Continue reading about Sharing is Caring

This is how my winter photography has gotten so much easier this year.

I wear warmer shoes ready for any condition and ready for any place I might have to step.
Sometimes I’m even ready to wear thermals so that I can wear a sweater and avoid a big puffy jacket, because that gets in my way.

I’m still willing and able to get down on the ground for the shot.

But most of all my hands are staying warm.

I bought these gloves and they work like a charm and were well worth the money.
I bought them at Outdoor Photo Gear

Buy them here and have a better winter

There are other options
Certainly plenty of much cheaper gloves and perhaps many are “good enough”, but if you’re still looking for something this will be better.
If you’re happy with where you’re at then I guess you don’t need new gloves anyway.

I will say that this is a photographers glove not a glove that happens to work for photography.

Anytime you’re bothered or burdened and not putting you’re best towards the client it decreases your abilities exponentially

Continue reading about How winter photography is easier this year

Continue reading about Hawaii Wedding – a representation of what I’m doing now

Good things happen when the sun goes down… twilight is often more exciting… and then there’s a clear evening with the stars coming out and some nice palm trees.

In this post I’d love to drive home the point:

Make wherever you happen to be work for you.
And get good at seeking out spots and SEEing the spots you’re at.

Don’t wait for the perfect opportunity… make it the perfect opportunity.

(Above) As you see these pictures you might wonder why they call it Sunset Beach… haha

This day was proof-example, after example, of why going out with a set purpose (set picture) in mind is in many (not all) ways is retarded.
But having a “way point” can be smart.

Yes have plans… but be open to all the amazing things that surround you.

In this case we penciled in Sunset beach for sunset.
When you’re on a road trip with me you realize I’m using a pencil and that pencil has an eraser.

But beyond that when you are wherever you are… be ready to shoot them when they happen. (know how)
And be ready to SEE them.

It makes me wonder how/why those photographers who set out with one specific shot in mind do it.
That would drive me batty… and doesn’t seem like a good idea. (Open for discussion, as long as we’re trying to understand eachother)
(Though perhaps having fewer pictures would sure cut down on processing and make picking easier)

Going back to the car to grab the tripod… low and behold, I saw the light.
I was saying to myself… how do these things like this keep happening to me?
I really couldn’t have planned the mist, the sunlight angle because of clouds, the color of the sunlight is beyond our control as we know.

Yes I put myself in a situation where i could get back lit pictures of surfers when they came out… but I certainly wasn’t expecting this.
I can’t move this dude I’m not in charge of the posing.
I just frame it up to tell the story and wait for the elements to be in a good spot.

This is a big example of just wandering around searching and being in the right place at the right time.
We didn’t write Hawaii 2009 in the sand but we came by literally seconds before the wave washed it away forever.
I barely had time to aim and spray fire shoot it as it got washed away.
The lighting was hardly what people aim for, but I knew that it would make it unique and that I could add back some of the contrast from shooting towards a setting sun.

This was not planned it was a result of waiting around for other people to be ready to go and getting bored and saying… hey why not take pictures of the palm trees.
If only I had my cable release to take longer than 30 second exposures. But that’s what I could do…
and I set the White balance to 2500 kelvin to bring out the blue because the street lights were throwing off the colors.

On this trip I discovered the joy of setting my white balance to Shady A2 to really bring out warm colors
I think any white balance could have worked for this evening and the camera itself would have been stumped with the colors of the sunset at sunset beach.
Don’t just take good pictures and call it good… add spice.

OK obviously the above picture was taken a while before sunset colors hit… but I wanted to show the kind of waves they were looking at.
You’ll see some better pictures of waves coming up… but I take pictures to document what was going around a whole lot.

Now planning your shots ahead of time is not a bad thing… don’t misunderstand.
I planned on being at sunset beach at sunset.
And when I got there an hour before sunset I said I wanted to  be on such and such side of the water/beach.

But the point is: Up until that time (your way-point time) and after and maybe even instead be willing to let your hunches, ideas and the light take you where they will…
Kinda like the waves of see, they go here and there and wherever the wind and tide takes them.
Yes there could have been other paths… but make the path you decided on, or were thrust into work for you

You’ll find some amazing things start to happen.
And you’ll learn to deal with (photographically) what you’re given… and not just search for what you want and always see the green green grass just beyond reach.

