Save The Date Photo by Jen O'Sullivan

New Blog

2009-05-13T00:57:00.000-07:00

I have a new blog! please go to http://www.jenosullivan.com

Proper Image Labeling for Clients

2009-04-29T11:52:00.000-07:00

Always, I mean ALWAYS, start off every image file name with the yearmonthdate_ followed by the number. For my own personal work I use the date followed by the original file name so I can easily find the RAW file again, however for your clients you will want to renumber them all starting with 0001. Clients tend to get fussy over seeing image breaks. They think you forgot to give them those files when in actuality you deleted them due to poor image quality, eyes closed, etc. I also include a one word description at the end of the file name so they can easily sort through them on their computer.

Here is how the file name should look:

20090429_0001_prep.jpg
20090429_0125_ceremony.jpg
20090429_0450_formals.jpg

TIP 1: Use underscores for information breaks and all lowercase. This is basic computer etiquette in proper file naming.

TIP 2: Image numbering should be consistent. If you only have 99 images, then start your numbering with 01. If you have 10,000 images start with 00001. Since I usually have over 1000, I use a four digit label: 0001.

TIP 3: keep the description short. If it is too long (20090429_0450_familygroupformal.jpg) your image may not read on another computer.

TIP 4: Why start with the year then the month then the day? If you start with the month: 04292009 you will end up with potentially out of order files since 0429 will come up again next year. If you start with the year, your files will never be out of order because 2010 will always come after 2009.

Happy labeling!

To view more of my photography browse my blog or visit my website.
Copyright 2009 Jen O'Sullivan

Creating Categories for Online Wedding Photo Previews

2009-04-29T11:36:00.000-07:00

Now that everyone is shooting like crazy and giving their clients well over 1000-1500 images, think about this: On average it takes a minimum of 1 hour per every 1000 images to look through (and that is for the no lallygagging viewer.) If all the images are lumped into one group it would be very frustrating and time consuming to find the one image they are looking for. This will also hurt your image sales if the client has a hard time locating what they want to purchase. Remember: we all have ADD when it comes to surfing the internet. Here are some helpful categories you may consider placing your image into before you show your clients:

1. Preparations
2. Bridal Portraits
3. Groom Portraits
4. Ceremony
5. Family Portraits
6. Newlyweds
7. Guests
8. Reception

TIP 1: Try to keep each category to under 300 images with the exception of the reception. If the reception is over 800 images think about breaking it up into sub categories like "candids" "guests" "cake-garter-bouquet"

TIP 2: Keep the number of categories to about 8.

TIP 3: Another category that I like to add in is "Photographers Faves." This helps my clients know which images I think are the best ones and it often helps them narrow down their favorites for their album.

My Categories are usually set up like this:

1. Photographers Faves
2. Preparations
3. Ceremony
4. Formals
5. Newlyweds
6. Reception
7. Photo Booth
8. Assistant

To view more of my photography browse my blog or visit my website.
Copyright 2009 Jen O'Sullivan

Portrait Lighting Using Reflectors

2009-04-28T22:17:00.000-07:00

Bright sun: too squinty. Under a tree: to dappley. What do you do? No usable shade (because, really, who wants a bunch of dots on their face?) and there is nothing but sun, sun, sun for miles. Diffusion panel to the rescue! Bring along an assistant and create your own shade. You can make your own by going to the art store and buying a 40x40 inch canvas frame (no canvas) and then find yourself some translum diffusion sheeting (only place in town I know of to get the stuff is at the Art Center Student Store in Pasadena.) Cut two pieces to fit on the frame and staple gun it down (one sheet on one side and one on the other.) This will cost you a total of about $15. Okay, seriously just go buy a 5 in 1 disc for 30 bucks.

You will get:
1. translucent (the one you will use most for the above situation)
2. white (for fill light -- great for eyes)
3. black (for negative fill -- to create deeper shadows)
4. gold (to warm up skin tones)
5. silver (to cool down skin tones)

I really only use the translucent and the gold.

To view more of my photography browse my blog or visit my website.
Copyright 2009 Jen O'Sullivan

Taking Family Photos at a Wedding

2009-04-27T14:17:00.000-07:00

In the old days circa 1980, photographers would take one to two hours to do the family group formal photos. The photographer would set up lights and have several assistants running around making sure everyone in the shot was absolutely perfect. The issue back then was, these were the shots he made most of his money on so it was imperative that the shots were perfect. AND, don't forget, he was shooting film so everyone in the photo had to be looking at him without blinking in at least one shot. Today, I can just swap out a head in Adobe PhotoShop if that person happened to not look their best. Brides and grooms no longer want to take an hour or more for these portraits. They want to get to their guests and their party. Here are some tips to help make the formal portrait session go as smooth as possible.

1. Get a list from the bride BEFORE the wedding. (See below for a sample list)
2. Have the bride and groom select one person from each side (2 people) to help you organize the groups. This person, who should be a bold type "A" person, will be in charge of gathering the groups before the photo is to be taken so they are waiting in the wings ready to go.
3. Position the bride and groom and tell them to stay put.
4. Have family members on either side facing the couple so they are filed in behind each other at a 45 degree angle. This will save you space and make most people look thinner.
5. Never let people put their arms around each other since this will make them look odd.
6. Watch the bride's dress. It does not need to be fanned out but if she wants it to be make sure whoever is standing next to her gets close and shuffles their feet under her dress.
7. Take 6 photos of each grouping to make sure you get a good one.
8. Do not allow other photographers (family with cameras) to shoot over your shoulder. If you allow this to happen while you are shooting you will end up with photos where only a few people are looking at you and everyone else is looking at other cameras. If you choose to allow others to shoot, kindly ask them to wait until you tell them it is okay. After you take your photos then direct the group to look at the other person's camera. YOU NEED TO TAKE CHARGE SO PEOPLE KNOW WHO IS IN CHARGE. If you are meek behind the camera, you will need to hire an assistant who is not meek and who can be a loud, bold yet polite director.
9. Start with the largest family grouping first. I often start with a big group photo of both families combined. When everyone is there I have a captive audience to tell them to NOT go wandering off until they are released otherwise they will most likely miss their photo since it will only be about 20 minutes to get through everyone.
10. Try to fit any grandparents in the beginning of the session if they are too old to wait around for 20 minutes.

Formal Grouping Sample List
1. Entire Combined Family (Both Sides)

Bride's Side:
2. Bride and Groom with Bride's Entire Family
3. Bride and Groom with Bride's Immediate Family
4. Bride and Groom with Bride's Parents
5. Bride and Groom with Bride's Siblings
6. Bride and Groom with grandparents
7. Bride and Groom the Smith Family
8. Bride and Groom with the Jones Family

Groom's Side:
9. Bride and Groom with Groom's Entire Family
10. Bride and Groom with Groom's Immediate Family
11. Bride and Groom with Groom's Parents
12. Bride and Groom with Groom's Siblings
13. Bride and Groom with Groom's grandparents
14. Bride and Groom the Thomson Family
15. Bride and Groom with the Connor Family

You get the idea. Make sure you get this list before the day of the wedding so you can rearrange it for the best flow. Print two copies out for the day of the wedding and try to get it all on one page. Give one copy to the person in charge of helping you at the time of the picture taking.

TIP: Tell everyone in a large group "if you cannot see my lens then it cannot see you."

To view more of my photography browse my blog or visit my website.
Copyright 2009 Jen O'Sullivan

Uplift YOUR Economy

2009-04-24T13:10:00.001-07:00

In today's down economy we often forget about our own individual economy. That's right. Think about this: what is going on outside is drastically affecting your own world inside your home and life. I often forget that I still have to take care of me every once in a while. If I let the economy take me down with it then I am no good for anyone. Today I scheduled an in-home massage with certified massage therapist, Denise Plummer. If you live in the Santa Clarita or Castaic areas, she is the ONLY person to call. 661-714-6637 You will not find a better masseuse for the price ($65) AND best of all she comes to you. This is such an important thing for me because it saves me the travel time and I can continue "my" time with a hot bath right after she leaves. A tip for anyone that wants deep tissue like I get: right after the massage take a hot bath with Aveda's Soothing Aqua Therapy salts. Taking a 10 minute salt bath right after a massage will drastically help your muscles rid themselves of the toxins Denise works out of them. The best part about the entire experience: you feel refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to conquer that crazy economy outside of your home!

AVEDA by Aveda For women Soothing Aqua Therapy Bath Salts--/16OZ(Skincare - Body Care)

Wedding Wire Bride's Choice Awards

2009-04-23T22:44:00.000-07:00

Wow! I won another award that I had no idea about! Wedding Wire (one of the fastest growing wedding planning websites) has selected me for their 2009 Bride's Choice Award. Wedding Wire is a great way to truly find out if the vendor is good or not because real brides give honest feedback on their services. At this moment, my company has the highest number of referrals thanks to all my super supportive clients. Here is what the award is from the mouth of Wedding Wire:
"The Bride's Choice Awards recognizes vendors from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellent quality of service, responsiveness, professionalism, value of cost and flexibility. Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the company, the Bride's Choice Awards are determined exclusively by recent newlyweds (brides and grooms) through surveys and reviews. Our winning vendors have set the bar high for this competition, demonstrating excellent service and expertise in their industry."
Thanks everyone for all your support!!! To check out my Wedding Wire site, click HERE.

Staying Healthy

2009-04-23T18:30:00.001-07:00

As a wedding photographer it is imperative that I stay healthy. I have sinusitis which tends to give me problems during cold season. I literally used to go through an entire big box of tissues in one week. When I shot weddings in the past I would have to take a decongestant just so I would not have any issues, however I would shoot the entire day with cotton mouth from it drying me out completely. Two and a half years ago I stumbled on a product called Juice Plus+. Neither my husband, my 16 month old kid, nor I have been sick the entire time we have been on it. For me and Tim that translates to two and a half years of no colds or flues, and for Jacob his entire life. If you are interested in finding out more about Juice Plus+ and what it can do for you check out my referral page. I promise, it is worth your time in gold to research this stuff! To not being sick anymore! YAY!!!

Sigma 50mm 1.4 EX DG HSM Lens

2009-04-20T14:16:00.000-07:00

Technical Info:
Lens: Sigma 50mm 1.4 | Camera: Canon 1D MarkII
ISO 100 | f1.4 | 1/640 sec.

