What to look for in a Professional

Here's something we don't think about nearly often enough, what to look for in a Professional Photographer.

Ok, it's not something we talk about a lot, and choosing a photographer is not something we do every day - or year - but a good decision here can be the beginning of a joy forever.

First, does he or she take good photos? I know, that's a no-brainer, but some people are so unable to fight sales pressure that they agree to a package and a photographer that isn't first rate. Look at their web site. Look at their portfolio. It is a fair question - "Did you take all of these?" Some photographers work for a studio that has several photographers, and the sample work may not have been taken by the one you're hiring!

Second, would you feel safe, alone with this person? To get extraordinary images, there has to be trust. Me - I'm far too trusting. My wife, on the other hand, is not. In this case, I defer to her judgement when we are choosing someone to do a job for us, or hiring a third photographer for an event.

Last, are they reliable. Once you pay your money, do they show up on time? Do they deliver what they say, when they promise? Get references. Talk to former clients.

Remember, a good photographer won't be cheap. If you want cheap, go to Wal Mart. If you want emotional, fun, exceptional photography, use a professional.

A Keynote Speaker

Ok, this is not usual.

I was invited to be a keynote speaker at a conference at Cornell University.
Sounds impressive, don't you think....

Actually, it was fun. I was speaking to about 150 4-H'ers and parents on adding photography to their projects, and actually entering their images at State Fair.

They gave me 40 minutes, and I found it wasn't nearly enough time.

So lets hit the high points, and you be the judge of my material.

First, photograph what you love.
Second, make the photo technically correct, exposure, color, contrast etc.
And third (most of the talk), composition.

Start with the background. Fuzz it out. Eliminate it. Soften it. Uncluter it. Darken it, but make your subject stand out no matter what.

Next, apply the rule of thirds. If you don't know what that is, e-mail me and we'll have a conversation.

Next, don't shoot straight on. Photos look better with perspective, diagonals, curves and the DaVinci Curve as compositional elements. DaVinci Curve later.

And most important, carry the camera with you every day, so you can capture those moments that are otherwise lost. Images like the 2 geese flying at rooftop levels into the sunrise. Kids climbing on the jungle gym over your head. Natural Ice Formations from this past March's ice storms.

Very last, be sponges. Never grow tired of learning and improving. Play with that camera. Push it past its limits. Every day. Go for it.

And for you budding great photographers, check out www.shootsmarter.com. The best advice and tutorials in the world!

See you next time!

Monroe

Ice is Cool

The ice storms that the Northeast has experienced this past week created a veritable candyland for photographers!

And for the truly dedicated (or slightly insane) photographer, even falling flat on your back (while holding the camera up to protect it) doesn't stop you from capturing truly sparkling images.

Like this one.

I had just fallen and was seeing stars after slamming my head on the ice. When I turned my head, I saw this image and took it.

Sometimes a new prespective, whether by choice or accident, can help with one's creativity....

And I have no idea why Blogger won't let me add spaces between paragraphs...

And this is totally unrelated to anything. Click here for one of the most beautiful slide show creations I have ever seen, an Irish Blessing.

Stock Photography

What exactly IS Stock Photography?

And why should you care?

Everyone in the world who has any contact with civilization has contact with Stock Photography. Virtually every brochure with a smiling face, every sign with a pretty background, a hairdresser working on a client, a group of executives in a heated discussion; most of these images are not created for the advertisement. They are purchased from a stock agency.

http://www.istockphoto.com/ and http://www.shutterstock.com/ are two companies I have some experience with, and they deal very differently from each other. iStockphoto sells subscriptions, where their clients can download 2 or 10 or 100 images a month (depending on their subscription).

Shutterstock allows 25 images per day or a max of 750 per month for a monthly fee. You can subscribe for a month, or any longer period...

The stock agency I am most familiar with is http://www.photoshelter.com/, which is designed by and run by photographers. This company sells individual images to end users, not subscriptions. Find the image you want, and don't worry about cluttering your computer system with extra photos that you have no need for.

I have recently been accepted into PhotoShelter as a contributor. The link here is to my collection, small at first, but it will grow. http://psc.photoshelter.com/user/paynecollection

When you get there, go ahead and sign up - as I post new images, you will be notified. Some new, some fun, some sassy. I photograph what I see and what I feel. Like seniors, there are no gimmicks, just real images, done in a way that pleases.

Introducing Senior Photography

This has been a delightful week.







I had the singular joy of photographing my great friend Tom and Jane VanderZee's twin seniors, and presenting the photos to them.

Tom and I have known each other since we were 12, and to be able to tell stories to his kids about those long ago days - stories that they had never heard - was so much fun... I think that Nick and Lauren have a better appreciation for their dad now.

So what's this about adding Seniors to our products?

I've seen so many Senior photographers adding gimmicks and presentation ploys to get business at the expense of providing good photography. We simply take great photos that make our clients look their very best.

No, I don't do buttons, fancy posters, big books and such. Just great photos that will bring back the pride that their parents feel each time that they look at the beautiful portrait displayed on the wall. And we don't forget the cool photos that the seniors will be proud to hand out to their friends.

More next time!

The Cardinal

In the gentle town of Sterling in Northern NY is the famous Sterling Renaissance Faire, where, as I have posted before, my son Douglass has jousted this summer with the New Riders of the Golden Age.

My purpose in attending the faire this particular day was to photograph the jousters only. I left family behind so that I could pay attention to the task at hand.

When you set on a photographic task, you are sometimes blind to other opportunities. Happily, this was NOT hte case today. Sir William Dudley had just completed outfitting his horse Marcus in his gleaming armor when the Cardinal came to visit. To the left is the result, which I call "The Blessing".

Busy Summer!

The centerpiece of Central New York's summer is the Sterling Renaissance Festival, held in the tiny village of Sterling NY, right near the shore of Lake Ontario.

My reasons for visiting were entirely family related, as my son Doug is performing as a jouster twice daily, putting his competitors in mortal peril twice daily.

This is him, having just ridden out to greet the cheering crowd as they are chanting Doug-Lass Doug-Lass. Although the ground combat is choreographed, the jousts are not. The one that wins the joust is truly the victor. Unlike other shows, the lances that these combatents use are NOT designed to break. The sword strikes are not held back. This is full contact battle, reminiscent of those days of yore...

Also at the faire are comedians, musicians, jesters and wenches, and a fair number of ruffians and scoundrels. Don Juan and Miguel, with the lovely Esmeralda, is the longest running show, now in their 20'th year of laughter, whip and swordplay.