First, listen to what Trey Ratcliff, Jim Garner, Kevin Winzeler and Sandy Puc are each saying about their photography. Notice a common theme? This is about their passion for the craft.

Next, check out how they’re photographing. Seriously, there’s so much you can learn just by watching how they photograph, the subject matter and their presence.

Last on the list, pay attention to the production quality of the video itself. Just like each of the four photographers (check out the links to their sites) and SmugMug Pro’s philosophy in business – there is no compromise for quality on any level. It might have started as a commercial, but if you pay attention to the message from each of the four photographers, it’s a two minute and forty-seven second educational experience and a great way to start the day!

Now, go get that morning cup of coffee and just watch this video. I can promise you that you won’t be disappointed.

As a combination of the tough economy and advances in technology, virtually anybody can call themselves a professional photographer these days. The market is filled with “wannabe” professionals who have absolutely no right to call themselves photographers, let alone professionals.  Every day we hear more horror stories of “professionals” charging too little, not delivering images on a timely basis and presenting images that aren’t any better than Uncle Harry would have captured.

The sad thing is there are so many places to get help and elevate the quality of their work.  Scott Bourne and I started the GoingPro project to provide new photographers with material to help them address the business and marketing side of photography. WPPI and IUSA, both coming up in the next ninety days, offer photographers dozens of workshops and programs to expand their skill set.  DIMA, sponsored by PMAis offering attendees two days of intense programming, including Kevin Kubota teaching a series of lighting techniques.

Then there are books and DVDs published by some of the finest photo educators in our industry, all available to everybody. Software Cinema and Photoshop Cafe offer great videos at reasonable costs. Kevin Kubota’s new Lighting Notebook is destined to be a best seller. Kenny Kim, Dane Sanders, David Ziser, Eddie Tapp, Jerry Ghionis, Doug Gordon, Matthew Jordan Smith, Bambi Cantrell andSandy Puc are just a few who come to mind with books, DVDs and que cards all designed to give you help.

Last on the list, are webinars, many of them absolutely free,  from companies like Profoto, X-rite and Creative Live, again, just to name a few.  And there’s even more from magazines like my favorite, RETV, with an entire series of interviews with great photographers, all designed to help you grow in the craft.

We can’t do anything about those people who jump into the industry claiming to be professionals and only looking for a fast buck. Every industry has them.  What we can do is encourage new photographers and established ones as well to take advantage of every opportunity to raise the bar on the quality of their images and their presentations.

There are more educational tools available today than at any time in the history of photography.  Are you taking advantage of all the opportunities?

Everyone reading this blog knows that I’ve been doing wedding photography for quite a while. I’ve seen lots of changes in our profession over the many years, but none have been so game changing as with the introduction of digital cameras.

In the wedding business, it even took a few years for many of the pros to make the switch.  I personally made the switch to digital in 2000. It was scary just like anything else you try that is new.  No problem, we made the switch, and I have to tell you, I would never go back to film.  

In the wedding industry, in the early days of digital, things were pretty calm.  Many were making their switch and the competition from  new photographers was a little more even keeled than in today’s market.

But things started to change about two years ago. Cameras got cheaper, Facebook got famous, everybody started blogging, Craig’s List became popular, and cameras got even cheaper still. Now everyone with a new Digital Rebel or Nikon D3000 wanted a piece of the wedding market.

Don’t leave yet – it gets even more interesting, hence the topic of today’s post – “How Much Of A Professional Are You?”

Last week a friend of mine sent me a link to a YouTube video of Judge Joe Brown lambasting into a so called “professional photographer”.  The bride booked a photographer and after seeing their images from their wedding, felt they were not representative of what the photographer showed as her samples. 

The bridal plaintiff basically wanted a refund of $1000 of the $1300 she paid to the “professional photog”. The judge awarded the bride, not the $1000 she asked for, but $2500 in damages!!!

My first intent was to post this as kind of a “humor” piece – lousy photographer gets what she deserves.  But, upon reflecting on it I decided it was a much more serious issue that that.  Here’s why…

The “pro photographer” was shooting the wedding with a Canon Rebel with a “kit” lens, had the images processed at WalMart, and delivered then to the bride in the WalMart parking lot.  The sign of a true “professional” – right? Wrong!!!

Judge Joe Brown didn’t see it that way either asking the photographer why she wasn’t shooting with a pro camera like a Canon 1D, 5D, or 7D.  It seems the judge knows his cameras and a little something about wedding photography, too. He didn’t come right out and say it, but it looked to me like the judge may  have shot a wedding or two.