Last month I purchased the Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM instead of getting the Canon 50mm 1.2 saving myself a bunch of money ($460 for the Sigma compared to $1,380 for the Canon) and potential headache. Click HERE to read more on the headache factor. Having used this lens for most of April I can honestly say I love it. The speed is good and the bokeh factor is so much better than that of the Canon 1.4. The only drawback was having fun with the little 58mm barrel size of the Canon 50mm 1.4 compared to the larger 77mm barrel size of the Sigma 50mm 1.4 when doing reverse lens mount macro shots. The 77mm is a bit too large to cover over the entire camera body opening and so you cannot get as clear and crisp an image as the the Canon (more light flair.) I am sure the same would be true for the Canon 50mm 1.2 with a 72mm barrel size, however I have not tried it in the reverse position.
Most comparisons you will read are between the Canon 50mm 1.4 and the Sigma 50mm 1.4 however, I feel that other than the aperture size, the Sigma 50mm 1.4 compares more to the Canon 50mm 1.2 due to size, mechanics, blade construction, reduced aberrations, focus methods, the lens coating methods, and the fact that it is weather sealed. All these important factors make the Sigma 50mm 1.4 a much better choice over the Canon 1.4 which is $400. Honestly, why would you NOT buy the Sigma for an extra $60.
I tend to buy all my lenses through Amazon because they have the best return policy and usually the best price. Make sure you test any lens you buy within the first 30 days to make sure you do not have any front or back focusing issues. (click the above headache factor link to learn more about focus problems with lenses.)
Below are a few links to get you to the Sigma Lens and the Canon 1.4 should you REALLY want to have the ability to shoot macro with it held inverted.

CANON USERS:
CANON 50mm 1.4
Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM Standard & Medium Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

SIGMA 50mm 1.4 for Canon Cameras
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

NIKON USERS:
NIKON 50mm 1.4
Nikon 50mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

SIGMA 50mm 1.4 for Nikon Cameras
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

To view more of my photography browse my blog or visit my website.
Copyright 2009 Jen O'Sullivan

Engagement Shootout

2009-04-15T12:41:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I hosted an engagement shootout with 24 photographers and 20 couples through my Photo 210 Wedding Photography class at College of the Canyons. Tonight I will be giving the critique on all their photos and teaching them how to archive and submit all the photos to their "clients." Here are a few shots from the day.

Jaysen and Eryc: One Happy Party

2009-04-12T11:13:00.000-07:00

There are happy people, and then there are Jaysen and Eryc (and all their friends and family.) These people were so joyful throughout the entire party it made my job easy! Here are some of he great moments from the day.

To view more of my photography browse my blog or visit my website.

Jaysen and Eryc: The Food

2009-04-11T23:30:00.000-07:00

Jaysen and Eryc sure knew who to pick when it came to their food. Cindy of RSVP is so good at what she does and I recommend her to everyone! Here is a sample of her handy work.

To view more of my photography browse my blog or visit my website. Cheers!

Jaysen and Eryc

2009-04-11T23:23:00.001-07:00

Today was such a beautiful day for a wedding: blue skies and big puffy clouds. The afternoon was filled with love and friendship and some of the best wedding vows I have heard to date (and I have heard a lot!) Here are just a few of my initial edits. More to come!

CONGRATS, JAYSEN AND ERYC!!!

To view more of Jen's work browse my blog or visit my website.

Portrait Studio

2009-04-09T23:33:00.000-07:00

The hot new thing at wedding receptions is a photo booth. You know, those stand alone boxes that your guests can cram a bunch of people in and take fun photos. The new ones are even equipped with a video monitor on the outside so people can see what everyone on the inside is doing. Very fun! Actually, it is too fun. I have been told by people who have had one of these booths at their wedding that it detracted too much from the party because everyone was too involved with the fun of the booth. Since 1999 I have been setting up portable portrait studios to take fun formal or candid shots of people at events. They are so much more elegant and the outcome is always more professional because you will have controlled beautiful lighting with an actual photographer shooting the portraits. This will get everyone involved at your wedding from the little kids to the grandparents. It is also not distracting because people get their portrait taken and then they go back to the party. The best part about it: you are providing your guests with something truly unique and unusual. They are looking their best and are usually with a loved one so they are able to take advantage of getting a professional portrait without having to pay the photographer's fees. Of course, we always try to take some informal ones as well. Something for you as the bride and groom to think about is to make prints for each guest to include in your thank you cards after the wedding... what a priceless gift! Here are some shots from Chris and Jessica's wedding at the Ebell Club in Long Beach.

I always try to take a photo of me and my crew at each wedding, so here is one from this wedding.

To view more of my wedding work visit my website at www.jenosullivan.com

FILM!

2009-04-08T19:45:00.000-07:00

Two weekends ago I shot a few rolls of film at Chris and Jessica's wedding down in Long Beach. It was fun and stressful all at the same time. Fun: I have not shot film at a wedding since 2004 (yikes!) Stressful: My film camera for 35mm is a Nikon F5. I now shoot all Canon. If anyone has ever shot both at the same time, which I did that day, they can understand why it was a bit stressful. It was like working on a Mac and a PC simultaneously. Everything is reversed with each manufacturer. Canon lenses screw on clockwise and Nikon lenses counter clockwise. The buttons are all in just slightly different places to make it hard to switch back and forth. I will say the most frustrating thing was waiting for the film. As you may know from past posts, I pretty much cannot wait to get home from an event to see what I got. Even if it is well past midnight, I have to look through all the photos. I had to wait a week to get the three rolls of film back and I had to not think about it because it was driving me crazy with anticipation! The funny thing is, after getting the film back it looks so dated; like it was shot in the 70s. Digital has really come a long way. It definitely has a different look to it. Feel free to compare. Click HERE to see the digital shots from their wedding. I would love to hear your comments.

Grandparent's Day at Mayfield

2009-04-08T00:09:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite non-wedding things I get to do each year is photograph the Mayfield Senior School Grandparent's Day in Pasadena. I love seeing the generations and how much these kids are loved. The grandparents are all invited to shadow their grandchildren for a day at school. I get to photograph them in their classrooms and then also for some fun informal portraits out on the lawn. One of my "tricks" to get more interaction is to have the grandpa to kiss the grandchild on the cheek or vice versa. This often elicits laughter afterward which makes for great photos. Sometime, the actual "kiss" is a great shot too.

To view more of Jen's work go to www.jenosullivan.com

Jeremy and Amber

2009-04-06T02:02:00.000-07:00

Today my job was to party with a truly special couple, Jeremy and Amber. They were married at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu. I had such a great time, I was shocked at how the time flew and before I knew it I was saying my good buys. I always feel like it is Christmas morning when I get home. No matter how tired I am I always have to look at a few of the photos. Here are some of my favorites just from skimming through the 3200 shots taken today.

To see more of Jen's photography click here.

Devin and Elizabeth

2009-04-05T00:01:00.000-07:00

What a happy day today was. Living in Valencia everyone always wants to get photos done at Bridgeport, however they have really strict permit laws and you can really only shoot there if you are having your wedding there. I have lived here for almost 4 years and this was the first wedding I shot there (I have done a few illegal portraits, but don't tell anyone!) Devin and Elizabeth were such an easy going, fully in love couple. Here are a few of my favs from the first part of the day. Congrats you two!

To view more of Jen's photography click here.

The Knot Best of Weddings Pick

2009-04-03T20:05:00.000-07:00

This week has been crazy busy. Between my end of March bride, and my beginning of April weddings, I have been booking like mad for the Fall. Today, in the mail, I received an award for "The Knot Best of Weddings 2008/2009 Pick" as voted by local brides. I am super curious as to how many of my past brides voted for me since I do not do any paid advertising online. It was such a nice surprise to get an actual plaque in the mail! Thank you to all who support me and my art. It is such an honor to know I bring joy to so many people through my lens. : )

2009 Engagment Shoot-out

2009-03-30T01:50:00.000-07:00

This afternoon I hosted an Engagement Shoot-out through my Wedding Photography class at College of the Canyons in Valencia. We ended up with 24 photographers and 20 couples. Each couple worked with 2-4 different shooters with 15-30 minutes for each round. I know there are a lot of wonderful photos from this afternoon and I look forward to the crit in two weeks. Thanks to all who participated and made this shoot-out a huge success!

Chris and Jessica's Wedding

2009-03-29T22:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had the pleasure of working with Chris and Jessica in Long Beach. They are good friends with a past bride of mine from a few years ago. The event was at the Ebell Club which has some beautiful architecture. The couple were so easy going and they had some of the coolest friends making my job so much easier. They requested I shoot a few rolls of film and let me tell you, it was great fun getting back to my roots. I can't wait to get the film back to see what I got. (strange to say that phrase again!)

New Toy

2009-03-27T21:48:00.000-07:00

Friday's are my days to decompress before a Saturday wedding. Tomorrow I am shooting a really fun couple at the Ebell Club in Long Beach. In preparation for tomorrow I tested out a new lens that came in the mail today. I had recently gone to the Pasadena photo show and done some research on a new lens that came out last year (2008): Sigma 50mm 1.4 (same basic specs as the Canon 1.4 but more beefy like the Canon 1.2 and weather sealed unlike the Canon 1.4) After looking through hundreds of comments on all three lenses, I decided to toss my Canon 1.4 and try the Sigma. For around $450 it has a better build than the Canon 1.4 more closely matching the 1.2 in the bokeh department. What I mean by this: the Canon 1.4 tends to compress (squish into semi-circles) the circles of confusion (blurry rings in the background from ambient smaller lights). The Canon 1.2 does not do this, nor does the Sigma 1.4. There are not too many "off" brand lenses out there that compare to the build and quality of a Canon or Nikon pro lens, but I though I would give it a try. A BIG thing with this lens in comparison to the Canon 1.4 is that it is weather sealed and the Canon 1.4 is not. In my book this is a big deal. So if you are in the market for a new lens, you might try this one out. I will give you my full opinion on it after I use it for a while. The above is a test shot from today of my little man, Jacob.
Settings: 50mm | ISO 100 | f/1.4 | 1/2000 sec.

CANON USERS:
CANON 50mm 1.4
Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM Standard & Medium Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

SIGMA 50mm 1.4 for Canon Cameras
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

NIKON USERS:
NIKON 50mm 1.4
Nikon 50mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

SIGMA 50mm 1.4 for Nikon Cameras
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

To see more of Jen's work go to www.jenosullivan.com
To learn more photo tips and tricks click here.

PHOTO 101: Wedding Photography Mistake #1

2009-03-27T20:52:00.000-07:00

The Looser

I was talking with a photography colleague of mine who was telling me a horror story of a lost CF card during a wedding. He had placed the card in a side pocket of one of his bags and forgotten about it. After a few days of searching with a huge lump in his throat he finally found it. Luckily his story ended well. Sadly, loosing imagery happens more than you might think. There are three things every photographer should consider:

1. Photographers who are shooting an all day shoot should be making duplicate copies of the shots while they are shooting on a separate hard drive and should not be deleting the cards as they shoot to make for more room. An experienced photographer will have 25-50% more card space than they typically use at any given event. A good hard drive to look into is the Jobo Giga One Ultra. I use the 120 gig and find it perfect for my needs to backup both mine and my assistants shots during the event.

2. The second issue is the card the photographer is using. Not all cards are created equally. You can find an QMEMORY 8 gig card for $30. Would I buy that card: absolutely not. I am sure they are okay cards, but I would not trust my livelihood with it. Also, I tend to only shoot around 300-4oo shots per card depending on the camera I am using. That translates for me to a 4 gig card. The reason for this is so I do not have all my eggs in one basket. If something does happen to the card, the entire wedding is not on that single 32 gig card. So for this reason you might look at a SanDisk Extreme IV 4 gig card for $60 or and 8 gig form $100. Other great pro cards are the HOODMAN RAW CF cards and the LEXAR Pro cards.