I’m saying both things can be good when done correctly.
But don’t wait for the perfect opportunity… make it the perfect opportunity.

A lot of my pictures are a testament to my laziness… i was shooting sunset here and just didn’t feel like moving.
I was hoping more surfers would just walk past me. (They’ve done it in the past)
So i just sat around, not being pulled in any other way.

So I made where I was Work.
Instead of perhaps finding another better location. (Which might have been good too)

People almost seem to refuse to take pictures when the light is not perfect for them.
I say learn how to deal with the light no matter what it’s giving you.
Use it to your advantage… take the pictures the present light situation is giving you.

Don’t wait for the perfect opportunity… make it the perfect opportunity.
Even better if what’s been given is pretty darn nice!

Continue reading about Hawaii 13 – Make it work, Don’t wait

The theme is The Giver & The Receiver

I was just going to straight up share the pictures and be done with it.
But readers of the blog have probably noticed the trend to share photo shoots along with commentary and perhaps even a lesson from time to time.

Those interested in the pictures will probably just view the pictures anyway
or maybe they should just skip right to the FULL GALLERY
With an open invitation to use these pictures online to your heart’s content (Assuming they’re of you)
Read the end for more info.

Those wanting to wax philosophical might do so with me in the text of the blog.

I’ll be intertwining some pictures as well.

Read my discourse about giving and receiving and see more pictures after the jump

(more…)

Continue reading about Christmas Spirit

Quick Rant

I just quickly wanted to leave a couple of words. (Turned into a lot)
Drop a quick rant on the blog.

If you’re a photographer and you want my honest advice.
Here it is.

Think about how you present your pictures.

OK so I can sometimes be a bit lazy sometimes and though I have tons of ideas there is plenty i’ve thought of or appreciated in others that I have yet to implement.
Sometimes I try to stand on the principle that the pictures should speak for themself and I object to people trying so hard to present their pictures so nice to try to make up for obvious lack of quality.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

But if there is one thing that I believe strongly in… it’s first impressions.

Putting your best foot forward means lead with what you do best.

If you’re going to show your pictures, you should probably start with the best ones.

(Much more after the jump)

(more…)

Continue reading about Best foot forward – First Impressions

UNDERWATER CAMERA

I bought a small camera (A Canon G10) and the corresponding Underwater Housing.

I’m in Mexico at the moment at a nice resort.
It’s on the beach and has a nice pool.

I’m whitewater rafting on friday, I couldn’t think of a safe way to bring along a DSLR on this event… So i tested out the camera today.
A DSLR underwater housing would be cool but it costs well over 1000 and wasn’t readily available and certainly not in time for the trip.

I bought my camera and housing from pictureline the day I left for Mexico.

Plus some other considerations were that I wasn’t going to have many opportunities to use it and I tend to upgrade cameras so which camera do i buy it for? (D700? well it’s already hit over 150K clicks and is ready to be replaced just as soon as there is an upgrade)

OTHER GOOD POINTS ABOUT A SMALL CAMERA

Might I add having the small camera has been nice for certain situations.

It doesn’t make any noises making it even more sneaky for times when you didn’t want people to know.

It’s more acceptable in certain situations such as malls or airports or other places they look down on my big cameras.

And the obvious is that it can fit in my pockets (bigger guy pockets)

MY TESTING

It’s fun!

I can see how a Snorkler or Diver would have a ton more fun!

Small cameras are frustrating sometimes. The lag from when you hit the button.
Frames per second…. yeah right. I can take fast shots for nothing!

I wanted to take pictures of the waves rolling in and it was frustratingly slow.

Timing means so much in photography, difference from a good shot to a great shot!

The biggest test was passed… no water got in!

I couldn’t hardly tell i was shooting through an underwater casing, until I was out of the water and the beads of water were on the glass rolling down. Kind of a pain…. maybe there’s a trick.

This is our huge Gulf of Mexico waves, i think this one topped out at 6

6 inches!!

(more…)

Continue reading about First Underwater Picture Experience

I find myself often almost caught by the tide of the popular ideas.

