Sleepless in Seattle

Yes they were probably a little sleepless the night before, after all they were to be married the next day. But that said, Heather and Garett were the coolest bride and groom I have ever photographed or met! Everything went as planned and even I stayed on schedule! As the clouds gave way to sunshine the wedding day for this sweet couple started with heavens smiling down on them and so went on the rest of the day and night. Here are a few samples of their special day.

Photo Tip:

Be prepared for anything. Gear up for what ever. Have enough memory, batteries, lenses, etc. Also don't forget your snacks and water. Stay hydrated!

Love is beautiful

Photographing a mother and child is one of my favorite types of sessions. I can always count on magical moments to unfold in front of my lens. This session was no exception...but it was one of the most intensely loving sessions I have had. Here's a sample of what I saw that day...it was beautiful...it was love.

Photo Tip: Water element in the photo usually makes the image more interesting...this could be anything from an ocean scene to just running through the sprinklers in the front yard. A rainy day shouldn't keep you from shooting either...put ziplocks on your gear and head outside. In the case of the above session the small ponds created beautiful reflections, a place to explore, and in general interesting textures and shapes.

Austin People

Diversity is beautiful. Downtown Austin has plenty of it. The pallet of colors from skin to clothing is a treat for the eye and the lens. Here's a sample of what I saw in just the time it took for the light to turn green.

Photo Tip: Plain and Simple - Take your camera every where. The opportunity to take a compelling photo could arise at any time and any where.

Remembering

As a child we rely on photos or drawings to tell us a story...well as an adult, I still love to see photos that tell stories. I still like to learn about a new place through photos. To me they are the next best thing to being there. After taking a photo and returning home, when I look back at the images, they always transform me back to the exact moment when I took the photo. I like that a lot. That's one of the biggest reasons I like photography.....beacause I like remembering.

Photo Tip: When you are faced with new surroundings, take time to learn how to photograph it best in order to get the result you want. Bright sunshine, white sand, crystal blue waters, all present challenges in photography. Read about it ahead of time, and when you get there practice it and experiment.

Wedding in the mountains

The wedding party lined up and the room was big and comfortably heated. The guests took their seats and the Bride started walking down the Isle in her strapless gown along side of her dad. As the bride and groom held hands and got ready for the officiant to start, two very large wooden doors slid open behind them revealing a breathtaking snowy mountain scene....yes it was subfreezing temperatures and snow was falling right outside but the couple was not phased and the rest of the wedding party didn't mind. The ceremony was beautiful and personal. The love that filled the air warmed everyone up as almost every woman and man in attendance shed tears of joy. For this couple I hope the road is long and beautiful as their journey started so beautifully.

Photo Tip: Photography is truly painting with light. I love silhouettes, but what I love even more is to catch highlights and slivers of light on the subject's form to give the photo three dimensionality and convey emotions very subtly.

The big day

Brides are so beautiful. Weddings are such happy occasions. On that big day every one looks their best and every one has amazing dreams and hopes for a happy future. On a day such as this it's only fitting to have all your friends and family be a part of it. A witness to your commitment to a better future. It's like a contract you make with yourself and your partner to forever uphold what is right and what is fair with love and honesty. The beginning of something beautiful. The romance, the honesty, the love, the sweet smell of "forever" in the air...it's the stuff that makes great images.

Photo Tip: Beauty of digital photography is that you can sometimes ignore the bad lighting conditions and not so pleasing back grounds or other inconveniences...you can always fix them post capture... I know first hand in these wedding photos that I shot at 3200 ISO - Concentrate on the moment that is unfolding in front of you.

Thanks to Signature Bridal Salon www.signaturebridalsalon.com

Also the models: Zoe Alexander, Barbara Rappaport, Brianna Flee, Ariane Reis,

Mother's Embrace

Photographing a child is the best thing. They don't mind about their looks and posing. They do what they want...they are natural. So basically almost no child looks bad in any photo. They just look like themselves. And being yourself is something we all strive for everyday as adults. We want so badly to be able to be ourselves... yet as a child it seems effortless and accepted by all. Combine the effortlessness of a child's charm with the most powerful of all forces, a mother's embrace. That's magic.

Photo Tip: If you are photographing in daylight with sunny skies, your best bet is to place your subject in "open shade". Trees don't make the best shades, as they let the light rays come through the leaves and make patches of extreme contrasted light on your subjects skin and clothing. A place like a porch with an awning is the best.

Rare and exciting

It's rare to see snow flakes come down in bunches in our city, but they did. They were large and airy and lingered in the air as they danced in harmony to the ground. As soon as the first snowflake fell every child and grownup was getting ready to go outside as their excitement began to build up. The thought of building a snowman or sliding down the hill and having hot cocoa afterwards is enough to put a smile on anyone's face.

The snow made the landscape quiet down. It muffled the noises, it calmed the air unlike the loudness of a rainstorm the snow was gentle and serene. As if it was white for a reason...to promote peace. Indeed everything seemed very peaceful. Even the kids that screamed as they slid down the hill in their laundry basket seemed peaceful.

Photo Tip: Cover your camera gear with large ziplock bags when shooting in rain or snow. They are very effective and inexpensive.

Strong, Positive, Ageless

You know someone has made an amazing impression on you if a week later you are still thinking about the 10 minute conversation you had. As I looked through the lens and framed this family a face at a time....the ninety year old grandmother stood strong as a rock, proud as a peacock, fearless like a lion, and then she even laughed and had fun like a free spirited 18 year old. It wasn't surprising that the rest of the family were just as amazing. Each of them had a calm and a peaceful presence about them...each of them made me feel welcomed. I learned so much from our meeting. I learned that you shouldn't let life beat you down...be young at heart and you will be forever ageless.

Photo Tip: Even if you are taking photos inside and have set up lights that you can't move around, don't forget to use your zoom and telephoto capabilities to capture details that later may mean so much.