3. Lastly, how does the photographer backup their imagery once they get to their studio? If you are a client, always ask your photographer what their archive procedure is. I archive all the photos onto 2 Western Digital My Book 1 Terabyte drives and 2 640 gig drives, one DVD copy (DVDs are the worst way to archive since they only last a few years,) and two off-site archives houses. It is super important to me to never loose an image. Even in ten years from now, I am sure I will get some clients asking for a new copy of their images due to lost DVDs or poor back-up practices from their own discs I give them. I always assure them that they can come back to me any time for another copy should they need one. In the not too far future, everything will be up in space for virtual "grab" to whomever I allow access. Can't wait for that! : )

Be a good bride/groom and ask these questions, and for you photogs out there, be a good photographer and get a handle on your file safety.

To see more of Jen's work go to www.jenosullivan.com
To learn more photo tips and tricks click here.

See all 10 Wedding Photography Mistakes:
Mistake #1: The Looser
Mistake #2: The Unfamiliar
Mistake #3: The Truant
Mistake #4: The Time-line Crasher
Mistake #5: The Unprepared
Mistake #6: The Chimper
Mistake #7: The Do-Over Guy
Mistake #8: The Wrong Place Guy
Mistake #9: The Partier
Mistake #10: The Narcissist

The Snail

2009-03-26T19:33:00.000-07:00

So, while on our daily romp in the backyard today, I cam across a snail moseying across the ground. I thought he would be a worthy subject for my macro so I started to shoot. As I was taking some fun shots, Jacob came over to see what I was doing, promptly kicked the snail and then went over and stepped on him. As good fortune would have it for the snail, we are re-seeding our grass so it is quite muddy and he just sunk without consequence. Jacob went on his way, and I got a good belly laugh out of it. I also took some shots around the garden too. As you can tell by the spikes they garden is not exactly kid proof yet.

To see more of Jen's work go to www.jenosullivan.com
To learn more photo tips and tricks click here.

Engagement Shoots

2009-03-24T23:12:00.001-07:00

It is always a good idea to do an engagement session before shooting the couple's wedding for two reasons: it is good for you and good for them.
Why it is good for you: You meet and get to know them as a couple. You can teach them how you will be giving them direction the day of their wedding for their portrait session. You will be able to know if there are any quirks about them. I had one groom who would blink EVERY time I took his picture. Luckily I learned this about him at the e-shoot and not the day of his wedding.
Why it is good for them: They get to "test drive" you. In all honesty, if the couple did not like my style, then I would not want to shoot their wedding. I would WANT them to find someone who THEY feel comfortable with. I always tell people who have already hired their photog to make sure they do an engagement session because if they are unhappy with the results they should try to get out of the agreement.

Here are some tips and suggestions:

The Location
Pick a location based on the couple not you.
Think of a few locations that you like to shoot if they want ideas but always suggest a place that they like to go to.
Local Locations around Southern California (be aware of permit issues)
Beaches:
El Matador Beach
Laguna
Santa Monica
City Scapes:
Downtown LA:
Little Tokyo
Flower District
Los Angeles Farmers Market
Union Station
Pinks on La Brea (and all up and down the street, great galleries and thrift/antique stores)
Pasadena (Old Town in the back alleyways behind the shops parallel and south of Colorado Blvd.)
South Pasadena:
Fair Oaks Pharmacy and Soda Fountain
The Rialto Theatre
Parks:
San Marino: Lacy Park
San Marino: The Huntington
La Canada Flintridge: Descanso Gardens
Agua Dulce: Vasquez Rocks
Stevenson Ranch: Mentryville
Theme Parks & Carnivals:
Santa Monica Board Walk
Disneyland
Magic Mountain
Knott’s Berry Farm
Local Carnivals and Fairs

The Best Time
Best time is one hour before sunset
Alternate time is at sunrise
Check out http://www.sunrisesunset.com

Advice to Give the Couple
Dress: Casual, earth tones, solids, no white pants, shoes that look good but you can walk in grass.
New clothes or unfaded clothes are best. If you choose black it must be new.
Make sure things are clean and wrinkle free.

Props: Only if they want something fun like picnic items, blanket, bicycle, etc.

Hygiene: If the guy sweats a lot tell him he should bring a handkerchief and you might want to bring some blotters. For the girl, natural is best. Tell her to do her makeup as if she were going on a date. This should not be a trial run for the wedding makeup as it is usually more heavy for the wedding. They should both get manicures and she should have her ring cleaned.

What to Bring
Everything on your person with backup equipment in your car.
You may want an assistant if you are doing any bounce/fill lighting or to hold your camera bag.

What to Wear
Think professional yet durable. Good sturdy shoes, a black shirt (not faded) and jeans are always good. You may be potentially getting on your knees or your belly to get some shots. A black shirt will help you to not reflect yourself in anything like their sunglasses or her ring.

To view more of Jen's work visit her main website.
To learn more about photography go to the PHOTO 101 Tips and Tricks Archives.

Bridal Show

2009-03-22T20:13:00.001-07:00

I had so much fun at the Glendale bridal show! I met soooo many wonderful future brides and grooms. I had a full team with me and we were able to take some fun photos of the newly engaged couples and give them take home prints. A professional portrait studio set up at your reception is an elegant way to say thank you to your guests. In this economy people tend to put family portraits at the end of the list if it is even on the list at all. With my portrait studio your guests can take full advantage of it at your reception and you, in turn can include a print in your thank you cards. This is such an intimate way to thank them that they will be touched beyond words. I am including a portrait studio in every package for free to those from the show. To view all the photos taken in the portrait studio click HERE.

Some friends took some photos too since their men were not around.

To view more of Jen's wedding photography visit her main site.

Curious Little Man

2009-03-20T17:51:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I may be just a wee bit biased but my Little Man Jake is so stinkin' cute! We have been calling him Mr. Independent because, pretty much he likes to roam around on his own. He is the most curious little bugger. I took these shots of him as he was climbing all over the place in our community park last week.

Mayfield Ring Night

2009-03-20T13:25:00.000-07:00

Mayfield Senior School is an all girls private Catholic school in Pasadena. I taught photography and media arts many years ago and instantly fell in love with the school: its history, the grounds, and of course the wonderful students. I no longer teach there, however I still keep them as one of my select few corporate clients shooting all their marketing and event needs. Last night was the Junior Ring Night where the Junior class is presented with their school ring in a beautiful ceremony. It is like a passing of the torch to those who will soon be the leaders of the school next year. To a great Senior year girls!

To view more of Jen's photography visit her main website.

Macro Floral Photography

2009-03-20T13:02:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I gave a private lesson to a long time student of mine in Pasadena. She enters all sorts of contests and I come to her home about 2 times a month to tutor her on whatever she is working on. She was at the end of a project so I thought we would take a break and have some fun shooting in her garden and learning more about macro photography. She picked it up well, but commented on how disorienting it is to shoot with such a shallow depth of field. It is almost like when you get sea sick. One thing to remember when shooting macro is to shoot a lot of the same subject if you want a very shallow depth of field or raise your aperture to get more in focus. I tend to like the blurry look in my shots with only a small part of it in focus. I think on my next outing I will try stopping down all the way and see what I get. Here are some of my shots from the lesson.

To view more of Jen's work visit her main website.
To learn more about photography go to the PHOTO 101 Archives.

Wesley

2009-03-17T20:01:00.000-07:00

Technical: ISO 100 | 105mm | f4.0 | 1/15 sec.

I had the great honor of attending and photographing the 10th Anniversary Gala for The Wesley School. I had such a great time and had to hold back tears when they played the video. I hope Jacob will be able to attend such a great school when he grows up!
To view the full event, please go to http://www.pictage.com/630600

Technical: ISO 100 | 24mm | f10 | 1/15 sec.

Technical: ISO 400 | 24mm | f4.0 | 1/4 sec.

Technical: ISO 100 | 24mm | f4.0 | 1/15 sec.

Technical: ISO 100 | 32mm | f4.0 | 1/8 sec.

Technical: ISO 100 | 24mm | f4.0 | 1/4 sec.

Technical: ISO 100 | 32mm | f4.0 | 1/15 sec.

Technical: ISO 100 | 50mm | f4.0 | 1/15 sec.

Technical: ISO 100 | 105mm | f5.6 | 1/6 sec.

Technical: ISO 800 | 14mm | f3.2 | 1/4 sec.

Technical: ISO 100 | 50mm | f2.8 | 1/6 sec.

Technical: ISO 100 | 50mm | f2.8 | 1/4 sec.

Technical: ISO 100 | 60mm | f4.0 | 1/15 sec.

Technical: ISO 100 | 32mm | f4.0 | 1/15 sec.

Technical: ISO 100 | 73mm | f4.0 | 1/4 sec.

Technical: ISO 100 | 105mm | f4.0 | 1/4 sec.

Technical: ISO 100 | 24mm | f4.0 | 1/8 sec.

Technical: ISO 100 | 24mm | f4.0 | 1/6 sec.

Technical: ISO 100 | 28mm | f4.0 | 1/6 sec.

Technical: ISO 100 | 24mm | f4.0 | 1/6 sec.

To see more of Jen's wedding work go to http://www.jenosullivan.com

Jacob's First Salon Haircut

2009-03-14T16:03:00.001-07:00

Jacob got his first salon haircut by Nikole at Hairizons. Jacob was a prince and Nikole did a perfect job. He loved every second; up on his pedestal. So sweet!

PHOTO 101: Wedding Photography Mistake #2

2009-03-13T19:48:00.001-07:00

The Unfamiliar

Photographers often like shooting at locations they have already covered because they are familiar with the location. They know spots that work and ones that don’t. When you tell him of the great location you found and they reply, “I’ve never shot that location” you may consider doing a pre-scout. A pre-scout can help the photographer understand the dynamics of the location and not be hit with any surprises the day of. The only issue with a pre-scout is the lighting. You should do it within a few weeks of the event since the sun's position and intensity changes through out the year. The other issue is one of artistic excitement. While I cannot speak for other photographers, I get excited and my creative spark is ignited when I am going to an unfamiliar location. When I do a pre-scout I get excited for shots I want to get and then when the day comes the coordinator has set a table display right in the spot I wanted to shoot, or there is not enough time to do all the locations that we discussed at the pre-shoot when the actual day rolls around. My solution to both issues is to get to the location an hour early to walk the grounds. That way I am "on the hunt" for the fun locations and I can see what is going to work and what is not based on what is happening that day.

Mistake #3: The Truan t
Mistake #4: The Time-line Crasher
Mistake #5: The Unprepared
Mistake #6: The Chimper
Mistake #7: The Do-Over Guy
Mistake #8: The Wrong Place Guy
Mistake #9: The Partier
Mistake #10: The Narcissist

Click Here to Learn More Photography Tips and Tricks
To see more of Jen's wedding work go to http://www.jenosullivan.com

Creating Contact Sheets

2009-03-06T23:13:00.000-08:00

Here are some easy to follow directions on how to create contact sheets of your imagery using Adobe Photoshop CS3 and below. If you have CS4 you just open Bridge and under the "output" window you will create PDFs of all the images you want in contact sheets.