OK, like I said, I planned to just post it for the “giggle” but then some thing happened while at WPPI.  I attended a program by one of the presenters and was surprised by what I heard.  Not by what the presenter said, but what I heard after she said it.

She mentioned that in her early days of shooting she used a Canon Rebel.  About 25% of the room cheered her remark – they must be Canon Rebel shooters too – at least that was my impression of their response.  It seems to me that this section of the audience felt vindicated by their use of this amateur camera for shooting events that should be shot with professional gear.

That seems both scary and sad to me. A wedding is a once in a lifetime event for most folks out there. When a photographer books a wedding, they assume a lot of responsibility for the outcome of their photographic result. How is it they can feel they are delivering “pro” results with “amateur” cameras.

DAZNOTE:

That presenter by the way, now shoots with Canon’s top line EOS Canon 1D cameras.

This whole attitude; “I’ve got my Canon Rebel or Nikon D50 and some business cards. I’ve got my Facebook page, I like shooting pictures, I’ve got my blog, etc. , etc., etc. I must be a professional.” To me it shows a total lack of professionalism when any photographer engages a client for the job of shooting the wedding and shows up as “Amateur Anne or Andy”.

We have been witnessing the “cheapening” of wedding photography over the last 2 – 3 years.  It has put good studios out of business, sacrificed quality photography for brides, created an entire era of paperless, picture-less couples, given wedding photographers and wedding photography a bad name, and does a major disservice to all the real “pros” in our business.

So to those who cheered the use on the Rebel as a wedding camera, I suggest you think twice before booking you next wedding.  I suggest you ask yourself just how much of a real “pro” you are. Do you really know your gear, your lenses, your lighting? Do you really know what shots to capture at the wedding? Do you know how to handle yourself in an emergency situation like when your gear fails?  Can you still capture the images? These are just a few of the questions real professionals know how to answer.

If you are having trouble answering any part of them, you may want to change that or you too just may find yourself in front of Judge Joe Brown.

-’Nough said          David Ziser

Yesterday I wrote a post about being more involved and listed a few of my favorite charities. Jeff Settle added another soon to be favorite to the list, HeartsApart.Org.  Their mission statement says it all:

“HeartsApart.org was created to keep families connected while our military men and women are serving abroad. Through the efforts of our community’s finest photographers, HeartsApart.org provides our soon to be deployed servicemen and women with pictures of their spouses and children. The photographs are printed on waterproof and durable bi-folded cards, which fit securely in their uniform pocket. HeartsApart.org believes that our military personnel deserve and need the memory of their families to carry them through the difficult times that lie ahead.”

I was able to talk directly with Brett Martin, executive director and founder of HeartsApart.org.  Ever talk with somebody for the first time and just know it’s the start of a great friendship? Well, that’s what I felt when I hung up the phone and started writing this post. 

If you’ve ever had a moment where you wondered if your photography could really make a difference in someones life, watch this video interview with Brownie Harris, Director of Photography for HeartsApart.org.

Here’s a little more background. Brett, after growing success in other businesses, just felt it was time to give more back. As he talked, his passion for being involved echoed that same enthusiasm I’ve heard from Jim Davis Hicks at Thirst Relief, Sandy Puc with NILMDTS and Betsey Chesler with Cameras For Kids Foundation. It’s that unmistakable passion for giving something back and doing something more with your life!

He founded HeartsApart.org a year ago and already has a hundred photographers involved in the project with an outstanding goal to touch two thousand families this year.  Now, think about that number and imagine what HeartsApart.org could do with help from a thousand photographers!

I’m always getting calls from photographers looking for suggestions on how to get more involved in their community and here’s a great one, but there’s one BIG qualifier – HeartsApart.org isn’t looking for just any photographers. They absolutely need only the best! If you think about the application, they can’t afford to compromise. This is about providing nothing less than incredible portraits of the very highest standard to our service men and women.

Here’s their call to action off the HeartsApart.org website.  

Our hope is that photographers around the country will join the cause. For more information on how to get involved as a photographer, contact us at Photographers@HeartsApart.org.

In all honesty, this is one of those days when I wish I was a better photographer!

