Recently I had an offer from a vendor to try their photobook service for free. It's not a service I usually consider, since it's more of a low-end consumer vendor - they compete on primarily on price and volume. Still, it was a free photobook, so I thought I'd create a photo portfolio using this book.
When the book arrived, it came to me anew how powerful the printed image is. The printed image has the least dynamic range, or range from total white to total dark, of most display methods. Yet it retains some of the most powerful impact on us.
When I first started shooting, I almost never printed my images-- until I shot my first airshow. I shot about 800 images, and we printed almost all of them. It was a revelation! The reality of the image, the impact of subject matter, all of it-- it became much more intense, much more visceral, than simply seeing on a monitor, even though a monitor has more capabilities in some ways.
A high-quality print draws us into the picture; it drives a point home. It has the longevity to become a touchstone through the years; it becomes part of our environment, it represents our history and our future at the same time. It can represent beauty, emotion, and truth -- sometimes uncomfortably.
So what about the book I ordered? It was OK. It still had an impact to everyone I showed it to, as prints do. It was a nice book, but not one I would use for my clients. The vendor is low-cost for a reason.
We have some excellent quality vendors and we'll stick with them. It's just too important.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Making it right
I had a terrific thing happen this week: A client complained about the quality of her prints! I'm thrilled! I'm serious: I'm really stoked!
This may sound odd, or you may think that it's a trick, but it's not: the prints simply weren't good enough. So why am I so pleased?
A little background: when I first got into professional photography, someone asked me, "So you're a photographer: are you cheap?" That's not my first priority. I'm not going to compete on price (although my prices are reasonable, I can't beat Wal-Mart): I am going to compete on quality. I want everything -- everything -- that comes from me to breathe quality.
Every image gets reviewed and enhanced before I release it. We've picked labs that put out top-quality prints. Our albums come from different vendors, all leaders in their field. The slideshows we create are meant to be top-notch.
I know that sounds cliche, but my passion is creating incredible images. Some of them are family heirlooms and treasured memories; I don't take that lightly.
So when my customer called me to complain, it proved to me that she gets it! She knows that I'm not happy until those photos are superb. As it turns out in her case, a bad color setting in the order threw off the colors and exposure of her prints; a replacement order was immediately sent to her.
I'm a happy camper.
This may sound odd, or you may think that it's a trick, but it's not: the prints simply weren't good enough. So why am I so pleased?
A little background: when I first got into professional photography, someone asked me, "So you're a photographer: are you cheap?" That's not my first priority. I'm not going to compete on price (although my prices are reasonable, I can't beat Wal-Mart): I am going to compete on quality. I want everything -- everything -- that comes from me to breathe quality.
Every image gets reviewed and enhanced before I release it. We've picked labs that put out top-quality prints. Our albums come from different vendors, all leaders in their field. The slideshows we create are meant to be top-notch.
I know that sounds cliche, but my passion is creating incredible images. Some of them are family heirlooms and treasured memories; I don't take that lightly.
So when my customer called me to complain, it proved to me that she gets it! She knows that I'm not happy until those photos are superb. As it turns out in her case, a bad color setting in the order threw off the colors and exposure of her prints; a replacement order was immediately sent to her.
I'm a happy camper.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Family Reunions
I've had a lot families come to me to shoot their family reunions; it's an unexpected area of interest to a lot of people. As I've thought about it, I've realized that it's a terrific time to get some nice photos: people are much more relaxed than at that other big photo event, a wedding. Styles differ widely, from formal to picnics. Still, people consistently enjoy their reunions, and it shows in the images.
We've found an approach that works pretty well for a lot of folks: some formal portraits, along with some event photos. That way, people still get that terrific shot of their immediate family and also the extended family, but they also get souvenirs of the event.
Additionally, because the photos are on the web, everyone can get what they want with a minimum of fuss; there's no need for one person to have to distribute multiple photos to multiple people.
Also, families enjoy using a photographer, because folks can then just enjoy one another. No one has to be concerned with making sure everything is recorded.