STEP 1:
Open Adobe Photoshop

STEP 2:
Click “File” and scroll down to “Automate” and select “Contact Sheet II”

STEP 3:
Under “Source Images” click the “Browse” button and select the folder where the images are that you wish to create contact sheets of.

STEP 4:
Under “Document” select the page size you would like to make (usually 8.5x11 for standard paper) with a resolution of 200-300dpi. I find that 200 is just fine for contact sheets.
Check the “Flatten All Layers” box.

STEP 5:
Under “Thumbnails” select the number of columns and the number of rows you would like and determine if you would like to “rotate for best fit” or not. Play around with this button to see which way you like better.

STEP 6:
Check the “Use File Name As Caption” box and select the font and size you would like. Make sure the font is small enough so none of your image file names get clipped. You will only see if this happens once the contact sheets are made. I usually use a 7 point font size for contact sheets with 4 rows and 5 columns and an 8 point fonts size for 3 rows and 4 columns.

STEP 7: Hit the “OK” button and watch as your computer automates the process. Once it is finished your contact sheets will all be open in Photoshop and ready to be saved.

STEP 8: Save each contact sheet by merging the layers (there will be a background layer and the one with all the thumbnails) and then saving it to the a folder in the original project folder labeled “Contact Sheets.” I like to automate this process too by creating an Action.

Click Here to Learn More Photography Tips and Tricks
To see more of Jen's wedding work go to http://www.jenosullivan.com

Assisting

2009-03-06T12:52:00.000-08:00

If you have never assisted a

wedding photographer before
or you have and you were never
given any guidelines, or you
need to hire an assistant and
do not know where to start,
here is something you MUST
read. If you are a pro and would
like to add something please
make a comment. Every shooter
is different so these are MY
guidelines for my assistants.
Be the best assistant you can
be so you can turn into the best
wedding photographer you can be!

What to Wear

Look professional
All black (no faded black)
Best outfit: Black button up tailored shirt with black slacks
Black rubber soled shoes, think comfy and quiet (NO SANDALS OR OPEN TOED SHOES)
No nickers or sleeveless tops
No jewelry
Hair tied back if it is long (think wind and hair flying in the frame)
No perfume or cologne (definitely wear deodorant AND antiperspirant)

What to Bring

Camera with extra battery (make sure your sensor is cleaned and batteries are charged)
Flash unit with at least 12 AA batteries (it is a good idea to buy rechargeable batteries and bring the charger with you.)
2-4 CF cards (4 gig is best at this point unless the lead shooter tells you otherwise.)
Cooler in car with two water bottles.
Black sweater or coat.

Your Responsibilities

Check that your camera’s date and time stamp are correct.
Format all CF cards
Preform basic camera settings check (ISO, Exposure, Shoot Mode, etc.)
Shoot in RAW Mode
Never delete ANY image while shooting. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. It helps the lead shooter know that all images were downloaded correctly by doing a quick frist/last number check and comparing it to the total number of images you gave them.

Wedding Day Etiquette

Always introduce yourself as the assistant.
Never eat hors d'oeuvres, even when asked if you would like one.
Never take an alcoholic drink from a server, even when asked if you would like one.
When you need to take a break or get a drink, let the lead shooter know and do so out of the sight of guests.
Eat dinner when & where the lead tells you (let them know prior to the event if you are a vegetarian, vegan, or have any unusual dietary needs.)
Client/guest interaction is okay in VERY small and short amounts.
Never have a lengthy conversation with anyone.
Take the shot and move on. Try not to chimp. If you are having issues, remove yourself from the sight of guests and figure out the problem. DO NOT stand in the middle of the dance floor staring at your LCD screen.
When shooting guest couple shots, always take two in case of blinking.
Never show your expression if you are unhappy with the shot.
If it is wrong say “Oh, you guys look GREAT! Let me take another one!”

Shooting Tip: Camera Mode for Night Time Reception Shots in Dim Conditions (MUST USE FLASH UNIT)

ISO 100
Mode set to Manual
f/8 at 1/8 sec. to 1/30 sec.
Flash set to ETTL +2/3
Omni Bounce on and flash head cocked to 45 degree angle
Be at a distance of 3 to 6 feet from guests. This means you must get in the action.

NOTE: All shots are owned by the company you are working for. Check with the owner to see what usage rights, if any, you have.

IMPORTANT: ALWAYS STAY OUT OF THE LEAD SHOOTER’S FRAME WHEN SHOOTING. DO NOT STAND DIRECTLY OPPOSING THEM. ALWAYS STAND TO THE SIDE AND SHOOT SO YOU DO NOT GET IN THEIR FRAME. IF YOU SEE THEM IN YOUR FRAME THEN THEY CAN SEE YOU IN THEIRS. MOVE AWAY WITHOUT CAUSING ATTENTION TO YOURSELF. IN OTHER WORDS, DON’T DUCK, JUST MOVE AT A NORMAL PACE.

Click Here to Learn More Photography Tips and Tricks
To see more of Jen's wedding work go to http://www.jenosullivan.com

Creating a Theme

2009-03-03T19:21:00.001-08:00

I am in the process of writing out my goals (practice what I preach!) and I am setting my theme for the year (better late than never.) My theme this year is "The Year of Development." I decided on this theme because it was the word that kept coming to mind when I asked myself "What do I want to get out of this year?" It works well with the goals I have set forth for both career and family. 2007 was the "Year of Growth," 2008 was the "Year of Nurturing," and 2009 is the "Year of Development." It is funny looking back how picking the theme in the beginning of the year really set the tone for the rest of the year. In 2007, after my theme was set, I changed my view on health and nutrition, subsequently became the healthiest I had been since high school and became pregnant in the first month of trying, cultivated an organic vegetable garden, and doubled my business in size and clients. This is just a few of the things that "grew" in 2007 including my belly! On New Year's Eve I gave birth to Jacob and coined the new year of 2008 the "Year of Nurturing" for obvious reasons. That year, however breathed new life also to my business with the start up of this blog and becoming a social networking addict by joining Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and Flickr. (feel free to click through to see my accounts.) I also was dedicated to nurturing my referral reviews through LinkedIn, Wedding Wire, and MyFoxLA where I have over 100 reviews from past clients. All this has lead up to 2009 and the "Year of Development." My goals now are (okay, here goes, I am officially putting it out there...)
1. Redesign my identity by April 1, 2009
2. Create brand new website by June 1, 2009
3. Book 30 weddings (remember, I am a boutique wedding photographer not a mass production one, so this is a big goal for me.)
4. Launch "Event Pros International" by May 1, 2009 (Identity, Website, Business Plan, DBA, etc. etc...) This one is also a biggie me and my business partner will take all the help we can get.
5. Get a few weddings published (I have yet to submit to any bridal magazines and I have resolved to do so this year!)
6. Win a few first place awards (I have yet to enter any WPPI competitions and I have resolved to do so this year!)

So, there they are in black and white. Now I have to make them happen!

Quote for the year: "Whatever you vividly imagine, ardently desire, sincerely believe, and enthusiastically act upon... it must inevitably come to pass." - Paul J. Meyer

VIEW OTHER HELPFUL BUSINESS PRACTICE ADVICE
Writing a Business Plan
Creating Your Catch Phrase
Goal Setting
Creating a Theme
Belief Setting

Belief Setting

2009-03-03T18:15:00.000-08:00

Be a True Believer. What exactly does that mean? Some might say fanatical, others might attribute it to religion. With regard to your business, I look at it as true success. With most things in life, our beliefs are why we do things, good or bad. We go through life based on certain convictions we think to be true. These convictions either help us or hinder us. The goal, then, is to have a belief system in place that will help us. Outlined below are three areas to consider on the path to True Believer with regard to your career.

Belief in Your Product
Whatever you do, in order to do it well, you must truly believe in your product or service. It is what people are going to part with their hard earned cash for. You must believe so whole heartedly in what you offer that you have no doubt in your mind people will want it and need it. Relate this belief to your own business in the space provided.
Example:
I know my business is desirable because... (list 3-5 reasons)

Belief in Your Company
Whether you work for someone or are your own boss, your company has its own standards, ethics, and philosophy by which it operates. These standards, ethics, and philosophies should closely mirror your own personal ones. If you don’t exactly know what they are if you work for someone else or haven’t written it down as a business owner yourself take a moment to do so.
Example:
My company is a solid company because...

Belief in Yourself
This is, quite possibly, the most important belief. It is the reason you will succeed or fail. Many of us were brought up in a world of “I can’t because...” We are full of excuses. But when it comes right down to it, 99% of the time you can (or could have if you only tried). The best attitude to instill in yourself and those around you is “You can do anything you put your mind to as long as you are willing to do the work.” If you believe in yourself and also are realistic about the effort you must put forth, anything is possible. I do not say this lightly. Understand this: nations have been created, life changing inventions have been made, diseases have been cured, people’s lives have been saved because of one individual’s willingness to try. Believe in yourself and believe that you can do whatever is needed to make your career a success. Take a moment to write out all the qualities you already have that are strong and positive. Also, write out a few steps you would like to take to help instill a stronger belief in yourself. You will also want to take some time to write out the areas you are weak in and create an action plan describing how you will strengthen that area.

VIEW OTHER HELPFUL BUSINESS PRACTICE ADVICE
Writing a Business Plan
Creating Your Catch Phrase
Goal Setting
Creating a Theme
Belief Setting

Goal Setting

2009-03-03T18:07:00.000-08:00

Goal setting is one of the most powerful tools you can use to grow your business. When you set your goals, WRITE THEM DOWN. It is said that people who set non-written goals have a 3-6% likelihood to accomplish those goals whereas people who write them down actually have a 60-80% likelihood of achieving them. Why is goal setting so important? It give us a map so we know where we are going. It breaks down the steps so we can see the steps working backwards. It helps you focus. It helps you change your habits for the better.
Have S-M-A-R-T Goals: Be specific about your goals. Make them measurable to track your success. Create big goals, but also give yourself more attainable ones that will help you get to your bigger ones. Make your goals relevant and important to you and a time-line by giving yourself a date you would like to reach the goal by.

Here are some helpful tips to get started.

STEP #1
Get a journal to write your goals down.

STEP #2
Decide on a theme for the year, such as “The Year of Growth” or “The Year of Simplification.”

STEP #3
Find a theme quote that encompasses that theme.

STEP #4
Number the following list in order of priority:
Career, Family, Spiritual, Self, Education, Adventure, Friendship

STEP #5
Title a separate page in your journal for each category.

STEP #6
On each page write a section for your 5 year goal (make it a big one!)
1 year goal, Monthly goal, and daily action plan.

“A goal properly set is halfway reached.” Abraham Lincoln

VIEW OTHER HELPFUL BUSINESS PRACTICE ADVICE
Writing a Business Plan
Creating Your Catch Phrase
Goal Setting
Creating a Theme
Belief Setting

Writing a Business Plan

2009-03-02T00:21:00.000-08:00

A business plan... yuck! Quite seriously though, it could make or break your business within the first year. If you have never written one, not to worry. I have outlined what I feel are some of the nine most important sections to cover. I have taken different areas from different formats, combined a few, and expanded on a few to make what I feel is a good place to start. The following will help you organize the sections of your business plan. Please be direct and to the point. This document is initially for you however it could be used when applying for a loan with a bank.