My buddy, Nicole Wolf, is working hard to help rebuild houses in Haiti. Jim Hicks, right here in Ohio, founded Thirst Relief working to provide clean water around the world.  I had a chance to finally meet a Tweet-buddy, Parris Whittingham in New York last October. Parris is working with kids in New York’s communities, using photography as a teaching tool and a new way to help them look at the world. Sandy Puc founded Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, now one of the largest non-profit organizations of photographers in our industry, all using photography to help families in pain. The list goes on and on, but this morning’s post is just about one photographer, Betsey Chesler, and how she’s inspiring thousands of kids and photographers alike!

In 2009, fine art photographer, Betsey Chesler was returning from South Africa. She had spent a month volunteering in numerous orphanages.  Chesler’s eyes, normally looking through the lens of her camera to compose her images, had witnessed extreme poverty, illness and a complete lack of regard for human life. What her eyes saw, her heart wanted desperately to change.

“I was unable to walk away from an experience like that and not find a way to make a difference,” Chesler said.  Determined to make an impact in the lives of abandoned children, Chesler purchased the first cameras and began sharing her talent and her passion for photography with kids in need.

She formed the Cameras For Kids Foundation. CFKF is a 501c3 nonprofit charitable organization providing underprivileged children (many living in foster care facilities) with a point and shoot digital camera and instruction on how to create art through photography. The program helps children develop personal artistic expression during the weekly workshops and assignments introducing art and photography. Through a lens, students gain a new view of the world. The program encourages steadfast participation and promotes self-confidence while giving children creative and technical skills. At the end of the course children’s works are proudly showcased in a gallery photography exhibit.

“All children deserve a chance for a productive and positive future,” In the United States there are over 500,000 children living in foster care and 146 million children in foster care worldwide. “Nothing is more rewarding than being able to share your passion and make a positive difference in the life of a less fortunate, deserving child. I am blessed to be able to share the magical rewards of art.”

Following the launch of the first CFKF at a foster facility in South Florida, the organization was contacted by photographers and foster facilities worldwide wanting to be part of this wonderful program. CFKF has since launched in Illinois and New York and will soon be in Los Angeles.            

One child, 16, found himself with his four siblings in foster care six years ago.  A speech impediment triggered his introverted personality in order to avoid being teased by other children.  After undergoing speech therapy and  participating in the CFKF program, he volunteered to speak at the first CFKF fundraiser in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. He shared how CFKF sparked his interest in furthering his education and incorporating photography into his schooling and career.    Betsey realized the impact CFKF was making when she saw this child looking out the window of his foster home, waiting for her to arrive each Saturday. He was the first student to greet her and help carry her photographs to the classroom.  He is one of several students that has expressed interest in sharing his new love of photography with other foster children in the future. 

CFKF recently announced the Mentor Program. It begins as a group workshop day including classroom instruction and an actual photo shoot using the donated cameras to implement their new skills.  At the end of the program, those children with the desire to learn more about photography will be matched with a professional photographer in their area to serve as their ongoing Mentor.  This is an opportunity of a life time for professional photographers as well as the children and proves to be highly rewarding to both. 

Think about the way Betsey has taken her skill set and created an application to help children. Better yet, think about all the ways our industry can help make the world a better place, one kid at a time!   To make a difference in the life of an underprivileged child, please contact Cameras For Kids Foundation at www.camerasforkidsfoundation.org or 954-354-5080.

Commented Frank Stop, director of the department, “I know of no other field where those people involved just seem licensed to print money! People are willing to pay anything for their portraits. Most photographers right now are turning away business. They’re that busy!”

Other highlights around the industry:

• In an effort to better support the professional photographic community, the major camera manufacturers recently announced their high-end pro digital SLR’s will no longer be sold to anyone named Uncle Harry or Uncle Bob. Retailers will require all purchasers of these products to submit a urine specimen for analysis of their photographic skill level prior to purchase.
• The Supreme Court upheld all rulings in favor of photographers owning the rights to all their images and implemented a national ban on photographers giving away their work on disks unless adequately compensated for their work.
• The International Federation of Photo Albums announced black and burgundy as the two strongest colors of albums stating, “People just want their pictures in a black book. They don’t care about their album having a unique look.”
• The American Institute of Brides, the Bridezilla Division, announced their members will discontinue whining and complaining  and pay whatever is considered a fair price for full event coverage.
• Notsu Moronic, inventor of spell check, announced the recall of all spell check software stating, “Thnx 2 Twitter, togs can now publish anything w/out using R software! Accur8 spelling no longer matters.”
• In local news, Ohio photographer, Mattlock Price, who had earlier in the year written a letter blaming the decline in affiliate membership on Skip Cohen’s Akron Photo Series, commented,  “Wow, I guess it’s time we recognized these educational programs are helping photographers build their business and Children’s Hospital as well. Sure wish I had gone to Jasmine Star’s program!”

