The test pictures

where to print

I often am asked where to print your digital photographs.  I have a contract with a company that does professional prints, however if you are not a photographer with a contract I am wondering that myself.

So, on Saturday I took 4 pictures of my sons.  Then on Monday I shot off an order to:
MPIX, Shutterfly and snapfish.

I ordered a 4x6 and a 5x7 of each of the photos.  MPIX offered a metallic "Fuji Pearl Paper uses a patented combination of film and laminate layers resulting in a striking metallic shine." so ordered one of those in 5x7 as well to see what was what.

It is Thursday and I got home to find MPIX already delivered.  it a solid cardboard box/envelope.  Very protected, well packaged inside and the pics are spot on color wise.  Hoepfully by Saturday I have a full report.

ideas for shoots

Sometimes I have a senior who know exactly what they want, like Kevin.  He has made up an inspiration board to show of pictures he really liked.  When I picked him up we discussed where we could find the "feeling" he was looking for and ended up going downtown.  We wandered around looking for bold distinct backgrounds that were simple.  I also knew what his mom wanted and so the last shot reflects that.  I love coming to a middle ground so that the graduates can feel like they get to express themselves and can also get into a few "shots for Grandma".  Some of my graduates don't have any idea of what they want.  So we chat about what fuels their passions and I try to get their eyes to light up wherever we decide is beautiful.  In those instances I base choices off of what I know the greenery looks like at that time of the year in that location.... or gorgeous walls that are in the right light at that time of day.

Sometimes

location

Now it is true that in the last post I said location is not important. These locations were sought out by me, I knew I wanted these shots.  The shots from before were the lucky accidents that happened while I was worrying about shots like these.  It can work both ways.  Listening and letting the hours unfold with a subject are where the magic lies.

Some graduates

I love my sessions with seniors.  They are full of the future and are usually pretty excited about the shoot.  We do a lot of wandering and end up taking shots in places I would have never "picked out".  This was I can get the feeling of the moment and not worry about the background.  That being said have a background that will not fight with your subject is pretty important.  It's funny how if you look around at any given time and place you can usually find that, though.

Prom season!  One of my graduates hired me to take some pictures of her and her date outside of prom.  What an honor and fun time.  This was at The Henry in Dearborn (not Greenfield field village, confusingly this place was formally the Marriott and is by Fairlane).  The venue was gorgeous, what a beautiful and fancy prom.  We did these outside and then I bid farewell and I am sure they went on to have a grand time.

light edit

I made them black and white, upped the contrast and cropped them down.  I could do more.  I could increase the detail and lighten his face, etc... but sometimes what you want to go for is the spirit of the pictures.  Sometimes not managing the model AT ALL is the best way to capture who they are.

don't overthink...

Sometimes you just sit down and call a kid to you and snap some pictures.  Don't worry and put it on automatic.  These are all untouched.  I will edit them and put them in a row ... (no fancy editing, I will just use iPhoto for this)

playing with a possible new lens.

So, this week we rented a lens and a body we are thinking about expanding to.  D6000 body and the 24-70mm lens.  We rented from borrowlenses.com 

super easy to use.  kind of pricey - but when you consider we are thinking about dropping 2000 on a lens I thought maybe paying over a hundred to use it for a weekend was worth it.  It was.  The lens is nice.  We used it at a wedding and then later in the weekend I took one of my favorite models/ seniors out to play with it a bit.  It was ridiculously cold out.

This lens is heavy.  seriously.  I think the pictures would have to be without a doubt waaaaaay better than any other lens for me to want to use it on a regular basis.  Maybe I have weak wrists (I don't).  I bet on a tripod this is a dream.  however I just am not that kind of photographer - I like moving constantly and chatting and moving and switching my settings, etc.

This being said Chris did not mind the weight as much and it really did give us lovely shots of the wedding from the  balcony.  Shots that would have been flat with my other lenses.

I do like the idea of a wide angle lens.  I also am the dude who likes to be close up on a subject so I am not sure whether at this point the cost is appropriate for me.  Also, many of the shots would have been amazing if they were totally in focus but the weight of the camera caused more out of focus shots that usual for me.  So... I am on the hunt for a lighter lens.

also I am not sure but the pictures look harsher to me than my 35mm.  Though this was taken in winter sun.  (also I nabbed the pic of the lens off of the internet I did not take it)

Belle Isle

Red lips, red tights and a fun girl?  Yeas and yes.  A fun and cold morning in Detroit.

I love my library/ office for meeting clients

Heaven and Hell Cotiliion

Photographing a show is always hard.  The lighting is dark and a flash is distracting (I do NOT use one).  The people on stage are moving a lot and getting a good position without being in front of others is tricky.  The band worked with me so that I had a few good places to stand and I just went back and forth between songs to work with the light that I had.  In the end I got some shots I like.  They were dark and grainy and I did spend some time editing them so I had a skin tone I was happier with.

Detroit Institute of Arts Photo Shoot