Page 1. Cover Sheet - Name of Company with complete contact information.

Page 2. Purpose Statement - This is your Mission Statement. You should be able to memorize this and it should only take you 30 seconds to state.

Page 3 and beyond
Section 1: Table of Contents - A clearly presented road map of your business plan.

Section 2: Executive Summary - A few paragraphs that describe your business clearly. Who you are, who your client is, how you are different, why clients will choose your services, future growth, financial start-up requirements, how the monies will be obtained and the payback time table.

Section 3: Competition - Who is your competition and what trends, products, and services you will provide to allow for future growth.

Section 4: Marketing Analysis & Plan - Describe your typical client, where they come from geographically, how you will obtain your clients, your retention strategies for growth, and customer service and satisfaction plan. What is your marketing strategy, pricing structure, guarantee policies, growth timetable, presentation of services, total yearly marketing budget, marketing effectiveness plan. Show your understanding of media, web, direct (face-to-face), social (web 2.0), direct mail, and other marketing strategies and costs of each.

Section 5: Operational Profile - Describe your operational procedures along with research and development with regard to trends and market influence on your business. Also discuss how your business will respond to a weaker market. How will you deal with your competitors, legal matters, and employees. What will your response be and how will you make corrections. State what type of business insurance you will need and show your understanding of riders since you will be working at various locations.

Section 6: Financial - This is a very important part of your business plan. DO NOT OVERLOOK THIS SECTION. Banks will often only look at this section so hire someone to look over it or help you create this section of you are unable to do it on your own. You will need your capital equipment and supply list, a Profit and Loss Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statements (for next three years), details of your first year broken down into months and quarters for your second and third years. You will also need to project what your cash flow will be. Income and Expense. This should be an educated guess based on your research.

Section 7: Time Table - You will create a dated time table showing when each part of your plan will happen. This will include when your financing needs to happen, when specific marketing campaigns will commence, at what point will your business be up and running.

Section 8: Summary of Needed Capital - What specifically is the money you need to start your business being used for. If applying for a business loan, you are better off asking for just the monies needed for equipment rather than operating capital. Banks will rarely loan for this but are much more willing to loan for things they can sell if you default on your loan.

Section 9: Supporting Documents - Tax returns for the last three years, copy of business license, resume.

Now go write yourself a winning business plan!

VIEW OTHER HELPFUL BUSINESS PRACTICE ADVICE
Writing a Business Plan
Creating Your Catch Phrase
Goal Setting
Creating a Theme
Belief Setting

Creating Your Catch Phrase

2009-03-01T11:11:00.000-08:00

What is a catch phrase? We are all familiar with a 30 second speech “30 second elevator speech” which is meant to elevate your business with just a few sentences. A catch phrase is something that helps your brand. Everyone who is selling something has a brand. A brand is something that sets you apart from others. For example, if you are involved in an industry that others are involved in, such as real estate or massage therapy, your brand describes what you offer that is different from the others? Why would someone chose you over the next person? We often tend to over explain what we do. While seemingly good, it often leaves the other person a bit confused because they cannot recall EXACTLY what you do. This is where your catch phrase comes in. A catch phrase is a 5-9 word sentence that describes what you do. The tricky part is to tell not just what you do, but what you do that stands out. Start out with “I am a...” or “I do..” and add your 5-9 words. An example might be “I am a wedding photographer.” A better description might be “I am a story-telling wedding photographer.” To take it one step further, “I am a wedding photographer that will make you cry.” The business catch phrase would read next to or below your logo or type treatment.

Whatever your catch phrase is, try to make it in sync with what you do but also interesting enough to stand out and be memorable. If you go past 7-9 words (7 words is proven to be the most effective) you will start to loose your audience. Here is a worksheet to help you get started.

CATCH PHRASE WORKSHEET

Step One: Write a 3-5 sentence paragraph describing what you do. This may be for your 30 second commercial.

Step Two: Circle the key descriptive words in the above paragraph and write them down.

Step Three: Start with the basic structure of your catch phrase. (ie. I am a student of photography.)
“I am_____________________________________________.”

Step Four: Elaborate on your phrase to include one descriptive term. (ie. I am an avid student of photography.)
“I am_____________________________________________.”

Step Five: Include something that sets you apart. (ie. I am an avid student of photography who captures life as it happens.)
“I am_____________________________________________.”

Try out several different versions. It may take multiple tries before you get just the right one. Once you think you have it, try it out on a few people and see what the reaction is. The moment you decide what the perfect catch phrase is, stick with it. You have now branded yourself. If you change it around all the time, you will continue to confuse your potential clients. Be smart, help your customers KNOW what you do.

VIEW OTHER HELPFUL BUSINESS PRACTICE ADVICE
Writing a Business Plan
Creating Your Catch Phrase
Goal Setting
Creating a Theme
Belief Setting

PHOTO 101: Copywork Basics

2009-02-24T22:49:00.000-08:00

Photographing artwork to show its design, color, function, and form can be tricky. The lighting should be color balanced, the exposure should be spot on, and the staging should show the item in it's totality. I usually like to take several close up shots to feature any special details of the item. The trick to copy work is to make it look good. Take fast food for instance. It is essentially copy work of the food item. Go to a family owned restaurant and you might be accosted by some pretty ugly food photography. It usually does not even look appetizing. The exposure is often too dark. The food looks dull and plain. The composition is uninviting. Etc. etc... Now take a look at a McDonald's BigMac that is prominently displayed as a 5 foot wall poster and that thing shines! It looks so juicy and perfect. The lettuce looks like it was just picked and washed with all the dewy drops of water and the meat is practically glistening. This is why food photographers are some of the most highly paid photogs on the planet. So when you think about doing copy work, put some effort into it. Consider EVERYTHING. It is not as easy as it looks.
Some tricks to help you along:
1. Use things to prop up paper and objects that are flat to give it a more dimentional look. I literally had a remote control under one object, my camera lens cap under another and one of Jacob's blocks under a third object all to create a nice diverisity in levels. The shadows from the lighting then help it all look more dynamic rather than a flat mess.
2. Use soft lighting to capture a more velvety look and hard light if you need to enhance or show texture on a surface. I typically use just one light. When I shoot paper I point the strobe head straight at the white ceiling in my studio to create a huge, very soft light source that is fairly even across a large area. This allows me to keep my metering to a minimum and my creativity to a maximum.
3. The surface that you shoot on does not always have to be a flat black or white surface. Consider what you are shooting. Cindi, the designer of the invites in this post has a very earthy style and so I felt the slightly destressed wood set her work off nicely. Play around with reflective surfaces and different textures but try to always use solid colors. You want the substrate to uphold the item you are working with not ditract from it.

Here is some copy work of some invitations that were designed by my sister, Cindi Garabedian ans shot by me today. She has recently decided to go full time again in the design world after taking only the most interesting freelance clients over the past few years while raising her two boys. She asked me to do some copy work of a few items that she wants to include in her portfolio. She does amazing work and if you are looking for a great graphic designer to do your identity system, high end invitations, or promotional materials she is back in business! Contact her at garabedian4@verizon.net

Poetry in Landscape

2009-02-19T17:45:00.000-08:00

At the beginning of the year I started a new group on Facebook called "Best of Wedding Photography." It is a group where professional and amateur photogs can submit their work and be voted by any and all members of the group. Members are both photographers and people who love to look at photography.

Each month I give out an assignment for the following month's contest. March's assignment is called "Poetry in Landscape." I often look at other photographer's work and the ones that truly take my breath away are the ones where the couple are surrounded by the surreal landscape. It is the shot that looks like it could hang on the wall as a huge canvas art print. It is all about the location, the lighting, the sky, the colors, the framing, and the couple's emotion. I think of these images as cinematic. Think about any of the big epic films you have seen with the beautiful wide shot of some amazing vista and then appropriately place a bride and groom somewhere in the shot: voila! The Money Shot! Please don't get it twisted, though. I am not talking about taking a great landscape photo and then super imposing a bride and groom from another shot in. Sure, if you are a PhotoShop wizard and can do it so NO ONE would ever know, then go for it. I am talking about being at the right location, at the right time, with the right couple. It doesn't happen very often, but when it does, it can be magical. The above shot was taken after we were finished shooting in the orchards. When we turned around to get in the car, the landscape, and the sky were just increadible. I actually felt bad that I was making them pose some more because it was soooo cold out and the warm car was waiting. TOO BAD! As a photographer when you see a shot, take it!

PHOTO 101: Wedding Photography Mistake #3

2009-02-19T14:38:00.000-08:00

The Truant
Your big day is here, you have been up since 5 in the morning getting your hair done. You are now getting the final touches of your make-up and you are about ready to put your dress on. Where’s the photographer? He was supposed to be here an hour ago! Your mom calls him and finds out he is stuck in traffic. This is typical of Los Angeles, but should not be typical for your wedding day.
ADVICE: Make sure your photographer understands the distance they need to travel and find out what amount of time they will be giving themselves to make that drive. In LA the photographer should give themselves at least 2 hours for for a 45 mile drive.

Mistake #4: The Time-line Crasher
Mistake #5: The Unprepared
Mistake #6: The Chimper
Mistake #7: The Do-Over Guy
Mistake #8: The Wrong Place Guy
Mistake #9: The Partier
Mistake #10: The Narcissist

Juicing

2009-02-16T18:56:00.000-08:00

The "I cannot believe I Just Drank That" Drink

A healthy photographer is one who can get in and out of situations with ease, and has enough energy to shoot an entire 14 hour day on their feet without skipping a beat. Drinking alcohol and smoking are out of the question if you are a wedding photographer (not good for business.) Even caffeine users may come up against some issues during a wedding when you cannot get a fix in. So, with that in mind, here is a good way to detoxify your life, shed some pounds, and have a ton more energy.
Every time I want to kick off better eating habits or rid my taste buds of my insane cravings for sugar (namely ice cream) I juice. I swear, within a day I have no more cravings for anything bad. You might even consider a 2-3 day juice fast. It will change your life. Try it, you may surprise yourself.
Here are a few great recipes that are quite good despite the ingredients (Jacob, my 13 month old loves every one, so you are sure to as well!)

The "Staple" Juice Drink (if you have never juiced before.)
4 Carrots and 2 Apples (core the Apples and cut the leaf end off the Carrots)

The "Tropical Breakfast"
4 Carrots, 2 Apples, 1/4 Pineapple (I have this for breakfast almost every day)

The "I Now Love Kale" Drink (who thought you could actually like kale, this one is so good you will want it every day!)
4 Kale leaves, 2 handfuls of Spinach (balled up tightly,) 5 inches of Cucumber, 1 apple, 1 pear, 1/4 Pineapple

The "I cannot believe I Just Drank That" Drink
2 handfuls of baby lettuce with dark green leaves and spinach, 1 Beat with the leaves, 2 Carrots, 1 cup Broccoli heads, 4 Asparagus stalks, 5 inches of Cucumber, 2 Granny Smith Apples (the green ones,) 1/4 Pineapple. (Okay, so I HATE beats and this drink was great! Jacob drank it down although be careful because it is red red red! Stains very easily.)