Along with the announcement putting photography at the very top of the most lucrative businesses in the U.S., the World Troll Council announced membership has dropped so low, they can no longer afford their headquarters within inner earth. Y. Gollum, spokesman for the Council, said in a press conference earlier today, “We apologize for those misguided members who tend to criticize without the facts. They’ve all dropped out of the various forums. All our members have agreed to step out from behind the anonymity of their computer screens and come out in the sunlight! Most of them are moving to the Orlando area, seeking a happier life and looking to be closer to Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Pluto, all while singing Put On a Happy Face.”

Really?

What can I say? It’s April Fools and I just couldn’t help myself this morning. Sadly, somewhere on the planet there’s just a little bit of truth in what prompted me to pick a few of the points.  The good news is, I watched 132 people the other night listen to Jasmine Star’s program. We all, included me, picked up some great ideas on how to keep it real and be unique.

Jerry Ghionis and Sandy Puc are on the road in Columbus today with their tour.  David Ziser always has great help on his site. Photoshop World Orlando is going on with great programming. Doug Gordon just announced his annual three day workshop. Eddie Tapp and Judy Host are coming to Akron in two weeks. Creative Live  offers photographers unique workshops, free when they first air and at reasonable prices if you want the download.   

CLIQ is putting together one of the largest education platforms in PMA history in September. Scott Bourne constantly has great information on Photofocus.com and our joint site, GoingPro2011.com is loaded with great marketing and business content and 35 different podcasts, all free. Skip’s Summer School is coming up with what some people are saying is the best faculty ever.  And Joe Farace is out there saving the world, one pixel at a time!

The list goes on and on, loaded with people and companies in our industry offering to help you find the solutions to the challenges, but you’ve got to be the one to take advantage of all the opportunities. The truth is, a few of my points in the post this morning could really be true if everybody in our industry did get more proactive on dealing with the challenges. 

Happy April 1st everybody and in the words of my favorite character from the old NYPD Blue show - “Let’s be careful out there!

In this second “installment”, Jerry hits on the technique to fulfill his vision.  I said it last week, if the tour he’s doing with Sandy Puc comes within 200 miles of you – make it a point to get there! In the mean time, let’s continue the tour inside Jerry’s head…

Camera: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Lens: 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
Focal Length: 145mm
ISO: 2500
Aperture: f2.8
Shutter Speed: 1/80
WB: Tungsten
Light Source: Ambient & Video Light

I believe that the true craft of photography is often lost to lazy digital capture and is compensated by overzealous retouching techniques.  If you haven’t gathered already, I photograph on the “manual” setting.  Many photographers shoot on “aperture priority” or on the “program” mode and wonder why their bridal images are underexposed and their groom’s images are overexposed. 

If you are relying on the “program” or “aperture” mode for your exposure and you were photographing a pale complexion bride in a white dress, leaning on a white wall, your exposure will be underexposed and your subject will appear gray.  Just as you would overexpose an African American man in a black suit, leaning on a dark wall, the image will also appear gray.  Your camera can’t think for itself. 

When I am faced with a different scene, I will always follow the same routine to determine my exposure:

I will adjust my ISO to the lowest setting that the lighting condition allows me to use.  I will then select my white balance and no, I will not always use the “auto” setting.  For example, a church may be tungsten-lit but if I set the camera to the “tungsten” white balance setting, the light may over correct the beautiful warmth of the church.  I would instead set the white balance to the “daylight” setting.  This would add blue tones to the scene and make the lighting appear less yellow, but not enough to kill the ambiance of the church. 

I then select the depth that I desire so I choose my aperture.  I look through the viewfinder and picture my scene in shades of black and white rather than color.  I then pretend to mix those tones together and diagnose the result.  If the mixed tones appear mid gray, I adjust my shutter speed so that my exposure setting in my viewfinder is set to zero or the middle.

Let’s refer back to the example of our pale skinned bride in a white dress, leaning on a white wall.  Some photographers would naturally underexpose such a scene because of its brightness.  It is quite the opposite.  The camera will evaluate the scene and want to underexpose, resulting in an ashen bride in a gray dress leaning on a gray wall.  Therefore you have to overexpose such a scene in order to bring everything back to its true density.  Similarly, you would have to underexpose the scene I spoke of earlier, of the African American man in a black suit, leaning on a dark wall. 

