Wedding guest etiquette

Recently, I photographed an amazingly well-thought out wedding.  The couple selected a spot with a very country feel: Guardsmen's Pass, Deer Valley. The bride redesigned a gown to include special elements - from the ties on the back, detailing, and a broach on the front, to the straps that were once a favorite belt; she rode in on a horse; designed her own bouquets (helps to be a florist); and really followed her dream theme.  The wedding took place at 10:00 on a September morning - and we knew we'd be dealing with harsh sun and shadows.  What I didn't think I'd be dealing with was an I-pad that popped up sporadically to record parts of the ceremony - such as this one where the bride's sister read from a favorite childhood story.   

Please, guests, help your bride: put down the I-pad, the cell phone, etc., or at least move to the back of the wedding venue so as not to block the ceremony from others.
Shut off your cell phone, or place it on a silent non-vibrating mode. 
Reign in your children.  Teach them that this is a special time and not playtime.

New models!

The modeling world is tough.  I recall a time,  many many years ago,  heading to a bunch of the "big agencies" in LA.  Portfolio packed with jobs and images I was proud of.  Appointments made, outfit perfect and...

"Too old, too short, too fat.  Goodbye."

Brutal.  Whoa.  "Help me to understand this!" I asked the guy who had taken and perused my portfolio at a top agency.   At twenty, I was too old.  I learned, "Lie about your age."  Great.  I'm 18 again.  Short? Can't grow, the higher the heals the better, but, this one could not be overcome.  I was 5'7'' 1/2 - (gotta get that 1/2 in there!)  And too short by 1/2 an inch.  Too fat?  Yeah.  I had lost jobs because my "bones were showing" - and in LA, I was too fat.

Just because one agency wasn't a fit, didn't mean others wouldn't work.  I kept knocking on doors.  I gathered feedback from top agencies.  And applied it - when it was logical.

Recently, I had the privilege to shoot a "new model".  I have a feeling that she will, if she chooses, have a great career in front of her.  Her mother, by the way, models as well. Good genes certainly help.

Check her out: (This is a screenshot from our shoot.) See more images on this link:
Link to Aurora's Images

Retouched or not? You decide.

 During a shoot, I often show people their images - pointing out little things that can "help" them achieve the final image that they want.  I talk about body position, hair strands, showing teeth, or smiling with their eyes.    But the image, SOC - Straight out of the Camera - is generally a little different than what I'll show you after processing. 

Above photo: no retouching. 

Take a look:
The first image is SOC.  There is no retouching - this is how it was shot.  

This second image has undergone some retouching - but no photoshop. 

Simply, her face was made lighter and brighter, as were her eyes and her teeth.  The slight darkness under her eyes is gone, as is the small blemish near her eyebrow.  A slight silhouetting of the image enhanced it even further, bringing your eyes to her face.

What do you mean by "strobist" and how does that compare to "natural light"?

      Shooting strobist style means using strobes - studio strobes on location.  Some strobists bring umbrellas, others, like me, prefer softboxes.  With a battery powered on-the-go studio, I can go almost anywhere you need me and get great results.  Other strobist use "flashes" that can detach from their cameras and become triggered by a remote.  

     Regarding the photo on the left: I was using one large softbox to diffuse the light on the happy couple, exposing for the background.  Note how the trees are darker, and the couple really stands out due to strobist lighting.   The photo on the right was taken "natural light".  In order to get their ski tones right, the background appears blown out a bit.  If I had exposed for the background, the couple would have been too dark, and their faces barely discernible.
     
     The natural light that day?  These photos were taken in open shade, on the side of a house at approximately 3:30-4pm.  Snow was falling, so the sky was a superb diffuser.

#strobist, #photographer, #parkcity #utah #naturallight #maternity #family #snow #photographer #dekoff

Fundraiser for Zev!

Fund Zev to Israel - Park City Photographers is participating!

Mix and Match Travel for the Holidays

Holiday party photo shoot?  Packing for an event with evening celebrations?

Depending upon the events'  "dress code", here are a few options that rely on the key skirt to bring it together.

1. Casual - Go with the tank.

2. Dinner party - a little bit of a flowing hem on a top helps camouflage an indulgent dinner! Also, avoid strapless tops while dining.  You'll appear "nude" from across the table.

3. Event - This inexpensive lace top is gorgeous!

Jewelry by Lois Hill is sterling silver and coordinates with everything.  I own many Lois Hill pieces and wear them with everything!

When choosing shoes, I chose the light and airy pump that worked with everything.

Have fun! 

Mix and Match Travel for the Holidays by deb-dekoff featuring a full length black skirt

Ralph Lauren top, $165 / Brown t shirt / Lace peplum shirt / Phase Eight full length black skirt, $115 / Carmen Marc Valvo pointy-toe pumps / Lois hill jewelry / Lois Hill sterling silver chain earrings

Sometimes, you only get one chance...

...one chance at capturing those memories.  

Hire a pro. 

Sometimes, I cringe...

    Regarding a wedding that went like this, "We really want to use you, but, we can save money by hiring Uncle Ed." When asked a few weeks later, when I saw Miss Newlywed at the gym, "How did the photos come out?"  It seems uncle Ed shot everything at this outdoor wedding in silhouette. Then he boosted his ISO to the point where everything was "white".  The bride's response, "We are hoping that some of the guests took good photos."  

    Or the Bar Mitzvah where an inexperienced bar mitzvah photographer/videographer was hired, and walked around during the prayers, snapping photos or taking video. And without a zoom, walked up to the bimah to get close-ups.  Not only was this a distraction to the rabbi, but to the whole congregation that came to view this special event in a young man's life.  I don't know how the photos or video came out...I wasn't there.  But, I heard about it.

    Or the Bar Mitzvah, where I was invited as a guest, and thought to talk to the photographer hired by an event company.  He confided, "I've never been to one of these.  In fact, I was called just two hours ago to fill in for someone else."  He further confided that he was not an event photographer at all.  And, it was obvious, in the two hour lead time, based upon our discussion, that he had not done any research regarding a Bar Mitzvah.  (Make sure you get the chair dance! - "Huh?") 

    Do yourself a favor: LOOK at the photographers portfolio.  If you see:
blurry (and not because of bokeh), out of focus, arms and legs cut off in odd places, crooked horizon lines, bad coloring (bluish or green faces) - that photographer has a LOT to learn.