Tip #1: Try to buy everything organic if you are doing a fast for pure detoxing results.

Tip #2: Pineapple makes everything that is bitter taste good.

Tip #3: Run your green leafy vegis through first (ball them up really good) then collect them in the out shoot and run them through again with Carrots to push them through.

The "Tropical Breakfast"

On Gratitude

2009-02-12T13:43:00.000-08:00

I was hit today on the drive to La Canada with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Gratitude towards the life I have been blessed with. My husband, Tim, my little man, Jacob, my wonderful sister, mom, and dad, all my nephews, in-laws, and step family have all created aspects of my life that have made me who I am. I am ridiculously thankful for what I get to do for a living and laugh (out loud at times) at how many fun things I get to be a part of. Here are a few things that bring me joy:

Shoot Weddings: I get to play with some of the best people on Earth on their most joyous day of their life to date.

Teach: I can honestly say teaching brings light and life into my day. I get to teach at three campuses in Southern California and they all pull at different creative strings. Art Center College of Design in Pasadena for Bookbinding, College of the Canyons in Valencia for Wedding Photography, and Flintridge Preparatory School for Yearbook Design.

Be a Mom: Jacob is my love love love! He is now 13 months old and is quite possibly the cutest little man ever. Tim and I have a ton of fun with him, and I am sooooo grateful that he is an easy baby that LETS me do everything I do (with a little help, okay a lot of help from his dad!)

I have some of the best friends, colleagues, employees, and students anyone could ask for. Thank you to my collaborators in life! I wish you all the success you deserve and more!

PHOTO 101 ARCHIVE

2009-02-12T11:07:00.000-08:00

BASICS
How to Get an "A"
Archiving
Understanding ISO
ISO Offenders
Basic Camera Control
Understanding Manual Opperation
Image Concepting
Printing the Image
Assisting

BUSINESS PRACTICE
Writing a Business Plan
Creating Your Catch Phrase
Goal Setting
Creating a Theme
Belief Setting

LIGHTING
Basics of Lighting
Magic Hour
Strobe Kit

EQUIPMENT
Best DSLR for your Dollar
Lenses
Hard Drives
Printers

COMPOSITION
Composition
Fill the Frame
Tangencies

TIPS & TRICKS
Shoot Low
Shoot Through
Reflections
Understanding Depth of Field
HDR Imagery
Engagement Shoots

GENRES
Nature
Landscape
Macro
More Macro
Macro Floral
Studio Portraiture
Copy Work

TOP TEN WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY MISTAKES
Mistake #1: The Looser (Image Safety and Archiving)
Mistake #2: The Unfamiliar (Location Familiarity)
Mistake #3: The Truant (Showing Up Late)
Mistake #4: The Time-line Crasher (Knowing the Event Time-line)
Mistake #5: The Unprepared (Special Needs Locations)
Mistake #6: The Chimper (What Not to Do to Get Better)
Mistake #7: The Do-Over Guy (Missing the Shot)
Mistake #8: The Wrong Place Guy (Listen For Shots)
Mistake #9: The Partier (Don't Drink on the Job)
Mistake #10: The Narcissist (Get Over Yourself)

Bellisima Bridal Show

2009-02-11T13:13:00.000-08:00

It was a great show at the Valencia Hyatt. I met with so many great brides-to-be and I look forward to working with all of them! Congrats, here's to exciting times to come...

For the Love of....

2009-02-05T14:27:00.001-08:00

Macro!
Ok, I know it is a bit cheese but I love to take macro nature photography like so many other photographers out there. It is one of those things that truly makes me happy. I have never had a macro lens in the past because some of my other lenses will render pretty nice shots close up. On of my principal shooters, a, recommended this little gem that I wrote a post on a few months ago; the Sigma 50mm. There is a Canon lens that is a little better but it is a 100mm and is quite big and bulky. The point of the Sigma is that it is SMALL! I will only use it to shoot the ring shots so it doesn't make sense to buy ANOTHER big lens to lug around all day just for one shot. Here are a few shots from my mom's garden during my family birthday party.

A Break from the Norm

2009-02-05T14:12:00.000-08:00

The above and below photos were taken with a Canon PowerShot SD870

People who know me, know I rarely travel without my camera. It is most irritating to my husband and mildly irritating to my family. Because it is how I make my living, they often ask "can't you just relax!" The funny thing is, however, I AM relaxing when I have my camera. Ok, well, for everyone out there who wants me to take a break, I kind of did during the end of January. For two whole weeks I only took out my 5D once (the 1D stayed home) during my little birthday party to shoot some macro shots with a new "ring" lens I got and then the rest of the time I used my little point and shoot Canon. It was still not without a little irritation from my husband on our vacation when it took some convincing to leave the camera in our room on our third day on the slopes. So, for those of you who think it is all about the camera, here are a few shots I took with my crappy point and shoot (while my snowboard was still strapped on.)

be back soon...

2009-01-30T17:45:00.000-08:00

Hey all you loyal bloggers! I have been on a sort of hiatus (vacation, break, breather, holiday.) Whatever you wish to call it. I'll be back soon, so don't think I forgot about you!

Hope

2009-01-21T01:38:00.001-08:00

This image was shot 3 years ago but I thought it was fitting for both the inauguration of President Obama and Valentine's season. To a new start!

Engagement: Jeremy and Amber

2009-01-14T23:55:00.000-08:00

Today was a fantastic engagement photo shoot with Amber and Jeremy out off of Iron Canyon. It felt like a spring day only in the middle of winter! These two had no problem keeping up with my requests for them to kiss. Thanks for a fun break in my day of archiving and I look forward to working with you both!

PHOTO 101: Wedding Photography Mistake #4

2009-01-09T11:31:00.000-08:00

The Time-line Crasher

You have planned your wedding down to the second. It is a master piece fit for the LA Philharmonic. Every vendor has been given a time-line of where to be and when. Your big day is here and your photographer has no clue of the time-line or just plain forgot it. He has now made things impossible to go smoothly because he took too long taking the portrait session and too long setting up the lights that kept shorting out during the family photos.

As a wedding photographer I take the entire day off before the event. I decompress and memorize the time-line for the next day. Since I am the one service provider that is with the bride for practically her entire day, I also provide the service of answering "what time is it?" I have yet to see a bride or any of her bride's maids wear a watch. Oddly, you will never see me with a watch on unless I am shooting a wedding. It is the only time during my week when I need to know the time. Brides are always grateful that someone took the time to know (without having to look) the time-line. It takes a huge burden off her and allows her to go with the flow of the day.

Side note: there are brides who will NOT follow any time-line on the day of, even if she swears she is an on-time person and has nit-picked the time-line down to the second. When this happens it is really important that you go with the flow and literally work around her. Remember: it is her day.
Note to Brides: if you are looking for a photographer and are concerned that they might miss shots or mess up your schedule I always recommend getting their most recent clients contact info and actually calling them.

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY MISTAKE #6 The Chimper
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY MISTAKE #7 The Do-Over Guy
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY MISTAKE #8 The Wrong Place Guy
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY MISTAKE #9 The Partier
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY MISTAKE #10 The Narcissist

Back in Time: A Poem by my Great Grandmother in 1899

2009-01-03T23:33:00.000-08:00

A PHOTOGRAPH

Only a Photograph
Among a hundred others.
But how it glows!
As his touch o’er it hovers,
The dark eyes flash
Then gaze as a true lover’s
When they meet mine.

Passing it lightly by?
Dear friend. . . does it mean no more to you
Than any other?
Smiled it not on you when brought to view
From out the heap?
Bringing to your eyes hot drops of dew
As fill my own?

You’ve dropped it!
How came you by such thoughtlessness?
Let me pick it up!
See! What reproachful gentleness
Glows from its eyes. . .
Pardon you? Most certainly. Yes.
(How could he know?)

By Grace Alldredge (my great grandmother)
October 26, 1899
Des Moines, Iowa

The poem is about the above photograph of one of her many "sweethearts" in her 20's. His name was Wellsley Hux Greathead and it was taken in November of 1897 in Marshalltown, Iowa.

This is Grace Alldredge taken in 1895 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Wedding Photography: How I got started

2009-01-03T10:55:00.000-08:00

I often get asked how I got started as a wedding photographer and who I used for my wedding. The short answer:
My start: Joe Buissink
My wedding photog: Laura Kleinhenz of Docuvitae
The long answer:
My sister, Cindi got married 11 years ago and used the then fairly unknown wedding photographer, Joe Buissink for the unheard of price tag of $4,000. They got him just before his prices skyrocketed and he became practically untouchable by us mortals (price-wise). Joe is now a legend in the wedding photography industry pretty much doing celebrity and high high end weddings. At the time he, along with one of my Art Center instructors, Kathleen Clark were two of only a handful of documentary photographers shooting weddings. When I saw the outcome of his work at my sister's wedding, I was in awe, but not yet hooked. I was studying at Art Center to join the ranks of the now dwindling advertising photographer crowd. Once out of school, armed with my trusty agent Lisa Ellison, I was out to conquer the photography world. It only took about 4 years to realize I absolutely DID NOT want to have anything to do with this world. It sucked the life right out of me and made me realize the type of life I wanted was down a different path. I was told at Art Center, that as a woman, if you wanted to be a successful photographer you would not be able to have kids (or at least I would not be able to be a normal mom). This always shocked me and anyone who knows me knows I am a "have it all, do it all" kind of gal. Then, in 2003 the marriage proposal came from my High School sweetheart (okay, Junior High School crush) Tim O'Sullivan and the search was on. As an advertising photographer (starving photographer is more like it) how could I find the right wedding photographer. All I found in my hundreds of hours of searching were a bunch of over priced, under qualified photographers who lacked any sense of artistry and passion. There were only two worthy wedding shooters I knew of: Joe Buissink and Isabel and Larry, who are family friends. Joe was so off the charts for my sad little photo budget as were Isabel and Larry of Isabel Lawrence even WITH a friend discount. Then I stumbled on Laura Kleinhenz. She was also out of my budget but was willing to trade part of her fees in custom binding services for some of her high end clients. Although I do not do binding full time anymore, I still do the occasional custom book for brides who want and can afford it. (See Little Book Bindery for more info.) She was so great to work with and shot the entire wedding in film with more of an artistic photojournalistic style. Her work is very different from my own and she captures things in ways that are so deeply beautiful. After realizing there were not that many people doing any work that stood out I decided to jump into weddings full time. I had shot a few weddings for friends over the years since 2001 and knew I liked it so it seemed to be the perfect fit. Weddings on the weekends -- wife, mother, teacher during the week. I started to steadily work myself out of work keeping only the best clients doing (and still do) marketing materials and annual reports for Private Schools, and I opened up Save The Date Photo in 2004 and never looked back. I can now say that those instructors at Art Center were dead wrong. While wedding photography is not looked on as a photography profession at Art Center, in my mind it encompasses everything I learned there. At every wedding I am able to photograph architecture, still life, editorial, fashion, portraiture, food, and even cars. I love how diverse it is and I do not have to deal with picky art directors telling me how to do my job (although I do get the occasional aunt or mother who likes to put their two cents in). My life is basically this: party with some of the happiest people on the planet, eat some cake, do what I love, and then hang out in my pajamas the rest of the week while archiving and playing with my husband and son. I do have it all and I am loving every second of it. Who knew work could be fun, rewarding, and pay the bills all at the same time.