I used to say certain things… that I want to be able to say again with 100% certainty.

With the new wave of business centric thought in photography…
I don’t want to get caught up and forget the things that helped me get to where I am.
That’s not to say I don’t appreciate philosophizing about the business of photography

I watched a presentation by a very successful photographer David Jay but he also stressed.

“If you truly make your business about helping other people you’ll always have alot of work”

I would like to be another witness to that statement.

Things I used to say and stances I used to keep…
Which I re-affirm to keep

I used to say with 100% assurance the following:

“I make my wedding photography and wedding packages the way I would want it, if I were getting married”

I’m gonna make sure this is still the case…

I will fight the fad to make packages it in such a way to make the most money possible and be tricky and suck the unknowledgeable in.

Yes i suppose this could be a blatant affront to those charging low amounts for their photography but walking away with a grip of cash in the end because they charge for everything.

I don’t want to be salesman and I’m lucky enough my business is going well enough I don’t have to be. I don’t want to have to sell and up-sell and squeeze every last drop out of their wallets.

Don’t charge by hour -

I could go off about the trickery in marketing the whole by hour costs seems to be. But I do understand it’s benefits in some cases.
I’ve seen the scenario cause problems in too many cases… well I should say I’ve heard to many horror stories.
I wouldn’t want an hourly person at my wedding… so therefore I’m not gonna be that person.
Another good reason is since everyone else charges hourly in Utah (and many other states) it sets me apart

Don’t push people into buying more -

I don’t like being sold something I wasn’t really after. I’m susceptible to doing it… I’m a spend thrift and am often a sucker…
but it feels so dirty afterwards I feel like they took advantage of me. I don’t want to be that person someone looks back at and says I love the product but in a way I kinda feel like I got tooken advantage of.

Don’t make it all about money.

(more…)

Continue reading about Re-affirming my stances

So this is part of the story of my jump into Photography as a career.

A big part of that was this couple.
I had no intentions to doing paid jobs.
I had bought the D70 with no intentions of making money.
Megan asked if I’d do their engagements… I looked at it as something fun to do.
If they didn’t turn out I told them (and we both understood) that a Real photographer could easily do them.

I can’t even remember which picture they originally chose on this shoot.
The photo shoot was in March of 2005 if I remember right.

Below was the result… above is picture i just re-edited yesterday. (A treat for the couple)

(Above) – In fact this is better than the original edit… i think I edited the above one a year ago.
Would be interesting to see all 3 versions I’ve edited.
The first editing program i had 5 years ago was photoshop elements

(ABOVE) – As you can see I’ve re-edited a bunch from the shoot.
Like i have my whole career I’ve always taken TONS of pictures.

THEN OTHERS CAME ALONG

Their wedding was 4 years ago. Wow how the time passes.

When other friends found out and saw what I had done for this couple they started to jump on the band wagon.
I had some natural ability, i was easy to get along with.
But probably the most exciting thing was that I cost almost nothing… haha
$300-400 i think was the first couple weddings. (I offered to do the wedding for this couple for free of course)
I stayed under $1000 for a while

EDITING

Looking back my way of interacting with the clients hasn’t changed too much.
I think it started off great since I took pictures of so many people I was very comfortable with first.
I was able to continue that for the years down the line. As I just learned to make the subjects my friends while I took the pictures… so i could goof off and have fun and connect with them.

I don’t think I would have even considered the picture below years ago…
But the re-edited one above looks rather fun edited.

Looks almost as if I had just taken this picture.

I’m also glad I had a great looking couple to start off with… i think that made things easier.
I didn’t feel pressured to come up with tons of ideas. They knew it was my first time… they approached me!

Dang JPGs are so much harder to edit… this took a while because on JPGs the colors are so closely connected… you can’t seem to edit the contrast and blacks without screwing up the colors.
I’m still not completely satisfied with the tones but am liking the trees in the background.

TO THE WHITE FAMILY

Megan if you’re reading this,  the originals of these new ones are online if you’d like to save them and have them.
Also I’ll be doing another Charity Shoot this fall… you’re invited… it’s on me!

OTHER OLD JOBS

I bet it would be interesting to go through and edit the pictures from my old jobs!
Probably a little fun…. but in the end I’m sure I don’t have the time.

