Photo Learning Experience

I have been shooting for awhile now and have always been happy with my progress and the results that I have been creating. Seems that I am getting much more consistent and my results are exactly what I was attempting in the first place. What a novel idea, eh? It has gotten to the point where I needed to make a decision with where I was going to go with this hobby. Was I going to stay an amatuer and make gorgeous photos of my family or was I going to take it to the next level and see if I could make it something more serious? I thought long and hard and decided that I wanted to see if I could take it to that next level.

Along the same time, Lynne's friend Rhonda and her husband Scott came down to visit us and our first baby, Zachary. Rhonda has a Wedding Photography business on the side up in Athens, Georgia. She does some great work... so if you are getting married in Athens/Atlanta you better add her to your list of interviews!! Anyway, Rhonda and Scott both said that the best way to make it happen is to contact some photographers and ask if they are looking for an intern.

I talked to my wife, Lynne, about being an 'intern' and seeing if that would help. I knew that it would, at the very least, allow me a glimpse at what the life of a professional photographer is really like. At the very best, I could come out of the experience with tons of great ideas, real world experience, a bunch of quality work to showcase and maybe... just maybe have the foundation to start doing something that I love... professionally.

I searched around Orlando and looked at some of the photogs around here. I found Robert McClory of Weddings By Robert. His style appealed to me, his commentry on his blog and posts to Flickr sounded like someone I could work alongside. So I sent him an email, he responded and a couple weeks later I was assisting a photoshoot with him at a girls softball league. We worked well together and a few weeks later I shoot a wedding as a second for him. Now last week, I was his 'mobile lightstand' at a couple restaurants taking photos of the staff doing their thing. Man... I have learned more in the last month or so... than I have in the last 5 years. By far the best thing I have done. My only wish... that there were more weddings going on. However, something tells me that I bet he wishes that also!!

4 Reasons to Love Gmail...

Every since switching to Gmail... I have kicked myself for not doing it sooner. This is an email application that doesnt do things just because that is the way it has always been. They write their own rules... and apparently theater, too.

Digital Cameras: Everyone Has One

Digital cameras.... they are every where. Grandmothers... fathers, brothers, sisters and even young children have access to them. Sure, Aunt Sally's VCR is flashing 12:00 at home, but she wouldn't be caught dead without her camera at your wedding. Years ago the only cameras at a wedding were the disposable one on each table that the bride and groom bought. Sure there were a few folks that brought a quality point and shoot, but not many. Now a days, it is more uncommon to find someone without a camera than with.

So, does a wedding photographer care if Aunt Sally takes a picture of a shot he or she has worked to compose? Some do... They believe that it will cut into their picture sales... that it might ruin the moment (Think eyes looking at the wrong camera). So does it?? Who knows, it just might... Then again there are even more photographers who could care less! I for one embrace the idea and have even decided to use the shots (like above) in my proofs. Why would I do that? Well, it goes back to the reason you hired a photographer in the first place. We are there to document the events of the day and tell the story through still moments. So, when you have a bunch of uncles together for the first time in years... and a niece or nephew decide to pose them and take pictures, then why wouldn't you want a picture showing those events. Sure, I could just capture the uncles together, but that wouldn't tell the whole story now would it.

I had never really thought about this subject until I read a book by Marcus Bell. Haven't heard of him? No worries, check out his site... better yet read his book. He has absolutely gorgeous images that I hope to one day to incorporate into my style. In particular there is a an image where he was shooting the bride and her party... and it must of been a large party because he says he heard a bunch of commotion behind him and saw the husbands taking pictures of their wives/girlfriends. So he grabbed a shot of them. The result... about 15 men in tuxes... all with the cameras to their eyes... some on their knees... some crouching... some standing... others in the background laughing and pointing. All I can say is that it was a moment at that wedding people will remember. I am sure that Marcus and his assistant(s) spent time and set up a group shot that reflects his years of knowledge and experience... and did the husbands benefit... definitely. However, I bet that the shot he took was purchased by each one of those bridesmaids and may of even found itself in the bride and groom's album...