It is not all me

“It’s not the photographer who makes the picture, but the person being photographed.” –Sebastiao Salgado

As a photographer I have been approached on several occasions and asked about my camera. I received comments or questions such as "what kind of camera is that? What kind of photos does it take? Does it make your photos look professional?" I try to be polite, I really do. However I must admit it is hard for me to be nice and not be rude when giving an answer. People just don't seem to understand photography. They seem to think that it is just point and click. However there is so much more to it then that. Let me explain.

First a client comes to me with a request to have a photo session. They are not coming me because of the type of camera I have, they are coming to me because they have seen my work and they like "my style". A camera alone cannot create a style, however it can record it. When a client comes to me we talk about what they are looking for. Are they looking for a studio shoot, an outdoor shoot, a senior portrait, wedding, maternity or newborn shoot? When a client makes the decision on the type of shoot they are looking for there is so much more that must be discussed. These things include location, clothing, people involved, the feel of what they are looking for. I want my clients to be able to portray a story with their photos and I want them to love every photo that I produce for them. 

The next step is the actual photo shoot. There is a lot that goes into it. I as the photographer have to be rested, excited, confident and ready to shoot.  I have to be ready to show this confidence to my client and I have to be ready to excite my client and make the shoot fun. If the shoot is a run of the mill "ho hum" shoot what does this really produce? It produces run of the mill photos. These photos will not be any different then snap shots taken by big name companies. They will not be personalized, and above all they will not be unique. There will be no emotion captured, the moment will not be special. These are all things that a camera can just not add to a photo. This is my job to bring it out of the client in order to produce the memories that they wanted to capture. 

Up until now I have discussed everything that I have to do as the photographer in order to try and make sure that the photo shoot goes the way that it should, and try to reduce the photo that the client is looking for. However there is one point that I must point out.  At the top you will notice that there is a quote. If you haven't read it, please take the time to read it now before  reading any further. I know the quote sounds crazy, I mean how can the camera and the photographer not make the photo? That's their job right? In all reality it is not. The photographer can make sure that their gear is ready to shoot, and they can prep the client as much as possible, but it is the client that must make the choice to make the photo. If the client is not in the mood to take a photo they are not going to have fun with it. They are not going to "work" the camera. 

A client has to be comfortable in front of the camera. They have to want to be there, and above all they need to have fun. If you are not having fun, the photographer and their amazing camera is going to capture, boring, uninspiring photos. The trick I believe as a photographer is to find a way to help a client make the shoot fun. Laugh with them, be a bit unpredictable, suggest some fun poses, or don't pose at all. There are a number of ways to get your client comfortable in front of the camera. Do whatever it is that you have to in order to help them. This means that you have to know your client. This is something that is important. Knowing your client opens up a whole new world of abilities for you as a photographer. The reason for this is that it opens your client up to you and they trust you. They trust you to make an excellent photo with in your skill level. This same photo that you are going to create with them is going to be something that they treasure for the rest of their lives and they are paying  you to capture this special moment in time. However as the photographer you can recreate the moment, but the client has to live the moment. With out the client there is no moment. 

Just a thought, but I personally think that this is a very, very important one.

Happy Father's Day

Good Morning! I must apologize, I didn't post last week, however I felt the need to take the time to spend with my family and celebrate Father's Day, which managed to turn into not just a day event, but a weekend event. I am not going to complain, it was a great weekend and much needed family time.

My daughter and husband asked for a photo for Father's Day. When they asked me it really caught me off guard. I have gotten use to the whole family (including the dogs) have gotten tired of me pestering them to take photos or to try a new set up or to help me with a photo for another contest. 

