We braved the heat with the cutest, most photogenic little girl I could ask for and made magic! If only they all were so easy! Superstar in the making. :) Typical of most 4 yr olds she was full of energy...not typical was she was full of energy the entire time during the session. Even her little brother was ready for some photos. You can't teach photogenic.

So even though it was 100 degrees outside, we came through with flying colors. I would definitely rate the session an A+. When it can be fun, easy, and effortless, you can't ask for a single thing more. I'm not saying I WANT to photograph in triple digit temperature, but it can be done ;)

I've said it before and I'll say it again and again: anyone can take a picture, but taking a photograph is not as easy. Everyone has a cell phone camera, heck, a LOT of people have a DSLR, but knowing what you're doing with it is like the difference between driving an automatic transmission and driving a manual transmission. The manual gives you so much more control over the input AND the output. Besides, why spend so much money on a camera if you're going to only use it in automatic mode??

Not to mention you've got to spend your time chasing the "moments" and not simply enjoying the event! Relax, enjoy your event, and let me do the heavy lifting ;)

So I decided to get some new equipment, and what better way to try out new gear than to throw them into the deep end and see if they sink or float, figuratively speaking of course ;) So I decided to run a special on portrait sessions to get some real hands on work in with the "test subjects". I was comparing 2 lenses and 2 camera holding systems to see which I preferred.

I really wanted to be as quick as possible when shooting for my special, to get in and out while taking up a little time as possible. From start to finish, I kept all sessions to under an hour. That is great for two reasons: 1) kids tend to loose the desire to pose and be in front of the camera after about 30 minutes and 2) I didn't want to take up much client time. A fast session is an easy session when it comes to families with kids ;)

I would say the portrait special was a hit because I definitely learned a lot! I definitely found the lens I preferred, and the camera support system I preferred really became clear after the very first shoot. You can learn a lot about equipment from fooling around with it after you take it out of the box, but you learn everything you need to know when you use it on the job!

Thanks to everyone who got in on the great deal!

I shot this wonderful birthday party for a 4yr old and it was amazing. There was no way you couldn't enjoy that party! I won't lie, I was really tired after shooting the party. That's how I know I was really working, but it was SO worth it! Crawling around, chasing 4yr olds, the up and down of kneeling and getting up. ALL of it was worth it and it shows. The emotion of the day, those magical moments that are there and gone in a flash. You never knew they happened...but I did ;) And I got it! I LOVE that feeling I can give people by catching that magic.

How did I do it? I carry a lot of gear! LOL! Cameras, flashes, lenses, I've got it all on me as I'm crawling around. Thank goodness I decided a year ago that I wanted to go lighter with my gear!

Okay, now that I think about it, I don't actually chase 4yr olds around, I chase moments around. I have done the standard posed stuff before and you know what? That's not what gets my heart pumping. That's not the stuff that grabs my eye and make me say "WOW". I know my style. I'm organic. I'm free flowing. Sure, I can do the posed stuff. That's nice looking. But it doesn't draw you in the way those "moments" do.

I've been shooting a lot of events lately and I was thinking about why more people aren't having me at their special events more. I think it has a lot to do with the instant gratification age we are in now with camera phones and instant posting/sharing of pictures. It is easy, quick, and convenient to snap a picture with your cell phone camera, post it to Instagram, Facebook, etc, and you're done. That's great. A year later, those 9 or 10 cell phone pics are buried in your feed, never to be heard from again. *que sad music* Why go through the effort of planning, notifying, decorating, inviting, catering, etc etc  an event if you'll barely remember it 6 months later?? That's a problem I can solve, and why you should want me at your party ;)

Check this out:

1. My style. I'm very documentary with my style. I shoot an average of one photo every two minutes. Yeah, I'll catch pretty much all of the action. I LOVE candid shots! It takes work, it takes patience, and it takes energy (chasing a four year old around for two hours takes a LOT of energy for sure)! What you get though, is what makes it worth it! You will be able to look at those photos a year from now and completely remember the time! Which brings me to...

2. You don't want to spend the entire event walking around looking for pictures to take every two minutes. How are you supposed to enjoy the event??!? That is what I do. I spend the entire time looking for moments, expressions, and photos to take. You can actually enjoy the fruits of your labor and know that when it is done, it will all be documented.

