WE HAVE MOVED

I have moved this blog to my new web site which is better linked into my blog:

www.shariphotography.com

Photographing Veils

Shari Photography 

Veils on a  bride look amazing.  I love the different ways to can photograph them to create powerful and creative images.  The one area that a photographer needs to be aware of is to not lose details of the veil by over exposing the image.  If you over expose or expose for the skin, then the veil will lose all its details.  And if you lose the details, then what is the point of taking the picture?  

I will under expose the veil by 1/3 stop just to ensure the details don,t get lost. 

Canon 5D mark 2

50 mm 1.2 L

F 2.2 1/ 250 Iso 1200

Details and placement

There is always an interesting place to compose detail shots.  Look for anything to hang the rings or jewelry items on and they will look great.  Shoot at a shallow depth field for an even stronger and more dynamic image. 

Golden Hour Backlight

Shari Photography-  Back light.
Golden hour is 1 hour before sunrise or or sunset.  The light is perfect.  Anytime you can photograph during this time-  do it!  The light is exceptional and well worth the effort because your images will look incredible. 
There is a lovely golden hue to the images.  This is especially true if you can back light with the sun.  Also, there is a softness to the light that creates a spectacular effect on the skin tones  Shadows also can play a role in the composition in a way that adds a third dimension.

I always try to plan my couples portraits during this time.
Canon 5D Mk2
16-35 f2.8 L
f8 1/1200

Over expose it - it's ok!

Shari Photography exposure-

Not enough photographers over expose- sounds a bit naughty.  

I tend to over expose by a 1/3 stop in most images.  I think it makes an image look brighter and adds a lift when I post edit.  This is especially true as I add more black to an image. The contrast of the slightly over exposed whites and the boosting of the blacks adds density to the images  I like.  

For portraits, this works as well by brightening faces which is a very appealing look.  Look at the previous blog post of a Headshot to see what a 1/3 stop over exposure looks like.  

In this scene, I want the whites of the walls to be much brighter so as to contrast the dark shadows of a high midday sun. 

And if you look carefully, you can see me:)

Ideal Portrait Lens?

Shari Photography Headshots.  
Easy-  85 mm.  
All other focal lengths will distort the face.  The exception being 100mm.
My favorite lens is the Canon 85 mm 1.2 L.  It will set you back $1800 and change.  But what a beauty!  I can focus on an eye lash at 1.2 and blur the rest of the face in a gentle drift. 

Lonely Beaches

Part of the Shari Photography brand is the look I try to create with a majority of my images.
I love looking for photographic opportunities that deal with single image focus-  in other words subject matter that isolates 1 main idea-  the English Romantics called it a Sublime  experience-  one where the size and magnitude of 1 object in the scene (like a tree or mountain) would become the central focus of the experience.
These beach shots try to bring that sublime focus on a single object.
Canon 5D  Mk2
16-35 L  f.3.2  1/200
Lightroom enhanced-  mostly the sky.