Be Deliberate

With the advent of the digital photographic age it seems that we as photographers are trying to speed everything up. While aspects of photography like post processing, workflow, and frames per second certainly have benefits for speed there is one aspect that doesn’t. I am talking about the time it takes to create or make an image. When photographing with slide film we generally took a bit more time because each frame cost money. Not only did it cost to buy the film in the first place but it cost more in most cases to have it developed, especially if you used a professional lab. To really improve we also had to take notes for given situations and try to match them up when we received our images back after a couple weeks. It was a painful process. However, in that process we became masters of our work. We took extra time to see the tonality of the image and to ensure that everything was perfect before we clicked the button. “Fix it in Photoshop” wasn’t an option. If we didn’t get it right we wasted money and the shot was lost.


I have been guilty of moving too fast and rushing through a session or an outing. It is very easy to get in the habit of taking several shots to get it all set rather than setting it all and taking a shot. It seems that we as photographers are often under pressure, actual or perceived, to give a client hundreds of images (or even thousands for weddings) rather than a handful of great images. By doing that I am not certain that we are providing the quality service that we could. Besides, if you take the time to get it right then you can move on to other scenes or compositions. Being deliberate with your photography also helps speed up your workflow and post processing because there is less editing involved.

Sure, at a wedding you may have to move a little faster and take a few more images but that was the case back in the film days too. A wedding day is full of things needing photographed and you are on a time table! Perhaps you are a child photographer and you have to take several shots to get the expression you want. That too is fine and if you have taken the time to get everything set then when that expression shows itself you can easily get the shot. Don’t spray and then pray you got the shot. Know that you got it and move on.

This blog post is as much for me as it is for you and here is my final advice. Slow down and be deliberate. I’ll bet your images improve right away if you take the time to make them.

Wings over Homestead

Anything aviation related has always fascinated me.  How they fly, how fast they move, and the men and women who fly them.  See, I have been a pilot since 1994.  I don't fly that much any more but I certainly never pass up the opportunity to photograph them.  Today, I headed out to the Wings over Homestead air show at the Homestead Air Force Base.  This is a show that comes every year or two and it is always entertaining.  

While it might not be a Sun-N-Fun or an Oshkosh it is a fun place to be when the jets rocket down the runway.  I would like to take this time to thank all those involved in bringing us this free air show.  More than that though I would like to thank the men and women of the armed forces for their efforts each and every day.

Take a look at some of my favorite from today.  Enjoy!

Animoto Slide Shows

In the past I have never been a huge fan of slide shows. I think this harkens back to the days of real slides in a projector and boring teachers. Seriously, who wants to set around and watch a simple slide show? Strangely enough, I do now.


Recently I saw a couple of slide shows that were amazing. They have movement, videos embedded in them, and catchy music. I inquired a bit about the service that was used to create the slide shows and then, while attending Imaging USA I got a hands on look. That helped me to make up my mind and give it a try. The service is called Animoto and it is simple to use.   It also gives me something else I can offer to my clients that I think they will cherish.

Check out this slide show of a recent wedding. Let me know what you think!

Artistic. Personal.

When I picked two defining words for my business (artistic and personal) I never dreamed that it would have such an effect on both my clients and my attitude. 

I recently photographed a wedding but long before the big day I decided to do things a little different.  Trying to talk things out on the phone or through e-mail just doesn’t cut it for a wedding.  I wanted to get to know my clients so I asked them to pick a restaurant and my wife and I took them out to dinner.  It was really nice getting to know them.  We talked about whatever came up and I got an idea of what to expect from them and they got an idea of what to expect from me.  A few weeks after the dinner we met again for an engagement shoot and that too went really well.  Now, they had a really good understanding of what to expect from me.  The more you get to know your clients the better photographs you will make. 

Weddings are a TON of work and not all the photos I take are "artistic" in nature but they can be personal.  I apply these two words to my post processing as well.  You would be surprised how defining words can well…  define you.

I will be following this same method with all my future clients.  Doing things this way allowed me to get to know my clients on a personal level.  I would like to think that we are slightly more than passing acquaintances. 

Fruit and Spice Park (Homestead, FL)

I have lived in Florida for almost 7 years now.  Today my wife and I decided to try out the fruit and spice park that is within 10min of where we live.  I am amazed to have lived next to such a photographer's paradise for so long and not known that it was here.  There is something to be said about your own "back yard".  I see my self spending a good bit of time there throughout the year now.  We had a great time and despite the fact that we were there in the worst possible light I did come away with a few keepers.  I also found out that bamboo looks really cool in black and white!!!!!

The Importance of a Contract

The first thing I want to mention on this topic is the fact that I am NOT a lawyer.  If anything here sounds like legal advice...  It isn't...  This is practical advice.

Recently my wife took a job to photograph a group doing underwater dives.  She contacted the group leader and discussed the basics.  Among those basics was a price quote for her time and the end product (dvd of the images).  The price was lower than usual because it was for a good cause.  There were three dives scheduled.

Day 1:  She went and had a great time photographing the group underwater.  When she got home I asked about a contract.  I had forgotten to get one ready for her.  She said no but would take one the second day.

Day 2:  I did not get a contract ready so she went again without the contract.  No worries we will get it on the third day.

Evening of Day 2:  The 3rd day of diving was called off due to the expected seas.  My wife called the group leader to discuss how the payment was to be made and that the price would only be 2/3rds of the discussed price because the 3rd day was canceled.  The group leader told her that he had no recollection of the conversation where cost was discussed.  He said that it was supposed to be for charity/donation.  Apparently there was a miscommunication somewhere...

Here is the business nugget ...  Get a contract signed before you ever take that first photograph!!!  Always!  If we had this misunderstanding would have been evident on Day 1 before the dives.  She would have gone anyway but there would not have been any confusion or expectation of payment.

Conclusion:  Thankfully a resolution with the group leader has been met!!!

Bottom Line:  Get a contract even if you do charity work!