Now that I have taken the photo and given it to the two of them I must admit that it holds a special place in my heart. You see my husband is not the father of my children. However he was willing to step up and take on someone elses children and be there for them when others chose to walk away. I personally recognize this, however I never expected the children to notice it, or even care. However after I took this photo and posted it on Facebook my daughter "stole" it and posted it on her page. When she posted it she made a very long statement thanking my husband for stepping up, being a dad, and keeping her mom happy. She thanked him for being there thru the heart breaks that she had, holding her when she cried and giving advice, even when she didn't want to hear what he had to say. It touched not only my heart, but my husband's heart as well. It was something that we did not expect, or even knew that she felt that way. It was extremely touching to realize this.

This brings about the point of the importance of photos. Without taking the time to take this photo and giving it to my daughter we would have never known how she felt about my husband. We would have never known that she loved him and respected him as much as she does. All of this information came out due to a photo, which has now made this a priceless photo to me. Many people have photos taken to take them. They feel that it is a requirement, a way to keep the rest of the extended family up to date on whats going on. However I am not sure that these photos hold value or feeling. 

Photos are meant to convey a feeling, or invoke a feeling in a person that is viewing the photo. I am not sure that your standard run of the mill photos photos do this. When working with my clients I want to make sure that there photos are going to invoke or convey a feeling or a memory that they never want to forget. If it doesn't, then I feel that there is just no reason to even click the shutter and I would not even want to charge someone for a photo that does not touch a person in some way. 

With this in mind I believe that it should be considered when deciding to have a photo session done. Beautiful memories that are preserved forever on a print is an amazing thing, and will one day become an heirloom that will continue for years to convey or invoke feelings by those that hold that photo near and dear to their hearts. Plan your sessions with your photographer carefully. Pick your location, or your look in the studio that represents you, and who you are. Do not be afraid to show your beauty (or handsomeness if you are a man) and "work the camera". Don't be afraid to show your love, your confidence, and your soul in front of the lens. If you are not afraid to do this you will be able to take a simple photo like the one above, and yet it will carry love, meaning, and many more feelings for years to come. 

Just go!

“Just put on the lens and go.” –Miroslav Tichy

I remember when I was a child growing up how much I loved cameras. I am not sure what the reason behind it was. I am not sure if it was the ability to freeze a moment in time, if it was the ability to capture a moment or if it was the anticipation of getting to pick up the film from the store and seeing exactly what the pictures looked like. In reality it must have been a combination of all three items. However I must say that I remember the anticipation of picking up the pictures most. It was the excitement to see if the photos I had taken had turned out, and in some cases I had forgotten what was on the roll of film and I just wanted to see what was there.

With a film camera I had to learn constraint, and to take my time when it came to getting that amazing shot of my friends or of the tiger at the local zoo. I hated that I had no idea if I had gotten the shot, and had to wait to have the film developed, which in some cases was weeks after I had taken a specific shot. What made it even more difficult is that I knew that by the time that I got to see the photo that I would not be able to recreate the shot and the moment would be lost forever if I did not catch it at the moment.

However now with the world of digital cameras all of that has changed. In some cases I think that it is for the better, but I will admit, I do miss the anticipation of picking up the film and seeing if I really did do as well as I thought in that moment.

Digital cameras have opened up a world of change and opportunity. Now you can almost guarantee that you have captured the moment at the same time that you take the photo. If you miss it because the focus is off, in most cases all you have to do is line it up and click again. There is no waiting for the film to develop. You have more of a chance to capture that memory or that moment and make sure that it is right.

I must admit that I love the ability of a digital camera, but I have also noticed that I am just as picky about the shot as I was when I was using a film camera. I still want to take the shot, and shoot it once, and get it all right in camera, the first time. This train of thought is very hard for me to break. I still notice from time to time that I am hesitant to take a shot because I am not sure that I am even going to get the picture that I wanted. Which now with the ability to see the photo real time on the back of my camera is honestly insane. 