3. Next year, when you've long forgotten about the work involved, the cost, the clean up... you'll be able to look back at the photos I've given you and relive the day. Sure, you'll have photos put online, but that was last year. Those photos are buried under 365 newer posts! But then again, you only had a handful of cell phone pics in the first place, remember?

Go ahead and have me at your party. You'll be glad you did a year later :)

Many reviews have been done on the Fuji XE1 but I have found out that before spending a lot of money on a camera, renting it for 1/15th the price you would buy it for will give you hands on experience that can save you a ton of money and hassle (and disappointment) or reassure you that it is the right move. Especially when you can't get your hands on a camera in a store!

So after 4 days with the XE1 I came away with some distinct impressions and an overall feel for the camera's UI, build, and design that left me wanting...and not in a great way. The fact that I rented the Olympus OMD EM5 for a weekend gave me direct comparison with the camera that was the Fuji's direct competition for my choice in a "compact" interchangeable lens system. The micro 4/3 system of the Olympus has its own advantages/disadvantages and "quirks", but here is what I found with the Fuji (on its own and compared to the EM5):

The XE1 feels a bit "hollow" compared to the EM5. The Oly is built like a brick. Solid, weighted. Not that the Fuji felt cheap, just not as solid in comparison.

The on/off switch of the Fuji is around the shutter release button, like a Nikon or a Sony DSLR, and I bumped it off or on by accident repeatedly throughout the days. It wasn't as tight as a Nikon's. You have to really turn the Nikon switch to off or on, you're not likely to accidentally turn it because of how tight it is. Canon on/off switches are on the top of the camera under the mode dial. I have never accidentally bumped a Canon off or on. Ever. In my opinion, that is the best place for it. They EM5 switch is on the bottom of the back. I didn't have any problems with it either.

Shutter selection only in full stops, meaning you can only choose the shutter speeds on the dial. In this age of digital SLRs, 1/3rd stops are the norm, not the exception. Not a HUGE deal, but certainly offers less options. Flash sync rated at 1/180 but your only shutter selection options even near that are 1/125 or 1/250. Odd right?? And here we go with the other odd things...

The batter is a rectangle box. Why does that matter? Means that it is possible to put the battery in wrong. A Canon 60d has a battery that is rounded on one side, so there is only one way to put it in. A Canon Rebel has a rectangle battery, but it has a "thingy" that sticks up where the contacts are so you know which side goes in first at least. The Fuji is just a rectangle box. I had to look for the contacts to make sure I wasn't putting it in upside down. It will go in wrong but won't lock in wrong. Would have preferred a battery that had an "idiot proof" design. Not because I or other people are idiots, but because it makes it much faster to put in a battery when the shape makes it obvious how to insert it without thinking about it.

The spring that is supposed to eject the battery wasn't very strong. In fact, it didn't eject the battery at all. I had shake the camera to get the battery out, like how you try to get more ketchup out of a squeeze bottle. I stuck my finger in the battery compartment to feel the spring and it wasn't very springy.

The SD card goes in the same compartment as the battery. I don't really like this design in a supposedly pro or semi-pro camera but it's not a deal breaker. Here's what is though: the card goes towards the back where the door hinge is. So taking the card out is harder because you don't have much room for your fingers. If it was at the front of the compartment there would be more room for your fingers to pull the card out without fiddling with it. Not sure why Fuji did something so obviously flawed with such a long history of making cameras.

The tripod screw on the bottom is offset and not centered with the lens. Not a deal breaker but a tripod head will cover the battery door so if you're using a tripod you will have to take the plate off to change the battery. Seems like if you're going to offset the tripod screw, you would do it so that it wouldn't block the battery door. Odd again.

Radio flash triggers work with no issue. In comparison, the EM5 worked with my RF 602s but not with the 603s.

The electronic viewfinder isn't particularly great. Doesn't refresh very quickly, certainly not faster than the EM5. It is usable, but compared to the EM5, which is an older camera, is disappointing.

The live view (composing pictures using the back LCD) didn't show real time exposure. I assume I didn't know how to change a settings to correct that but I didn't see anything in the menu settings that was obvious. I give benefit of the doubt here but my faith is shaken.

