Last year there was a battle going on over the abuse of the word “rockstar”.  Well, if there is a rockstar in our industry, it’s Jerry Ghionis, but let’s talk about what makes somebody a rockstar. 

First, it’s about ability!  Nobody does it better. Jerry has won just about every award WPPI has, especially in album competition. Second, is dedication. He’s a photographer who is totally focused, pun intended, on making every image the best it can possibly be. He NEVER compromises – not with his images, his clients or his friendships. Third, he never stops learning. I suspect that somewhere in the Greek language ”Ghionis” actually means student.  Jerry never stops experimenting and pushing the edge of the envelope, always testing the outer limits of his abilities. Photographers leave his workshops with new ideas on how to get the very most out of their gear, but more important how to get the most expression out of their clients. 

I made a comment in yesterday’s post, if Jerry comes within 200 miles of your house with a workshop get yourself there! He’s on the road for the next couple of months with the Power of Passion Tour, together with Sandy Puc, (I’ll see if I can talk her into a guest post for next week!) If you know either Jerry or Sandy, you understand how appropriate the name “Power of Passion” really is! Personally, I would have named it, Hyper-Active Kids Do Grow Up! There’s no way to describe the energy of this dynamic duo!

Jerry called this guest post, The Anatomy of a Powerful Image, but a better title would be, “A Quick Look Inside the Head of a Creative Master“! There was so much information here that it’s running in two parts, today and next Tuesday.  Thank you Jerry for a terrific guest post and a look inside your head!

Photography is all about light.  The word “photography” is derivative of two Greek words that when literally translated means “writing with light” or “painting with light. 

You need to understand light, both natural and ambient.  How it shines.  How it reflects.  Anticipating it.  Subtracting it.  Sculpting your subjects with it.  Lighting should be your first passion when it comes to the study of photography.

Unfortunately most inexperienced photographers will choose the beauty of location first before choosing a scene that is beautifully lit.  If you cannot envision the best light, place your hand in front of you and do a full circle.  As you turn around you will notice that your skin tones change according to the light.  When you notice a rich form, look beyond your hand and you will notice a natural glow to your environment.  That is what you should be searching for.

Once I have found the right light, I then choose my location or background.  I allow the background to help steer me in a direction that I will take for the action in the photograph.

First, I design the shot in my head.  I know what I am going to shoot before I shoot it; even anticipating spontaneous moments.  I don’t believe in waiting for the moment, I believe in making it happen.  By all means, if magic is happening before my eyes, I will be the first to let it happen.  But if it is not, I will make magic happen. 

For example, if I see beautiful light shining on an interesting looking wall, I ask myself, “What could the couple be doing in this shot?”  Perhaps the couple is walking past the wall and sharing a laugh.  I then simply direct the couple to walk past it and proceed to make them laugh.  Once I believe I have nailed the shot and satisfied a spread in an album, I move on to the next story. 

My style is all about beauty and glamour.  It is about capturing the couples looking their best.  When I started photography, I was very conscious of photographing in a popular and marketable style.  I started to think about what the most important factor in a photograph of oneself was.  Many photographers will tell you that it is emotion, expression, storytelling or romance.  I believe that all those things are very important, but come second to a person’s appearance.  The first thing a person notices when they look at a photograph of themselves is how they look; scrutinizing every flaw they may or may not have.  Once a person believes they look good in a photograph, they then take note of the secondary elements in the image. 

The same bride who wants to look great, doesn’t like the thought of appearing too posed.  “Pose” is a dirty word in a bride’s vocabulary.  She wants to look as natural as possible.  So therein lines the problem.  How do you make a bride look beautiful and natural at the same time?  Simply put, I prompt and direct her in a way that appears natural.  I like my viewers to believe that I was in the right place at the right time, all day. 

Many would argue that creating spontaneity on a wedding day is contrived and unconvincing.  However, I believe in creating pictures, not just taking them.  I will wait for opportunities, look for them, anticipate, create and pursue them relentlessly to not just meet my clients and my own expectations, but to exceed them every time.  I am a proactive photographer.

After searching for the best light, finding the best location and creating a concept for the bride and groom, I roughly set them up in a position I want them to be in.  If I want my couples to look natural, I give them a reason to be there such as whispering in each other’s ear or perhaps sharing a romantic kiss.  I also use word association.  For example, a red wall might remind me of passion, emotion and celebration so I picture the bride throwing her hands up in the air in jubilation as she is laughing and peering out to the side of the frame.  My next priority is to ascertain my exposure.  There is only one exposure and that is the right one. Jerry Ghionis

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Camera: Canon EOS 5D MKII
Lens: 85mm f/1.2L 
Focal Length: 85mm
ISO: 1600
Aperture: f1.8
Shutter Speed: 1/80
WB: Tungsten
Light Source: Ambient & Candle Light

This image was created in New York at 1:30am. I exposed for the ambient light and balanced it, illuminating the couple with several votive candles. I positioned the couple off-center to reveal the dishevelled background of a reception that has ended. I posed the couple in a romantic way and nailed the exposure. The softness of their expression truly suits the atmosphere.