The families that I've done came as clients, and left as friends. I'm pleased to know that these photos are already considered family heirlooms.
We've found an approach that works pretty well for a lot of folks: some formal portraits, along with some event photos. That way, people still get that terrific shot of their immediate family and also the extended family, but they also get souvenirs of the event.
Additionally, because the photos are on the web, everyone can get what they want with a minimum of fuss; there's no need for one person to have to distribute multiple photos to multiple people.
Also, families enjoy using a photographer, because folks can then just enjoy one another. No one has to be concerned with making sure everything is recorded.
The families that I've done came as clients, and left as friends. I'm pleased to know that these photos are already considered family heirlooms.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Refining your voice
As mentioned before, I love people, and creating images of people. As I continue, I'm refining my "voice" in my images.
I've come to notice that there are two components to images with two different focii: the form and the color. It seems to me that the form conveys information primarily and emotion secondarily. Black and white photos create their own emotion because of the fact that they're black-and-white; however, their message can be altered dramatically by the addition or alteration of color.
While form focuses on information, color focuses on emotion. It conveys information, yes, but it seems to me that it's primary impact on the viewer is emotion.
That's one reason we all tend to like sunset/sunrise pictures: the warm colors lend us a happy feeling. We respond in a personal way to that image. In the same fashion, dark or cold colors can create a completely different response.
With that understanding, I've started to experiment with color in my portraiture. I'm finding that sometimes, less is more. I don't eliminate color, but a find that sometimes just a hint of color creates a stronger emotional response, possibly because it departs from the normal image.
Most images are either saturated or black-and-white. This "hint-of-color" elicits a closer look; it draws in the viewer, and as the viewer is drawn in, the emotions are involved, often more than through the untouched image.
Obviously, this can be overdone; still, I think that I'll continue to explore this avenue.
I've come to notice that there are two components to images with two different focii: the form and the color. It seems to me that the form conveys information primarily and emotion secondarily. Black and white photos create their own emotion because of the fact that they're black-and-white; however, their message can be altered dramatically by the addition or alteration of color.
While form focuses on information, color focuses on emotion. It conveys information, yes, but it seems to me that it's primary impact on the viewer is emotion.
That's one reason we all tend to like sunset/sunrise pictures: the warm colors lend us a happy feeling. We respond in a personal way to that image. In the same fashion, dark or cold colors can create a completely different response.
With that understanding, I've started to experiment with color in my portraiture. I'm finding that sometimes, less is more. I don't eliminate color, but a find that sometimes just a hint of color creates a stronger emotional response, possibly because it departs from the normal image.
Most images are either saturated or black-and-white. This "hint-of-color" elicits a closer look; it draws in the viewer, and as the viewer is drawn in, the emotions are involved, often more than through the untouched image.
Obviously, this can be overdone; still, I think that I'll continue to explore this avenue.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Engagement Pictures
I'm getting ready to do an engagement shoot in the next week or so; it made me think of my favorite engagement shot (so far). This was taken at Stevens Lake. We all had a great time, and believe it or not, this shot was not posed. They were just playing around, and I got this shot. I usually enjoy people just interacting and almost forgetting I'm there. That's when the magic happens.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Senior Photos
I just noticed that the deadline for Senior Photos is November 1 for Columbia Schools. It made me think of one of my favorite shoots: Bruce.
This terrific young man and his family have been long-time friends. They asked me to shoot his senior photos. Because I knew him, I wanted to give his portraits a bit of an urban feel. His family independently had the same thought, so I knew we were on the right track.
The hour-long shoot was a true blast. He was a little uncomfortable at first, as teen males often are, but as we shot for awhile, he loosened up, and we got some terrific images (to see the whole shoot, click here):
This terrific young man and his family have been long-time friends. They asked me to shoot his senior photos. Because I knew him, I wanted to give his portraits a bit of an urban feel. His family independently had the same thought, so I knew we were on the right track.
The hour-long shoot was a true blast. He was a little uncomfortable at first, as teen males often are, but as we shot for awhile, he loosened up, and we got some terrific images (to see the whole shoot, click here):
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