The exposure meter is very jumpy. Going from properly exposed to under or overexposed by 2/3rds of a stop very quickly.

There was no battery power display on the LCD. That is a deal breaker and a big deal to me. You grab your camera to go out and have no clue that the battery is low.

The charger has a green light when charging and no light when charged. Wish it was a red or yellow light but not a big deal. No light when charged does make some sense but it can also lead to thinking it is charged when in fact the charger cord has become unplugged as a what if example. Red/yellow when charging and green when fully charged is "idiot proof".

I haven't even gone over the pictures taken with the Fuji because the design of the camera regarding functionality just don't work for me. Compared to the EM5, the Fuji doesn't seem as well thought out. The kind of camera that seems like a first generation product. But it isn't. The XPro1 was the first generation product. I'm pretty amazed at how some things got cooked into this camera. Firmware can fix some things but not everything.

The EM5 allows me to get shots I want without getting in the way. It makes it fast and easy. I understand some reviewers saying that the Fuji forces you to think about your shot and take your time, potentially allowing for higher quality shots, but I found the Fuji got in the way for me. I need a camera that makes me getting the shots I want easier. The Fuji makes me work with its limitations, like a grocery cart with a bad wheel. It will get the job done, but you will have to work harder to get the same thing done.

I spent a couple of days actually writing out 100 themes for each photo, and broke them down into 5 sections of 20. That will be 20 photos done with one particular lens, and then I'll switch to a different lens and shoot the next 20 themes, so on and so forth. Although the themes are as simple as "water", "metal", or "smiling", I did mix in editing techniques or shooting styles that I do not normally or have ever done. And that is where the real power of photo projects show up. Not only are you shooting, but you're forcing yourself to try new things and learn camera functions you normally wouldn't use or do. For example, change the aspect ratio on your camera. If you shoot in 3:2, change it to 4:3 or 16:9 or whatever else your camera will shoot. Not only will you get some experience working with those different ratios and seeing how they change the look of a photo, but you will get experience finding and changing settings in your camera that you probably would not know how to do otherwise.

Same goes for editing. Make part of your project some editing you've never done or typically don't do. Themes such as "add texture" or "selective color" will get you playing around with different or new editing techniques, and experience is never a bad thing to gain. It doesn't have to be your style, it's the experience you're after.

Doing these things as part of your photo project will not only keep you learning and making the project extremely productive, but it will keep it from getting stale or boring. Trust me, I know! I've been at that point a couple of months in where you are tired and have no idea what to shoot and you end up "dialing it in" a lot just to keep going and saying that you did a photo that day.

This will be the first time this band has had photos done. They don't really have an idea of what they want done, just that it would be good to have some photos done. Alright. I don't really have a starting point, or know where I'll end up, but that's the fun of something new right? So I'll just have to be creative and come up with some stuff. After a little thinking (brainstorming ideas all over a piece of paper to be accurate), I eventually settle on a few ideas.

Set up is routine, shooting is routine, and it all gets done pretty quickly. Got to give them props; at least they were really easy to work with! So now comes the "difficult" part...where to go with the shots?? Well since I don't know what they prefer style wise, I decide to just do a different style for each photo. When in doubt, just give options :)

I go with a fun shot, a darker/grittier look, a colorful look, and a bright/washed look. If nothing else, at least it shows range!

On a personal note, I really enjoyed this shoot. It was fun, fast paced, and productive. Even without knowing where it was going to go, it was a fun ride. I'm sure it seemed faster paced to me than to them since I was moving lights, changing lenses, adjusting camera settings, reviewing test shots, etc etc etc, while they just hung out until I said "ok, we're shooting"...

Check them out: http://www.facebook.com/pages/DreadLand/411132695591229

200 is a ridiculous number of keepers to be honest. Why? Processing. Editing that number takes a lot of time. There are some tools that can help speed up the process, but I find that I get bored looking at the same style of editing after a few photos and will change it up. Of course playing around with a photo to give it a different look takes time, and breaks the monotony...but takes time. Getting that many keepers is one of those love/hate things.

I won't have much time to lament my SUCCESS. Got to finish these up because I don't want to have baby on the brain when I'm going to be shooting a teenager in a few days. To the victor go the spoils...and the extra work ;)

I have a growing collection of items used as props for different shoot ideas. I started with a few clothing items, then started adding odds and ends, to include wigs, sunglasses, goggles, jackets, jewelry, etc. I am really starting to tap the deep potential of props when it comes to shooting.