There’s a business prospect in there somewhere… haha

WHAT DOES IT SAY

What should I think that many of the brides I’ve taken pictures of have actually turned to pursuing photography as a profession or at least a involved hobby.
I think it’s pretty fun.

MORE HISTORY

I hope to write a few more posts reviewing the past… i think it’s fun.
Was it helpful?
Any questions about the first couple jobs or that part of the history.
Many know the rest of the story of how I started getting into photography… I’ll get to that. When things around JarvieDigital start to slow down.

Continue reading about My first ever Photo-shoot

7 People wrote blogs about what things they learned from their recent exploits with the Jarvie Game
See what they wrote and then see what I wrote about my experiences with JaG

Disclaimer … It’s 3am… But I wanted to get this out before I post my next blog post announcing the winner of the JaG game.

I will re-edit this post later.

(more…)

Continue reading about What they learned – And what I learned

I try to make it to Photo meetups in the area when I can.

One of my favorites is the Strobist Meetup.

I’ve only been to 3 of them… but they’ve always been very informative for me.
Or at least a great chance to play with lights and do things I wouldn’t normally do in my shoots.

It’s not just girls I take pictures of… but i actually took some of some of the dudes.

(more…)

Continue reading about Fun with Flash

Find her essay about assisting me and the things she learned here:

My Response – I wrote out here but it was almost as long as your post…so I put it back on my blog, seems fair it should be something lots of people get to read that follow my photo-stuff.

(more…)

Continue reading about My response to an assistant’s essay

One Big post

I suppose I could do a write up on each of these. (And really milk you for your attention)
But it’s August and I have 9 weddings to take this month… including later today.

But I’ve changed up how I’m doing a few things and thought I’d write a little bit about each one and make it one power packed post
Instead of stringing you along and milking the marketing aspect of several posts.

Keep in mind this is a changing science… some of this stuff I just come up with out of thin air.
Sometimes its info I’ve gleaned from other sources and then changed it to fit my own needs.

I’m sorry I didn’t put in pretty pictures or reformat it to look nice… did I mention 9 Weddings (one today)

DroboPro

(more…)

Continue reading about My DAM changes (Digital Asset Management)

BLOG vs WEBSITE

I love this blog and I have a lot of fun showing off my new pictures and sharing tips to a whole lot of photographers.

But when a client calls they’ve never said… oh I loved your blog so much I want to hire you.
They do say that about my webiste

But then they continue to say they spent a long time checking out all the stuff on the blog.
I can tell it’s there on the blog they got to know my personality and what I’m like which helped seal the deal.

They often comment on how they liked my personality… I ask how do they know… usually they percieve it from, not only my writing but coming from the pictures as well.

I meant my present website to be for weddings only… But I also have plans to start making waves in the Family Lifestyle photography world.
It would be really good for me and is right down my alley.
So I need another website.

HOW TO MAKE WEBSITE

well don’t plan on making it yourself.
Takes way to much time and isn’t worth it.
Unless you’re loaded with money don’t hire someone either.

There are faster better options, that can get you up and running with a professional style website with tons of bells and whistles in a matter of 1-3 days.
The hardest thing you’ll do is picking… picking the site style and picking the pictures to go on it.

It’s impossible to have a website programmed for as cheap as the template websites offer.

And among the best of them is bludomain.com

(more…)

Continue reading about Building a website

Thought it would be nice to put the two of these together with the engagements I just posted of them

Are they technically called “Formals” since the groom was there too? I’m not sure

But since I wasn’t going to be around for the wedding (conflict of weddings) while i was there I did these.

Yes I know… It looks somewhat fake eh?

We did shoot middle of the day because I went 4-wheeling later that day.
So I was happy for the chance to get into some shade.

I do like that she had these flowers… they look real don’t they?!

They really liked these types of plants… I thought they were awesome.
I put the f stop up high to catch a bit more of the sun and of course flash to light up the foreground (them)

To view the full gallery, go to http://jarviedigital.smugmug.com/gallery/8945147_58bsd

View the rest of the post for more tips etc

(more…)

Continue reading about Alaska Bridals & Tips