Jacob: ONE AT LAST!

2008-12-31T23:44:00.001-08:00

We did it! We made it through Jacob's first birthday. What a day! We had 41 guests at the event so it really worked out well that we were able to do it at our clubhouse. I do not think we could have fit everyone in our place. The kids seemed to have the best time and Jacob walked, crawled, climbed, and squeezed his way around everything and everyone. I even caught him sipping from other kids juice boxes, eating from other kids plates, and pretty much grabbing anything he could get his sticky little hands on while I wasn't around. Here are some of the shots from the day. To check out all the photos go to his new Facebook Page and become a fan of our little Jacob! Happy New Year, and Happy Birthday, Jacob!

Jacob: Mourning the Passing of His Infancy

2008-12-31T00:00:00.000-08:00

It is official. Jacob is no longer an infant. I took some photos just before midnight on December 30th to document his passing from infancy to toddlerhood. He is definitely toddling all around, but he still looks so little and innocent while he sleeps. Happy Birthday Little Man!

Weddings: Best of 2008

2008-12-30T07:52:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday finalized my wedding season. What a great year, and I have to say a big thanks to all my couples! In coming up with what I feel are the best shots of the year, it was a ton of fun remembering all those beautiful days I was blessed to participate in. With over 50,000 images shot on just weddings this year, believe me when I say, it was hard to choose! So, here they are: what I feel are my best shots from the year. (and these don't even cover the incredible shots any of my assistants shot or the solo weddings shot by my other principal shooter, Shay.

Wedding: Steven and Danielle

2008-12-28T23:31:00.000-08:00

Today I worked with two totally in love people on what could not have been a more beautiful day in December down at the Laguna Beach Surf and Sand Resort. Danielle and Steven were such a delight to photograph and their friends and family made the event worth every moment. I have never seen the entire party on the dance floor at once! They had a fantastic band which always helps. Here are a few of my favorites. Thanks, Danielle & Steven, and congratulations!

Jacob: 3 Days Until He Turns 1

2008-12-28T09:54:00.000-08:00

The countdown continues. This morning while doing my normal camera check before today's wedding, I took a few snaps of Jacob playing. We got him a Curious George for Christmas, and oddly enough it is his favorite stuffed animal. He has a ton of stuffed animals, but George is the only one he actually plays with. I guess we selected the right theme for his first birthday (Curious George of course!)

Jacob: Tiny Parts

2008-12-27T17:02:00.000-08:00

As the countdown continues to Jacob's New Year's Eve Birthday, I thought I would focus today on his tiny parts: fingers, toes, mouth, eyelashes. He was such a good model today and stayed extremely still for all the photos. I guess it helped that he was sleeping!

Jacob: All Tuckered Out

2008-12-26T23:46:00.000-08:00

It was not hard getting Jacob to sleep tonight. He crawled out of my arms while rocking him in the rocking chair and promptly lied down, face down, on the floor. He had had enough and was ready for bed. I picked him up, placed him in his crib, and he went right to sleep. All tuckered out from the last two day's excitement!

Jacob: First Christmas

2008-12-25T23:32:00.000-08:00

Jacob's first Christmas come and gone. He had a blast and seemed to enjoy all the hoopla. He especially enjoyed his new truck!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas! My warmest wishes for a joy filled day today for you and your family where ever you are and in whatever way you celebrate family, friends, and life. May you have a truly blessed day!

Jacob: Christmas Eve

2008-12-24T23:59:00.000-08:00

Well, we did it. We got through our first Christmas eve with Jacob. We celebrated at my sister's home in Dos Vientos Newbury Park. There were presents galore for Jacob. I think he came out on top for the most presents. He, surprisingly was more into his actual presents than the paper as most parents have warned us.

Jacob: 9 days and counting...

2008-12-23T21:27:00.000-08:00

Be prepared to see new photos of Jacob every day until January 1st. The little guy has been the most fun to photograph over the past year. Seriously, though, I could not have asked for a better subject. He is always willing to put up with me and he even sometimes plays a bit to the camera as if he knows exactly what he is doing. A friend of mine, Sheila wrote about one of his recent photos, "I finally figured out why his pictures are so captivating....it's his eyes...they are profoundly soulful..." That comment made me smile because I felt like, as his mom, I was the only one to see this. Jacob has brought a ton of joy to Tim and my life. I thank God for him every day!

Wedding: Chris and Anita

2008-12-23T02:47:00.000-08:00

Chris and Anita decided to do some "after-the-fact" wedding portraits since at their actual wedding they were so worn out from all the planning that they were not thrilled with what their photographer was able to produce. They wanted to take a bit more time with the photography without the worry of wanting to be with their guests. These two were very fun and pretty much willing to do anything. Their love is apparent and it is expressed by lots of laughter as you can see in some of the photos. Congrats you two!

Jacob: Walking

2008-12-22T23:06:00.000-08:00

So, I finally caught one of him walking. Not the best shot, but it shows the great blue tree my friend Kelly got him for Christmas. He then promptly went over to the stairs to do his 15th trip of the day to the top. Man, that kid is fast!

Jacob: Almost One and Finally Walking

2008-12-22T12:36:00.000-08:00

We have been counting down the days to Jacob's first birthday. He has been walking around holding on to things for about 2 months. On Thanksgiving he stood for the first time unassisted for a full 30 seconds. Over the past two weeks he has been taking one or two steps from one object to another, sort of "falling" towards his destination. We didn't quite think that was considered his first steps. We decided it had to be walking unassisted towards nothing. Well, on December 21st, he did just that. I was at church in the nursery when I saw him stand up and walk straight into the middle of the room. He took about 4 steps and then fell down. It was GREAT! Then, when we got home, he walked the entire length of our bathroom before he fell. This is about 9 feet in length. So, there you have it: Jacob's first steps. Too bad I didn't have the camera ready! Here are some shots from today. I just love that little face!!!!!

PHOTO 101: Printing

2008-12-20T16:53:00.000-08:00

How do you like to get your photos from your photographer?
Just on CD with no proofs... CD with proof sheets... CD with proof prints... no CD, only prints straight from the photographer... prints from a professional online printing site loaded by the photographer...
The reason I ask: Most of my clients want their files so they can get them printed wherever they want. The main problem with this (and why many photographers will not give the files until your main print orders have been placed through them) is you will tend to go to Costco, Target, or some inexpensive online place like Kodakgallery or Snapfish. Here is what happens: no matter how great the photo is the print will always be yucky. Too dark, funky colors, etc. So, all that money you spent on the photography is now wasted on machine prints. At a professional lab the photo is optically printed, meaning someone actually looks at it and it then gets inspected for color balance and accuracy before it gets shipped to you. I encourage anyone who pays for professional photography to pay for professional prints as well. It makes all the difference in the world!
Please tell me your thoughts on my Save The Date Photo page on Facebook dedicated to Family Portraits. Become a fan and you will be eligible for valuable discounts towards my services!

Family Portrait: Tumbas Family

2008-12-20T13:39:00.000-08:00

What great fun this family was! Last Friday I met the Tumbas family at Lacy Park in San Marino. We walked all around the beautiful park and they let me sit them on the ground several times (thanks!) Just a side note to anyone thinking of getting a portrait done with me: I often will have you sit on the ground or in unusual places so make sure you don't wear white pants or something you do not want to get dirty. They were very obliging. There was a lot of laughter with this group. They obviously have a great family dynamic. I took some extra photos of Elise and her fiance, Michael... I couldn't resist, being a wedding photographer and all. : ) Thanks for letting me play with you guys!

Happy Holidays from The O'Sullivan Family

2008-12-15T21:06:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays! This is the first ever O’Sullivan Family holiday letter. I hope it finds you well and blessed.

As you all know, this past year has been a whopper! Ringing in the New Year, I gave birth to Jacob Timothy O’Sullivan on New Years Eve day at 2:31. What a wonderful experience it was to start off 2008 with my new family. Jacob has been such an intense joy to both me and Tim. We always look at each other and say with big smiles on our faces, “So much better than a dog!” Surprisingly he has been an incredibly easy going and happy baby. As a photographer, there has not been a lack of photos of the little man; I have almost filled an entire 500 gig hard drive with photos of him. He is, however, starting to ignore me when I pull out the camera. It is becoming increasingly hard to get him to smile let alone even look in my general direction. LOL! That is our Little Man… he has a strong mind of his own.

On the business front, this was quite possibly my busiest year ever with 22 weddings, 14 events, and 93 family portraits! Weddings are what I love most and am thrilled to be chosen by my clients to capture one of the biggest moments of their life. Over the past 4 years, since I decided to do weddings full time, my business has grown exponentially. I now have 7 employees/photographers who are essential to helping me create a wonderful experience for my clients. Rounding out my year was the honor in being voted “Best Wedding Photographer in Los Angeles” through MY FOX LA. I was up against some incredible photographers and am excited to see how many loyal supporters I have! Thank you for helping me win this award! On top of my photography business, I cannot seem to break away from teaching. Every time I take time off from it I feel like there is something missing and when I start back up again the flood of excitement and synergistic energy that comes from sharing photography with others is scintillating. This past semester, along with teaching Bookbinding at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and Yearbook at Flintridge Preparatory School in La Canada, I have taught a Photography class at College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita to some of the most energetic and eager students I have ever taught. Next semester I am looking forward to meeting my students for the brand new Wedding Photography class I will be teaching at College of the Canyons. That one is right up my alley!

Now you might be thinking, were do I get the time to do it all AND have a new baby? Well, the answer is quite clear. I have one of the best husbands any woman could ever ask for. Tim is so supportive of everything I do. Because of our opposite schedules and his ability to sleep in small time slots throughout the day, together we are able to tag team Jacob. My mom comes over twice a month help out, too, and we have only recently had to hire a mother’s helper for a few hours once or twice a week because of my crazy holiday portrait season over the past two months. Tim and I often laugh at what a great set up we have. We both, at times, feel like an old retired couple. We spend entirely too much time together, but for some reason it works for us. I guess marrying your best friend is the key! Needless to say, I am looking forward to January since I will be taking the entire month off to go on endless walks with Jacob, dates with Tim, and trips to the Zoo, Disneyland, and Mammoth, of course! Speaking of Mammoth, last year we did not go even once due to the pregnancy. This year, we are planning on going as much possible.

Bringing 2008 to a close seems almost impossible as many of the thoughts and colors of the year have blurred into a beautiful whirlwind trail of energy. God has been overly generous to my family and I pray for more great things to come in 2009. May God bless your health, home, family, and well being in the coming year. To joy, peace, love, and happiness!