I believe the defining moment came during a shoot where the model I was shooting wore a wig for her first time ever...and she really killed it during the shoot! She was on fire! From the very first shot, she was in the zone. I could barely keep up with all of the hotness she was giving the camera. Instead of directing her, I focused on just keeping up with her! LOL! While driving to the second location I mentioned how she was on fire and she stated that wearing the wig and wardrobe, that was completely different than anything she would ever normally wear, allowed her to really transform herself into someone else. Like an actress, she took on the "role" of someone else completely. She felt free and relaxed. Not hard to understand at all.

Sunglasses are the easiest example of this effect. Sunglasses cover the eyes, and really help people relax because in a way, they are "hidden". Wigs can do so for women as well. Nervous about being in front of the camera? Put some shades on first. Put on a silly hat. Put on a wig so you look like someone completely different. Does it work? I've witnessed it work, time after time. That's the power of props. Now for the of age client, the easiest "prop" to cut the tension is a drink ;)  Nervousness is quickly reduced with the aid of a mixed drink. Of course, for cat lovers, the fact that my cat is not camera shy and will frequently and freely walk up and insert himself into the shoot, can help as well. He's a fuzzy prop.

So not only do I have a slowly growing wardrobe box, but I also have a growing prop box...and a cat. And it works. Its easier for someone to step out of their comfort zone when they don't feel like themselves. Being in the comfort zone of your alter ego is easier than being out of your own comfort zone (it makes sense through some form of physics equation I can't remember right now). 

Of course, for people not camera shy, props are just something fun to add to the mix, or just have a reason to shoot :)

Getting it home, charging the battery, turning it on, and laying my eyes on the back LCD for the first time did not have the thrill I thought. I was harshly greeted to a slew of numbers, letters, and icons that made less sense than the [absolute value of negative zero]. I might as well have been reading Russian. It was intimidating, confusing, and like realizing you were in the deep end for the first time without your water wings.

Looking back on the experience, the best piece of advice I ever read was to do a 365 project. Forcing yourself to pick up the camera and shoot something every day, for an entire year, increased the knowledge of my camera exponentially. I put the camera in Av (aperture priority) mode, took pictures, and examined the settings the camera chose. After a few days, I was in M (manual) mode, and after about a week more it just "clicked". A couple of weeks after starting a 365 project, I was only shooting in manual. A month later, I was experimenting with my first speedlight. Two months later and I was not only bored of the project (try not to pick only ONE subject for the entire project, you'll get tired of 60+ pictures of your cat), but I was ready to learn more about post processing and editing. I was comfortable with my camera. Did I use every single feature? No. I didn't need to. But I went from clueless to confident in a very short period of time.

So to this day, when someone inexperienced asks for advice on how to learn their new camera, the first thing out of my mouth is "do a 365 project!". Sure, watching tutorials online is helpful, reading books is helpful, but doing is knowing. Watching a video of how to change your car's oil will never beat the knowledge gained by doing yourself...stumbling, bumbling, and all. Although I don't have the time for a 365 project anymore (my ideas are far too time consuming to simply shoot ~ curse my imagination!), I have decided to do a 52 week project. And when I do pick up a new camera system to expand my experience level and try out other manufactures' products, I'll do a 60 day project. Hope my cat is ready for his closeup...again...

And to help you get jump started, here are few ideas for that long 365 or 52 week journey :)

Your favorite shoes, clouds, your pet sleeping, books, sunset, someone you love, eyes, water, something red, breakfast today,...

In this day and age, every image you see is photoshopped in some way or another. Some heavily, some lightly. The brilliant white teeth you see? 10sec fix in Photoshop. Flawless skin? Airbrushed. There is a reason the tool in Photoshop to remove zits and blemishes is called the healing brush. Unfortunately, women don't have access to the original shot to actually see the editing done. I know first hand that when women get to see the original photo and the after photo, their reactions range from amazed, to shocked and amazed. I truly get a kick out the reaction if I have to be honest.

