Power up the Studio.....

Today we had the pleasure of getting back into the Studio (and even outside of it) for some portraits with some new friends. Wendy, her daughter and Mother came for a visit - part one of her scheduled visit(s). We'll be doing a follow up session around this time next week.

As always, the session started out a little hesitant, it didn't take too long, however, and everyone was feeling relaxed and ready to have fun.

A little shy at first, Sydney started to warm up to the idea of having her picture taken and we were able to get some really great photos of her. Here is one of my favorites:

After all the studio shots were finished, we headed outside to find a shady area to try some relaxed natural light head shots. I think that it turned out to be a good idea as this photo shows!

It was nice to meet you all and Mendy, Missy and I want to thank you for spending some time with us. We look forward to seeing you again next week!

Special thanks to Missy for helping in the studio with different ideas.

Flash Photography

While I certainly don’t consider myself qualified to give out photography ‘tips’ – this is something that is on my mind lately. Like anyone else, I love to shoot with natural – available light 100% of the time. The colors are more accurate and everything just ‘looks’ better in the final image. Sometimes however, regardless of ISO, shutter speed or max aperture that the lens will open up to – you still have to use flash at times – it is just unavoidable. So, if we can all agree on that, then the question is; how can we make the images lit up with that harsh flash look…. Well, not so harsh?

Living in a house with two girls, I am rarely ‘allowed’ to take photos of either of them. I do have one ‘model’ who doesn’t complain too often. She is a girl, but doesn’t worry too much about her hair or make up.

Mi Mi is our little Pomeranian, we got her from a family that couldn’t keep her after hurricane Katrina. She wasted no time fitting in with the rest of our dogs (Mendy has three Chihuahuas and just loves them – she is a true Chihuahua freak!

So, the “mems” (as we call her) was hanging out on the sofa and I saw a good chance to try out some flash photography on her. The camera is the Canon 5D, with a 50mm f=1.8 lens (yes, the cheap one) 1/64 shutter speed. Manual exposure. ISO 125.
Now, I could have bumped the ISO way up – say to 3200 and used no flash – the problem (of course) is that there would have been some noise – especially with a black sofa – and the other problem is that there would have been no ‘catch lights’ in her eyes. Just like with people, the catch lights give ‘life’ to the person’s eyes. Being a pooch, I couldn’t direct the flash right at her. She would have probably had those tell-tale green reflections that animals get with usual flash photography. I was using my EX flash pointed up and actually behind me. I want to say that I was using one of Gary Fong’s light spheres, but upon closer inspection of the reflection in my little puppy’s eyes, I don’t see it. I do see that there was a little dim lamp on in the room and that I could stand to loose a few pounds! I can also see from the EXIF data that this image was taken at 8:53 PM, so there was no window light – it was pretty dark in there.

Now that I look at her – she does look a little annoyed with me!

In this one she just looks kind of tired, I don’t know why – she can sleep whenever she wants…… ah, a dog’s life!

This is my favorite – this is the Mi Mi that we know and love!

Here is a 100% crop of her eyes from the first image: You can see that the catch lights are actually the circle of light on the ceiling and the small yellow reflection is the table top lamp – it’s got a dimmer switch and was on kind of dim. You can also see me in a white shirt – see what I mean – look at that gut!!!! Time to hit the bike!

On Location Event

This past week we were contacted to shoot photos at an event for a local communications company. Tomba Communications was hosting an expo for Motorola and they were showcasing the 'Motodriven' truck. Below are some of the photos taken at the event.

To view more of the photos from the day, click here.

The event was held in the parking lot of the local minor league baseball team stadium.

The inside of the truck was loaded with electronic equipment on display as well as live seminars going on every hour or so.

..... Into the Manor

This weekend’s adventure takes us to the Wedding of Heather and Ronald. It was to be our first visit, so far, to Taravella Manor in Marrero, Louisiana. Our coordinator and point of contact, Hans runs a tight ship and it really pays off when you’ve got a lot to get done and only a few hours to do it – and still allow enough time for the Bride and Groom to meet with family and friends and to have some fun themselves. It is their day after all.

The ceremony was held in the outdoor garden area and it was a beautiful night to “tie-the-knot”.