I am now learning to take on a new thought process. I read the quote, (the one at the top of this post) and I realized that there was a lot in that one simple statement. This one quote is one that I am trying to take to heart, and I believe will help me to continue to excel in my career as a photographer. I need to "Just put the lens on and go." (Miroslav Tichy)  With the abilities that the world of digital technology has given photographers I need to practice not being so conservative. So what if the shot does not work the way I want it too the first time. All I need to do is realign what I am doing and shoot it again. 

I will say that I am not advocating the "spray and pray" method. I still believe that each and every shot should still be framed up correctly and thought out in order to catch the feel and the magic that is present in that moment. However it is not like the days of film where you are "clicking and praying" and not knowing if the shot was a success or not. There is no longer the cost of production of a photo. Not to mention that a memory card has so much more room then a roll of film ever did! 

Photos are a doorway to the past. They are a reminder of a magical moment, a friend, a time that can not be revisited. I believe that with all of my heart. I want to make sure that not only myself, but my clients have that doorway to the past. With that in mind it is time too "Just put the lens on and go" capture those magical moments!

Graduation Knowledge

As the school year draws to a close there are a number of "brand new" adults out there with out a clue of where to go next. LOL I remember being in that same boat several years ago. I had graduated high school, stayed out with friends celebrating, and woke up in the morning with the sudden realization that I was now on my own. There was no longer the requirement of school, no more worries about the kind of grades that I had to bring home to stay in good graces with my parents and grandparents. I was FREE! It was an amazing feeling, for about 30 seconds. Then the fear set in. What was my next step? Where do I go from here? and the big question, Now what?

I am sure that as the seniors finish graduating this week that there are a number of them that are in the same boat. They have no idea what they want to do next and have no clue where to begin. However there are those that are currently packing their bags, telling Mom and Dad thanks, grabbing a camera and jumping out for the next adventure. 

I think that it is important that each graduating senior have a goal, or an idea of where they want to go next. I think that we as parents should still be giving a bit of guidance at this point... One last time before they spread their wings. It is sad when a senior has no plan and no idea where to go next. All of the seniors that I have meant in one way or another have amazing talents. Some are caring, others extremely technical, some are athletic, and of course there are some that are great at anything that they try. The sad part is that they themselves do not see it. They do not see the talents that they have and have no idea what they could do with them. 

As a senior I had an interest in photos, but film was expensive and I was not one that would "waste money" on film for no reason. However I was the kid with the camera for every event that I went on, and I always used my camera to document my life, the parts I never wanted to forget. I am thankful that I had the camera in hand thru high school. I have amazing pictures of my friends, and all the crazy things we did while at FFA functions, band competitions, and Friday night football games. These are memories that I have preserved, and now years later I can look back on and share (the less embarrassing ones) with my husband and my children. Which is something that I love to do. I wish that I had realized sooner how much I loved being behind the camera, and how much more I could have done with what I had at the time. 

I wish someone would have pointed out the less obvious talents that I had to me, given me a push or suggestion in what way to go. Instead I just kind of flapped in the wind for several years til I got it figured out. I believe that the best gift we can give these seniors is the acknowledgement and support of their talents, and to encourage them to hone these talents. 

The seniors that I have photographed for the most part all had a cell phone with them and I am sure that many of them take at least one selfie a day with it, however they put themselves in front of my camera and they became very shy, and self aware. It was hard to get a smile or a laugh, and took some time to get them to relax and to just be themselves. But once they did I saw some amazing things. I saw their interests, and talents and their personalities come out. It was truly amazing to see something like this. After photographing this and seeing it before my eyes it makes me wonder how many of these young adults could be amazing photographers, and just what they could do next in life.

If there is one bit of advice that I could give to each and every senior graduating is to take a look at your talents, and what you enjoy the most. Don't follow the crowd, and don't just flap in the wind. Take something that you love, develop it and run with it. Never let someone tell you that you can't make it with what ever you choose. You CAN and WILL make it, as long as you choose to make it work and want to make it work. If you want to be happy do what you feel you are best at. Don't take years to figure it out like I did. Run with it now and you will never regret it!