So when I hear a woman tell me that she wishes she could do the kind of shots she sees in magazines but doesn't think she has the body for, or that she is too scared of how she'll look, I take issue with it. I am certainly not saying that professional models do not look good or have great bodies, but even beautiful models get some "touch up" work done with the editing software. NO one is perfect. I don't expect it, and women certainly shouldn't expect it of themselves. Its counterproductive and causes more problems than it solves.

So how do those "amazing", "sexy", "hot" shots happen? YOU. Seriously. Don't worry about your imperfections. Don't worry about how the image looks right when its shot. Its just a starting point ;)

Want to know the secret to making a "hot shot" of you? Your look, your pose, the angle, the lighting. That's the secret. And only two of those are your job. That's what professional models understand and do. I've shot women with amazing bodies who couldn't be sexy in a photo if their life depended on it. I've shot women who looked completely unassuming and nervous who literally OOZED sexy to the camera. The term "make love to the camera" is what its all about...but I'll write a post about that another time. I see so many photos of gorgeous women that should be amazing. Should be! But the photo doesn't showcase it. Every photographer has their own style, and beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so of course everyone's opinion varies. I most certainly don't believe my opinion is the end all be all! Its just that: opinion.

Photoshop is NOT a bad thing: Photoshop is to help you look the best you can look. It is a tool, just like lighting, backdrops, heels, makeup, props, etc etc etc

Can you take photos where you look amazing, hot, sensual, confident? Without question, without doubt, without pause, YES. What I think I do very well is see what is already in a woman and help bring that out in a photo. With some women its easier than others, but that's the challenge for a photographer; and who doesn't like a challenge? ;) That's how you get better and grow.

Stop comparing yourself to the finished images you see in magazines and online. Please. Thank you for listening to my rant. :)

Here comes the BUT... how can you grow if you don't step outside of your comfort zone? Photographers en masse will tell you that its not about the gear. The camera you use has less to do with making a great image than the part holding the camera. Why? Because to be honest, basically every modern camera is capable of taking a great picture. There are quite a few photogs posting videos and articles doing professional shoots with a smartphone to prove the point that it is more about the light, vision, and talent than the camera being used. So here comes the point...

I want to shoot with another system. I'm not a gear snob. Never have been, never will. I don't look forward to dealing with another brand of camera that might frustrate me initially...or constantly until I chuck the thing into White Rock Lake, but it WILL broaden my horizons and experience; and that is always beneficial. So the 4/3 system and other brands come in. Portable, light, good image quality, selection of lenses, etc. I'm looking to stretch and experience so some frustration is prepared to be had.

I'm also a viewfinder shooter. Looking through a viewfinder helps me compose a shot because it eliminates the distractions in my peripheral vision as well as the back of the camera. For that reason I looked at the Fuji XPro1, Sony NEX7, OM-D EM5, etc. Cameras with built in viewfinders. But of course, those range from expensive to "seriously??" That's a lot to pay for something you may end up chucking into the lake. So I have opened my mind to no built in viewfinder models and brands. I cringe a little now, but who knows, by this time next year I may have decided to switch formats all together. Can never tell what the future holds! That's exciting isn't it??! YEPS! :)

*as typical for me, when I get something new and want to play with it, expect to see a free session of some sort offered on my site*

So in the midst of a shoot, I burrow through the pile of umbrellas and stands for the trusty 33" silver reflective umbrella. I've had this umbrella for 3 years and was in fact my very first light modifier when I began experimenting with off camera flash. I am not a die hard "sentimental value" type of guy and certainly did not believe I harbored any for an umbrella. It isn't my only umbrella, isn't my most used anymore, and in fact has probably not been used in 8 or 9 months. I say all this as a preface...

I find the 33"er, pull it up from the depths of stands and fabric to find...it is bent! I had obviously managed to step on it during one of my many forays into Lake Light Modifier. My jaw dropped and I stood looking at the bent rod with a completely unnecessary pout. I was actually sad. The trusty little 33"er I got for so little (ordered off of Amazon) but served me so well was done for...and not by any fault of its own. I'm being melodramatic. I could probably bend the shaft back to near straight enough.

So, I have a problem. I need a modifier to take its place. Perhaps a beauty dish since I don't have one at this time. Perhaps I should just replace it with the same. Any excuse to get a new toy I suppose...Oh well. When I do replace it, it will probably be time for a free shoot ;)