I use the meter in my camera and deliberately under or over expose a scene once I have evaluated it.  Once I believe I have the correct exposure, I take a quick shot and view the image on the back of the camera.  Reading the back of the camera can sometimes prove difficult especially in sunny conditions.  In these instances, I create shade by turning my back to the sun.  Correctly exposed images often appear underexposed on the back of the camera.  I let the detail in the skin tones and the highlights act as my guide.  Trust your instinct.  If you think you have over or underexposed an image, you have probably have.  Experience will be your best teacher.  

Now that I have a correct exposure, all I need is an action or reaction.  Don’t forget, I have placed my couple in the best light, I have roughly positioned them in the scene, I know what I want from the couple because I have conceptualized the image, but at the same time I will also allow for spontaneity.

My camera is set.  I then communicate to the couple clearly and effectively what I want from them.  My prompts and directions add style and finesse and make the image appear believable to the viewer.  Photography is 99% personality and 1% technique.  If you are not enthusiastic or fun, how can you expect your couple to be?  I have heard fellow photographers say that their couple over the weekend “didn’t work it.”  I agree that some couples can be more of a challenge, but that is no excuse for an average result.

Don’t lose faith, trust your instincts and extract as much love and emotion out of the couple as possible.  I believe that too many photographers overshoot, believing that it costs them nothing to do so.  Before I even look through the viewfinder, I ask myself, “Is this working?”  If it is not and I am not feeling it, I simply don’t shoot.

Once I have told the story of a particular scene, I move on to a different one.  I am an artist, but I need to sell my art during the week, so I shoot to sell.

“Remember, you don’t have to be the best; you just have to be better than last week.”  – Jerry Ghionis 

Thinking about signing up for The Power of Passion Tour – the schedule is just a click away!

Akron Photo Series: I’m making it the first on the list, but it’s only because last week’s programming was pretty remarkable. We got Bambi Cantrell to the Midwest and in her Monday night program and all day Tuesday, she demonstrated first hand what makes her one of the most sought after instructors in the industry! She’s a remarkable teacher.

Her all day hands-on workshop was terrific and a big thanks to Brent and Teri Ann Watkins of Sylvart in Barberton for the use of their studio. Splitting the day into classroom and hands-on shooting everybody walked away with new ideas on technique, learning to see the light and even diversity.

One of the challenges we all face is getting caught up in the day in day out challenges of business. It’s critical that every photographer stay focused on a personal project and Bambi demonstrated she practices what she preaches with images of Icelandic Horses, one of her many fine art projects.

There was even some time to share ideas on marketing, leaving everybody with a good solid battery recharge when they headed home after a full day workshop.

The next program in the series is Jasmine Star on Tuesday night, March 29. Eddie Tapp and Judy Host join us in April, Julieanne Kost in May and Jerry Ghionis in June. And remember, at least 10% of every workshop registration goes to Akron Children’s Hospital. More information is just a click away!

Power of Passion Tour: Sandy Puc and Jerry Ghionis  It’s a 32 city tour and this week this incredible duo is in Atlanta, Raleigh, Nashville and Phoenix. All it takes is a click to register and use code SPT11 for a $79 rate.  The combination of Jerry and Sandy simply makes this a not-to-miss program! Tune in tomorrow for Jerry Ghionis’ part 2 of his Anatomy of a Powerful Image!

Skip’s Summer School:It’s an all star cast this year and with a little help from the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas, we’ve got a great room rate, $79/night and we held the price on the full program at $279. Plus, Pulitzer Prize winner Vince LaForet has joined the faculty this year. The new change in hands-on programming adds a much requested dimension to this years classes, giving attendees eight different instructors to choose from on the shooting day. One click and you’ve got all the information on this year’s program.

CLIQ: It used to be the annual PMA show, but this year the new venue is going to be a blow-out. It’s an incredible educational venue with the largest trade show in the industry. Workshops for professional and aspiring pros, retailers and even hobbyists, make this a not-to-miss program. Set up the link to check in once a week. There are new programs and speakers being announced regularly.

PhotoshopWorld Orlando and Las Vegas: Photoshop World Orlando is just around the corner, the end of this month. There’s no question this is the premier educational event for Photoshop. Each year the guest speakers get better and better and Scott Kelby and his crew develop the finest platform in the world!  Orlando is March  and Photoshop World Las Vegas overlaps with CLIQ, making Las Vegas a one-stop shopping destination in the Fall.

