Holding Tight

One approach I use with posing couples is by having my clients position their arms in specific ways around each other. This creates a lovely intimate pose that is not static. I avoid the "stand next to each other pose" because it's so boring.

My favorite word when directing clients is "envelop" - envelop each other- to surround and bring in. The expressions will also match that intimate and bodily pose. 

And it works with all ages. 

Canon 5d mk3

85 mm 1.2

F4 1/500

Gen - Headshots

Gen wanted some different looking headshots for her portfolio-  something with a little more spice and attitude.  It was not hard to come  up with some beautiful portraits of her. 

The 85mm is the best portrait lens because it keeps the face in perfect dimension.  I rarely shoot a portrait at f.18,  but in this case I wanted to create the soft blur that drops off the focus point which is the eye closest to the camera.  The effects are really amazing. 

 

 

Canon 5D mark 3

 

Canon 85mm L 1.2

 

Left image at f1.8, 1/200

Right Image at f 2.2, 1/180

 

Flash fill on camera left.  Speedlight 600.  

 

Who Loves a Big Cloud

Photographing the sky as a part of the composition of a picture can be tricky. 

If the image is not exposed correctly, or the sky is flat, then you end up with a boring white space. That's why, if you look through my work, I rarely include the  sky. 

In this case, there were these great big clouds but it was still a really bright sky. this would make it all white. I under exposed the image by 2/3 stops to bring out the clouds more.

In post editing, I used split toning to bring out the clods and blue a little more. 

Canon 5d mark 3

16-35 l 3.8

F 9 1/2000

Show Me the Hands!

I love focusing on hands during the wedding day.  They say so much about what is really going on inside a person or between a couple.  Too many times, a face can fake a smile or a loving feeling-  but the hands never lie. 
Some of my most dramatic shots have been from photographing the hands of a couple during the first dance, the fingers of the groom as he awaits his bride at the altar, the father of the bride as he holds his daughter for the last time. 
I always tell my second shooters to respect the hands.

Drifting on a summer day

Create Your Wind- the wind in the veil shot

How do photogs get the classic veil blowing shot?  

In the absence of wind- use the mechanical approach.  Standing to the side or directly behind the bride create the best results. 

Canon 5D Mk3

70-200 L 2.8 mk2

F5. 1/500

ISo 400

Christina and Robert.

A lovely wedding  day in St Louis. 

Backlighting to create powerful images.

I try to backlight my clients whenever possible during the course of a wedding. The effect is to create a glow around their shoulders, arms and head. This creates a floating sensation as the subject is separated from the background with a gentle wall of white light.  

When I can, ill bounce a light off a wall behind me to throw a little on their faces. 

 In this image I underexposed a 1/3 stop for the white dress.  This helps maintain details in the dress. 

Black and white editing always look classy with this effect. The dark jacket is contrasted with not only the white dress but  also the glowing white background. 

Canon 5d mk3

50 mm 1.2 L

F 4.5 1/500

The First Dance- technical stuff

I noticed the bride had her fingers crossed in a relaxed way with the rings placed perfectly.  With the dark suit and cream colored wall as a backdrop, it was a perfectly balanced picture.
I bounced flash off the wall behind me to fill.
Canon 5D Mk3, 70-200 IS 2.8 Mk2, IOS 2000, flash aimed off back wall.
2.8, 1/200

Ashley and Mark

The Other First Kiss Photograph

My previous post has the image Huffington Post Published.  This was the other choice I sent them.  Hmmm  I like them both:)

 

 

Huffington Post Publishes My Photograph

Huffington Publishes one of my First Kiss Photographs.


Huffington Post Wedding - First Kiss Photos