrobe and jewelry, and light makeup, a little dramatic smoke around the eyes / lashes. The expression and mood to be subtle, yet mysterious, dramatic, confident, full lips, and somewhat flirty. Overall, a little subtle drama with what’s going on with her expression. I don’t get many of these, mostly commercial modeling headshots instead but this was a nice diversion and a different look which I enjoyed. Of course I provided it in color for submission use, but also provided black and white because it had the presence of a past generation portrait of classic film actors / actresses. I think I like black and white better. LOL.

When shooting headshots, it’s good to leave some negative space to allow for cropping that is specific size related, as well as being able to change composition if needed, depending on accentuating a specific feature as to where it is on the frame. Lighting in the studio was rather simple but effective. I went with a medium softbox just slightly above her about 5 feet away from her face, at maybe a 15 degree pitch downward. I did this so that she would get nice catchlights in her eyes, as well as a gentle shadow to emphasize her jawline, but I did use a reflector to her right, to help prevent shadows caused by rim lights from her hair. The 2 rim lights were for her hair, one with a 10 degree grid, the other a 20 degree grid….the reflector being across from the 20 degree grid. This also made one rim light slightly more dominant, and prevented flat lighting. Just a little extra dynamic for the photo. I will post both color and black and white versions. For this type of headshot, or modeling headshots, excessive retouching is not useful. It’s purpose is to translate how that person looks on camera, and what they really look like.

I realized that some of these bride and wedding related webinars and marketing articles are insightful, as far vendors’ techniques on how to provide wedding clients with relevant information to make their search for vendors as hassle free as possible. But others lose sight of a very basic factor. Brides are people. It sounds basic and over simplified, but I find that using that approach when dealing with people is well received. It’s a lot of work planning an event like a wedding. That process can be quite stressful, and may make them seem on edge….what I do with that is up to me. My goal when speaking to my prospective wedding clients is to listen to them, find out what their needs are and learn specifics about their wedding…..as well as advise them on the best wedding photography package for them. Hopefully what I can offer them meets their budget, and that’s all I can do. Sure, wedding photography is a different game than any other genre of photography…..but the same basic principles still make a good business model. Treat others as you want to be treated, and try to help them. This whole article could be reduced to that one sentence.