GoingPro:The first date for GoingPro Bootcamp that’s been announced is LasVegas in conjunction with CLIQ, September 10-11. But until then, we’re adding new content every day and three times a month new podcasts with new guests. Coming up over the next few weeks, Tamara Lackey and Kevin LaRue from Nik Software. GoingPro is about helping you focus, but not on your subjects! This is about helping you with the challenges of business and marketing! What good is creating the greatest images of your life if nobody knows who you are?

PhotoFocus: Started by good buddy Scott Bourne, the site is an incredible resource of information with guest posts, product reviews, podcasts and information to keep you up to date on the latest products and techniques! Plus, follow Scott on Twitter to really stay up to the minute on what’s going on in the industry!

These programs are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of great resources available. Best of all, they all share a common denominator, they’re all staffed by people who care about helping you grow. Check out the speaker list for all these events and over and over again you’ll find photographers who do their best to answer all your questions all year long – not just when you’re at their programs!

See you in Orlando or Vegas or Columbus or…

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

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.

Well, looking at some of David Ziser’s work over the years I found this black and white image from a trip to Colorado and it got me thinking about the importance of taking the time to enjoy your camera instead of always working with it.  When was the last time you just picked up the camera and played for a day?

Going back a year ago, Nicole Wolf did a guest post on the importance of personal projects. Kevin Kubota talked about it at Skip’s Summer School last year. Joe Buissink is never without his “neuro-cam” often looking at scenes and clicking off frames in his head. Jerry Ghionis is rarely without a camera in his hand, so often seeing something or someone he just wants to photograph for the fun of it. (He’s on tour right now with Sandy Puc - do NOT miss him and Sandy if they come within a 200 miles of your house!)

All of these photographers use their cameras as an outlet of expression and relaxation, just to stay in shape, like a professional athlete. However, it’s not about their photographic skills, but their creative skills. They recharge their batteries photographing for themselves. 

You need to take the time to just photograph for you – not for a client! You need to have a special project that reminds you why you got into this business in the first place. It’s a body of work you’re just going to build on with no deadlines, time table or requirements, except that it’s fun. 

Besides helping to keep your “battery” charged, it  will also strengthen your diversity and creativity! It’s all about just having fun!

This image was made while driving from Vail, Colorado to Aspen a few years ago.  The drive is just beautiful as you make your way through the grand peaks of the Rocky Mountains.  We were about 20-30 miles outside of Aspen when we found ourselves driving through several groves of Aspen trees.  For a Midwestern boy, this was a beautiful “Ansel Adams” moment.  We pulled over and spent about an hour just exploring and photographing the surroundings. 

I was reviewing the images from the shoot and came across this image.  It turns out it is my favorite from the several hundred images I captured. I love the tonalities, the textures, and rhythm of the scene. Look how the light just “dances” on the bark of the trees.  I brought the image into Lightroom, converted the image to B&W using the Grey-scale tab and then toned down the greens and yellows to pop the contrast of the Aspens tree trunks with the surrounding foliage. Camera specs; Canon 50D fitted with 18-200mm IS lens at 200mm, F5.6 @ 1/125 second, ISO 200.  David Ziser

Think about it – the fall brings with it so many opportunities.  Vicki Taufer will be doing a “Fall Harvest” theme for children’s photography along with the obvious Halloween promotion.  Sandy Puc will be getting ready for her monster size Haunted House and photo shoot.  Thousands of portrait photographers have a chance to lay the ground work for homecoming portraits.   And let’s not forget November and December and the opportunity to plant the seed for a holiday family portrait!

The point this morning is simply Jimmy Stewart’s clock – you know the one with the magical spinning hands.  There are so many opportunities in the fall as we head into the holidays, but if you procrastinate you’ll miss the window.  So, take a tip from your local supermarket who’s already pitching you with pyramid displays of notebooks and other school supplies.

Now is the time to plan some promotions for the fall.  Now is the time to contact a local limo company or florist or both and work together on a joint mailing to the homecoming crowd.  Now is the time to lay the groundwork for the last quarter of the year and be ahead of the curve instead of watching it go by!

There’s a great quote from Zig Ziglar that I’ve used before,

“If you wait for all the lights to turn green you’ll never get started on your journey!” 

It’s time to get started on planning that next “trip” and your journey into marketing!