Jen, Tim, & Jacob O’Sullivan

Jacob: Sick at Last

2008-12-13T22:41:00.000-08:00

Well, it has almost been a full year and Jacob finally caught his first cold. It has been not stop bugger fest for 5 days straight! The saddest part is that he sucks his thumb. The issue here is, it is kind of hard to suck a thumb and breath at the same time when your nose is clogged! He was a bit confused to say the least. The good news is that he is so sweet when sick. He actually will look at the camera! These were some test shots before I left for today's shoot.

Photo 150: Thanks for a Great Class!

2008-12-12T20:25:00.001-08:00

Wednesday night was the culmination of the Fall Semester Photo 150 class that I taught at College of the Canyons in Valencia. First, I would like to say, WHAT A GREAT BUNCH OF STUDENTS! My husband would laugh at me every time I would come home from class because I had so much energy. I have been teaching in some form or another since 1990, formally teaching (getting paid) since 1999. Teaching keeps me on top of my game and allows me to share the one thing I LOVE LOVE LOVE to do: photography! Well, this semester I had a truly wonderful class with a full house every Wednesday night. I even had a bunch of the die-hards show up the night before Thanksgiving, plus attend two location shoots that were added to the class as optional. There is some great talent in these students and I hope they all continue to photograph everything. I look forward to seeing many of them again next semester for the Wedding Photography class. Same time, same place starting in February. There is already a waiting list for this class, so let's make the list so long they have to move us to the amphitheater! I love teaching on a platform! : P

Wedding Photography Guide and 2009 Pricelist

2008-12-10T11:43:00.001-08:00

PHOTO 101: Image Concepting

2008-12-09T15:17:00.000-08:00

"What to shoot, what to shoot. There are so many things out there and I cannot think of a one!" Have you had this conversation before with yourself? Here is some advice to get your brain working. Taken from Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards and discussed recently with Tim Bradley, coming up with a concept or idea for your photograph can be deduced to a simple three step process. Saturation - Incubation - "a-ha!" Tim also talked about the fact that there are three places that the "a-ha" moment usually occurs. Can you guess? I'll tell you at the end. Anyhow, Saturation is the brainstorming process of basically getting it all out or as some might call it: "idea vomit." A little harsh, I know, but it captures the true essence of what brain storming should be like. Nothing held back. Once you get it all out, then you need to let it marinate. The incubation process is less active and more introspective. Mull over the ideas over the course of a few days. Be ready, because the "a-ha" moment can happen at any time. When? Here is the answer: Most people will experience the "a-ha!" moment while doing one of three activities: trying to fall asleep, taking a shower, driving. These are all times when the subconscious is strong at work. You know how it feels. Just think of the last time you drove home and can't remember the drive or as Tim put it, "drove right past your exit." You get so engrossed in the creative right brained thinking that all logic goes out the window. You are literally on auto-pilot. It has been said that this type of driving is actually safer because your reaction time is quicker. I can't tell you how that works but I do know that I have been cut off before when driving in this mode and I was like a well trained dog without hesitation. As for the other two, if your ideas come while falling asleep, you better have a pen and paper at your bedside table or you are liable to forget it in the morning. If you are the "idea-in-the-shower" type be prepared for a hefty water bill!

Mary

2008-12-09T11:07:00.000-08:00

We are coming up on Christmas pretty fast and I came across these photos while editing through a wedding I shot last month. I have been doing a lot of Catholic weddings as of late and there is most always a part in the ceremony where the bride and groom offer flowers to Mary. This bride walked with her mother in what appeared to be a very meaningful and important part of the ceremony to both bride and mom. I thought it was a nice symbol of mother-daughter to mother-son.

Krueger Family at Mentryville

2008-12-08T12:59:00.000-08:00

I photographed the Krueger Family this year at Mentryville up at the end of Pico Canyon on S. We did a formal studio session last year and next year they want to try the beach. Location shoots are always fun and if you are wanting to start a tradition, I say, each year find a new and completely different location so your friends, family, and clients who receive your holiday cards will look forward to your to see where you went this year. There are so many options in So Cal. Here are some thoughts: Do a fun city shot in Old Town Pasadena complete with mittens, scarves, and some hot cocoa. Go Christmas tree shopping, you know, one of the cut-it-down-yourself places, and bring the photographer along. Have the photographer come to your Christmas tree decorating party (just your family, of course). Think out side the box and you will be surprised at how many things you can think of. If you know of a great location or a fun idea, I would love to hear about it in the comment section of this post!

Garter Belt Rewind

2008-12-07T09:22:00.000-08:00

While editing a wedding shot by one of my associate shooters, Shay Thomason, I found an interesting photo. In all the years of shooting weddings I have never seen where a DJ has the guy who caught the garter have to put it on the girl who caught the bouquet with his teeth! Can you say awkward! I have seen just about everything, but not this. The poor girl was wearing a mini skirt, too! I am interested to see what the rest of you think. Good idea, bad idea? It is kind of fun, definitely funny, but I am not quite sold on it yet so I would love to hear your opinion.

Me and Jake by Kelly

2008-12-06T16:59:00.000-08:00

Here is a shot of me and Jake taking a look-see at the big fat elephant! He was a little shocked...

Zoo, Zoo, Zoo!

2008-12-06T15:26:00.000-08:00

We went to the LA Zoo today... Jacob's first trip. We went with his girlfriend Kensington and her mom Kelly (one of my good friends and assistant shooters.) It was a ton of fun as you can tell by the last shot! Kelly and I were two dorky moms taking photos left and right. I can't wait to see what she got! Next it is off to the Santa Barbara Zoo!

Dizzy with Excitement

2008-12-06T00:01:00.000-08:00

I literally just learned something right as I was about to turn off my computer and go to bed, but of course I had to see it to believe it. So, out came my camera and my 50mm lens. Here is the trick: turn the 50 around so it is not mounted to the camera but is reversed pressed up against the lens mount and viola! you get a macro lens that will literally cause sea sickness! I took 15 shots and could take no more. Here they are, using crap overhead tungsten light in my office at midnight! Unbelievable! Now, off to bed I go, because I am going to the zoo tomorrow and can't wait to post photos of Jake's first encounter with the monkeys!

Wedding Favor

2008-12-05T16:30:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for a great wedding favor, or just a cool idea for a Holiday gift for all your friends check these people out! Jones Soda will put your engagement shot or family portrait or any photo you want on their label. You get 12 for $30 bucks and you get to choose your flavors! A couple I photographed on November 8th had these at everyone's table as their favor using one of the images I shot of them during their engagement session. Very fun! Just think of the possibilities.

PHOTO 101: Wedding Photography Mistake #5

2008-12-04T23:31:00.000-08:00

The Unprepared
The couple is getting married on a boat. You are excited because you have never shot a wedding on a boat before and are really looking forward to it. Fast forward to the day of the wedding. You show up with a tripod and lights (not usually allowed on boat weddings) and hard soled shoes. To top it off, you are MIA for the latter part of the event because you have horrible sea sickness and are causing a huge line outside of the only bathroom available. Not good, not good!
ADVICE: Be prepared! If you are going into a new situation, think about sourcing an assistant who has good experience and who can work for you in case something should go wrong. Also, get yourself prepared by doing research and showing up extra early to the location so you can pre-scout the good spots, if you have not already done a site visit prior to the event. My wedding photographer, as phenomenal as she was and is, brought an assistant who was not prepared for snow (we got married in the snow in Mammoth) and she had to buy rain boots of all things on her way up. If you are a snow person, which she was obviously not, you know that rain boots act like ice skates on snow. It was not a pretty site to see the assistant slide down the mountain. Laura, the main photographer, bless her heart, came wearing most likely her warmest coat that just happened to be bright red which drew a lot of attention to her. I did not notice during the event but I did notice in my wedding video because she is the brightest person in all the shots since it was a black tie event so most of my guests were wearing black. FYI, she did get some really great shots and is a wonderful photographer! The below shots are some of my favs from the event. To see her work go to Docuvitae. If you click through to prelude under weddings you can see a photo of me... the second shot is of me in my underwear! hehe! Very tasteful, though. I have it framed in my home.

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY MISTAKE #6 The Chimper
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY MISTAKE #7 The Do-Over Guy
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY MISTAKE #8 The Wrong Place Guy
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY MISTAKE #9 The Partier
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY MISTAKE #10 The Narcissist

Photo by Laura Kleinhenz of Docuvitae

Photo 101: Lenses

2008-12-04T13:16:00.000-08:00

I can say with certainty that the lens is the most important piece of equipment in your camera bag. Your digital camera body is only temporary. You will upgrade this as technology gets better. Kind of like your computer, you should upgrade about once every 2 years. Your lenses should not be purchased based on replacement. These are your gems. They will become trusted friends in a life full of photographs, so choose wisely, not cheaply. It is not the camera that makes a great photo, it is the lens (and the eye behind the lens, of course!) There are several factors that come into play when choosing a good quality lens.
1. The Glass
The glass must be of the highest quality to render the best clarity in your imagery.
For the best quality in glass you will look for the following: Nikon uses NIKKOR glass and Canon uses EF glass or Canon L Glass (the "L" stands for Luxury.) The optics in the EF L Series Glass (any Canon lens with a red ring around the barrel) are Canon's best quality glass.
2. The Build
You want a lens that is not going to break on you. You will notice instantly the difference in weight between more expensive and less expensive lenses. Metal construction will outlast plastic. With the better lenses you will also want to make sure it is weather sealed.
3. The Mechanics
The zoom and focus rings should be smooth and feel good in your hand.
4. Image Stabilization and Vibration Reduction
Look for IS (Image Stabilization) for Canon Lenses and VR (Vibration Reduction) for Nikon Lenses. This allows you to shoot handheld up to three stops slower than normal.

Okay... so, all that said, let's get down to the dirt! What lens should you buy? The question is always asked: "If you could only have one lens, what would it be?"
The short answer: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM
The long answer: Why that lens and not the Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8 L USM?
Many photographers, and sales clerks, will tell you to go with the 24-70. It is faster by one stop at f2.8 rather than the 24-105's f4.0. It is bigger, heavier, is more expensive (only by about $150), and looks meaner.
MY Answer based on MY usage of both lenses: The 24-70 does not have image stabilization (IS) and the clarity of your imagery is not as great. Bryan Carnathon from The-Digital-Picture.com states: "Very little contrast and saturation post-processing is necessary on most shots taken under good lighting." The operative term being "under good lighting." What I have found is under slightly sub par lighting the contrast and clarity are not as good as with the 24-105 but when stopped down to 4.0 they look very similar. Sooooo, why not extend your range by 35mm, gain 3 stops with the IS, and save some cash by going with the 24-105.

Other lenses to consider:
Canon EF 50mm 1.4 USM
There are three 50mm lenses in the Canon line: 1.8. 1.4, and 1.2
The 1.8 is only $100 and, in my opinion is not worth it. It only has a 5 blade aperture and it's build makes it a throw away lens that will break the first chance it gets.
For just a couple hundred dollars more (around $300) you can get into a better build with 8 blade 1.4 lens. You will see a difference between the 1.4 and the 1.2 (also 8 blade) but it is not worth the extra $1000 (around $1,300)unless you are a professional photographer.