Again, (for the second week in a row) we met up with Le Grande Florist, they did a really nice job on the flowers – as always.

I really loved the understated cake design, it was simple and elegant.

The dance floor was all lit up with the mirror ball and disco light and there was always someone ‘bustin’ a move’!!

Our Bride Heather danced so much and took so many photos that she was just plain tired out by the end of the night! Hang in there Heather!

Mendy, Missy, Mike and I would like to offer a very heartfelt congratulations to the both of you!

All Grown Up...

When a baby is born, you hear a lot of things from parents who have gone before you. Little tips, tricks and even some horror stories. One thing that everyone says, regardless of what else they may say is; “They grow up so fast.” When a new born is up all hours of the night and crying to eat and then later teething – you get so caught up in the day-to-day job of parenting that you really don’t think about them being ‘grown up’.

This month our Daughter Ashley turned 17….. Mendy and I just can’t get over it……. 17!

She had her Junior prom in the same month and I wanted to include some photos on the blog of our ‘baby girl,’ Some of her friends met at our house before the limo picked them up so we could take some shots out in the studio.

Isn’t she cute?

This is her boyfriend Mason.
Some shots of them together.
Some random shots of some of her other friends.

Mom and Dad love ya lots Ash. We’re very proud of you..

Happy Birthday!!!

A Blast from the Past

When the final bell rings on the last day of High School, everyone just kind of goes their separate ways. Most say that they will find a way to keep in touch. Of course, they also think that they will never grow old! While some people do manage to remain close with their friends from school for a lifetime, others however, loose touch with the members of their graduating class slowly over the years.

This past weekend I had the rare (and pleasant) occasion of photographing the Wedding of a former Classmate of mine, Jasper. He and his future Bride Nona met years before and had, as she put it, a “very long engagement”. Nona told us that she and Jasper have a great relationship and hadn't even had so much as an argument in the 20 years that they’ve been together. Nona and Jasper do indeed have the kind of relationship that just seems to glow, anyone who is paying any attention at all can easily see it in something as simple as they way they hold each others hand.

I hadn’t seen Jasper since High School, but it was really nice to see someone you’ve known in the past getting married, and to someone as sweet as Nona is. (you'll notice the addition of our new logo - we are slowly undergoing a name change to our business)

The Ceremony and Reception were held in the New Orleans Ladies Ballroom in Gretna Louisiana. The owner and operator Jan was just a joy to work with she really went out of her way to make us feel very comfortable. If she was that outgoing with the photographers, just image how the couple and guests must have felt.

The flowers were expertly done by Le Grand Florist, they’ve been serving the New Orleans Metro area since 1958. Nona choose a unique color scheme for the Wedding, the Bride’s maids wore green (a really nice light green) and the flowers were mainly orange overall.

The reception was more like a party really, the dance floor was never empty and everyone seemed to be really having a wonderful time. Jasper and Nona had a lot of friends in attendance for their long awaited special day and it’s clear that they haven’t lost touch with too many of them over the years. Everyone on our team would like to wish you both the very best in your new lives together and we feel confident that you two will continue to get along with one another just as well as you have leading up to your vows.

Congradulations Nona and Jasper!

The Ides of March…

When you live in the New Orleans Metro area, there are precious few days that can be described as ‘nice’. It’s either way too hot and humid or a damp kind of cold that just goes right through you. So, when the weather is nice, you have to take full advantage of it and shoot outdoors. That’s what we did today with a Mom and her two daughters. Doris, Morgan and Dawn were really great subjects, we did a lot of walking and shooting and none of them seemed to get very tired……. They were up for anything that Mendy and I came up with and really good sports about the whole thing.

The weather was very nice, but it was WINDY – probably the most windy day that we’ve had shooting.

Mom and girls really seemed to have a great relationship – between the three of them and Mendy – I was well outnumbered – not that I’m complaining!

Morgan is on the Dance team for the local Professional Basketball team (the junior version I'd think). It looks like she's been showing her little sister the 'moves'!!!

Oh, and contrary to another recent post, the little Train out at City Park’s Storyland is indeed operational!

Mendy and I hope you guys had a good time -

I can tell you that we did....... Thanks guys!