Copy right?

I can remember studying art at Baker University. It was the era of angst for many people. Too bad, I might have a better time now! I can picture myself strolling through campus like I was the Big man. Everyone did at that time. Had I realized what was ahead of me I would have had more fun.

The most essential lesson my instructors taught was on ownership. I own a house. I own a car. And any image I compose I own. Wether it is a painting, drawing or photograph. That is my entitlement as an artist. So if you want a copy you pay me for it. As an artist I am not attached to this copyright though. I love taking photographs but I am part of the new generation of photographers who shares images everywhere. I want to make a name for myself not bankrupt my subjects. My goal in life has always been to help spread joy and cheer. If I wanted to roll in money I would have chosen careers worth more. Instead I went into rewarding jobs like photography, painting and teaching elementary students.

From now on I am going to be adding more prevalent logos to my work so that the word can be spread out better. I realized this was one thing I should do to spread my word out more! Look for logos on all future work this way people will remember the name.

Boom, Boom, Boom

This summer I challenged myself to take photographs during a fireworks festival. The loud boom, the flash of lights and some form of skyline to set the location. This is by no means an easy maneuver to accomplish. Every camera now includes a setting for fireworks nowadays. The camera basically changes to a wide open aperture and as low a shutter speed as possible. Any nudge or shake will make the image blurry.

It doesn't always work though. My family was shooting off photos this fourth and there was a very particular image my sister-in-law Jenna wanted. She sat on the driveway and wanted kids back lit by fireworks. Her camera wouldn't set correctly for fireworks and the kids. They were squirming, moving around and just plain kids! One of my nieces was crying off and on as they exploded. She struggled with sitting. After sitting on her father's laps we finally got it set up. To take an image like this you need a stable location, set your shutter speed to 1/60 of a second or slower and your aperture as big as it can get. Normally f/4.5 helps but if you can open it more to f/1.8 is better. Here's the version from my phone. It has a lot less controls but it gives you an idea of her goal.

Brides are like Chandeliers

After hours of preparation, the hot lights of a mirror heating up a small room most brides think when is this over or when do I get in my dress! Not everyone though takes is as seriously. This bride took one look of her hair - in process - batted her eyes and said, "Look I'm a chandelier!"

I snapped this photo and thought indeed her long locks curled into hanging rows just like a chandelier. It was an apt metaphor for brides too that made me laugh out loud. It was one of many ridiculous comments we were spouting out. We even had an official note taker to remember them all.

Brides are decked out, have a set structure - the center of attention - and are wildly different. No two chandeliers look the same and react the same. One little knock and a cascade of broken glass can happen while others just rock back into place. The quote alone puts this bride in the latter. It was a day of giggles and bubblyness, even when her bouquet was left at home. She sent a attendant to get it and was no worse the wear. The reason she didn't freak out? Time. We planned for mishaps and were flexible with it. Any photo session weddings or otherwise needs to be relaxed if you are on a time crunch don't do it! Your nerves will show up in the photos!

Keeping Everyone Happy is Impossible!

Any person carrying a camera knows how hard it is to get a good family picture. One with honest emotion is hard because if they see the camera they react just like us. Cheese it up or Run away. If you are a photographer like me, you even run away and get a camera to hide behind.

Picture a professional photographer - Now do you ever see the face partially covered up by a camera?! I am so bad about it that I wasn't even allowed near a camera on my wedding two years ago. I can remember my wedding quite clearly - even the 109 degree heat when my limo broke down and then we went to QuickTrip for photos (and air conditioning). We were sweating bullets and downed all the water in the limo. Yes that is a real photo there and man were we happy for that slushy machine. How did the photographer keep us happy? I and the four groomsmen broke out and played Tetris for hours.

Just like this big kid, the key to capturing kids happy is like the picture above. This little flower girl was deeply in love with bugs. Her jar had to go with her and sit near her for pictures. She was happy and her posed pictures show it. If you want good pictures - give them what they want. Even it if is a jar full of lightning bugs in the middle of a church or a frog hopping in the grass during a family photo session. You can't keep everyone happy unless you give them something to pass the time they enjoy.

Why a Blog?

Everyone has that moment as a kid where they realize this is the job for me. I remember mine. I was being bullied and with the fear rushing through me I decided to draw a caricature of the bully. I drew this large hideous head, big teeth. Suddenly my shoulder partner Emily saw my doodle. I squirmed like a kid with sticky fingers in a candy store. She looked at me and said Wow! Draw me next! I was stunned. That was not the reaction expected. No I'm telling or sinister laugh. At that point I decided I was going to be an artist. This is what it looked like in my head on left but Emily saw something else in it.

I wanted a paying job though and decided in college the best route was photography. My life has had many twists and turns since then and after many years in the business I wanted to share my passion. This blog will share stories, tips and just a bit of humor from my life as a teacher, professional wedding photographer and writer from the midwest.

See samples of images on my facebook or business Web sites. Looking for photography advice? Comment or message me and I'll share a way to reach your goal on this blog.